Comments on: George Ward, the Greatest Cartoonist Who Ever Lived

By: Galen Fott

Galen Fott — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:39:30 +0000

Bill Crouch’s interview with Selby Kelly printed in “Phi Beta Pogo” seems to cast doubt on the theory of Ward ever drawing Pogo. A quote:

Kelly tried to get George Ward to do some drawing. He gave him a Sunday page and asked him to do it in blue pencil. He told Ward to bring it back and show him as he wasn’t sure of the storyline. After George went away, Kelly said, “I’m not sure he can draw it and I want to see what it looks like.”
When George brought it back he looked at it and told George, “I’ve changed my mind — I’m not going to use this.” Kelly was a perfectionist and he wasn’t totally happy with the results. For one thing, George had no animation background.

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:41:51 +0000

I worked in the Newsweek art department for 20 years and if it wasn’t for the presence of George, it would have been a slightly less crazy place. I remember him telling me about his work with Kelly and as you needed any proof, he would whip up a Pogo character on the spot. Walking around the office with his tie flung over his shoulder, a cigar in one hand and food in the other (”Hey vet, you want a bite”!), he was a wonder to be around. He was always pressed into service ( he didn’t need any prodding) to provide a cartoon for any event. I have one for my marriage. Of course the face of my wife Linda is great, but somehow her body wound up belonging to Betty Page. There will never be another George Ward.

By: melinda farmer

melinda farmer — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:56:40 +0000

i have tons of these books and have just now started listing some….i had no idea what a fabulous collection they were….i purchased a box full at an estate sale and have lots of duplicates….they are so fun to read!!!

By: Dennis Wickman

Dennis Wickman — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:25:53 +0000

I worked with George at Newsweek Magazine in the late 70s. He was a photo retoucher on the international edition. I was working part time with him once a week for about 5 months. He was quite a character. He called everyone ‘vet’ and was always introducing me to every one he saw. We went out to eat every night and made sure he introduced me to all the pretty waitresses.

He told me that he had every intention of continuing Pogo after Kelly died but Kelly’s wife said the strip had to end with his death. He seemed pretty bitter about it.
I was surprised to see the family let the strip continue years later after all.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:56:31 +0000

I remember George Ward as my cartoonist neighbor in the 1950’s. His wife was friends with my mother their entire adult lives after they met. George was so energetic and funny! I was just an elementary school kid, and he gave me a Pogo cartoon book…which I will dig up. I know I still have it. He also frequented my father’s diner in suburbia for years. He definitely had a talent and was some influence on my own art to a degree as well. Fun to remember the old days.

By: Gaye Dorsey

Gaye Dorsey — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:20:15 +0000

In the artwork above..the top Pogo is not George (Bud)but the lower is, for sure…I am a 1st Cousin once removed from George and have several examples of his early work, which is distinctive from Kelly’s, He drew much less hair on Pogo. Also the autograph at the top is not Ward’s. but the signature, with the heart is most certainly his, note the difference in the “G” with the Ward signature. Many of his Sunday Pogo’s had this distinctive G in the Pogo title, looks almost like a 6. If you have any of those they were George’s. My father used to read Pogo every Sunday and I would always ask “Is that Uncle Bud’s?”. For many years he would cut out George’s work. The bear you refer to is George’s. It was actually patterned after a housekeeper my Grandmother had whose name was Mildred. “Bud” always said she was big as a bear but gentle as a lamb. I have an original 1945 Poster that he did for my father (his 1st cousin) depicting his return to US from WWII. Would love to know what it is worth, can’t imagine. I also have several illustrations he did for his Aunt Mary (my grandmother). I remember, who we called Uncle Bud, well..he was a fun, very intelligent, and loving man. And yes, I agree….probably the best cartoonist ever.

By: Gary Marr

Gary Marr — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:18:49 +0000

I also have a George Ward cartoon circa 1979 given by Ward to my father Joseph Marr, who worked for newsweek magazine at the time. I never knew who the cartoonist was til I read this thread this morning and his relationship with Walt Kelly and Pogo. My father was dying of cancer at the time and the note at the bottom which Ward had signed by my father’s staff reads “Love ya Joe, George Ward”. I have it hanging in my living room. It’d done in ink.

By: Mark Morey

Mark Morey — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:07:56 +0000

I have a non-Pogo-related Ward cartoon that certainly bears out his drawing and brush skills, as well as ways in which is both like and unlike Kelly. However, to assert that the Sundays are better than the dailies is almost like asserting that the comic books were better than the developed strip. The depth of content, both written and drawn, in the dailies, esp. 1953-1958, consistently outpaces the Sundays.

By: dell

dell — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:09:45 +0000

I have 2 western type cartoon drawings signed by Ward.
I would like to find the first name and if they may
be worth something. They are dated 1960. Thanks for your help.

By: Kip W

Kip W — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 01:17:43 +0000

Wally Wood could certainly draw a good Pogo strip, though it’s possible to tell by looking that the effects were achieved by more painstaking means than Kelly’s. Walt could toss the stuff off, and Wally had to work to duplicate it — but I still think Wally’s work was damn good, and if he was drawing Pogo all the time, I expect it would have gotten easier for him.