United Feature Syndicate
United Feature Syndicate, Inc. 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 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, Monty, Nancy, Over the Hedge, and Marmaduke.
History
United Feature Syndicate was formed in 1919. From 1922 to 1958, United Features was the column, feature 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.It became a dominant player in the syndication market in the early 1930s. In March 1930, United Features acquired the Metropolitan Newspaper Service. 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..
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, Everyday Movies, Fritzi Ritz, 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.
In 1934, United Features launched its first original strip, Al Capp's Li'l Abner. As Li'l Abner
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, Sparkler Comics, and Comics on Parade. The company even created its own original superheroes: Iron Vic, Mirror Man, and Spark Man. 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 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 negotiated with Universal Uclick to distribute their 150 syndicated 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 F Minus Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley Health Capsules originally by Dr. Michael Petti and Jud Hurd; then by Bron Smith Jump Start by Robb Armstrong The Knight Life by Keith Knight Lola by Todd Clark — acquired from Tribune Media Services, where it launched in 1999Marmaduke originally by Brad Anderson — acquired from National Newspaper Syndicate where it launched in 1954Monty by Jim Meddick Nancy originally by Ernie Bushmiller Prickly City by Scott Stantis Rip Haywire by Dan Thompson Ripley's Believe It or Not! — acquired from King Features Syndicate; originally launched 1918Rose Is Rose originally by Pat Brady Shortcuts by Jeff Harris Tarzan originally by Hal Foster — acquired from Metropolitan Newspaper Service where it launched in 1929; in reprintsUncle Art's Funland originally by Art Nugent — acquired from Bell-McClure Syndicate in 1972Branded Andrews-McMeel
9 Chickweed Lane by Brooke McEldowney Betty by Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen Brevity, currently by Dan Thompson The Buckets originally by Scott Stantis — acquired from Tribune Media Services where in launched in 1990Frazz by Jef Mallett Garfield by Jim Davis Graffiti by Gene Mora Grand Avenue originally by Steve Breen; now by Mike Thompson KidSpot by Dan Thompson KidTown by Steve McGarry — formerly known as KidCityLuann by Greg Evans — acquired from North America Syndicate, where it launched in 1985Off the Mark by Mark Parisi Over the Hedge by Michael Fry & T. Lewis Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz — in reprintsPearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis Reality Check by Dave Whamond World of Wonder by Laurie TriefeldtFormer and concluded United Features strips
Abbie an' Slats by Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren Alice in Wonderland by Edward D. Kuekes and Olive Ray Scott — based on the Lewis Carroll bookAsk Shagg by Peter Guren Back Home Again by Ed Dodd Berry's World by Jim Berry- Billy Make Believe by Harry E. Homan Biography by John Roman and Steve McGarry Broncho Bill by Harry O'Neill and then Fred L. Meagher — originally Young Buffalo Bill, then Buckaroo Bill, then Broncho Bill, an early Western strip featuring a group known as Boy Rangers then Buffalo Bill The Captain and the Kids by Rudolph Dirks and later John Dirks — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931Casey Ruggles by Warren Tufts Committed by Michael Fry Condorito originally by René Pepo Ríos Cow and Boy by Mark Leiknes Cynical Susie by Laverne Harding and "Becky Sharp" Dickey's Dogs by Robert L. Dickey — acquired in 1930 from Metropolitan Newspaper ServiceDiesel Sweeties by Richard Stevens III — returned to web distributionDilbert by Scott Adams The Doings of the Duffs originally by Walter R. Allman, then Ben Batsford & Buford Tune The Dropouts by Howard Post Ella Cinders by Bill Conselman and Charles Plumb — acquired in 1930 from Metropolitan Newspaper ServiceEveryday Movies by Denys Wortman — gag panel acquired from World Feature Service where it originated in 1921Ferd'nand by Henning Dahl Mikkelsen The Doodle Family by Ben Batsford Freshly Squeezed by Ed Stein Fritzi Ritz, originally by Larry Whittington — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931Funny Side Up by Abner Dean Gamin and Patches by Mort Walker Geech by Jerry Bittle Gordo by Gus Arriola Grin and Bear It by George Lichty Gummer Street by Phil Krohn Hap Hopper, Washington Correspondent by Jack Sparling, William Laas, Drew Pearson, and Robert S. AllenHawkshaw the Detective, originally by Gus Mager — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931Herman by Jim Unger Howdy Doody written by Edward Kean & Stan Lee, and illustrated by Chad Grothkopf — Sunday strip onlyIt's Only a Game by Charles M. Schulz and Jim Sasseville Jane's World by Paige Braddock Jim Hardy by Dick Moores Joe's Car by Victor Forsythe ; became Joe Jinks ; became Joe Jinks & Dynamite Dunn by Pete Llanuza and Sam Leff & Mo Leff ; became Curly Kayoe by Henry Formhals — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931John Carter of Mars by John Coleman Burroughs Judge Wright by Robert Bernstein and Bob Fujitani Li'l Abner by Al Capp Little Mary Mixup by Robert Moore Brinkerhof — acquired from World Feature Service in 1931Long Sam by Al Capp and Bob Lubbers Mamie by Russell Patterson Meg! by Greg Curfman Mitzi McCoy by Kreigh Collins Off the Leash by W. B. Park Oh! Margy by John Held Jr. Ophelia and Jake by Heidi Stetson Queen of the Universe by Sam Hurt Race Riley and the Commandos by Milburn Rosser The Real-Great Adventures of Terr’ble Thompson!, Hero of History, by Gene Deitch Rudy by William Overgard Rudy Park by Theron Heir and Darrin Bell Secret Asian Man by Tak Toyoshima Skylark by Elmer Woggon Spot the Frog by Mark Heath Spunkie by Loy Byrnes Star Hawks by Gil Kane and Ron Goulart The Sunshine Club by Howie Schneider Suzie View by Tauhid Bondia and Erik McCurdy Tailspin Tommy by Hal Forrest There Oughta Be a Law! by Frank Borth, Warren Whipple, and Mort Gerberg — acquired from Bell-McClure Syndicate, where it was launched in 1944Tubby by Doc Winner Twin Earths by Oskar Lebeck and Alden McWilliams Up Front by Bill MauldinU.S. Acres by Jim Davis Wee Pals — came over from Lew Little EnterprisesWright Angles by Larry Wright
United Feature comic books (selected)
The Captain and the Kids Comics on Parade Curly Kayoe Fritzi Ritz — continued by St. John PublicationsNancy and Sluggo — continued by St. John PublicationsSingle Series Sparkle Comics Sparkler Comics Tip Top Comics — continued by St. John PublicationsTip Topper Comics- ''United Comics''
Syndicated editorial cartoons
Syndicated columns
A+ Advice for Parents: Helping Your Child Succeed in School by Leanna LandsmannThe Aces on Bridge by Bobby WolffAmong Friends by Tad BartimusAnimal Doctor by Michael Fox, D.V.M.Ask Mr. Know-It-All by Gary Lee ClothierFrom Consumer ReportsCook Well, Eat Well by Dana CarpenderDesperation Dinners by Beverly Mills and Alicia RossEat in and Save by Marialisa CaltaFirst Aid for the Ailing House by Henri deMarneFrugal Living by Sara NoelDr. Gott by Peter GottHarper's MagazineThe Harvard Medical School AdviserThe Housing Scene by Lew Sichelman- Dick Kleiner
- Harvey Mackay
- Mary MitchellMiss Manners by Judith MartinThe New RepublicNextSteps by Jan L. Warner and Jan K. CollinsOn Nutrition by Ed BlonzParent-to-Parent by Betsy FlaglerParenting by the staff of Parenting magazineSalonSmart Money by Bruce WilliamsSoap Opera Review by Nancy JohnsonStarlight Sweet Land of Liberty by Nat HentoffTalking Money with Jean ChatzkyTune in Tomorrow by Nancy ReichardtTune in Tonight by Kevin McDonough
- Diana Westworkplace911 by Bob RosnerWorld Almanac DatabankYou Be the Critic by Bob HabesYour Birthday by Stella WilderYour Stars This Week by Stella Wilder
Licensed properties
Discontinued features
Frederick C. by Fred Othman My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt- Robert Ruark Skolsky's Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky Totem Pole by H. Allen Smith Washington Calling by Marquis Childs Washington Merry-Go-Round by Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson