(Editor's Note: A number of months ago. I was contacted by Ron Lizorty, Ken's brother. who sent me several chapters of Ken's cartoon work. I was lascinated as I always loved Sunday cartoon series in the newspaper, such as Prince Valiant! I thought fellow MWANers may share this interest, and thus, asked Ken to submit the rest of his brother's work, which he was glad to do. I am hopeful you will enjoy this series as much as I do! Thanks, Ron, for supplying your brother's work to us! I am going to piece together an "introductory" type article on Ron based upon a number of Ken's letters to me.)
My brother's big dream was to become a comic strip artist like Milton ("Terry & The Pirates". "Steve Canyon") Caniff. Although he never becarne a professional comic artist. He did become a professional illustrator for the U.S. Government. He published his own "fanzine" in the 50's called the CARTOONISTS' COMIC, featuring his comics. He was known as a Custer historian (in an age when Custer's image took an unfair, downward spiral). He was best known for drawing a representational depiction of Custer's Last Stand - showing 3,187 Indians attacking Custer's troops! It's in ink and pen, about 2'x3' and was published in the Montana Historical Society's magazine in the mid '60's.
He was an avid military history reader - I learned more from him and his collection of books than I ever learned in school - and was before his time. He had tried to sell, in the '50's, military history battle theme games to companies like Milton Bradley (I still believe HIT THE BEACH was inspired by his submissions. If only he had lived to see the emergence of Avalon Hill! I remember enjoyed playing his Dien Bien Phy game - similar to SALVO! He was told no once cared about "battles" and "War" by the game companies.
In the early 50's, he submitted comic strip adventures for newspaper syndication. Although it was rejected, evidently Hollywood was scouting the newspaper syndicates for ideas (remember this was early TV - because SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE with John (LAWMAN) Russell was a rip-off of his comic strip - even down to the outfits in the pilot (LIMEHOUSE KNIGHTS). I still own the drawings to prove it. Today. he would have been able to sue, but back then, well. it just wasn't that easy.
His two favorite movies were Flynn's ADVENTURE OF ROBIN HOOD and GUNGA DIN.
I remember him building a "castle" from those American red bricks toys - setting them down like dominos - creating a maze of rooms, like Dungeons & Dragons do today- We played British Colonial games, Knights, Romans, American Civil War, WWII - Braddock's Defeat was a favorite - all played with mostly MARX 54mm figures. Custer, Of Course, was a particular favorite.
I'm told that he and a couple of friends conducted the war (WWII) on a basement floor, using lead and cardboard figures (many homemade by him - all before Xeroxes, of course) when he was about 13 years old and living in Chicago. Battleships were made from wood and punch out cardboard - as were planes, tanks and artillery. Rules were very Simple - using dice on a hit and miss method.
When homework and chores would allow, he'd illustrate the events played out on the floor - which would keep up the trio's interest. Notebooks were kept and referred to. I don't know of anyone else that has ever done this, do you? In 1949/50, he redrew the whole thing, taking it to the climax of the war - which he didn't have the time to finish drawing before.
As far as I know, Ken had only knowledge of H.G. Wells conducting wargames, but never saw a copy of LITTLE WARS. He taught me wargaming when I was nine or ten, using Marx figures. This was in 1959/60. Rules were used to measure movement, but nothing complicated. The main idea was always to have fun and not get dragged down by in-depth rules. While it may not have been as accurate as today's avid gamers, it was always enjoyable. We soon discovered BRITAIN'S lead figures and were especially fond of NWF and Zulu Wars.
He also did a short British NW Frontier campaign and illustrated it. In his later years he became a serious and well-respected Custer historian, illustrating a historically accurate comic strip of the Little Big Horn campaign in the late 50's and 60's.
Sadly, Ken passed away in 1969 of cancer at the age of 40.
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© Copyright 1997 Hal Thinglum
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