Walt Howarth Comics Illustrator *****IS ANY ONE INTERESTED******
adam
*****IS ANY ONE INTERESTED******
He is an excelent artist of some calibre. Here is a big block of info
on him and some of the titles he has worked on the web site is
currently under contruction.
Selection of Annuals and Comics illustrated by Walt
The A Team Annual- 1988
A Team Story Book -1985
Billy the Kid Annuals-1959-61
Billy the Kid Adventure Mag-1953-59
Batman Annuals-date?
Bonanza Annuals 1963-69
Bronco Lane Annuals 1959-64
Cheyenne Annuals-1960-64
Cheyenne TV Story Book
1962. Cisco Kid Comics [comic run-1-51]
Cisco Kid Comic Albums
Dangennan Annual -1965
Dempsey and Makepeace Annual-1987
Dr Who Annuals 1965-70
Gene Autry Annual -1958
Gunsmoke Annual-1961-62
High Chaparral-1969
John Wayne Comics-[comic run 1-82] 1950-58
John Wayne Annuals -1953-59
Lone Ranger Comics-[comic run 1-66]-1953-58 [many photo covers]
Lone Ranger Annuals 1959-66
Lone Ranger Comic Albums-1953-56
Maverick Annuals-1961-62
Maverick TV Story Book-1962-63
Phantom Ranger Comics-1953-55
The Saint Annual-[date?]
Space Family Robinson-[date?]
Superman Annuals -1966-69
Rawhide Annuals -1963-67
Rawhide TV Story Book[date]
Range Rider Annual [date?]
Roy Rogers Annuals-1952-56
Roy Rogers And many many more
Comics 1-100 mostly photo covers
Tarzan Annuals-1963-69
Terrahawk Annuals-1983
Tenderfoot Annual
TV Favourites [comics-1-18]
TV Favourites Annuals-[x4]
Western Roundup Comics-[1-40dates?]
Various Cowboy TV Heroes.
Western Tales-1955
Wagon Train Annuals 1960-67
Wagon Train Album [x4 date?]
Wells Fargo Annual
Biography
The 1950's and early 1960's were the heyday of British Western comics
and annuals. The Manchester publishing firm of "WORLD DISTRIBUTORS
LTD" (WDL) were quick to respond to the demand for cowboy heroes.
One artist whose vibrant work graced most of their front covers was
Walter Howarth.
Walt was born in Bolton, Lancashire [UK] and graduated from the Bolton
College of Art to employment in Manchester with Industrial Art
Services Ltd. He recalls the day that WDL directors walked into the
firm looking for a good figure illustrator. Walt fitted the bill.
They were expanding their publishing interests primarily with an
extensive range of Western titles.
"I was the first artist they had at WDL. My first colour cover was
for John Wayne comics number 5. As far as I can remember I completed a
further 77 for this series."
The Wild West was something he had always had a great affinity for.
"I could name at least 80 Indian Tribes and studied the landscapes,
costumes and weapons. My knowledge of the subject ensured that the
covers were totally authentic."
Early WDL Annuals were produced with distinctive yellow spines. Walt
is certain he painted every one of those covers. He was and still is
extremely capable of reproducing likeness with photographic accuracy.
His wonderful colour covers of many cowboy heroes and others are
testimony to this. On only one occasion does he recall a complaint
from his boss John Pemberton. I had trouble with John over Cheyenne.
His idea of the actor Clint Walker was different to mine. On one
particular painting he complained that his cheek bones were too
prominent I disagreed! the cover was reproduced without alteration.
One of the few pieces of art work he has managed to retain is an
unused Wagon Train Annual cover by . He explains why this was never
printed.
"I used to do these covers for September and they were printed in
January for the Book Fair.
Ward Bond the actor died in the November so I had to do a fresh cover,
with just Robert Horton appearing on it."
In 1965 Walt started work on WDL's long running Dr Who series.
"I would watch all the Dr Who TV programmes it was my only source of
reference. In those early days of Dr Who, photographic material on the
subject was very thin on the ground.
"I wish I had, had a video recorder 40 years ago. I would have been
able to freeze frame everything and draw from the TV screen.
I was also required to illustrate the inside stories, my work load was
enormous."
Walt's work was greatly appreciated by publishers and writers alike.
During a temporary absence from "World" he was to be employed by most
UK Publishers over the years, producing art work of the highest
quality.
"One of the nicest letters I ever received was from Gerry Anderson"
says Walter .
When I was working for Purnelll I produced some art work for the
Terrahawk Annuals. In his letter, he told me "they were the best
illustrations he had ever seen "
Walt also turned his artistic talents to the cartoon world of Walt
Disney characters.
"I was one of their accredited artists" He told me proudly.
Walt's prolific output continued throughout the 1970s, 80s and early
90s producing art work for television related annuals which were to
include Danger Man, the A Team and Dempsey and Makepeace amongst many
others. During this period he was to cover most subjects with his
fine art work, one of which was from illustrating stories for jigsaw
puzzles which enabled him to demonstrate his versatility over a wide
range of topics.
Just before Walt retired he was commissioned by LADYBIRD to produce
artwork for a series of 4 Batman books. The quality of this artwork
is in every way as fresh and inspired as it was in the early days of
the youthful exuberance with which he was to launch himself into his
long career. In over 40 years of illustrating children's books I asked
Walt if he has any particular favourites.
" I have to say I am extremely proud of all the Cowboy Comic and
Annual covers I painted. When I look back to those early years I just
do not know how I managed to paint so many. They are all my
favourites."
Today, aged 74 Walt is still painting and illustrating. His work is
in great demand both with regards to his original artwork and
commissioned pieces. His other passion is watching his favourite
football team Bolton Wanderers.
Occasionally he tracks down some of his old books such as a copy of
The Saint Annual for which he paid the princely sum of 30 pence (50c).
" I had a John Wayne Annual in my hand early this year and they wanted
Ł3. 50p for it. The damn book only cost 7/6d when it first came
out!". Unknown to Walt John Wayne albums can now fetch prices of upto
Ł50 ($80)
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terrinoble
Walt Howarth did the covers of the Cherry Ames Girls' Annuals from 1957-60.
His signature appears thereon. He probably also did the (unsigned) color
frontispiece illos. However, he gave Cherry blue eyes, whereas she was
always described as having dark eyes. (Perhaps he was not as interested in
the girls' annuals.)
The 1961-64 Cherry annuals had unsigned covers. (The hideous '63 cover
could not have been Howarth's work.) I have all but two of the eight
annuals.
adam <amd...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:31a4c3f.01062...@posting.google.com...
> £3. 50p for it. The damn book only cost 7/6d when it first came
> out!". Unknown to Walt John Wayne albums can now fetch prices of upto
> £50 ($80)
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
adam
STILL undEr ConstruCtion... But please "mark ye well"
Bill Marcum
terrinoble wrote in message <9hofs9$3kn3$1...@news3.infoave.net>...
>
>Walt Howarth did the covers of the Cherry Ames Girls' Annuals from 1957-60.
