In the very early 1900s, George McManus' detailed style of drawing and sophisticated treatment of characters caught on in a major way and set the stage for comic strips featuring adult characters.

By 1925, when Paul Robinson unveiled Etta Kett, a romance/social life strip with a lovely brunette teenage heroine at its core, audiences were prime to receive it. The characters' sharp-edged faces, tiny eyes, and clunky hands made for interesting illustrations.

Storylines mainly centered on Etta's high school life--attending sporting events and dances--and her constant banter with her beau, Wingey. It was just the kind of strip whose mellow content ensured longevity.

Though Etta never branched out in other media and is rarely referenced today in conversations of America's teen comic idols, she enjoyed a very long run. She and her pals changed clothing and hairstyles over the years, but never aged and never experienced any of the drastic storyline makeovers some other comics endured.

Etta Kett showed up in newspapers until creator Robinson's death in 1974.