120th anniversary
Wisconsinite invented the daily comic strip
The comic strip hasn't been around forever. It was 120 years ago that Reedsburg, Wis., native Clare Briggs invented the daily newspaper comic strip. To celebrate his accomplishment, the Reedsburg Public Library will present Clare Briggs and the Art of Cartooning starting Sept. 12.
Not only did he invent the daily comic strip, Briggs went on to invent the broadcast sit-com. He also produced live-action movies at his own studio. He became a celebrity and toured the country. People filled theaters just to watch him draw on stage.
A multi-media celebrity in his time, Briggs (1875-1930) reminded readers all his life that he was from "good old Sauk County" in Wisconsin. Sadly, he is little remembered today. He has a Sauk County historic marker in the town's Webb Park. Another marker, from the state, is on Highway 33. They both summarize Briggs' career as one of America's best-loved cartoonists. But today, even to comics buffs, Briggs probably remains obscure.
"That's a shame," says Jay Rath, the Madison-area writer and cartoonist who will be leading the library series. "He revolutionized comedy and media. In his day, Briggs was daringly innovative."
The secret was that he connected on a personal level, says Rath. "Briggs consciously mined his Sauk County childhood for material," he says. "He developed a form of gentle, identifiable humor that was very, very different from the broad slapstick and ethnic comedy that dominated entertainment media based on the East Coast."
The series kicks off with a 45-minute presentation on Briggs' life and work, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the library, 370 Vine St.
It will be followed by a series of three hands-on cartooning classes from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 3, 10 and 17. Creativity, comedy and comic art will be investigated in these hands-on workshops, as participants sharpen their artistic and innovative skills. The fast-paced and funny classes are geared toward teens but any ages may participate. Attend any or all. No experience is necessary.
Jay Rath has worked for Disney, MAD magazine, Fantagraphics comics and The Onion. For more than a decade he taught cartooning and animation through the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. He has long made a special study of Briggs.
All programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to reserve a spot in any of the classes, visit reedsburglibrary.org, (608) 768-READ (7323).
Clare Briggs and the Art of Cartooning is supported in part by a grant from the Sauk County Extension Education, Arts & Culture Committee and Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding from Reedsburg State Bank.
