FRANCIS KIRN

Alberto's Funny Animal Artist Gallery, No. 1

FRANCIS KIRN

Francis Kirn nasce a Whiting, Indiana, il 5 maggio 1902. Vive con sua madre Emma, il fratello Raymond e la sorella Katherine al 1822 di Laporte Avenue. Frequenta la Whiting High School. Grazie al suo talento artistico ottiene la borsa di studio James Nelson Raymond e diviene membro ed espositore dello Hoosier Art Salon di Indianapolis. Si distingue come illustratore e pittore a partire dalla metà degli anni Venti,

cimentandosi soprattutto con soggetti realistici.

Francis Kirn, c. 1922

Negli anni Trenta realizza illustrazioni e copertine per varie riviste, tra le quali Child Life e St. Nicholas Magazine.

Nel 1942 disegna per breve tempo la striscia quotidiana Skytrooper, sceneggiata da Austin O'Malley, per il Chicago Sun Syndicate.

Dal 1943 al 1952 è affiliato alla casa editrice Whitman/Western Publishing, per la quale illustra diversi volumi per bambini e disegna la tavola settimanale a fumetti Uncle Wiggily (1947-52) su testi di Roger Garis.

Lavora anche per l’editore Samuel Lowe, illustrando altri libri per bambini e creando la serie di Tangletown.

Kirn scompare a Whiting nel giugno 1974. Lascia la moglie Vera Miget e i figli Mike e Scott.

Francis Kirn was born in Whiting, Indiana, on May 5, 1902. He lived with his mother Emma, brother Raymond and sister Katherine at 1822 Laporte Avenue. He attended Whiting High School. Thanks to his artistic talent, he won the James Nelson Raymond Scholarship, becoming an exhibiting member of the Hoosier Art Salon in Indianapolis. He was a prominent illustrator and painter by the mid-twenties, excelling in realistic subjects.

During the thirties he created several illustrations and covers for such magazines as Child Life and St. Nicholas.

In 1942, he briefly drew the daily newspaper strip Skytrooper, written by Austin O'Malley, for the Chicago Sun Syndicate.

From 1943-52 he worked for Whitman/Western Publishing, illustrating several children’s books and drawing the Uncle Wiggily (1947-52) Sunday comic page, written by Roger Garis.

Kirn also worked for publisher Samuel Lowe, illustrating more children’s books and creating the Tangletown series.

He passed away in Whiting in June 1974, leaving his wife Vera Miget and his sons Mike and Scott.

A) COMIC BOOKS

Editore/Publisher: CONSOLIDATED BOOK PUBLISHERS

Rip Raider Flying Ace – Tops Comics #2002 (1944) [2 storie, anche testi / 2 stories, also scripts].

Editore/Publisher: DELL (aka WESTERN PRINTING)

Uncle Wiggily – Four Color Comic #221 (03/1949 – ristampa tavole settimanali del 1947 / 1947 Sunday page reprint), 276 (05/1950 – ristampa tavole settimanali del 1948 / 1948 Sunday page reprint), 320 (03/1951 – ristampa tavole settimanali del 1947, 1949 / 1947, 1949 Sunday page reprint); March of Comics #19 (1948 - ristampa tavole settimanali del 1947 / 1947 Sunday page reprint)

B) FUMETTI PER QUOTIDIANI / NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIPS

Editore/Publisher: BELL SYNDICATE/WESTERN PRINTING

Uncle Wiggily – Tavola settimanale / Sunday page May 4 1947-1952. Testi attribuiti al creatore Howard R. Garis, ma scritti da Roger Garis / Writing attributed to creator Howard R. Garis, but actually written by Roger Garis.

Hubba Bear – Unpublished comic strip

Editore/Publisher: CHICAGO SUN SYNDICATE

Skytrooper – Strisce quotidiane / Daily strip Sept 28 1942-Nov 7 1942. Testi di / Written by Austin O'Malley.

BIBLIOGRAFIA / BIBLIOGRAPHY

A) LIBRI E RIVISTE / BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Editore/Publisher: THE CENTURY CO.

St. Nicholas Magazine – Copertine / Covers 12/1933; 02/1934.

Editore/Publisher: RAND McNALLY

Child Life – Copertina / Cover 06/1930.

Editore/Publisher: SAMUEL LOWE

Christmas in Tangletown

Cub Reporter Solves Mystery – A Bonnie Book #4426 (1963). Ristampato nel 1968 e nel 1975 come A Sunny Book #1965 / Reprinted in 1968 and in 1975 as A Sunny Book #1965.

Favorite Stories (1947).

Little Putt-Putt Story Book – A Bonnie Book #4427 (1961). Ristampato nel 1968 come #1960 / Reprinted in 1968 as #1960.

Nosey and Posey Paint Book – A Tangletown Tale (1947).

Tangletown Tale – Read-Along-With-Me Story Book – A Bonnie Book #4237 (1954). Ristampato nel / Reprinted in 1961, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1977.

Tangletown Tales – A Brownie Book (1946).

Editore/Publisher: WHITMAN

The Blue Streak and Doctor Medusa – The Better Little Book #2313 (1946).

Dick Donnelly of the Paratroops (1944).

Mother Goose (1944).

365 Bedtime Nursery Stories, a Rhyme for Every Day in the Year #5049 (1946).

B) MERCHANDISING

Editore/Publisher: MILTON BRADLEY

“Uncle Wiggily” Game (1949) – Copertina / Cover art.

FRANCIS KIRN GALLERY