United Feature Syndicate

United Feature Syndicate (UFS) is a large American editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1919. Originally part of E. W. Scripps Company, it was part of United Media (along with the Newspaper Enterprise Association) from 1978 to 2011, and is now a division of Andrews McMeel Syndication. United Features has syndicated many notable comic strips, including ''Peanuts'', ''Garfield'', ''Li'l Abner'', ''Dilbert'', '' Nancy'', and ''Marmaduke''.

History

United Feature Syndicate was formed in 1919.Booker, M. Keith. "United Feature Syndicate," in ''Comics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas'' ( ABC-CLIO, 2014), p. 399."United Feature Syndicate Buys Metropolitan Service From Elser: Both Firms Will Retain Separate Identities, With Elser Remaining as Vice-President — Monte Bourjaily to Direct Both Organizations," ''Editor & Publisher'' (March 15, 1930). Archived a
"News of Yore 1930: Another Syndicate Gobbled,"
''Stripper's Guide'' (May 4, 2010). From 1922 to 1958, United Features was the column, feature (and comics) division of Scripps' United Press Association. Authors syndicated by United Features in its early years included Frank A. Vanderlip, Octavus Roy Cohen, David Lloyd George, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Herbert Hoover, Sinclair Lewis, Benito Mussolini, Édouard Herriot, and Heywood Broun.Hudson, Frederic, Alfred McClung Lee, and Frank Luther Mott. ''American Journalism 1690-1940'', Volume 4 (Psychology Press, 2000), p. 591.

It became a dominant player in the syndication market in the early 1930s. In March 1930, United Features acquired the Metropolitan Newspaper Service (ostensibly from the Bell Syndicate). And in late February 1931, Scripps acquired the ''New York World'', which controlled the syndication arms of the Pulitzer company: World Feature Service and Press Publishing Co. (which unlike other syndicates were owned by the paper rather than being separate entities).

The Metropolitan Newspaper Service acquisition brought over the comic strips ''Tarzan'' and ''Ella Cinders''. The World Feature Service acquisition brought over the comic strips ''The Captain and the Kids'', '' Hawkshaw the Detective'', ''Joe Jinks'', and '' Little Mary Mixup''. From this point, United Features became a successful distributor of newspaper comics, for the first time distributing color Sunday strips. An April 1933 article in ''Fortune'' described United Features as one of the "Big Four" American syndicates (along with King Features Syndicate, Chicago Tribune Syndicate, and the Bell Syndicate).Jeet Heer, "Crane's Great Gamble", in Roy Crane, ''Buz Sawyer: 1, The War in the Pacific''. Seattle, Wash.: Fantagraphics Books, 2011.

In 1934, United Features launched its first original strip, Al Capp's ''Li'l Abner''. As ''Li'l Abner'''s popularity increased, creator Capp lampooned United Features in his strip-within-a-strip, ''Fearless Fosdick'', which featured the abusive and corrupt "Squeezeblood Syndicate."

Robert M. Hall was a sales manager at United Features starting in 1935; he left in 1944 to start the Post Syndicate.

From 1936 to 1954, United Feature published their own line of comic books, using their comic strip features as characters. Lev Gleason, who in the 1940s and 1950s published a number of popular comics titles, was an editor at United Feature in the beginning, including the company's first title, ''Tip Top Comics''. Three United Feature titles published more than 100 issues: ''Tip Top Comics'' (188 issues, Apr. 1936–Sept./Oct. 1954), ''Sparkler Comics'' (120 issues, July 1941–Nov./Dec. 1954), and ''Comics on Parade'' (104 issues, Apr. 1938–Feb. 1955). The company even created its own original superheroes: Iron Vic, Mirror Man, and Spark Man (none of whom caught on). After ending the United Feature comics line in 1954, a few of their titles would be continued by St. John Publications. The rest of their comic book properties were acquired by Dell Comics in 1958.

In 1968, United Features syndicated about 50 features to 1500 clients.

In 1972, United Features Syndicate acquired and absorbed the North American Newspaper Alliance and the Bell-McClure Syndicate into its operations.

In May 1978 Scripps merged United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association to form United Media Enterprises. United Media continued to syndicate strips under the United Feature Syndicate brand.

In 1994, Jim Davis's company, Paws, Inc., purchased the rights to ''Garfield'' (including the strips from 1978 to 1993) from United Features. The strip is currently distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication, while rights for the strip remain with Paws.

On February 24, 2011, United Media struck a distribution deal with Universal Uclick (now known as Andrews McMeel Syndication) for syndication of the company's 150 comic strip and news features, which became effective on June 1 of that year. While United Media effectively ceased to exist, Scripps still maintains copyrights and intellectual property rights. The United Feature Syndicate brand still continues to be used on many strips.

United Feature Syndicate comic strips

Current United Features strips

Branded UFS

* ''Drabble'' by Kevin Fagan (launched 1979)
* '' F Minus'' (launched 2002; entered syndication 2006)
* ''Get Fuzzy'' by Darby Conley (launched 1999)
* '' Health Capsules'' originally by Dr. Michael Petti and Jud Hurd; then by Bron Smith (launched 1961)
* '' Jump Start'' by Robb Armstrong (launched 1989)
* '' The Knight Life'' by Keith Knight (launched 2008)
* ''Lola'' by Todd Clark (2005–present) — acquired from Tribune Media Services, where it launched in 1999
* ''Marmaduke'' originally by Brad Anderson (c. 1970–present) — acquired from National Newspaper Syndicate where it launched in 1954
* ''Monty'' by Jim Meddick (launched 1985)
* '' Nancy'' originally by Ernie Bushmiller (launched 1938)
* ''Prickly City'' by Scott Stantis (launched 2004)
* '' Rip Haywire'' by Dan Thompson (launched 2009)
* ''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' (1989–present) — acquired from King Features Syndicate; originally launched 1918
* ''Rose Is Rose'' originally by Pat Brady (launched 1984)
* '' Shortcuts'' by Jeff Harris (launched 1999)
* ''Tarzan'' originally by Hal Foster (1932–2001) — acquired from Metropolitan Newspaper Service where it launched in 1929; in reprints
* '' Uncle Art's Funland'' originally by Art Nugent (launched 1933) — acquired from Bell-McClure Syndicate in 1972

Branded Andrews-McMeel

* ''9 Chickweed Lane'' by Brooke McEldowney (launched 1993)
* ''Betty'' by Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen (launched 1991)
* '' Brevity'', currently by Dan Thompson (launched January 3, 2005)
* ''The Buckets'' originally by Scott Stantis (1994–present) — acquired from Tribune Media Services where in launched in 1990
* ''Frazz'' by Jef Mallett (launched 2001)
* ''Garfield'' by Jim Davis (June 19, 1978 – 1993; moved to Universal Press Syndicate, which is now part of the same company that owns United Features)
* ''Graffiti'' by Gene Mora (launched May 3, 2011)
* '' Grand Avenue'' originally by Steve Breen; now by Mike Thompson (launched 1999)
* ''KidSpot'' by Dan Thompson (launched 2011)
* '' KidTown'' by Steve McGarry (launched 2011) — formerly known as ''KidCity''
* '' Luann'' by Greg Evans (1996–present) — acquired from North America Syndicate, where it launched in 1985
* '' Off the Mark'' by Mark Parisi (launched 1987)
* ''Over the Hedge'' by Michael Fry & T. Lewis (launched 1995)
* ''Peanuts'' by Charles M. Schulz (1950–2000) — in reprints
* ''Pearls Before Swine'' by Stephan Pastis (launched 2001)
* '' Reality Check'' by Dave Whamond (launched 1995)
* '' World of Wonder'' by Laurie Triefeldt (launched 2000)

Former and concluded United Features strips

* ''Abbie an' Slats'' by Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren (July 12, 1937 – January 30, 1971)
* ''Alice in Wonderland'' by Edward D. Kuekes and Olive Ray Scott (1934-1935) — based on the Lewis Carroll bookDave Strickler, ''Syndicated comic strips and artists, 1924-1995 : the complete index'', Cambria, Cal. :Comics Access, 1995. (p. 150, 172)
* ''Ask Shagg'' by Peter Guren (1980–1995; moved to Creators Syndicate)Astor, David (July 29, 1995). "'Shagg' to Creators". ''Editor & Publisher''. Pg. 34
* ''Back Home Again'' by Ed Dodd (1930 – 1945)
* '' Berry's World'' by Jim Berry (1963 – 2003)
*''Billy Make Believe'' by Harry E. Homan (begun 1934; end-date uncertain)Ron Goulart, ''Encyclopedia of American Comics''. New York, Facts on File, 1992. (pp. 33-4,37,57,73-74,106,262-263)
* ''Biography'' (June 1, 1986–1991) by John Roman (1986–1989) and Steve McGarry (1989–1991)
* ''Broncho Bill'' by Harry O'Neill (1928–1950) and then Fred L. Meagher (1950–1956) — originally ''Young Buffalo Bill'' (1928–c. 1930), then ''Buckaroo Bill'' (c. 1930–1932), then ''Broncho Bill'' (1932–1955), then ''Buffalo Bill'' (1955–1956); an early Western strip about a group called The Boy Rangers
* ''The Captain and the Kids and later John Dirks (1919–1979) — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931
* '' Casey Ruggles'' by Warren Tufts