Luckily (or unluckily) for Carl, no one outside The San Jacinto Valley ever got to see "The Hemet News". So, his name couldn't become a household name, and he wouldn't be "laid off" or "fired" from his job with Western Publishing at the request of The Walt Disney Co., due to their wish to have the public think that all drawings were done by their namesake.
As it was, despite all the families in Hemet and San Jacinto being exposed to that article, NONE of the children of the people who had seen that article came to his house on Ramona Blvd. to see the "famous artist" at work. He used to stand and stare at the comic book rack at the local Downtown San Jacinto and Hemet "drugstores", and wait for them to pick up a Disney Comic, and never saw that happen!
I used to visit my grandparents in San Jacinto in 1951-56. Barks lived there until 1952. My Grandparents lived on 2nd St., off of Ramona Blvd. Just about a block and a half from Carl Barks. I didn't know my hero lived so close. I used to have my grandparents buy me my Disney comics in the Downtown San Jacinto drugstore (while visiting them (-IF a new issue (that I didn't already have )came out just at that time)). Barks never saw me buy one. Of course, I didn't know who Carl Barks was in 1952, at age 4.
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Author
Topic: 1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
(30 messages)
Robb_K
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 16 -
2011-06-11 at 17:03:28
MustangRockstar
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 17 -
2011-06-11 at 18:16:19
More than anything, I find the article interesting because it highlights a lot of business practicies from that era. This kind of promotion was quite common in those days, and even worse in earlier times. This is one example of why I loved my history of advertising classes so much in college.
Dutch Duckfan Down Under
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 18 -
2011-06-11 at 18:21:48
Quote from user: Robb_KI used to visit my grandparents in San Jacinto in 1951-56. Barks lived there until 1952. My Grandparents lived on 2nd St., of of Ramona Blvd. Just about a block and a half from Carl Barks. I didn't know my hero lived so close. I used to have my grandparents buy me my Disney comics in the Downtown San Jacinto drugstore (while visiting them (-IF a new issue (that I didn't already have )came out just at that time)). Barks never saw me buy one. Of course, I didn't know who Carl Barks was in 1952, at age 4.
Who says he didn't see you? You might have gone with your grandfather to buy a comic at age 4. It's not very likely that'd you remember an older man in the store who saw you buying a Disney comic, but that doesn't mean it never happened.
Oh wait, Barks himself said that he never saw anybody buy a Disney comic? Ah well, it's a nice "what could have been" story.
Who says he didn't see you? You might have gone with your grandfather to buy a comic at age 4. It's not very likely that'd you remember an older man in the store who saw you buying a Disney comic, but that doesn't mean it never happened.
Oh wait, Barks himself said that he never saw anybody buy a Disney comic? Ah well, it's a nice "what could have been" story.
Coolwater
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 19 -
2011-06-11 at 18:22:22
The mentioning of the name Carl Barks in 1964 (!) in an article in a Finnish newspaper is really impressingly early! It had been hardly five years ago that in the USA Western gave the name the first time to a fan. And in 1964, Barks' name had spread in the USA hardly outside a narrow circle of comic fans; for that time one will probably have difficulties to find an example of an American paper or magazine beyond comic fandom where Barks is given credit as artist of Donald Duck comics. For the time before 1960, apart from the (effectless) article in "The Hemet News" in 1951, the only mentioning is the (good and well-informed, but just as effectless) article of Charles Beaumont in the "Fortnight" magazine in 1955, as far as I know.
The name Barks reached many European countries hardly before 1970, I guess. In Germany, the first mentioning was in a book about comics in 1971 ("Comics: Anatomy of a Mass Medium"; in the first edition the name was misspelled as "Carl Barx").
The name Barks reached many European countries hardly before 1970, I guess. In Germany, the first mentioning was in a book about comics in 1971 ("Comics: Anatomy of a Mass Medium"; in the first edition the name was misspelled as "Carl Barx").
Robb_K
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 20 -
2011-06-11 at 18:42:18
Quote from user: Dutch Duckfan Down UnderQuote from user: Robb_KI used to visit my grandparents in San Jacinto in 1951-56. Barks lived there until 1952. My Grandparents lived on 2nd St., of of Ramona Blvd. Just about a block and a half from Carl Barks. I didn't know my hero lived so close. I used to have my grandparents buy me my Disney comics in the Downtown San Jacinto drugstore (while visiting them (-IF a new issue (that I didn't already have )came out just at that time)). Barks never saw me buy one. Of course, I didn't know who Carl Barks was in 1952, at age 4.
Who says he didn't see you? You might have gone with your grandfather to buy a comic at age 4. It's not very likely that'd you remember an older man in the store who saw you buying a Disney comic, but that doesn't mean it never happened.
Oh wait, Barks himself said that he never saw anybody buy a Disney comic? Ah well, it's a nice "what could have been" story.
Yes. The fact that Carl, himself, stated that he NEVER saw a child even pick up a Disney Comic and look at it, means that he didn't see me buy one. Had he seen me pick it out, and my Grandfather buy it for me, he might have talked to us. Then, World History might have changed (or, at least MY life's history). I would have been invited to his house to watch him work. I would have then developed a great longing to become a Donald Duck artist, then, at age 4 (rather than at age 40). I would have taken art classes at a young age. I would have drawn, drawn, drawn (many hours), like Daan Jippes, Freddy Milton, Jan Gulbransson, Henrieke, McDuck Menu, Bruno and Hidde. I would have not pursued careers in economics and engineering, but would have gone to art school at age 18.
Then, I would have become a very accomplished artist, with a golden future. OR, I might have failed as an artist, and have become a chronic drunkard, and ended up a pitiful wreck, lying in the gutter, vomiting up bile. (BOTH of which could still happen, I suppose. But if that's what's in store for me, I'd better get moving on it!) Ha! Ha!
It's interesting to contemplate the potential twists of history. Had ONE less insensitive Austrian elementary school student made one less unkind comment to a young Adolph Hitler, perhaps 40 million people might have been spared much anguish.
Who says he didn't see you? You might have gone with your grandfather to buy a comic at age 4. It's not very likely that'd you remember an older man in the store who saw you buying a Disney comic, but that doesn't mean it never happened.
Oh wait, Barks himself said that he never saw anybody buy a Disney comic? Ah well, it's a nice "what could have been" story.
Yes. The fact that Carl, himself, stated that he NEVER saw a child even pick up a Disney Comic and look at it, means that he didn't see me buy one. Had he seen me pick it out, and my Grandfather buy it for me, he might have talked to us. Then, World History might have changed (or, at least MY life's history). I would have been invited to his house to watch him work. I would have then developed a great longing to become a Donald Duck artist, then, at age 4 (rather than at age 40). I would have taken art classes at a young age. I would have drawn, drawn, drawn (many hours), like Daan Jippes, Freddy Milton, Jan Gulbransson, Henrieke, McDuck Menu, Bruno and Hidde. I would have not pursued careers in economics and engineering, but would have gone to art school at age 18.
Then, I would have become a very accomplished artist, with a golden future. OR, I might have failed as an artist, and have become a chronic drunkard, and ended up a pitiful wreck, lying in the gutter, vomiting up bile. (BOTH of which could still happen, I suppose. But if that's what's in store for me, I'd better get moving on it!) Ha! Ha!
It's interesting to contemplate the potential twists of history. Had ONE less insensitive Austrian elementary school student made one less unkind comment to a young Adolph Hitler, perhaps 40 million people might have been spared much anguish.
Fernando Ventura
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 21 -
2011-06-11 at 18:48:59
The very first time a brazilian Disney comic artist is mentioned somewhere, as far as I know, is in a local newspapaper report too, in the early 70's.
Robb_K
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 22 -
2011-06-11 at 18:57:51
Quote from user: Fernando VenturaThe very first time a brazilian Disney comic artist is mentioned somewhere, as far as I know, is in a local newspapaper report too, in the early 70's.
I'll bet that a LOT more people read that Brasilian newspaper article than read The Hemet News article. Hemet only had about 1,500 people living there in 1947, and San Jacinto, perhaps 1,000 more. How many comicbook-aged children would have lived there? I seem to remember only one elementary school in Hemet, and one in San Jacinto, and BOTH had very small number of classrooms. Perhaps there were 300 elementary school children in the whole valley. Maybe 100 of them read Disney Comics.
Maybe several of those were too young to care about who drew them (although, they probably would have liked to see someone drawing them, IF they first saw the person doing it (rather than being told first by their parents that someone would draw for them).
I'll bet that a LOT more people read that Brasilian newspaper article than read The Hemet News article. Hemet only had about 1,500 people living there in 1947, and San Jacinto, perhaps 1,000 more. How many comicbook-aged children would have lived there? I seem to remember only one elementary school in Hemet, and one in San Jacinto, and BOTH had very small number of classrooms. Perhaps there were 300 elementary school children in the whole valley. Maybe 100 of them read Disney Comics.
Maybe several of those were too young to care about who drew them (although, they probably would have liked to see someone drawing them, IF they first saw the person doing it (rather than being told first by their parents that someone would draw for them).
Fernando Ventura
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 23 -
2011-06-11 at 19:33:05
Your're right, Rob! The report I'm taklking about was published on a STATE journal. But it's still local, anyway! : ))
Deyanmegara
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 24 -
2011-06-12 at 11:36:09
While Walt Disney probably has little to do with Scrooge, there is an interesting character in a 1943 World War II cartoon called "The Spirit of '43" who represents Donald's conciousness that tells him to pay his taxes (and, therefore, looks like a tightwad Scot).
Does this fit into the story somehow, or is it just a coincidence?
Does this fit into the story somehow, or is it just a coincidence?
Dutch Duckfan Down Under
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 25 -
2011-06-12 at 13:43:42
Quote from user: Robb_KMaybe several of those were too young to care about who drew them (although, they probably would have liked to see someone drawing them, IF they first saw the person doing it (rather than being told first by their parents that someone would draw for them).
I think most thought that it was fake. After all, were Disney comics not made by Walt Disney himself? :)
Quote from user: Robb_KThen, I would have become a very accomplished artist, with a golden future. OR, I might have failed as an artist, and have become a chronic drunkard, and ended up a pitiful wreck, lying in the gutter, vomiting up bile. (BOTH of which could still happen, I suppose. But if that's what's in store for me, I'd better get moving on it!) Ha! Ha!
You're talking about the early 1970s now. I think the "unsuccesful" past future would've have happened more likely if you went to work for Western, like Barks. The "succesful" past future is more likely to happen if you went to work in the Netherlands, as colleague of the early Daan Jippes and Ed van Schuijlenburg.
In the end, we can be happy that every artist worked in the time and country he worked in. What if the Barkses never moved to America, if Don Rosa was born in 1970, or if Van Horn had been Russian? Or what if Walt Disney suffered from a mental breakdown after losing his biggest star, on one very fateful train journey in early 1928? Anyway, back to reality.
The '43 Scrooge has nothing to do with Scrooge McDuck. Barks never worked on that cartoon, and he just needed a Dickensian miser for a comic. The fact that they look so much alike is just a coincindence. Had it not been a christmas story, Scrooge would've been called John D. Rockerduck.
I think most thought that it was fake. After all, were Disney comics not made by Walt Disney himself? :)
Quote from user: Robb_KThen, I would have become a very accomplished artist, with a golden future. OR, I might have failed as an artist, and have become a chronic drunkard, and ended up a pitiful wreck, lying in the gutter, vomiting up bile. (BOTH of which could still happen, I suppose. But if that's what's in store for me, I'd better get moving on it!) Ha! Ha!
You're talking about the early 1970s now. I think the "unsuccesful" past future would've have happened more likely if you went to work for Western, like Barks. The "succesful" past future is more likely to happen if you went to work in the Netherlands, as colleague of the early Daan Jippes and Ed van Schuijlenburg.
In the end, we can be happy that every artist worked in the time and country he worked in. What if the Barkses never moved to America, if Don Rosa was born in 1970, or if Van Horn had been Russian? Or what if Walt Disney suffered from a mental breakdown after losing his biggest star, on one very fateful train journey in early 1928? Anyway, back to reality.
The '43 Scrooge has nothing to do with Scrooge McDuck. Barks never worked on that cartoon, and he just needed a Dickensian miser for a comic. The fact that they look so much alike is just a coincindence. Had it not been a christmas story, Scrooge would've been called John D. Rockerduck.
Roger North
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 26 -
2011-06-12 at 16:02:05
Isn't John D. Rockerduck the name of one of Scrooge's rivals? I can't imagine that Scrooge would have been John D. Rockerduck if he wasn't created around Christmas time.
Robb_K
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 27 -
2011-06-12 at 17:38:52
Quote from user: Dutch Duckfan Down UnderThe '43 Scrooge has nothing to do with Scrooge McDuck. Barks never worked on that cartoon, and he just needed a Dickensian miser for a comic. The fact that they look so much alike is just a coincindence. Had it not been a Christmas story, Scrooge would've been called John D. Rockerduck.
This could very well be. Barks grew up during the recent aftermath of The Robber Barons' wealth-gathering when there were no income taxes. He DID come up with John D. Rockerduck as a character, eventually. Had he needed a fabulously rich uncle for Donald, NOT in a Christmas story, he might have used Rockerduck, or a Duck-sounding spoof of another of the Robber Barons (J. P. Morgan, Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, etc.). J. P. Duckman?, Andrew Canardegie? - These are not very good, compared to Scrooge McDuck. Good thing he NEEDED a Christmas story!
This could very well be. Barks grew up during the recent aftermath of The Robber Barons' wealth-gathering when there were no income taxes. He DID come up with John D. Rockerduck as a character, eventually. Had he needed a fabulously rich uncle for Donald, NOT in a Christmas story, he might have used Rockerduck, or a Duck-sounding spoof of another of the Robber Barons (J. P. Morgan, Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, etc.). J. P. Duckman?, Andrew Canardegie? - These are not very good, compared to Scrooge McDuck. Good thing he NEEDED a Christmas story!
Deyanmegara
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 28 -
2011-06-12 at 18:25:52
About Scrooge's name I totally agree - it wouldn't have the same impact if it was some parody of a famous millionaire's name.
I guess the thing that struck me when I learned about that cartoon some time ago was how similar the Scot's whiskers loooked to those of Scrooge. And also the voice they used (though maybe it's just a standard Scottish voice imitation?) seemed similar to later film versions of him. Of course the Scot was just a stereotipical image they made up for that particular case, while Scrooge became a very carefully developed character, for which we have to thank Mr. Barks, whether he had seen this film or not.
As for the inaccuracies in such press releases, I'm glad there are guys like you out there to make things clearer.
I guess the thing that struck me when I learned about that cartoon some time ago was how similar the Scot's whiskers loooked to those of Scrooge. And also the voice they used (though maybe it's just a standard Scottish voice imitation?) seemed similar to later film versions of him. Of course the Scot was just a stereotipical image they made up for that particular case, while Scrooge became a very carefully developed character, for which we have to thank Mr. Barks, whether he had seen this film or not.
As for the inaccuracies in such press releases, I'm glad there are guys like you out there to make things clearer.
Fernando Ventura
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 29 -
2011-06-12 at 19:13:07
I saw this and suddenly I want to pay taxes.
Dutch Duckfan Down Under
1964 article about Barks, Scrooge and Walt
Message 30 -
2011-06-13 at 12:17:50
Quote from user: Robb_KHad he needed a fabulously rich uncle for Donald, NOT in a Christmas story, he might have used Rockerduck, or a Duck-sounding spoof of another of the Robber Barons (J. P. Morgan, Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, etc.). J. P. Duckman?, Andrew Canardegie? - These are not very good, compared to Scrooge McDuck. Good thing he NEEDED a Christmas story!
J. Gold? Andrew Canary? Or just the good old-fashioned Moneygrabber $. Wealthyduck?
J. Gold? Andrew Canary? Or just the good old-fashioned Moneygrabber $. Wealthyduck?
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