Buster Brown

Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American public in the early 20th century. The Buster Brown suit reflected his outfit and became very popular for young boys.[1][2][3]

Origin

The character of Buster Brown may have been loosely based on Granville Hamilton Fisher, a son of Charles and Anna Fisher of Flushing, New York. Outcault copied Fisher's physical appearance for his comic strip. The name "Buster" came from the popularity of Buster Keaton, then a child actor in vaudeville.[4] Roger Cushman Clark (1899–1995) of Deadwood, South Dakota was also described as the "original model" for the Buster Brown character.[5]

In other media

Comic books

Buster Brown comics were given away as premiums in shoe stores from 1945 to 1959. Some contain art by Reed Crandall and other notable cartoonists. In the 1950s other comics based on the radio show were produced by Custom Comics and Dell Comics, and a coloring book was also produced.

Film

A series of live-action two-reelers were produced from 1925 to 1929 by the Stern Bros. for Universal Pictures. Buster was played by the actor Arthur Trimble. Pal the Wonder Dog (who played Tige) and director Gus Meins were both later associated with the popular Our Gang (Little Rascals) comedies, where Pal at some point came to be known as Pete the Pup, a name inherited by one of his pups, who carried on the role after Pal died of poisoning in 1930.

Theater

In 1905, a play was performed on Broadway at the Majestic titled Buster Brown. It starred a 21-year-old adult dwarf actor named Master Gabriel (1882–1929), born Gabriel Weigel.[10] Photos of Master Gabriel in the role show him very convincing as a child.[11] Gabriel appeared in another children's-oriented play in 1908 Little Nemo and a return engagement as Buster Brown in 1913.[12] It also featured famous animal actor George Ali as Tige.

Radio

A Buster Brown radio series began in 1943 with Smilin' Ed McConnell on the West Coast NBC Radio Network.[13] It included such characters as Froggy the Gremlin ("Plunk your magic twanger, Froggy!")[14] and Midnight the Cat ("What do you say to the kids, Midnight?" "Nice.")[15] Their jingle: "I've got shoes. You've got shoes. Everybody's got'a have shoes. And what's the best kind of shoes for me? Good ol' Buster Brown shoes!"

Television

McConnell moved the show to television in 1950, where it ran under the titles Smilin' Ed's Gang and The Buster Brown Show for four years.[13] Andy Devine took over in 1955 after McConnell's death, but Devine's show was titled Andy's Gang.[16]

Playground games

Buster Brown makes an appearance in several children's playground games. There is a skipping rope rhyme that starts "Buster Brown | Went to town | With his pants | On upside down."[17] There is also a game played on a seesaw where one rider will stop the seesaw with the other rider in the air and chant, "Buster, Buster, Buster Brown, what will you give me if I let you down?" The rider stuck in the air then offers an imaginary payment of grandiose proportions (e.g., "every Barbie doll ever", "the Moon and all the stars").[18][19]

title	Buster Brown
author	Richard F. Outcault
status	Concluded
first	May 4, 1902
last	c. 1921
syndicate	New York Herald (1902–1906) Hearst Corporation (1906–c. 1921)
genre	humor

Origin

Publication history

Characters and story

Buster Brown

Mary Jane

Tige

Brown Shoe Company mascot