Martin Nadle was born on March 26, 1910, New York, New York according to his World War II draft card. His surname, Nadle, appeared on his early published work. On comic book material, he used the name Martin Naydel. By 1959, he was known as Martin Dell.
Nadle’s paternal grandfather, Julius Nadle, submitted a naturalization petition, dated August 11, 1900 (at Ancestry.com). The petition said he was born on August 26, 1859 in Russia. On August 1, 1887, he arrived in New York City. Julius was naturalized on August 22, 1900.
The 1900 United States Census recorded Julius (a tailor), his wife, Johannah, and three sons, Joseph (age 15; Nadle’s father), Alexander (age 8) and Henry (age 6), in Manhattan at 242 East Houston Street.
The same address was in the 1905 New York state census. Joseph was a salesman.
On February 8, 1910, Joseph and Anna Gerler obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 3680. They married on February 15, 1910.
The 1910 census, enumerated on April 22, counted the couple in Manhattan at 202 East Seventh Street. Joseph was a ribbon salesman. It’s curious that Nadle was not counted with his parents.
The 1915 New York state census said four-year-old Nadle, his parents and brother, Lawrence, were Manhattan residents at 1968 Seventh Avenue. His father was a ribbon buyer.
On September 12, 1918, Nadle’s father signed his World War I draft card. His address was 3 West 116th Street in Manhattan.
The same address was on the 1920 census. In the household were Nadle (age 9), his parents, and brothers, Lawrence (age 6) and Henry (age 2).
In the 1925 New York state census, the Nadle family were Bronx residents at 643 Southern Boulevard. Nadle’s sister, Jean, was a year old.
It’s not known where Nadle attended high school and when he acquired his art training.
On March 1, 1930, Nadle and Dorothy Hauser obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 3675. They married the same day according to the marriage certificate. At the time, artist Nadle was 19 years old but the certificate said 21.
Evidently, the marriage was secret because Nadle and Dorothy were counted in their parents’ households. The 1930 census, enumerated on April 5, said newspaper cartoonist Nadle lived with his parents and siblings in the Bronx at 2105 Walton Avenue. (The address on the marriage certificate was 205 Walton Avenue.) Bookkeeper Dorothy was the second of four daughters born to David and Anna who lived in Brooklyn at 165 Washington Street.
Nadle and Dorothy had three sons: Stewart/Stuart (1933), Jeffrey (1935) and Arthur (1942–2004).
Nadle’s father passed away on October 9, 1935.
In the National Cartoonists Society Album 1960–1961, Nadle said
When I was 16, my puzzle panel, “Kiddies Heaven” appeared in the old New York Evening Graphic. At 19, I drew a weekly puzzle strip, “Pogo and Pengy” for King Features Syndicate, followed by “The Noodleteaser Family” for the New York Post [July to October 1943] …
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Nadle was one of five artists who drew Asparagus Tipps. The series began with Irv Papp in 1926. He was followed by Nadle from 1926 to 1927. Graphic Syndicate handled the series. Pogo and Pengy ran from 1930 to December 28, 1931 and was produced for the Premier Syndicate.
Nadle created The Adventures of Detective Ace King comic book for the Humor Publishing Corporation. An entry in the Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1, Books, Group 2, New Series, Volume 30, Number 10, 1933 said
Nadle (Martin) Adventures of detective Ace King, the American Sherlock Holmes. A story in cartoons. © Oct. 6, 1933; AA 131033; Humor pub. co. 29216
In Comic Book Culture: An Illustrated History (2000), Ron Goulart said about Ace King:
This one-shot introduced one of the earliest detective characters created directly for comic books. Martin Nadle spelled his last name Naydell [sic] when he worked for DC Comics in the 1940s.
Life, September 6, 1937, published two photographs of Nadle with puzzle maker F. Gregory Hartswick and artist Jesse Jacobs.
Editor and Publisher, December 2, 1939, published an apology to Nadle who was confused with Martin Nadel of the New York Civil Service Commission. The magazine summarized Nadle’s career.
Cartoonist Nadle, who was with Publishers Service approximately three years up until May 13 of this year, formerly did art work for the New York Daily News and a weekly puzzle strip for King Features Syndicate. For a time, he was staff artist on the old New York Evening Graphic and was with that paper when it suspended.
The 1940 census said Nadle was a widower and Dorothy was married. He lived with his parents in the Bronx at 2756 Creston Avenue. His highest level of education was two years of high school. The newspaper cartoonist earned $1,200 in 1939. Dorothy and two sons lived with her parents in Brooklyn at 165 Washington Street.
On October 16, 1940, Nadle signed his World War II draft card. His address changed from 165 Washington Street, Brooklyn to 37-15 81st Street, Jackson Heights, New York. Nadle’s employer was King Features Syndicate. He was described as five feet eleven inches, 195 pounds, with brown eyes and hair. Next of kin was his wife. Apparently Nadle and his wife were together again.
In 1941, Nadle illustrated the Listen-Look Picture Book series for Music You Enjoy, Inc. The characters included The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Myrtle the Turtle, Little Black Sambo and Alice in Wonderland.
According to the 1950 census, Nadle, his wife and three sons had the same address, 37-15 81st Street, in Jackson Heights. Nadle was a self-employed cartoonist producing material for comic book publishers.
Evidently, Nadle’s son, Stuart, adopted the Naydel surname as printed in The New York Times, August 25, 1957.
By 1959 Nadle’s name changed to Martin Dell. It was used in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 14, Part 1, Number 1, Books and Pamphlets, January–June 1960.
Dell, MartinPlay Comicode and test your power of deduction. © Martin Dell; 23Dec59; A429128.
Editor & Publisher, September 2, 1961, said
Martin Dell Starts ‘Comicode’ GameA syndicate has been formed to market a word puzzle game by a successful cartoonist and puzzle creator.The syndicate: The Martin Dell Syndicate, Inc., 310 E. 44th St., New York 17, N. Y.The puzzle: “Comicode.”The creator: Martin Dell.The starting date: Oct. 2.“In achieving the lifelong ambition of setting out on my own, which is my present status, I am honestly proud to be able to offer the exhilarating Comicode as an opening wedge for the Martin Dell Syndicate,” said Mr. Dell. “Subsequently, I intend marketing other features outside the puzzle category.In 1954, Mr. Dell created “Jumble … That Scrambled Word Game,” and produced it for the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate up to last April 20, when his contract expired, terminating a seven-year affiliation. Mr. Dell, cartoonist and puzzle maker, has been the talent behind scores of newspaper puzzle contests all over the country and his work has appeared in many top magazines. …
Comicode and other puzzles were collected in Pocket Books’ 1963 paperbacks, Puzzle Fun and More Puzzle Fun. Samples are here, here and here.
Nadle sued the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate over Jumble.
Nadle’s brother, Lawrence, passed away on December 26, 1963, in Lynbrook, New York. He was an editor and writer at DC Comics. The Newsday obituary said the survivors included Nadle and their sister, Jean.
Ken Nadle believed his uncle Martin died in 1965. The New York, New York Death Index, at Ancestry.com, has a Martin Dell who passed away on November 30, 1965 in New York City.
Further Reading and Viewing
Alter Ego #72, September 2007, “Pens and Nadles” by Ken Nadle
Todd’s Blog, DC Comics’ 1945 Christmas Party photograph includes Martin and Larry Nadle
Grand Comics Database, Martin Naydel
News from ME, BEJLMU
Jumble.com, About the Jumble…