When his father became the editor of the Evening Times in Cumberland, Maryland, the family moved there, where Roy attended school until he was twelve.

He then started writing for his father's newspaper before becoming a regular contributor to Puck, the leading American satirical magazine.

He wrote a number of syndicated serialised articles, most famously the daily Jarr Family which appeared in several hundred newspapers.

[1] In 1896, when McCardell learned that the New York World had acquired a color press, he suggested that they use it to produce a comic supplement.

Editor Morrill Goddard approved the idea, but all comic artists of the day were already contracted by other newspapers.

Many of his scenarios and his other writings won prizes in competitions held by Puck and Collier's Weekly.