George Baker

Overview

   George Baker is most known for his cartoon called “Sad Sack,” which gained him quite a bit of popularity during the WWII era.[1] The cartoon was about a soldier that returns home to civilian life only to find out that things are way worse than they were before.[2] It epitomized the “frustrations and disappointments of the common man in a hurry-up-and-wait army.”[3]

Early Life    

   In his early life, Baker always wanted to play baseball. He was the shortstop for the Roosevelt High School team in Chicago.[4] He had always had a more sullen attitude and outlook on life. He once said that “many people live a life of disappointment in one way or another. Nobody is completely happy or contented.”[5] After high school, he held is first position in the field of artistry as the apprentice of a commercial artist.[6]

Pre-War

   In 1937, George Baker wrote to Disney Studios looking for employment. As soon as he received an offer, he packed his bags and moved out to California to begin working.[7] While he was at Disney, he had the opportunity to work on some very successful movies including Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi.[8]

During the War  

   In 1941, Baker was drafted by the army and continued to use his comics as a means of entertainment and escape. He wanted to portray a character living the daily life in the army, and this is where he came up with the idea of “The Sad Sack”. The comic was entered into a cartoon competition for the new military magazine Yank, and it won.[9]

   Baker was brought onto the staff of Yank where he began to produce a new installment of the "The Sad Sack" every week. The comic soon became a favorite among the soldiers.The main character was referred to as “a hero in reverse. No matter what he does he ends up behind the eight-ball.”[10] It was also stated that “the Sack often helps GI’s to laugh at situations that might otherwise get them down.”[11] This clumsy, helpless looking soldier exhibited the daily, not-so-glamorous life in the army, and for this it was widely popular. Baker was sent by Yank to different military installations during the war to gain a better understanding of life in different areas so that his depiction of war in the comics would be more relatable.[12] "The Sad Sack" was one of the most popular military comics throughout the war. The army used his comics as a way to encourage people to apply for reenlistment into the army.[13]

Sad Sack Cover Page

After the War

   After the war, George Baker turned his famous comic into a national syndicate. “The Sad Sack” ended up becoming a paramount movie, and Jerry Lewis starred as the main character.[14] He was also able to produce “licensed jewelry, drinking glasses, candy packages, paperbacks, even hardcovers” based on the soldier's lifestyle.[15] Baker designed the covers of the comics up until he passed away at age 65 on May 7, 1975 due to cancer. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.[16]
Post-War Comic

Footnotes

[1]  William Freeman, “George Baker, Creator of Sad Sack Cartoon, is Dead,” The New York Times, May 9, 1975, 38. ProQuest Historical Newspapers (120412927).

[2] The United Press, “‘Sad Sack’ Has Had It; ‘Socialistic’ Strips Burned,” The New York Times, Sept. 21, 1951, 11. ProQuest Historical Times (111933402).

[3] Freeman, 38.

[4] Freeman, 38.

[5] Freeman, 38.

[6] R.C. Harvey, “George Baker and the Sad Sack,” The Comics Journal (Dec. 20, 2013), http://www.tcj.com/george-baker-and-the-sad-sack/.

[7] Freeman, 38.

[8] Press Enterprise, “RIVERSIDE: George Baker Created Sad Sack,” The Press Enterprise, Feb. 4, 2012. https://www.pe.com/2012/02/04/riverside-george-baker-created-sad-sack/.

[9] Harvey.

[10] Eleanor Stierhem, “Hopeless Hero,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 1, 1944, F15. ProQuest Historical Newspapers (165562980).

[11] Stierhem, F15.

[12] Harvey.

[13] Press Enterprise.

[14] Freeman, 38.

[15] Freeman, 38.

[16] “Rites Slated for Cartoonist Baker,” Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1975, a24. ProQuest Historical Newspapers (157641602).