Category Archives: Comics

Chief Abolishes Vice Squad

Posted on August 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17, 1939: USC football player Al Kreuger keeps in shape over the summer by milking cows. Above, in a radical move, Police Chief Arthur C. Hohmann abolishes the LAPD's vice squad and transfers all the officers to other divisions. … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, Animals, City Hall, classical music, Comics, Downtown, LAPD, Sports | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Aug. 16, 1964: And then suddenly, Ernie Bushmiller, perhaps under the influence of the social upheaval across America, undergoes a radical shift in style, subject matter and tone. Notice the new, sparse austerity that blends perfectly with the strip's … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Aug. 15, 1963: Ernie Bushmiller uses his bully pulpit on the comics page to call for recycling!

Posted in Comics | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 13, 1961: A rare appearance of Nancy's dog, Poochie. Notice that Poochie is female. Evidently there are other "Nancy" comics in which Poochie is male. A Bushmillerian touch.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 12, 1960: Ernie Bushmiller, immune to the whims of fashion. "Nancy" remains forever fixed in a 1930s Neverland.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 11, 1959: Ernie Bushmiller shows himself to be a keen satirist on Hollywood.

Posted in Comics, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

August 10, 1958: A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

August 10, 1958: Ernie Bushmiller’s “Nancy,” in which Nancy and Sluggo unravel a mystery.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | 2 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 9, 1957. Notice how often Sluggo is shown reading. I never realized he was such a literate chap. Bushmiller never explains why Nancy needs a pitchfork.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 8, 1956. I usually don't spend much time thinking about the age of Nancy and Sluggo. They're cartoon characters, after all, and Bushmiller cartoon characters at that. They're sort of ageless, like the kids in "Peanuts." … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 7, 1955.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 6, 1954.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 5, 1953.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 4, 1952.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Russian Leader to Visit L.A.! A.L. Wins All-Star Game

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Bruce Russell's editorial cartoon is appalling today, but this style is typical of the 1950s, when artists frequently relied on a small repertory company of characters that included the Peace Dove, the Russian Bear, Mr. A-Bomb, Uncle Sam, the … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, art and artists, classical music, Comics, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Russian Leader to Visit L.A.! A.L. Wins All-Star Game

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 3, 1951.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy," Aug. 2, 1950.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Update on ‘Long Sam’

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Since I wrote about Dorothy "Long Sam" Brown in 2007 I have received repeated inquiries about the beautiful young North Carolina woman who became famous in 1957 after being found living in a shack with no running water. Here's an … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Comics, Education, Hollywood, Music, Stage | Comments Off on Update on ‘Long Sam’

Houdini at the Orpheum!

Posted on July 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 6, 1899: The Times reminds tourists to watch out for pickpockets. July 6, 1899: Look who's playing at the Orpheum. It's Houdini, with his wife, doing the Oregon boot routine. There's also a female impersonator named Tacianu. On May … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1897, 1899, Comics, Music, Stage | Comments Off on Houdini at the Orpheum!

Found on EBay — Little Nemo

Posted on July 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Also presenting McCay's "Gertie the Dinosaur" from 1914, in case you have never seen it. A Feb. 17, 1907, page of The Times comics featuring Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland" has been listed on EBay. Above, the entire page.  … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Little Nemo

Grand Jury Vice Probe! Gilmore Field Expanded

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Put That Pistol Down, Young Lady."   Keith's 1949 post on Gilmore Field has dropped us in the middle of an extremely complicated grand jury investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department. To summarize: Officers James Parslow, Thomas C. Lindholm … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Stage, Suicide | 1 Comment