Universal Press Syndicate
Company type | Syndication |
---|---|
Industry | Media |
Founded | 1970 |
Founders | John McMeel Jim Andrews |
Defunct | 2009 |
Fate | Merged with Atlantic Syndication |
Universal Press Syndicate (UPS), a subsidiary of
History
Universal Press Syndicate was founded by John McMeel and Jim Andrews in 1970, two graduates of the
Strips like Ziggy (launched 1971), Kelly & Duke, (launched 1972), Tank McNamara (launched 1974), Cathy (launched 1976), and For Better or For Worse (launched 1979) soon followed, and UPS took off.
UPS established Andrews McMeel Publishing in 1973.
In the spring of 1979, Universal Press acquired the existing columns and strips of the
At first, ownership of the comic strips was in the hands of both the artist and the syndicate, but beginning in 1990, UPS gave comic strip creators full rights to their respective works. The company also instituted a policy that says any cartoonist who has been with them for five years or more receives four weeks a year of vacation.[7]
In 1996, UPS established Universal New Media to sell digital entertainment content.
In 1997, UPS acquired Chronicle Features, the syndication arm of the San Francisco Chronicle.[8] (It had previously acquired notable Chronicle Features strips The Far Side, Bizarro, and the editorial cartoons of Ted Rall).[9]
Universal New Media was renamed Uclick in 1997.[10] Also in 1997, Jim Andrews and John McMeel formed Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU) to reflect the diversification that had taken place since its founding. Universal Press Syndicate became one of AMU's subdivisions (along with Uclick and Andrews McMeel Publishing).
In 2004, UPS acquired the international syndicate
In July 2009, UPS merged with Andrews McMeel's digital entertainment company
Some syndicated works
Comic strips (selected)
UPS strips as of the July 2009 merger into
- Adam@home
- Argyle Sweater
- Baldo
- Biographic
- Cathy
- Close to Home
- Compu-toon
- Cornered
- Cul de Sac
- Doonesbury
- The Duplex
- The 5th Wave
- FoxTrot
- Fred Basset
- The Fusco Brothers
- Garfield — acquired from United Feature Syndicate in 1993 (launched 1978)
- Heart of the City
- In the Bleachers
- Ink Pen
- La Cucaracha
- Liō
- Maintaining
- Non Sequitur
- Off the Mark
- Overboard
- Pearls Before Swine
- Pooch Café
- Real Life Adventures
- Red and Rover
- Stone Soup
- Tank McNamara
- Tiny Sepuku
- Tom the Dancing Bug
- W. T. Duck
- You Can with Beakman and Jax
- Ziggy
Concluded UPS strips as of July 2009:
- Bizarro (1995–2003) — acquired from Chronicle Features, where it launched in 1985; moved to King Features Syndicate in 2003, where it continues to the present
- The Boondocks (1999–2006)
- Calvin and Hobbes (1985–1995)
- Citizen Dog (1995–2001)
- Cleats (2001–2010)
- Downstown (1974–1986)
- Encyclopedia Brown (1978–1980)
- The Far Side (1985–1995) — acquired from Chronicle Features, where it launched in 1980
- For Better or For Worse (1979–1997, 2004–2008) — moved to United Feature Syndicate from 1997 to 2004
- Geech (1982–2000) — moved to United Feature Syndicate, where it lasted until 2003
- Kelly & Duke (1974–1980)
- Kudzu (1981–2007)
- Lucky Cow (2003–2008)
- Mullets (2003–2005)
- PreTeena (2001–2008)
- Where I'm Coming From (1991–2005)
Editorial cartoonists
Columns and columnists
UPS columns and columnists include:
- Dear Abby
- Ann Coulter
- Roger Ebert
- Focus on the Family
- The Last Word in Astrology
- The Needleworks by Nancy Thomas
- News of the Weird
- Tell Me a Story
- The Vid Kid by Rawson Stovall
Puzzles and games
References
- ^ Wallace, Jenell. "Jim Andrews and John McMeel began Universal Press Syndicate..." UPI (APRIL 1, 1990).
- ^ Gardner, Alan. "Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge". The Daily Cartoonist (July 8, 2009).
- ^ "Doonesbury: Drawing and Quartering for Fun and Profit". Time, February 9, 1976.
- ^ "Washington Star Syndicate Sold To Kansas City's Universal Press," New York Times (May 20, 1979), p. 37.
- ^ Lynton, Stephen J. "Washington Star Sold To Time for $20 Million," Washington Post (February 4, 1978).
- ^ "Andrews McMeel Universal," Company-Histories.com. Accessed Nov. 1, 2018.
- ^ "The Lee Salem Interview," Hogan's Alley #7 (Nov. 8, 2013).
- ^ Astor, Dave. "Creators Syndicate to Purchase Copley News Service," Editor & Publisher (May 28, 2008).
- ^ "Rall switches and Siporin is signed," Editor & Publisher (July 20, 1996). Archived at The Free Library.
- ^ "About," Andres McMeel website. Accessed Nov. 16, 2017.
- ^ Gardner, Alan. "Atlantic Syndication Combines with Universal Uclick". The Daily Cartoonist (April 7, 2010).
- ^ "Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge". Gardner, Alan. The Daily Cartoonist, July 8, 2009.