Cleven Goudeau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleven "Goodie" Goudeau |
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| Born | c. January 15, 1932 Hillister, Texas |
| Died | (aged 83) Solano County, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist |
| Pseudonym(s) | Goodall, Goodie |
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Notable works
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Black Santa Claus |
| Awards | Clio Award |
Cleven "Goodie" Goudeau (born around January 15, 1932 – died January 26, 2015) was a talented art director and cartoonist. He is famous for creating the very first line of modern African American greeting cards. Goodie also held a record for the longest greeting card ever made, which was four feet long! He also created the first greeting card with a Black Santa Claus that was sold all over the country.
Goodie's Life Story
When Goodie was 19 years old, he worked at a shop. His manager caught him drawing cartoons on boxes in the back room. The manager was so impressed that he asked Goodie to draw cartoons for the Naval Supply Newsletter.
Later, Goodie met Morrie Turner, who created the famous comic strip Wee Pals. Seeing that Morrie could make a living as a cartoonist, Goodie decided to become one too! He started publishing his drawings in other U.S. Navy newspapers. After that, he worked for the Oakleaf newspaper in Oakland. He also wrote his own cartoons called Soul Folks and Fish Tales Cartoons.
Starting Goodie Cards
In 1962, Goodie started his own company called Goodie Cards. His company operated in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City until 1974. In 1963, Goodie Cards bought another company called Onyx Publishing. This allowed Goodie to sell his line of greeting cards across the country. His cards became very popular in stores that served people of color.
In the 1980s, Goodie worked as an art director at a big advertising company called McCann-Erickson.
His Connections and Legacy
Goodie was part of a group called the Northern California Cartoon Artists & Humor Association. Other famous cartoonists, like Charles M. Schulz (who created Peanuts), were also members. He was also a member of the Society of Illustrators, a group for artists.
A filmmaker named T. J. Walkup has been working on a documentary film about Goodie since 2004. It's called "Goodie" Outlining an Invisible Man.
Goodie lived in Vallejo, California, with his wife, Jeanette Mcree Goudeau. He loved to teach children how to draw cartoons. He also helped adults who wanted to become artists.
Goodie passed away on January 26, 2015, when he was 83 years old. He and Jeanette had four daughters: Brendalyn, Joyce, Sharon, and Clevia. They also had a grandson named Xavier.
Awards
Goodie won a special award called the Clio Award. He received it for his work on a Coca-Cola advertisement. This ad used a fun new version of the hit song "Ghostbusters" (from the movie). The song was changed to "Thirst Busters" for the commercial!
