31 Facts About Johnny Gruelle

John Barton Gruelle was an American artist, political cartoonist, children's book and comics author, illustrator, and storyteller.

Johnny Gruelle contributed cartoons and illustrations to at least ten newspapers, four major news syndicates, and more than a dozen national magazines.

Johnny Gruelle was the son of Hoosier Group painter Richard Gruelle.

Johnny Gruelle was born in Arcola, Illinois, on December 24,1880, to Alice and Richard Buckner Johnny Gruelle.

In 1882, when Johnny Gruelle was two years old, he moved with his parents to Indianapolis, Indiana, and settled in a home on Tacoma Avenue in what is the present-day Lockerbie Square Historic District.

Johnny Gruelle's father, Richard, who was a self-taught portrait and landscape painter who became associated with the Hoosier Group of American Impressionist painters.

Johnny Gruelle later honored Riley's memory in his own book, The Orphant Annie Story Book, written in tribute to Riley's famous poem.

Johnny Gruelle's parents exposed all three children to music, literature, and art.

Johnny Gruelle became an author of children's books and a syndicated newspaper columnist.

Nineteen-year-old Gruelle met his future wife, Myrtle J Swann, in Indianapolis, where they were married on March 23,1901.

John and Myrtle Johnny Gruelle began their married life in Indianapolis and moved with their young daughter to Cleveland, Ohio.

Johnny Gruelle spent a year in Ashland, Oregon, from 1923 to 1924.

Johnny Gruelle began his career as an illustrator and cartoonist for Indianapolis newspapers.

Johnny Gruelle completed commissions for illustrations of well-known fairy tales, as well as writing and illustrating his own stories.

Johnny Gruelle is best known as the creator of a series of stories about a rag doll named Raggedy Ann and her friends.

Johnny Gruelle created the iconic Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls.

Johnny Gruelle's first major illustrating commission was a single-volume edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales that included Gruelle's artwork for eleven full-color plates.

Johnny Gruelle wrote and illustrated My Very Own Fairy Stories, published by P F Volland Company, a publisher of inspirational cards, gifts, and books.

Johnny Gruelle created a cartoon series in 1917 called Quacky Doodles, produced as part of Bray Productions' weekly Paramount Pictograph productions.

Johnny Gruelle said then that the doll would make a good story.

Johnny Gruelle remembered it when he saw her play [with] dolls.

Johnny Gruelle wrote the stories around some of the things she did.

Two years later Johnny Gruelle introduced Raggedy Ann's brother, the mischievous and adventuresome Raggedy Andy, in Raggedy Andy Stories.

Johnny Gruelle patented his design for a generic male doll.

Johnny Gruelle was awarded design patents for two duck toys in 1915.

Johnny Gruelle continued to work on this comic strip until his death in 1938.

Johnny Gruelle wrote lyrics for musical compositions that were published as sheet music and songbooks for children.

Johnny Gruelle died unexpectedly of heart failure at his son Worth's home in Miami Springs, Florida, on January 9,1938, two weeks after his fifty-seventh birthday.

Johnny Gruelle continued her efforts to promote his legacy through the Johnny Gruelle Company, the Bobbs-Merrill Company, and other commercial agreements.

The iconic Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls that Johnny Gruelle designed and their related memorabilia have become sought-after collectors' items.

Johnny Gruelle left a legacy of other artistic and literary works.