Hot Post
Folks, it’s hot out here in Glendale. Fires are burning in the hills, all the way out to Acton and Palmdale. Let’s cool down with a few old comic strips. Up first is NIZE BABY from 12/18/1927. Louie brings in a sailor-trained parrot into Baba’s broadcast and creates havoc on the air when the parrot goes into a cussin’ fit. I love the panel when Papa jumps out of the window with his umbrella open and says, “Lindboig took a chance.”
Krazy Kat from 11/13 to 11/18/1939 shows Garge at the top of his cartooning form with this sequence. It features Krazy dancing in a tutu to the annoyance of Ignatz mouse who gets Offissa Pupp to imprison Krazy’s flute player, then tries to stop the Kat’s terpsichorean moves with tacks. Krazy’s dance is unstoppable, and he can’t be arrested, so the Mouse and Pupp decide to join him on Saturday. I love the dancing poses on KK, especially in the 11/13 episode.
Marvelous Mike from 6/24 to 6/29/1957 is in the midst of the Crump/Smith golf match, with a valuable advertising account as stakes. Mike decides it would be unethical to hit his dad’s putts for him, so opts to coach Cliff instead. From the authentic feel of the writing, it might be a fair guess to think that Bob Kuwahara was an avid golfer. This is certainly one of the more lengthy continuities in the Mike saga.
Felix from 6/1 to 6/6/1936 features more of the adventures of the Dooit family. “Socky”, Mr. Dooit’s bodyguard, is quite the punch drunk character. Uncle Minus’s mule figures in two of the dailies, but Snobbs the butler is off this week.
It’s too darn hot! I wish Cathy and I were out painting today, but the air is unhealthful, due to the fires. California is not a paradise today, more like hell, it’s getting hard to breathe. Enjoy the strips and stay temperate!
Martin Brooks says:
Hi Mark (I hope it’s the right person!)
I found your name old an old forum under a thread regarding Fima Noveck’s Flamingo Telefilm Sales Inc.’s retitlings of Eastern European cartoons, and wondered if you’d be able to help.
I received a cassette recently with nine cartoons (all with Flamingo copyrigth boards at the end) which I can’t for the life of me identify. If you have time, I could send you some screen caps to see if you recognise any.
Kind regards
Martin
Mark Kausler says:
Hi Martin,
I wrote you on my wife’s email by mistake. I am doing on-going research on the Fima Noveck Flamingo cartoons. If you could send me a copy of your cassette or frame grabs that would be great. My email is kausler@att.net. Right now Something Weird Auctions is selling off the original Kodachrome 16mm elements to many of these cartoons on Ebay. Lots of information there. I practically have a complete list of the 150 titles in the package.
Mark
charlie says:
I keep coming back for krazy, felix & niz baby. charlie
Mark says:
Hi Charlie,
Glad you’re back, give Marvelous Mike a try as well. It’s a really rare strip that will grow on you.
Thanks, Mark