Today in the history of the American comic strip: December 2

American cartoonists and writers may not have invented the comic strip, but some argue that the comics, as we know them today, are an American creation. Clearly, the United States has played an outsize role in the development of this underappreciated art form.

12.2.1934: The Teenie Weenies ends the second of its three runs, which, in combination, spanned more than 50 years. Created by William Donahey, the comic starred two-inch-tall humans who lived under a rose bush
 

12.2.1938: Paramount Pictures releases Little Orphan Annie, a comedy based on Harold Gray’s comic strip.

12.2.1951: Paul Arnot, creator of Helpful Henry, dies. The strip ran from 1925 to 1926, but despite its brief tenure, Oliver Hardy of Laurel and Hardy said the character was an inspiration for him.

12.2.1970: Frank Cho, the creator of Liberty Meadows, is born in Seoul, South Korea. His strip initially ran in newspapers and comic books, but Cho announced in 2001 that he was dropping newspaper syndication.

12.2.1979: Star Trek debuts as a daily and Sunday comic strip. It had a relatively short run, under various artists and writers.
 

Most of the information listed here from one day to the next comes from two online sites -- Wikipedia, and Don Markstein's Toonopedia -- as well as 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics, edited by Maurice Horn. Note that my focus is on American newspaper comic strips (and the occasional foreign strip that gained popularity in the United States). Thus, comic books and exclusively online comics are not included here.