Rudolph Dirks (b. 1877)

Born: 1877 February 26 in Heide, Provinz Schleswig-Holstein, German Empire (1871-1918)
Died: 1968 April 20 in New York City, New York, United States
via story credit search for "Rudolph Dirks" external links

Biography:

Additional biographical information of Dirks found in: Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone, 1995 Series) #86 (October 2001); World Encyclopedia of Comics (Chelsea House Publishers, 1976 series) 1976, 1999 (hardcover); World Encyclopedia of Comics (Avon Books, 1976 series) 1977 (trade paperback reprint of the hardcover); Rudolph Dirks - Katzenjammer, Kids & Kauderwelsch (Deich Verlag 2012); Rudolph Dirks - Zwei Lausbuben und die Erfindung des modernen Comics (Bachmann Verlag 2018)

Dirks did gag cartoons for Judge (Judge, 1881 Series) and Life (Life Publishing Company, 1883 Series) in the 1890s.

Rudolph Dirks' syndication work included: Ain't Nature Grand Sunday (Press Publishing [New York World]) 1930-01-05 - 1931-08-09 [Writer, pencils, and inks. The topper comic strip to Captain and the Kids Sunday.]; Ain't Nature Grand Sunday (World Feature Syndicate [New York World-Telegram]) 1931-08-16 - 1931-12-06 [Writer, pencils, and inks. The topper comic strip to Captain and the Kids Sunday.]; Captain and the Kids Sunday (Press Publishing [New York World]) 1918-08-25 - 1931-08-09 [Writer, pencils, and inks. Sporadically titled Bad Boys - The Captain and the Kids during 1918 and 1919.]; Captain and the Kids Sunday (World Feature Syndicate [New York World-Telegram]) 1931-08-16 - 1932-04-24 [Writer, pencils, and inks.]; Captain and the Kids Sunday (World Feature Syndicate [New York World-Telegram]) 1932-05-01 - 1933-12-31 [Writer.]; Captain and the Kids Sunday (United Feature Syndicate) 1934-01-07 - 1962-XX-XX [Writer, pencils, and inks. Son John Dirks takes over the strip sometime in 1962 officially, but was heavily assisting and probably doing some full strips for years prior.]; Captain and the Kids daily (United Feature Syndicate) 1934-03-19 - 1962-XX-XX [Writer.]; Hans und Fritz Sunday (Press Publishing [New York World]) 1914-06-07 - 1918-08-17 [Writer, pencils, and inks. Strip was untitled until 1915-05-23, then titled Hans und Fritz until changed to Captain and the Kids on 1918-08-25.]; Have You a Little Cartoonist in Your Home? Sunday (Press Publishing [New York World]) 1926-11-14 - 1929-12-30 [Writer, pencils, and inks. The topper comic strip to Captain and the Kids Sunday.]; History Repeats It's-Self Sunday (Press Publishing [New York World]) 1926-04-11 - 1926-05-09 [Writer, pencils, and inks. The topper comic strip to Captain and the Kids Sunday.]; In the Jungle Sunday (W. R. Hearst) 1897-12-18 - 1900-08-05 ? [Writer, pencils, and inks. Comic strip never had a regular title, may have continued into 1901.]; Katzenjammer Kids Sunday (W. R. Hearst) 1897-12-12 - 1904-03-XX [Writer, pencils, and inks. Often reprinted by King Features Syndicate from the late 1910s to early 1920s.]; Katzenjammer Kids Sunday (American-Journal-Examiner) 1904-03-XX - 1912-10-20 [Writer, pencils, and inks. Known unnamed ghost artist worked on the strip in the mid-1910s.]; Katzenjammer Kids Sunday (Star Company) 1912-10-27 - 1913-03-16 [Writer, pencils, and inks.]; Pinochie Twins (Philadelphia Inquirer) 1900-09-16 - 1901-09-15 ? [Writer, pencils, and inks. Alternate title: Aunt Tina. Dirks may have left the strip at an earlier date.]

Name:

  • Rudolph Dirks
  • Type: Name at Birth
    Given name: Rudolph Family name: Dirks

Other Names:

  1. R. Dirks Type: Common Alternative Name
    Given name: R. Family name: Dirks

Signatures:

  1. R. Dirks [generic]
  2. Rudolph Dirks [generic]
  3. Watso [generic]

Relations:

  1. Parent of - John Dirks (b. 1917)
  2. Ghosted by - John Dirks (b. 1917)
    Notes: John Dirks took over the Captain and the Kids comic strip with his father, Rudolph's passing in 1962. Previously, he assisted his father with the comic strip as a ghost creator for an unknown time period before his death. It is likely he did entire strips during that period.
  3. Sibling - Gus Dirks (b. 1879)

Art Influences:

Influences by Rudolph Dirks (b. 1877) were stated by:
  1. Lank Leonard (b. 1896)

Non Comics Works:

  1. Publication Title: numerous (fine arts) - Role: artist - Years: 1895?; 1896?; 1897?; 1898?; 1899?; 1900?; 1901?; 1902?; 1903?; 1904?; 1905?; 1906?; 1907?; 1908?; 1909?; 1910?; 1911?; 1912?; 1913?; 1914?; 1915?; 1916?; 1917?; 1918?; 1919?; 1920?; 1921?; 1922?; 1923?; 1924?; 1925?; 1926?; 1927?; 1928?; 1929?; 1930?; 1931?; 1932?; 1933?; 1934?; 1935?; 1936?; 1937?; 1938?; 1939?; 1940?; 1941?; 1942?; 1943?; 1944?; 1945?; 1946?; 1947?; 1948?; 1949?; 1950?; 1951?; 1952?; 1953?; 1954?; 1955?; 1956?; 1957?; 1958?; 1959?; 1960?; 1961?; 1962?; 1963?; 1964?; 1965?; 1966?; 1967?; 1968?
    Employer Name : Self-Published
    Work Title: numerous
    Notes: Dirks did paintings and engravings whose style was associated with the Ashcan School of art.

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