Buzz Sawyer - Selected Sundays

Royston Campbell Crane, or simply Roy Crane was born 22nd November 1901 in Abilene,Texas. He did not graduate college, but lived a knockabout life, working as a hand on a cargo ship and riding the rails. In 1922, he began his career as a newspaper cartoonist, working for the 'New York World' and later for the NEA Syndicate and King Features Syndicate. In 1928 he married long-time sweetheart Evelyn Hatcher. In 1950, he won the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award as 'Cartoonist of the Year'.  

Buzz Sawyer - Selected Sundays

One recurring problem Crane had in the early days of Buz Sayer was the lack of a good assistant. Because of his high standards, Crane had trouble doing both the dailies and the Sundays. Roy Crane took a great risk in launching Buz Sayer. Buz made its debut at the worst possible time for newspaper features since the depression of 1929.

From out of hundreds of sketches like these
came entertainment for millions....

But Buz Sayer sales went strong in the postwar years - from 153 clients of the daily in 1946, to 295 clients in 1951. The Sundays sale was also climbed from 81 in 1946, to 154 in 1951. By 1951 Crane was getting more than $1500 a week, a hefty addition to the minimal guarantee he had asked for. Buz Sayer was a gamble that eventually well paid off... 

Read here a selection of the best of the Sunday strips, which featured Buz Sawyer's pal and gunner, Roscoe Sweeny. 

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Buzz - Selected Sundays 
(Size: 20.7 MB)

PS: This is going to be my last post for this year as I will be on a l-o-n-g vacation soon - taa daa !!