Spinach for tea

[happy daze john in oz]

His real name was Frank "Rocky" Fiegel. He was born in 1868 in Poland and, as a child, immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled down in a small town in Illinois. As a young man, Rocky went to sea. After a 20 year career as a sailor in the Merchant Marines, Fiegel retired. He was later hired by Wiebusch's Tavern in the city of Chester, Illinois as a ‘Bouncer’ to maintain order in the rowdy bar.

Rocky quickly developed a reputation for always being involved in fighting ( and usually winning). As a result, he had a deformed eye ("Pop-eye"). He also ‘always’ smoked his pipe, so he always spoke out of one side of his mouth. In his spare time as a Bouncer, Rocky would entertain the customers by regaling them with exciting stories of adventures he claimed to have had over his career as a sailor crossing the ‘Seven Seas.’

The creator of Popeye, Elzie Crisler Segar, grew up in Chester and, as a young man, met Rocky at the tavern and would sit for hours listening to the old sailor’s amazing ‘sea’ stories.’ Years later, Segar became a cartoonist and developed a comic strip called ‘Thimble Theater.’ He honored Fiegel by asking if he could model his new comic strip character, ‘Popeye the Sailor Man,’ after him. Naturally Fiegel was flattered and agreed.

Segar claimed that ‘Olive Oyl,’ along with other characters, was also loosely based on an actual person. She was Dora Paskel, owner of a small grocery store in Chester. She apparently actually looked much like the Olive Oyl character in his comics. He claimed she even dressed much the same way..

Through the years, Segar kept in touch with Rocky and always helped him with money; giving him a small percentage of what he earned from his ‘Popeye’ illustrations.

WHO didn't love the cartoons??? We watched them religiously... So funny, so moral... Each story had a good ending... Wonder if kids these days even KNOW who Popeye is??? Who knew he was a real man?? Awesome!!!

[Bill Morrison]

Hi John. Talking Pictures Ch. 81 UK. T.V. They have started the good old Saturday Morning Matinee again. Same format cartoon, serial and feature film. The cartoon was of course POPEYE in the first shows.
Bill

[Doc Vernon]

Sounds like the good old days Bill and of the other post about the old Bioscopes and what one could get!
Days gone by now!
I must look and see if i can get that BBC ????
cHEERS

[Keith at Tregenna]

Talking Pictures Ch. 81 is Freeview UK

K.

[happy daze john in oz]

Greta news there Bill, but some how think kit will be a bit more than six pence to get in.
Then to make matters worse no back door to sneak in by.

[John Gill]

Apparently Popeye cartoons have been banned in US as pipe smoking is considered detrimental to health and sets a bad example to any children viewing. Plus the violence between Popeye and his arch enemy and love rival Bluto could have a traumatic effect on young minds. Not to forget Olive Oyl who's image might suggest eating disorders and anorexia.

[happy daze john in oz]

>
> Every morning, the CEO of a large bank in Manhattan walks to the corner for
> a shoe shine.
> He sits in an armchair, examines the Wall Street Journal and the shoe shiner
> buffs his
> shoes to a mirror shine.
>
> One morning the shoe shiner asks the CEO: "What do you think about the
> situation in the stock market?"
>> The man answered arrogantly, "Why are you so interested in that topic?"
>> The shoe guy replies, "I have millions in your bank," he says, "and I'm
> considering investing some of the money in the capital market."
>>
>> "What's your name? " asked the executive.
>> John H. Smith was the reply.
>>
>> The CEO arrives at the bank and asks the Manager of the Customer
> Department; Do we have a client named John H. Smith? "Certainly, answers
> the Customer Service Manager, "he is a high-net-worth customer with 12.6
> million dollars in his account."
>>
>> The executive comes out, approaches the shoe shiner, and says, "Mr.
>> Smith, I would like to invite you next Monday to be the guest of honor at
> our board meeting and tell us the story of your life. I am sure we could
> learn something from your life's experience."
>>
>> At the board meeting, the CEO introduces him to the board members. "We all
> know Mr. Smith, from the corner shoeshine stand, but Mr. Smith is also an
> esteemed customer. I invited him here to tell us the story of his life. I
> am sure we can learn from him."
>>
>> Mr. Smith began his story.
>>
>> "I came to this country fifty years ago as a young immigrant from Europe
> with an unpronounceable name. I got off the ship without a penny. The first
> thing I did was change my name to Smith. I was hungry and exhausted. I
> started wandering around looking for a job but to no avail.
>
> Fortunately, I found a coin on the sidewalk. I bought an apple. I had two
> options, eat the
> apple and quench my hunger or start a business. I sold the apple for 25
> cents and bought two apples with the money. I also sold them and continued
> in business.
>
> When I started accumulating a few dollars, I was able to buy a
> set of used brushes and shoe polish and started polishing shoes. I didn't
> spend a penny on entertainment or clothing, I just bought bread and some
> cheese to survive. I saved penny by penny and after a while, I bought a new
> set of shoe brushes and polishes in different shades and expanded my
> clientele. I lived like a monk and saved penny by penny.
>
> After a while, I was able to buy an armchair so my clients could sit
> comfortably while I
> shined their shoes, and that brought me more clients. I did not spend a
> penny on the joys of life. I kept saving every cent.
>
> A few years ago, when the previous shoe shiner on the corner decided to
> retire, I had already
> saved enough money to buy his shoeshine location at this great place.
>
> Finally, 6 months ago, my sister, who was a whore in Chicago, passed away
> and left me 12.6 million dollars."