The Era -- Day By Day

[LizzieMaine]

Herb Ackerberg was a pretty well-known character around CBS in the 1940s -- and you couldn't miss him in the corridors. Where most of the network executives were impeccably tailored after the example of Mr. Paley, Ackerberg slouched around in baggy pants, a sport coat, and a polo shirt, with his hair slicked down and a hokey pencil moustache that made him look for all the world like Peter La Plata. He also always had a cigarette in his mouth that would wag up and down while he talked, and when he talked he usually had nothing to say. But Paley thought he was a great high-pressure salesman and that was that. Clearly Miss Harrington made the mistake of buying what he had to sell.

Nick is *exactly* what Boomville needs. And it's out of the way enough that his appearance there wouldn't draw any unwanted attention. A nice quiet place for a nice quiet retirement.

 

[Fading Fast]

Herb Ackerberg was a pretty well-known character around CBS in the 1940s -- and you couldn't miss him in the corridors. Where most of the network executives were impeccably tailored after the example of Mr. Paley, Ackerberg slouched around in baggy pants, a sport coat, and a polo shirt, with his hair slicked down and a hokey pencil moustache that made him look for all the world like Peter La Plata. He also always had a cigarette in his mouth that would wag up and down while he talked, and when he talked he usually had nothing to say. But Paley thought he was a great high-pressure salesman and that was that. Clearly Miss Harrington made the mistake of buying what he had to sell...

Heck, it can't hurt his reputation either to have two high-profile women fighting over him.

..Nick is *exactly* what Boomville needs. And it's out of the way enough that his appearance there wouldn't draw any unwanted attention. A nice quiet place for a nice quiet retirement.

Lizzie, we could co-host a Welcome-to-Boomtown party for Nick.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Germany is plunging a panzer spearhead straight into the heart of Russia, it was indicated today by German sources, in a daring air-line thrust toward Moscow. The vanguard of the Nazi legions was said today to be nearing Minsk, capital of White Russia, which if true would indicate a gain in one day of 80 miles, and a total gain of perhaps 200 miles. There is still no sign of a promised official German war communique detailing Nazi operations in Russia, but German sources claimed that "the tide has turned and the war is as good as won."

Meanwhile, the Soviet High Command announced today that the Red Air Force has struck "crippling blows" at the Rumanian oil center of Ploesti, and the cities of Bucharest and Jassy. It was also announced that Soviet "land battleships" have won two great victories over German tanks on the Polish front. The communique acknowledges fierce fighting between Soviet and German forces outside Minsk, and asserts that "tank battles advantageous to us continued thruout the day."

In Patchogue, Long Island the strikebound Plymouth Lace Mills, for half a century the principal industry in that village, will "close indefinitely" at 5 this afternoon. Workers at the factory walked off the job three weeks ago after mill management refused to recognize their union, and officers of the company argued that the mill has "not been profitable" for three years, despite the recent completion of a large defense order for mosquito netting. Company officers indicated that they will proceed with the liquidation of remaining stock, and will sell the manufacturing equipment and real estate.

Battle lines are being drawn for the final showdown in the city's transit crisis, with 6000 IRT Transport Workers Union members last night lining up behind union president Michael Quill's assertion that the Union will not work one hour in the month of July without a new contract. BMT workers are expected to follow suit tonight when they meet at the TWU Brooklyn headquarters at 96 Flatbush Avenue. Mr. Quill emphasized that even in the event of a strike, the union will make arrangements for the safe transportation of members of the Armed Forces, and the ill.

Mayor LaGuardia dug in hard today on his position in opposition to the threatened walkout, asserting that leaders of the CIO "are not in sympathy" with the TWU on the matter of a strike, and he expressed his confidence that a strike will not occur. Negotiations between the city and the union broke down this month over questions of a new contract with provision for a closed shop. The Mayor contends that since Transit Unification, transit workers in the city are governed by the regulations of the civil service, which make no allowance for strikes.

Union carpenters at the Brooklyn Navy Yard voted yesterday to work five hours of overtime per week without extra pay in order to complete construction of the Yard's new 16-story administration building. Charles W. Hanson, District Council President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, AFL, stated today that the policy will also apply to all other Government jobs deemed essential to national defense, but will positively not apply to private construction.

The application for retirement of Queens Public Works Commissioner John J. Halleran has been denied pending a full investigation by the Amen Office of charges that a substantial private slush fund was established for his benefit by paving industry officials. Halleran had submitted an application for retirement on a full pension, to take effect August 1st, and in announcing the denial the application City Council president Newbold Morris, while declaring his belief in the official's innocence, expressed regret that Mr. Halleran has refused to clear up the matter by testifying before the Amen Grand Jury.

("Tell ya what, Tommy. Let's play a hand of gin rummy for it. Double or nothin'.")

In Philadelphia, classical pianist and conductor Jose Iturbi has walked out on a planned July 10th concert by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra because he refuses to share the stage with swing king Benny Goodman. Iturbi was to have conducted a performance of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with Goodman as featured soloist, but when a "jam session" featuring Goodman's sextet were added to the program, Iturbi balked and demanded to be released from his contract. Iturbi, who has appeared often as a guest on crooner Bing Crosby's radio program, declared that he would not share the stage with "a jazz band leader," and believed that doing so would be detrimental to his career. The manager of the Robin Hood Dell venue where the concert was to be held, C. David Hocker, stated that he believed the real reason Iturbi demanded his release is that he was offended that Goodman and his group would have been "the real attraction."

(Jose Iturbi is an ickie.)

(I've got a suit of overalls just like that.)

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer reports that Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy will team for a new picture temporarily titled "Woman of the Year." With a script by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin, the film will be produced by Joseph Manckiewicz. Miss Hepburn was last seen last year in "The Philadelphia Story," which set a new attendance record for a Metro attraction during its run at Radio City Music Hall.

The Eagle Editorialist declares with much passion that "it would be folly" to abandon advertising during the present world crisis. "Advertising is more than trying to sell something to somebody," he proclaims, "it is also, literally, the tensile strength that holds our nation together." Without advertising's leadership, Americans might face "the clod-like existence many peoples know."

(And besides, Mr. Schroth has a big mortgage to pay.)

(And with a wistful sigh, Joe and Sally remember simpler times, not so long ago...)

(For someone who repudiates the gossip columnists, Mr. Holmes sure seems to go in for it himself today. But given Mr. Phelps' recent history, one can certainly understand that his teammates might bear him some sense of ill will. And as for Cookie slugging Medwick, well, think about it. The Duck was a Cardinal for a long time, and there was no love for him in Brooklyn. Even if it didn't happen, I bet it was considered.)

Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb will continue their battle of the links today at Fresh Meadow Country Club, with the Bambino looking to square things after his defeat by the Georgia Peach in Newton, Massachusetts last week. The series of golf matches is being played to raise funds for the United Service Organizations, and both old ballplayers have risen to the competition with all their fires well-stoked. Meanwhile, a man who should know looked with disdain on the previous matchup between the two old rivals at the Commonwealth Country Club. "That's the easiest course on the East Coast," sniffed longtime caddy Joe Horgan. "I once caddied for an automobile dealer who got around it in the 70s, and he wasn't any good." Ruth and Cobb both shot in the 80s on that course, and Horgan's opinion was succinct. "It smelled."

(I jumped off a garage roof once when I was about this age, but at least I used an umbrella...)

(If ever there was a prototypical Bungles strip, it would have to be this one.)

(Suckerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)

(Meanwhile, Wolf goes to sleep on the floor. "WAKE ME UP WHEN THERE R FACE 2 EAT! WRF!")

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Catching up on some old stories today. And "Diamonds out the window?" Wow, Billy Conn isn't involved.

Speaking of old stories, it's been a while since the milk wars heated up. What better time than July?

Miss Kane doth protest too much.

I'd really hoped we'd seen the last of this hospital. There's probably a homing beacon inside that bandage.

Sloppy sloppy sloppy. if Pittsburgh Phil were still around, you'd get the ice pick for that.

Better she should have a long talk with Snipe.

Out of sight, but not yet out of mind...

Now would be a good time for Capt. Bucky Wing to show up.

"And the award for Best Actress in a Serial Comedy-Melodrama for 1941 goes to..."

Actually, the amount of drinking these two boobs do, I wouldn't think they had one good liver between them.

 

[Harp]

A brother and sister act indeed.

 

[Fading Fast]

...In Patchogue, Long Island the strikebound Plymouth Lace Mills, for half a century the principal industry in that village, will "close indefinitely" at 5 this afternoon. Workers at the factory walked off the job three weeks ago after mill management refused to recognize their union, and officers of the company argued that the mill has "not been profitable" for three years, despite the recent completion of a large defense order for mosquito netting. Company officers indicated that they will proceed with the liquidation of remaining stock, and will sell the manufacturing equipment and real estate....

Yes, there is a movie about a similar situation, "The Whistle at Eaton Falls." (Comments here: #28827)

...Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer reports that Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy will team for a new picture temporarily titled "Woman of the Year." With a script by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin, the film will be produced by Joseph Manckiewicz. Miss Hepburn was last seen last year in "The Philadelphia Story," which set a new attendance record for a Metro attraction during its run at Radio City Music Hall....

It looks as if the "box-office poison" days are over.

...The Eagle Editorialist declares with much passion that "it would be folly" to abandon advertising during the present world crisis. "Advertising is more than trying to sell something to somebody," he proclaims, "it is also, literally, the tensile strength that holds our nation together." Without advertising's leadership, Americans might face "the clod-like existence many peoples know."

(And besides, Mr. Schroth has a big mortgage to pay.)...

"Advertising is more than trying to sell something to somebody," he proclaims, "it is also, literally, the tensile strength that holds our nation together." Seriously?

"the clod-like existence many peoples know." What!?

I can think of several defenses for advertising and none would be about its tensile strength holding our nation together or averting a clod-like existence. Dear Lord.

And, as we say on Wall St., he's talking his book - a newspaper editorial defending advertising, the lifeblood of a newspaper.

...
(I jumped off a garage roof once when I was about this age, but at least I used an umbrella...)...

Is there anyone we know in Hollywood we could call to get the turtle, at least, a screen test? We got to get him out of this strip; his once-promising career is dying here.

...
(If ever there was a prototypical Bungles strip, it would have to be this one.)...

I don't know the strip like you do, but from my time with it, this is the one, with Jo and George talking right past each other, to put in the time capsule for future generations to understand "The Bungles." Tuthill is inconsistent, but he's in a groove right now as he has Jo on fire.

... (Suckerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)...

Kermit?

... Catching up on some old stories today. And "Diamonds out the window?" Wow, Billy Conn isn't involved.....

The diamond story was the star one today.

I couldn't follow the Tierney story as it seems her parents are still getting 25% - so what are they suing about?

...
Out of sight, but not yet out of mind.......

Lana is the best of all of the Harold Teen / Gasoline Alley women, but second behind Hu Shee in our full comicstrip universe.

A....
Now would be a good time for Capt. Bucky Wing to show up.....

Pat might be wondering about Terry too.

 

[Harp]

^^^It would be impertinent to further remark the chaste Burma and Terry brother-sister act,
if she's nude in the bath and there's no drop the soap rub a dub dub towel dry offer efforts made,
deliberate editorial erasure evident; yet if Hu Shee were here I assume a similar restraint would occur.
All strip and no tease.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Red Army cavalrymen have destroyed the Sixth German Infantry Regiment, according to a Soviet war communique, halting that regiment's attempt to cross the Pruth River on the Bessarabian-Bukovnian southern front. It was also reported in the communique released by the Soviet Information Bureau that German tank formations and the staff of the Nazi 30th Corps in the areas of Minsk and Luck were "put to rout."

German military reports claimed today that all Russian counter-attacks have been "beaten back," with "desperate Russian attempts" to avoid Nazi pincer drives are "costing thousands of Russian lives." An official communique stated that a storm battalion of German engineers, after 30 hours of "the fiercest fighting," have captured an entire chain of Soviet fortifications "comparable to the French Maginot Line."

Reports from London state today that Germany has begun land, sea, and air assaults on the coasts of Latvia and Estonia in an attempt to "turn and disorganize" the Northern Russian front. Reports from the Riga radio, which is still in Soviet hands, state that the Latvian people have successfully "rounded up" many of the Nazi paratroopers, some of whom had reportedly established contact with "local fifth columnists."

Last minute efforts to avert a massive subway strike are reported to be underway today, with Mayor LaGuardia and CIO President Philip Murray said to be in conference over a new contract on wages, hours, and working conditions. Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins conferred earlier this week with Transport Workers Union President Michael Quill and Alan S. Haywood, national director of organization for the CIO, and indicated today that she believes a settlement can be reached to avoid the strike before the July 1st deadline. Last night, a crowd of BMT day workers numbering between 1000 and 5000 voted to strike if an agreement is not reached, joining with IRT employees who voted a similar resolution on Thursday.

Army officials in Brooklyn announced that, in the event of a transit strike, Army trucks will be used to carry 7000 employees to and from their jobs at the 58th Street Army base. Officials at the Brooklyn Navy Yard are looking into alternative transportation arrangements as well, with few of the 22,000 employees at that facility known to own automobiles.

A freak accident during midget automobile races at Freeport Stadium last night has left five persons hospitalized. A speeding race car struck a mechanic who was crossing the track, and then spun over three times before hurtling thru a crash fence and into the crowded grandstand. The driver of the racer, 22-year-old Dick Allen of Newark, was warming up the vehicle when he spotted the mechanic, 24-year old Joseph Ginsburg of Newark, too late to bring the car to a safe stop. Ginsburg suffered a broken leg in the collision, and Allen a fractured skull. One of the injured spectators also suffered a skull fracture, another a broken leg, and the third was treated for cuts and bruises.

Hero cabbie Leonard Weisberg will open a liquor store in Forest Hills, after the State Liquor Authority accepted his application for a liquor license. The Authority acknowledged that Weisberg's actions in helping to foil the Esposito brothers in their rampage thru the 5th Avenue shopping district in Manhattan in January of this year weighed in their decision to award the license, but the license was not granted "for that reason alone."

("Laugh and the world laughs with you, frown and you could win $2.")

The condition of Brooklyn schools is "shocking," according to James G. McDonald, borough representative on the Board of Education, after listening to presentations by 65 representatives of civic, education, and parents' groups during a public hearing on new construction projects yesterday at the Board's Brooklyn office. The delegates, for more than three hours, told story after story of overcrowded schools with wretched sanitary facilities and broken-down equipment, and not a single member of the public spoke in opposition to the planned construction program to build 325 new schools at a total cost of $268,919,800.

(DON'T ARGUE WITH DOC BRADY!)

The Eagle Editorialist says it's high time there was an end to racial discrimination in the defense industry. "Negro groups have protested repeatedly that although they are called upon to pay taxes and bear arms just as other citizens, they are unable to obtain work in many defense plants even though many posses the skills the plants are seeking," he observes. "This sort of thing should be scotched right now."

("That same progressive go-getter who tried to kidnap the Kaiser." I mean, try to apply that statement to anyone else.)

("Marriage is a wonderful institution, but...")

(For some reason the baseball page is missing today -- so we can only conclude that it contained an inflammatory statement about Pete Coscarart, and Joe has torn it out to prevent Sally from seeing it. A wise course. Instead we give you a picture of Babe Ruth rubbing Ty Cobb's bald head, a scene never before shown in all the annals of the Game, and likely never to be seen again.)

Swing King Benny Goodman has words of advice for parents -- if you want your child to take an interest in learning music, don't shove an instrument at them like it was a plate of spinach. "Don't start a kid on an instrument at too young an age," he warns. "It may put them off music for the rest of their lives." Benny notes that he was 11 years old before he ever picked up a clarinet for the first time, and he did so because he was interested in it himself, not because his parents forced him.

(Looks like Boody just heard about the Robin Moor.)

(Ooooooweeeeeeeeee)

(Self-awareness is such a rare thing in the comics.)

(Well, I mean, he's not lying...)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

"Disorderly House" is such a lovely euphemism...

There was a time when the city name embossed on the bottom of a Coke bottle really meant something. Local bottling plants everywhere meant a better, fresher product. But I don't know as I've ever been "charmed" by it.

And so ends the career of Madcap Babs -- for now.

"Just remember -- you're ONE OF US now. ONE -- OF -- US!"

Whoa, quite an arm on Trigger. Hey, the Dodgers need a fifth starter....

"Gee, thanks, old pal -- I guess..."

"What now, sis?"

I never thought I'd see the day when "The Gumps" is clearly leading into a sex scene.

Pruny is no fool, and I have no doubt she's well aware of everything that's going on here. She's just waiting to give Veronica a chance to overplay her hand so Gramps won't be humiliated.

Well, how about that. She is, after all, the whole reason you came out west in the first place.

 

[Harp]

Wm Evans copped a plea it seems but I wonder why such a heinous crime such as infanticide and the second
murder and attack on his wife were not vigorously prosecuted Murder One with commensurate sentence. Inexplicable.
Send him down to Joliet Penitentiary in general hold, killed his child, a woman, and assaulted his wife.
Let the Joliet boys take care of it.

Draft register at 21, not 18 huh????

as for Burma and Terry, another day, another cell.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The draft age won't be raised to 18 till next year. Skeezix and Harold will be 21 next year. Either way, they can look forward to greetings from Uncle.

 

[Fading Fast]

...Hero cabbie Leonard Weisberg will open a liquor store in Forest Hills, after the State Liquor Authority accepted his application for a liquor license. The Authority acknowledged that Weisberg's actions in helping to foil the Esposito brothers in their rampage thru the 5th Avenue shopping district in Manhattan in January of this year weighed in their decision to award the license, but the license was not granted "for that reason alone."...

That's a neat development in this story.

...he condition of Brooklyn schools is "shocking," according to James G. McDonald, borough representative on the Board of Education, after listening to presentations by 65 representatives of civic, education, and parents' groups during a public hearing on new construction projects yesterday at the Board's Brooklyn office. The delegates, for more than three hours, told story after story of overcrowded schools with wretched sanitary facilities and broken-down equipment, and not a single member of the public spoke in opposition to the planned construction program to build 325 new schools at a total cost of $268,919,800....

From what we know of Brooklyn's budget, that number seems incredibly large and way out of reach.

... (Looks like Boody just heard about the Robin Moor.)...

"...but by ginger" Huh? I get it from context, but still, was that an expression?

...
(Ooooooweeeeeeeeee)...

Jo's in a good state of mind and will understand and laugh at the mix up.

... There was a time when the city name embossed on the bottom of a Coke bottle really meant something. Local bottling plants everywhere meant a better, fresher product. But I don't know as I've ever been "charmed" by it....

It's a little much, but this ad copy is better than most of the other recent copy we've read, like Krueger's the other day. Coke has known how to do advertising for a long time.

...
And so ends the career of Madcap Babs -- for now....

I forget, did they ever retrieve the poor telephone?

...[
Whoa, quite an arm on Trigger. Hey, the Dodgers need a fifth starter........

Every team ever needs a fifth starter. And if they don't this second, as the season progresses, they will. First rule of baseball: you never have enough good pitching.

... "Gee, thanks, old pal -- I guess..."..

Could I just have the cash instead?

... "What now, sis?"....

At this point, you'd think they'd have sex out of boredom.

... I never thought I'd see the day when "The Gumps" is clearly leading into a sex scene.....

Thanks, Lizzie, for that mental image.

...
Pruny is no fool, and I have no doubt she's well aware of everything that's going on here. She's just waiting to give Veronica a chance to overplay her hand so Gramps won't be humiliated....

Nicely played by Harold. I'll say it again, if this doesn't work out for her, Veronica is Senga in five years (or less).

 

[Harp]

At this point, you'd think they'd have sex out of boredom...

Detour, featured an even more complicated couple-attendant code restriction aside the heat became
ever more intense-all the more so because its female antagonist could boil blood. Burma has that
same appeal mixed with her world weariness, perhaps a woman overdrawn for this strip considering
Caniff's prohibition---and the overall mature themes expressed against the Second World War--but
lapsing back to chasteness strains script and strip credibility.

 

[Fading Fast]

Detour, featured an even more complicated couple-attendant code restriction aside the heat became
ever more intense-all the more so because its female antagonist could boil blood. Burma has that
same appeal mixed with her world weariness, perhaps a woman overdrawn for this strip considering
Caniff's prohibition---and the overall mature themes expressed against the Second World War--but
lapsing back to chasteness strains script and strip credibility.

That was one intensely sexual moment in that movie - the lust lifted off the screen.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Yeah, but how bout that Andy Gump. Hubba hubba.

 

[Fading Fast]

Yeah, but how bout that Andy Gump. Hubba hubba.

For the love of God, please stop.

 

[Harp]

That was one intensely sexual moment in that movie - the lust lifted off the screen.

Had Ann Savage been cast as the Wicked Witch of the West she would have driven all those munchkin boys crazy.

Seriously though, I have never, ever seen an actress so overtly sexual on film as Ann Savage in Detour.

 

[Harp]

For the love of God, please stop.

For a moment I thought A Cask of Amontillado and Fortunato's implore of Montresor, I lapse I know...
(off topic) I once read a note Poe wrote to Colonel Sylvanus Thayer on the eve of his expulsion from West Point
in March 1831; requesting letters of introduction as he intended to pursue a commission in the Polish cavalry.
I have never seen reference to this request in any of Poe's bios read...

 

[LizzieMaine]

The threat of a paralyzing transit strike has been lifted following an agreement between the Transit Workers Union, the CIO, and the city to continue working under the existing contract pending a court ruling on the city's power to enter into a new pact with the union. TWU president Michael Quill released a statement late yesterday declaring that the agreement to continue working under the status quo pending further negotiations on the matters of wages, hours, and working conditions "establishes a basis on which settlement may be reached in the present controversy." The Mayor announced the city's willingness to negotiate with the union following an exchange of telegrams yesterday with CIO president Philip Murray, in which Murray held to the union's position that the city's responsibility to negotiate is essentially the same as it would be as a private employer. The city had contended that since transit unification, subway workers fall under the provision of civil service, and that there is no obligation to recognize a collective bargaining agent or to continue a contract reached when the IRT and the BMT were under private control. A court hearing to decide that question is scheduled for September 22nd, and the agreement reached yesterday will continue the most recent union contract thru that date.

German and Soviet tanks are locked in a monumental battle near Luck, as Nazi forces attempt to blast their way into the Ukraine, breadbasked of the USSR. An official Red Army communique stated that at least 4000 tanks were involved in combat outside the city. It was also reported by Soviet authorities that a "lightning onslaught" of Red Army planes, tanks, and massed artillery are smashing a Nazi tank force at the spearhead of the major German drive toward Minsk.

Meanwhile, Berlin asserts that the Red Army is on the verge of collapse along a massive front extending "the distance from New York to San Francisco," and that Soviet resistance to the German invasion force is being "smashed into a disintegrating retreat from which there can be no recovery." It is indicated that full details are to be released in a special official war communique today direct from Adolf Hitler's field headquarters.

City College teacher Morris U. Schappes could face up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000 after being convicted yesterday on perjury charges stemming from his testimony before the Rapp-Coudert Committee. It was charged during his trial that Schappes had made knowingly false statements concerning his membership in the Communist Party and the number of Communists there were at City College. Schappes thruout his trial maintained that he had been, but no longer is, a Communist Party member, although he emphasized that he is still in sympathy with that party's program. Judge Jonah J. Goldstein, upon receiving the jury's verdict, ordered Schappes to apologize to the court for his "disorderly, disrespectful, and insolent conduct" during his trial, or face further punishment.

The former "Peace Haven" headquarters of the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians at Riverhead, Long Island will go under the auctioneer's hammer after a foreclosure judge ruled that the vast estate, formerly property of the Vanderbilt family, must be sold to satisfy debts against the cult that occupied it since 1938. In addition to defaulting on the $50,000 mortgage for the property, the sect is charged with failing to pay more than $122,000 in property taxes due since 1939. "Peace Haven" was the site where the Master Metaphysicians attempted to raise the famous "Immortal Child," Jean Gauntt, until unceremoniously returning the baby to her waitress mother last winter.

Fred Fitzsimmons has accomplished much during his sixteen-year major league career, but yesterday marked a first for the portly pitcher -- he was drafted to serve as an umpire during yesterday's game between the Dodgers and the Boston Braves when the team of arbiters assigned to work the contest were late in arriving at Braves Field. Fitz and coach Johnny Cooney of the Braves were unanimously voted by the two teams to umpire the contest until the real umps arrived.

British newspapers today denounced author P. G. Wodehouse, creator of Jeeves, for "letting his country down" by agreeing to make a non-political broadcast over the Berlin radio. Wodehouse, arrested by Nazi authorities in Paris after the fall of France, was released from a German internment camp in exchange for his agreement to make a broadcast back to England. It is reported that the author is now occupying rooms in a Berlin hotel.

(When Flatbush was really flat. In 1941, less than fifty years later, this rural landscape, carved out of farmland, has been completely obliterated.)

(I could really go for a COOL BASEMENT today.)

Reader Robert Baker writes to note an important distinction between Communism and Nazism, pointing out that Communism, whatever its flaws may be, is not a racially-based system of government, whereas the foundation of the Nazi system is belief in the inherent racial superiority of the Germanic people and their destiny to conquer, dominate, and enslave all "inferior races." "Gangsterdom," he maintains, "would be permanently enshrined under a world ruled by the Nazis."

Paul Robeson will make a guest appearance on Andre Kostalanetz's "Pause That Refreshes On The Air" broadcast for Coca-Cola this week. Note that the program will be heard at a new time starting tonight, 8 PM, over WABC.

(Bama Rowell? Sibby Sisti? And to think the Braves draw less than 2400 a game. Actually, I've always been rather fond of Mr. Sisti -- an excellent infielder, a real hustling ballplayer, condemned to obscurity by playing for a club that nobody really paid any attention. But still he endured, spent many years in baseball after his retirement as a coach and a scout, and he even did some acting: next time you see "The Natural," take a good look at the guy playing the Pirates' manager. That's Sibby Sisti.)

Although all the press attention is focusing now on Joe DiMaggio and his now-40-game hitting streak, Ted Williams of the Red Sox is making a bid to become baseball's first .400 hitter since Memphis Bill Terry turned the trick for the Giants in 1930 with an average of .401. The young Boston outfielder is presently leading all Major League hitters with a rousing .412 over 59 games, and holds a comfortable lead for the American League batting crown over runner-up Jeff Heath of the Indians, who's batting a mere .375.

Claude Passeau of the Cubs, never a favorite in Brooklyn, is on the rampage this year -- at the plate. The hard-throwing right-hander has turned slugger, and leads all pitchers in baseball with three home runs. The season record for a pitcher stands at six, stroked by Prince Hal Schumacher of the Giants in 1934, and with two thirds of the season left to play it seems likely that Passeau, if he keeps up his present pace, will make a run at that record. You will recall, no doubt, that Passeau's first circuit clout of the season was a grand slam, during a 14-1 victory over the Dodgers.

The football Dodgers announced their 1941 schedule yesterday, with the fall campaign to kick off September 24th at Ebbets Field. The Detroit Lions will furnish the opposition. The Football Flock will play six home games during the season, now that agreement has been reached between Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail for a new lease on the Flatbush ballpark.

(Keep 'em flying!)

Sixteen-year-old Joan Leslie's wanted to be a movie star since she was four years old, and now she is -- and you'll see her as Gary Cooper's wife in "Sergeant York," opening this week at the Astor. But what she really wants is a tragic role. "I'm just dying," says the young actress, "to die."

(Huh. Good part for Joan Leslie.)

(WHOA, Mr. Narrator Box Guy! SPOILERS!)

(I bet Her Majesty still has that car.)

(I keep thinking "Openweider" must be some kind of a gag name, but I can't figure out what the gag would be, and that's really irritating me. But seeing Irwin TIED TO A CHAIR is, at least, a distraction.)

(Do you get the feeling Mr. Tuthill isn't real fond of dogs?)

("Um-m, her hair's redder than mine." Ooweeeeeee.)

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

I don't know if this guy is guilty or not, but I do know that if Hollywood wants someone who looks like Professor Moriarty exactly as he was described by Doyle, this would be the man. And as for the poisoned picnickers, my great-great-grandfather died at a church picnic after eating canned clams, so maybe they should check that.

It does take a certain type to wear an ascot non-ironically.

Nothing like relaxing after a hard day's work with a tall, refreshing glass of milk.

It's in all the management guides -- the best way to back up your authority in the workplace is to show up with an assassin and a giant mystical wizard. Works every time.

Whew. Good healthy cigars.

Mr. Mosely often puts so much into his Sunday page that you miss key details. Like the lackey dusting off Toemain with a whisk broom. Or the dancing Little Stuffs and their Morse Code message "USHIHAE." I dunno, you tell me.

The ending's cute, so I'll excuse the egregious Walt butt shot in panel one.

There's a billion hungry blackflies waiting impatiently for Beezie to arrive in the Maine Woods.

"Yeah," says Burma. "But still -- who's gonna warm my feet?"

Hey, at least take the bug spray.