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Sidney Smith Cartoonist
Nip529
Uncle Bim from the Andy Gump Comic Series.
Cartoonist Sidney Smith, creator of the Chicago Tribune's famed The Gumps comic strip.
The Gumps was the very first daily comic strip (begun in 1917), and the first "Mr. & Mrs." strip featuring
the comical antics of a married couple. At the height of its popularity in the 1930's The Gumps appeared
in 300 newspapers around the world, its creator having signed a million-dollar contract for its
syndication -- in the midst of the Great Depression.
And the first picture ever sent by facsimile was a line drawing of Andy Gump, in a demonstration by
radio station KPO in San Francisco, in 1925.
Sidney Smith, born in 1877, frequented his estate in Lake Geneva from 1922 until 1935. He was a
socialite and an avid golfer at the Chapel Hill Club to the south of Lake Geneva, where he organized a
local playoff dubbed "The Gump Club." Smith drove a bright yellow Deussenberg convertible coupe,
and one of his regular stops was a local speakeasy where prohibition whiskey ran freely (as described
in a story by Forrest Beck, titled "Beck's Garage".)
Andy Gump memorial to cartoonist Sidney Smith in Lake Geneva, WI/US.
At other times Smith traveled more broadly. An old article in the Daily Oklahoman describes him visiting
the 101 Ranch for the highly entertaining annual Terrapin Derby. Wherever he went he drew cartoons;
he drew them on the walls for lasting souvenirs. Andy Gump was a memorable character. His most
recognizable feature -- no chin -- eventually led to a 1978 dental surgery publication describing "The
Andy Gump fracture of the mandible," a cause of respiratory obstruction.
Smith's Gumps licensing ventures were very successful. Andy Gump graced songbooks, was featured
in board games, modeled in savings banks and Christmas lights. He was even fashioned into cookies
made by Sunshine Biscuit, Inc.
Nip529
Uncle Bim from the Andy Gump Comic Series.
Cartoonist Sidney Smith, creator of the Chicago Tribune's famed The Gumps comic strip.
The Gumps was the very first daily comic strip (begun in 1917), and the first "Mr. & Mrs." strip featuring
the comical antics of a married couple. At the height of its popularity in the 1930's The Gumps appeared
in 300 newspapers around the world, its creator having signed a million-dollar contract for its
syndication -- in the midst of the Great Depression.
And the first picture ever sent by facsimile was a line drawing of Andy Gump, in a demonstration by
radio station KPO in San Francisco, in 1925.
Sidney Smith, born in 1877, frequented his estate in Lake Geneva from 1922 until 1935. He was a
socialite and an avid golfer at the Chapel Hill Club to the south of Lake Geneva, where he organized a
local playoff dubbed "The Gump Club." Smith drove a bright yellow Deussenberg convertible coupe,
and one of his regular stops was a local speakeasy where prohibition whiskey ran freely (as described
in a story by Forrest Beck, titled "Beck's Garage".)
Andy Gump memorial to cartoonist Sidney Smith in Lake Geneva, WI/US.
At other times Smith traveled more broadly. An old article in the Daily Oklahoman describes him visiting
the 101 Ranch for the highly entertaining annual Terrapin Derby. Wherever he went he drew cartoons;
he drew them on the walls for lasting souvenirs. Andy Gump was a memorable character. His most
recognizable feature -- no chin -- eventually led to a 1978 dental surgery publication describing "The
Andy Gump fracture of the mandible," a cause of respiratory obstruction.
Smith's Gumps licensing ventures were very successful. Andy Gump graced songbooks, was featured
in board games, modeled in savings banks and Christmas lights. He was even fashioned into cookies
made by Sunshine Biscuit, Inc.
