Selby Kelly

  1. Selby Kelly
  2. Version History

Biography of Walt Kelly b. Walter Crawford Kelly, 1913-1973. Comic strip artist, editorial cartoonist, animator. Kelly's only formal art training was in high school. His early employment included work as an animator with the Disney Studio (1935-1941) and freelance comic book work. He worked as art director and editorial cartoonist for the short-lived N.Y. Star (1948-1949). He is best known for the comic strip, Pogo, which first appeared in newspapers in The Star on October 4, 1948. The character of Pogo had appeared earlier in Animal Comics, a comic book series, in the December/January 1941/1942 issue. The comic strip, Pogo, was published until July 1975. Kelly received several awards, including the Heywood Broun Award for his editorial cartoons and the National Cartoonists Society Reuben award in 1951. In 1954 Kelly became the first comic strip artist to have his work represented in the Library of Congress.

1920 1929 Walt attended Hall Elementary School. 1930 1934 Walt attended Warren Harding High School. 1930 1939 Kelly held several short-term laboring positions. 1930 1935 Worked at the Bridgeport Post as a reporter. Make a comic strip featuring P.T. Barnum. 1935 1936 Kelly began free-lance comic book work. 1935 1941 Kelly worked for Walt Disney Studios. Involved in making "Snow White", "Fantasia", "Dumbo", etc. 1937 Walt Kelly and Helen Delacy married. 1941 Kelly began his association with Western and Dell. 1941 1942 First appearance of the Pogo character in "Animal Comics". Strip featured Albert and Bumbazine. 1942 1948 Kelly worked on the Dell comic book series, "Animal Comics". 1942 Birth of Cathleen, daughter of Walt Kelly and Helen Delacy. 1943 1944 Kelly illustrated guides for various branches of the U.S. Army. 1945 Birth of Carolyn, daughter of Walt Kelly and Helen Delacy. 1947 Birth of Peter, son of Walt Kelly and Helen Delacy. 1948 1949 Kelly worked at the New York Star. "Pogo" made its first appearance in the Oct. 4th, 1948 issue. 1949 "Pogo" was syndicated by the Post-Hall Syndicate. 1949 Kelly received the Heywood Broun Award from the American Newspaper Guild for 1948 campaign coverage. 1951 First book based on "Pogo" comic strips published by Simon and Shuster. 1951 Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony married. 1951 Birth of Steven, son of Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony. 1951 Kelly received the Reuben Award for "Pogo" from the National Cartoonists Society. 1952 Birth of Andrew, son of Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony. 1952 Birth of Nancy, daughter of Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony, who died shortly after birth. 1954 1955 Kelly served as president of the National Cartoonists Society. June 19, 1954 Kelly honored by Library of Congress. First comic artist to have work represented in the library. 1956 Birth of Kathryn Barbara, daughter of Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony, who died shortly after birth 1958 Birth of John Lardner, son of Walt Kelly and Stephanie Waggony. May 18, 1969 Walt Kelly and Chuck Jones produced the T.V. presentation: "The Pogo Special Birthday Special". 1971 Walt Kelly and Selby Daley married. October 18, 1973 Walt Kelly died at the Motion Picture Country Home in Hollywood. November 1973 After Kelly's death, "Pogo" continued by Selby Kelly, and later by Steven Kelly and Henry Shikuma. July 20, 1975 Last date the "Pogo" strip was published.

From the guide to the Pogo Collection, 1949-1989, 1949-1989, (The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum)
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2016-08-14 11:08:55 pm

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