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University Daily Kansan Friday, Feb. 29, 1952
Editorials
Daily Kansan Will Start Featuring Popular Cartoon Series Monday
Beginning Monday the Daily Kansan will present the comic strip "Pogo" as a regular feature of the editorial page. We think this is one of the better strips available today, and we're pretty happy that we were able to get it.
Walt Kelly, the man who draws Pogo, is an ex-Walt Disney cartoonist whom Disney showed many tricks... one of which was the art of saunting through the studio gate when he had taken two hours for lunch.
- Kelly went to work for Disney in 1937—he knows that was the year because he still uses a 1937 calendar he lifted from Disney's studio—after spending the preceding 24 years getting through grammar and high school, and working at various odd jobs. His greatest distinction in high school was his ability to take apart a ukelele blindfolded.
Kelly worked as a reporter on the Bridgeport Front Page Flash for a few years, but left the paper shortly after a series of political cartoons he drew resulted in the election of the perennial Socialist candidate for mayor.
After he left the newspaper business Kelly worked as an inspector in the Department of Public Welfare, investigator, and clerk in an art store. He soon tired of this, however, and headed for California and Disney.
When Kelly tired of his work at the Disney studio he went to New York, and through Walt Disney he got an offer from a book printing firm to draw comic books.
Kelly was horrified at the blood-curdling stuff he found in most comic books, and decided he had better stick to juvenile work instead of the heavy adventure.
"It was impossible for me to draw a naked woman," he explains. "It was blinding work. I would no sooner have her clothes off than I would remove
my hat, out of respect. With my eyes unshaded I couldn't see what I was doing."
So Kelly's early strips featured puppies, kittens, mice, and elves.
In 1942 he conceived the idea of a strip built around the Southern swamplands. It featured a little Negro boy named Bumbazine. The side characters were rabbits, mice, squirrels, lunches, catfish, hollow logs, birds, turtles, an alligator, and a 'possum.
However, Kelly got rid of Bumbazine and chose a little 'possum called Pogo, who had been a minor character. In 1948 Kelly was signed by the Post-Hall syndicate. Since then the strip has become one of the most popular in the entire country.
You will meet some strange characters in Pogo. Of course, there is Pogo, himself, the warm-hearted little guy we all would like to think we are. Then there is Albert the Alligator, who is closer to what we think the other fellow is—full of knowledge and gusto that backfires.
Porky the Porcupine is a pessimistic realist. He sees the sour side, but underneath he has a heart of gold. Churchy LaFemme, the Turtle, is a reformed pirate captain who is having a lot of fun out of life.
Howland Owl is a pseudo-scientist—convinced he knows everything—who plunges into everything with the confidence of ignorance. Beauregard Bugleboy, a dog, is the sort of hound that always seem proud to be a canine.
They're all good-hearted characters who are always good for a laugh. We think you will enjoy them.
So, commencin' Mondayaddy we gone have that bunch 'o l'il human beans runnin' aroun' this here headytilial page. You be watchin'.
—J.W.Z.
Tightens Drinking Rules
The Interfraternity Council at Valparaiso, (Ind.), has tightened its drinking rules, to "cover any problems which might arise."
The rules prohibit the serving of any alcoholic beverages, "either directly or indirectly," at any mixed fraternity function. Punishments for violations can go as high as a $500 fine.
Commented the Valparaiso Torch:
At present there is no problem of alcohol on campus; there never has been and we hope there never will be." However, the school's enrollment has risen, and "Increase in size means increase in regulations."
short ones
YOU'LL BE SEEING HIM in the new lovable, laughable comic strip by Walt Kelly, beginning
The problem of the little red school houses disappearing has caused some persons to wonder if a similar plan couldn't be worked out to get rid of the big Red school teachers.
MONDAY IN THE Daily Kansan
Here's one person who must be looking for the good things in life. He thinks putting a wad of gum on the under side of a restaurant table is at least preferable to carving initials on the top side.
We wonder if there was anyone else besides us who took the defeated attitude after they learned the KU-K. State game was to be televised. Here we had chosen Set 2 just to be able proudly to announce "we actually saw that game." And now the whole nation can merely turn a switch and see the game. At least we'll get the college spirit standing in line for hours and then the fighting scramble for a seat. Life really is wonderful.
If the government should set up an investigation bureau to examine the current inflammable sweaters, we know one news-paperman who is ready to help as soon as possible. He expects, however, to find the same thing in sweaters as has been there for years.
Harry Truman has caused great comment on whether or not he will seek the re-election for the presidency. But we follow along with those who believe he didn't have the White House redecorated for a GOP tenant.
Our mind has been put at ease now that we know Junior in the Dick Tracy comic strip knows that Model still loves him. We will never understand, however, why he didn't board the near-empty bus Model streaked away in.
Mail subscription rates: $3 a semester or $450 a year (add $1 a semester in lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and Sundays, University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan., Post Office under act of March 3, 1879.
Better Production, Less Ads, Might Help Improve Movies
"Movies are better than ever," current slogan of the motion picture industry, has received considerable criticism. Some popcorn-eating fans have taken the producers' word for it, but others are of the opinion that more would be gained if the industry spent more money actually improving the movies instead of trying to change public opinion through advertising.
The movie producers, however, largely can refute the claim of a "cultural lag" by pointing to a long list of outstanding films released during the past year. A quick backward glance brings to mind Teresa, Fourteen Hours, All About Eve, The Red Badge of Courage, Cyrano, A Place in the Sun, A Streetcar Named Desire, Decision Before Dawn, Death of a Salesman and African Queen.
A closer look reveals that several of these were originally plays on Broadway. Thus the industry points out that it is helping to spread the successful plays to the mass by means of film. Hollywood also emphasizes that the industry is doing things never before attempted, including more filming in original settings. Product claim also that viewpoints and situations previously shunned are now being forcefully and successfully produced.
Greater effort is being made to present social problems and things of cultural value than senseless comedy and cheesecake. This, unfortunately, is only a trend which has not spread to the entire industry.
While the motion pictures seemingly are overcoming part of their "cultural lag," the current Broadway season has been in for its share of criticism—only on Broadway the theater goers are showing their dissatisfaction by staying away. Only a few musicals and plays have been successful this season, and these only moderately.
Revivals of the classics and former hits have enjoyed the most success this season. Music in the Air, a new production of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein musical of 1932, and Pal Joey, a new version of Rodgers-Hart-O'Hara musical are the most popular. Guys and Dolls and Call Me Madam are doing well, along with South Pacific, which has still a different cast, and Top Banana, a new musical starring Phil Silvers.
According to the Saturday Review of Literature, Top Banana brings back, as Peep Show didn't succeed in doing, the "rich and gusty flavor" of burlesque in its heyday.
Don Juan In Hell has been a surprisingly great success, while several "sure-fire hits" have failed miserably. Faithfully Yours, with Ann Sothern and Robert Cummings, was a comedy adaptation of Jean Bernard Luc's play, The Philemon Complex. It received a cold reception, with many saying it had too much of Hollywood, lacking only the sale of popecorn in the lobby.
Heading the moderately successful productions is Constant Wife, starring Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne. But it too is a revival. *
Broadway's current season has been depressing, but the successes seem to run in cycles, with producers hoping for a new crop next season. —Charles L. Burch.