The Era -- Day By Day

[LizzieMaine]

Mungo is one of baseball's greatest what-might-have-beens. He was the only front rank star the floundering mid-30s Dodgers had, and he was arguably the fastest pitcher in the National League until he got hurt. (That 1937 All Star Game was brutal -- that was the same game where Dizzy Dean, Mungo's only rival for speed, also suffered a career-changing injury.) He probably would have been a good candidate for Tommy John surgery had he been born 40 years later, and could have been a Hall of Famer if he hadn't been hurt. But he didn't have a chance of a comeback once Durocher took over the club -- Leo thought he was dumb, and that he drank too much, and had no patience with trying to ease him back.

All those might-have beens -- but he did end up as the star of what is without doubt the greatest baseball song ever written:

 

[vitanola]

Barnet?

He’s got the Right Idea!

 

[Fading Fast]

 

[LizzieMaine]

District Attorney William O'Dwyer will have the protection of two personal bodyguards in face of the likely threat of assassination by members of the Brooklyn Murder For Hire gang. O'Dwyer denies that actual threats against his life have already been made, but acknowledges that precautions have been taken. Detectives Frank "Duke" Lyons and Steve Brady will form the DA's personal security detail as his investigation of the murder combine moves forward.

Meanwhile, three new indictments were handed up today in connection with the ongoing probe. The Kings County Grand Jury indicted Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando, Harry "Happy" Malone, and one of the gang's leading figures Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss for the icepick slaying of informant George Rudnick. Strauss, whose favorite murder weapon is known to be an icepick, is believed to personally killed Rudnick, with the other two mobsters assisting him carrying out the crime. Malone is also believed to have sent a an order to kill another another informant, Angelo Catalano, a key witness in the Rudnick murder now in protective custody. The message was relayed by Malone's broth Louis, who is serving a ninety-day sentence on a vagrancy conviction at the workhouse, during a visit from gunman Vito Gurino, who made an unsuccessful attempt to carry out the assignment, and is himself now the target of a manhunt.

The twenty-year-old fiancee of vanished Longshoremen's Union activist Peter Panto is under heavy guard by members of her family worried that she will be the next target of those responsible for Panto's disappearance last summer. Alice Maffia of 11 N. Elliot Place, and her brother Mike, are sequestered in their home, under watch by relatives, and all doors of the home are closed to strangers. With District Attorney O'Dwyer vowing to solve the Panto case, it is expected that Alice and Mike Maffia, the last two persons known to have seen the missing longshoreman alive, will be called as key witnesses. Panto vanished in July 1939 after mounting a union campaign against the waterfront "job insurance" racket.

A motherless ten year old boy appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court to beg for mercy for his father, convicted bootlegger Samuel Hanft. The 44-year-old Hanft drew a sentence of a year and a day in federal prison after he was found guilty on charges of operating an illegal distillery. His son Erwin Hanft spoke up in his father's defense, telling Judge Robert Hinch through tears that his father "ain't no bootlegger, he's the best daddy in the world." Investigation revealed that the mother of Erwin and his sister died in Coney Island Hospital in 1938, and Samuel Hanft has been the sole provider for the two children since that time. In view of this new information, Judge Hinch suspended sentenced and placed Hanft on a year's probation.

(Yeah, good luck with that.)

Pennsylvania state troopers are searching for a "sex maniac" who brutally murdered and mutilated an 17-year-old freshman and star athlete at Pennsylvania State College. The body of Rachel Hutchinson Taylor was found on about eight miles from Rockview Prison early yesterday morning, just two hours after she had arrived back at college from spending the Easter holiday with her family in Wildwood, New Jersey. Bloodstains, footprints, and a handkerchief were found near the nearly-naked body, which had been beaten and mutilated with what may have been a claw hammer. Police at highway checkpoints are stopping and examing cars in the area in search of bloodstains and other evidence. More than 900 cars were searched this morning.

A 40 year old Bushwick man killed himself with a shotgun after murdering a 33 year old woman who had refused to marry him. George Duncan shot Mollie Gladstone of 1004 DeKalb Avenue in the foyer of her family home and then turned the brand-new shotgun on himself. When relatives heard the blast and discovered the bodies, they noticed the gun still carried its $7.95 price tag. Relatives say Miss Gladstone declined to marry Duncan, a longtime friend, due to "religious differences."

("Hah!" says Joe. "Them ad writers. They don't know nuthin'. Confucious really say 'Man who buy two pants suit glad to put bill on cuff!'" And Sally says "Hey, that's pretty good. You oughta send that in to Jerry Colonna!")

(Note the position of her feet. Nine out of ten cartoonists would have drawn them flat on the floor, but Lichty notices that this is how a woman wearing those shoes would actually sit in an informal situation. It's these kinds of little subtle details that really bring his drawings to life.)

Herbert Cohn headed into The City to see "Rebecca" at Radio City Music Hall, and calls it a brilliant "strangely entrancing drama" featuring a stunning performance by Joan Fontaine. If that wasn't enough, he also popped over to the Capitol to see "Broadway Melody of 1940," and was highly pleased by the agile and elegant dancing of Mr. Astaire, Mr. Murphy, and Miss Powell, and by the able gagging of Mr. Morgan.

Johnny Paychek will go down in four rounds. That's what the smart money is saying as Paychek prepares to challenge Joe Louis for the heavyweight championship of the world tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Brown Bomber, who took personally the criticism sent his way for his recent sloppy defeat of Arturo Godoy, is expected to make short and easy work of his latest challenger, with oddsmakers giving 2 to 1 that Paychek doesn't last into the fifth round. Paychek weighed in today at 187 3/4 pounds, with Louis coming in at 200 1/2 pounds. Paychek is a journeyman fighter with over 33 scraps since 1938, most of them against opponents that no one has heard of.

Sam Taub and Bill Stern will broadcast the fight tonight at 10 PM over WJZ.

The Dodgers and the Red Sox were rained out again today, and that puts paid to the Flock's Grapefruit League season for this spring. The Dodgers ended up with an eight-and-eight record in exhibition games, and will be pulling out of Clearwater tonight for the start of a northbound barnstorming tour that will carry them to thirteen towns in thirteen days on their way back to Brooklyn.

When the train pulls out tonight, it may mark the end of the Dodgers' run in Clearwater. The team's contract with the town expires with the end of this season's training camp, and Larry MacPhail is said to be considering other options for 1941 unless Clearwater can offer improved facilities for next year.

Lovable Charles "Pop" Pfeninger, long-time ticket taker at the Harbor Theatre in Bay Ridge, is ill -- and the theatre is issuing daily bulletins on his condition from the stage before each show after a constant stream of inquiries from patrons who miss his friendly presence at the front door. Pop is 70 years old and has been ill for over a month now, and interviewed at his home at 972 77th Street his first thought was to ask "How are things going at the theatre?"

When students at Stuyvesant High School voted Colonel Stoopnagel their favorite radio comedian, the Colonel was so honored that, instead of having a representative of the school on his program to give him a medal, the Colonel will invite a student representative to come on his broadcast to receive a medal celebrating their courage and fortitude in reaching such a verdict.

The one reason Jo hadn't walked out on George years ago is that no matter what other stupid schemes he tried to pull, at least he'd never brought home an elephant. But now....

And let's pause for a moment to admire the amount of legroom in that cab. Must be one of those new DeSotos.

"Yes, it's a big organization." "So you agree with me that this is big?" "It's big, Dan. Very big." "Good, because I was worried this might be something big." "It's big enough." "Yep, it's plenty big."

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

(Bill Biff turns to Mary Worth and says "I tell ya, I'm sure glad we don't live in Massachusetts.")

(A Dodger fan -- in Westchester??? Something's fishy.)

Gregory would have hit that guy if he hadn't had to shoot thru his own arm.

Let's see now. This Mary X amnesia plot's been going on for what, three weeks now? So what I'm saying, Tracy, is that might be just an arm.

Yeah, well, wait'll you get to know her relatives.

Oh, that old con.

Well isn't this going to be an interesting dynamic.

Harold learns a valuable lesson about the art industry.

I got two legit laughs here -- Elmo doing Groucho's walk in panel two and Moon relaxing on the hydrant in panel four. Isn't that uncomfortable???

 

[Fading Fast]

District Attorney William O'Dwyer will have the protection of two personal bodyguards in face of the likely threat of assassination by members of the Brooklyn Murder For Hire gang. O'Dwyer denies that actual threats against his life have already been made, but acknowledges that precautions have been taken. Detectives Frank "Duke" Lyons and Steve Brady will form the DA's personal security detail as his investigation of the murder combine moves forward.

View attachment 223540

Meanwhile, three new indictments were handed up today in connection with the ongoing probe. The Kings County Grand Jury indicted Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando, Harry "Happy" Malone, and one of the gang's leading figures Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss for the icepick slaying of informant George Rudnick. Strauss, whose favorite murder weapon is known to be an icepick, is believed to personally killed Rudnick, with the other two mobsters assisting him carrying out the crime. Malone is also believed to have sent a an order to kill another another informant, Angelo Catalano, a key witness in the Rudnick murder now in protective custody. The message was relayed by Malone's broth Louis, who is serving a ninety-day sentence on a vagrancy conviction at the workhouse, during a visit from gunman Vito Gurino, who made an unsuccessful attempt to carry out the assignment, and is himself now the target of a manhunt.

The twenty-year-old fiancee of vanished Longshoremen's Union activist Peter Panto is under heavy guard by members of her family worried that she will be the next target of those responsible for Panto's disappearance last summer. Alice Maffia of 11 N. Elliot Place, and her brother Mike, are sequestered in their home, under watch by relatives, and all doors of the home are closed to strangers. With District Attorney O'Dwyer vowing to solve the Panto case, it is expected that Alice and Mike Maffia, the last two persons known to have seen the missing longshoreman alive, will be called as key witnesses. Panto vanished in July 1939 after mounting a union campaign against the waterfront "job insurance" racket....

Man do we need a scorecard for this story. Also, maybe O'Dwyer will lend Leona Stockpool one of his bodyguards, at least to escort her home from the nightclub.

...A motherless ten year old boy appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court to beg for mercy for his father, convicted bootlegger Samuel Hanft. The 44-year-old Hanft drew a sentence of a year and a day in federal prison after he was found guilty on charges of operating an illegal distillery. His son Erwin Hanft spoke up in his father's defense, telling Judge Robert Hinch through tears that his father "ain't no bootlegger, he's the best daddy in the world." Investigation revealed that the mother of Erwin and his sister died in Coney Island Hospital in 1938, and Samuel Hanft has been the sole provider for the two children since that time. In view of this new information, Judge Hinch suspended sentenced and placed Hanft on a year's probation....

Wow, the plea worked. Again, my view that judges and the sentences handed out "back then" were much harsher than today takes another hit.

...
(Yeah, good luck with that.)...

I can hear my father: anyone stupid enough to pay for that ad is stupid enough to lose $100. My take: whoever found the money went right into Fanny Farmer to spend it.

...A 40 year old Bushwick man killed himself with a shotgun after murdering a 33 year old woman who had refused to marry him. George Duncan shot Mollie Gladstone of 1004 DeKalb Avenue in the foyer of her family home and then turned the brand-new shotgun on himself. When relatives heard the blast and discovered the bodies, they noticed the gun still carried its $7.95 price tag. Relatives say Miss Gladstone declined to marry Duncan, a longtime friend, due to "religious differences."...

They should have asked Helen Worth for advice.

.... View attachment 223545
("Hah!" says Joe. "Them ad writers. They don't know nuthin'. Confucious really say 'Man who buy two pants suit glad to put bill on cuff!'" And Sally says "Hey, that's pretty good. You oughta send that in to Jerry Colonna!")...

...
(Note the position of her feet. Nine out of ten cartoonists would have drawn them flat on the floor, but Lichty notices that this is how a woman wearing those shoes would actually sit in an informal situation. It's these kinds of little subtle details that really bring his drawings to life.)...

Great catch - it's those details that make the illustration feel real even if you don't know why. And the quip is equally smart as, after decades in finance, I've seen many, many, many people think that a budget is a magic trick that will make money problems go away. To be sure, a budget can help identify problems and, even, help you address them, but there's no magic there: if you are spending too much, you have to spend less or make more - as unfun as that is.

...Herbert Cohn headed into The City to see "Rebecca" at Radio City Music Hall, and calls it a brilliant "strangely entrancing drama" featuring a stunning performance by Joan Fontaine. If that wasn't enough, he also popped over to the Capitol to see "Broadway Melody of 1940," and was highly pleased by the agile and elegant dancing of Mr. Astaire, Mr. Murphy, and Miss Powell, and by the able gagging of Mr. Morgan...

It is Joan's movie and her breakout role.

...The Dodgers and the Red Sox were rained out again today, and that puts paid to the Flock's Grapefruit League season for this spring. The Dodgers ended up with an eight-and-eight record in exhibition games, and will be pulling out of Clearwater tonight for the start of a northbound barnstorming tour that will carry them to thirteen towns in thirteen days on their way back to Brooklyn.

When the train pulls out tonight, it may mark the end of the Dodgers' run in Clearwater. The team's contract with the town expires with the end of this season's training camp, and Larry MacPhail is said to be considering other options for 1941 unless Clearwater can offer improved facilities for next year....

Planes, money, speed, times change - I get it, but what a wonderful moment when a professional baseball team would barnstorm its way north on a train.

... And let's pause for a moment to admire the amount of legroom in that cab. Must be one of those new DeSotos....

Same thought about the cab as, today, the cabs are so much smaller and they have (necessary) large protective dividers for the drivers that, basically, leave you with all but no legroom. I'll just say it again, the artwork is incredible.

... View attachment 223552 "Yes, it's a big organization." "So you agree with me that this is big?" "It's big, Dan. Very big." "Good, because I was worried this might be something big." "It's big enough." "Yep, it's plenty big."

...
(Bill Biff turns to Mary Worth and says "I tell ya, I'm sure glad we don't live in Massachusetts.")...

With that marriage record, how is she not a Hollywood star?

...
(A Dodger fan -- in Westchester??? Something's fishy.)...

Why would it even take six games to knock off the Yankees?

... Gregory would have hit that guy if he hadn't had to shoot thru his own arm....

Really, really well done. That is an outstanding action sequence in a comic strip for God sakes.

... Well isn't this going to be an interesting dynamic....

Heck, I also was getting mad when she was badmouthing Pat, our Pat.

... Harold learns a valuable lesson about the art industry....

Well, at least we got an answer to your question about those pictures. And, all together now, "bring back Senga."

 

[LizzieMaine]

Raven does raise an interesting point, though -- just how does Pat earn his living? We never see him cashing a paycheck, and though when Terry first met him back six years ago he was "a writer," we never see him pounding a typewriter. So what's his deal?

My own theory is that he's what was called a "China Hand," an undercover operative of the US Foreign Office who provided intelligence on the shifting tides of political power in China. Some of them worked as reporters or some other similar cover job, but their real purpose was intelligence gathering for Uncle. If this is Pat's real deal, it makes sense that he eventually ends up commissioned as a commander in Naval Intelligence -- a run-of-the-mill freelance adventurer would hardly qualify for such a job.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Bertrand Russell was removed today from the faculty of City College of New York by order of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice John McGeehan, who ruled that the British philosopher-mathematician's moral views are objectionable. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Mrs. Jean Kay of Flatbush, who claimed that Russell's beliefs, as expressed in his writings, are irreverent, salacious, immoral, aphrodisiac, libidinous, and lecherous. She also objected to Russell's views on companionate marriage. Mrs. Kay's attorney, former magistrate Joseph Goldstein, also argued that Russell is a nudist and a Communist.

Reports of a decision by Board of Transportation Chairman John Delaney to prohibit a union shop under transit unification, members of the Transport Workers Union are making preparations for a strike that could bring those unification plans, and the city's subways, to a screeching halt. Fifteen strike sub-headquarters have been established thruout the city, radiating from a central hub at the union's West 64th Street headquarters in Manhattan, with a Brooklyn hub established at 98 Flatbush Avenue. The union charges Delaney with defying an agreement arrived at between union negotiators and Mayor LaGuardia to preserve the closed shop guaranteed by current contracts between the Union, the BMT, and the IRT. Members of other branches of the TWU, including those with jurisdiction over taxicab drivers and bus drivers, have voted to support the subway workers in any strike that may be called.

Police are intensifying the manhunt for "Murder For Hire" triggerman Vito Gurino after he posed as a detective in an attempt to kill an unnamed material witness in District Attorney William O'Dwyer's investigation of the death gang's operations. Gurino had already been sought in an attempt on the life of witness Angelo Catalano last Sunday and his wife is in custody as a material witness in lieu of $100,000 bail. Gurino, whose "general appearance resembles that of a police officer" has been sought for nearly a week, and O'Dwyer says that the gunman has been dispatched by the gang to eliminate witnesses before they can tell what they know.

A 43-year-old laborer whose car plunged off a wooden bridge into Fresh Creek, one of the rivers feeding Jamacia Bay, was rescued as he stood atop the half-submerged coupe. Neil S. Smith of 1921 E 32nd Street went off the bridge, which carries Flatlands Avenue across the creek, about 12:45 this morning, when he skidded off the side of the bridge, tore thru the wooden railing. and plummeted forty feet into the water below. He managed to climb out of the car and clambered atop its roof, calling for help. Two patrolmen in a radio car from the Canarsie station hurried to the scene, and fished Smith to safety with a life preserver. An attempt will be made today to raise the car from the creek.

A Midwood policeman, clad only in pajamas, exchanged gunfire with two burglars this morning, after he was awakened by the sound of the bandits breaking into his home. Patrolman Edwin C. Grace of the Grand Avenue station was roused around 4AM today by a noise on the lower level of his two-story home at 1510 E. 29th Street, and grabbed his service revolver. He saw a flashlight beam at the base of the stairs and discovered two intruders, who fled out a window at his approach. Chasing them outside and down an alley, he emptied his gun in their direction as they returned fire. Grace was not hit, but believes he hit one of the men. No bloodstains were found in the alley and the burglars have not been captured.

The US Supreme Court today will meet in secret to discuss whether the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion allows members of one religion to attack another belief. The case stems from the conviction on disorderly conduct charges of two Jehovah's Witnesses who, when invited into the home of a Roman Catholic, played a phonograph record denouncing the Catholic Church. Attorney Hayden C. Covington of Brooklyn is arguing the appeal before the court, contending that the conviction was unconstitutional.

(The Brown Bomber's opponents during this period were called "The Bum Of The Month Club." Poor Johnny was just elected to full membership.)

The fight was over for Johnny Paychek the moment he walked out of the dressing room, and Joe Louis was on the plane back to Detroit before his latest challenger recovered consciousness. Eleven thousand fight fans at Madison Square Garden may have been disappointed by the short fight, but they can't say they weren't warned. Louis's quick dispatching of Paychek offered a sharp rejoinder to fight buffs who were critical of his slow-dancing bout with Arturo Godoy -- who looks as though he will meet Louis in a rematch this June. As for Paychek, his handlers admit he was scared to death as he approached the ring, and his manager Benny Leonard even tried to talk him out of going thru with the fight.

Luke Hamlin may pitch the full nine innings today in Americus, Georgia, as the Dodgers make their first barnstorming stop for a game against the Giants. The Flock breaks camp with solid pitching in Hamlin, Whit Wyatt, and the surprising Tex Carleton, and the best infield in the National League with Dolph Camilli at first, Pete Coscarart at second, either Durocher or Peewee Reese at short, and Cookie Lavagetto at third. The outfield is a question mark, with Durocher having to choose from among Joe Vosmik, Ernie Koy, Roy Cullenbine, Dixie Walker, and rookie Charley Gilbert, with Jimmy Ripple available in Montreal if needed. If Babe Phelps can get his arm situated he'll be fine at catcher, with veteran Gus Mancuso and rookie Herman Franks offering strong backup.

(She isn't wrong...)

(The guy sitting on the dais at far left really has to pee.)

Gossip columnist Clifford Evans, who seems to enjoy living dangerously, gets off a few shots today at the "low-level Brownsville rats" who don't seem to understand that Mr. O'Dwyer is playing for keeps. Be assured that as soon as a few of the high-level hoods are convicted, the lesser rats will "make a definite trail" from their cellars to squeal to the DA.

The Prospect Park YMCA is offering tap dancing instruction as part of its regular Monday night co-educational dancing class under the directio of Miss Ruth Aikoff. Foundation steps are taught in this group, with the class convening weekly at 7:30 pm.

("Hey," says Sally. "We oughta sign up for this. Sounds like fun!" And Joe leans back and smiles a dangerous smile. "Yeah. Tap dancin'. Imagine how them lousy neighbors downstairs will like that. You know the ones. That dopey one with the nose, an' his mouthy wife. Bingle or Bangle. Or Bumble. Somethin' like that. You know who I mean.")

With Arch Oboler having vacated his time period on NBC for the season, the network will fill his slot with encore performances of "Landmarks Of Radio Drama." The new series commences tonight with new productions of "Danger," first heard in 1931, and "Skyscraper," first heard in 1932. Hear them tonight at 8pm on WEAF.

"Oh, I can see it now! You and that bold faker Oakdale in his drum major's uniform parading down the street on the back of that mangy beast, making a spectacle for all the neighbors! You'll probably dress yourself up like a ringmaster and wave a sword in the air! Ohhh, how embarrassed I'll be!"

"It's all right, dear. Bill will protect us. Why, he's almost recovered from his last beating."

HOW CAN YOU BE A SECRET OPERATIVE IF YOU'RE FAMOUS!?? AAAAAAAAAUGH!!!!!

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Artie who? Hey, you hear the latest Bob Chester platter? It's got the jim jam jump, hep hep!

Kids Today.

Raven Sherman meets her match.

"But wait'll I tell my pal Nick Gatt! Boy, won't he be impressed!"

Um, Tracy -- isn't this a crime scene? Shouldn't you be doing, you know, cop stuff?

Pretty weak disguise there, Plushie. Wait'll Emmy finds out.

Skeezix Wallet, Undercover Cop.

Carl Ed has a sideline in cheesecake photography.

"...and you buy us a drink." Moon's been studying with J. Wellington Wimpy.

 

[Fading Fast]

...A Midwood policeman, clad only in pajamas, exchanged gunfire with two burglars this morning, after he was awakened by the sound of the bandits breaking into his home. Patrolman Edwin C. Grace of the Grand Avenue station was roused around 4AM today by a noise on the lower level of his two-story home at 1510 E. 29th Street, and grabbed his service revolver. He saw a flashlight beam at the base of the stairs and discovered two intruders, who fled out a window at his approach. Chasing them outside and down an alley, he emptied his gun in their direction as they returned fire. Grace was not hit, but believes he hit one of the men. No bloodstains were found in the alley and the burglars have not been captured....

Talk about choosing the wrong house to burgle.

...The fight was over for Johnny Paychek the moment he walked out of the dressing room, and Joe Louis was on the plane back to Detroit before his latest challenger recovered consciousness. Eleven thousand fight fans at Madison Square Garden may have been disappointed by the short fight, but they can't say they weren't warned. Louis's quick dispatching of Paychek offered a sharp rejoinder to fight buffs who were critical of his slow-dancing bout with Arturo Godoy -- who looks as though he will meet Louis in a rematch this June. As for Paychek, his handlers admit he was scared to death as he approached the ring, and his manager Benny Leonard even tried to talk him out of going thru with the fight....

"As for Paychek, his handlers admit he was scared to death as he approached the ring, and his manager Benny Leonard even tried to talk him out of going thru with the fight."

That pre-fight attitude is not a recipe for boxing success.

...
(She isn't wrong...)...

The trend since, on the good side, has been to be more respectful to "other" cultures, but, sadly, less to our own.

... That dopey one with the nose, an' his mouthy wife. Bingle or Bangle. Or Bumble. Somethin' like that. You know who I mean.")...

... "It's all right, dear. Bill will protect us. Why, he's almost recovered from his last beating."...

If you're concerned enough to move furniture in front of the door, wouldn't you make a call to police headquarters?

... HOW CAN YOU BE A SECRET OPERATIVE IF YOU'RE FAMOUS!?? AAAAAAAAAUGH!!!!!

From "Animal House:"

Bluto : What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Otter : [to Boon] Germans?

Boon : Forget it, he's rolling

... View attachment 223762
Artie who? Hey, you hear the latest Bob Chester platter? It's got the jim jam jump, hep hep!....

According to IMDB, they had a total of 16 marriages between them. This one was his third. He also married Ava Gardner along the way - obviously, Mr. Shaw had sometime the women wanted. For Lana, it was her rookie outing, but, as noted, eventually she'd catch up to Artie.

I had forgotten that she was one of the original "sweater girls."

... Raven Sherman meets her match.....

That's ninety pounds of grit.

... "But wait'll I tell my pal Nick Gatt! Boy, won't he be impressed!"....

Does she plan to, um, mention to John or the police that the "friendly" candy store proprietor lured her in with talk of Warbucks and a letter?

A... Um, Tracy -- isn't this a crime scene? Shouldn't you be doing, you know, cop stuff?....

Also, "Mary think hard! Think hard! You've got to regain your memory now!"

What was he expecting, "Oh, since it's that important, I'll get my memory back."

It doesn't work that way.

...
Skeezix Wallet, Undercover Cop.....

Good for him.

... Carl Ed has a sideline in cheesecake photography.....

And half a second after that pic was taken, Senga fell on her butt.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Senga tries very very hard, but she never quite accomplishes what she sets out to do.

I think Annie's going to go straight to Nick to report what happened. I assume that was his gunman who shot Gregory, but the shadowy way he was shown, and the string tie he had on made me wonder if it might be the Asp, one of Warbucks' personal assassins, who did the job. If the Asp is involved, that means Daddy himself may not be far behind. Maybe Nick himself is one of Daddy's agents. Wheels within wheels.

Artie Shaw might think he's going to be doing serious jazz concerts, but my mystic powers of prognostication tell me that before the year is over he'll be desperate enough for money to go on the radio conducting the band for Burns & Allen. And not only that he'll be pushed into acting as an unwilling stooge to Gracie. "My God, oh my God."

I don't know where they're getting these guys for Louis to fight. I think they just walk into random gyms, throw a burlap bag over some guy's head, and drag him out.

I've met a few nudists and I've met many Communists, but I've never met a nudist Communist.

 

[Fading Fast]

 

[LizzieMaine]

State legislators raced toward adjournment last night after voting New York City $4,500,000 in aid to ease the city's current financial burdens. Mayor LaGuardia and Governor Herbert H. Lehman had both demanded the additional funds, which will be diverted from the relief budget to handle the city's own old-age assistance needs. Attached to the bill is a provision that prevents further imposition of the city's one-cent-per-pack cigarette tax.

Meanwhile, the Mayor denounced as "stupid" threats of a city-wide transit strike in the face of efforts by the chairman of the Board of Transportation to eliminate the closed shop provision of current union contracts under transit unification. The Mayor calls the current disagreement merely a matter of words that can be resolved without a work stoppage that could paralyze the entire subway system, stressing his own previous statement that all current union contracts covering BMT and IRT workers should be continued once those lines fall under municipal ownership.

The death of a Teamsters Union shop steward is being laid to the Brooklyn Murder-for-Hire gang by District Attorney William O'Dwyer after a car used in the murder of Charles Brown was traced to a relative member of that organization. Brown, steward of Teamsters Local 807, was due to testify tomorrow against a group of Teamsters officers facing Federal anti-trust charges.

The removal of Bertrand Russell from the CCNY faculty is being hailed as a "triumph for decency" by the Flatbush housewife who spearheaded the drive to keep the controversial British philosopher-mathematician from teaching at the municipally-owned college. Mrs. Jean Kay issued a statement declaring that "the homespun philosophy of a mother who raises her family is the greatest kind of philosophy," and that "when and if" her children attend City College, "they will not be exposed to the immoral and atheistic teachings of this alien philosopher." Russell, who has accepted a position on the faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles, says the whole case strikes him "between the eyes," and admits to being "confused by the entire procedure. I don't know what to say, so I had better say nothing."

("C'mon, you guys, I know somebody found this. I'll buy ya lunch at Bickfords if you shell out.")

A Flatbush physician who has pulled his children from the public schools for political reasons says he'll be very glad to be the first one to testify in the Legislature's investigation of "propaganda" in the New York City school system. Dr. J. Arthur Buchanan of 510 Ocean Avenue says his children were given "Communistic papers to read," referring to a weekly paper on current events provided for classroom study, and that the conversations his children had with their teachers were "disgraceful." Dr. Buchanan's children now attend a Catholic school, even though they are Protestants, and the doctor declares that Flatbush ought to erect a statue to Mrs. Jean Kay in recognition for her work in ridding the municipal education system of Bertrand Russell and his "barnyard morals."

Thirty-seven hundred representatives of the US Census Bureau will begin to make the rounds in Brooklyn tomorrow, heralding the start of the 16th decennial count of the borough's population. The men and women assigned to the job will may be identified by the large portfolios they carry, and the identification cards they are required to display before entering a home. Census takers will be paid four cents for every name recorded, with a two-cent bonus for infants four months old or under, and will earn an average of 75 to 100 dollars for the two-week duration of the count. All residents are required by Federal law to comply with the census, with refusal punishable by a fine of $100, six months in jail, or both. Providing false information to a census taker is also a criminal offense, carrying a fine of $500, six months in jail, or both.

Voting begins today to select 500 boys and girls who will assume public office during Brooklyn and Queens Boys and Girls Week. For the week of April 27th and May 4th, the youths selected will fill offices including Borough President, District Attorney, Supreme Court Justice, Chief Magistrate, Postmaster, and Sheriff, learning the duties of the positions and receiving guidance from the adults who hold those titles. Voters may nominate contestants by completing the ballot that appears on Page 2 of each issue of the Brooklyn Eagle from today thru April 20th.

The Rangers move on to the next stage of the Stanley Cup finals, topping the Bruins 4-1 with a dramatic three-goal comeback in the third period that turned Madison Square Garden into a psychopathic ward. The Blueshirts advance to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs to decide the Cup, with the first game in the best-of-seven series Tuesday night at the Garden.

("He don't look too happy about it," observes Sally. "Yeah," says Joe. "But how'd you like to have to support all them kids he's got?")

The Dodgers marked the first stop on their northbound barnstorming trip with a loss to the Giants in Americus, Georgia, but to make matters worse, star rookie Pee Wee Reese again injured his throwing hand, reopening the wound he suffered during a Grapefruit League game against the Tigers two weeks ago. He is expected to be out of action for another five days. With manager Durocher still recovering from an arm injury, outfielder Dixie Walker tried his hand at shortstop -- a position he has never played professionally -- as a last-minute substitute.

Tomorrow the Dodgers and Giants meet again in Columbus, Georgia.

Dr. Allen Roy Dafoe, personal physician of the Dionne Quintuplets, will see what he can do with problem child Charlie McCarthy, tonight at 8pm on WEAF. At 8pm on WABC, Orson Welles' production of "Jane Eyre" stars Madeline Carroll.

"Reminiscent" remembers on the Old Timers Page the "golden lavender days of the 90s," when Flatbush was a quiet, lazy village of winding tree-shaded streets and white picket fences.

(I though sure we'd get Bertrand Russell as Trend Cover Boy this week, but alas, instead we get Gandhi...)

Young Ezra Stone, radio's addle-pated adolescent Henry Aldrich, adds another notch to his Broadway belt when he replaces Milton Berle in the cast of "See My Lawyer" this week. (Which has to count as the most bizarre recasting of 1940.)

(I guess whoever lays out the comic section hasn't gotten the word about the Bright New Redesigned Supermodern Streamlined Brooklyn Eagle logo. Mr. Schroth will be furious. Meanwhile, kids, here comes a red-headed cowboy!)

Heyyyyyyyyy! Isn't this "Tony" the same hokey Italian who tipped off Bonetti about Leona and John getting Lupeen's secret account book at the nightclub? Who says there's no continuity on Sundays??

TOLD YA IRWIN WOULD END UP TIED TO A CHAIR! But I wasn't expecting it quite this soon.

I'd say once again MOVE TO A NEW BUILDING, but I've come to realize that in the Bungle universe, all buildings are this building.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

Oops.

"That's a lovely shade of lipstick you have on, Jim."" "Thank you ma'am, it's Louis Phillipe."

Mr. Hill cleaned out the attic this week and found some of his old sketchbooks.

You sure about this, Tracy? Could just be that the Brooklyn Murder For Hire Gang does really thorough work.

Remember kids, archaeological ethics. It's the only way.

In times like these we could all use an honest-to-gawd belly laugh. Toward that end I call your attention to Willie's pose in panel eleven.

April's face in panel one -- the face that sank a thousand ships.

The Greatest Generation in all its feckless adolescence. Also, why does Pop keep a full-size tiger in his shop? Don't you need a license for that?

Back home we see Skeezix's little sister Judy, age five, and his foster parents Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Walt. And Frank King shows Carl Ed he's not the only one who knows about jitterbugs.

In the real world, that guy outside the cell would be Abe Frosch. And does Maw Green do anything but complain?

 

[Fading Fast]

...
The removal of Bertrand Russell from the CCNY faculty is being hailed as a "triumph for decency" by the Flatbush housewife who spearheaded the drive to keep the controversial British philosopher-mathematician from teaching at the municipally-owned college. Mrs. Jean Kay issued a statement declaring that "the homespun philosophy of a mother who raises her family is the greatest kind of philosophy," and that "when and if" her children attend City College, "they will not be exposed to the immoral and atheistic teachings of this alien philosopher." Russell, who has accepted a position on the faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles, says the whole case strikes him "between the eyes," and admits to being "confused by the entire procedure. I don't know what to say, so I had better say nothing."....

Ignoring the '40s politics of it, still impressive that one housewife was able to get him removed.

...
("C'mon, you guys, I know somebody found this. I'll buy ya lunch at Bickfords if you shell out.")....

My choice is Fanny Farmers. When I started working in NYC in the '80s, there was a FF shop in the World Trade Center. I commuted through the WTC as a huge number of subway and "PATH" trains from NJ had station stops there. While the FF shop itself was pretty new - the WTC was built in the early '70s - the candy, packaging, etc., still had an older-era feel versus the newer candy shops in the WTC (the WTC's retail shopping plaza - where the train passengers had to go through - was huge and had, from memory, at least three large candy stores).

...
("He don't look too happy about it," observes Sally. "Yeah," says Joe. "But how'd you like to have to support all them kids he's got?")....

I don't blame Camilli; all I did was read about the negotiations and I was exhausted by the end.

... Heyyyyyyyyy! Isn't this "Tony" the same hokey Italian who tipped off Bonetti about Leona and John getting Lupeen's secret account book at the nightclub? Who says there's no continuity on Sundays??....

Touche'

......
Mr. Hill cleaned out the attic this week and found some of his old sketchbooks....

Upper-left panel seems to be foreshadowing Bette Davis in '62's "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane."

... You sure about this, Tracy? Could just be that the Brooklyn Murder For Hire Gang does really thorough work....

1. "One Hour Later..." Sure, you got back to town, found the Sheriff and the coroner (and help) and got them all back out to the crime scene to remove the body from the swamp and, then, got the body back to the morgue and onto the table all in one hour.

2. "We're breaking in this place like robbers, Tracy..." You'd think, after sitting in a jail cell for his last crime committed in the name of crime fighting, that Tracy would be a bit hesitant for, at least, a few cases before breaking the law again.

... April's face in panel one -- the face that sank a thousand ships....

Yes, a bit overwrought, but as noted yesterday, kudos to ninety pound April for standing up to the twice-her-size Amazonian warrior.

... In the real world, that guy outside the cell would be Abe Frosch. And does Maw Green do anything but complain?

If Nick wants Buck to keep quiet and to be executed, that's a pretty good mind game Nick just rolled out on Buck - just sayin'.

To be fair, we all know the Maw Greens of the world - they can see everything in the most cynical light possible.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Mayor LaGuardia today plunged deep into conference with his financial, legal, labor, and transit advisors in an attempt to avoid a strike that could shut down the city's subway system, even as the Transit Workers Union remains adamant that existing contracts with the BMT and IRT must be respected under transit unification, despite the recommendation of the chairman of the Board of Transportation that the unified transit system not be operated on a closed-shop basis. The existing BMT and IRT contracts with the TWU call for a closed shop, and the union warns that unless the Board changes its recommendation there will be a walkout. Strike hubs have already been established thruout the city, and workers are poised to walk off the job when the call is issued. As of 10 this morning a TWU spokesman reported only that the status of the situation is exactly as it was at 10 last night.


District Attorney William O'Dwyer will oppose a writ filed by attorney Jacob Scheintag seeking the release of Louis "The Duke" Malone, now being held on a vagrancy charge, on the belief that the maneuver is an attempt by Malone's brother "Happy" to use "The Duke" as an operative in the Brooklyn Murder For Hire gang's efforts to erase potential witnesses. "Happy" Malone, a leading figure in the Brownsville-based gang, is under indictment for murder and is being held at the Tombs, where O'Dwyer believes he is manipulating events from his cell, noting that "Happy" was likely responsible for two previous attempts to take potential witnesses for one-way rides by means of gang operative Vito "The Torpedo" Gurino. Gurino failed in his missions, however, and is now being sought in an extensive manhunt as a fugitive from justice. O'Dwyer believes that "The Duke" has been selected by the gang as Gurino's replacement, and that his release is being sought for that purpose.

Meanwhile, the District Attorney is planning to hold Evelyn Mittelman, linked romantically to high-ranking gangster Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss as a material witness. The twenty-five year old Miss Mittleman, who lives at 365 S. 1st Street, has been "going with" Strauss for five years and is said to "know plenty" about the inner workings of the murder-for-hire organization. The DA plans to ask that bail for Miss Mittleman be set at the unusually-high figure of $100,000 to ensure she remains in custody. She is believed to have taken up with Strauss after the disappearance of her previous boyfriend, rival gangster Robert "Boggy" Furey, whose body is believed to lie at the bottom of Lake Sheldrake upstate.

The world will not end today at 3 PM, and a Philadelphia radio station is reassuring thousands of panic-stricken listeners that its announcement last night that an astronomical phenomenon would destroy the planet was intended as an April Fool's joke. Station KYW broadcast the announcement directly after the Jack Benny broadcast last night, stating that astronomers at the Franklin Institute and the Fels Planetarium had confirmed the coming catastrophe. The station broadcast a retraction after learning that the announcement was a publicity stunt created by the Institute's publicity director to promote an upcoming show at the Planetarium, but panicked listeners deluged newspapers, police stations, and the Philadelphia information bureau with demands for more information.

("Nertz," says Joe. "I'da got off work early." And Sally says, "Ain't that always the way?")

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain will inform the House of Commons tomorrow that action will be taken to further tighten the Allied blockade off the coast of Norway to strangle if not completely halt the flow of Norwegian iron ore to Germany. Although such a move would impinge upon Norwegian territorial rights, informed London sources stress that no plans are being made to actually police Scandanavian waters or land forces in Norway

An international base for flying boats built at a cost of $7,500,000 was dedicated today at LaGuarida Field by the field's namesake. Mayor LaGuardia presided at the opening ceremonies for the new Marine Terminal and saw the first departure of the 41-ton Yankee Clipper, flagship of the Pan-American Airways line, on its first scheduled trans-Atlantic flight. The huge airliner carried nine passengers and nearly 6000 pounds of airmail.

"S." writes to Helen Worth for advice on what to do after discovering that his fiancee has been having a "serious affair" with his best friend. Helen is firm: better heartbreak for the two of you now then a lifetime of heartache if you go ahead and marry.

(Boy From Marketing sits up all night staring at a loaf of bread, and finally, as the sun is peeking over the horizon and sleep-deprivation sends him to the brink of delirium, he snaps upright and finds the word he's been seeking. "Bready!")

Now at the Patio, David Niven is "Raffles," and Ann Sothern is "Congo Maisie."

Opening tonight on Broadway at the St. James Theatre, Maurice Evans is "Richard II."

Washington columnist Ray Tucker says if American businessmen get their way, the 1940 election will pit Republican Robert A. Taft against Democrat Cordell Hull.

"And that turned out to be imitation, the louse!"

Every year Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease leaves thousands of children unable to enjoy the everyday activities of youth, but treatments of the dreaded illness are helping its victims adjust to their new limitations. Sanitoria in the metropolitan area provide a calming and healthful environment for the youthful patients, with plenty of sunlight and carefully-monitored activities. At the Irvington House in Westchester County patients also have the benefit of vocational programs that will help them acquire skills they'll need in their future lives. (Rheumatic fever was as dreaded a disease as polio in the 1930s and 1940s, with no vaccine and, before antibiotics, no effective treatment. My uncle contracted this disease when he was fifteen, and never completely recovered from the damage it caused to his heart. Thirty years later, that damage killed him.)

In the little town of Lanet, Alabama the Dodgers play the first of three today against the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association. Yesterday in the Sally League ballpark in Columbus, Georgia, the Dodgers edged the Giants 6 to 5 before a rowdy crowd of more than 5000 who made the little yard feel like an extension of Ebbets Field.

William Powell and Irene Dunne star in "Love Affair" on the Lux Radio Theatre. Tune in at 9 PM over WABC or listen right here:

Behind Col. George B. Bungle's goofy exterior is an uncomfortable reality. The man is an utter sociopath, and it's pretty obvious that the whole business with the elephant was deliberately and meticulously contrived to lead up to this one moment.

Oh yeah? Wonder how they'll like it when Mary dumps a boiling teakettle on their heads.

And in a moment of abject horror the long-suppressed truth dawned on Irwin Higgs at last. Dan had set him up. Dan Dunn was not his friend. Dan Dunn had never been his friend. And now Dan Dunn had sealed his doom.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And in the Daily News...

In-depth coverage of the nuances of the political scene are a hallmark of 1940 journalism.

I strongly suspect that Miss Kilgallen, God bless her, never touched a bottle of Rheingold in her life.

I'm hungry and I was hoping for a Childs ad today, but I'm disappointed that it's this. You can dress it up all you want, but it's still day-old chicken trimmings doused in Cream of Mushroom soup. Guess it's off to H&H.

Show some initiative, John. Why not go have a talk with "poor Katerina."

Y'know, Tracy, you'd find those same slivers on the floor of any machine shop anywhere. Or a garage that grinds valves. Or some tinkerer's home workshop. Any competent defense attorney would throw this case right out the window.

Didn't we go thru this storyline already in "Mary Worth?" If she loses her shoe, I'll scream.

No slack at all.

No soap? No hot pepper? Mr. Goode has no imagination.

If Emmy holds the phone like that, Elmo can't hear a word she says. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Three hats, two bathrobes, and twenty pairs of pajama bottoms.

 

[Fading Fast]

Mayor LaGuardia today plunged deep into conference with his financial, legal, labor, and transit advisors in an attempt to avoid a strike that could shut down the city's subway system, even as the Transit Workers Union remains adamant that existing contracts with the BMT and IRT must be respected under transit unification, despite the recommendation of the chairman of the Board of Transportation that the unified transit system not be operated on a closed-shop basis. The existing BMT and IRT contracts with the TWU call for a closed shop, and the union warns that unless the Board changes its recommendation there will be a walkout. Strike hubs have already been established thruout the city, and workers are poised to walk off the job when the call is issued. As of 10 this morning a TWU spokesman reported only that the status of the situation is exactly as it was at 10 last night.
....

I went back and read yesterday's comments and am not sure where LaGuardia stands on this. He implies he supports the union and that there will be no change to its contracts, but it isn't clear that he supports the unified transit system being a closed shop - does he? If so, he should be able to resolve this in the union's favor quickly - right?

...District Attorney William O'Dwyer will oppose a writ filed by attorney Jacob Scheintag seeking the release of Louis "The Duke" Malone, now being held on a vagrancy charge, on the belief that the maneuver is an attempt by Malone's brother "Happy" to use "The Duke" as an operative in the Brooklyn Murder For Hire gang's efforts to erase potential witnesses. "Happy" Malone, a leading figure in the Brownsville-based gang, is under indictment for murder and is being held at the Tombs, where O'Dwyer believes he is manipulating events from his cell, noting that "Happy" was likely responsible for two previous attempts to take potential witnesses for one-way rides by means of gang operative Vito "The Torpedo" Gurino. Gurino failed in his missions, however, and is now being sought in an extensive manhunt as a fugitive from justice. O'Dwyer believes that "The Duke" has been selected by the gang as Gurino's replacement, and that his release is being sought for that purpose.

View attachment 224143

Meanwhile, the District Attorney is planning to hold Evelyn Mittelman, linked romantically to high-ranking gangster Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss as a material witness. The twenty-five year old Miss Mittleman, who lives at 365 S. 1st Street, has been "going with" Strauss for five years and is said to "know plenty" about the inner workings of the murder-for-hire organization. The DA plans to ask that bail for Miss Mittleman be set at the unusually-high figure of $100,000 to ensure she remains in custody. She is believed to have taken up with Strauss after the disappearance of her previous boyfriend, rival gangster Robert "Boggy" Furey, whose body is believed to lie at the bottom of Lake Sheldrake upstate.....

1. Are the papers exaggerating all these nicknames? Because, if not, the real mob was at least as colorful in that area as it's been portrayed in movies and TV shows ever since.

2. Maybe, in that world, you don't have a choice but to become the girlfriend of the guy who kills your boyfriend, but you'd think that would be the source of some tension in that relationship.

...The world will not end today at 3 PM, and a Philadelphia radio station is reassuring thousands of panic-stricken listeners that its announcement last night that an astronomical phenomenon would destroy the planet was intended as an April Fool's joke. Station KYW broadcast the announcement directly after the Jack Benny broadcast last night, stating that astronomers at the Franklin Institute and the Fels Planetarium had confirmed the coming catastrophe. The station broadcast a retraction after learning that the announcement was a publicity stunt created by the Institute's publicity director to promote an upcoming show at the Planetarium, but panicked listeners deluged newspapers, police stations, and the Philadelphia information bureau with demands for more information.

("Nertz," says Joe. "I'da got off work early." And Sally says, "Ain't that always the way?")....

It's "The War of the Worlds" all over again.

...An international base for flying boats built at a cost of $7,500,000 was dedicated today at LaGuarida Field by the field's namesake. Mayor LaGuardia presided at the opening ceremonies for the new Marine Terminal and saw the first departure of the 41-ton Yankee Clipper, flagship of the Pan-American Airways line, on its first scheduled trans-Atlantic flight. The huge airliner carried nine passengers and nearly 6000 pounds of airmail....

The Marine Terminal and (what looks like, not sure) a Yankee Clipper:

I've posted pics before, the terminal itself is an Art Deco gem (and it's still there today in all its Art Deco glory).

..."S." writes to Helen Worth for advice on what to do after discovering that his fiancee has been having a "serious affair" with his best friend. Helen is firm: better heartbreak for the two of you now then a lifetime of heartache if you go ahead and marry.....

I understand why, for many reasons, some people stay in marriages with spouses who have cheated on them, but the reasons to stay with a cheating fiancé seems like a much shorter list.

... View attachment 224145
(Boy From Marketing sits up all night staring at a loaf of bread, and finally, as the sun is peeking over the horizon and sleep-deprivation sends him to the brink of delirium, he snaps upright and finds the word he's been seeking. "Bready!")....

The entire ad has too many freakin' useless words and way too many adjectives.

Also, it's another riff on the popular "montage" style that was in vogue.

...In the little town of Lanet, Alabama the Dodgers play the first of three today against the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association. Yesterday in the Sally League ballpark in Columbus, Georgia, the Dodgers edged the Giants 6 to 5 before a rowdy crowd of more than 5000 who made the little yard feel like an extension of Ebbets Field.....

Just noting, I love train-powered barnstorming baseball.

...William Powell and Irene Dunne star in "Love Affair" on the Lux Radio Theatre. Tune in at 9 PM over WABC or listen right here:

....

Good self-isolation activity for later. I also remember hearing this version ⇩ on some "Old Time Radio" CDs I bought many years ago:

(from IMDB) "Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on July 6, 1942 with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne reprising their film roles.

Apparently, these must have been cheap, popular and profitable shows to make. I bet doing these shows was part of the stars studio contracts.

... Behind Col. George B. Bungle's goofy exterior is an uncomfortable reality. The man is an utter sociopath, and it's pretty obvious that the whole business with the elephant was deliberately and meticulously contrived to lead up to this one moment.....

A lone voice is heard muttering, "bring back Oakdale."

... Oh yeah? Wonder how they'll like it when Mary dumps a boiling teakettle on their heads....

Again, the combined brain power of Mary and Leona can't think to call the cops?

... View attachment 224158 I strongly suspect that Miss Kilgallen, God bless her, never touched a bottle of Rheingold in her life.....

No bet.

...ATTACH=full]224159[/ATTACH]
I'm hungry and I was hoping for a Childs ad today, but I'm disappointed that it's this. You can dress it up all you want, but it's still day-old chicken trimmings doused in Cream of Mushroom soup. Guess it's off to H&H.....

. Meet you there.

... Show some initiative, John. Why not go have a talk with "poor Katerina."....

John's not that smart, though he is getting a bit wiser, but what I'm really looking forward to is Annie's next tete-a-tete with Nick.

... Y'know, Tracy, you'd find those same slivers on the floor of any machine shop anywhere. Or a garage that grinds valves. Or some tinkerer's home workshop. Any competent defense attorney would throw this case right out the window.....

Yet, sadly, he's superior to Dan Dunn.

... Didn't we go thru this storyline already in "Mary Worth?" If she loses her shoe, I'll scream.....

... No slack at all....

Violating many things I claim to believe in, I'll just say it, Pat and Raven should have children simply to bring more superheroes-looking people into the world.

... View attachment 224166 Three hats, two bathrobes, and twenty pairs of pajama bottoms.

Heck, if this storyline continues, I'll want them to import the elephant from The Bungles.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I got the impression that Hizzoner was in favor of continuing the existing contracts under unification. I think this whole thing is a political stunt -- Mr. Delaney is a Tammany Democrat, while LaGuardia is Fusion, and Delaney is deliberately trying to stir up trouble in hopes of putting him on the defensive. But we shall see.

I don't think they're making the nicknames up or exaggerating them -- but they certainly don't show much restraint in using them. What Mr. O'Dwyer needs to be paying real attention to here is just how it is that "Happy" seems to be able to freely conduct gang business from his jail cell. Maybe he needs to get together with Brother Amen and compare some notes. Apparently Mr. Frosch isn't the only one who has free and easy jailhouse privileges.

I get the feeling sometimes that Harold Gray spends a lot of his time hanging around jails. Some of the stuff he's been giving us lately is a little too realistic.

The studio promotion departments smiled at Lux, the Screen Guild Theatre, and the other Hollywood-adaptation shows. The only stars who flat out refused to do them were Greta Garbo and Chaplin. Chaplin answered to nobody but himself, and I think the studio people were afraid to even ask Garbo. Lux also paid very well -- and a lot of stars considered coming in to read a script into a microphone for an hour to be the next best thing to free money. Problem was, a lot of them didn't want to bother with rehearsals, and the real radio actors doing the show for AFRA scale had to work that much harder to make the show sound good. A lot of radio actors resented the Big Stars for that attitude.

Pat is so full of himself in panel four there that the borders can barely restrain him.

 

[Fading Fast]

I got the impression that Hizzoner was in favor of continuing the existing contracts under unification. I think this whole thing is a political stunt -- Mr. Delaney is a Tammany Democrat, while LaGuardia is Fusion, and Delaney is deliberately trying to stir up trouble in hopes of putting him on the defensive. But we shall see.

I don't think they're making the nicknames up or exaggerating them -- but they certainly don't show much restraint in using them. What Mr. O'Dwyer needs to be paying real attention to here is just how it is that "Happy" seems to be able to freely conduct gang business from his jail cell. Maybe he needs to get together with Brother Amen and compare some notes. Apparently Mr. Frosch isn't the only one who has free and easy jailhouse privileges.

I get the feeling sometimes that Harold Gray spends a lot of his time hanging around jails. Some of the stuff he's been giving us lately is a little too realistic.

The studio promotion departments smiled at Lux, the Screen Guild Theatre, and the other Hollywood-adaptation shows. The only stars who flat out refused to do them were Greta Garbo and Chaplin. Chaplin answered to nobody but himself, and I think the studio people were afraid to even ask Garbo. Lux also paid very well -- and a lot of stars considered coming in to read a script into a microphone for an hour to be the next best thing to free money. Problem was, a lot of them didn't want to bother with rehearsals, and the real radio actors doing the show for AFRA scale had to work that much harder to make the show sound good. A lot of radio actors resented the Big Stars for that attitude.

Pat is so full of himself in panel four there that the borders can barely restrain him.

Agreed on Gray , I'm very impressed with the realistic nuances in the the relationships and machinations in LOA.

So I was wrong re the stars and radio money - that's good. I'm glad they were making a lot of money on radio as I'm sure they brought in the listeners, but have no patience for the "Big Star" stuff: rehears and make it the best show possible like a pro does.

There's a lesson in your Garbo comment as I've seen it work in biz too where someone creates such an intimidating personality that they get out of doing the unpleasant tasks, etc., as it can be just too exhausting to deal with them.