Thirty-five years ago, Phil Frank decided to move his popular nationally syndicated comic strip, “Travels with Farley,” to San Francisco. Frank switched to running the comic in The Chronicle exclusively, with local topics providing stories for his eclectic mix of characters. It was a smashing success.

A recent search through The Chronicle’s archive turned up a few old “Farley” cartoons, as well as photos of Frank in the city he drew for so many years.

“Travels with Farley” began in 1975, with the main character, Farley, traveling the United States, eventually becoming a ranger at the fictional Asphalt State Park. He was a younger version of Phil Frank, with more hair and a wilder mustache. At its height, the cartoon appeared in 50 newspapers across the U.S.

But in February 1985, Phil Frank ended his national syndication deal and decided the cartoon would only appear in The Chronicle — and Farley would move to San Francisco.

“Frank has acquired a taste in cartooning for the specific rather than the general,” Chronicle reporter Jerry Carroll wrote. “A hankering for immediate as opposed to delayed gratification.

The national cartoon “allowed only generalized comment about people and events anybody could pick up on no matter where the residence,” Carroll wrote. Plus there was a four-week lead time between drawing and publishing. Under Frank’s new arrangement, that was reduced to a week.

Upon arriving in San Francisco, Farley moved into an apartment above a North Beach bakery (“He’ll probably get evicted,” Frank quipped) and was hired by the Daily Requirement, a newspaper at the corner of Myth and Fission, an obvious takeoff of the Fifth and Mission address of The Chronicle.

His other main characters, Farley’s raven roommate Bruce and the Asphalt State Park bears, also relocated to San Francisco. The bears eventually started a restaurant, the Fog City Dumpster, and became avid Giants fans.

Frank included all sorts of local events in his strip and often poked fun at Bay Area politicians, especially San Francisco mayors. One of his favorite targets was former Mayor Willie Brown, who was often drawn in regal robes and a crown.

By 1990, Farley was at an impasse with Irene, a meter maid whom he had had an on-again, off-again relationship with for several years. Farley went to spiritual adviser Baba Rebok for advice, but Baba was stumped — so he solicited readers’ opinions.

“The first comic strip character to get his own fax number now wonders if that was such a good idea,” an article on the overwhelming response ran in The Chronicle on April 22, 1990. More than 300 faxes arrived. “People jumped at the chance to, in Baba’s words, mess with someone’s life.”

Frank announced his retirement for health reasons on Sept. 7, 2007, and well-wishing cards, letters and emails poured in. Sadly, he died a week later.

“Phil Frank was an amazing cartoonist who managed to endear himself even to the targets of his wit,” said then-Mayor Gavin Newsom.

“He will be really missed,” Brown said. “He was to cartoons what Herb Caen was to words. I consider Phil Frank a great friend and, believe it or not, a great promoter of Willie Brown.”

A memorial followed. “Led by a brass jazz band, creatures from the life and times of the late cartoonist Phil Frank paraded around Washington Square at noon,” The Chronicle’s Carl Nolte wrote. “Forty uniformed park rangers, seven horses, Giants mascot Lou Seal and hundreds of people dressed as creatures from Frank’s imagination.

“The crowd of about 2,000 celebrated Frank’s life by dressing as his characters, telling stories about him and listening to eulogies that were as warm as the autumn sun.”

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From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspaper’s archive. It’s part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicle’s newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here, and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.