By Charlie Shapiro
On January 15 the weekly speaker series of the Greenwich Retired Men’s Association presented Brian Walker, son of renowned cartoonist Mort Walker. Brian grew up in a unique environment where cartoons were produced daily. Born in 1952, he was raised in a Greenwich, Connecticut, home where his father’s studio occupied the third floor. The Walker household was frequently visited by cartoonists who collaborated with Mort, creating an atmosphere steeped in creativity and humor.
Mort Walker, creator of the popular comic strip Beetle Bailey, began his iconic series in 1950. Initially featuring Beetle as a college student, the character joined the army in 1951. After the Korean War, Mort briefly returned Beetle to civilian life, introducing his sister Lois. However, reader demand prompted Beetle’s return to Camp Swampy. This led to the creation of a second comic strip, Hi and Lois, in 1954, featuring Beetle’s sister Lois as a main character.
The Walker family expanded over the years, eventually including seven children. Brian, along with his siblings, was featured in various publications, including a memorable photo shoot for Jack and Jill Magazine in 1966. At the time, the 14-year-old Brian was less than thrilled about appearing in a children’s magazine, fearing ridicule from his school friends.
In the 1960s, Fairfield County, Connecticut, became a hub for cartoonists. Dick Brown described this period as the “golden age of cartooning in Connecticut.” The area was home to numerous talented artists, creating a tight-knit community of cartoonists and their families. This vibrant scene was captured in a photograph taken at the Millbrook Club in 1963, celebrating Mort Walker’s 40th birthday.
Brian’s involvement in the family business began in earnest after his college graduation. In 1974, he helped his father establish the Museum of Cartoon Art in Greenwich, initially located in the Mead mansion on Field Point Road. The museum later moved to the Ward Castle in 1977, hosting a grand “castle warming” event that raised $35,000 and was featured in People Magazine. In 1984, Brian got his first experience in gag writing, contributing ideas to a King Features strip starring Betty Boop and Felix the Cat. This opportunity soon led to him writing for Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois. By 1993, King Features promoted Brian, his brother Greg, and Chance Brown (son of Dick Brown) as the next generation of cartoonists, officially taking over the Hi and Lois comic strip.
Brian moved to Wilton, Connecticut, in 1987, which became the inspiration for the fictional hometown of Hi and Lois. He and Chance Brown, who also lived in Wilton, incorporated local landmarks and scenes into the strip, including the Wilton train station, Orem’s Diner, and other recognizable locations. This practice of featuring local places continued throughout the years, adding a touch of realism and familiarity for readers in the area.
For 25 years, Brian’s studio was located above the Silvermine Market in Norwalk, Connecticut. He often incorporated his experiences and surroundings into the comic strips, creating autobiographical elements that resonated with local readers. One such example was a strip featuring the Silvermine Tavern (now known as Gray Barns) and the annual Santa Claus event held there.
In 1992, Brian founded the Connecticut Chapter of the National Cartoonist Society. The group held meetings at various local establishments, including the Cobbs Mill Inn, the Red Barn in Westport, and the Silvermine Tavern. These locations often found their way into the Hi and Lois strips, further cementing the comic’s connection to the local community.
The creative process for producing the comic strips involved monthly gag conferences where Brian, his father Mort, Jerry Dumas, and his brother Greg would gather to share and critique ideas. These collaborative sessions ensured a steady flow of fresh, humorous content for both Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois. As the years passed, the staff working on the comics evolved. The Hi and Lois team came to include Brian, Greg, and Chance Brown, while the larger group working on both strips expanded to include Brian’s brother Neil and artist Bill Janocha. This multi-generational approach allowed for a blend of traditional humor and contemporary perspectives, keeping the strips relevant and engaging for readers.
Throughout his career, Brian Walker has not only continued his father’s legacy but also made significant contributions to the world of cartooning. He has curated numerous cartoon exhibitions, written and edited dozens of books on cartoon art, and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the rich history of American comics. His unique upbringing, combined with his talent and dedication, has allowed him to provide readers with a window into the fascinating world of professional cartooning, all while keeping the beloved characters of Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois alive and thriving in the funny pages.
The talk can be viewed by going to the RMA website at https://greenwichrma.org, and clicking on “Speakers.”
The RMA’s upcoming presentation, “The Last Ships from Hamburg: Business, Rivalry, and the Race to Save Russia’s Jews on the Eve of World War I” by Steven Ujifusa, is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Please note that this and all future RMA presentations will be held at Christ Church Greenwich, Parish Hall, 254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
From 1890 to 1921, 2.5 million Jews, fleeing discrimination and violence in their homelands of Eastern Europe, arrived in the United States. Many sailed on steamships from Hamburg. This mass exodus was facilitated by three businessmen whose involvement in the Jewish-American narrative has been largely forgotten: Jacob Schiff, the managing partner of the investment bank Kuhn, Loeb & Company, who used his immense wealth to help Jews to leave Europe; Albert Ballin, managing director of the Hamburg-American Line, who created a transportation network of trains and steamships to carry them across continents and an ocean; and J. P. Morgan, mastermind of the International Mercantile Marine trust, who tried to monopolize the lucrative steamship business. Though their goals were often contradictory, together they made possible a migration that spared millions from persecution. Descendants of these immigrants included Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Estée Lauder, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Fanny Brice, Lauren Bacall, the Marx Brothers, David Sarnoff, Al Jolson, Sam Goldwyn, Ben Shahn, Hank Greenberg, Moses Annenberg, and many more—including Ujifusa’s great grandparents.
Ujifusa’s story offers original insight into the American experience, connecting banking, shipping, politics, immigration, nativism, and war—and delivers crucial insight into the burgeoning refugee crisis of our own time.
Steven Ujifusa is a historian who chronicles the confluence of American business, social, and maritime history. His third book, The Last Ships from Hamburg, was released by HarperCollins in 2023. Previous books were Barons of the Sea: And Their Race to Build the World’s Fastest Clipper Ship, and A Man and His Ship: America’s Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the SS United States.
Steven is a corporate historian and has won numerous awards for his writing.
Raised in Chappaqua, New York, he received his undergraduate degree in history from Harvard and a joint masters in historic preservation and real estate development from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Philadelphia with his wife Alexandra (an emergency room pediatrician) and two sons.
To stream the presentation by Steven Ujifusa at 11 AM on Wednesday, January 29, click on https://bit.ly/30IBj21. This presentation will also be available on local public access TV channels, Verizon FIOS channel 24 and Optimum (Cablevision) channel 79. The public is also invited to attend the presentation in person at Christ Church Greenwich, Parish Hall, 254 E. Putnam Avenue.
Note: The views expressed in these presentations are those of the speakers. They are not intended to represent the views of the RMA or its members.
RMA speaker presentations are presented as a community service at no cost to in-person or Zoom attendees, regardless of gender. Any member of the public who would like to receive a weekly email announcement of future speakers should send a request to members@greenwichrma.org. The RMA urges all eligible individuals to consider becoming a member of our great organization, and thereby enjoy all the available fellowship, volunteer, and community service opportunities which the RMA offers to its members. For further information, go to https://greenwichrma.org/, or contact info@greenwichrma.org.
