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Universal Press Syndicate

September 27, 2023

Universal Press Syndicate (UPS), a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal, was an independent press syndicate. It distributed lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and other content. Popular columns include Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, Roger Ebert and News of the Weird. Founded in 1970, it was merged in July 2009 with Uclick (which published its comics on GoComics) to form Universal Uclick[2] (now known as Andrews McMeel Syndication).

Universal Press Syndicate
TypeSyndication
IndustryMedia
Founded1970; 53 years ago (1970)
FoundersJohn McMeel
Jim Andrews
Defunct2009; 14 years ago (2009)
FateMerged with Uclick
SuccessorAndrews McMeel Syndication
Headquarters
Kansas City[1]
,
United States
Serviceslifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips
OwnerUniversal Uclick
ParentAndrews McMeel Universal
Divisions(international) Atlantic Syndication

History Edit

Universal Press Syndicate was founded by John McMeel and Jim Andrews in 1970, two graduates of the University of Notre Dame. Their early syndication success came as a result of Andrews reading the Yale Daily News. While clipping a column by a priest, he was distracted by Garry Trudeau's Bull Tales comic strip on the facing page. When Trudeau's Doonesbury debuted as a daily strip in two dozen newspapers on October 26, 1970, it was the first strip from Universal Press Syndicate, and a Sunday strip was launched March 21, 1971. Circulation of Doonesbury eventually expanded to more than 1,400 newspapers internationally.[3]

Strips like Ziggy (launched 1971), Kelly & Duke, (launched 1972), Tank McNamara (launched 1974), Cathy (launched 1976), and For Better or For Worse (launched 1979) soon followed, and UPS took off.

UPS established Andrews McMeel Publishing in 1973.

In the spring of 1979, Universal Press acquired the existing columns and strips of the Washington Star Syndicate[4] from Time Inc., which had acquired the Star Syndicate in early 1978.[5] As part of the deal, Time Inc. took on a 20% ownership of Universal Press Syndicate; that was later bought back.[6]

At first, ownership of the comic strips was in the hands of both the artist and the syndicate, but beginning in 1990, UPS gave comic strip creators full rights to their respective works. The company also instituted a policy that says any cartoonist who has been with them for five years or more receives four weeks a year of vacation.[7]

In 1996, UPS established Universal New Media to sell digital entertainment content.

In 1997, UPS acquired Chronicle Features, the syndication arm of the San Francisco Chronicle.[8] (It had previously acquired notable Chronicle Features strips The Far Side, Bizarro, and the editorial cartoons of Ted Rall).[9]

Universal New Media was renamed Uclick in 1997.[10] Also in 1997, Jim Andrews and John McMeel formed Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU) to reflect the diversification that had taken place since its founding. Universal Press Syndicate became one of AMU's subdivisions (along with Uclick and Andrews McMeel Publishing).

In 2004, UPS acquired the international syndicate Editors Press Service (founded in 1933) from the Evening Post Publishing Company and renamed it Atlantic Syndication.[11]

In July 2009, UPS merged with Andrews McMeel's digital entertainment company Uclick to form Universal Uclick.[12]

Some syndicated works Edit

Comic strips (selected) Edit

UPS strips as of the July 2009 merger into Universal Uclick:

Concluded UPS strips as of July 2009:

Editorial cartoonists Edit

Columns and columnists Edit

Past and present UPS columns and columnists include:

Puzzles and games Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ Wallace, Jenell. "Jim Andrews and John McMeel began Universal Press Syndicate..." UPI (APRIL 1, 1990).
  2. ^ Gardner, Alan. "Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge". The Daily Cartoonist (July 8, 2009).
  3. ^
  4. ^ "Washington Star Syndicate Sold To Kansas City's Universal Press," New York Times (May 20, 1979), p. 37.
  5. ^ Lynton, Stephen J. "Washington Star Sold To Time for $20 Million," Washington Post (February 4, 1978).
  6. ^ "Andrews McMeel Universal," Company-Histories.com. Accessed Nov. 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "The Lee Salem Interview," Hogan's Alley #7 (Nov. 8, 2013).
  8. ^ Astor, Dave. "Creators Syndicate to Purchase Copley News Service," Editor & Publisher (May 28, 2008).
  9. ^ "Rall switches and Siporin is signed," Editor & Publisher (July 20, 1996). Archived at The Free Library.
  10. ^ "About," Andres McMeel website. Accessed Nov. 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Gardner, Alan. "Atlantic Syndication Combines with Universal Uclick". The Daily Cartoonist (April 7, 2010).
  12. ^ "Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge". Gardner, Alan. The Daily Cartoonist, July 8, 2009.

External links Edit

  • Universal Press Syndicate corporate site (new)

September 27, 2023
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Universal Press Syndicate UPS a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal was an independent press syndicate It distributed lifestyle and opinion columns comic strips and other content Popular columns include Dear Abby Ann Coulter Roger Ebert and News of the Weird Founded in 1970 it was merged in July 2009 with Uclick which published its comics on GoComics to form Universal Uclick 2 now known as Andrews McMeel Syndication Universal Press SyndicateTypeSyndicationIndustryMediaFounded1970 53 years ago 1970 FoundersJohn McMeelJim AndrewsDefunct2009 14 years ago 2009 FateMerged with UclickSuccessorAndrews McMeel SyndicationHeadquartersKansas City 1 United StatesServiceslifestyle and opinion columns comic stripsOwnerUniversal UclickParentAndrews McMeel UniversalDivisions international Atlantic Syndication Contents 1 History 2 Some syndicated works 2 1 Comic strips selected 2 2 Editorial cartoonists 2 3 Columns and columnists 2 4 Puzzles and games 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditUniversal Press Syndicate was founded by John McMeel and Jim Andrews in 1970 two graduates of the University of Notre Dame Their early syndication success came as a result of Andrews reading the Yale Daily News While clipping a column by a priest he was distracted by Garry Trudeau s Bull Tales comic strip on the facing page When Trudeau s Doonesbury debuted as a daily strip in two dozen newspapers on October 26 1970 it was the first strip from Universal Press Syndicate and a Sunday strip was launched March 21 1971 Circulation of Doonesbury eventually expanded to more than 1 400 newspapers internationally 3 Strips like Ziggy launched 1971 Kelly amp Duke launched 1972 Tank McNamara launched 1974 Cathy launched 1976 and For Better or For Worse launched 1979 soon followed and UPS took off UPS established Andrews McMeel Publishing in 1973 In the spring of 1979 Universal Press acquired the existing columns and strips of the Washington Star Syndicate 4 from Time Inc which had acquired the Star Syndicate in early 1978 5 As part of the deal Time Inc took on a 20 ownership of Universal Press Syndicate that was later bought back 6 At first ownership of the comic strips was in the hands of both the artist and the syndicate but beginning in 1990 UPS gave comic strip creators full rights to their respective works The company also instituted a policy that says any cartoonist who has been with them for five years or more receives four weeks a year of vacation 7 In 1996 UPS established Universal New Media to sell digital entertainment content In 1997 UPS acquired Chronicle Features the syndication arm of the San Francisco Chronicle 8 It had previously acquired notable Chronicle Features strips The Far Side Bizarro and the editorial cartoons of Ted Rall 9 Universal New Media was renamed Uclick in 1997 10 Also in 1997 Jim Andrews and John McMeel formed Andrews McMeel Universal AMU to reflect the diversification that had taken place since its founding Universal Press Syndicate became one of AMU s subdivisions along with Uclick and Andrews McMeel Publishing In 2004 UPS acquired the international syndicate Editors Press Service founded in 1933 from the Evening Post Publishing Company and renamed it Atlantic Syndication 11 In July 2009 UPS merged with Andrews McMeel s digital entertainment company Uclick to form Universal Uclick 12 Some syndicated works EditComic strips selected Edit UPS strips as of the July 2009 merger into Universal Uclick Adam home Argyle Sweater Baldo Biographic Cathy Close to Home Compu toon Cornered Cul de Sac Doonesbury The Duplex The 5th Wave FoxTrot Fred Basset The Fusco Brothers Garfield acquired from United Feature Syndicate in 1993 launched 1978 Heart of the City In the Bleachers Ink Pen La Cucaracha Liō Maintaining Non Sequitur Off the Mark Overboard Pearls Before Swine Pooch Cafe Real Life Adventures Red and Rover Stone Soup Tank McNamara Tiny Sepuku Tom the Dancing Bug W T Duck You Can with Beakman and Jax Ziggy Concluded UPS strips as of July 2009 Bizarro 1995 2003 acquired from Chronicle Features where it launched in 1985 moved to King Features Syndicate in 2003 where it continues to the present The Boondocks 1999 2006 Calvin and Hobbes 1985 1995 Citizen Dog 1995 2001 Cleats 2001 2010 Downstown 1974 1986 Encyclopedia Brown 1978 1980 The Far Side 1985 1995 acquired from Chronicle Features where it launched in 1980 For Better or For Worse 1979 1997 2004 2008 moved to United Feature Syndicate from 1997 to 2004 Geech 1982 2000 moved to United Feature Syndicate where it lasted until 2003 Kelly amp Duke 1974 1980 Kudzu 1981 2007 Lucky Cow 2003 2008 Mullets 2003 2005 PreTeena 2001 2008 Where I m Coming From 1991 2005 Editorial cartoonists Edit Bad Reporter by Don Asmussen Matt Davies Glenn McCoy Pat Oliphant Ted Rall Ben Sargent Tom TolesColumns and columnists Edit Past and present UPS columns and columnists include Dear Abby Ann Coulter Roger Ebert Focus on the Family The Last Word in Astrology The Needleworks by Nancy Thomas News of the Weird Tell Me a Story The Vid Kid by Rawson StovallPuzzles and games Edit Timothy ParkerReferences Edit Wallace Jenell Jim Andrews and John McMeel began Universal Press Syndicate UPI APRIL 1 1990 Gardner Alan Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge The Daily Cartoonist July 8 2009 Doonesbury Drawing and Quartering for Fun and Profit Time February 9 1976 Washington Star Syndicate Sold To Kansas City s Universal Press New York Times May 20 1979 p 37 Lynton Stephen J Washington Star Sold To Time for 20 Million Washington Post February 4 1978 Andrews McMeel Universal Company Histories com Accessed Nov 1 2018 The Lee Salem Interview Hogan s Alley 7 Nov 8 2013 Astor Dave Creators Syndicate to Purchase Copley News Service Editor amp Publisher May 28 2008 Rall switches and Siporin is signed Editor amp Publisher July 20 1996 Archived at The Free Library About Andres McMeel website Accessed Nov 16 2017 Gardner Alan Atlantic Syndication Combines with Universal Uclick The Daily Cartoonist April 7 2010 Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge Gardner Alan The Daily Cartoonist July 8 2009 External links EditUniversal Press Syndicate corporate site Universal Press Syndicate corporate site new Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Universal Press Syndicate amp oldid 1115539081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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