Thanks to a social media post from the Marco Island Historical Society in early May, today we’re talking about a once-famous fictional reporter, her creator and their connection to Southwest Florida.
“Published in 1943, ‘Brenda Starr Girl Reporter’ by Dalia ‘Dale’ Messick is based on the famous newspaper comic strip of the same name,” reads the post. “The book features original illustrations by Messick and follows the titular character on another adventure until a mysterious disappearance takes place. Can the beloved star reporter crack the case before it’s too late?”
According to Messick, the character was modeled after film star Rita Hayworth and debutante Brenda Frazier.
“Originally written as a ‘girl bandit,’ Messick was encouraged to make Brenda Starr a reporter instead.” The comic would run nationally from June 30, 1940, until Jan. 2, 2011.
The Historical Society says Messick purchased her Marco Island model home on Fourwinds Avenue in 1965, “after first visiting the island to draw a treasure-hunting episode for her comic strip? She would spend about four months out of the year here working on weekly submissions of Brenda Starr, Reporter.”
The comic strip featured a glamorous, adventurous and independent red-haired reporter for The Flash newspaper. Appearing for 70 years, it was considered a pioneering female-led strip that followed Brenda’s global, often romantic, adventures.
The strip debuted June 30, 1940, in the Sunday Chicago Tribune. It ran until Jan. 2, 2011.
Starr was featured in a 1945 serial, a 1976 television movie, with Jill St. John, and a 1989 film starring Brooke Shields and Timothy Dalton.
According to Wikipedia, Brenda Starr, Reporter was also published as a comic book series by four different publishers: Four Star Publications in 1947; Superior Publishing from 1948 through 1949; 1955 found Charlton Comics carrying the series, as well as Dell Publishing in 1963.
The series was also reprinted by Hermes Press.
Creator Messick died on April 5, 2005, at age 98 in Sonoma County, California.
Sources: Naples Daily News and Marco Eagle archives, the Marco Island Historical Society, Collier Museums and Wikipedia.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Archives: Trailblazing comic strip, it’s creator and SW Florida connection
Reporting by B.D. Green, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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