Jump to content

Will B. Johnstone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Derek R Bullamore (talk | contribs) at 22:13, 16 January 2021 (Wikifying clean-up). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Will B. Johnstone
Born
William Breuninger Johnstone

(1881-03-13)March 13, 1881
DiedFebruary 4, 1944(1944-02-04) (aged 62)
Occupation(s)Cartoonist; Lyricist; Librettist; Scenarist

William Breuninger Johnstone (13 March 1881 – 4 February 1944) was an American writer, cartoonist, and lyricist.

His writing credits include the Marx Brothers's Broadway revue I'll Say She Is and, with S.J. Perelman, their first two Hollywood films, Monkey Business and Horse Feathers. He also wrote several popular songs, including a version of "How Dry I Am", a part of which plagiarizes Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay."

He created the cartoon character of 'The Tax Payer' wearing only a barrel held up by suspenders. It was a regular feature in the New York World-Telegram.[1] Johnstone also created the comic strip You Know Me Al[2] (distributed by the Bell Syndicate).

References

  1. ^ Popik, Barry (February 9, 2006). "Tax Payer (Will B. Johnstone cartoon character)". The Big Apple. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. ^ Johnstone entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Accessed Nov. 16, 2018.

Further reading

Books with contributions by Johnstone

  • Lardner, Ring (1979). Ring Lardner's You Know Me Al: The Comic Strip Adventures of Jack Keefe.Introduction Al Capp Illustrations: Will B Johnstone and Dick Dorgan. New York City: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.