Today in the history of the American comic strip: May 19

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.

5.19.1956: Rick O’Shay, a Western strip created by Stan Lynde, adds a daily feature to the existing Sunday lineup. The comic ended its run in 1981.

5.19.1970: Martin Banner, the creator of Winnie Winkle, dies at 81 in New London, Connecticut. His strip ran for more than 60 years.

5.19.1974: The Sunday Buz Sawyer page is discontinued, leaving only the daily strip. Launched in 1943, the cartoon ran until 1989.

5.19.2005: Boston TV sportscaster Bob Lobel files a libel suit against Get Fuzzy creator Darby Conley, his syndicate and a newspaper that carries his strip, alleging that Get Fuzzy wrongly implied that Lobel is intoxicated while appearing on television.

5.19.2006: Over the Hedge, a computer-animated comedy film based on the comic strip of the same name, goes into general release.

5.19.2019: Stephan Pastis, the creator of Pearls Before Swine, is named Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society, which also honors Will Henry, the creator of Wallace the Brave. Henry receives the annual Newspaper Comic Strip award.
 

Get Fuzzy

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.