It became a dominant player in the syndication market in the early 1930s. In March 1930, United Features acquired theMetropolitan Newspaper Service (ostensibly from theBell Syndicate).[3] And in late February 1931, Scripps acquired theNew York World, which controlled the syndication arms of the Pulitzer company:World Feature Service[3] andPress Publishing Co.[2] (which unlike other syndicates were owned by the paper rather than being separate entities).
In 1934, United Features launched its first original strip,Al Capp'sLi'l Abner.[1] AsLi'l Abner's popularity increased, creator Capp lampooned United Features in his strip-within-a-strip,Fearless Fosdick, which featured the abusive and corrupt "Squeezeblood Syndicate."
Robert M. Hall was a sales manager at United Features starting in 1935; he left in 1944 to start thePost Syndicate.
From 1936 to 1954, United Feature published their own line ofcomic books, using their comic strip features as characters.Lev Gleason, who in the 1940s and 1950s published a number of popular comics titles, was an editor at United Feature in the beginning, including the company's first title,Tip Top Comics.[6] Three United Feature titles published more than 100 issues:Tip Top Comics (188 issues, Apr. 1936–Sept./Oct. 1954),Sparkler Comics (120 issues, July 1941–Nov./Dec. 1954), andComics on Parade (104 issues, Apr. 1938–Feb. 1955). The company even created its own original superheroes: Iron Vic, Mirror Man, and Spark Man[1] (none of whom caught on). After ending the United Feature comics line in 1954, a few of their titles would be continued bySt. John Publications. The rest of their comic book properties were acquired byDell Comics in 1958.[1]
In 1968, United Features syndicated about 50 features to 1500 clients.[7]
In 1994, Jim Davis's company,Paws, Inc., purchased the rights toGarfield (including the strips from 1978 to 1993) from United Features. The strip is currently distributed byAndrews McMeel Syndication, while rights for the strip remain with Paws.
On February 24, 2011, United Media struck a distribution deal with Universal Uclick (now known asAndrews McMeel Syndication) for syndication of the company's 150 comic strip and news features, which became effective on June 1 of that year.[11][12] While United Media effectively ceased to exist,[13] Scripps still maintains copyrights and intellectual property rights.[14][15] The United Feature Syndicate brand still continues to be used on many strips.
Broncho Bill by Harry O'Neill (1928–1950) and then Fred L. Meagher[29] (1950–1956)[30] — originallyYoung Buffalo Bill (1928–c. 1930), thenBuckaroo Bill (c. 1930–1932), thenBroncho Bill (1932–1955), thenBuffalo Bill (1955–1956); an earlyWestern strip about a group called The Boy Rangers[31]
Dickey's Dogs (also known asBuddie and his Friends,Just Dogs, and then after being acquired by UFS,Mr. and Mrs. Beans and thenBuster Beans) by Robert L. Dickey (July 14, 1919 – July 21, 1940)[35] — acquired in 1930 fromMetropolitan Newspaper Service[1]
Diesel Sweeties by Richard Stevens III (January 2007 – August 2008) — returned to web distribution
Everyday Movies (also known asMetropolitan Movies) byDenys Wortman (1931–1954) — gag panel acquired fromWorld Feature Service where it originated in 1921
Joe's Car byVictor Forsythe (1918–1928); becameJoe Jinks (1928–1934); becameJoe Jinks & Dynamite Dunn (1934–1945) by Pete Llanuza (1934–1936) and Sam Leff & Mo Leff (1944–1945); becameCurly Kayoe byHenry Formhals (1945-1953)[45] — acquired fromWorld Feature Service in 1931[3]
^abcdefghijBooker, M. Keith. "United Feature Syndicate," inComics through Time: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas (ABC-CLIO, 2014), p. 399.
^abc"United Feature Syndicate Buys Metropolitan Service From Elser: Both Firms Will Retain Separate Identities, With Elser Remaining as Vice-President — Monte Bourjaily to Direct Both Organizations,"Editor & Publisher (March 15, 1930). Archived at"News of Yore 1930: Another Syndicate Gobbled,"Stripper's Guide (May 4, 2010).
^abcdefghHudson, Frederic, Alfred McClung Lee, and Frank Luther Mott.American Journalism 1690-1940, Volume 4 (Psychology Press, 2000), p. 591.
^Jeet Heer, "Crane's Great Gamble", in Roy Crane,Buz Sawyer: 1, The War in the Pacific. Seattle, Wash.: Fantagraphics Books, 2011.ISBN9781606993620
^Bails, Jerry; Ware, Hames (eds.)."Gleason, Lev". Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. RetrievedJanuary 8, 2014.
^Astor, Dave."Goldberg To Retire From United Media,"Editor & Publisher (December 17, 2001): "The executive joined United in 1972 when it bought Bell McClure Syndicate and North American Newspaper Alliance, where Goldberg was president."
^Ray Banta,Indiana's Laughmakers : The Story of over 400 Hoosiers : Actors, Cartoonists, Writers, and Others. Indianapolis, Ind. : PennUltimate Press,ISBN9780929808000 (pp. 58-64)
