Thomas Jefferson Machamer (1900 – August 15, 1960 [1]) was an American cartoonist and illustrator known especially for his drawings of glamorous women. He also wrote and acted in a series of short comedy films in the 1930s.
Machamer was born in Nebraska. After he graduated from the University of Nebraska he became a staff artist for The Kansas City Star newspaper. [2] In 1922 he moved to New York City and joined the staff of the humor magazine Judge. [2]
From 1928 until 1930 he wrote and drew a comic strip for King Features Syndicate called Petting Patty, initially as a daily strip and later also as a Sunday color feature. In 1932, his comic strip Gags and Gals made its debut in the New York Mirror. This strip proved a greater popular success, and ran until 1938. [3] According to Dan Nadel, Gags and Gals displayed the elements that typified most of Machamer's work: "beautiful dominant women, broad shouldered and impeccably dressed, accompanied by hapless, unattractive men, sometimes short and mustachioed, with just a tuft of hair atop a bald pate—apparently a self portrait." [2] Machamer's style has been compared to that of Russell Patterson, who may have influenced him. [4]
In 1946, Machamer published a how-to book for aspiring cartoonists, Laugh and Draw with Jefferson Machamer. [2] Beginning in the 1940s, he also operated a correspondence course from his home. [2]
He is mentioned in John O'Hara's 1935 novel BUtterfield 8: "'I'll be over before you can say Jefferson Machamer.' 'Jefferson Machamer,' she said." [5]
Between 1936 and 1938, Machamer wrote and acted in a series of short comic films made by Educational Pictures, which included Comic Artist's Home Life, Wanna Be a Model?, and Cute Crime.
From 1934 until his death he was married to the actress Pauline Moore. [6]
Jefferson Machamer died in Santa Monica, California on August 15, 1960.