Timeline

On November 8, 1943 Bremax Super Adhesive Cellophane tape presented the first episode of the groundbreaking radio dramady series “Vince Germain: Investigator of the Strange Bizarre and Mundaaaaaaaaaane.”

Featuring a stellar cast of voice talents including - Demitri Muna, Kate Griffith, Vanessa Perkins, Michael Kroker and David Hawkins... more

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Lights! Camera! Action!

In 1946, Warner Brothers approached Bremax about collaborating on a project. With the enormous success of the Vince Germain radio hour, a feature film seemed the logical progression. Bremax agreed and Janning was hired to adapt his bespectacled gumshoe for the silver screen.

Alas, the bright lights of Hollywood may have been too big an allure. Thinking he needed to

The Chicago Tribune publishes the first episode of Hollis Janning’s “Vince Germain.”

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Listen to the V.G. intro

Where the story of Vince Germain starts and that of the Bremax corporation ends, is almost impossible to determine. The brainchild of Steven Bremmer and Roger Maxwell, Bremax’s meteoric rise to the top of the cellophane tape industry has been historically credited to it’s marketing savvy (and perhaps more than a little luck).

Early on, Bremax saw the marketing potential of Vince Germain. After years of obscurity Janning was overwhelmed by the sudden attention he received. When approached by the nation’s #1 cellophane tape, he was quick to sign a long term and comprehensive licensing deal. Bremax quickly became synonymous with two things Vince Germain, and having the most adhesive tape on the market. And while the former was a partnership made in heaven, the latter was to have repercussions that would ultimately destroy both entities... more

Hollis and Elwina Janning (1941)

Much has been written about Hollis Eustace Janning,(1909-1973), the second generation German immigrant, who rose from his job in the garment industry to create one of the most iconic characters of the 1940’s. On January 11, 1941 the Chicago Tribune published the first episode of Janning’s “The Adventures of Vince Germain.” The strip was lightning in a bottle. Something about the floppy-brimmed hero in glasses captured the heart of the nation and become a cultural icon overnight.

devote his full attention to the feature, Hollis put Vince Germain’s newspaper adventures on indefinite hiatus - a hiatus never to be resumed.... more

Vince and Qwen hit the sliver screen

Vince Returns!!!

Over 60 years have passed since Vince

Germain’s adventures last graced the pages

of the Tribune. Times have changed - newspaper sales are down and heros like Vince are long since forgotten.

In 2005 the ACHS was formed to promote and reintroduce iconic cartoons to America. After careful consideration, Vince Germain was chosen to be the ACHS’s initial foray.

In March of 2006 vincegermain.com was launched - the creative mantel (or fedora & glasses) passing to Charlie Stickney. Hopefully the new incarnation of Vince will be as fondly remembered as the first.

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