From the Dec. 21, 2014, Chicago Tribune by Ron Grossman.
Graffiti cartoons date back to ancient Rome, but the modern comic strip is an offspring of the American newspaper at the turn of the 20th century. Newspapers were vying for readers by cutting the cost of their papers to a penny or two (not like now, when they are going up fast. The Tribune is $1.50 and USA Today $2 daily).
They began broadening their appeal with screaming headlines, celebrity gossip and lurid crime stories. Then came the crosswords.
In 1895, Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World started a front page cartoon feature, "The Yellow Kid." It was so successful that other papers soon were scrambling for comic strips.
They were printed every weekday, but soon expanded to Sundays where they really became a hit. Whole sections devoted to the sheer enjoyment and serialized offerings spread all over.
I know with me that no Sunday was complete until I got a hold of all that color and read most every comic strip therein. After Dad had read them, of course. I still read that comic section in the Tribune last every Sunday. That is my dessert after all that news and advertising sections.
And, I know that i will soon be missing this section as it will be digital and brought up on pads and tablets. That's o.k., but just not the same.
--Cooter
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