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Comic Icon Brenda Starr's SW Florida Roots
31 May
Summary
- Brenda Starr, a 1943 comic reporter, was based on Rita Hayworth.
- Creator Dale Messick lived and worked on Marco Island for years.
- The comic strip ran nationally for 70 years, ending in 2011.
The beloved comic strip character Brenda Starr, Girl Reporter, a creation of Dalia 'Dale' Messick, has a notable connection to Southwest Florida. Messick, inspired by film star Rita Hayworth and debutante Brenda Frazier, originally conceived Brenda Starr as a 'girl bandit' before transforming her into a reporter.
The comic strip, which debuted on June 30, 1940, and concluded its 70-year national run on January 2, 2011, featured a glamorous and independent red-haired reporter. Messick established a significant presence on Marco Island, purchasing a home there in 1965. She spent approximately four months annually on the island, working on her weekly comic submissions.
Brenda Starr's adventures captivated audiences and led to various adaptations, including a 1945 serial, a 1976 television movie, and a 1989 film starring Brooke Shields. The character also appeared in comic book series published by multiple companies and was reprinted by Hermes Press. Creator Dale Messick passed away in 2005 at the age of 98 in California.
