The Los Angeles Times Syndicate was a print syndication service that operated from 1949 to 2000. Owned by the Times Mirror Company, it also operated the Los Angeles Times Syndicate International; together the two divisions sold more than 140 features in more than 100 countries around the world. Syndicated features included Pulitzer Prize-winning commentators and columnists, full news and feature services, editorial cartoons and comic strips, online products and photo and graphics packages.

History The syndicate was founded in c. 1949 by the Times Mirror Company as the Mirror Enterprises Syndicate. In the early 1960s the name was changed to the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, and was operated as a department of the Los Angeles Times newspaper. Rex Barley was manager of the syndicate from 1950 until at least 1968.

The syndicate acquired the New York City-based independent syndicate General Features Corp. in 1967 for approximately $1 million, retaining it as a separate entity."Times Mirror Company And General Features," New York Times (January 4, 1967), p. 84. In 1974, the L.A. Times Syndicate absorbed General Features into its own operations.

In mid-1987, the Los Angeles Times Syndicate was the fifth-ranked syndication service, with 85 features.

The Tribune Company acquired the Times Mirror Company in early 2000; upon completion of the merger, the L.A. Times Syndicate became a division of Tribune Media Services. The New York office closed June 1, 2000, while the Salt Lake City office closed on August 31, 2000. International work continues to be done in Los Angeles through the Tribune Content Agency. Several of the employees were offered follow on jobs with Tribune Media Services after the closing. The only strip that appeared to survive the merger was Dave Blazek and John Gilpin's Loose Parts.

Comic strips and panels Neither iteration of the syndicate ever produced a breakout comic strip; the most successful strips — Luther, Napoleon and Uncle Elby, Mr. Tweedy — tended to be inherited from other syndicates. Most Mirror Enterprise strips didn't last more than two or three years, and the company appeared to give up on syndicating comic strips after c. 1961.

After a five-year hiatus, the newly named Los Angeles Times Syndicate picked up the distribution of comic strips again in 1965. It had a similar lack of long-term success, with most strips not lasting more than three of four year in syndication. The most popular strips that originated with the L.A. Times Syndicate were Ed Nofziger's Animalogic (11 years in syndication) and Lee Nordling's Sherman on the Mount (9 years).

The syndicate also distributed Lou Grant's editorial cartoons from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Mirror Enterprises Syndicate (c. 1949–c. 1961) Annie Oakley by Bill Ziegler (1950–1952)"Bill Ziegler," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017.

Dragnet by Mel Keefer"Mel Keefer," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and Bill Ziegler (1953–1954) Hopalong Cassidy by Royal King Cole and Dan Spiegle (1949–1951)"Dan Spiegle," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. The Life of General Ike by "staff artist" Bill MacArthur (1952) — "36-installment story strip" on the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower"Eisenhower Story Strip From Mirror Syndicate," Editor & Publisher (May 10, 1952). Archived at Stripper's Guide. My Friend Irma by Stan Lee, Jack Seidel,"'Irma', Radio-Movie Star, Goes Newspaper," Editor & Publisher (July 29, 1950). Archived at Stripper's Guide. and Dan DeCarlo (1951–1952)"Dan De Carlo 1," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Napoleon and Uncle Elby by Margot McBride (widow of strip creator Clifford McBride), Roger Armstrong,"Roger Armstrong," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and Joe Messerli"Joe Messerli," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. (1952–1961) — acquired from LaFave Newspaper FeaturesKnoll, Erwin. "Napoleon" Strip Moves To Mirror Syndicate," Editor & Publisher (September 20, 1952). Archived at Stripper's Guide. Accessed Oct. 31, 2018. Soapy Waters by George Stallings & Kay Wright"Kay Wright," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. (February 7, 1955 – April 20, 1957)Holtz, Allan. "Obscruity of the Day: Soapy Waters," Stripper's Guide (January 10, 2007). Times Have Changed? by P. S. Clayton & Jack Chick (Nov. 16, 1953 – 1955)Holtz, Allan. "Obscurity of the Day: Times Have Changed," Stripper's Guide (Dec. 3, 2008). Too Funny for Words by Courtney Dunkel (June 12 1950 – 1952) — wordless daily strip

Los Angeles Times Syndicate (1965–2000) Animalogic by Ed Nofziger (1967–1978)"Ed Nofziger," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Bonzer U by Kearney Egerton (1968) Bush League by John Bianchi and Ken Shaw (1975) Dallas by writer Jim Lawrence"Jim Lawrence," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and artists Paul Chadwick,"Paul Chadwick," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Ron Harris,"Ron Harris," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and Deryl Skelton"Deryl Skelton," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. (1981–1984) The DeBrees by Charles Barsotti and Kipp Schuessler (1975) Drawn Out by Bill and Eric Teitelbaum (1980) Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist by Bill Braudis and Dave Blazek, with artwork by Dick Truxaw (March 1997 – January 2000) Et Tu by Dan Harpe (1975-1976) Gerties Gig by Suzanne Farrow (1976) Gleeb by Paul B. Lowney (1981-1985) Grace and Looie by Al Wiseman (1966, 1973) Guindon by Dick Guindon (1978–1981)

Homer's Groaners by Ed Stanoszek (1978-1979) Jeff Cobb by Pete Hoffman (1974"Pete Hoffman," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017.–1978)Jeff Cobb at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. from the original on October 8, 2016. — acquired from General Features Corp. Lady Chatter by Nellie Caroll (1965–1966) Legend of Bruce Lee by Sharman DiVono,"Sharman Di Vono," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Fran Matera,"Fran Matera," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and Dick Kulpa (1982–1983) Lord, I Said by Hank Hartmann and Martha Merrill (1978) Loose Parts by Dave Blazek & John Gilpin (April 1998–December 2000; moved to Tribune Media Services) Luther by Brumsic Brandon Jr. (1970–1986) — inherited from Newsday Specials Mr. Tweedy by Ned RiddleForan, Chris. "GREEN SHEET|THROWBACK THURSDAY: COMICS EDITION: 'Mr. Tweedy,' the Green Sheet's long-running lovable loser," Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (March 23, 2016). (1974–1988) — continued from General Features Corp. Modesty Blaise (1976-1980)"Enric Badia Romero," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. My Stars by Ken Bruns (1976) The Noob (1994) Phoebe's Place by Bill Schorr (1990–1991) Sherman on the Mount by Lee Nordling (1980–1989)"Lee Nordling," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Star Trek by Thomas Warkentin, Sharman DiVono, Ron Harris, Larry Niven, Martin Pasko, Padraic Shigetani, Bob Meyers, Ernie Colón, Gerry Conway, and Dick Kulpa (Dec. 2, 1979 – Dec. 3, 1983) Star Wars by Archie Goodwin, Al Williamson, Russ Manning, Russ Helm, Steve Gerber, and Alfredo Alcala (1979–1984) The Virtue of Vera Valiant by writer Stan Lee"Stan Lee," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and artists John Buscema"John Buscema," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. and Frank Springer"Frank Springer," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. (1976-1977) Walt Kelly's Pogo by Larry Doyle and Neal Sternecky,"Neal Sternecky," Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999. Accessed Nov. 30, 2017. Peter Sternecky, and Carolyn Sternecky (Jan. 1989 – Nov. 1993) Why We Say by Robert Morgan and Pete Hoffman (1974–1978) — continued from General Features Corp.

See also Los Angeles Times–Washington Post News Service

References