IT HAPPENED IN CANADA | Canadian Animation, Cartooning and Illustration

IT HAPPENED IN CANADA

In Canada’s Centennial Year Gordon Johnston, who was an editorial cartoonist, created his most successful cartoon series, a panel named “It Happened in Canada”. At the height of its popularity, it appeared in 71 newspapers. It seems that initially the series was distributed by the Toronto Star Syndicate. Circa 1972, Ripley International sued Gordon and perhaps the Toronto Star Syndicate claiming, “It Happened In Canada” closely resembled their feature “Believe It Or Not”. The suit was dropped and Ripley became the syndicate distributing it. The panel continued until 1978 when Gordon suffered a heart attack. There was a pause for six months after which he resumed work. Ripley International ceased to syndicate it and Gordon distributed the feature himself. In 1981 ill health forced him to give it up. At the point he retired the panel was being carried in 65 papers. Five collections of these panels were published, one posthumously. C.B.C. used the material as well.

“It Happened In Canada” was a mixture of events, human interest stories and unusual and at times bizarre events and equally unusual and bizarre personalities. It continued a tradition begun by C. W. Jefferys, an earlier icon in Canadian historical illustration, who, among his other works, produced a remarkable three volume Picture Gallery of Canadian History. Johnston researched the material himself from old newspapers and from archives. He spent an average of 10 hours researching and drawing each panel. His daughter Lucinda remembered that he always had to be thrifty using both sides of any paper. He also recruited his daughters to ensure that the weekly proofs were sent to subscribing newspapers. This cartoonist had a remarkable devotion to his creation.

MEDIUM:

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content: panel cartoon history & Cover book front:

Johnston’s It Happened in Canada vol. 2. Car., Gordon Johnston. Star Reader Service, 1971.

It Happened in Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Scholastic-TAB Publications Ltd., 1973. (Adapted from It Happened In Canada, vol. 2.)

More It Happened In Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Scholastic-TAB Publications Ltd., 1976. (Adapted from It Happened In Canada, no. 1.)

It Happened in Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Methuen, 1983. Print. (A collection of the best of It Happened in Canada.)

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Today 10 Apr.1982: “You asked us: Only in Canada? Pity”: 5.

The University of Western Ontario Alumni Gazette, 29 June 2009: “Canadian comic artist Gordon Johnston found inspiration in historical facts.” Writ., Jeet Heer.

Article newspaper:

London Free Press, 2 August 1975: “It Happened In Canada result of sheer hard work.” Writ., Ralph Thompson: 47.

GALLERY:

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, 1 July 1978.jpg$ 1 July 1978.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, K-W Record, 22 Dec 1979, 48.jpg$ Kitchener Waterloo Record, 22 Dec. 1979: 48.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, Toronto Star, 30 Jan 1980.jpg$ Toronto Star, 30 Jan. 1980.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, St Catherines Standard, 6 May 1980.jpg$ St Catherines Standard, 6 May 1980.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, St. Catherines Standard, 28 May 1980.jpg$ St Catherines Standard, 28 May 1980.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, St Catherines Standard, 2 June 1980.jpg$ St Catherines Standard, 2 June 1980.

Unknown 28 November 1980.

$C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON I\IT HAPPENED IN CANADA, Toronto Star, 27 June 1980.jpg$ Toronto Star, 27 June 1981.

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