Comics: Irving Settel, Editor, Writer, Letterer, Advertising Marketer, College Teacher, and Columnist

Irving J. Settel was born on November 21, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York. According to the New York, New York Birth Index at Ancestry.com. His parents were Joseph Settel and Dora Rosenberg.

In the 1920 United States Census, Settel (line 21) was the youngest of three brothers. His father was an Englishman and wholesale salesman. The family resided on Young Street in Monticello Village, New York.

The 1925 New York state census recorded Settel (line 3), his parents and brothers in Brooklyn at 24 Crosby Avenue. His father was an insurance salesman. 

The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York), April 25, 1929, said Settel was a new member of its Rainbow Club

Settel’s address was the same in the 1930 census. He is on line 95.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (New York), January 27, 1930, said Settel attended Public School 76 where he received a service award. 

The Daily Eagle, April 1, 1933, said Settel was an assistant editor on the Liberty Bell newspaper of Thomas Jefferson High School. He was also on the Embers yearbook staff. Settel graduated in 1933.

Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 said Settel was a writer, artist and letterer in the comic book industry during the 1930s. Apparently Settel was at the Harry “A” Chesler comic book shop when Fred Schwab was there from 1936 to 1938. Settel and Schwab would collaborate twenty years later. 

The 1940 census counted Settel (line 1) and his parents at the same address. He had two years of college and was unemployed.

On October 16, 1940, Settel signed his World War II draft card. He was employed at the Gay Apparel Corporation in Manhattan. His description was five feet six inches, 155 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

On August 23, 1941, Settel and Gertrude Schulman obtained, in Brooklyn, marriage license number 18837. They married on September 19, 1941. 

Settel enlisted on September 29, 1942. His occupation was advertising agent. His assignment is not known. 

Beginning in 1946, Settel was on the faculty of Pace College in New York City. 

1966 Legend yearbook

1967 Legend yearbook

1969 Legend yearbook

1976 Legend yearbook

The 1949 Manhattan city directory listed Settel at 523 East 14th Street.

The 1950 census said Settel (line 12), his wife and three-year-old son, Kenneth, were Manhattan residents at 523 East 14th Street. Settel was an advertising manager at a men’s clothing store chain.

In 1951 Settel obtained a B.A. from Brooklyn College. He earned an M.S. at New York University in 1955.

Settel wrote or edited several books including Effective Retail Advertising (1951), Transportation Advertising (1951), Television Advertising and Production Handbook (1953), Top TV Shows of the Year (1955), Best TV Humor of of the Year (1956), Best TV Humor of 1957 (1957), A Pictorial History of Radio (1960), A Pictorial History of Television (with William Laas, 1967), and A Pictorial History of Television, Second Edition (1983). 

Fred Schwab illustrated Settel and Bill Adler’s Congratulations, It’s Your Birthday!, Congratulations, You’re Married!, and Congratulations, You’re a Grandparent!, all published by Citadel Press in 1959

The Book Buyer’s Guide, June 1959

When Settel resided in Bayside, he contributed, in 1961, to the neighborhood newspaper, Bayside Times.

July 6, 1961

August 10, 1961

September 14, 1961

The Bayside Times, July 11, 1963, reported his long distance lectures. 

Settel retired to Florida. A directory at Ancestry.com listed his home in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Settel passed away on February 19, 2002, in Canton, Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Death Index at Ancestry.com. His wife passed away on March 21, 2013 in Brookline, Massachusetts. 

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(Next post on Monday: George W. Jones, Printer)

Comics: James Daleo, Letterer, Commercial Artist and Art Agency President

Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 has an entry for James Dale who was a letterer at the Harry “A” Chesler comic book shop. Dale has not been found in census, military or death records. However there was a James Daleo/D’Aleo, a commercial artist, who is a good match for Dale. 

James G. Daleo was born on January 25, 1910 in New York, New York, according to his World War II draft card. His middle initial appeared on his marriage license application. 

In the 1910 United States Census, Daleo (line 13) was the youngest of six children born to John and Rozina, both Italian immigrants. His father was a plasterer. The family resided in Manhattan at 228 ? 107th Street

Daleo has not yet been found in the 1915 New York state and 1920 censuses.

The Daily Star (Long Island City, New York), May 29, 1922, reported the P.S.A.L. buttons for students of P.S. 22 in Flushing, New York.

P.S.A.L. shield-shaped buttons will be awarded this week to pupils of P. S. 22, Murray Hill, Flushing, who qualified in running, and chinning: 

Bronze Medals.

6A—Raymond Asselta, James Callan, James D’Aleo, ...

The 1925 New York state census counted Daleo (line 38), his parents and siblings in Flushing at 174 South Street. 

According to the 1930 census, Daleo was a draughtsman at an aircraft company. Information about his art training has not been found. He lived with his parents in Flushing at 45-53 157th Street. 

Daleo’s mother passed away on April 6, 1938. 

On June 18, 1938, Daleo obtained, in Queens, marriage license number 4162. The date of his marriage is not known.

Daleo may have been at the Chesler Studio in the mid- to late 1930s. 

The 1940 census, enumerated in April, said Daleo was a commercial artist (line 25) whose highest level of education was the fourth year of high school. He and his wife, Frances, lived with her mother, Anna Sturm, in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, at 31-20 81st Street.

On October 16, 1940, Daleo signed his World War II draft card. His address was unchanged. Daleo was self-employed with an office in Manhattan at 415 Lexington Avenue. His description was five feet nine inches, 151 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Eight months earlier the New York Sun, February 17, 1940, noted the new address, 415 Lexington Avenue, of Rapid Art Service. 

Apparently Daleo was the founder or one of the partners in Rapid Art Service, Inc. Its services included photographic and graphic design, production and printing. The operation of the Chesler Studio may have inspired Daleo to establish his own business in the more lucrative field of advertising. 

Rapid Art Service was mentioned in a 1949 issue of Advertising Agency and Advertising Age, September 26, 1949. 

The 1950 census said Daleo (line 2) had the same address. He was a commercial artist at an art agency. Daleo had a son, Ronald, and daughter, Rosanne.

The Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, July 21, 1953, published the patent of Daleo and Samuel Foglio, Jr. (also see Google Patents). 

The Greater New York Industrial Directory 1957 had this entry. 

Rapid Art Services, Inc.

45 W 18 NY 11 Or 5-4375 

Commercial printing 

Pres James Daleo 

VP Samuel Foglio 

Sec Michael Sotto 

Cap $100,000 

Off 3 Fac 40 

Ft 10,000 

Daleo and vice-president Foglio were the patentees of a display case. 

Sales Management, May 17, 1957

Daleo’s wife passed away on February 21, 1954 according to the New York, New York Death Index at Ancestry.com. She was laid to rest at Mount Saint Mary Cemetery. On September 18, 1965, Daleo remarried to Mildred Mendelow.

Art Direction, January 1958

Art Direction, August 1958

Art Direction, January 1960

The Standard Directory of Advertisers, Volume 1, 1968, had this entry.

Rapid Art Service, Inc.

304 E. 45th, New York, N.Y. 10017

Tel.: 212-MU 3-8215

Visual Aids, Complete Layout, Art & Mechanical Services, Printing of Promotional Materials, Silk Screening: Rapid Box Easels

Merchandising & Promotion Associates 

W. Marshall May (GM)

James Daleo (Pr)

Michael Sottosanti (Tr)

—Direct

(Media: 6-11-27)

At some point Daleo left Rapid Art Service and retired to Florida. Rapid Art Service was acquired in 1976 by Comart Associates, Inc., a full-service marketing and promotion agency. 

Daleo passed away on April 17, 1994 according to the Florida Death Index at Ancestry.com. The News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), April 19, 1994, published a death notice. 

Daleo, James, 84, of Cape Coral died Sunday. Graveside service today. Arrangements by Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Daleo was laid to rest at Coral Ridge Cemetery. 

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(Next post on Monday: An Ambigram and Almost an Ambigram)

Comics: Fred Proctor, Newspaper Artist, Letterer and Scenic Designer

Frederick William “Fred” Proctor was born on May 6, 1903, in New York, New York, according to his World War II draft card which had his full name as Fred William Proctor. His birth certificate said Frederick. His parents were Fred W. Proctor (from Wales) and Martha Wakefield (from England) who resided in Manhattan at 2434 8th Avenue. His father was a butcher.

Not long after Proctor’s birth, His mother remarried to Edward Dickinson. The status of his father is not known. The 1905 New York state census said the Dickinson family of six (lines 20 to 25) lived in Manhattan at 2182 Fifth Avenue. Proctor’s step-father was a bricklayer. 

In the 1910 United States Census, Proctor, his parents and step-brother (lines 47 to 50) were Manhattan residents at 149 West 132nd Street. 

Proctor’s mother and step-father married in Manhattan on May 17, 1912. The reason for a second ceremony is unknown.

The 1920 census recorded “Proctor Dickenson” on line 92. He lived with his parents and step-brothers in the Bronx at 1180 Jackson Avenue.

On October 3, 1925, Proctor and Helen Madeline Kalinonski obtained, in the Bronx, marriage license number 5788. They married on October 8, 1925. 

Proctor’s mother passed away on July 9, 1929 in Manhattan. 

According to the 1930 census, Proctor and his wife resided in the Bronx at 2251 Sedgwick Avenue. He was a newspaper artist (line 100; his wife was on the next sheet). Information about his art training has not been found.

Proctor has not yet been found in the 1940 census.

On February 16, 1942, Proctor signed his World War II draft card. His residential Bronx address changed from 213 East 207th Street to 1954 Unionport Road which was crossed out at some point. Proctor’s mailing also changed once to 415 West 3rd Street, Seymour, Indiana. He was described as five feet seven inches, with blue eyes and brown hair. He named his step-father as a contact person. 

Proctor’s employer was Harry “A” Chesler. Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 and Grand Comics Database said he was a letterer. About Chesler Publications, Editor & Publisher, March 20, 1937, said 

There are 11 cartoonists in the 22-man organization. Three men do nothing but lettering for the artists, and special features writers prepare the continuity.

It’s possible Proctor was one of the three letterers. 

Proctor enlisted on October 30, 1942. He had four years of high school and was a commercial artist. Proctor’s veteran file, transcribed at Ancestry.com, said he served in the Army from November 13, 1942 to June 3, 1945. His rank was sergeant. 

Proctor has not yet been found in the 1950 census. 

Proctor found work outside of comics. He was a New York Daily News cartoonist (dates unknown) and scenic designer at Columbia Broadcasting System.

The Connecticut Marriage Index, at Ancestry.com, said Proctor married Jean E. Bell on January 26, 1973. The status of his first wife is not known.

Proctor passed away on March 31, 1979, in Dover Plains, New York. He was laid to rest at Valley View Cemetery. An obituary was published in the Poughkeepsie Journal (New York), April 6, 1979. 

Mr. Proctor

Dover Plains—Fred W. Proctor, 75, of Holsapple Road, died Saturday, March 31 at his home. He was born in New York City on May 6, 1903. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He had been employed as a commercial artist with the Columbia Broadcasting Systems before his retirement several years ago.

He was married to the former Jean Bell, who died in 1973. There will be no calling hours. Graveside services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Valley View Cemetery with the Rev. Walter Allyn Rogers officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hufcut Funeral Home, Dover Plains. 

The Mid-Hudson Post (Highland, New York), September 19, 1979, published an advertisement announcing the auction of Proctor’s estate.

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Jon D’Agostino, James Daleo, Martin DeMuth, Shel Dorf, Marty Epp, Howard Ferguson, Herb Field, 

Gerda Gattel, Louis L. Goldklang, Angelo Grasso, Anita Greene, Al Grenet, Ed Hamilton, Ray Holloway, IBM Directory, Alex Jay, Albert and Charlotte Jetter, 

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(Next post on Monday: 1925 La Revue Yearbook)