 Hearst was disappointed with the quality of McCay 's newspaper work . Infuriated that he couldn 't reach McCay during a vaudeville performance , Hearst pulled from his papers advertising for the theatre where McCay performed . Editor Arthur Brisbane told him that he was " a serious artist , not a comic cartoonist " , and that he was to give up his comic strip work to focus on editorial illustrations . Hearst pressured McCay 's agents to reduce the number of his vaudeville appearances , and he was induced to sign a contract with Hearst that limited his vaudeville appearances to greater New York , with occasional exceptions . In February 1917 , Hearst had McCay give up entirely on vaudeville and all other paid work outside the Hearst empire , though he was occasionally granted permission for particular shows . Hearst increased McCay 's salary to cover the loss of income . 
