The Era -- Day By Day

[Fading Fast]

...The mercury will drop nearly twenty degrees from yesterday's high of 94, with the heat wave finally broken by the arrival last night of showers and cool air. Three deaths in Manhattan and the Bronx yesterday were attributed to the heat....

Coincidentally, in NYC, we just had a twenty-plus degree drop from yesterday; although, from the 80s to the 60s, not 90s to 70s as Joe and Sally are experiencing in '41.

...
(Gary Cooper made an entire career out of playing characters at least ten years younger than he was.)...

I've noticed that too. He was born ten years too early for his prime-youth years to be during the talkies, so, because of his box-office appeal, Hollywood tried to get those years back by having him play younger men. Right to the end of his career, see "Love in the Afternoon," he played men who needed to be, at least, ten years younger than he really was.

...("Fourt' a' J'ly dubblehedda 'gainsta Jints!" exults Joe. "An' lookat'is! Two tickets! LEF' FEEL, LOWA DECK! Act'chly, I had FOUR uvv'm, an' I sol' two ta Solly -- so we're four bucks ahead onna deal!" Sally pokes the brisket and her eyes narrow. "How'ja manage 'at?" "Ah, it wunnutt'n," Joe boasts. "I was inna canny stoah, right? An' I'm talkin' ta t'is guy, see, an' -- um --- um -- well, it was like t'is, --- uh --" "Ahhh, nevvamin'," says Sally. "At leas' ya won." "Yeah," nods Joe. "I use t'em dice ya brutta gimme befo't'ey sennim up -- uh -- um -- gee, t'at brisket smells good...")...

"Ahhh, nevvamin'" She's too tired from her pregnancy to listen to his BS or to call him out on it.

...
(Again with the creepy bondage stuff, Marsh? Get some help.)

The worst part of it is, it's with Irwin. My God, how do I get that image out of my head now?

... "There," says the Page Four Editor. "Happy now?"....

Yes I am. I glad to see the editor's little speech had an impact. And how Page Four perfect is this euphemism, "...climatic conditions have had a disturbing influence on many households."

If I was a betting man, and I am, I'd bet he's guilty and I'd bet the jury believes he's guilty, but believe what he did was justified so they handed down a not-guilty verdict. That's realpolitik justice.

...
You tell 'em, Mattie!....

Yup, hers was the money answer.

... See, Irwin, this is what a sidekick's supposed to do -- all the boring legwork the star detective can't be bothered to handle.....

Irwin, upon hearing Lizzie's admonition replied (through gritted teeth), "I think I'm earning my pay right now as I keep silent while being tortured. But sure, if I make it out of this alive, I'll be glad to take the next photo Dan needs identified over to the drug store for him."

...[ Family values.

IRL, the mother has no game with the old lecher.

 

[Harp]

At this point in the narrative Burma becomes artistically expendable but a reasonable assumption
beggars: since so much ink has already been penned on her should blood spill now to appease expediency?
C has made a considerable investment; yet, she's all tease and no strip, and even when occasionally nude
the boy wonder is blindfolded. Bewildered. Ditto with Hu Shee, whom I desperately miss.

 

[Fading Fast]

At this point in the narrative Burma becomes artistically expendable but a reasonable assumption
beggars: since so much ink has already been penned on her should blood spill now to appease expediency?
C has made a considerable investment; yet, she's all tease and no strip, and even when occasionally nude
the boy wonder is blindfolded. Bewildered. Ditto with Hu Shee, whom I desperately miss.

As we've chatted about before, while his options are limited, Caniff could definitely strongly imply that sex is happening and I think he's missed a few opportunities to do so with Burma when it would have fit the story.

He did it once with Raven Sherman and Dude as it made perfect sense at the time. IMO, Terry would have slept with Hu Shee when they were spending all those nights on the road alone. It made sense - two against the world, alone at night - sometimes huddling together for warmth, both young and good looking - it would have been hard for them not to have had sex. Less so, but still, Terry and Burma were in similar situations.

Today, sex is forced into too many plots that make it all feel stupid to me. The guiding standard, IMO, should be does it really fit the story and situation. If so, then the characters should have sex. Caniff, to that standard and within the limits of his editorial restrictions, should have implied it happened with Terry and Hu Shee and Terry and Burma and moved on.

 

[Harp]

Today, sex is forced into too many plots that make it all feel stupid to me. The guiding standard, IMO, should be does it really fit the story and situation. If so, then the characters should have sex. Caniff, to that standard and within the limits of his editorial restrictions, should have implied it happened with Terry and Hu Shee and Terry and Burma and moved on.

Since I began following the thread I have been amazed at the reporting and content covered
by that era's journalism; also the frank editorials advising neutrality all set against a fascinating
period in history, while the Terry and The Pirates strip itself is hardly comical. Adult themes abound
so that a little spice might have been spread over strip. It also seems plausible that within editorial
censure Caniff is deliberately taking sides, implying right from wrong, holding not just his pen but a
glass ball to the near future, to awaken perhaps a slumbering giant public.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Meanwhile, I had no idea that Irwin had such buff , well-defined, and lovingly-detailed muscles. Let Pat Patton top that!

Mr. Caniff was strongly pro-China from very early on in the strip. The Japanese invasion in 1937 marked the point where the strip moved from straight adventure to a much more realistic take on war than the comics had ever seen anywhere else. How he got away with this, given the general isolationist bent of the Patterson-McCormick newspaper interests, is nothing short of a miracle.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Mr. Schroth gave everyone the 4th Of July off, so the Eagle does not publish today. But while waiting to get into Ebbets Field today for the big doubleheader against the Giants, Joe and Sally found a copy of the Daily News lying on the sidewalk, and here's some of what they saw....

Yeah, Ratzis, there's plenty more "Bad Weather" and "Obstinate Resistance" where that came from. And we can only hope that Mr. Allegro is about to get a very heavy book thrown at him.

Mr. Harold Augustus Fortington finds that these are not good times to be a P. G. Wodehouse character come to life. And even though it was a given that the Richards-Wilcox story would end up on Page Four, the matter-of-fact tone of the story is actually quite refreshing.

Backing into first place is still first place, even if it means we owe a thank you to Claude (Our Good Friend) Passeau. No doubt there won't be need for any fireworks show at the ballpark today.

FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT!

And from here, the story pretty much writes itself.

There's no middle ground with you, is there?

I don't even want to know what was going on here. But Skeezix, judging from his smirk, has figured it out.

Aside from the distressing plot, I call your attention to Gramps' snappy sports ensemble here. Eatcha heart out, Esquire.

And not to be catty, but Gee-Gee needs to look into a better foundation garment.

Feel the tension.

 

[Harp]

About time those two had a tumble.

 

[Fading Fast]

Mr. Schroth gave everyone the 4th Of July off, so the Eagle does not publish today. But while waiting to get into Ebbets Field today for the big doubleheader against the Giants, Joe and Sally found a copy of the Daily News lying on the sidewalk, and here's some of what they saw........

Taz, how do you feel about the Eagle not publishing today?

... Mr. Harold Augustus Worthington finds that these are not good times to be a P. G. Wodehouse character come to life. And even though it was a given that the Richards-Wilcox story would end up on Page Four, the matter-of-fact tone of the story is actually quite refreshing....

And you can tell this article just scratches the surface of Mr. Harold Augustus Worthington's story.

...
Backing into first place is still first place, even if it means we owe a thank you to Claude (Our Good Friend) Passeau. No doubt there won't be need for any fireworks show at the ballpark today....

Yup, just like a long foul ball counts as a strike and and ugly win is still a win, all that matters is the official count.

...
FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT!...

Every company has a few guys like the one in the hat. They are poison to the company and poison to be around; Gray is spot on in his characterization.

...
FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT! FOOD FIGHT!....

Trigger ain't the smartest criminal, but he'd probably be smart enough not to give his real address, and not to give two of them, to the drug store.

...
I don't even want to know what was going on here. But Skeezix, judging from his smirk, has figured it out.....

I really thought Snipe had it much more together. And, for the love of God, what is it with comicstrip illustrators' need, lately, to show us fat guys with their shirts off.

...
Aside from the distressing plot, I call your attention to Gramps' snappy sports ensemble here. Eatcha heart out, Esquire.....

Gramps looks as if he jumped in a time machine to shop at a clothing store from the 1970s.


A comicstrip question: I assume our regular Eagle comicstrips - Sparky, Dunn, etc. - are still happening today, but we are just not seeing them, so will the Eagle run both days' strips tomorrow?

 

[LizzieMaine]

I checked the Philadelphia Inquirer, which runs most of the Eagle's strips, and was surprised to find that the ones they're running today are the ones that appeared in the Eagle yesterday. We lost a day somewhere, to cover for not publishing today, but I can't figure out where. What will be interesting to see is if this pattern holds true tomorrow. I'd hate to miss a raging battle upstairs between Peggy Bungle and Sibyl Dardanella while Oakdale sits languidly in an armchair looking on.

 

[Fading Fast]

I checked the Philadelphia Inquirer, which runs most of the Eagle's strips, and was surprised to find that the ones they're running today are the ones that appeared in the Eagle yesterday. We lost a day somewhere, to cover for not publishing today, but I can't figure out where. What will be interesting to see is if this pattern holds true tomorrow. I'd hate to miss a raging battle upstairs between Peggy Bungle and Sibyl Dardanella while Oakdale sits languidly in an armchair looking on.

Is it possible the Philadelphia Inquirer will run "today's" strips tomorrow as maybe, based on their deadline or something, they are always a day behind the Eagle?

 

[LizzieMaine]

That's a possibility -- if they do, I'll post 'em!

 

[LizzieMaine]

And as a holiday bonus, here's an essay by the late comics historian Bill Blackbeard on "The Bungle Family," including a number of strips we haven't seen here and one of the few photos I've seen of Harry Tuthill. Seeing him there, it somehow disturbs me even more to know that he had the habit of walking around his drawing studio naked.

https://www.hoganmag.com/blog/when-...ghbors-on-the-battlegrounds-of-sunken-heights

 

[Fading Fast]

And as a holiday bonus, here's an essay by the late comics historian Bill Blackbeard on "The Bungle Family," including a number of strips we haven't seen here and one of the few photos I've seen of Harry Tuthill. Seeing him there, it somehow disturbs me even more to know that he had the habit of walking around his drawing studio naked.

https://www.hoganmag.com/blog/when-...ghbors-on-the-battlegrounds-of-sunken-heights

Enjoyable article, thank you for posting.

Don't think I've ever seen "wothehell" in print before. Any idea what year this article was first published?

I'm not sure there's any illustrator you could mention walking around his studio nude and it wouldn't be disturbing. Now, if Burma wanted to walk around China naked...

 

[LizzieMaine]

That article was first published in 2005. Mr. Blackbeard would be very gratified to know that since then, another very fine volume of Bungle strips has found its way into print from the Library Of American Comics, collecting the entire daily run for 1930, a collection that includes a couple of excellent storylines, including one depicting Oakdale's misbegotten adventures in South America. Highly recommended.

I also have the Hyperion Press collection he mentions, which covers the entire daily run for 1928, including the "amnesia" storyline that entangles George "Gus Brown" Bungle in the affairs of Mrs. Sibyl Dardanella. These earlier strips, with more page real estate to play with, are absolutely luxurious in their artwork and in the deployment of Tuthillian dialogue.

 

[Fading Fast]

That article was first published in 2005. Mr. Blackbeard would be very gratified to know that since then, another very fine volume of Bungle strips has found its way into print from the Library Of American Comics, collecting the entire daily run for 1930, a collection that includes a couple of excellent storylines, including one depicting Oakdale's misbegotten adventures in South America. Highly recommended.

I also have the Hyperion Press collection he mentions, which covers the entire daily run for 1928, including the "amnesia" storyline that entangles George "Gus Brown" Bungle in the affairs of Mrs. Sibyl Dardanella. These earlier strips, with more page real estate to play with, are absolutely luxurious in their artwork and in the deployment of Tuthillian dialogue.

Sibyl Dardanella belongs in the top ten of female comicstrip names; heck, that would make an outstanding IRL name.

It is a shame that by the time we see these strips in the Day-by-Day posts, so much detail has been lost as it's amazing what these artist churned out daily.

 

[Harp]

Now, if Burma wanted to walk around China naked...

Caniff does tease with Burma. She's a fascinating woman, a vixen drawn entirely too chaste but within
explicit bounds Caniff certainly availed what latitude circumstance did allow him. And his portrayal of
strong independent women is icing on the cake. Professor Ping's reference to Puccini's Madame Butterfly
further underscores a well read comic strip readership, appreciative of intelligent scripting and educated
beyond fluffery. How things have changed.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Heavy fighting accompanied by German claims of advances promptly denied by the Russians continues to rage on the eastern front today, as the Nazi onslaught is claimed to have ruptured the "Stalin Line" at the Beresina River. A German communique stated that "reinforced but confused" Soviet troops are "fighting blindly" to hold that barrier, but predicted that it would "crack quickly." A Moscow communique merely stated that the the military situation on the various fronts overnight "did not alter considerably in the positioning and regrouping of our troops." That communique also denied the German claim that troops have crossed the Beresina, and declared that "numerous German attempts" to cross that river blocking the path to the Soviet capital "have been checked."

Two columns of blasting flame accompanied by an explosive back-draft killed one fireman and injured 29 others yesterday in Manhattan. The building at 202 Broadway, occupied on its first floor by the Modell Sporting Goods Company, had been closed since Thursday night, and it is believed that the fire broke out late in the evening or early in the morning of July 4th, generating tremendous heat as it worked its way up the structure. Flames erupted with such force that they carried up to twenty-five feet from the building. Killed while fighting the fire was Fireman Carl N. Bischoff of 33 Lamont Court, attached to Hook and Ladder Company No. 3, who perished after being dug out of burning rubble by fellow firemen who tried vainly to resuscitate him.

Six people were killed instantly, and eight, including a young Brooklyn girl, were critically injured when a Long Island Rail Road train struck an automobile yesterday at a crossing in Mattituck, Long Island. Eight year old Rose Staub of 66 Powers Street is fighting for her life today at Eastern Long Island Hospital after the accident that killed her mother, 50-year-old Mrs. Frances Staub, three of her nine brothers and sisters, and two neighborhood friends. The car, driven by 30-year-old William Staub, eldest of the Staub children, was crossing the rails at Sound Avenue in Mattituck when the train struck it with such force that it was dragged nearly 700 feet down the line before the train came to a stop. The father of the family, William Straub Sr., collapsed at his Brooklyn home upon learning of the accident last night and was not immediately available to identified the bodies of the victims.

A conference of dairy farmers at Van Hornsedale, N. TY, summoned by former General Electric Company chairman Owen D. Young, is expected to vote today extend the present milk strike to a level where a serious milk shortage in New York City will result. Currently fluid milk shipments into the city have been kept up by diverting milk that would otherwise have been used for the manufacture of cheese and butter, but the strikers are expected to vote to close that loophole in an effort to force milk processing firms to accept a year-round price of $3 per hundredweight (47 quarts) to the farmers.

(Mr. Allegro should be grateful that he doesn't live in Maryland or Delaware, where, in 1941, judicial flogging is still on the books.)

An unsatisfactory hamburger landed a Staten Island sailor in court on a felonious assault charge, after he was accused of hitting the lunch room counterman who served him the sandwich over the head with a plate. 40-year-old Ura Sager of Donegal Hills, S. I., denied the charge yesterday in Felony Court, claiming that he merely pushed the poor-tasting hamburger back across the counter and told the counterman to give it to the dog. Counterman Nick Golfis of the 5701 1st Avenue restaurant insisted that Sager did strike him with the plate, and displayed a wound closed with four stitches to prove it. Magistrate Jacob Elperin ordered the seaman held on $2500 bail pending a further court appearance on July 7th.

The torrential rains that left 35,000 fans at Ebbets Field sorely disappointed yesterday had one good effect, with the heat wave finally having broken. Temperatures early this morning hit a low of 62 degrees, and by 9 AM had only reached a comfortable 68. A high this afternoon of 78 is expected, with clearing skies this evening.

Seven crap-shooters brought into Brooklyn-Queens Night Court last night on a charge of illegal gambling couldn't quite manage to meet the fine of $1 per man assessed by Magistrate Charles Solomon, assembling only $6.90 in change among themselves. Patrolman Morris Serf of the Classon Avenue precinct kicked in the final dime, and then gave each defendant a nickel car fare to get home.

(He won't run, won't he? Gee, Cliff, you're slipping.)

Mr. G. W. R., an obvious pseudonym, writes to Doc Brady on behalf of his wife who is expecting her first child in a few months, and has swollen feet that limit her to just four hours of sleep a night. "Another doctor advised her to lie on the floor with her feet against the wall," he notes, "but that seems impossible for her. Doc suggests putting the feet of the whole bed up on blocks so that her feet are elevated six to ten inches, and also send a dime and a 3 cent stamp for his booklet "Preparing for Maternity."

("Do WHAT?" bellows Sally. "You try t'at, at' bed'll snap right back up inna wall! I should sleep like some dope inna two-reel comedy? I like t'at! Here, gimme t'at pencil! T'at Brady, he's gettin' told!" )

("Commercial copy was kept down to an intelligent level." Well, that'll never last.)

(In heraldry, the "bar sinister," a bar slanting leftward across a shield, denotes illegitimacy. A nice way of calling the poor kid a ba***rd.)

("BOMB!" Don't be scared, the guy's reading "Variety," and it's just a review of a flop show.)

In Columbus, Ohio, nearly a ton of lead slugs found in the coin boxes of cigarette vending machines across the state will be donated to National Defense for the manufacture of ammunition.

The decomposed body of a man found in the cellar of an apartment house at 400 S. 34th Street last week was tentaitvely identified as that of 40-year-old Isidore Marcus of 61 Harrison Avenue, a policy-game operator who vanished over a year ago. The body's head was uncovered last week by the building janitor, and a key found with the remains unlocked the door of an apartment at the Harrison Avenue address.

("Ain'nem cloe's dry yet?" grumbles Joe. "I don' see why t'ey couln'a played leas' t'foist game. Ya could see acrost t'field OK." "T'at Terry," growls Sally. "He's afraid his boys'll shrink inna wet.")

The bearded boys invade Dexter Park tomorrow for a twinbill with the Bushwicks. The House of David sunk the locals 5-1 when they met in a charity game last month to benefit the Brooklyn Masonic Order, and the Bushwicks are fired up for revenge.

(Well, if Batman can have Robin...)

(Boy, that Peggy doesn't fool around.)

(Whoa. Somebody skinned a perfectly good couch to make Bill's suit.)

(Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhh! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!)

(And it seems that the same strips above appear in the Philadelphia Inquirer today as well. Go figure.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Yeah, it's hard to light fireworks in a monsoon.

(Boy, that Solly Pincus gets around.)

Doc Brady's attitude is more understandable when you consider his competition.

Remember that time Skeezix and Nina frolicked in a haystack? Just sayin'.

I'd love to see the Warbucks Inc. employee handbook.

I'd think the results of the recoil on a man firing a gun in such a position might be interesting and instructive.

Education.

You've gotta hand it to Bim, he really knows how to troll.

Wait, they share a bedroom? Run, Gramps, run.

Plushie's a boob, but sometimes you do have to feel sorry for him.

 

[Fading Fast]

...
(Mr. Allegro should be grateful that he doesn't live in Maryland or Delaware, where, in 1941, judicial flogging is still on the books.)...

Being lenient in dispensing justice can feel like kindness, but often, not to the victim.

...Seven crap-shooters brought into Brooklyn-Queens Night Court last night on a charge of illegal gambling couldn't quite manage to meet the fine of $1 per man assessed by Magistrate Charles Solomon, assembling only $6.90 in change among themselves. Patrolman Morris Serf of the Classon Avenue precinct kicked in the final dime, and then gave each defendant a nickel car fare to get home....

What a perfect Golden Era story. Also, Charles Solomon is like a TV judge in that he seems to be the only judge in Brooklyn and he seems to work 24/7. And kudos to Morris Serf - well done sir.

...The decomposed body of a man found in the cellar of an apartment house at 400 S. 34th Street last week was tentaitvely identified as that of 40-year-old Isidore Marcus of 61 Harrison Avenue, a policy-game operator who vanished over a year ago. The body's head was uncovered last week by the building janitor, and a key found with the remains unlocked the door of an apartment at the Harrison Avenue address....

Cue "The Godfather" theme.

...[
("Ain'nem cloe's dry yet?" grumbles Joe. "I don' see why t'ey couln'a played leas' t'foist game. Ya could see acrost t'field OK." "T'at Terry," growls Sally. "He's afraid his boys'll shrink inna wet.")...

I'd bet MacPhail's rain-insurance premiums shoot up next year.

If he's back with the team, think Van Mungo will join the team in Havana next year or will Durocher give him a pass - "we'll see you in Florida, Van, don't worry about it."

... (Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhh! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!)...

Unrelatedly, Lizzie, don't forget, you still have your weekly meeting with the school's counselor during the summer.

...(And it seems that the same strips above appear in the Philadelphia Inquirer today as well. Go figure.)

Is it possible the writers had a day off and there were no strips written for July 4th?

... View attachment 345064
(Boy, that Solly Pincus gets around.)...

How funny is that.

... Remember that time Skeezix and Nina frolicked in a haystack? Just sayin'...

I'm not just saying it, I had the exact same thought. Caniff has them in a haystack, it's now or never.

First panel tomorrow: The danger passes and they both look at each other relieved, but meaningfully.

Second panel: They embrace.

Third panel: (haystack is tossed around a bit, some time has clearly passed) They look a bit disheveled but content and in repose with Burma smoking a cigarette.

No words get said in any of the three panels.

That will do it and get it past the censors.

...[ I'd love to see the Warbucks Inc. employee handbook.....

Guys like that (the guy in the hat) are relentless. It never happens that way IRL, but he got exactly what he deserved.

...
Education.....

This relationship only makes sense if Snipe wants to have sex.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It would be odd if there was no strip for the 4th -- but there has to be a missing day somewhere. We know the Eagle doesnt publish on the 4th, Christmas, and New Years, so we'll see what happens in December.

I have to admit I'm not sure what Snipe's angle on all this is. Maybe she really is just a lonely 30-year-old looking for a no-obligation fling, but she only wants it on her terms and is trying to teach Tops the value of restraint. And maybe she figures Tops is the kind of guy she can have a no-obligation fling with because he doesn't seem to be a particularly deep soul, unlike Skeezix who must seem like an innocent puppy to her.

I think the thing to do with Mungo is send him to spend all next winter in Havana so he can get it all out of his system. Maybe he and Hemingway can do the town together.

Magistrate Solomon certainly has a good press agent.

"You're askin' for it, Watts!"