Sept. 7, 1947: The Comics Pages

Comics, L.A. Times, 1947

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.

Say kids, it’s Sunday morning, let’s look at the comics. Why it’s a 10-page section, imagine that. Los Angeles Times, World’s Greatest Comics—15 cents. That would be $1.42 today.

Who have we got here? Looks like Dick Tracy has finally captured Coffyhead with the help of the Junior Crimestoppers. Red Ryder and his pals are expanding the Rimrock School. Who’s that kid? His name is Little Beaver and he’s supposed to be a Native American. He’s saying: “Him make-um eyes like wolf at teacher. Me gusdusted.”

Comics, L.A. Times, 1947

And an ad for Weber’s bread.

Now, here’s “Aggie Mack,” “Nancy”—and “Dotty Dripple,” a strip that looks like a knockoff of “Blondie.”

And an ad for Alka-Seltzer.

“Sad Sack” (how about that, there’s no words, just pictures), “Gasoline Alley” and a one-third page ad for Oxydol detergent.

“Joe Palooka,” “Mickey Finn” and a one-third page ad for Ford cars drawn like a comic strip.
Having fun kids?

“Napoleon,” which is sort of a proto-“Marmaduke” strip, “Mary Worth” and an ad for “Magic Town” with Jimmy Stewart and Jane Wyman that looks like another comic. Have you kids noticed that there’s an ad on every page of the comics?

“Buck Rogers,” “Tiny Tim” and Listerine toothpaste.

“Tarzan,” “Abbie an Slats” and Fleer’s candy-coated gum.

“Ella Cinders,” “Li’l Abner” and an ad for Armour Treet, a knockoff of Spam.

These artists certain were great draftsmen, weren’t they, kids?

“Dixie Dugan,” “Brenda Starr” and Power House candy bars. I better take back what I said about draftsmen, kids. “Brenda Starr” is drawn by a woman, Dale Messick.

Comics, L.A. Times, 1947

Last page. “Terry and the Pirates” and a half-page ad. I wonder how much Quaker Oats paid for that display space. Who’s that African American woman? Well her name is Aunt Jemima. What’s she saying? “Folks sho’ come a-runnin’ for temptilatin’ Aunt Jemima Pancakes.” No, kids. Nobody ever really talked like that—not even in 1947. That’s called dialect. Back in the 1940s, characters who weren’t white, like Little Beaver and Aunt Jemima, used to “talk” like that. And the next time we’re at the store I’ll show you a box of pancake mix. Aunt Jemima doesn’t look like that anymore, either. Now we know better.

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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1 Response to Sept. 7, 1947: The Comics Pages

  1. santos l. halper says:

    I haven’t bought a physical copy of a newspaper in over a decade. Do they still have a comics section? I used to love the Washington Post’s when I was young, it was pretty massive.

    Also, I think the funniest lines in the history of The Simpsons were when Comic Book Store Guy admonished Bart: “No banging your head on the display case please. It contains a very rare Mary Worth in which she has advised a friend to commit suicide. Thank you.”

    I wonder how many young heads the absurdity of that joke flies over these days.

    Like

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