George Crenshaw, 1917-2007

[cbrubaker]

I just found out that George Crenshaw passed away on Thursday night.

George began his career at Disney, working on various titles, including Fantasia. He then went to become an assistant animator for both Tex Avery and Hanna/Barbera at MGM.

After 4 years in the navy, he began doing magazine cartoons. He also had a fair share in newspaper cartooning, ghosting for Hank Ketcham on "Dennis the Menace" and creating several comic strips, including "Nubbin," "Gumdrop," and his best-known feature, "Belvedere."

[Sogturtle]

I just found out that George Crenshaw passed away on Thursday night.

George began his career at Disney, working on various titles, including Fantasia. He then went to become an assistant animator for both Tex Avery and Hanna/Barbera at MGM.

After 4 years in the navy, he began doing magazine cartoons. He also had a fair share in newspaper cartooning, ghosting for Hank Ketcham on "Dennis the Menace" and creating several comic strips, including "Nubbin," "Gumdrop," and his best-known feature, "Belvedere."

Charles~

Awwww that's sad! Least he got to work with some of the best in their heyday!! Where'd you hear it??

[cbrubaker]

I heard about it in a cartoonists forum I frequent.

There would probably be an article about it in the Editor and Publisher soon.

[Dave Bennett]

I'm sorry to hear this -- I really admired 'Belvedere' as a kid and tried to emulate his nice clean line and snappy, angular poses.

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[Matt the Y]

Very, VERY sad news!!!!! :( :( :( :( :(

Belvedere is easily one of my all-time favorite comic strips. Full of great, imaginitive, unconventional sight gags and brilliant characters such as the titular, self-centered, and vainglorious pooch, Orville, the bemused, inept owner, Jezebel, the unnerved, put-upon housecat, and (one of my favorites), Chi-Chi, the garrulous, wise-cracking parrot with a cynical, erudite, sardonic sense of humor.

But, hey, he lived a good, long, healthy life. At 89, he outlived many other great cartoonists; Charles Schulz, Jeff MacNelly, Hank Ketcham, George Gately, Bob Thaves, and, of course, Johnny Hart who passed away last April. Now with Crenshaw gone, the number of classic newspaper cartoonists is still rapidly dwindling. Mercifully, Mort Walker, the brilliant mind behind Beetle Bailey is still around and kicking (and still hard at work on said strip to boot; he just turned 84 last Monday!).

Thankfully, I've collected a plentiful collection of Belvedere cartoon books so that Crenshaw's memory will continue to live on. Rest assured, George, you are missed!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

[AndrewGilmore]

That is a shame. I remember reading a book of "Belvedere" cartoons my dad gave me as a kid and thinking it was very funny.

R.I.P. Mr. Crenshaw.

[Dell Comics Fan]

I always liked Belvedere. R.I.P., George Crenshaw.