Cartoonist Walt Munson's Humour
American cartoonist Walt Munson is best known for his work on comic strips and series published in newspapers and magazines between beginning in 1923.
(“I’m Always in a Muddle” 1933 Cartoon Postcard: Walt Munson / Tichnor Bros.)
Writer Alex Jay’s profile of Walt Munson for Stripper’s Guide, indicates that Walter Frederick Munson was born on October 4, 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Where he got his training (if any) as an artist is unknown, and it seems that Walt’s highest level of education was the eighth grade.
(“So – You Can’t Take It!” 1940s-50s Postcard Cartoon: Walt Munson / Tichnor Bros.)
Walt Munson served in the U.S. Navy from 1917-1919 during World War I. Subsequently, during the 1930s his cartoons could be seen in the Our Navy publication.
While he was working for the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper as a sports cartoonist, Munson created the Time to Crab cartoon panel series. In 1928 the Time to Crab cartoon single-strip series was renamed Such is Life, and some were printed in the Famous Funnies comic books from 1934-1941.
Other cartoonists took over work on Such is Life after Munson stopped illustrating it in 1936.
(“An Me Studyin’ Elocution Nights” & “Track at College” 1933 Cartoons: Walt Munson / Baloonacy)
Between May 1931-May 1934, around the same time that he was working on the Time to Crab / Such is Life cartoons, Walt Munson’s illustrations were featured in the Baloonacy section of Broadway and Hollywood “Movies” magazine.
(“Two Bucks Collect”, “What It’s All About” & “You Big Bum” 1933 & ’34 Cartoons: Walt Munson / Baloonacy)
“Walt Munson is one of America’s premier comic artists; his work is syndicated in hundreds of newspapers. Has done many clever theatrical cartoons.” – Broadway and Hollywood Magazine, February, 1933
(“I Beg Y’Pardon Winnie” & “No Marriage Privileges” 1933 Cartoons: Walt Munson / Baloonacy)
Other artists whose movie industry/theatrical themed cartoons could be seen in Baloonacy were Dotty Dripple cartoonist Buford Tune, Adolphe Leslie Barreaux, Gus Meins, and others.
Syracuse University library has Munson working for the New Haven Register c. 1940s-1974 as a sports cartoonist.
(“You Should See the Big Fish I Caught” Postcard Cartoon)
During the 1940s-1950s, Walt Munson’s funny colour cartoons also graced the front of many Tichnor Bros. linen postcards.
(“Just a Picture of Health and Happiness” Postcard Cartoon)
(“Feeling Much Better” & “Mixing With all the Big Shots” Postcard Cartoons)
Walt Munson died on January 27, 1975 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Additional Resources:
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Buford Tune
The Film Daily (1939)
*Images are believed to be in the public domain or no known copyright restrictions, unless otherwise noted*
