Today in the history of the American comic strip: January 30

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.

1.30.1957: Guy Gilchrist is born in Connecticut. He and his brother Brad created The Muppets comic strip,which launched after The Muppet Show ended its five-year run.
 

1.30.2000: Rerun and the Little Pigtailed Girl make their last appearance in Peanuts. The beloved comic ended the following month, one day after the death of creator Charles M. Schulz.

Peanuts

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.