James Lawrence KemsleyOAM (15 November 1948 – 3 December 2007) was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip Ginger Meggs (originally created by Jimmy Bancks) between 1984 and 2007.
James Kemsley was born in the Sydney suburb of Paddington, but lived for a few years with his parents and sister in New Guinea where his father served as master of patrol boats. He then attended the Roman Catholic boarding schools, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College (1958–60) and Chevalier College (1961–62), both located in Bowral, New South Wales. He also attended the Christian Brothers College at Rose Bay (1962–63). Afterwards he lived for a while with his father in Traralgon, Victoria.[1]
Kemsley's background was in acting and television. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kemsley was known to television audiences as "Skeeter the Paperboy", an on-screen cap-wearing persona (who once said his full name was Amos Skeeter - a play on "a mosquito") that he portrayed as a cast member of Super Flying Fun Show, and then as host of Skeeter's Cartoon Corner in Sydney and Melbourne, both on the Nine Network.
The daily afternoon program offered a mix of US-based cartoons (such as Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo and The Archies), with viewer competitions. One of his tag lines on the telephone with viewer contestants who were unsuccessful was "golly gosh". When Kemsley left in 1973, the role was temporarily filled by young actor Greg Bepper until Daryl Somers took over the time slot.
In 1973 Kemsley compered a variety program on the Nine Network titled Junior Cabaret. He also appeared in the ABC TV mini-series The Cousin From Fiji and Seven Little Australians.
Kemsley studied acting at the Independent Theatre of Dramatic Art from 1969–1972 under Doris Fitton and attended the Playwright Forum at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1973 under the directorship of David Whittaker. He went on to write three children's plays: The Land Of Coloured Dreams, Once Upon A Time... And All That and The Magical Adventures of Puck.
In 1984 Kemsley was invited to take over the syndicated comic strip, Ginger Meggs, and several comic books featuring the character have since been published.
Awards include the 2001 Stanley Award for Cartoonist of the Year, presented by the Australian Cartoonist's Association. In 1990 & 2004, Kemsley received the Stanley for Comic Strip Artist, as voted by his peers. Under Kemsley's pen and Atlantic Syndication's marketing, "Ginger Meggs" now appears in newspapers in over 120 newspaper in 30 countries.
Wake Up, Ginger Meggs (North Ryde: Angus and Robertson, 1989).
The Cartoon Book (Sydney, New York: Scholastic, 1990).
The Cartoon Book 2 (Sydney, New York: Scholastic, 1994)
Images of Bradman with Peter Allen (Sydney: Allen and Kemsley, 1994).
Some Day's You're a Legend - Some Days You Ain't (Sydney: Allen and Kemsley, 1995).
When You're Into Graffiti - The Writing's On The Wall (Sydney: Allen and Kemsley, 1998).
References
^Allen, Peter (2007) Jack of all trades, mast of Meggs, James Kemsley, 1948-2007 (Obituary)
^"Ginger Meggs cartoonist dies". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
External links
GoComics
Ginger Meggs website
Portrait of James Kemsley, 1996 by Gary Ede
Kemsley's T'rific Trivia (1988)
Biodata
January 31, 2023
james, kemsley, james, lawrence, kemsley, november, 1948, december, 2007, australian, cartoonist, notable, producing, comic, strip, ginger, meggs, originally, created, jimmy, bancks, between, 1984, 2007, contents, early, life, early, acting, career, cartoonist. James Lawrence Kemsley OAM 15 November 1948 3 December 2007 was an Australian cartoonist who was notable for producing the comic strip Ginger Meggs originally created by Jimmy Bancks between 1984 and 2007 Contents 1 Early life 2 Early TV and acting career 3 Cartoonist 4 Selected bibliography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditJames Kemsley was born in the Sydney suburb of Paddington but lived for a few years with his parents and sister in New Guinea where his father served as master of patrol boats He then attended the Roman Catholic boarding schools Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College 1958 60 and Chevalier College 1961 62 both located in Bowral New South Wales He also attended the Christian Brothers College at Rose Bay 1962 63 Afterwards he lived for a while with his father in Traralgon Victoria 1 Early TV and acting career EditKemsley attended the Independent School of Dramatic Art North Sydney 1968 71 as well as a National Institute of Dramatic Art Playwright Forum in 1973 and a RADA Professional Workshop in London in 1979 Kemsley s background was in acting and television In the late 1960s and early 1970s Kemsley was known to television audiences as Skeeter the Paperboy an on screen cap wearing persona who once said his full name was Amos Skeeter a play on a mosquito that he portrayed as a cast member of Super Flying Fun Show and then as host of Skeeter s Cartoon Corner in Sydney and Melbourne both on the Nine Network The daily afternoon program offered a mix of US based cartoons such as Wacky Races Scooby Doo and The Archies with viewer competitions One of his tag lines on the telephone with viewer contestants who were unsuccessful was golly gosh When Kemsley left in 1973 the role was temporarily filled by young actor Greg Bepper until Daryl Somers took over the time slot In 1973 Kemsley compered a variety program on the Nine Network titled Junior Cabaret He also appeared in the ABC TV mini series The Cousin From Fiji and Seven Little Australians Kemsley studied acting at the Independent Theatre of Dramatic Art from 1969 1972 under Doris Fitton and attended the Playwright Forum at the National Institute of Dramatic Art NIDA in 1973 under the directorship of David Whittaker He went on to write three children s plays The Land Of Coloured Dreams Once Upon A Time And All That and The Magical Adventures of Puck Kemsley left Channel Nine and then studied in England at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts RADA in 1979 Cartoonist EditIn 1984 Kemsley was invited to take over the syndicated comic strip Ginger Meggs and several comic books featuring the character have since been published He has also contributed to The Traralgon Journal Adelaide s Sunday Mail Sydney s The Sun Herald The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph Kemsley twice served as President of the Australian Cartoonists Association Awards include the 2001 Stanley Award for Cartoonist of the Year presented by the Australian Cartoonist s Association In 1990 amp 2004 Kemsley received the Stanley for Comic Strip Artist as voted by his peers Under Kemsley s pen and Atlantic Syndication s marketing Ginger Meggs now appears in newspapers in over 120 newspaper in 30 countries Kemsley continued to draw the Ginger Meggs strip until he died at his home in Bowral New South Wales on 3 December 2007 after a two year battle with motor neuron disease 2 Selected bibliography EditThe Pocket Frogin Commercial Publications 1981 London Ginger Meggs at Large North Ryde Angus and Robertson 1985 A Look Inside Ginger Meggs Melbourne Budget Books 1988 What s My Name Mean North Ryde Angus and Robertson 1987 The Infamous Adventures of Ginger Meggs North Ryde Angus and Robertson 1987 Kemsley s T rific Trivia Melbourne Budget Books 1988 Wake Up Ginger Meggs North Ryde Angus and Robertson 1989 The Cartoon Book Sydney New York Scholastic 1990 The Cartoon Book 2 Sydney New York Scholastic 1994 Images of Bradman with Peter Allen Sydney Allen and Kemsley 1994 Some Day s You re a Legend Some Days You Ain t Sydney Allen and Kemsley 1995 When You re Into Graffiti The Writing s On The Wall Sydney Allen and Kemsley 1998 References Edit Allen Peter 2007 Jack of all trades mast of Meggs James Kemsley 1948 2007 Obituary Ginger Meggs cartoonist dies Sydney Morning Herald 4 December 2007 Retrieved 7 November 2011 External links EditGoComics Ginger Meggs website Portrait of James Kemsley 1996 by Gary Ede Kemsley s T rific Trivia 1988 Biodata Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Kemsley amp oldid 1125415244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
