Jefferson Machamer

• Name — Jefferson Machamer • Born — 1900 • Birthplace — Western Nebraska, U.S. • Died — August 15, 1960 • Place of death — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Education — University of Nebraska • Spouse — Pauline Moore (married 1934–1960) • Children — 3

After graduating from the University of Nebraska Machamer became a staff artist for The Kansas City Star newspaper. In 1922 he moved to New York City and joined the staff of the humor magazine Judge. From 1928 until 1930 he wrote and drew a comic strip for King Features Syndicate called Petting Patty, initially as a daily strip and later also as a Sunday color feature. In 1932, his comic strip Gags and Gals made its debut in the New York Mirror. This strip proved a greater popular success, and ran until 1938. According to Dan Nadel, Gags and Gals displayed the elements that typified most of Machamer's work: "beautiful dominant women, broad shouldered and impeccably dressed, accompanied by hapless, unattractive men, sometimes short and mustachioed, with just a tuft of hair atop a bald pate—apparently a self portrait." Machamer's style has been compared to that of Russell Patterson, who may have influenced him. In 1946, Machamer published a how-to book for aspiring cartoonists, Laugh and Draw with Jefferson Machamer. Beginning in the 1940s, he also operated a correspondence course from his home.

Machamer was born in western Nebraska. From 1934 until his death he was married to the actress Pauline Moore, with whom he had three children. Jefferson Machamer died in Santa Monica, California on August 15, 1960.

• Illustration — Illustration of Wang Lianying, 3 October 1920 • Illustration — "It's Libel to Say Movie Folks are Fast", 2 October 1921 • Illustration — "Do Your XMas Mailing Early", 10 December 1922

His recorded language was English. He married Pauline Moore.