Dan Russell (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
Dan Russell was an Australia
n cartoonist
. Dan's younger brother Jim Russell was also a cartoonist.
, the son of William John "Billy" Russell, a foreman plumber
with the Sydney City Council, the president of the New South Wales Plumbers’ Union, the national secretary of the Plumbers’ Union, and unsuccessful labour candidate for the seats of Parkes and Canterbury
, who was killed in a workplace accident in 1915. His mother Catherine Elizabeth
(nee Diggs), remarried in 1926 and was one of the first two woman members of an Australian Upper House of Parliament
.
Russell began his working life as a clerk
but was soon studying art at night at the Julian Ashton Art School and at the art school of Wattie Watkins. From 1928-29 he was the secretary of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Guild and in 1937 became the treasurer of the reformed Australian Black and White Artists’ Club. He worked in advertising and commercial art for a few years prior to World War II
, until Frank Johnson Publications started producing comics, providing him with the opportunity to break into cartooning.At Frank Johnston he produced a number of comics, such as Terry Lawson (rover scout), Val Blake, Ventriloquist (roving adventurer and detective), Wanda Dare (lady reporter) and Jimmy Dale (a world boxing champion). After the war Russell travelled to the United States
, Mexico
and Canada
to study cartoon techniques. Upon his return to Australia he joined the Allied Authors and Artists publishing group.
At the beginning of 1947, Dan and his younger brother, Jim, began their own publishing company, All-Australian Comics. The lead title of the company was Tex Morton
's Wild West Comics, starring the popular country music singer. Like many Australian comics of the time, it was a copy of American material, in this case, featuring cowboy actors such as Roy Rogers
and Gene Autry
. Tex Morton
was always featured in a lead-off story along with his mates Jacky, Shorty and Slim, drawn by Dan Russell. For the first two years companion features were Keith Chatto
's Bunny Allen, Les Dixon
's Alfie the Jackaroo and a series of bush yarns by Jack Hemming. Early in 1949 they added another title, Kanga's K.O. Comics. In the middle of 1950 All-Australian Comics ran into financial difficulties due to rising production costs and the company folded by the end of the year.
In 1952 Russell became a staff artist on The Truth
and The Daily Mirror
before becoming involved with AM Magazine. In 1953 Russell went to Adelaide
joining The Advertiser as a political cartoonist. He switched to The News
and Sunday Mail
in 1955, where he served as an illustrator, sporting cartoonist and general humour cartoonist, until his retirement in 1970. During this time he created a number of comic strips, including Darky, the Kid from the Snowy River. Russell then returned to Sydney and worked freelance.
Russell was a lifelong member of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club and the president in 1977. He won a Silver Stanley
for his contribution to black and white art in 1991 and was made a life member of the ABWAC the same year.
Dan Russell died in Orange, New South Wales
in 1999 at the age of 93.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. Dan's younger brother Jim Russell was also a cartoonist.
Biography
Russell was born in Millers Point, New South WalesMillers Point, New South Wales
Millers Point is an urban locality within Sydney's city centre, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Millers Point is located on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district, adjacent to The Rocks and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.Millers Point...
, the son of William John "Billy" Russell, a foreman plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
with the Sydney City Council, the president of the New South Wales Plumbers’ Union, the national secretary of the Plumbers’ Union, and unsuccessful labour candidate for the seats of Parkes and Canterbury
Electoral district of Canterbury
Canterbury is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Linda Burney of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
, who was killed in a workplace accident in 1915. His mother Catherine Elizabeth
Catherine Green (Australian politician)
Catherine Elizabeth Green was an Australian politician.Born in Curban in New South Wales to farmer Daniel Diggs and Catherine Kain, she was educated at the Curban public school until the family moved to Dubbo when Catherine was fourteen. She was a domestic in a hotel before moving to Sydney around...
(nee Diggs), remarried in 1926 and was one of the first two woman members of an Australian Upper House of Parliament
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
.
Russell began his working life as a clerk
Clerk
Clerk, the vocational title, commonly refers to a white-collar worker who conducts general office or, in some instances, sales tasks. It is also occasionally used to refer to third-year medical students completing a medical clerkship. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record...
but was soon studying art at night at the Julian Ashton Art School and at the art school of Wattie Watkins. From 1928-29 he was the secretary of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Guild and in 1937 became the treasurer of the reformed Australian Black and White Artists’ Club. He worked in advertising and commercial art for a few years prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, until Frank Johnson Publications started producing comics, providing him with the opportunity to break into cartooning.At Frank Johnston he produced a number of comics, such as Terry Lawson (rover scout), Val Blake, Ventriloquist (roving adventurer and detective), Wanda Dare (lady reporter) and Jimmy Dale (a world boxing champion). After the war Russell travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to study cartoon techniques. Upon his return to Australia he joined the Allied Authors and Artists publishing group.
At the beginning of 1947, Dan and his younger brother, Jim, began their own publishing company, All-Australian Comics. The lead title of the company was Tex Morton
Tex Morton
Tex Morton was a pioneer of Australian country music.-Early life:At age 14 he left home to launch himself into show business...
's Wild West Comics, starring the popular country music singer. Like many Australian comics of the time, it was a copy of American material, in this case, featuring cowboy actors such as Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
. Tex Morton
Tex Morton
Tex Morton was a pioneer of Australian country music.-Early life:At age 14 he left home to launch himself into show business...
was always featured in a lead-off story along with his mates Jacky, Shorty and Slim, drawn by Dan Russell. For the first two years companion features were Keith Chatto
Keith Chatto
Ronald Keith Chatto was an Australian comic book artist and writer. Chatto was the first Australian artist to illustrate a full-length comic episode of The Phantom.-Biography:...
's Bunny Allen, Les Dixon
Les Dixon
Leslie "Les" Dixon , was an Australian cartoonist and commercial artist.Dixon was born Leslie Charles Brailey in Sydney, New South Wales on 25 July 1910 and adopted by Charles and Lillian Dixon when he was only six months old...
's Alfie the Jackaroo and a series of bush yarns by Jack Hemming. Early in 1949 they added another title, Kanga's K.O. Comics. In the middle of 1950 All-Australian Comics ran into financial difficulties due to rising production costs and the company folded by the end of the year.
In 1952 Russell became a staff artist on The Truth
The Truth (newspaper)
The Truth was a Melbourne tabloid newspaper established in 1902 as a subsidiary of the Sydney Truth, established in 1890.In its early years its politics was very much left-leaning, and it painted itself as the voice of the working class. Before 1945 it had a style of journalism that was high...
and The Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror (Australia)
The Daily Mirror was an afternoon paper established by Ezra Norton in Sydney, Australia in 1941, gaining a licence from the Minister for Trade and Customs, Eric Harrison, despite wartime paper rationing. In October 1958, Norton and his partners sold his newspapers to the Fairfax group, which...
before becoming involved with AM Magazine. In 1953 Russell went to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
joining The Advertiser as a political cartoonist. He switched to The News
The News (Adelaide)
The News was an afternoon daily tabloid newspaper in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.The newspaper was established in 1869 as the Evening Journal. In 1933, a controlling stake was taken by The Advertiser, controlled by the Herald and Weekly Times. HWT sold off The News in 1949, and Sir Keith...
and Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail (Adelaide)
The Sunday mail was founded in 1912 by Clarence Moody. Moody initially set up three newspapers - the Sporting mail, Saturday mail and the Mail. The first two titles lasted only two years and five years respectively...
in 1955, where he served as an illustrator, sporting cartoonist and general humour cartoonist, until his retirement in 1970. During this time he created a number of comic strips, including Darky, the Kid from the Snowy River. Russell then returned to Sydney and worked freelance.
Russell was a lifelong member of the Australian Black and White Artists’ Club and the president in 1977. He won a Silver Stanley
Stanley Award
Named after Stan Cross, the Stanley Awards, also known as The Stanleys are issued annually by the Australian Cartoonists' Association and recognise the best of Australian cartoonists and cartooning....
for his contribution to black and white art in 1991 and was made a life member of the ABWAC the same year.
Dan Russell died in Orange, New South Wales
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
in 1999 at the age of 93.