Cartoonist Al Capp (1909-1979) created “Li’l Abner,” regarded by many as the greatest comic strip of all time. He was born Alfred Gerald Caplin in New Haven, CT. At the age of nine he lost his left leg in a trolley accident. Encouraged by an artistic father, young Alfred developed his own cartooning skills. At 19, he became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in America, drawing “Colonel Gilfeather,” a daily panel for Associated Press. But, bored with the staid and formulaic Gilfeather, Capp left AP and soon was ghosting the popular boxing strip “Joe Palooka” for Ham Fisher. But Capp found the working conditions in Fisher’s studio intolerable.
In 1934 Capp struck out on his own. He took his hillbilly idea to United Features Syndicate (creating a lifelong public feud with Fisher) and “Li’l Abner was born. Abner was carried at first by only eight newspapers, but his hapless Dogpatchers hit a nerve in Depression-era America. Within three short years it climbed to 253 newspapers, reaching over 15,000,000 readers. Before long he was in hundreds more, with a circulation exceeding 60,000,000. At a time when syndicates owned the copyrights, trademarks and merchandise rights to comic strips, Capp wrested control of “Li’l Abner” from United Features, an almost unprecedented event.
Besides entertaining millions, Capp permanently affected the popular culture. In 1937 he introduced the annual Sadie Hawkins Day race into his strip. It quickly inspired real life girl-asks-boy dances across America and Sadie Hawkins Day became a national institution. In 1948 his lovable Shmoo characters became a national sensation, creating the largest mass merchandising phenomenon of its era, followed on its heels by the Kigmy. After nearly 20 years of prominent bachelorhood, Li’l Abner finally married Daisy Mae in 1952, an event that shocked the country and made front page news.
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Capp’s celebrity admirers ranged from actor/director Charlie Chaplin, writer John Updike and economist John Kenneth Galbraith. Author John Steinbeck was not only a fan, in fact, he called Capp “the best writer in the world.” Capp speckled his wild narratives with unforgettable characters – among them heartless capitalist General Bullmoose; human jinx Joe Bfstplk, who was followed by his own bleak rain cloud; Evil Eye Fleegle whose double whammies could melt skyscrapers; cave-dwelling buddies Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe who concocted Kickapoo Joy Juice, the ultimate moonshine; Mammy Yokum, the sweet old lady who could outbox men twice her size; fumbling detective Fearless Fosdick, whose bullet-riddled body resembled Swiss cheese; and the gorgeous but odorous Moonbeam McSwine who preferred the company of pigs to men. And when readers thought there was no sadder and poorer place than Dogpatch, Capp would take his readers to frostbitten and poverty stricken Lower Slobovia. It is no surprise that the colorful Li’l Abner cast inspired a long-running Broadway musical in 1957 and two film adaptations.
In addition to the enormous popularity of his comic strip, Capp’s fame stemmed from a high media profile. He was a frequent and outspoken guest on the “Tonight” show, spanning hosts Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He authored his own newspaper column and radio show and was a guest lecturer at campuses nationwide. Capp retired the strip in 1977 and died two years later. Capp’s “Li’l Abner” stands the test of time as a pinnacle of cartoon art and social satire.
A great example of Al Capp’s humor and creativity.
(1) THE SHLEMEEL- IS THE WAITER WHO IS SPILLING THE HOT SOUP ON THE CUSTOMER. THE SHLEMEEL ISN’T A BAD GUY_ _ _ HE DOESN’T MEAN TO DO ANYTHING BAD_ _ _HE’S SIMPLY INCAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING GOOD. LOOK HOW REGREFUL HE IS THAT THE SHLEMOZZEL (2) IS BEING BOILED ALIVE.
(2) THE SHLEMOZZEL— DOESN’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO CAUSE A DISASTER _ _ _ ALL HE HAS TO DO IS BE SOMEPLACE_ _ _ AND THE DISASTER FINDS HIM.
(3) THE SHNOOK– IS THE FELLA WHO IS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS HORRIBLE THING HAPPENING_ _ _BUT WHO IS DELIGHTED BECAUSE IT ISN’T HAPPENING TO HIM. HE’S THE GUY WHO TOSSED THE WET CIGAR BUTT ON THE FLOOR THAT THE SHLEMEEL (1) IS SLIPPING ON. A SHNOOK DOESN’T DO MEAN THINGS DELIBERATELY. IT’S SIMPLY THAT EVERYTHING HE DOES TURNS OUT TO BE MEAN_ _ _ AND HE ISN’T SORRY.
(4) THE SHTOONK – IS THE ONE WHO IS LAUGHING AT THE POOR SHLEMOZZEL (2). A SHTOONK ENJOYS MISERY BUT HE’S TOO YELLOW TO CAUSE IT HIMSELF.
(5) THE SHNORRER – IS A CHAP WHO NEVER MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY _ _ _ EXCEPT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND HIS OWN MONEY. HE’S TELLING THE WAITER TO QUICKLY PUT HIS DINNER ON THE SHTOONK’S (4) CHECK BECAUSE HE FEELS THAT ALL THIS HORROR IS MAKING THE SHTOONK (4) FEEL SO GOOD HE WON’T NOTICE THAT HE IS PAYING DOUBLE.
(6) AND (7) THE SHLOOMPS AND SHLEPPERS – THE SHLOOMP (6) IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE SHLEPPER (7) _ _ _ EXCEPT THAT HE IS NOT SO HOPEFUL. THE ONE THING A SHLOOMP AND A SHLEPPER HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT NEITHER OF THEM CAN DO ANYTHING. THE SHLEPPER (7) IS ARISING FROM HIS TABLE IN A SORT OF DAZED EFFORT TO DO SOMETHING _ _ _ AND NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES _ _ _ IT WILL MAKE MATTERS WORSE _ _ _ BUT THESHLOOMP (6) IS SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT HE’S TOO STUPID TO DO ANYTHING_ _ _ AND SO HE JUST SITS THERE.
I am 78, the 40’s & 50’s was my growing up years & Lil Abner was my favorite. Fearless Fosdick, Joe whatever that carried bad luck and the lower Slovio strips stick forever in my mind. Is Abner gone forever. Mike
In the late 50’s I had the pleasure of meeting Al Capp. He was hired to speak at the Community Lectures at Oak Park & River Forest High School and I was there as a member of the stage crew to run the sound system in the auditorium. When he arrived he complained about heartburn & asked if someone could get him some baking soda & water, which they did from the Home Ec department. Just as he was about to go on stage, he turned to me and said, “If it looks like I’m about to burp, cut the volume down”. I’ve been a Lil Abner fan as long as I can remember.
I REMEMBER LIL ABNER FROM THE OLD NEW YORK MIRROR, WHEN I WAS A BOY. I LOVED THE STRIP ABOVE ALL OTHERS. AL CAPP WAS A GENUIS. I,VE PUBLISHED MANY CHILDREN,S BOOKS OF MY OWN,BUT WILL NEVER COME NEAR THE TALENT OF AL CAPP I SURELY MISS THE STRIP.
WILLIAM MIDDLETON
I followed the adventures of Lil Abner, Mammy and Pappy Yokum and Daisy May and other characters who lived in Dogpatch USA. Al was the forerunner of Hill Billy humor decades before Jeff Foxworthy . I met Al Capp when he became a regular on a weekly radio program I created, wrote and produced as a teenager in Boston on WCOP ABC radio. Al’s studio was just across the street from the radio studio in Copley Square, Boston.
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Ah yes, I remember them well. A nostalgia bordering on bittersweet; not because of Al Capps’ body of work but the sentiment it evokes, similar to an old song, or the hint of a familiar, unexpected, fragrance and the memories released. I confess, looking through this family album at the old pictures of characters known so well I’m next to tears. Thank you.
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I am a longtime Vintage Paper Dealer and I have come across a large collection of Al Capp Vintage paper…advertising. stories, illustrations etc…by him and about him from Publications going back to going back to the early days of his career….. For more than twenty years, I have sent packages on approval so my customers can view the actual items before deciding to purchase. Prices are now all $5 or less. and I give a generous discount should you decide to keep everything. I will then send another selection should you so choose.Nothing to lose so why not give it a try? { and be sure to be specific, if you wish, about what you would like to see.} { I am currently dealing with Hupmobile, Mallory, Westclox , Bell Helicopter,Bethlehem Steel, Corvette, Leon Levin,Mallory, Coca Cola, Beechcraft and Phelps Dodge…. Colleges such as Yale, West Point and Dartmouth, Museums and collectors for Edgar Allen Poe,Daisy Rifle.Kites, Umpires, Scotties, Paul Revere, Corning Glass, Corvettes, Ice Skaters and Steamships… and dozens of other collectors. They collect for their Archives, frame for Offices and Factories, sell at Trade Shows and Fairs and use on Websites such as yours…. Please take a moment to let me know if you are not interested …and feel free to pass on to others who might have interest…. Many thanks…. Sandra Baker Searsport, Maine davidsgone41@yahoo.com
I have many prints from an exhibition Al Capp did in NYC in 1975. All of the prints are signed and very limited addition on high quality linen paper. I want to showcase these pieces in a gallery in NJ or NYC. Can anyone recommend a gallery?
Al Capp will always be one of my all-time favorite cartoonists. His take on satire, parody and lunacy in his strips were just unmatched…even today. I have taken a lot of tips from his work and humor and I hope to one day have my own comic strip published and possibly get some of the recognition that Capp is admired for as well.
I will continue to give credit to Al Capp for helping me develop my art, my style and my ability to use my sarcastic sense of humor to its fullest. He was and will always be the best!
Loved -Al Capp – brilliant — trouble spelling name of little Joe _______ -whom walked around with his own little cloud – raining ion him all the time — SEMPER –R
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I was born in 1945 before I could read my older brother read lil abner to me. That was one reason I wanted to read. I was madly in love with Daisey Mae at 4or 5. Living in Chicago the Sunday cartoons were in color. Very fond memories of Al Capp and Lil Abner.
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Al Capp also had regular segments on NBC radio’s weekend series “Monitor”. Those very lofty heights will never be scaled again.
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I’ve loved Lil’ Abner since I started reading the funniy pages. It was one of the reasons I became a cartoonist. I don’t agree with his politics but I’ve always admired Al Capp for his talent and creativity. He was the inspiration for my own comic strip, “The Barlows.” I wish I could share a few panels with you. It’s a funny strip but steers clear of all that political stuff. It’s just for laughs.
Holy cow…I was born in 1937 & grew up with Lil Abner. I NEVER delved into the history of the Yokums & Al Capp. What an absolutely interesting story.
Tis Wonderful — Me a Shloomp -enjoy every moment -true Al Capp thinking — must be in D. C. – the most likely place to find all these folks- lots of slmeels – plenty shlemozeels abundance of shtoonk’s plus John Q. is paying this crop of inept loons.
I enjoyed reading your information about Al Capp. What is the name of the long-standing Broadway musical and the 2 film adaptations? Is his book entitled “My well balanced life on a wooden leg” still available in print or on a CDC? I was able to buy a paper back pocket book of Dogpatch cartoons at an antique store which also had many old newspapers with Al Capp cartons in the Hamilton Spectator, located in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. I enjoyed reading the Hamilton Spectator Al Capp comic strip in the 1950s. and going to the Sadie Hawkin’s day dances at the High school.
As a young student nurse, Al Capp drew me a picture of Lil Abner. He used my name and signed Al Capp. It measures 21/2 x4 inches and is 65 years old. Any value to this?
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Now in my 80’s, I can’t recall anyone who did not read and follow Lil Abner. I saw a film of an Al Capp address in which a young member of a college audience gave Al Capp the ‘finger’ and Capp’s response, “is that your age or your IQ”. Lil Abner knew no age group, it belonged to everyone.
A great test of greatness is how long is the remembrance. I believe the question was asked, ‘name famous cartoon characters from America’ that Dogpatch would win hands down. The CB Radio era ushered in a huge use of Dogpatch names for ‘handles’, mine was “Lonesome Polecat”.
Possibly my favorite Capp position situation from the news was the introduction of Joany Phony (sp?), the unkempt sour singer with a guitar. When Joan Baez complained about it, Capp, at his very best, responded that he was surprised and personally saw no comparison as Joany Phony was disheveled, unattractive and couldn’t sing well at all, . . . but on the other hand if Miss Baez sees a resemblance . . . . end of conversation.
There have been many wonderful cartoonists — to me, only Charles Schultz’ Peanuts and Pogo by Walt Kelly come close to Al Capp and Lil Abner to depicting human America.
I believe Al Capp portrayed Lil Abner as a crooner who was so thin that the microphone stand hid the whole body except the face. Frank Sinatra was very popular in the early 40’s and was quite thin at the time. Was Lil Abner a take off on Frank Sinatra? I believe the name of the crooner that Lil Abner portrayed was Concertino Constipato.? I was around at the time as I am almost 89.
Are you referring to the plot where Abner is held to singer and wastes away, finally fainting on stage? Yes, Capp was always drawing inspiration from the popular artists of the time, might have been inspired by Sinatra!
Thank you for your thoughts, Lil Abner was truly a great strip, cream of the crop of the 20th Century!
I’m afraid this isn’t part of our expertise here, good luck!
William – thank you for your remembrances.
You may want to contact Denis Kitchen- http://www.deniskitchen.com/
Thanks for your comments William, the musical was called “Li’l Abner”, and you should be able to find used copies of the book on abebooks.com as well as amazon. There are also copies of collected Li’l Abner strips for sale.
Thank you Cliff, please do share!
Yes, it’s a hard name to remember! It took me a lifetime to learn that Joe Btfsplk’s last name was supposed to be pronounced as making a raspberry sound (where you stick your tongue between your lips and blow air).