Today in Comics History, July 4: Happy birthday, Charley Miller!

Born on this day in 1900: "Famous Maine Guide" and spokesmaineguide for Eveready Batteries, Charley Miller!


Eveready Batteries advertisement from DC Comics cover-dated January 1949; pencils and inks by Bob Butts*
The University of Maine Digital Commons website tells us:

Charley Miller (Maurice Charles Miller) was born in Bangor on July 4, 1900. As a young man he had a brief career as a boxer, then opened a training and conditioning camp for fighters at Moosehead Lake, introducing boxers such as Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney and Jack Sharkey to the Maine woods, hunting and fishing. He later branched out as a guide and host to famous people in sports and show business. From these associations he became a celebrity in his own right and spent more than thirty years promoting the state of Maine and himself at numerous sports shows, fairs, and public venues around the country. Miller also billed himself "The world's greatest outdoor cook" and spent a great deal of time cooking outdoor meals for his celebrity guests.

Happy birthday, Charley Miller!

*tee hee