Is This a Premium?

Zain-Eppy, Inc.New York 

Editor of Printers’ Ink:

The bread wrapper is an advertising medium. It is so much circulation, paid for, and the wise baker imprints on his wrapper such copy and illustration decoration as will influence sales. The wrapper has unusual opportunity to serve as a sales builder. 

Not to take advantage of this opportunity is an economic and sales waste. 

An excellent example of a bread wrapper taking full opportunity of its medium is our Comic Strip Bread Wrapper. Four different comic strips are imprinted on the sides of the wrapper — and the comics change every day, just like in the newspapers.

NRA [National Recovery Administration] has ruled that the sale of bread in a wrapper bearing a serial comic strip printed on it is a violation of Article VII, Section 6 of the baking industry code. This provision prohibits the use of premiums.

But, we ask, is it a premium? Has a fair and proper interpretation been made? It is a matter of record, on two occasions, where President Roosevelt issued proclamations freeing up advertising novelties and specialties from all restraint in the normal and usual promotion of business. Speaking from thirty years' of experience, the editor of Bunting’s 

Novelty Mart says, “Comic Strip Bread Wrappers are strictly advertising novelties and not premiums in any sense whatsoever.” Here, then, is another interpretation relating to our wrapper. Which is the correct interpretation? The premium interpretation of NRA? The advertising novelty interpretation of Mr. Bunting? Who can help us draw the line of differentiation between these contentions? Who can help us support our contention to NRA that our wrapper is an advertising novelty and as such, free of their restriction?

Interpretations on the matter go even further. An advertising friend advances the opinion that our wrapper is neither a premium nor an advertising novelty. “It is a packaging improvement, much like the Post Toasties Mickey Mouse cutouts and other such packages. Since when,” he asks, “does a design decoration become a premium?”

Because members of the advertising fraternity work with premiums, advertising novelties and packaging improvements, we shall consider it a favor to hear from advertising people voicing their interpretations relative to our comic strip wrapper. Because we are preparing an appeal from the NRA ruling, we seek information, guidance and support in our contention that NRA erred.

Samuel B. Eppy.

* * * * * * 

George Kalil Zain was born on November 1, 1888 in Tyre, Lebanon, according to Who’s Who in Commerce and Industry, Volume 14 (1965). His parents were Paul Zain and Mary Habib. 

Who’s Who said Zain graduated from the Friends School, Mt. Lebanon, Lebanon, in 1906 and later that year emigrated to the United States. A passenger list, at Ancestry.com, recorded Zain as a Syrian passenger on the steamship La Lorraine which departed December 22, 1906 from Havre, France. The ship arrived in New York City seven days later. Zain was on his way to see a friend in Brooklyn at 25 William Place. Who’s Who said Zain graduated from Potsdam Normal School in 1909. 

Zain has not yet been found in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census or the 1915 New York state census. In the 1920 census, Zain was a New York City resident in Manhattan at 110 West 81 Street. Zain worked at an advertising firm. Zain has not yet been found in the 1930 census. 

The Encyclopedia of American Biography, Volume 38 (1968) said Zain “began his career with the founding of the Zain Advertising System in New York City” in 1912. He was president and owner until 1942. Zain also formed the Zain Features Syndicate whose founding year is not yet known. The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, April 30, 1935, included the following entry in Class 38 which covered prints and publications: “Cartoons published at intervals. Series of Zain Features Syndicate, Inc., 323,753-4: Apr. 30; Serial Nos. 360,050-1; published Feb. 19, 1935.” The description appeared to be of Famous Comics.

At some point, Zain met Samuel B. Eppy. A profile of Eppy in Billboard, May 5, 1958, said “…Eppy spent the years 1930–36 as a traveling salesman for an advertising mat service, selling intangibles during the depths of the depression.” The two men formed a partnership, Zain-Eppy, Inc., in New York City, and produced the promotional comic book, Famous Comics in 1934. In 1936, Eppy was an assistant sales manager. at Gum, Inc. in Philadelphia. He went on to form his own company which produced plastic charms.

Who’s Who said Zain married Rebyl Silver on January 21, 1935. 

According to the 1940 census, Zain and his wife were residents of New York City in 1935. Their home in 1940 was Los Angeles, California at 500 South Berendo Street. Zain was in charge of his advertising company. 

Who’s Who said Zain was naturalized in 1943. His petition for naturalization was filed in Miami, Florida. The 1945 Florida state census counted Zain and his wife who resided at 128 Giralda Avenue in Coral Gables where Zain became well-known for Miracle Mile and the Zain Plan of parking. 

A 1950 Hendersonville, North Carolina city directory listed Zain’s address as 1029 Kanuga. Hendersonville was his summer home. Zain maintained a residence in Palm Springs, California whose city directories for 1950 to 1952 had this address, 480 Mesquite Avenue.

Zain passed away September 25, 1966 in Hendersonville, North Carolina, according to the death certificate at Ancestry.com. His passing was noted in the Living Church, November 27, 1966. Zain was laid to rest at Woodlawn Park North Cemetery and Mausoleum. 

Further Reading
Miracle Mile: The Evolution of a Street

* * * * * * 

Barbara Gail Salter, One-Year-Old, Feted
Barbara Gail Salter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Salter, of 36 East 4th Street, was tendered a party in honor of her first birthday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Toohey, 407 Homestead Avenue, parents of Mr. Salter, yesterday afternoon.

Guests at the, party were Mrs. E. R. Busch of Jackson Heights, L. I.; Mrs. Ernest Schluder and her daughter Eimra of Pelham; Mrs. A. A. Alexander and her sons, Bert and Scott of Mount Vernon; and Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Cole of Paterson, N. Y. The latter couple, late arrivals, were best man and matron of honor respectively, when Mr. and Mrs. Salter were married in Paterson two years ago.

Appendicitis Complex Hits Sports Editors
White Plains—Two rival newspapermen are sleeping side by side these evenings.

Bob O’Connor, sports editor for the Evening Dispatch, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital last weekend and underwent an operation for appendicitis. He is recuperating.

Ed Salter, sports editor of the Daily Reporter suddenly was stricken with the same ailment. He has had the bed next to O’Connor’s. He will be operated on today.

And Dr. Harry Clapper, who removed O’Connor’s appendix, will do likewise for Salter.

“Do you know,” he said to set us right at the beginning, “John Martin isn’t my real name. It’s Morgan Van Roorbach Shepard. I was raised on a little Maryland plantation. My mothers [sic] wanted me to be educated, but there was no school convenient. So she taught me herself by telling me stories about the birds that lived nearby in a martin bird house—one of those tiny cabins on top of a tadpole.” He broke off to sketch a picture of the abode. “All the birds that flew in and out were named, but the leader bird she called John. She had a wonderful imagination. I used to sit at her knee and listen to her whimsies, stories and fairy tales by the hour. That was practically my entire schooling. Years after, when I was casting about for a simple nom de plume to appeal to children I recalled the name of the boss martin bird and appropriated that name—John Martin. If my mother picked it I knew it must be all right. And John Martin I’ve been ever since.”

“When my mother died I had a lasting memory of all those things. I went to live with my grandparents. I was put in a German school and was very unhappy. Finally I set out for myself. I made the trip around the Horn on a ship. I prowled about South America and Panama, and I found my way into restless Central America and Had my fling as a soldier of fortune….”

…I’ve been a cowboy punching cattle, Central American revolutionist and a newspaper man like yourself. I spent thirteen years working in a bank. Those were unlucky years for me. I was miserable, a square peg in a round hole. Always I wanted to get with the children, heard their little voices calling, calling. I drifted around Mexico, Maine and California….

…But it was the big earthquake out on the coast that finally picked me up and dropped me in my niche. But it took one of nature’s greatets [sic] upheavals to point the way.”

…“I got knocked around, a bit while the quake was passing through,” John Martin continued. “After I got patched up in the hospital I managed to patch up my broken finances so that I started in this little publishing undertaking.”

New York City.—R. [sic] Morgan Shepard announces that his publishing business, formerly conducted at 231 Crocker Building, San Francisco, has been transferred to 225 Fourth Avenue, (Parker Building,) where it will continue as the Morgan Shepard Company. All publications heretofore listed, as well as plates, manuscripts and records, were lost in the recent San Francisco fire, which loss may cause some temporary inconvenience, but will not prevent a prompt readjustment of affairs. The Morgan Shepard Company will soon offer an interesting list of books, brochures, cards and leaflets.

Morgan Shepard, late of San Francisco, has transferred his business to this city. Although his stock, manuscripts, &c., were lost in the recent fire, Mr. Shepard nevertheless secured duplicates of manuscripts and other matter and is about to begin publishing these. The first announcements concern four volumes—“The Diary of a Forty-niner,” edited by C. L. Canfield; “Henrik Ibsen,” by Haldane Macfall, author of “Whistler,” &c.; “ “On the Giving of Gifts,” by Margaret O. Graham, and “Lions,” by James Simpson, being series of twelve caricatures of notables, including Roosevelt, Kipling, Hall Caine, Whistler, Gorky, and others, with an introduction by Haldane Macfall.

John Martin’s Annuals can be viewed here (1916) and here (1917). A bound volume of John Martin’s Book, for the months of January to June 1921, is here.

An advertisement for John Martin’s Publications appeared in The Outlook, November 15, 1922.

The last issue of John Martin’s Book was dated February 1933.

In the 1915 New York state census Shepard and his wife made their home at 37 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Shepard was a publisher and house writer. The 1920 census had the same address for Shepard who was a magazine publisher. The address was unchanged in the 1924 New York, New York, Voter List at Ancestry.com

The Sunday Star (Washington, DC), February 12, 1922, noted the death Shepard’s father, “Shepard. Peacefully, in Washington, February 11, 1922. Rhodes Shepard, in his 86th year. Services (private) Monday, February 13. Interment at Leonardtown, St. Mary’s county. (Leonardtown Beacon please repeat notice.)”

On August 29, 1927. Shepard arrived in New York City on the steamship American Shipper. The passenger list said he had departed from London, England on August 19 and his address in New York City was 33 West 49th Street.

Magazine editor Shepard and his wife were Manhattan residents in the 1930 census. The couple made their home at 22-24 East 36 Street.

An archive of Shepard’s publishing records and personal papers are in the de Grummond Collection of the McCain Library and Archives at the University of Mississippi. The archive description said “The collection includes several letters relating to Martin’s appointment as director of juvenile programming at NBC in 1933….An annotated list of Martin’s speaking engagements for 1933–1935 is evidentiary of his active role as a traveling lecturer…”

Shepard passed away May 16, 1947 in New York City. The New York Times, May 17, 1947, said Shepard “died yesterday at The Players, 16 Gramercy Park, of which he had been a member for the last twenty-eight years. He was 82 years old….His wife, Mary Elliot Putnam Shepard, whom he married in 1900 [sic], died in 1942.” The 1900 census said Shepard’s marriage was in 1895. His wife passed away September 6, 1942 according to a death notice in The New York Times, September 8.


Further Reading and Viewing
Paul Elder & Company
Google Images
MagazineArt.com
Pinterest
Wikipedia


(Next post on Monday: Trademarks, September 24, 1935)

…At a very early age, for some reason, they threw him out of high school. and they sent him to City College [of New York]. I think he was about fourteen. I don’t know what he was doing [at City College], but he did work on their college magazine, called Mercury. He did some cartoons for them...and that might be in their archives. That was a long time ago. But I think he was too young to go to college at fourteen. Whatever the reason was, he didn’t stay there very long. A year or two, something like that. He didn’t like it. Even there, he displayed some of his art. Rough, rough art talent, let’s put it that way...he was a kid.

My father was—in the old days they used to call it a seltzer man. He had a route and he would do home delivery of seltzer, soda, and beer….Some of my mother’s brothers came to this country; most of the family, unfortunately, stayed in Europe. But a number of relatives did come to the United States, so they were saved from the Holocaust. And most of them, about four or five people including my father, were in that business of home delivery, where he drove his truck. Rather than just selling seltzer—for which you had to go every day to a seltzer shop, because they refilled bottles and all that stuff….well, he had had seltzer, soda, beer, syrup. And he had a route—he delivered, that’s how he made his living. Long hours.

QUESTION: What is your favorite painting?
PLACE: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
ANSWER: ABRAHAM KANEGSON, Artist, 1531 E. 172d St., The Bronx—It is impossible for me to pick out one that I enjoy more than any other as I enjoy many for different reasons. Bellini, Botticelli, Goya, Reubens, Rembrandt and many others have done many great paintings which I enjoy very very much.

Abe Kanegson, Eisner's lettering man, seated to my right, asked what was wrong. Abe was the left intellectual of the office, which also included Marilyn Mercer, Eisner’s business assistant and secretary, and Jerry Grandenetti, Eisner’s background man. I enjoyed an active and bantering relationship with my boss and and the others in the studio, but I was closest to Abe, with whom I had developed a big brother–kid brother relationship. Abe played utility infielder at the office: he lettered, he inked backgrounds, he finished inking Eisner’s half-finished figures. And he came from the Bronx, actually no more than four blocks away, on East 172nd Street, a block from James Monroe High School. He was five years older than I, big, burly, very hairy, a dark, wry, sardonic Russian Jew who lumbered as he walked. A strong presence but oddly, for all his impressiveness, without charisma. Maybe it was the stutter. Abe had a quick mind and wit and forceful opinions expressed in a rumbling, resonant baritone undermined by the worst stutter I had ever heard….

…I looked up to Abe. He was a Communist or fellow traveler (I never asked, he never told) to whom I awarded more credibility than to my sister Mimi because he didn’t beat up on me. Abe didn’t accuse me of being an “opportunist” or “indecisive,” nor was he trying to change me into the protege Red that was Mimi’s ambition for me. My sense was that Abe was more interested in prodding/goading mr into becoming a better and more serious cartoonist, the cartoonist that I liked to pretend I already was.

Eisner maintained that of all the letterers* he employed over the years, Kanegson was one the few who understood the nuances of lettering and who treated lettering as more than a job. “Kanegson was brilliant,” Eisner said. “He added a dimension of quality that typesetting could never get. His lettering is clear and legible, and in addition it lends warmth to the visuals.”

Eisner used lettering to set tone or establish mood, and Kanegson’s range allowed him to use types of lettering not often seen in comics, like blackletter, to great effect. “To me, lettering contributes as much in the storytelling as the art itself,” he explained. “To my mind there is no real border between lettering and the artwork.”

Yronwode: Another person whose name is mentioned in the fake advertisement in the ‘Lurid Love’ story is Abe Kanegson. He was your letterer, right?

Eisner: He was the best letterer I ever had. He worked with me from 1947 to about 1950. I don’t know what happened to him after that but I miss him sorely. He brought far more to The Spirit than many of the background people ever did—he was very responsive to ideas and he added a creative dimension to comics, which I always thought was very important. He’s the only one who ever really understood. I had other letterers before he came in, but he helped me reach out. Sure, I had certain standards I wanted him to follow—for instance, I did Old English before he came in, but he would take that Old English and really do it—his skill was enormous—but, even more, he understood the function and rule of lettering in comics. He regarded it as something important. Everybody before him regarded it as a chore.

Three nights and two days. What a shame we couldn’t stay longer! To take care of the many disappointed folks who were late with their registrations, Jane held this “first” third session.

The loaders said we were the “singin’est” camp they’d ever seen. True we sang at the slightest provocation—or without any—and it was all due to our choir leader, Abe Kanegson. His inspired leadership urged us to unexpected high levels. We’ll never forget the last night’s sing. Seemed as though we just could’t stop….

…Saturday night’s party was a knockout. It seems there was a bit of confusion. The Sons and Daughters of the Midnight Sun and the Irish-American Marching and Chowder Society had both rented the “Grange Hall” for that night. During supper hour both leaders invited us to join in festivities at “their” party. At first, some of the newcomers thought that Esther Sumpter “Swenson” and Ralph Page “Shanahan” were serious in their off the cuff and entirely extemporaneous remarks. And Abe Kanegson “Swenson” added much to the hilarious scene. It got us into the proper mood for the march en masse to the hall. The stage lost three talented performers in overlooking them. Sometime during the party the poster of the Sons and Daughters of the Midnight Sun was stolen from the wall. Before the hubbub subsided, or rather while accusations, were flying thick and fast, the Marching and Chowder Club’s poater [sic] was taken down. Even when Mrs Heim presented a license for the dance in the name of the Sons and Daughters etc. and signed by the notary “Honest John’, it soothed only the feelings of the “Swenson” clan. It all proved to be a build up for the “Oxdansen”,done by Abe Kanegson “Swenson” and Dick Castner “Swenson-Shanahan”. A more comical “Oxdansen” may have been done sometime but we doubt it. We sure had fun.

On Saturday, April 11, at 8:30 p.m., the Parent-Teacher Council of Media Friends School, Pa., will hold a square dance for the benefit of the school kitchen. Mrs. Herman Staples, Wallingford, Pa., is general chairman.

Abe Kanegson, a professional caller from New York City, will be present. The tickets at $1.00 per person may be obtained by contacting any member of the committee. Refreshments will be sold. The dance will be held in the Media Armory, State Street.
Dora T. Smith, Publicity Chairman

For a group of some 65 enthusiastic dancers, the celebration of Christmas in dance, song, and friendly good fellowship was extended through the week after Christmas at New England’s first winter folk dance camp. This was held at the North Swanzey Community House, two miles south of Keene, N.H. It was directed by Ralph Page, who taught square and contra classes and encouraged other callers to try their hand in daily contra workshops. Ted Sannella taught the folk dance classes while Abe Kanegson led the nightly folk sings and had charge of the decorating committees for the meals and parties….Wednesday’ night’s party theme was the British Isles, while on New Year’s Eve we drove to near-by Dublin for a French-Canadian dance. Abe’s squares that night included some weird-sounding calls….Saturday’s Scandinavian evening started with a smorgasbord, continued with Scandinavian and American dances, and ended with another of Abe’s lauletaans (Finnish for “Let’s sing”)…..Abe Kanegson’s mother, trying our square dances for the first time, contributed her bit by teaching a group the Russian sher (a square dance) as she had danced it in the Ukraine in her youth….

…The last weekend in June saw over a hundred people dancing and singing their merry way through the Twelfth Annual Weekend of the Country Dance Society, Boston Center, at Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth, Mass. The outstanding staff and the friendly, congenial crowd made this one of the best of the always enjoyable weekends at this lovely spot….while Abe Kanegson (N.Y.) led the very relaxing morning and late evening folk sings….

Instigated by the Old Colony Callers and Teachers Assn., a committee has been formed by representatives being sent from each of the callers associations in New England, and the Albany District, to formulate plans for a New England Square and Folk Dance Callers, Teachers, Leaders Conference. After three meetings over a period of five months held in Quincy, Worcester and Leominster, respectfully, the following announcements are being made.

…The dates are Sept. 8–12, with Ralph teaching squares and contras, and Mary Ann and Michael Herman the folk dances. Esther Thompson of Calif. will lead folk singing Wed. and Thurs. nights, Abe Kanegson on the weekend….

A few of us from the Boston area were fortunate this year to be able to attend the Folk Dance Camp at Oglebay Park, Wheeling, Va., from Aug. 23 to 40. This camp, started some years agony Jane Farrell and currently directed by Mary Ann Busch, has served as the inspiration and model for many other folk dance camps which are now held in various parts of the country. This year’s staff included Jane Farrell, teaching play party games and folk dances; Abe Kanegson, square and folk dances….

Harry & Jane Becker of “Contra Corners” in Paxton ran another of their fine Junket parties. The cellar was pretty well filled with seven sets of dancers. Callers present were Abe Kanegson of N.Y.C….

New Hampshire Folk Dance Camp
Although New Hampshire is a long way from Florida, many Florida dancers might be interested in an account of a “Folk” Camp, which is quite different from any form of Square Dance Institute, in flavor and in activities.

It was my good fortune to be asked to serve on the Staff at Camp Merriewoode this year….and a fine staff of Instructors. There were…Abe Kanegson (N.Y.C.)…

…The after-the-dance snack parties were where the fellowship of the group really came out, due to the wonderful atmosphere of the fine people there, the warm cheery fireplace, the candlelight, and the singing of Abe Kanegson and the group. These nights will live long in the memories of all present.

Pinewoods Camps – County Dance Society – Boston Center Camp, Long Pond Buzzards Bay, Mass. Last weekend in June. Director: Louise Chapin with Bob Hinder, Abe Kanegson and other expert Teachers and Callers. Flyer from the Society’s office at 14 Asburton Place, Boston, Mass.

Keen, N.H.
Third Year End Camp, directed by Ralph Page, assisted by Paul and Gretel Dunsing and Abe Kanegson. For details wrote to Mrs. Ada Page, 182 Pearl Street, Keene, N.H. Dates are December 29 to January 2.

Abe Kanegson, folk singer from New York City, will present a program of folk music here today. The program will be made up of European, American, Israeli, Yiddish and American folk music. It will be given at 8 p.m. in Graham Memorial. Kanegson has been the folk-song specialist at folk dance camps in Maine, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, West Virginia and South Dakota. He directed the first Johnny Appleseed folk festival in Mansfield, Ohio. His folk music has been featured at festivals in Portland, Fitchburg and Miami. His songs are heard over radio station WNYC in New York City. In traveling all over the United States and performing at folk festivals, he says, he has picked up many songs and added them to his repertoire. Kanegson’s program will be co-sponsored by Graham Memorial and the Hillel Purim Festival. The Purim Festival commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from the machinations of Hainan. It is actually of Babylonian or Persian origin.

Kanegson Led Listeners To Foreign Lands
Sunday night saw Graham Memorial Main Lounge filled to a capacity crowd. The event was the Purim Festival, jointly sponsored by GM the Hillel Purim, Festival. The attraction was folk singer Abe Kanegson of New York, who sang a varied selection of folk songs from all over the world, with the emphasis on Yiddish and American folk songs. Kanegson, who was head of (See Kanegson, page 4.) 

Kanegson— (Continued from Page 1) 

the first Johnny Appleseed folk festival in Mansfield, Ohio, has also been the folk-song specialist at folk dance camps throughout New England and in Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Dakota and Miami, Fla.

INFORMAL

Kanegson gave an informal touch to his repertoire of nearly 30 songs and ballads. This effect was heightened by his quiet, soft manner. Throughout the program, he managed to achieve a touch of humor which was well received by the large audience, who participated in several songs. He started his program with a song of love in Hebrew. A very beautiful and haunting song, it was well appreciated by the audience. The next song, which he described as “a song for penny-less travelers,” was an old United States song, “The Big Rock Candy Mountain.” Kanegson continued in much the same manner, singing similar songs from throughout the world. Among his songs were some from the United States, Mexico, South Africa, France, Canada and England as well as Yiddish and Israeli songs. He ended his program with the lively old folk song about a fox who went out on a chilly night and got himself a goose. After this spirited rendition, Kanegson held an informal meeting in one corner of the lounge, leading a group of interested people in more songs.

The upcoming folk dance convention in Florida was reported in Bow and Swing, March 1956, and said, “Everyone who was at Miami last year will want to hear Abe Kanegson again. He is the guy with the guitar, the songs, and the smooth calling style that stopped the show.” 

New Hampshire Folk Dance Camp (Camp Merriewoode, 25 miles north of Keene, N.H.) September 5–10. Abe Kanegson, Ralph Page, Don Armstrong, Jeannie Carmichael and other experts. Details from Ada Page, Registrar, 182 Pearl St., Keene, N.H.

Abe Kanegson, renowned folk balladier and caller, will be the featured star. A most enjoyable evening is in store for everyone. The donation is S1.50, coffee included. The proceeds of this evening will be given to the Child Rescue fund of Pioneer women.

Mr. Kanegson will entertain with a variety of songs from many lands and will call for both square and folk dancing.

The 1960s

Alter Ego #102, June 2011, published Kanegson’s hand-written letter, dated August 10, 1964, with the address, Box 241, Mountaindale, New York. In Alter Ego #115, March 2015, Gilbert said he received a letter from Kanegson’s niece, Ruth Kanegson Levine, who wrote that her grandparents had a bungalow in Mountaindale.

Kanegson’s mother passed away March 30, 1965 according to the New York, New York, Death Index at Ancestry.com. The Florida Death Index said Kanegson’s father’s passing was September 20, 1978.

Kanegson passed away in May 1965. The New York, New York, Death Index, at Ancestry.com, recorded the death of “Abrah Kanegson” on May 20, 1965 in Brooklyn.

In 1969 Homesteadfast Productions (Waldoboro, Maine) released a record album in remembrance of Abe Kanegson. The liner notes said, in part,

Abe Kanegson was born in Eastern Europe of Russian—Jewish parents and immigrated with them to America as a small child in the early 20’s. He grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and in the Bronx during the midst of the depression. He held many jobs during his life—on farms and in factories, for trucking firms and design studios; he was even a cartoonist for a time. At other times, he had no job at all; so he studied music and painting, he wrote and roamed the countryside. Gradually he developed a career as a folksinger, folk-dance camp teacher, and square dance caller. He always returned, eventually, to New York City. He died there of leukemia in 1965, leaving a wife, two sons, and countless friends scattered all over the nation….

Further Reading

Alter Ego (available at TwoMorrows)

#101, May 2011, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer! (2-page preview)
#102, June 2011, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer!, Part 2 (2-page preview)
#103, July 2011, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer!, Part 3 (2-page preview)
#105, October 2011, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer!, Part 4 (2-page preview)
#106, December 2011, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer!, Part 5 (2-page preview)
#107, February 2012, The Mystery of the Missing Letterer!, Part 6 (2-page preview)
#115, March 2015, Comic Crypt Updates!: Abe Kanegson (1-page preview)
More Heroes of the Comics: Portraits of the Legends of Comic Books
The Secret Files of Dr. Drew

* Will Eisner Studio Letterers
The Spirit was published from June 2, 1940 to October 5, 1952.