CREATOR OF FELIX

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 219, 5 December 1927, Page 9

CREATOR OF FELIX

MR. PAT SULLIVAN ON AORANGI GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Who does not know Felix the Cat? Pat Sullivan, his creator, is a through passenger by the Aorangi, which arrived in Auckland last evening. “Felix? . . . Oh, he is going stronger than ever. He is making more money than ever tor me and I am spending it just as quickly as he can do it!” admitted the little Australian, who has made his creation world-famous. He is on his way to Sydney to spend Christmas with his father. Mr. Sullivan sen., is one of Sydney’s few remaining “cabbies.” When his famous son was in Australia two years ago he stepped down from his hansom, and accompanied Pat to the different functions arranged in his honour. The cartoonist was then sponsored by old friend. Mr. Tom Mutch, M.L.A., then Minister of Education in the recently defeated Lang Government. Pat Sullivan and Tom Mutch are old friends. They trod the Inky Way many years before the limelight was trained on either. A typically Sydney-sider, Mr. Sullivan has added an American accent to other accomplishments discovered in the United States. Mr. Sullivan tried his hand at many things before Felix brought him success and a fortune. London did not recognise his talents. Instead she offered him the Thames Embankment as a bed. Though Felix only appears for a few minutes on the screen for the delighted plaudits of many admirers, no fewer than G,OOO individual drawings are necessary. A staff of 10 men constantly work with Mr. Sullivan on the series. After his holiday in Australia Pat Sullivan will return to America. He intends travelling via Auckland and transhipping at Honolulu for San Francisco.