Johnny Hart
A cartoonist whose prehistoric and medieval comic strips became newspaper staples, later weaving his Christian faith into the humor.
1931–2007 (age 76)·American cartoonist·Birthday: February 18·The Silent Generation
Biography
Johnny Hart turned a simple idea—cavemen and dinosaurs talking modern talk—into 'B.C.,' one of the most widely syndicated comic strips of the 20th century. With minimalist art and a dry, philosophical wit, he populated a timeless landscape with a cast of hapless early humans and animals. He repeated the formula with medieval satire in 'The Wizard of Id,' co-created with artist Brant Parker. In his later decades, Hart's personal evangelical Christian beliefs began to explicitly shape the content of his strips, using Easter and Christmas storylines to present biblical narratives. This shift, while resonating with many readers, also drew criticism for blending proselytization with entertainment on the comics page, cementing his legacy as a figure who was both a giant of the craft and a subject of debate.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Johnny was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Johnny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Johnny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2007Died at 76
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Created the long-running and internationally syndicated comic strip 'B.C.', which debuted in 1958.
- Co-created the successful comic strip 'The Wizard of Id' with cartoonist Brant Parker.
- Won the Reuben Award, the top honor from the National Cartoonists Society, in 1968.
- Received the Swedish Adamson Award for best international cartoonist in 1981.
Did You Know?
He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, where he began drawing cartoons for Stars and Stripes.
Hart was a direct descendant of the American Revolutionary War general John Hart.
The character 'Wiley' in 'B.C.' was named after his father, Wiley Hart.
He built a personal studio that resembled a medieval castle in his hometown of Nineveh, New York.
“A cartoonist is a reporter with a funny bone.”
