National Newspaper Syndicate

The National Newspaper Syndicate, originally known as the John F. Dille Co., was a syndication service that operated from 1917 to c. 1984. It was founded by Chicago businessman John F. Dille and specialized in comic strips and gag cartoons. It also carried advice columns, such as Paul Popenoe's "Modern Marriage." It is most well known for syndicating '' Buck Rogers'', considered by many to be the first adventure comic strip.

History

John Flint Dille (1884–1957) launched John Dille's National Newspaper Service in early 1917; later renaming it the John F. Dille Co. syndicate. The Dille syndicate's first successful strip was Richard A. "Dick" Clarke's ''Moving Picture Funnies'', which debuted in February 1917 and ran until 1946.

In 1922, the Dille syndicate absorbed the Uncle Ray Syndicate, founded by Ramon Coffman, and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, mostly in order to syndicate Coffman's column ''Child's Story of the Human Race''.

H. F. Voorhees launched a number of strips with the syndicate in the period 1924–1926, but none of them caught on.

Dille launched '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D.'' on January 7, 1929; internationally popular for many decades, it ran continuously until July 8, 1967. The stripe was created by Philip Nowlan and illustrated by Dick Calkins. (John F. Dille himself ghost-wrote the '' Buck Rogers'' strip from October 1949 to January 1951, working with artist Leonard Dworkins.)

''Buck Rogers'' artist Dick Calkins' own strip, '' Skyroads'' also launched in 1929, running until 1942.

Walt Ditzen's ''Fan Fare'' was launched in 1947, running until 1961, when it changed titles to ''Fun Fare'', running until 1973.

Cartoonist Dave Gerard began a 35-year relationship with the Dille syndicate in 1949 with his strip ''Viewpoint'', which ran until 1953. That was succeeded by the popular strip ''Will-Yum'', which ran from 1953 to 1966. Gerard's ''City Hall'' strip ran from 1967 to 1984."Dave Gerard Cartoons: An inventory of his cartoons at Syracuse University,"
Syracuse University Libraries Special Collections Research Center. Accessed October 14, 2018.

The Dille syndicate launched Brad Anderson's '' Marmaduke'' in 1954, carrying the panel until c. 1970, when it moved to United Feature Syndicate. At some point in the mid-1950s, the syndicate was renamed the National Newspaper Syndicate.

John F. Dille died in 1957,"JOHN F. DILLE, 72, NEWS SYNDICATOR: 'Buck Rogers' Creator Dies — Called Originator of Adventure Comic Strips,"
''New York Times'' (September 12, 1957), p. 31. succeeded as general manager of the syndicate by his son Robert Crabtree Dille.

Popular National Newspaper strips from the 1960s included Win Mortimer's ''Larry Brannon'', Elizabeth Brozowska's ''Geraldine'', Bill Lignante's ''Let's Explore Your Mind'' (1962–1971), and ''Woody's World'' (1963–1979), originally by John Holm.

In 1968 the syndicate was offering about 35 features to about 650 client newspapers.

Robert Dille died in 1983, and the syndicate faded away by 1984. Robert's son, Flint Dille, is an accomplished screenwriter, game designer and novelist. He is part of the Dille Family Trust, which owned the rights to the Buck Rogers character.

Advice Columns

The Syndicate ran one of the earliest marriage advice columns. Written by Paul Popenoe, it ran from 1947 to 1972. At first, called "Modern Marriage," its name was changed to "Your Family and You" in 1958.

Strips and panels

* ''Abe Martin Junior'' by E. B. Sullivan (1938-1939) — apparently replaced the ''Abe Martin'' strip for these two years
* ''Abe Martin of Brown County'' by Kin Hubbard (c. 1917–1930) — strip began in ''The Indianapolis News'' in 1904
* ''Adam Apple’s Adventures'' by Don Herold (1932) — daily panel
* ''Amazing But True'' by Albert Edward Wiggam (1931-1932) — daily panel
* ''Applesauce'' by Dick Calkins (1924) — daily panel
* ''The Bag Line'' by H. F. Voorhees (1925) — weekly panel
* '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D.'' originally by Dick Calkins (January 7, 1929–July 8, 1967)
* ''City Hall'' by Dave Gerard (1967–1984)
* ''Codgie'' by H. F. Voorhees (1924)
* ''Deb’s Diary'' by Earl Reeder (1928)
* ''Do It Yourself'' by Morrie Brickman (1950s) — later continued under the title ''Crosscut'' from 1957 to 1962

* ''Famous Fighters'' by John Wentworth (1932)
* ''Fan Fare'' by Walt Ditzen (1947-1961) — later continued under the title ''Fun Fare'' from 1961–1973
* ''Flying Legion'' by William Winston (1939-1942)
* ''Gargoyle and Gadget'' by E. B. Sullivan (1936–1945)
* ''Geraldine'' by Elizabeth Brozowska (1961–1968) — originated in Denmark in 1958 under the title ''Josephine''
* ''Horse Shoe Sam'' by C. E. Bidinger (1928)
* ''Jezabelle Jones'' by Ira Yarbrough (1952)Yarbrough entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999''. Accessed October 13, 2018.
* ''Larry Brannon'' by Win Mortimer (1961-1968)
* ''Let's Explore Your Mind'' by Bill Lignante (1962–1971)

* '' Marmaduke'' by Brad Anderson (1954–c. 1970) — strip moved to United Feature Syndicate, where it continues today
* ''Mimi'' by Mary Dorman (1974)
* ''Mr. Sandman'' by Frank Vydra (1970)
* ''Moving Picture Funnies'' by Richard A. "Dick" Clarke (February 27, 1917–1946)
* ''One Up'' by Lew Saw (1963–1966)
* ''Pa and Ma'' by H. F. Voorhees (1926)
* ''Pat the Paris Shopper'' by Joan Carson (1932–1935)
* ''Playmates'' by Lloyd Jones & H. F. Voorhees (1924–1925)

* '' Skyroads'' originally by Lester J. Maitland and Dick Calkins (1929–1942) — known as ''Clipper Williams on Courage Island'' from 1937 to 1938
* ''Speed Spaulding'' by Edwin Balmer & Philip Wylie and Marvin Bradley (January 8 1940–March 29, 1941)
* ''Talullah''"Possible Suit Over 'Tallulah' Strip," ''Editor & Publisher'' (1950)
archived at ''Stripper's Guide''
Accessed October 13, 2018. by Ira Yarbrough (1950–1953)
* ''Thornsby'' by Fred McLaren (cartoonist) (1972-1975)
* ''Viewpoint'' by Dave Gerard (1949-1953)
* ''Will-Yum'' by Dave Gerard (1953–1966)
* ''Woody's World'' (1963–1979) by John Holm (1963-1975) and Bill Potter (1976–1979)

References

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Comic strip syndicates
Companies based in Chicago
Mass media companies established in 1917