Radebaugh had several occasional syndicated features during his tenure as a Detroit advertising illustrator. His eccentric but clever imagineering made for good copy, and his renderings, such as this bus from 1949, were appealing even in newsprint.

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According to his illustrator colleagues, Radebaugh was constantly churning out inventions that seemed both pragmatic and other-worldly. Some illustrations were used as promotional material, others were syndicated, and some ended up used in ads.

In 1957, Radebaugh brought samples of an an ambitious cartoon about the future to a major news syndicate.

Closer Than We Think ran for four years. In 1962, faced with failing health, Radebaugh retired from the illustrating business. His health had forced him to sell off his cars, a vacation house, and many personal belongings. For several years, we lose track of him entirely, and then he shows up, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and decorating furniture for a sign painter named Albert Heemstra, who provided him with companionship and care in his last years.

Arthur Radebaugh, 1906-1974

In the years before his death, Radebaugh slowly faded into obscurity. After he passed away, he was forgotten by all but a few curious individuals who saw his old ads or magazine covers.

In 2001, 25 negatives of Radebaugh's work surfaced in the collection of historian Todd Kimmell. Todd and I decided to track the elusive illustrator down, mounted an exhibit of his work, are writing a book, and continue to seek out information on this forgotten genius...