I remember reading this strip back when I was a youngster back in nineteen and twenty two. After I finished starting the fires in the woodburning stove and did the milking I would trudge the half mile to the road where the mailbox was and get the newspaper and read the comics before starting for school. This and the Katzenjammer Kids were my favorites.
I love the way even some of the other commenters create “back stories” (which may be believed or not). I’m not one of those (unfortunately); I only tend to be creative when it comes to DOING things (not telling stories).
I can see that the only work Ed did at the beginning was to keep his employment. Those unkempt whiskers put him squarely with the lumberjacks (could you see Ed log rolling or falling giant Douglas fir?) or as a slacker. Slacker napper?
I’ll have to ask Malcolm, who knows more about the non-WD work. It would seem an odd choice to me, given the knockabout cartoon style shown here. Some say there was also a bit of Ed in Hogar. He was famous for inventing ways to sneak a nap. Here’s an excerpt from Malcolm’s biographical sketch on him: “Hogar was one of comicdom’s great characters in himself. The nickname “Hat” came from the ever-present bowler he wore at a rakish tilt. It was a feature of his signature. He was known for sleeping at his drawing board, leaning back in his chair, hat over eyes, only to wake suddenly with an inspiration and a pencil flying to get it down before the next nap. He would sometimes go to great lengths to secure extra time off- having himself called out of the office on bogus emergencies. One time he is rumored to have staged a mock arrest, hiring actor friends to lead him away in handcuffs- as far as the stock room. Eventually all things end, and his editors and fellow cartoonists got wise.”
Hogar wanted to give the “Mr. Dithers” haters a progressive strip. The strip lost most of it’s following during the McCarthy hearings when Hogar refused to answer his queries by invoking his 5th amendment rights.
The only Hogar strip I remember from my childhood was “Oh, Those Squeaky Shoes”, in the Nebraska State Journal. I never found it particularly funny, ranking it somewhere between “The Little King” and “Points for Parents”.
Emmett Wayne over 10 years ago
Wow, I never knew. 101 years is amazing.
black_knight15_au over 10 years ago
And how are the current authors Zakour and Roberts related to the original – inherited or purchased the rights?
Nachikethass over 10 years ago
Pshaw, I say – Pshaw! :)
Kim Metzger Premium Member over 10 years ago
I can’t wait to see the Gibsonesque versions of Rita and Dana.
invertedyesterday over 10 years ago
I had no idea this strip started that long ago. Can’t wait to see, in the coming weeks, the evolution of each character.
Needtolaugh Premium Member over 10 years ago
Fascinating! I’ve been reading this publication for over three years and revealing its history is enlightening. Thank you!
sbchamp over 10 years ago
‘An abject lesson in comic progression’If that’s what it’s called…
QuietStorm27 over 10 years ago
Amazing history!
Retired Dude over 10 years ago
I remember reading this strip back when I was a youngster back in nineteen and twenty two. After I finished starting the fires in the woodburning stove and did the milking I would trudge the half mile to the road where the mailbox was and get the newspaper and read the comics before starting for school. This and the Katzenjammer Kids were my favorites.
katina.cooper over 10 years ago
Wow, it’s Jay’s great great grandfather and Ed’s great great grandfather. I wouldn’t be surprised if the boss has pointy hair.
tsandl over 10 years ago
That Roy! Always wasting too much time on the wireless asking for information on the newest projecting kinetoscopes and gyrocompasses.
vldazzle over 10 years ago
I love the way even some of the other commenters create “back stories” (which may be believed or not). I’m not one of those (unfortunately); I only tend to be creative when it comes to DOING things (not telling stories).
Hunter7 over 10 years ago
I can see that the only work Ed did at the beginning was to keep his employment. Those unkempt whiskers put him squarely with the lumberjacks (could you see Ed log rolling or falling giant Douglas fir?) or as a slacker. Slacker napper?
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 10 years ago
I’ll have to ask Malcolm, who knows more about the non-WD work. It would seem an odd choice to me, given the knockabout cartoon style shown here. Some say there was also a bit of Ed in Hogar. He was famous for inventing ways to sneak a nap. Here’s an excerpt from Malcolm’s biographical sketch on him: “Hogar was one of comicdom’s great characters in himself. The nickname “Hat” came from the ever-present bowler he wore at a rakish tilt. It was a feature of his signature. He was known for sleeping at his drawing board, leaning back in his chair, hat over eyes, only to wake suddenly with an inspiration and a pencil flying to get it down before the next nap. He would sometimes go to great lengths to secure extra time off- having himself called out of the office on bogus emergencies. One time he is rumored to have staged a mock arrest, hiring actor friends to lead him away in handcuffs- as far as the stock room. Eventually all things end, and his editors and fellow cartoonists got wise.”
tomuban over 10 years ago
Hogar wanted to give the “Mr. Dithers” haters a progressive strip. The strip lost most of it’s following during the McCarthy hearings when Hogar refused to answer his queries by invoking his 5th amendment rights.
CaptBullock over 10 years ago
The only Hogar strip I remember from my childhood was “Oh, Those Squeaky Shoes”, in the Nebraska State Journal. I never found it particularly funny, ranking it somewhere between “The Little King” and “Points for Parents”.