Abie the Agent

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Abie the Agent is an American

The strip became popular and other cartoons were made.[1] The titles were "Iska Worreh" (Aug 5) and "Abie Kabibble Outwitting His Rival" (Sept 23).^[2]

After the strip dated January 24, 1932, the comic strip went on hiatus, due to a contract dispute between Hershfield and the syndicate, International Feature Service. The strip resumed in 1935 with the King Features Syndicate and ran until 1940.^[3]

The Sunday page included a topper. This was called Phooey Fables in January 1926, Dictated But Not Read from February until the end of 1926, and Homeless Hector from 1927 until the hiatus in 1932.^[3]

Characters and story

Abraham Kabibble, known as Abie the Agent, was the first Jewish protagonist of an American comic strip.

The character lost many of his more typical Jewish characteristics over the decades, showing his successful integration but also slowly diminishing the particular features of this comic strip.[6] The comic was produced by a Jewish artist, but can be considered discriminatory since it arguably only tried to promote the cultural assimilation of Jews as Americans, at the same time distinguishing them from other ethnicities like Mexicans or African Americans who were often depicted negatively. That, however, was the focus of the strip.^{[6][clarification needed]}

In popular culture

An indication of the strip's popularity was the reference to 'Abe Kabibble' in the 1930 Marx Brothers film Animal Crackers.^[6]

Two animated shorts were made in 1917 by International Film Service.

See also

• Edge City

References