Hanging Out at Gasoline Alley
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to share with you. Similar to last week’s The Gumps in terms of its
family-oriented theme, soap opera like continuing storylines and unforgettably
colorful characters, this strip appealed to both men and women and now ranks as
among the most beloved strips of all time. We’re talking, naturally, about
Gasoline Alley.
Frank King’s Gasoline Alley got its start
in 1918 (though there are also reports that it started in 1919) in the famed
Chicago Herald Tribune. Characters Walt Wallet, Doc, Avery and Bill, a
group of grease monkeys who lived and breathed all things automobile, first
appeared in the newspaper’s “Rectangle” section – in smallish, black
and white one-shot panels. They caught on with audiences, however, and were soon
given their own strip.
Now, one thing we must establish is that Doc,
Avery and Bill were all married, while Walt was the seemingly eternal
happy-go-lucky bachelor. It was Captain Joseph Patterson, however, the legendary
editor of the Tribune who had so much say in the development of many of
the early strips, who decided that the paper’s circulation would increase if
women were reading this generally male-oriented strip as well. So, how to
feminize it just enough? Introduce a baby into the mix.
So, on
Valentine’s Day, 1921, Walt became a proud papa. Yes, Walt the bachelor. He woke
that morning to find a bundle of joy abandoned, with a mysterious note, on his
doorstep. Walt took the baby in, named him Skeezix, and thus the trials and
tribulations of the single father made their way into the world of comic strips.
Heartwarming hilarity ensued in every episode of Gasoline Alley,
and the introduction of new characters and new twists and turns kept audiences
riveted. One such character was the widow Mrs. Phyllis Blossom, who ultimately
became Walt’s wife. They had a son of their own, named Corky, and adopted a
daughter, Judy. Each of them would take their turn in the Gasoline Alley
spotlight over the years. Eventually, Skeezix grew older – marking the first
time a comic strip character had aged with his strip. He went off to fight in
World War II, came home, married and had children of his own. By that time, an
entire generation had already grown up with the strip, and its appeal was only
getting broader.
In 1951, Frank King’s assistant, Bill Perry, took over
work on the Sunday strips, and in 1956, Dick Moores (who had previously worked
with Disney), came in to help with the dailies. After King’s death in 1969, it
was Moores who brought Skeezix’ children, Chip and Clovia, into a new decade.
The Vietnam War, social upheaval, almost-marriages and more marked the early
’70s, with Moores earning the Reuben Award (the same award that King had earned
in 1958) for Cartoonist of the Year in 1975. 1975 was also the year that Bill
Perry retired and Moores took over the Sunday strips as well.
The ’80s
saw a new generation of children with Clovia’s daughter Gretchen and adopted son
Rover, which made Skeezix a grandfather and Walt a great-grandfather. Another
Reuben Award for Outstanding Story Strip came in 1982, and the National
Cartoonists’ Society named the strip the year’s best story in 1981, 1982 and
1983. And while Moores’ death in 1986 marked the end of an era for Gasoline
Alley, it didn’t spell the end of the strip. His assistant, Jim Scancarelli
took over, won yet another Reuben Award in 1989, and is behind the ongoing saga
of the family to this day. His keen respect for the strip’s past, coupled with
his ability to weave tales that have a modern interest, make Gasoline Alley
so noteworthy – and enjoyable – today.
That the characters aged
along with the strip may also be a reason behind why Gasoline Alley has
endured for so long. The strip had no choice but to keep pace with the times,
thus it never ran the risk of seeming outdated. Readers of all generations had –
and still have – a correlating character in Gasoline Alley with whom they
can relate. And hopefully, many future generations will also be able to enjoy
this wonderful strip.
up with the strip, and its appeal was only getting broader.
par
par In 1951, Frank King’s assistant, Bill Perry, took over work on the Sunday strips, and in 1956, Dick Moores (who had previously worked with Disney), came in to help with the dailies. After King’s death in 1969, it was Moores who brought Skeezix’ children, Chip and Clovia, into a new decade. The Vietnam War, social upheaval, almost-marriages and more marked the early ’70s, with Moores earning the Reuben Award (the same award that King had earned in 1958) for Cartoonist of the Year in 1975. 1975 was also the year that Bill Perry retired and Moores took over the Sunday strips as well.
par
par The ’80s saw a new generation of children with Clovia’s daughter Gretchen and adopted son Rover, which made Skeezix a grandfather and Walt a great-grandfather. Another Reuben Award for Outstanding Story Strip came in 1982, and the National Cartoonists’ Society named the strip the year’s best story in 1981, 1982 and 1983. And while Moores’ death in 1986 marked the end of an era for i Gasoline Alleyi0 , it didn’t spell the end of the strip. His assistant, Jim Scancarelli took over, won yet another Reuben Award in 1989, and is behind the ongoing saga of the family to this day. His keen respect for the strip’s past, coupled with his ability to weave tales that have a modern interest, make i Gasoline Alley i0 so noteworthy - and enjoyable - today.
par
par That the characters aged along with the strip may also be a reason behind why i Gasoline Alley i0 has endured for so long. The strip had no choice but to keep pace with the times, thus it never ran the risk of seeming outdated. Readers of all generations had - and still have - a correlating character in i Gasoline Alley i0 with whom they can relate. And hopefully, many future generations will also be able to enjoy this wonderful strip. i i0
par
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par }
William Holdenb0 in 1918; television journalist b Harry Reasonerb0 in 1923; music promoter b Don Kirshnerb0 in 1934; and actress b Olivia Husseyb0 in 1951.
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par }
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