Harold Gray and Company

Many thanks to Rob Stolzer for turning me onto these Little Joe Sundays originals. Late last year I started collecting tear-sheets when I came across a strip I never seen before called "Little Joe". The artwork immediately reminded me of Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie" and sure enough Harold was the originator and contributed much to the composition to this weekly Sunday. Ed Leffingwell was a cousin of Harold Gray and also worked alongside with his brother Bob as assistants to Harold Gray. Ed Leffingwell’s name would appear on the Sundays but it has all the hallmarks of a Harold Gray production. When Ed died from an appendix rupture in 1936 the strip was carried on by Harold Gray and Ed’s brother Bob would assist, the name “Leffingwell” would replace “Ed Leffingwell” from than on.