Annie has been running in fewer than 20 newspapers, where once it appeared in hundreds. The comic strip started in 1924, when Calvin Coolidge was US President and the Great Depression was several years away. Since America was in an economic growth pattern in the mid-twenties capitalist "Oliver Warbucks' became the little orphan girl's 'Daddy'.
Cartoonist Harold Gray worked on the strip until his death in 1968. In the 40+ years following his death, the strip was produced by various different artists. For several years in the 70's the syndicate ran old strips, since they could not find anyone to mirror Gray's specific tone and conservative style.
Following Annie's success on Broadway, the strip was 'reinvented' and cartoonist Leonard Starr took over, with a successful run until he retired in 2000. Jay Maeder and recently Ted Slampyak gave her a complete 'modern' makeover, but obviously it didn't work.
As Sandy would say, "ARF!"
Did anyone ever explain why her eyes had no pupils? That blank look always creeped me out.
Posted by: Jay Amicarella | May 16, 2010 at 11:44 AM