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The National Cartoon Museum was an American museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of cartoons, comic strips and animation. It was the brainchild of Mort Walker, creator of ''Beetle Bailey''. The museum opened in 1974, went through several name changes, relocations, and temporary closures, before finally closing for good in 2002. Originally known as the Museum of Cartoon Art in 1974, the name was changed to the National Cartoon Museum when it moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1992.〔(Mort Walker website ). Accessed Jan. 29, 2014.〕 In 1996, it became the International Museum of Cartoon Art.〔Charla, Steve.("International Museum of Cartoon Art," ) ''Animation World Magazine'' issue 2.11 (Feb. 1998).〕 In June 2008, Walker's collection was merged with the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, affiliated with Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. ==History== Walker began preserving cartoon artwork in the 1940s, when he discovered King Features Syndicate using ''Krazy Kat'' drawings to sop up water leaks. Walker lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, and in 1974, with a contribution of $50,000 from the Hearst Foundation, he opened his museum nearby at 850 Canal Street in Stamford, Connecticut.〔〔("Greenwich Roundup," ) ''B Local Network'' (Apr. 17, 2008).〕 Two years later, the landlord decided he could rent the mansion for more, forcing a move to a space on Field Point Road in Greenwich, Connecticut. Later, the Museum occupied Ward's Castle, a large, dilapidated house in Port Chester, New York. In late 1991 the city of Boca Raton, Florida invited Walker to relocate there,〔"Newswatch: Cartoon Museum Flies South," ''The Comics Journal'' #147 (Dec. 1991), p. 18.〕 and the museum prepared to move in 1992.〔"Newswatch: Museum Move Hits a Snag," ''The Comics Journal'' #148 (Feb. 1992), p. 21.〕 While working to re-open, the museum was robbed of ''Dick Tracy'' and ''Prince Valiant'' originals, as well as some Disney animation cels.〔"Newswatch: Museum Seeks Help in Art Heist," ''The Comics Journal'' #157 (Mar. 1993), p. 34.〕 After acquiring more funding,〔"NewsWatch: Funds Needed for Comics Museum," ''The Comics Journal'' #154 (Nov. 1992) , p. 24.〕 and a donation of Disney art from Diamond Comic Distributors' Steve Geppi,〔"Newswatch: Geppi Donates Disney Art to IMCA," ''The Comics Journal'' #175 (Mar. 1995), p. 29.〕 the newly minted International Museum of Cartoon Art finally〔"Newswatch: More IMCA News: Groundbreaking Held," ''The Comics Journal'' #175 (Mar. 1995), p. 29.〕 opened the doors to its new facility in 1996.〔Newswatch: International Museum of Cartoon Art Opens," ''The Comics Journal'' #185 (Mar. 1996), pp. 20-21.〕 They also appointed Gary Hood to be the director of curatorial affairs.〔"Newswatch: New Curator at IMCA," ''The Comics Journal'' #184 (Feb. 1996), p. 47.〕 However, the museum did not attract enough donations and two corporate sponsors went bankrupt.〔〔Stump, Greg. "Newswatch: Comics Museums Facing Financial Crisis," ''The Comics Journal'' #198 (Aug. 1997), pp. 11-15.〕 In 1998, the Hearst Foundation again stepped in, giving the museum $1 million.〔"News Watch: International Museum Gets a Cool Million," ''The Comics Journal'' #201 (Jan. 1998), p. 22.〕 Nonetheless, to pay off some of the debts (including outstanding mortgage payments),〔Rhode, Michael. "Newswatch: Mickey on the Block: Museum Sells Original Art from First Mickey Mouse Cartoon to Pay Rent," ''The Comics Journal'' #232 (Apr. 2001), p. 18.〕 Walker auctioned off a Mickey Mouse drawing in 2001 for $700,000.〔〔Puente, Maria. "A Mickey Mouse Original for Sale," ''USA Today'' (May 4, 2001), section D, p. 1.〕 It was not enough, however;〔"Newswatch: International Museum of Cartoon Art to Close," ''The Comics Journal'' #238 (Oct. 2001), pp. 106-107.〕 the museum was forced to close in 2002, and the collection was put into storage. An attempt was made to relocate to three floors of the Empire State Building in New York City in 2007, but the deal fell through for reasons that are disputed.〔("Empire State Building won't host National Cartoon Museum". ''Boston Globe'', September 14, 2006. )〕 Walker finally accepted an offer to merge his collection with that of Ohio State University in 2008.〔〔(Whiteman, Doug. "Addition to make school's comic art collection really super", Associated Press, May 16, 2008. )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「National Cartoon Museum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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