In 1916 Hearst assenbled his Sunday comics under his Puck the Comic Weekly masthead ( where Puck proclaimed “What fools these mortals be” each week) Puck the Comic Weekly was distributed to the 17 Hearst Sunday papers with a combined circulation of 5,000,000. By the mid-1940s, Puck expanded to 16 pages (two eight page sections) Puck in the New York Journal American carried Bringing Up Father, Flash Gordon, Blondie, Prince Valiant, Uncle Remus, Little Annie Rooney, Buz Sawyer, Little Iodine, The Little King, Donald Duck, Barney Google, Ripley;s, Phantom and the Katzenjammer Kids. Much more comics than is provided today in larger panels too. This continued until the Journal American folded in the late 1960s.
They were all in the Detroit Times back then. I’d read them at my Uncle’s house. I remember “What fools…” very well, at least on the Sunday funnies. We got the Detroit News, which carried Red Ryder, Archie, Lil Abner, Kerry Drake and many others. A LONG time ago.
The ‘What fools’ quote was originally by The Bard (character Puck) in A Midnight Summer’s Dream. But, I was not aware of the Hearst connection, though! Cool! :)
When my dad was stationed in Tokyo during the Korean war, he had a Japanese friend who spoke excellent English. His friend said that he didn’t have much trouble understanding the language, but couldn’t make any sense out of Little Abner.
Dirty Dragon over 5 years ago
Hmmm, so we’ve got Joel complaining about someone not speaking ’Merican
And Rufus wearing a red hat…
AnyFace over 5 years ago
doctor075 over 5 years ago
How many years/decades has Miz Melba been mayor now?
well-i-never over 5 years ago
Look at that artwork!
Dkram over 5 years ago
So, we now know the donkey is Bottom the Tailor.
\\//_
jamesbachreeves over 5 years ago
I once heard someone say, “Speak English, darn it! It was good enough for Jesus, so it’s good enough for you!” (I THINK he was joking….)
436rge over 5 years ago
“What fools these mortals be” was also a quote from a Hearst paper comic section known as the Puck Comic Weekly.
436rge over 5 years ago
In 1916 Hearst assenbled his Sunday comics under his Puck the Comic Weekly masthead ( where Puck proclaimed “What fools these mortals be” each week) Puck the Comic Weekly was distributed to the 17 Hearst Sunday papers with a combined circulation of 5,000,000. By the mid-1940s, Puck expanded to 16 pages (two eight page sections) Puck in the New York Journal American carried Bringing Up Father, Flash Gordon, Blondie, Prince Valiant, Uncle Remus, Little Annie Rooney, Buz Sawyer, Little Iodine, The Little King, Donald Duck, Barney Google, Ripley;s, Phantom and the Katzenjammer Kids. Much more comics than is provided today in larger panels too. This continued until the Journal American folded in the late 1960s.
Prey over 5 years ago
Ah yes, ´mericun, a lazy form of English….. and discuss!
Ray*C over 5 years ago
They were all in the Detroit Times back then. I’d read them at my Uncle’s house. I remember “What fools…” very well, at least on the Sunday funnies. We got the Detroit News, which carried Red Ryder, Archie, Lil Abner, Kerry Drake and many others. A LONG time ago.
pony21 Premium Member over 5 years ago
Is this the first time we have “heard” from Becky? … I’ve been away for a few years. Okay, a lot of years.
Code the Enforcer over 5 years ago
The ‘What fools’ quote was originally by The Bard (character Puck) in A Midnight Summer’s Dream. But, I was not aware of the Hearst connection, though! Cool! :)
Pedmar Premium Member over 5 years ago
When my dad was stationed in Tokyo during the Korean war, he had a Japanese friend who spoke excellent English. His friend said that he didn’t have much trouble understanding the language, but couldn’t make any sense out of Little Abner.
oakie817 over 5 years ago
the only dumb animals on this planet are humans
clayface9 Premium Member over 5 years ago
Hasn’t Melba been Mayor for over 30 years?