Roy McCardell
Encyclopedia
Roy Larcom McCardell was an American journalist, scenarist, humorist and writer.
. His father was the editor of the Hagerstown Mail. When he became the editor of the Evening Times in Cumberland, Maryland
, the family moved there. Roy McCardell went to school there until he was twelve. He then started writing for his father's newspaper before becoming a regular contributor to Puck
, the leading American satirical magazine.
as a reporter for the Age-Herald
. Many of his contributions were copied in magazines like Frank Leslie's Weekly
. He got noticed by Arthur Brisbane
who offered him a position on the Evening Sun in New York. Apart from regular journalistic work, he also provided serialized novels to the newspaper. He then moved on to the New York World
and finally became a staff member of Puck
. McCardell also worked as an editor for a number of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Morning Telegraph and the Metropolitan Magazine
. He wrote a number of syndicated serialised articles, most famously the daily Jarr Family which appeared in several hundred newspapers.
In 1896, when McCardell learned that the New York World had acquired a color press, he suggested that they would use it for a comic supplement. Editor Morrill Goddard approved of the idea, but all comic artists of the day were already contracted by other newspapers. McCardell then suggested to use the young artist Richard F. Outcault
. Goddard supervised the new supplement, made by Outcault and McCardell, and the first Sunday paper comic supplement in color was the November 6, 1896 issue of the Sunday World
, featuring The Yellow Kid
. The circulation of the Sunday paper increased from about 140,000 to 800,000 in the next six months, but dropped again to 400,000 after Outcault moved to the New York Sunday American
.
From 1897 on, McCardell started writing movie scenarios, eventually witing over a 1,000 of them. He has been credited as the first person hired by a movie company, in this case American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
in 1900, to produce stories. The best known of these was A Fool There Was (1915), popularizing the movie vampire. Many of his scenarios, like many of his other writings as well, won prizes from competitions from Puck, Collier's Weekly
, and a $10,000 prize from the American Film Company
for best scenario for a film serial for The Diamond from the Sky
(1915), which was shown in 8,000 theaters in the United States before being shown elsewhere, but is now considered to be a lost film
.
Furthermore, he wrote books adverts, a play called The Gay Life, songs, poetry, and sketches. He also appeared as himself in the extended version of the Winsor McCay
animated movie Gertie the Dinosaur
(1914). He spent most of his time on movie writing, with the Jarr Family serial as a steady source of income next to it.
Roy McCardell lived most of his adult life in New Rochelle, New York
. He had a daughter Frances, born in 1892, who was an expert automobile driver by the age of 14, when she won a Cadillac. She eloped when she was 18 and married a wealthy 30-year old. He also had a daughter Dorothy.
Early life
Roy McCardell was born in 1870 in Hagerstown, MarylandHagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
. His father was the editor of the Hagerstown Mail. When he became the editor of the Evening Times in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, the family moved there. Roy McCardell went to school there until he was twelve. He then started writing for his father's newspaper before becoming a regular contributor to Puck
Puck (magazine)
Puck was America's first successful humor magazine of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.-History:...
, the leading American satirical magazine.
Career
When he was 17, he went to Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
as a reporter for the Age-Herald
Birmingham Post-Herald
The Birmingham Post-Herald was a daily newspaper in Birmingham, Alabama with roots dating back to 1850, before the founding of Birmingham. The final edition was published on September 23, 2005...
. Many of his contributions were copied in magazines like Frank Leslie's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Weekly
Frank Leslie's Weekly, later often known in short as Leslie's Weekly, was an American illustrated literary and news magazine founded in 1852 and continuing publication well into the 20th century. As implied by its name, it was published weekly, on Tuesdays. Its first editor was John Y. Foster...
. He got noticed by Arthur Brisbane
Arthur Brisbane
Arthur Brisbane was one of the best known American newspaper editors of the 20th century.-Biography:...
who offered him a position on the Evening Sun in New York. Apart from regular journalistic work, he also provided serialized novels to the newspaper. He then moved on to the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
and finally became a staff member of Puck
Puck (magazine)
Puck was America's first successful humor magazine of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.-History:...
. McCardell also worked as an editor for a number of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Morning Telegraph and the Metropolitan Magazine
Metropolitan Magazine (New York)
Metropolitan Magazine, known in its later years as Macfadden's Fiction Lover's Magazine, was a monthly periodical in the early 20th century with articles on politics and literature.-History:...
. He wrote a number of syndicated serialised articles, most famously the daily Jarr Family which appeared in several hundred newspapers.
In 1896, when McCardell learned that the New York World had acquired a color press, he suggested that they would use it for a comic supplement. Editor Morrill Goddard approved of the idea, but all comic artists of the day were already contracted by other newspapers. McCardell then suggested to use the young artist Richard F. Outcault
Richard F. Outcault
Richard Felton Outcault was an American comic strip writer-artist. He was the creator of the series The Yellow Kid and Buster Brown, and he is considered the inventor of the modern comic strip.-Early life:...
. Goddard supervised the new supplement, made by Outcault and McCardell, and the first Sunday paper comic supplement in color was the November 6, 1896 issue of the Sunday World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
, featuring The Yellow Kid
The Yellow Kid
The Yellow Kid emerged as the lead character in Hogan's Alley, drawn by Richard F. Outcault, which became one of the first Sunday supplement comic strips in an American newspaper, although its graphical layout had already been thoroughly established in political and other, purely-for-entertainment...
. The circulation of the Sunday paper increased from about 140,000 to 800,000 in the next six months, but dropped again to 400,000 after Outcault moved to the New York Sunday American
New York Journal American
The New York Journal American was a newspaper published from 1937 to 1966. The Journal American was the product of a merger between two New York newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst: The New York American , a morning paper, and the New York Evening Journal, an afternoon paper...
.
From 1897 on, McCardell started writing movie scenarios, eventually witing over a 1,000 of them. He has been credited as the first person hired by a movie company, in this case American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
The American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, was a motion picture company founded in 1895 and active until 1928. It was the first company in the United States devoted entirely to film production and exhibition, and for two decades was one of the most prolific, releasing over three thousand short...
in 1900, to produce stories. The best known of these was A Fool There Was (1915), popularizing the movie vampire. Many of his scenarios, like many of his other writings as well, won prizes from competitions from Puck, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, and a $10,000 prize from the American Film Company
American Film Manufacturing Company
The American Film Manufacturing Company, also known as Flying "A" Studios, was founded in Chicago in fall 1910. In 1915, the formal name was changed to the American Film Company....
for best scenario for a film serial for The Diamond from the Sky
The Diamond from the Sky
The Diamond from the Sky was a 1915 silent era adventure motion picture serial starring Lottie Pickford, Irving Cummings, Charlotte Burton, and William Russell.Directed by Jacques Jaccard and William Desmond Taylor, the film is considered to be lost...
(1915), which was shown in 8,000 theaters in the United States before being shown elsewhere, but is now considered to be a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Furthermore, he wrote books adverts, a play called The Gay Life, songs, poetry, and sketches. He also appeared as himself in the extended version of the Winsor McCay
Winsor McCay
Winsor McCay was an American cartoonist and animator.A prolific artist, McCay's pioneering early animated films far outshone the work of his contemporaries, and set a standard followed by Walt Disney and others in later decades...
animated movie Gertie the Dinosaur
Gertie the Dinosaur
Gertie the Dinosaur is a 1914 American animated short film by Winsor McCay. Although not the first feature-length animated film, as is sometimes thought, it was the first cartoon to feature a character with an appealing personality...
(1914). He spent most of his time on movie writing, with the Jarr Family serial as a steady source of income next to it.
Roy McCardell lived most of his adult life in New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
. He had a daughter Frances, born in 1892, who was an expert automobile driver by the age of 14, when she won a Cadillac. She eloped when she was 18 and married a wealthy 30-year old. He also had a daughter Dorothy.
Filmography
Among the more than 1,000 scenarios McCardell wrote are the following movies and serials:- 1914: The Awful Adventures of an Aviator
- 1915: A Fool There Was
- 1915: The Diamond from the SkyThe Diamond from the SkyThe Diamond from the Sky was a 1915 silent era adventure motion picture serial starring Lottie Pickford, Irving Cummings, Charlotte Burton, and William Russell.Directed by Jacques Jaccard and William Desmond Taylor, the film is considered to be lost...
, 30 episodes, now lost - 1916: Walk This Way
- 1920: The Evil EyeThe Evil Eye (1920 serial)The Evil Eye is a 1920 action film serial directed by J. Gordon Cooper and Wally Van. The film is considered to be lost. -Cast:* Benny Leonard - Frank Armstrong* Ruth Dwyer - Dora Bruce* Stuart Holmes - Berton Bruce* Marie Shotwell - Mrs...
, 15 episodes, now lost
External links
- Google Books copy of his novel The Show Girl and Her Friends
- Jarr Family episode from the 14 December 1912 issue of the Milwaukee Sentinel
- Full text of Olde love and lavender & other verses
- IMDb entry on McCardell