Abbie an' Slats: Difference between revisions

Abbie an' Slats
Abbie an' Slats
	Raeburn Van Buren's Abbie an' Slats (April 14, 1956).
Author(s)	Al Capp (1937–1945); Elliot Caplin (1945–1971)
Illustrator(s)	Raeburn Van Buren
Current status/schedule	Concluded
Launch date	July 6, 1937
End date	January 30, 1971
Syndicate(s)	United Feature Syndicate
Genre(s)	Humor, satire, politics

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Abbie an' Slats is an American comic strip which ran from July 12, 1937, to January 30, 1971, initially written by Al Capp and drawn by Raeburn Van Buren.^[1] It was distributed by United Feature Syndicate.^[2]

Publication history

Abbie an' Slats was Capp's idea; he intended to start a second strip after the success of his popular Li'l Abner. Instead of drawing it himself, Capp recruited well-established freelance magazine illustrator Van Buren. Initially, Van Buren turned down Capp's offer, but he was lured by the prospect of steady work.

The strip was widely syndicated to 400 newspapers, but it never equalled the popularity of Li'l Abner. Capp abandoned the strip in 1945, turning the writing chores over to his brother Elliot Caplin.

Taking on Andy Sprague as an assistant in 1947, Van Buren continued to draw the strip, and it ended with his retirement in 1971.

Van Buren continued Abbie an' Slats for 34 years, retiring in 1971. The National Cartoonists Society named him to their Hall of Fame in 1979.^[3]^[4]

Characters and story

In 1937, the story began with stubborn, street-wise Aubrey Eustace Scrapple, aka Slats, recently orphaned in New York. Arriving by train in a small town of Crabtree Corners, where he was met by his older cousin, the spinster Abigail Scrapple, aka Abbie. Slats joined the household that also included Abbie's sister, the prim and proper Sally.

Slats made an enemy of skinflint Jasper Hagstone when he drove into Hagstone's limousine while trying to avoid running over a dog. However, Hagstone's daughter, Judy, became the object of Slats' affection. Later, Becky Groggins became Slats' sweetheart. Becky's father, J. Pierpont "Bathless" Groggins, eventually became the central character of the Sunday strip.

*Abbie an' Slats* daily (January 23, 1945)

Raeburn Van Buren and Abigail Van Buren

In 1984, Van Buren sent a gift to "Dear Abby" columnist Abigail Van Buren (Pauline Phillips). She wrote back on November 30, 1984, thanking him and then commented on the name similarity:

Yes, I remember our meeting very well. I also recall that every once in a while we'd get our mail mixed up... I at one time (when I first began, I spelled my name "ABBIE"... Then it became even more confusing because of the VAN BUREN... remember?) Abbie and Slats... and the Van Buren. I selected my own name... so perhaps it was an unconscious choice, with you in mind all the while. Be well, Darling One... and stay well. And I hope to heaven you're dangerous!

Reprints

Most books collecting vintage comic strips suffer a loss in reproduction because clippings from newspapers are the usual source, but two Abbie an' Slats books displayed a higher quality because they were compiled from original proof sheets by publisher Ken Pierce.

References

^ "Raeburn Van Buren". Lambiek.net. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
^ Holtz, Allan (2012). American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780472117567.
^ Abbie and Slats at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012.
^ "Raeburn Van Buren; Drew Daily Comic Strip". The New York Times. 1 January 1988. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

External links

Raeburn Van Buren Cartoons at Syracuse University Library

[1] "Raeburn Van Buren". Lambiek.net. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

[2] Holtz, Allan (2012). American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780472117567.

[3] Abbie and Slats at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012.

[4] "Raeburn Van Buren; Drew Daily Comic Strip". The New York Times. 1 January 1988. Retrieved 20 December 2021.

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[2]

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[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American comic strip}}
-{{refimprove|date=October 2011}}
+{{Infobox comic strip
-[[File:Bathless41456.jpg|right|thumb|[[Raeburn Van Buren]]'s ''Abbie an' Slats'' (April 14, 1956)]]
+|title = Abbie an' Slats
-'''''Abbie an' Slats''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[comic strip]] which ran from July 12, 1937, to January 30, 1971, initially written by [[Al Capp]] and drawn by [[Raeburn Van Buren]]. It was distributed by [[United Media|United Feature Syndicate]].
+|image = Bathless41456.jpg
+|caption = [[Raeburn Van Buren]]'s ''Abbie an' Slats'' (April 14, 1956).
+|author = [[Al Capp]] (1937–1945)
+| current = [[Elliot Caplin]] (1945–1971)
+|illustrator = [[Raeburn Van Buren]]
+|status = Concluded
+|syndicate = [[United Feature Syndicate]]
+|publisher =
+|genre =Humor, satire, politics
+|first = {{start date|July 6, 1937}}
+|last = {{end date|January 30, 1971}}
+}}
+'''''Abbie an' Slats''''' is an American [[comic strip]] which ran from July 12, 1937, to January 30, 1971, initially written by [[Al Capp]] and drawn by [[Raeburn Van Buren]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/v/van-buren_raeburn.htm|title=Raeburn Van Buren|website=Lambiek.net|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref> It was distributed by [[United Feature Syndicate]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Holtz |first1=Allan |title=American Newspaper Comics: An Encyclopedic Reference Guide |date=2012 |publisher=The University of Michigan Press |location=Ann Arbor |isbn=9780472117567 |page=41}}</ref>
+== Publication history ==
 ''Abbie an' Slats'' was Capp's idea; he intended to start a second strip after the success of his popular ''[[Li'l Abner]]''. Instead of drawing it himself, Capp recruited well-established freelance magazine illustrator Van Buren. Initially, Van Buren turned down Capp's offer, but he was lured by the prospect of steady work.
-The strip was widely syndicated to 400 newspapers, but it never equalled the popularity of ''Li'l Abner''. Capp abandoned the strip in 1945, turning the writing chores over to his brother [[Elliot Caplin]]. Van Buren continued ''Abbie an' Slats'' for 34 years, retiring in 1971. The National Cartoonists Society named him to their Hall of Fame in 1979.<ref>[http://www.toonopedia.com/abnslats.htm ''Abbie and Slats''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [http://www.webcitation.org/668cIvYdI Archived] from the original on March 13, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/01/obituaries/raeburn-van-buren-drew-daily-comic-strip.html "Raeburn Van Buren; Drew Daily Comic Strip". ''The New York Times'', January 01, 1988.]</ref>
+The strip was widely syndicated to 400 newspapers, but it never equalled the popularity of ''Li'l Abner''. Capp abandoned the strip in 1945, turning the writing chores over to his brother [[Elliot Caplin]].
+Taking on Andy Sprague as an assistant in 1947, Van Buren continued to draw the strip, and it ended with his retirement in 1971.
+Van Buren continued ''Abbie an' Slats'' for 34 years, retiring in 1971. The [[National Cartoonists Society]] named him to their Hall of Fame in 1979.<ref>[http://www.toonopedia.com/abnslats.htm ''Abbie and Slats''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20120912104147/http://www.toonopedia.com/abnslats.htm Archived] from the original on March 13, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/01/obituaries/raeburn-van-buren-drew-daily-comic-strip.html|title=Raeburn Van Buren; Drew Daily Comic Strip|date=1 January 1988|access-date=20 December 2021|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
 ==Characters and story==
-In 1937, the story began with stubborn, street-wise Aubrey Eustace Scrapple, aka '''Slats''', recently orphaned in New York. Arriving by train in a small town of Crabtree Corners, where he was met by his older cousin, the spinster Abigail Scrapple, aka '''Abbie'''. Slats joined the household that also included Abbie's sister, the prim and proper '''Sally'''. Slats made an enemy of skinflint '''Jasper Hagstone''' when he drove into Hagstone's limousine while trying to avoid running over a dog. However, Hagstone's daughter, '''Judy''', became the object of Slats's affection. Later, '''Becky Groggins''' became Slats's sweetheart. Becky's father, '''J. Pierpont "Bathless" Groggins''', eventually became the central character of the [[Sunday strip]].
+In 1937, the story began with stubborn, street-wise Aubrey Eustace Scrapple, aka Slats, recently orphaned in New York. Arriving by train in a small town of Crabtree Corners, where he was met by his older cousin, the spinster Abigail Scrapple, aka Abbie. Slats joined the household that also included Abbie's sister, the prim and proper Sally.
+Slats made an enemy of skinflint Jasper Hagstone when he drove into Hagstone's limousine while trying to avoid running over a dog. However, Hagstone's daughter, Judy, became the object of Slats' affection. Later, Becky Groggins became Slats' sweetheart. Becky's father, J. Pierpont "Bathless" Groggins, eventually became the central character of the [[Sunday strip]].
 [[Image:abbie450123.jpg|thumb|680px|center|''Abbie an' Slats'' [[daily strip|daily]] (January 23, 1945)]]
 ==Archives==
-Taking on Andy Sprague as an assistant in 1947, Van Buren continued to draw the strip, and it ended with his retirement in 1971. Van Buren's work from 1954 to 1968 (160 items) is kept at the Syracuse University Library's Special Collections Research Center.
+Van Buren's work from 1954 to 1968 (160 items) is kept at the Syracuse University Library's Special Collections Research Center.
-In 1984, Van Buren sent a gift to "Dear Abby" columnist Abigail Van Buren (Pauline Phillips), she wrote back on November 30, 1984, thanking him and then commented on the name similarity:
-:Yes, I remember our meeting very well. I also recall that every once in a while we'd get our mail mixed up... I at one time (when I first began, I spelled my name "ABBIE"... Then it became even more confusing because of the VAN BUREN... remember?) Abbie and Slats... and the Van Buren. I selected my own name... so perhaps it was an unconscious choice, with you in mind all the while. Be well, Darling One... and stay well. And I hope to heaven you're dangerous!
 [[Image:Abbieslatsbook.jpg|right|thumb]]
+== Raeburn Van Buren and Abigail Van Buren ==
+In 1984, Van Buren sent a gift to "[[Dear Abby]]" columnist Abigail Van Buren ([[Pauline Phillips]]). She wrote back on November 30, 1984, thanking him and then commented on the name similarity:
+{{cquote|Yes, I remember our meeting very well. I also recall that every once in a while we'd get our mail mixed up... I at one time (when I first began, I spelled my name "ABBIE"... Then it became even more confusing because of the VAN BUREN... remember?) Abbie and Slats... and the Van Buren. I selected my own name... so perhaps it was an unconscious choice, with you in mind all the while. Be well, Darling One... and stay well. And I hope to heaven you're dangerous!}}
 ==Reprints==
@@ Line 37: / Line 58: @@
 [[Category:Comic strip duos]]
 [[Category:American comics characters]]
+[[Category:Characters created by Al Capp]]
 [[Category:Humor comics]]
 [[Category:Adventure comics]]
 [[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1937]]
 [[Category:Al Capp]]
+[[Category:Male characters in comics]]