"Desperate Desmond" was a comic strip by Harry Hershfield, published in the New York Journal [1] between March 11, 1910, and October 15, 1912. [2]
A parody of melodrama, it depicted a stereotypical villain named Desmond who continually tried to capture a damsel in distress named Rosamond, which brought him into conflict with her and her paramour Claude Eclaire; [3] Hershfield ended the strip by having Claude and Rosamond marry, which meant that Desmond could no longer pursue her. [4]
Coulton Waugh described it as one of the first strips to include genuine suspense; [5] similarly, R. C. Harvey has mentioned its early use of daily continuity. [6]
Don Markstein noted that it was a "probably a response" to the presence of a similar character in C. W. Kahles's earlier strip "Hairbreadth Harry"; [3] Maurice Horn, however, called it a "direct imitation" of Kahles's work, but felt that it "showed greater ingenuity and wit". [7]
Film adaptations of "Desperate Desmond" were produced by Nestor Studios, [8] directed by Tom Ricketts, with Dorothy Davenport as Rosamond and Fred Kelsey as Claude; [9] as well, vaudeville star Fred Duprez released a recording of a "Desperate Desmond"-based comedy act. [3]
"Desperate Desmond" was a comic strip by Harry Hershfield, published in the New York Journal [1] between March 11, 1910, and October 15, 1912. [2]
A parody of melodrama, it depicted a stereotypical villain named Desmond who continually tried to capture a damsel in distress named Rosamond, which brought him into conflict with her and her paramour Claude Eclaire; [3] Hershfield ended the strip by having Claude and Rosamond marry, which meant that Desmond could no longer pursue her. [4]
Coulton Waugh described it as one of the first strips to include genuine suspense; [5] similarly, R. C. Harvey has mentioned its early use of daily continuity. [6]
Don Markstein noted that it was a "probably a response" to the presence of a similar character in C. W. Kahles's earlier strip "Hairbreadth Harry"; [3] Maurice Horn, however, called it a "direct imitation" of Kahles's work, but felt that it "showed greater ingenuity and wit". [7]
Film adaptations of "Desperate Desmond" were produced by Nestor Studios, [8] directed by Tom Ricketts, with Dorothy Davenport as Rosamond and Fred Kelsey as Claude; [9] as well, vaudeville star Fred Duprez released a recording of a "Desperate Desmond"-based comedy act. [3]