Next Window Please

August 19, 1966

Do you pull that out from under the table every time someone comes over? Seems like an inconvenience to do that all the time. I would just have everyone gather around the dining room table. "Brutus made it with the $700 power tools I bought him for his birthday!" "Wow! Brutus made the entire table?!" "No, the little block under this leg that keeps it from being wobbly."

$700 sounds like a lot for 1966.

Well, why didn't you read the signs? This would never happen where I live because driver's licenses are handled by the state while license plates are handled by the county so they wouldn't even be in the same building.

The Taekwondo Kid

August 15, 1966

It took me a second to realize that this guy is a Santa Claus. The "yo-ho-ho..." threw me off and the bad scan job. And is he holding a tambourine? Does this poor guy need money or is he just in the holiday spirit?

Santa Goodslob.

Wilberforce doesn't want to waste his summer learning martial arts when he just pays Hurricane Hattie $5 a month to be his bodyguard. He already wastes his weekend with his numerous sports teams. Wasting his Monday through Friday is a bridge too far.

Why do we do this "taekwondo" --> "taekwondon't" stuff? It's not taekwondoo, it's taekwondoh. It's like the old commercial "Sega does what Nintendon't." I get what you're doing, but it's wrong.

The Brutus P. Thornapple Memorial Watercooler

March 29, 1987

Why is Brutus wearing a top hat? I've never seen him in a top hat before and I don't think I've seen him in one since. I guess Brutus is trying something different. Something he will probably stop doing because it caused him to fall into the sewer.

Who are those kids? Why are we just creating random children when Wilberforce and Hurricane Hattie are already established characters?

Didn't you hear him? Weren't you listening? Veeblefester specifically said the naming rights would be paid for. My reaction wouldn't be "Golly, Chief!" but "How much is this stupid idea going to cost us? Me, specifically?"

Naming the watercooler for Brutus does make sense since that's where Brutus spends most of his day.

"Thorn My Apple"

August 13, 1966

Is this a continuation from yesterday? He went bowling and is now returning home at...two in the morning!? And the large stick of dynamite is for, what? Scaring him so he falls down the stairs? Deafening him? I'm sure the neighbors will love the two A.M. explosion.

"Omelette du fromage."

I never see Gladys be romantic. I see Brutus attempting to be more romantic than her. And I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen them say "those three words".

Friday Quickies

August 12, 1966

I think Brutus is going to go bowling anyway.

The best thing about the good old days? When he had rules and law in relation to the government.

Thirsty for Something Sweet

August 11, 1966

I think we should start doing this to anti-vaxxers. "I don't want to get no jab!" Oh, because the needle scares you? "No, because it's a gubmint conspiracy to give us autism and control us!" I just look away, it's a little prick, and you move on with your life. "But then you get the 'tism and never contribute to society!" Not true, but that's better than getting sick with a completely curable disease🤷.

That looks like a really long needle and the doctor does look kind of psychotic.

Ha! Kids! For some reason they don't want a glass of slightly colder than room temperature water with no ice. Go figure.

Maybe Brutus has some juice or something. There's a bag of sugar on top of the fridge.

You'll Never Catch Mother Gargle Pop Some Tags

August 10, 1966

I hope this guy is sitting in the old buzzard's office. He originally just used the office to fart in and then one day, just never left. Except to get that picture of the boss off the big printer.

Does Mother Gargle hate everything? Isn't that tiring? She clearly doesn't like thrifting unless it leads to an insult of her son-in-law.

Pizza Night

August 9, 1966

I feel like we keep seeing a variation of this trope, but I could only find one other instance of it. How are you lifting that up anyway? You don't even know what it is, so at the bottom of Lake Erie that treasure chest will remain.

They're not really having pizza are they? Oh, it's worse. They're gonna make their own pizzas using tortillas aren't they?

Dizzy Up the Brutus

August 8, 1966

Why would you hang your nice clean clothes directly over mud? water? oil? Just get those shorts pinned and try to get that string tied back together.

This is why clotheslines are typically made of wire.

Cool. Another symptom of old age we can gladly talk to Wilberforce about.

Has Brutus started any new medications? Maybe Gladys is slowly poisoning him. Does that coffee taste different, Brutus?

Party Goers

March 15, 1987

Brutus must have a few pints in him, because that's the only reason he would do something this stupid.

How did oversleeping blow the sale? I'm assuming he was late, but that on its own doesn't hurt anything. If you have a good story, people will forgive you for being late. Brutus just needs to be better at thinking on his feet!

Who invited the Thornapples to a party? Maybe it's some sort of joke, like when they get to the venue it's all dark and locked up. Meanwhile, everyone is hiding and watching them from afar, quietly giggling about what's happening.

Wilberforce Is Really Curious About Old People

August 6, 1966

What does Veeblefetzer do here? He's clearly not the president/CEO/owner like today's Veeblefester, but he has clearly worked his way up the ladder over the last 35 years and he is appreciated by the rest of the office three dying flowers worth. Are those from the parking lot...?

I love Miss Henlayer's hair. Pure. Sixties.

This is a Family Circus joke. I even did a search trying to find a Family Circus that says it. I couldn't find one, but maybe it was in a Sunday strip which are harder to search. Anyway, I'm not saying Wilberforce is better than this, but Chip Sansom should be.

You don't have to be old to wear glasses, Uncle Ted.

The Kafton Family

Between 1820 and 1870, only 7,750 Russians immigrated to the United States. Due to land scarcity, poverty, and starvation, more than 10,000 Russians immigrated to the U.S. in 1881. Sometime between 1866 and 1881, the Kafton family arrived in Kansas to start a new life. Raised Lutheran, the Kaftons were said to be very devout.

George Conrad Kafton was born December 3, 1842 in Mariupol, Russia (now present-day Ukraine). His parents were Johann and Catherine. He married Catherina Charlotte on June 15, 1861. They had 15 children, at least four of which were born in Russia and the others born in Kansas.

They came to Kansas with Charlotte's parents, Leonhard and Johnna Philippa. They originally settled in the Hillsboro area in Marion County, Kansas, but George and Charlotte moved to Topeka. Charlotte passed away January 5, 1901 at their home on Lake Street. George moved back to Hillsboro to live with his son, John, where he lived until he passed away September 30, 1920.

I, Personally, Love Money

August 5, 1966

I feel of the three men mentioned here, only La Guardia now deserves a mention. Napoleon wasn't all that great and isn't Nero the guy that just sat around while Rome burned? La Guardia was also the only one actually short and rotund. He was estimated to be about Five foot even or five two. Both Napoleon and Nero were considered average height for their times.

None of these purported important men wore a shirt like that though. That might hold you back a little.

Look, I am all for the important things like friends and family. But never discount the importance of money. Money helps keep a roof over your head and put food in your belly. I wish we didn't have to rely on money, but we do.

It's weird Brutus is bringing this up. First, saying there's more important things than money and then bringing up an example that's only doable because of money. Second, just the phrasing. "There's more important things than money...like a BRAND NEW CAR!" It's just weird.

And if the Thornapples were going to Disney World, we'd have a strip of them leaving and a strip of them coming home with no Disney adventures in between.

Leave Early Anyway

August 4, 1966

Maybe Brutus should throw a tantrum. Stomp your feet and jump up and down a lot. It won't work, but it will at least be a nice little show.

How are we talking about this five dollar raise? Is it five dollars per paycheck or five dollars over the year? If it's over the year, why can't he have a raise? You can't afford to add $0.19 to his paycheck, you capitalist pig?

The Last Donut

August 3, 1966

Is it me or is he holding the nail between his fingers? I usually hold the nail with my index finger and thumb thus reducing the strike zone if I miss the nail with the hammer. The grawlix and fancied censored word is spot on though.

Did Brutus get any donuts? From his phrasing it sounds like he didn't. Gladys got out early this morning and just bought donuts for herself. The box looks like it holds, at most, six.

People Don't Want to Hear About Your Dreams

August 2, 1966

Did the pitcher hate Thornapple that much? Does Thornapple's head take up too much space on plate? Hey, there are guys in the showers back there!

I like the idea of Thornapple bouncing around whatever jobs are needed to make the joke work. He's not just stuck at a tea cozy company. I guess you can't have a wife and kid and have a new job every day. He's not Homer Simpson.

Is there a carbon monoxide leak in this house...? Why doesn't Gladys know what extra innings are?!

So is Brutus fired? I know it doesn't matter because he'll just be back at work tomorrow like some sort of sick Sisyphean punishment, but it's so hard to keep track of these things.

Don't Blame Your Wife for This, Brutus

March 8, 1987

Introducing the great character find of 1987. Edgar Darling!! Move over Brutus Thornapple, Edgar will be taking over the strip in a year or two!

I love that second panel and the idea that Veeblefester Tea Cozies, Inc. is at the top of a nice skyscraper in the middle of a mid-sized metropolis with other skyscrapers towering around it and a nice central park within walking distance. It's much better than the industrial park I currently picture when I read the strip.

As long as we're doing this, I feel calling Veeblefester "chief" is a bit informal. Veeblefester is the CEO of this company and "chief" doesn't show the proper amount of respect. We can just go with Mr. Veeblefester and leave it at that.

Does Veeblefester know his name is misspelled on his door? That's clearly two Es there. His name's not spelled VEEBLEEFESTER...

A mother from Oklahoma had to give up her daughter, prompting people in Topeka to wonder who would be India May's new family. If you would like to support me or the posts on here, you can click the Support link at the top of the page.

Kitchen to Clean? Yard to Mow?

August 1, 1966

Yeah, yeah. You know what I usually say with these type of comics. I want to point out how these monkeys remind me of my Mom's coconut monkey. When she passed, I, of course, got it. It's older than I am. It's currently sitting on a shelf in the living room. It doesn't eavesdrop and gossip like these monkeys clearly do.

Do the Thornapples not have regular cable TV? What are they doing? Your lives are boring even with wi-fi. I never see you on a computer and barely see you on your phones. Y'all always have things to do around the house, and here you are just sitting on the couch.

If you plan on protesting, be safe out there.

Little India May

On January 7, 1912, dozens of people gathered in the office of Dr. Eva Harding to admire a seven-month old, chubby, hazel-eyed baby girl. The baby girl was being put up for adoption and within twelve hours, hundreds would express interest in Little India May.

India May was born June 9, 1911 in a small town in Oklahoma. The mother was the daughter of a minister and India May had no father. Before arriving in Topeka, Kansas, mother and daughter were residing with a school principal in Oklahoma City. When the principal got sick and she decided to go to a spring, the mother and child were left without a home. They made their way up to Topeka on January 5 to find a relative of India's father. The relative refused to aid them so the mother sought out other help.

She first went to the Orphan's Home, but was turned away because she could not afford the cost there. The Orphan's Home was established in 1888 in a building at 3rd and Fillmore. The orphanage closed in 1947 and the building was gifted to the Capper Foundation. It was later learned that the mother was offered $4 a week to work in the kitchen to pay for the placement, but refused. The mother then went to the Provident Association. The Provident Association was started in 1904 to help people affected by the 1903 flood. It was located in a brick building at 4th & Jackson streets. It would later become Family Service and Guidance Center. However, they had no room to place India May. In desperation, the mother and child came to the office of Dr. Harding.

Dr. Harding and the mother chose a couple late in the afternoon of the 8th. Of the more than a hundred people who were interested in India May, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Graham were selected. "We are tickled to death to get her," Mrs. Graham said. John Graham worked for the Charles Wolff Packing Company as a trimmer and owned a home at 112 Fillmore Street. The Grahams did not any children of their own. "Nothing will be too good for the child," said Mr. Graham.

Information on India May and the Grahams end with the adoption. A John R. Graham is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka having died in 1950. His wife is listed as Ada, but no children are listed with them. It could also be a case of mistaken identity as an Ada Moss was married to a John J. Graham who died around the same time. John R. Graham in Memorial Park Cemetery is buried in an unmarked grave.

I'm Waiting for the Clock to Strike Five, When It's Five O'Clock I'll Be Free

July 29, 1966

"Love thy neighbor" "Down with everything" Why not both? I can care for my fellow humans while wanting to dismantle societal norms. Since we are in the 1960s, I fully expect a lot of protest-themed comics and I'm sure they will be handled with grace and aplomb.

I don't condone assault, like what Shaggy is doing to Wednesday(?), Edwina(?) here.

What do you consider "close to five o'clock"? Five till? Quarter till? Maybe stop looking at the clock. Or just leave. By the time you gather your stuff and get down the hall, it'll be five. What's Veeblefester going to do if you leave early? Fire you? He's made that threat numerous times before and you are still here.

Is This About My Car Warranty?

July 28, 1966

When I first read this comic, I thought that was a porthole in the background, like on a ship. "That must be how the burglar got in", I thought. But then I thought it was weird that no one mentions being on a boat then I realized it was an open safe.

Can you untie proto-Brutus while on the phone talking to your mother? Someone should probably get ahold of the police.

Why are you even answering your phone? Are you that desperate for human contact, Brutus?

Classic TV

July 27, 1966

Man finally goes to therapy and he gets yelled at by the therapist. Luckily, there are plenty of things out there Thornapple can hate and make his entire personality, much to the detriment of his friends, family, country, and soul.

I, and my wife, watch old shows all the time. Seinfeld, Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, Unsolved Mysteries, Matlock, The Office, IT Crowd, Schitt's Creek, and several others. You've seen the state of the world lately? Just let me enjoy 30 minutes in Mayberry before I head off to my 32nd Trump protest.

Hand of Fate

July 26, 1966

"Please no eating food in the art museum, sir."

So what's the worse violation here? Leaving trash on the floor or vandalizing the painting by eating the fruit in it?

I find it hard to believe Wilberforce doesn't know what fate is as an 8-or 9-year-old. Especially since he asked about it back in 2023, got the same answer, and made the same joke.