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Laugh Again with Andy Capp #10
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Reg Smythe
352 books5 followersReginald "Reg" Smythe was a British cartoonist who created the Andy Capp comic strip.
Born Reginald Smyth (without the "e"), the son of Richard Oliver Smyth, a shipyard worker, and his wife, Florence (Florrie) née Pearce, he left school at 14. After some years unemployed he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving ten years and rising to the rank of sergeant.
During World War II, Smyth saw active service in North Africa, where he developed a talent for cartoon drawing through creating posters for amateur dramatic productions.
After being released from active duty, he settled in London and worked as a clerk for the GPO. He continued to draw poster art but in the 1950s moved to cartoon work, operating through an agent and using the pseudonym Reg Smythe.
By the mid-1950s, he was working for the Daily Mirror, where his "Andy Capp" cartoon strip had its debut in 1957. It made its way to the United States in 1963. Smyth described Andy Capp as having been born "on the A1 road at 60 mph" after he had received, during a visit to West Hartlepool, a request from the Mirror Group chairman Hugh Cudlipp to create a cartoon to boost northern readership. The characters Andy and Flo were based on Smyth's own parents.
Apart from its rapid success in the UK, the Andy Capp strip became popular internationally in at least 34 countries and 700 newspapers Andy became Tuffa Viktor in Sweden, Willi Wacker in Germany, Charlie Kappl in Austria, André Chapeau in France, and Kasket Karl in Denmark, though he remained "Andy Capp" in the US. Smyth received numerous awards, including Best British cartoon strip every year from 1961-1965; major awards in Italy in 1969, 1973 and 1978; and in the US, the National Cartoonists Society Best Strip award in 1974.
"Andy Capp" was adapted as a West End musical and a 1988 television series by Keith Waterhouse, without notable success.
In the mid-1970s, Smythe returned to Hartlepool, where he died of lung cancer in 1998, aged 80.
In 2007, after years of local speculation and fundraising, a bronze statue commemorating Andy Capp was erected near to the Harbour of Refuge Pub in Smyth's home town of Hartlepool. Measuring 5 ft 8 in, the Statue cost £20,000 and was designed by Shrewsbury sculptor Jane Robbins
Born Reginald Smyth (without the "e"), the son of Richard Oliver Smyth, a shipyard worker, and his wife, Florence (Florrie) née Pearce, he left school at 14. After some years unemployed he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving ten years and rising to the rank of sergeant.
During World War II, Smyth saw active service in North Africa, where he developed a talent for cartoon drawing through creating posters for amateur dramatic productions.
After being released from active duty, he settled in London and worked as a clerk for the GPO. He continued to draw poster art but in the 1950s moved to cartoon work, operating through an agent and using the pseudonym Reg Smythe.
By the mid-1950s, he was working for the Daily Mirror, where his "Andy Capp" cartoon strip had its debut in 1957. It made its way to the United States in 1963. Smyth described Andy Capp as having been born "on the A1 road at 60 mph" after he had received, during a visit to West Hartlepool, a request from the Mirror Group chairman Hugh Cudlipp to create a cartoon to boost northern readership. The characters Andy and Flo were based on Smyth's own parents.
Apart from its rapid success in the UK, the Andy Capp strip became popular internationally in at least 34 countries and 700 newspapers Andy became Tuffa Viktor in Sweden, Willi Wacker in Germany, Charlie Kappl in Austria, André Chapeau in France, and Kasket Karl in Denmark, though he remained "Andy Capp" in the US. Smyth received numerous awards, including Best British cartoon strip every year from 1961-1965; major awards in Italy in 1969, 1973 and 1978; and in the US, the National Cartoonists Society Best Strip award in 1974.
"Andy Capp" was adapted as a West End musical and a 1988 television series by Keith Waterhouse, without notable success.
In the mid-1970s, Smythe returned to Hartlepool, where he died of lung cancer in 1998, aged 80.
In 2007, after years of local speculation and fundraising, a bronze statue commemorating Andy Capp was erected near to the Harbour of Refuge Pub in Smyth's home town of Hartlepool. Measuring 5 ft 8 in, the Statue cost £20,000 and was designed by Shrewsbury sculptor Jane Robbins
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 19, 2022
0859390128 = LAWAC #10 = 1973
"Drawings by Reg Smythe" is odd- as if he didn't write it as well.
I enjoy this earlier Capp, with the cigarette ALWAYS lit, but this one has Flo taking too many un-returned beatings. I heartily enjoy when she throttles him -being taller, heavier and much tougher- which I guess mentally offsets his wins enough to keep me from looking down on the strip but this collection lacks that poetic justice (did I use PJ correctly?) which dulls my female-friendly sensibilities enough for overall enjoyment.
"Drawings by Reg Smythe" is odd- as if he didn't write it as well.
I enjoy this earlier Capp, with the cigarette ALWAYS lit, but this one has Flo taking too many un-returned beatings. I heartily enjoy when she throttles him -being taller, heavier and much tougher- which I guess mentally offsets his wins enough to keep me from looking down on the strip but this collection lacks that poetic justice (did I use PJ correctly?) which dulls my female-friendly sensibilities enough for overall enjoyment.
July 15, 2012
As with all Andy Capp strips, it's hit or miss. The strip has changed since these were published in the late 1970s. Andy has gotten lazier over the years (if that's possible) and Flo has become more independent. They both have mellowed too. Maybe age has slowed them down from fighting so much.
Anyway, my husband wants to read the book too. Then I'll take it to the next meet-up in November.
Anyway, my husband wants to read the book too. Then I'll take it to the next meet-up in November.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews