The Little King is an American gag-a-day comic strip created by Otto Soglow, which ran from 1930 to 1975. Its stories are told in a style using images and very few words, as in pantomime.
Publication history Soglow's character first appeared on June 7, 1930, in The New Yorker and soon showed signs of becoming a successful strip. The Little King began publications in comic book issues from 1933, was licensed for a 1933–34 series of animated cartoons by Van Beuren Studios and featured in advertising campaigns for Standard Oil from The Comics Journal #286 and Royal Pudding (1955).
It became evident early on that William Randolph Hearst was determined to add The Little King to his King Features Syndicate newspaper strips, but he was hindered by Soglow's contractual obligations with The New Yorker. While seeing out the final period of the contract, Soglow produced a placeholder strip for King Features, The Ambassador, quite similar to The Little King in characters, style and story situations. One week after its final publication in The New Yorker, The Little King resumed as a King Features Sunday strip, on September 9, 1934.
The strip continued a successful run with several more animated cartoon appearances and advertising campaigns,Gallery of classic graphic design featuring The Little King as spokesman for Royal Gelatine and Pudding and Soglow was awarded the 1966 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for the strip. The Little King ran until Soglow's death in 1975. The final strip ran on July 20, 1975.
Format The strip is notable for having virtually no dialogue; the title character never speaks. The Ambassador was nearly identical in format, and the main characters of the two strips were similar. When The Ambassador gave way for The Little King in 1934, the reader could not be certain if it was the Little King who had arrived into Hearst syndication or the Ambassador who had removed some disguise.
The Little King (mustachioed, bearded, and clad in velvet and ermine) was small of stature, but as wide as he was tall. He was a childlike, cheerful fellow who lived to have fun. The final panel of the comic strip often showed His Majesty pursuing a hobby, playing a children's game, flirting with a pretty woman, or otherwise enjoying himself in an unkingly fashion while neglecting his "official" duties.
Animated theatrical shorts All cartoon shorts were produced by Van Beuren Studios except where otherwise noted. All of the theatrical shorts have been released on DVD and Blu-ray by Thunderbean Animation. As in the comic strips, the Little King never speaks in the 1933 and 1934 shorts except for a brief line in "Marching Along" (1933).
1933
+#TitleRelease DateDirector(s)DistributorFilmNotes1A Dizzy DayMay 5, 1933Harry BaileyRKO Radio PicturesPart of the Aesop’s Fables series. Branded as a “Sentinel Louey” cartoon.2A.M to P.MJuly 28, 1933Part of the Aesop’s Fables series. Branded as a “Sentinel Louey” cartoon. 3The Fatal NoteSeptember 29, 1933Vernon StallingsThe first cartoon to feature The Little King.4Marching AlongOctober 2, 1933Vernon Stallings & James Tyer5On the PanNovember 24, 1933Was later retitled “In Darkest Africa” by Official Films for Home Movie release.6PalsDecember 22, 1933Oscar E. Soglow & James TyerWas later retitled “Christmas Night” by Official Films for Home Movie release. And later to “Christmas Up North” For TV release.
1934
+#TitleRelease DateDirectorDistributorFilmNotes7Jest of HonorJanuary 19, 1934Vernon StallingsRKO Radio Pictures8Jolly Good FelonsFebruary 16, 19349Sultan PepperMarch 16, 193410A Royal Good TimeApril 13, 193411Art For Art’s SakeMay 11, 1934Not To Be confused with the 1938 film of the same name. Released by Official Films for Home Movie release & later Redrawn Colorized in the 1970’s.12Cactus KingJune 8, 1934The last Little King cartoon from The Van Beuren Studio.
1936 +TitleRelease DateDirectorDistributorFilmNotesBetty Boop and the Little KingJanuary 31, 1936Dave Fleischer & Myron WaldmanParamount PicturesThe only Betty Boop, Fleischer, & Paramount cartoon to feature The Little King. The only cartoon to feature Betty Boop and The Little King together.
Collections The Little King (1933), Farrar & Rinehart Cartoon Monarch: Otto Soglow and the Little King (2012), IDW Publishing's imprint The Library of American Comics
References
External links
Stanley Stories: "Henh! Henh! Hoppin' on the Little King Bandwagon: selections from Dell Four-Color 677, 1956