Foxy Grandpa


Foxy Grandpa was an American gag-a-day newspaper comic strip featuring an eponymous character, created by cartoonist Carl E. Schultze drawing under the name of "Bunny." The strip lasted from 1900 to circa 1918, and was at first hugely popular, with stage and silent film adaptations, as well as a party game license. Between 1901 and 1917, Foxy Grandpa was published in books — more than 30 volumes from four different publishers. It was revived as a typeset strip in the 1920s and 1930s.

Publication history

Foxy Grandpa made its first appearance on January 7, 1900. The strip initially ran in the New York Herald, but it moved to the New York American on February 16, 1902.
In 1912, the strip began being distributed by the C. J. Mar Syndicate, lasting until 1918.
The typeset Foxy Grandpa's Stories, distributed by International Features Service, Inc., began April 2, 1923. Foxy Grandpa was the narrator, appearing in a one-panel cartoon at the top of each column. This feature lasted well into the 1930s.
In 1929, the strip appeared in America's early comic book The Funnies.

Characters and story

The strip revolved around Foxy Grandpa, an elderly gentleman, with two mischievous grandsons who constantly try to trick him. Foxy Grandpa, however, always managed to get the better of the two boys, combining brains with a perverse sense of humor, while demonstrating skills at acrobatics, illustration and construction of various small devices.
The comic was drawn in text comic style, with the text and dialogue written underneath the images.

In other media

The strip was adapted to Broadway shows and early silent films. Selchow and Righter licensed Foxy Grandpa for the Foxy Grandpa Hat Party Game after 1900.
In April 1923, a Foxy Grandpa radio program began broadcasting over WCAE, Pittsburgh, PA.

In popular culture