Buster Brown
In the early twentieth century, newspaper comic strips became one of the first widely shared forms of mass entertainment in the United States. Through syndication and expanding newspaper networks, popular comics such as Happy Hooligan, The Katzenjammer Kids, Foxy Grandpa, and Buster Brown reached readers across the country on the same day. This nationwide exposure helped the Brown Shoe Company use the popularity of these characters as an early example of what would later be known as celebrity endorsement in advertising.
| Buster Brown | |
|---|---|
Buster Brown | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | New York Herald |
| First appearance | May 4, 1902 |
| Created by | Richard F. Outcault |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | Mary Jane, Tige |
Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American public in the early 20th century. The Buster Brown suit reflected his outfit and became very popular for young boys.