THOMAS William

THOMAS William “Bill”

He first became associated with Bell Features in 1944 as a freelancer as were all the cartoonists. He remembered in a 1973 interview, “I came in with the first strip I’d ever tried in my life … showed it to Adrian [Dingle] and he accepted it right off the bat.” According to Dingle, “It was a terrific style. I was astounded.”Thomas continued “It had to be done over again because the li8ne work was far too light and a few things… had to be corrected. So I redid it and brought it back again. From then on it was just clear sailing.”

He worked at home in his own studio and each Monday afternoon took his finished work to the Bell Features offices on York Street, Toronto. There the work was checked by Adrian for story content, spelling, reproductive clarity etc. He was given his cheques by Mrs. Bell “the attractive and personable blonde wife of Cy Bell.” She handled the secretarial end of the business and acted as receptionist.

“This type of freelancing gave us a delightful sense of freedom. Our time was completely our own and as long as we showed up on Monday with our strips we could work when and wherever we pleased. The night-hawks worked and played all night, and slept all day – and some including myself spent much of our time in the Ontario lake country, fishing and swimming and working when we felt like it.”

“Rory O’More” (below) was created and registered by Thomas when he was cartooning for Bell Features. When his association with Bell ended he sent the feature to Maple Leaf Publishing in Vancouver. They accepted it, but that company folded before they published it. The page of the story shown on page 21 of Now and Then Times was the first time it was published.

After Bell discontinued operations, Thomas worked for Superior Publishing. They apparently published only under U.S. story titles. Thomas wrote and drew stories for one such title “Punch and Cutey” but it lasted only a few months before this operation ended.

In 1972 and 1973, Bill’s reminiscences and a couple of his stories appeared in Now and Then Times published by Now and The Publications.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content:

Serial:

“The Monogoose” …. Bell Features & Publishing. Black & white.
Active Comics, 24, no date: 16-19.

Dime Comics, 23, no date.

Triumph Comics, 25, no date.

WOW Comics, 26, no date.

“Ricco Vez.” …. Bell Features & Publishing. Black & white.
Triumph Comics, 25, no date. WOW Comics, 26, no date.

Story:

Active Comics, 24, no date: “The Doddleberrys.”: Inside front cover.

Triumph Comics, 26, no date: “Ivar of Mars”: 19-28.

Joke Comics, 23, no date: “Jinx”.

PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Now and Then Times, 1-1, Summer 1972: “Rory O’ More.” 21.

Now and Then Times, 1-2, Oct. 1973: “Jungletown Show Boat.” (Appeared in this magazine for the first time).

WRITER:

PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content memoir:

Now and Then Times, 1-1, Summer 1972: “The World of Canadian Whites.” 22.

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Now and Then Times, 1-1, Summer 1972: “World Of Canadian Whites.” Writ., Bill Thomas.

Now and Then Times, 1-2, 1973: “A Conversation with Adrian & Pat Dingle and Bill Thomas.” Interviewer, Dave Sim.

 

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\T\THOMAS Bill, Now & Then Times, Summer 1972.jpg Now & Then Times, Summer 1972.