Editing Mell Lazarus (section)

==Biography==
Lazarus was born in Brooklyn,<ref name=syndicatebio>{{cite web|url=http://www.creators.com/author/mell-lazarus |publisher=[[Creators Syndicate]]|title=About Mell Lazarus|access-date=May 24, 2016|archive-date= September 6, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170906060824/https://www.creators.com/author/mell-lazarus|url-status=live}}</ref> to Sydney Lazarus, a successful glass-blower, and Frances (née Mushkin) Lazarus, nicknamed Frankie.<ref name=NYtimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/arts/design/mell-lazarus-cartoonist-of-miss-peach-and-momma-dies-at-89.html|title=Mell Lazarus, Cartoonist of 'Miss Peach' and 'Momma,' Dies at 89|first=Sam |last=Roberts|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=2017-12-22}}</ref><ref name=latimes /> Lazarus, who dropped out of high school, published his first cartoon at 16, and later enlisted in the [[U.S. Navy]].<ref name=latimes />

During his twenties, he worked for [[Al Capp]] and his brother [[Elliott Caplin]] at the Capp family-owned [[Toby Press]].<ref name=NYtimes /> In the mid-1950s, he created two children's syndicated comic strips for [[General Features]],<ref name=Lazarus>[http://www.bailsprojects.com/bio.aspx?Name=LAZARUS%2c+MELL Lazarus entry], ''Who's Who of American Comic Books: 1928–1999''. Accessed Oct, 25, 2018.</ref> ''Wee Women'' and ''Li'l Ones''.<ref name=NYtimes/>

''[[Miss Peach]]'' debuted on February 4, 1957, in the ''[[New York Herald Tribune]]'', and ended up running for nearly 50 years.<ref name=NYtimes />

His comic strip ''[[Momma]]'' debuted on October 26, 1970. Although Lazarus based the title character on his own mother, she believed the character was based on his aunt, exclaiming, "You caught Aunt Helen to a tee!"<ref name=toon>{{cite web |url=http://www.toonopedia.com/momma.htm |title='' Momma'' |publisher=[[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]|first=Don|last=Markstein |access-date=October 28, 2009 |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913172525/http://www.toonopedia.com/momma.htm |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1964, Lazarus talked about his background and working methods:
{{blockquote|I never actually graduated high school. My art teacher flunked me. I have since, however, attended many classes of one kind or another. I frequently lecture at colleges and to other groups around the country. I sold my first cartoon when I was 16. I did commercial art and edited children's magazines prior to February 4, 1957 when my comic, ''Miss Peach'', was launched. The characters in ''Miss Peach'' are not actually modeled on real persons, with the possible exception of Lester, the skinny kid in the strip. Possibly the most loved character is Arthur, the dopey little kid. I make notes all week based on thoughts, conversational fragments, etc. I sift through all these notes on Monday mornings and select several to develop. I then write gags for them. I do six daily strips and a [[Sunday strip|Sunday page]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Willette|first= Allen|title=These Top Cartoonists Tell How They Create America's Favorite Comics|publisher=Allied Publications|year= 1964}}</ref><!--published before ISBN numbers-->}}
[[File:Misspeach52960.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Mell Lazarus' ''Miss Peach'' of May 29, 1960.]]

Lazarus served as president of the [[National Cartoonists Society]] for two consecutive terms, from 1989 to 1993.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/arts/design/mell-lazarus-cartoonist-of-miss-peach-and-momma-dies-at-89.html|title=Mell Lazarus, Cartoonist of 'Miss Peach' and 'Momma,' Dies at 89|last=Roberts|first=Sam|date=2016-05-25|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>