Virgil Partch, also known as Vip, was the creator of the popular syndicated cartoons Big George and The Captains' Gig. He was a successful freelance cartoonist and book illustrator in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s and was widely known for drawing outlandish characters with distorted anotomy. His cartoons were published in numerous magazines including Collier's, True, Playboy, and The New Yorker. He also published 19 books of cartoons and illustrated 12 others, including the two children's books ,The Dog Who Snored Symphonies and The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher. In high school Partch had adopted the artists monogram Vip. The letter i in Vip was initially meant to represent the f of his middle name, but was so often mistaken for the letter i by Partch's classmates that Partch decided to adopt the letter i, creating the well-known moniker Vip. Partch took and failed the Disney Studio drawing test. Soon after he was hired as a messenger at Disney Studios and eventually progressed to the position of assistant animator. While employed at Disney, Partch was often reproached for his refusal to adhere to the guidelines for drawing Mickey Mouse. During the 1941 Disney strike Partch began drawing and submitting freelance cartoons to magazines, and he did not return to Disney following the end of the strike. In addition to working as a freelance cartoonist at this time, Partch accepted a position at the Walter Lantz Production Studios. Disagreements over the depiction of one of the studios main cartoon characters, Woody Woodpecker, led to Partch's resignation from the Studio and his determination to launch full-time freelance career. In the 1950s Partch moved to Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California with his family before building a home overlooking the ocean in nearby Corona Del Mar. During this time he began publishing numerous cartoons, calendars, and other materials with True Magazine and also served as the True Humor Editor for a brief time. In 1953 a VIP on Sex cartoon was included on the cover of the first edition of Playboy alongside actress Marilyn Monroe. Partch often met other well-know cartoonist at the Ivy House Restaurant in Laguna Beach to discuss their work over lunch. The group was known to sign autographs and give out sketches during their lunches. Partch and his wife were killed in an automobile accident north of Los Angeles, California on Interstate 5 on August 4, 1984.
From the description of Virgil Partch cartoons and artwork, circa 1940s-1973. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 677138768
