This Is Love?

*exasperated sigh* We're using the phrase "happily married" very loosely aren't we? What a great relationship you had with your late wife...with earplugs in your ears...ignoring everything she said.

Should've Had Hattie Call

The comic strip Alley Oop was created by Vincent Trout (V.T.) Hamlin and debuted December 5, 1932. It featured the adventures of a caveman named Oop who lived in the city of Moo in prehistoric times. While the strip originally began as a satire on American life, it soon became more of an adventure that featured science and fantasy when Professor Wonmug brought in a time machine from the 20th Century. The name, Alley Oop, came from the French words for "let's go". Allez, hop. Hamlin wrote and drew Alley Oop until his retirement in 1973 with some help from his assistant, Dave Graue. Graue took over the daily strip in 1966 but still signed Hamlin's name. Graue wrote and drew the strip until 1991 when Jack Bender took over as the illustrator. Graue retired in 2001 but sadly died in an automobile accident four months later. After Graue's retirement, the strip was drawn by Jack Bender while his wife, Carole, wrote it. They continued on Alley Oop until 2018. On January 7, 2019, Alley Oop received it's fourth creative team in writer Joey Alison Sayers and artist Jonathan Lemon.

During the middle part of the 20th Century, Alley Oop was very popular, appearing in over 800 newspapers, being reprinted in comic albums and being published in comic books. Alley Oop even had its own song written and composed by Dallas Frazier in 1957 and performed by the Hollywood Argyles (in actuality, Gary "Flip" Paxton and some back-up singers).

In addition to the daily strips that continue the adventures of Alley Oop, Sundays are used for a feature called Little Oop that features the adventures of Oop when he was a boy.

For more Alley Oop, you can go to its GoComics page. If you would like to support my writing and research, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-Fi.

I'm only familiar with what we do around here. Aren't grades in elementary/grade school just E, M, and S? Don't most parents go to conferences to get the scuttlebutt from the teachers? Where's Wilberforce calling from? Is he at Hattie's house? Why do the Thornapples have a basket of apples just sitting around? Why do the Thornapples still have a landline?

For the sake of completists, there is a Noble Elementary School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Leftover Leftovers

Either Gladys made a lot of meatloaf or they aren't eating very much of it. Wait. When was the last time we saw Wilberforce? January 19th? That's why they have so much meatloaf left. Wilberforce has mysteriously disappeared.

What's In a Name?

Is Hurricane Hattie her name? I always assumed that Hurricane was a nickname that people just used like with Peppermint Patty but adults, at least when you heard them in Peanuts, still called her Patty. That all the adults in The Born Loser seem to call Hattie Hurricane Hattie, makes me think her actual name is Hurricane Hattie.

Gee, who would've thought you'd have discipline problems from someone named Hurricane?

Staying Late

The Veeblefester Corporation. It's easy to get in but difficult to rise up.

That's what she said.

I've mentioned numerous times that it seems Brutus is already pretty high in the company. I mean, he has constant access to the CEO, goes golfing with him, is invited to Veeblefester's weird Eyes Wide Shut-esque parties, and is sent out on important sales calls. Brutus should just accept his lot in life. He's bad at his job but his lot is bigger than a lot of people's as well.

Lunar New Year Aftermath

Mother Gargle's comment must have really gotten to Brutus yesterday. It cut him so deep that he even took the day off and didn't even move from the chair. I guess it could just be later in the day but no, he was too depressed to go to work.

Two-fer Tuesday

I'm not a lawyer but I feel like this is illegal. Not that the courts would agree with that or anything but I'm pretty sure there is a constitutional amendment outlawing indentured servitude. At least for now.

So a man can't sit in his own chair, in his own house, and eat a bowl of popcorn after a hard day of work? Maybe Brutus took the day off which, in that case, still doesn't require an insult.

Uncle Ted Gruber

On April 9, 2018, a new writer/artist debuted on the long-lasting legacy comic strips, Nancy. It was the first artistic change in 23 years. Taking over for Guy Gilchrist was Olivia Jaimes, a pen name, who promised to bring a 21st Century female perspective to the 80+ year-old strip. While reviews were initially mixed, Nancy has become more relevant and most of the negative comments are dismissed as being readers upset that this wasn't their Nancy anymore. But you can be the judge of that. Here is a small sampling of Nancy comics over the last year or so. For more, you can visit www.gocomics.com/nancy.

If you would like to support my writing or research, you can buy me a cup of coffee over on Ko-Fi. No commitment or subscription required.

I am not a believer in ghosts. I know, that's sound shocking coming from someone who seems to write a lot of ghost stories and traipses around cemeteries and deals with history but I am a spectral skeptic. Anyway, we all know that noise is really a kid that Uncle Ted kidnapped and has locked in a small cage in his attic, right? He's getting hungry. So very hungry.

You Had To Add 'Pro'?

"Watched all the key games"? So basically you watched the two conference championship games? I guess that is the only games that matter. The rest of the season doesn't matter all that much. It's the same for all sports. It all doesn't matter until you get to a playoff or championship game.

Merely

Mm. No. I don't like this strip.

Did Brutus make his own pancakes? I don't think he's at a diner or restaurant. Just microwave them, dude.