Pogo - Fantagraphics

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD by Stan Freberg • Page 1
DAILY STRIPS: 1951 • Page 3
Week of Jan. 1, 1951 ­– Solid MacHogany is off to New Orleans to play in
a jazz band and Pogo tags along. On the way, they meet up with Richard,
the piano teaching hop frog.
Week of Jan. 8, 1951 ­– Richard, the hop frog who teaches piano, teaches
Pogo all about music.
Week of Jan. 15, 1951 ­– MacHogany, Richard the hop frog and Pogo
have a jam session while Owl and Churchy play their own kind of music.
Week of Jan. 22, 1951 ­– Albert has a fight with some freeloading ants.
The Rackety Coon chile wants to know why folks are either fighting or
eating each other. Meanwhile, a carrier pigeon shows up on foot with a
message.
Week of Jan. 29, 1951 ­– The carrier pigeon discovers he’s out of a job.
Chug-Chug Curtis the mail duck shows up with sore feet. He and the
carrier pigeon strike a deal.
Week of Feb. 5, 1951 ­
– Albert is in a lather about mail written in a
foreign language. The carrier pigeon runs into Pogo with his good-smelling
letter to return for insufficient postage and an opportunity to meet the
sender ­– Miz Beaver.
Week of Feb. 12, 1951 ­– Miz Beaver claims the carrier pigeon as her
matrimonial prize. Miz Mam’selle Hepzibah demands someone duel the
pigeon to uphold the honor of the swamp.
Week of Feb. 19, 1951 ­– Howland and Churchy give Pogo a medal, then
insist Pogo practice dueling to the death.
Week of Feb. 26, 1951 ­– While Pogo (reluctantly) defends the honor of
the swamp, it turns out there’s only one individual willing to stand in for
the carrier pigeon.
Week of Mar. 5, 1951 ­– Miz Beaver successfully satisfies the honor of the
pigeon and congratulates Pogo for successfully defending her honor. On
another note, Albert’s nephew Alabaster informs his uncle and Pogo that
he aims to fly north with the birds.
Week of Mar. 12, 1951 ­– Alabaster comes upon a bat who instead of
flying north is looking for employment in the baseball biz. Alabaster rents
him temporary space in his Uncle Albert’s mouth.
Week of Mar. 19, 1951 ­
– Chug-Chug Curtis alerts Pogo to watch for
his cousin Mallard de Mer arriving by kiddie car. Mallard is to report to
the Audible Boy Bird Watchers Society. Deacon Mushrat and Mallard are
assigned to watch the Bats residing in Albert’s mouth.
Week of Mar. 26, 1951 ­
– The Bats decide to join Deacon Mushrat’s
Audible Boy Bird Watcher Society. Deacon is concerned that the bats
aren’t steeped enough in woodsy lore.
Week of Apr. 2, 1951 ­
– The Bat Bird Watchers have caused uproar
amongst the swamp’s bird community by renaming the birds as flowers.
Distracting the bats, Deacon Mushrat quizzes them on knot-tying.
Week of Apr. 9, 1951 ­– The Bats play cards as they try to remember
where they left Deacon. Seminole Sam shows up to sell the boys a lighter
that works under water. Meantime, Miz Limpkin comes upon the trussedup Deacon, but instead of freeing him charges him with egg-sitting.
Week of Apr. 16, 1951 ­– Mallard de Mer returns to tell Pogo and Albert
that Deacon is tied up and lost in the swamp. Miz Limpkin’s eggs hatch, the
children take one look at their “mom” and head for the hills. Beauregard,
using his supreme sniffer, tracks down Deacon.
Week of Apr. 23, 1951 ­– Albert and the Bats are playing cards with Miz
Limpkin’s newborn children and losing big. Mallard de Mer rides up looking
for the kids. Seminole Sam offers to trade two post-Easter fancy eggs for
Mallard’s kiddie car, so that he might fool Miz Limpkin. Miz Limpkin’s
skepticism becomes moot when Albert returns her progeny to her.
Week of Apr. 30, 1951 ­– Owl comes upon Churchy who has found a
worm with the heart of a poet. Albert challenges the worm to a poetry
competition. Pogo is somehow corralled into being Albert’s second.
Week of May 7, 1951 ­– Albert is dictating his poems to Pogo, who gets
himself fired and replaced by Houn’dog. Meanwhile, Pogo learns that the
worm is writing blank verse.
Week of May 14, 1951 ­– Houn’dog and Albert congratulate themselves
for besting the worm in the poetry contest before the contest even begins.
Seminole Sam convinces Albert to hire him as a ghost writer.
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Week of May 21, 1951 ­– The Rhyming Worm gets lost in a bait can,
Porky brings out his bagpipes, Churchy withdraws into his shell and
Albert’s ghost writer shows up with a memorable and effective verse.
Week of May 28, 1951 ­– The Rhyming Worm returns to begin the poetry
contest. Albert is confident of victory.
Week of June 4, 1951 ­– The contest suffers from a lack of judges but they
come up with a new way to evaluate poetry. Albert enters a tombstone,
burying the Rhyming Worm’s 142 entries.
Week of June 11, 1951 ­– After careful consideration, a winner is chosen
in the poetry contest... but then scandal descends on the competition. And
Churchy’s head is still stuck in his shell.
Week of June 18, 1951 ­– Howland attempts to pry Churchy’s head out
of his shell. P.T. Bridgeport strides into the swamp looking for talent.
Week of Aug. 13, 1951 ­– Waiting for Tammanany to return, the mouse,
Pup Dog and the Rackety Coon chile are having a fish fry, when the fish is
snapped up off the plate by Alcyon the Kingfisher-in-training. Tammanany
makes the acquaintance of a cow that can only meow.
Week of Aug 20, 1951 ­– The Mouse, Alcyon the Kingfisher, and his tutor
the Pigeon wait for Tammanany to return. A roadrunner appears and
takes Alcyon on as an apprentice roadrunner. Tammanany returns with
the cow to find out that the cat they have in common is actually a mouse.
Pup Dog, Ol’ Mouse and the Rackety Coon chile raft home.
Week of July 2, 1951 ­– Pogo and Owl manage to get Churchy’s head out
of his shell. This however creates additional problems.
Week of Aug. 27, 1951 ­– Concerned about the missing Pup Dog and
Rackety Coon chile who were last seen with a tiger, Albert leads Churchy
and Houn’dog on an expedition to track down and shoot Tammanany.
Meantime, the Rackety Coon chile and Pup Dog prepare some grub while
the mouse heads into the woods for more firewood. He runs into Pogo
and Porky.
Week of July 9, 1951 ­– P.T. bemoans the fate of his circus without a star
attraction ­– or any attraction. However, it turns out that the circus has
one last act ­– Tammanany, the tiger.
Week of Sept. 3, 1951 ­
– Albert, Churchy and Houn’dog continue to
pursue the tiger. When they realize that a skeleton crew is searching for
them, the Rackety Coon chile and Pup Dog agree to be found.
Week of July 16, 1951 ­– While Pogo and the Rabbit lay out a picnic,
Tammanany goes into the woods, where he has an encounter with the
Pup Dog.
Week of Sept. 10, 1951 ­– Pogo and Porky return the tads home where all
goes back to normal. Albert, Churchy and Houn’dog figure they actually
must have found Rackety, which makes them heroes.
Week of July 23, 1951 ­– P.T. presents Tammanany the tiger as a lion,
then as a zebra. But his circus fails and it is feared P.T. may do harm to
himself. He, of course, has bigger plans.
Week of Sept. 17, 1951 – Rackety tries to figure out which side is the
enemy ­– and Pogo points out that another way to see it is that both sides
are the good guys. Seminole Sam approaches Albert with the idea of selling
his memoirs and there is a discussion of leather bookbinding.
Week of June 25, 1951 ­– Everyone wants to try out for Bridgeport... but
P.T. only has eyes for the “headless” turtle.
Week of July 30, 1951 ­– P.T.’s wanderlust is cut short by the arrival of
a hatched egg. Pup Dog and the Rackety Coon chile decide it’s best to run
off now before they’re encumbered by unforeseen obligations. They join up
with Tammanany and head off as a threesome.
x
Week of Aug. 6, 1951 ­– Tammanany, Pup Dog and the Rackety Coon
chile are having a dinnertime fish fry when they meet up with a pal of the
Pup Dog ­– a mouse. Tammanany runs into Miz Beaver and asks if she
might have some extra food lying around.
Week of Sept. 24, 1951 ­– After trying his best to write and illustrate his
memoirs, Albert gives up in frustration. The Rackety Coon chile mistakes
a loose illustration from the abandoned memoir project for a treasure map.
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Week of Oct. 1, 1951 ­– Owl is bitter he didn’t think of writing a book
before Albert did. He and Chug-Chug Curtis discuss the merits of airmail
from the postman’s point of view. The World Series begins.
for soup. They go to warn Churchy. The hungry duo make it clear that if
they’re not having turtle soup, they’re having mushrat.
Week of Oct 8, 1951 ­– Churchy sings a festive song. Chug-Chug and
Owl discuss whether Chug-Chug can be fired if he was never hired in the
first place. The mouse floats by in a shoe looking for Albert who owes him
a cigar, and tells a story of his past exploits.
Week of Nov. 19, 1951 ­– Deacon claims his innocence and hides in the
Bats’ cave. The Ladies Vigilante Auxiliary is convinced of Turtle’s guilt
despite lack of evidence. Churchy has relocated to a basket under Albert’s
care. Sarcophagus and Wiley make off with the lunch basket, which now
contains Deacon. Joined by Seminole Sam, they prepare to cook him.
Week of Oct. 15, 1951 ­– Wiley Catt invites Churchy home to dinner.
Dismayed by the menu, Churchy takes off before he meets the chef,
Sarcophagus MacAbre. Chug-Chug Curtis and Pogo discuss the fact that
all the mail Chug-Chug delivers around the swamp has been written by
Churchy.
Week of Nov. 26, 1951 ­
– In a dramatic scene, Albert and Churchy
arrive at Sarcophagus’ to rescue Deacon from the roasting pan. Before
completing their mission, they enjoy some rescued samwiches. Pogo and
Houn’dog join them, the Ladies’ Auxiliary is disappointed, and the Bats
dance.
Week of Oct. 22, 1951 ­– Sarcophagus MacAbre, Wiley Catt and Seminole Sam discuss the crime of bootlegging mail and the menu. Churchy
and the mouse hide out disguised as an organ grinder and his monkey,
and Deacon Mushrat decides he must help protect public morals.
Week of Dec. 3, 1951 ­
– Albert, the hero, dresses up to call on Miz
Mam’selle Hepzibah. Churchy joins him as a rival. They’re outdone
when Porky serenades Miz Mam’selle on bagpipes. She also enjoys his
Moonshine Sonata records. Moonshine, a crooning frog, shows up in a
piano with Ol’ Mouse.
Week of Oct. 29, 1951 ­– Churchy explains to Pogo for whose benefit he
is writing letters, and Pogo hides him. Sarcophagus MacAbre and Wiley
Catt are searching for Churchy to hang him. Deacon Mushrat puts the
Bats of the Boy Bird Watchers Society to watching Churchy. Churchy
writes a birthday poem for Beauregard.
Week of Nov. 5, 1951 ­– Sarcophagus wants turtle soup but is also willing
to partake of mushrat stew. Deacon Mushrat is persuaded by this to help
find the turtle. He addresses the Ladies Auxiliary to raise a public outcry
against Turtle, who has been snuck into the meeting by Beauregard in a
bag, for the refreshments. The Bats play poker.
Week of Nov. 12, 1951 ­– Deacon presents Lucy the beautiful spy queen
in a jelly jar. Owl says the evidence is piling up against Churchy, but
Pogo states the only thing evident is Sarcophagus and Wiley Catt’s desire
Week of Dec. 10, 1951 ­– Looking for a gift to impress Mam’selle Hepzibah,
Albert and Churchy come upon Houn’dog, who offers them a rare treasure.
Albert captures Moonshine Sonata to give to Miz Mam’selle as a little
squashy pet. Moonshine demonstrates his singing, and Mam’selle finds
him delightful.
Week of Dec. 17, 1951 ­
– Christmas approaches. Pogo receives a gift
from Porky. Christmas carols including Deck Us All with Boston Charlie
and Good King Sauerkraut are rehearsed. Moonshine Sonata is critical of
the lyrics, and is driven off by a threatening Albert.
Week of Dec. 24, 1951 ­– The Christmas spirit continues to overflow the
swamp. Churchy sings, using up his leftover carols. Howland and Churchy
create a list of New Year’s resolutions for Pogo.
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DAILY STRIPS: 1952 • Page 108
Week of Dec. 31, 1952 ­
– Bun Rabbit decides to celebrate the whole
year’s worth of holidays at once, for the sake of labor efficiency.
Week of Jan. 7, 1952 ­
– Bun Rabbit continues his celebration, with
Howland and Churchy contributing a few holidays. It all gives Pogo a
headache.
Week of Jan. 14, 1952 ­– Howland, Churchy and Bun Rabbit argue as to
whether it’s January or September, and they go to Pogo to settle it. Pogo
sides with the January team. A conciliatory serenade from Churchy fails
to smooth the outvoted Owl’s ruffled feathers.
Week of Jan. 21, 1952 ­– The offended Owl enlists Pogo to fight Churchy
on his behalf, but his fury causes him to lose his voice. Albert’s attempted
cure gives him the hiccups.
Week of Jan. 28, 1952 ­– The foursome heads to the Groun’hog’s cave to
check a calendar, but he has been celebrating all winter and is just now
coming home to get some sleep, so there’s no telling when he’s going to
look for his shadow.
Week of Feb. 4, 1952 ­
– Election fever dawns, and Deacon Mushrat
is coming up with slogans. Albert and Howland unveil their latest
invention ­– a mechanical “human bean” made from a clock.
Week of Feb. 11, 1952 ­– Tammanany joins the political fray. Owl figures
their machine could push Albert (handicapped by his failure to have been
born in a log cabin) over the top. Albert’s attempt at kissing babies results
in his being accused of swallowing a tadpole.
Week of Feb. 18, 1952 ­– Pogo runs to the fire department for a stomach
pump. The newly exonerated but miffed Albert returns to his mechanicalhuman project.
Week of Feb. 25, 1952 ­– Owl suggests a more efficient option: simply
building a mechanical candidate. Porky offers Howland his gran’daddy
clock ­– but its rabbit cuckoo goes on strike for shorter hours, causing
Howland to quit in turn.
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Week of Mar. 3, 1952 ­
– The Bat Bird Watchers are outraged at the
request that they help find a new cuckoo, then mollified by talk of a
reward. Pogo continues the search with the Houn’dog and they meet up
with an actual cuckoo bird. However, he’s an American cuckoo, and they
don’t say “cuckoo.”
Week of Mar. 10, 1952 ­
– The cuckoo’s attempts at saying “cuckoo”
leave him with a sore throat. Churchy offers to step in vocally. Pogo offers
Churchy and the cuckoo bird as the inner works for the gran’daddy clock.
But the still-picketing Bun Rabbit has lost its key.
Week of Mar. 17, 1952 ­
– A plan to burn the clock and sift through
the ashes to find the key is stymied when the fire department shows up
preemptively. Bun Rabbit goes off to supervise the White House lawn
Easter egg roll.
Week of Mar. 24, 1952 ­– No sooner has Albert finished his mechanical
voting human bean than it runs off. The Bats take the errant robot to
Pogo’s house, teach him to play cards, and lose their pants to him.
Week of Mar. 31, 1952 ­– The Bat Bird Watchers’ state of undress causes
their leader Miz Beaver to faint. Albert offers to slip into uniform and lead
a field trip. His uniform consists of a stovepipe hat that a stork promptly
claims as her chimney.
Week of Apr. 7, 1952 ­– Porky tries to help out by putting his hat on top
of Albert’s head to protect him from any errant stork eggs. The Bats use
the cover of darkness to steal their pants back.
Week of Apr. 14, 1952 ­– The stork on Albert’s stovepipe hat lays an egg
and takes off, leaving Albert in loco parentis. The Cowbirds, masquerading
as doves, select Albert’s hat for their own nest.
Week of Apr. 21, 1952 ­– Albert leaves Miz Stork’s eggs in the care of
the Cowbirds, who promptly fry them up. Oblivious, he assures
the worried Miz Stork that a couple of doves are watching her eggs.
In the meantime, Tammanany decides Pogo should run for the
Presidency.
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Week of Apr. 28, 1952 ­– P.T. Bridgeport decides to run the reluctant
Pogo’s campaign. Miz Stork is horrified to realize that Cowbirds now
inhabit her nest. P.T. advises Pogo never to have a controversial opinion.
Week of May 5, 1952 ­– P.T. Bridgeport and Tammanany worry that Pogo
has hurt his candidacy by becoming mixed up with Cowbirds. P.T. offers
to speak up for Pogo’s character, but is hit in the mouth by a couple of
cowbird eggs.
Week of May 12, 1952 ­– Chug-Chug Curtis has what he thinks is a big
bag of money to deliver to P.T. Bridgeport. Owl decides to help with the
delivery, in hopes of perhaps getting some. P.T. is happy to offer up as
many “I Go Pogo” campaign buttons as Howland would like.
Week of May 19, 1952 ­– P.T. Bridgeport is writing Pogo a speech and
arranging for Howland to make a speech on his behalf, while Churchy has
written a campaign song. The Cowbirds take up residence in Pogo’s home.
Week of May 26, 1952 ­– Tammanany leaves a bag of campaign buttons
on Pogo’s doorstep, which the Cowbirds attempt to cook. Albert joins
Pogo’s team as his military aide, and the two head for Pogo’s house, where
they sample the campaign button stew.
Week of June 2, 1952 ­– Boll Weevil pollsters are taking the pulse of the
swamp. Porky and Deacon are both sporting “I Go Pogo” buttons, although
Deacon is wary of anyone that consorts with cowbirds. Even threatening
to burn his own house down doesn’t rid Pogo of the Cowbirds ­– it takes
Porky Pine to evict them.
Week of June 9, 1952 ­
– While Albert writes a speech, the Rackety
Coon chile comes over for more “I Go Pogo” buttons to use as fish lures.
Houn’dog helps Churchy rhyme his latest campaign song. Beauregard is
convinced Pogo’s campaign will be helped by pictures of the candidate with
the noble dog.
Week of June 16, 1952 ­– P.T. Bridgeport shows Pogo the proper way
to throw one’s hat in the ring, Churchy helps Pogo pack for his trip to
Chicago for the convention, and Howland gives Pogo advice on how to win
the nominations of both parties.
Week of June 23, 1952 ­– More politics. Porky and Pogo’s offer of a plank
from Pogo’s porch is rejected. Churchy is writing yet another campaign
song, and Beauregard and Howland are preparing promises for Pogo to
make. Meanwhile, Albert has brought a portable smoke filled room to ride
to Chicago.
Week of June 30, 1952 ­
– The portable smoke filled room makes its
way down the swamp, having forgotten only one thing ­– the candidate.
Finding himself alone in the swamp with Miz Mam’selle Hepzibah, Pogo
decides to join them after all.
Week of July 7, 1952 ­
– Everyone in the portable smoke filled room
realizes they forgot the candidate. Pulling up alongside a broken-down
Chicago railroad car, they discover a convention is going on inside ­– for
mice only. Back at the swamp, Miz Mam’selle sets her sights on Porky.
Week of July 14, 1952 ­– A fleeing Porky runs into Pogo, who’s on his
way home ­– until Porky informs him that Miz Mam’selle is still alone in
the swamp. Both head back in the direction of Chicago. Meanwhile, Albert
is called upon to speak as Pogo’s military aide at the mouse convention.
Week of July 21, 1952 ­– The mice have picked Houn’dog to deliver the
keynote address, based on a shared hatred of cats. The Cowbirds attempt
to infiltrate the mouse convention. Albert locks a rump convention from
the hall that opposes the candidate in his smoke filled room.
Week of July 28, 1952 ­
– Pogo and Porky are slowly journeying back
home, unaware that Pogo has been successfully nominated. Howland
proposes marriage to Miz Mam’selle Hepzibah, but ends up in a wash
bucket full of starch when she learns that it’s only on Pogo’s behalf.
Week of Aug. 4, 1952 ­– Churchy invites Miz Mam’selle to join Pogo’s
welcoming committee, to sort out their romance. Owl, starched in an
uncomfortable pose, opines that Miz Mam’selle will make a fine First Lady.
Week of Aug. 11, 1952 ­– Porky and Pogo make the acquaintance of a
couple of bugs as they wend their way home.
Week of Aug. 18, 1952 ­– Churchy attempts to read a book written in
French about how to take the starch out of Howland. Miz Mam’selle finds
a recipe for hot tea, with the same goal in mind. Pogo and Porky arrive,
having completely missed the welcoming committee.
Week of Aug. 25, 1952 ­– Despite Miz Mam’selle’s refusal to commit to
marrying Pogo, wedding plans are proceeding. As the squirrels cook up a
pot of per-loo for the wedding, Pogo and Porky make their way home.
Week of Sept. 1, 1952 ­
– As Pogo helps Miz Mam’selle put up her
clothesline, he asks her who she’s going to marry. He finds out, and a
pursuit results. P.T. Bridgeport and Albert come up with a name for Pogo’s
party. Pogo has had enough all this, and packs to leave.
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Week of Sept. 8, 1952 ­– Pogo has decided to become an orphan gal and
has invited Beauregard to join him. The two begin their career as Li’l Arf
and Nonny. The Cowbirds have sworn off being cowbirds in order to join
up with the Bats. But the Bats want nothing to do with the Cowbirds.
Week of Sept. 15, 1952 ­– The disbelieving Bats go to Pogo’s house to
verify that Pogo has run off. Sure enough, no one’s home.
Week of Sept. 22, 1952 ­– Li’l Arf and Nonny’s blanked-out eyes impede
the duo’s sight, and so Pogo falls into the water. Beauregard attempts a
rescue, unsuccessfully.
Week of Sept. 29, 1952 ­– Miz Mam’selle gets one of the Bats to play in
the swamp’s World Series, until the ball is lost.
Week of Oct. 6, 1952 ­– Pogo and Houn’dog, as Li’l Arf and Nonny, run
into the Bull Moose, an out-of-work presidential candidate. A political
discussion ensues.
Week of Oct. 13, 1952 ­– Albert and the Bats break into Pogo’s house
to secure the supplies necessary to find and rescue him. The Mouse and
Albert figure the way to rescue Pogo is to disguise themselves as millionaire
F. Olding Munny and his Magical Mahout El Fakir.
Week of Oct. 20, 1952 ­– Since the Bull Moose is looking to be a candidate
and Pogo doesn’t want to be one, Pogo and Houn’dog suggest he go to the
swamp and pretend to be Pogo. Coincidentally, F. Olding Munny fears that
someone pretending to be Pogo may try to take advantage of his riches.
Week of Oct. 27, 1952 ­– Porky tells Pogo that the Cowbirds think he is
afraid to run for office, and Pogo admits they could be right. The Cowbirds,
pleased at having caused such a stir in the swamp, head to Pogo’s house
to “share” his grub ­– only to discover Pogo home.
Week of Nov. 3, 1952 ­– As the election approaches, Pogo rejects P.T.
Bridgeport’s speech and simply urges his fellow swamp denizens to vote
for the candidate of their choice. He loses. Porky decides he’ll visit his
Uncle Baldwin. Meanwhile, another porkypine has come to the swamp.
Week of Nov. 10, 1952 ­– While the swamp critters try to figure out what
to do about the troublesome new porkypine, he comes face to face with
Porky ­– and he is indeed a dead ringer.
xiv
Week of Nov. 17, 1952 ­– One porkypine packs a bag and invites the
other to leave ­– but which is who? The porkypine steals a kiss from Miz
Mam’selle Hepzibah right under Houn’dog’s nose.
Week of Nov. 24, 1952 ­– Porky isn’t sure that other fellow is him or he
is himself, but he does know that two porkypines is a crowd, and he walks
away, into the rain. A worried Pogo heads off to find him, accompanied by
Albert wielding an umbrella.
Week of Dec. 1, 1952 ­
– Pogo and Albert still aren’t sure that the
porkypine that went off on his own is their friend, but Pogo figures anyone
they find in the rain is worth saving. Willow McWisper, a local firefly, joins
their search.
Week of Dec. 8, 1952 ­– Willow McWisper leads Pogo and Albert speedily
through the swamp ­– right past a porkypine and beyond.
Week of Dec. 15, 1952 ­
– Back home, Churchy begins to practice
Christmas carols. Willow McWisper shines his light on what he thinks is a
monster ­– but it’s just Porky, and Pogo is delighted to see him.
Dec. 22, 1952 through Dec. 31, 1952 ­– There is dissension among the
carolers on the subject of lyrics. Porky, Pogo and Albert return home.
Merry Christmas to all!
SUNDAY PAGES 1951 • Page 217
Jan. 7, 1951 ­– Pogo attempts to give Pup Dog a bath, while Howland Owl
determines to prove he’s a flying sorcerer.
Jan. 14, 1951 ­– Owl insists being a flying sorcerer will bring riches. Pogo
just wants a fish dinner.
Jan. 21, 1951 ­– Howland’s continued attempts at flying do not dissuade
him from believing he’s a flying sorcerer. Meanwhile, Pogo battles a bird
for possession of a cake.
Jan. 28, 1951 ­– Flying sorcerer Owl invites Churchy to join him on a
journey to Mars.
Feb. 4, 1951 ­– Churchy and Owl go to the dump to find parts with which
to build a flying saucer.
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Feb. 11, 1951 ­– Owl encounters a problem when he attempts to build a
flying saucer that will take him to Mars. The trip is put in limbo as he tries
to figure out how to get back down.
Feb. 18, 1951 ­– After Howland’s first flying saucer sinks in the lagoon, he
and Churchy fill a bag with birds and insects to try again.
Feb. 25, 1951 ­– Churchy is carried off by the bag of birds and insects. Owl
determines that the only way to save Churchy is to shoot him down.
Mar. 4, 1951 ­– All flights to Mars are cancelled as Easter is coming. But
Cassidy the natural born bunny is going to Australia to avoid the whole
rigmarole.
Mar. 11, 1951 ­– Although Albert is confident that he could take over the
solemn duties of the Easter Bunny, he opts instead to a find a replacement
bunny for Cassidy.
Mar. 18, 1951 ­– The Swamp children are prepared to march on Washington
to protest Albert taking over as the Easter Bunny.
Mar. 25, 1951 ­– Eggs fly freely as substitute Easter Bunnies Albert and
the Bear chase the Swamp children right to a fish fry attended by the real
Easter Bunny.
Apr. 1, 1951 ­– Pogo volunteers Albert to read a story to the Swamp tads.
Alas, Albert has a problem which puts a serious crimp in his reading.
Apr. 8, 1951 ­– In lieu of reading a story to the Swamp children, Albert
offers to act out the story of Goldie Lox and the Four Bears.
Apr. 15, 1951 ­– While the Swamp children get into bear costumes, Albert,
as Goldie Lox, traipses off to his gran’ma’s house.
Apr. 22, 1951 ­– Albert, as Goldie Lox, is convinced that the real bear cub
is just one of his costumed nephews. He follows the cub home to find an
entire family of bears. His request to Papa bear to produce his “four bears”
is homonymically misunderstood.
bones Churchy loaned him. Owl insists that one (an umbrella skeleton) is
really a pterodactyl skeleton.
May 20, 1951 ­– Albert, as Goldie Lox, continues to act out the story by
making soup ­– using his own self as the soup pot.
May 27, 1951 ­– Papa Bear and Albert argue about the proper recipe to use
for pterodactyl skeletons or umbrellas.
June 3, 1951 ­– Albert and Papa Bear argue over the last samwich. While
they go off to get a knife to cut the samwich in half, the Swamp tads, as
cowboys, liberate it.
June 10, 1951 ­– At the Swamp tads’ urgent urging, Pogo and Churchy
rush off to stop Albert and Papa Bear from dueling with swords.
June 17, 1951 ­– Once the picnic is over, Albert and Papa Bear resume
their feud.
June 24, 1951 ­– Albert recruits Pogo to be on his side in his feud with
Papa Bear. Military uniforms are worn.
July 1, 1951 ­– The feud betwixt Albert and the Bear escalates to weaponry.
July 8, 1951 ­– Albert is still stuck in the Bear’s cannon, putting the feud
on temporary hold. Owl figures several ways to extricate Albert from the
cannon, but Pogo nixes them all.
July 15, 1951 ­– Alabaster and the Rackety Coon chile are toting a basket
of laundry when they spy a locomotive. Albert spies the huge lunch basket
the Swamp tads are lugging.
July 22, 1951 ­– The Swamp children figure the locomotive is part of a
circus train. This reminds Albert of his days as a circus Strong Man. He is
determined to prove his muscular prowess to the dubious tads.
July 29, 1951 ­– Pogo tells Albert he must eat the right kind of food to build
his muscles. Albert is prepared to eat anything Pogo is willing to prepare.
Apr. 29, 1951 ­– The Swamp children (in bear costumes) come upon a glum
Papa Bear, who is attempting to dig up his forebears for Albert. Meanwhile,
Albert, as Goldie Lox, is certain that the real bears are his nephews.
Aug. 5, 1951 ­
– Albert looks for recipes in a Mother Goose book. Pogo
suggests he might have more success with a recipe book. As usual, Albert
knows better!
May 6, 1951 ­– Pogo and Churchy come upon Papa Bear. Churchy offers
the bear an assortment of soup bones to pass off as his forebears.
Aug. 12, 1951 ­– The result of Albert’s Mother Goose recipe gets stuck on
Albert’s head. Pogo and Owl attempt to unglook Albert. Howland becomes
glooked to Albert.
May 13, 1951 ­– Howland comes upon Papa Bear with the ancestor soup
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Aug. 19, 1951 ­– Pogo takes Albert and Howland to Dr. Seminole Sam for
a professional consultation. After much scientific surveying of the scenario
Sam has an opinion…
Man from Mars ­
– right into Churchy’s soon to be chicken dinner. The
teapot flies off Owl’s head and lands on the chicken dinner.
Aug. 26, 1951 ­– Dr. Seminole Sam has Pogo concoct a medicinal remedy
to get Owl off Albert’s head. Churchy shows up, a newly minted doctor, with
his own remedy. Howland is the recipient of all the cures. Nobody is cured.
Nov. 4, 1951 ­– Pogo and Churchy inspect the remains of the Man from
Mars ­– a teapot atop Churchy’s chicken dinner. It is decided that he must
be returned home to Mars. When Albert brags about a delicious chicken
dinner he found, Pogo accuses Albert of eating the Man from Mars.
Sept. 2, 1951 ­– Drs. Seminole Sam and Churchy La Femme consult on
the best way to remove Howland from Albert’s head. In lieu of the best way
they try one of the worse ones. Owl and Albert are still stuck on each other.
Nov. 11, 1951 ­– Pogo insists Albert’s chicken dinner was the Man from
Mars. Now they must fly to Mars to return the remains. The rocket takes
off, ahead of schedule.
Sept. 9, 1951 ­– Since no one else has succeeded in prying them apart,
Albert and Howland decide to do it themselves. Albert isn’t so keen on
participating ’til Houn’dog’s rifle accidentally goes off. Owl and Albert come
to a parting of the ways.
Nov. 18, 1951 ­– Albert reports to Owl that Pogo and Churchy are flying the
Man from Mars’ remains home. Churchy and Pogo crash-land on a chicken
farm that they are certain is Mars… and therefore the chickens, Martians.
Sept. 16, 1951 ­
– Houn’dog is tracking Owl, who was separated from
Albert and flung clear out of the Swamp. Pogo follows with a lawn mower.
Houn’dog takes over the helm and goes Sunday driving right into the Bunny
family’s annual fry.
Sept. 23, 1951 ­– Rackety Coon chile and Alabaster discuss Owl’s vanishing
with the Worm chile. Porky Pine shows up with a telescope to teach the tads
about heavenly bodies. Instead, they see Owl’s unheavenly body crashing
back to earth in the Swamp dump.
Sept. 30, 1951 ­– Porky Pine and the Swamp tads mistake Howland for a
Martian because Owl has a teapot on his head bone from when he crashed
into the dump.
Oct. 7, 1951 ­– Porky Pine and the swamp children continue to think Owl
is a Martian. Conversing with him in his native tongue, they discover that
Martians only eat ice cream. No one knows what flavor.
Oct. 14, 1951 ­– Pogo brings his ice cream freezer to feed the Man from
Mars. A mouse gets in the ice cream and Pogo shoos him away. If nothing
else, Pogo is pretty sure “mouse” is no one’s favorite flavor.
Oct. 21, 1951 ­– Porky feels that ice cream might be too cold for the Man
from Mars. The Rackety Coon chile offers to warm the ice cream with
pepper. Naturally, he trips. Pepper flies.
Oct. 28, 1951 ­– Porky, Pogo and the Rackety Coon chile chase Owl ­– the
xvi
Nov. 25, 1951 ­
– Churchy attempts to make friends with the chicken
Martians ­
– but he is attacked and he retreats into his shell. A rooster
Martian finds him and presents him to a chicken Martian, who promptly
sits on the turtle.
Dec. 2, 1951 ­– Pogo finds enough parts to disguise himself as a chicken
Martian. But he is waylaid by an amorous chicken and escorted to a chicken
feed dinner. Churchy remains an unrescued, unhatched egg.
Dec. 9, 1951 ­– Albert is devastated about Pogo and Churchy being lost and
gone forever on Mars. Houn’dog suggests they check out Pogo’s house for
possible mementos and snacks. Meanwhile, Churchy pretends to hatch and
Pogo, still disguised as a chicken Martian, rescues him. Martians pursue
them with an axe to fully hatch Churchy from his shell.
Dec. 16, 1951 ­
– Albert, Houn’dog and Owl raid Pogo’s home for edible
mementos. Meanwhile, the remaining chicken Martian pursuer gives
up upon reaching water. Pogo and Churchy note the familiarity of their
surroundings and realize they aren’t on Mars at all!
Dec. 23, 1951 ­
– Pogo returns home with Churchy to discover Albert,
Houn’dog and Owl eating his grub out of respect for his memory. Except he
isn’t a memory yet ­– and a good thing too, because it’s Christmas!
Dec. 30, 1951 ­– Pogo and Albert are writing New Year’s resolutions. Albert’s
resolutions are still untouched from the previous year, so he doesn’t think
he has to do anything. Pogo’s suggestion that Albert resolve to control his
temper in 1952 drives him into a fury.
Table of Contents
SUNDAY PAGES 1952 • Page 269
Jan. 6, 1952 ­– Uncle Albert tells a story to his nephews, beginning the
stirring tale of Handle and Gristle with their kindly Pa and mean Step Ma.
Jan. 13, 1952 ­
– The story of Handle and Gristle unfolds. After some
argument, kindly Pa and mean Step Ma carry Handle and Gristle into the
woods where they abandon them.
Jan. 20, 1952 ­– Handle and Gristle (Pogo and Churchy) are in the woods
cooking up a mounted fish. The fish catches fire. They fear they will starve
until they come upon a house made of cakes and puddings and raisins.
Jan. 27, 1952 ­– The story continues. Albert does not include the witch in
his Handle and Gristle tale as the last time he told the story the witch ate
the poor children. He adds a dragon instead.
Feb. 3, 1952 ­– With most of his audience escaped, Albert carries on. The
story of Handle and Gristle continues with the addition of the dragon. The
dragon commences to eat Handle’s hat.
Feb. 10, 1952 ­– Pogo listens heroically as Albert continues his tale. The
dragon and Handle exchange apologies ­
– the dragon for trying to eat
Handle; Handle for tasting bad. As an alternative to starving, the dragon
offers a bologna.
Feb. 17, 1952 ­– Handle, Gristle and the dragon find a liver and onions
recipe for the bologna, but need a fire to cook it. The dragon humbly offers
his own volcanic depths.
Feb. 24, 1952 ­– As the saga rolls along the dragon confesses to eating the
bologna. The confessions don’t end there… he tells Handle and Gristle that
a witch cast a spell on him and he is really a princess.
Mar. 2, 1952 ­– The dragon claims to be Princess Goldilocks working for
the three bears. As proof he opens a cupboard to reveal three bears (mice).
Handle and Gristle have doubts about these new story twists.
Mar. 9, 1952 ­– Owl shows up as a Furry Godmomma. The three bears
exclaim that she can break the spell on the dragon. The Furry Godmomma
sends the mice out for a pumpkin.
Mar. 16, 1952 ­– Albert makes Pogo a captive audience to his story. The
dragon returns. The Furry Godmomma starts her magic spell which involves
a pineapple, gravy, salt and pepper and a hot pan.
Mar. 23, 1952 ­– Albert can’t remember where in the story he left Handle
and Gristle. Pogo does not understand the plot. Fighting words are
exchanged. Lunchtime intervenes.
Mar. 30, 1952 ­– Pogo insists that Albert finish the story of Handle and
Gristle. Albert can’t recall how it ends. He presents Churchy with a cake.
Apr. 6, 1952 ­– Pogo joins the Swamp kids who are using Pup Dog to track
down the Easter Bunny. Soon, Pup Dog finds a couple of possible bunnies.
Apr. 13, 1952 ­– The kids starch Beauregard’s ears to transform him into a
rabbit, but the real Easter Bunny shows up just in time to take over. Happy
Easter!
Apr. 20, 1952 ­
– The Ground Hog wakes up too late to help out with
Christmas and Easter. He and Pogo discuss holidays.
Apr. 27, 1952 ­– Owl finds a pair of pliers and looks forward to a career in
dentistry. He offers to pull all Churchy’s teeth.
May 4, 1952 ­– Howland proceeds with his career. Churchy offers to join
as a fellow doctor. They find a set of false teeth. Churchy spots a potential
patient minding his own business.
May 11, 1952 ­– Taking the opportunity to advance their dental career,
Howland convinces Churchy to fit the sleeping bear with a set of teeth.
May 18, 1952 ­– The bear is distressed by his new teeth. Owl, assuming
that the bear has eaten Churchy, gets Albert to help extricate the turtle.
May 25, 1952 ­– Albert convinces dentists Howland and Churchy they’ve
put a bear trap into the bear’s mouth instead of false teeth. Churchy and
Owl remove the trap, which Albert accidently swallows.
June 1, 1952 ­
– As the bear trap is now inside Albert, Howland and
Churchy discuss surgery to allow them to work on the swallowed “teeth.” A
couple of mice are sent in to drill the “teeth.” The mice find treasure.
June 8, 1952 ­
– Doc Owl butters Turtle so he can slide down Albert’s
throat. When Churchy proves too tasty, Owl enlists the aid of a duck child.
He is not more successful.
June 15, 1952 ­– Doc Owl has tied the chain of the bear trap that Albert
swallowed to a cannon ball. The fire department rushes in. There is
discussion on how to proceed, and an informative footnote.
June 22, 1952 ­– Porky Pine and his nephew Barberry arrive on the scene
as Doc Owl and the bear attempt to remove the fire department from Albert’s
interior. Barberry is sent in.
June 29, 1952 ­
– Kimbo Catt is recruited to flatten Albert with a lawn
roller, extruding the bear trap and critters. Albert escapes flattening. Miz
Beaver’s laundry is ironed.
July 6, 1952 ­
– A revolutionary-type duck offers a solution ­
– to blow
the critters and the bear trap out of Albert with a bomb! Clearer heads
prevail ­– until Albert mistakes the bomb for licorice.
July 13, 1952 ­
– A rabbit spreads the news of the bomb that exploded
inside Albert, rousting everyone out. Even Albert was unhurt. The rabbit’s
demonstration goes unappreciated.
July 20, 1952 ­– The Swamp children bring a box of dental tools as well as
a new patient for Doc Owl. A musical saw is missing teeth. Howland builds
the saw a bridge.
July 27, 1952 ­– Doc Owl comes up with a brainstorm. Make a dental tool
home kit for people to fix their own teeth. He needs someone to try it. Albert
is swayed by flattery.
Aug. 3, 1952 ­– Doc Owl and Churchy pitch the Jiffy Home Dentistry Kit to
Albert. Albert enthusiastically decides to give it a try.
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Aug. 10, 1952 ­
– Pogo waggles his finger playfully in Grundoon’s face.
Grundoon bites Pogo’s finger. Pogo tries to demonstrate to Miz Groun’chuck,
the tad’s ma, what happened.
Nov. 2, 1952 ­– Pogo can’t go to Mars with Churchy because Grundoon has
him by the tail. Churchy’s got a pair of clippers and offers to remove Pogo’s
tail to detach the child.
Aug. 17, 1952 ­
– Pogo warns Churchy about the biting habits of the
groun’chuck tad, Grundoon. But Churchy is unafraid!
Nov. 9, 1952 ­– Churchy states that he got Grundoon to let go of his tail by
telling the tad he was off to Mars. But Grundoon is tenacious.
Aug. 24, 1952 ­– In a strip without words, Churchy goes after a grasshopper
with a butterfly net.
Nov. 16, 1952 ­– Churchy is dragging Grundoon behind him, clamped to
his tail, but will not be deterred from flying to Mars. Having added two geese
to the washtub, Churchy invites Pogo up for a trial flight.
Aug. 31, 1952 ­– Houn’dog successfully tricks Pup Dog out of his bone.
Sept. 7, 1952 ­– Ol’ Ears the rabbit goes to visit Albert. The tea party goes
awry.
Sept. 14, 1952 ­– Albert’s great idea to benefit mankind is to start a gold
mine. All the stuff he needs to equip the expedition can found in Pogo’s
house.
Sept. 21, 1952 ­– Howland and Churchy watch as Albert’s search for gold
causes dirt to pour out of Pogo’s house. They decide Pogo needs a pair of
dirt plumbers to plug up the leak.
Sept. 28, 1952 ­– Pogo comes upon Churchy watching the stars through
his telescope. They need watchin’. Churchy also has a space ship that he’s
happy to show Pogo.
Oct. 5, 1952 ­– In a wordless strip, Churchy fishes.
Oct. 12, 1952 ­
– Churchy writes memoirs of his trip to Mars before
departure ­– in case he can’t return to write them. Midway in the narrative,
he finds he’s trapped on Mars and will starve. Pogo, reading the memoirs,
helps Churchy find food.
Oct. 19, 1952 ­– Convinced he can sail off the end of the world into space,
Churchy invites Pogo to go to Mars with him. Howland advises him. Pogo
argues with their theory.
Oct. 26, 1952 ­– Owl digs for a square root to prove to Pogo that the world
is square. Pogo, knowing it’s round, walks away. Taking affront, Owl throws
in the shovel and goes home with Churchy.
xviii
Nov. 23, 1952 ­– Pogo, Churchy and Grundoon fly off in the tub powered
by two geese flying north. When one goose decides not to contribute to the
flying, the geese argue in midair and both go on strike.
Nov. 30, 1952 ­
– Without power, the washtub-rocket crashes into the
swamp. Churchy and Grundoon pull Pogo to safety and race off to get help.
Pogo is lying unconscious when a tribe of little backwoods men come upon
him.
Dec. 7, 1952 ­– While Pogo is unconscious, the little men try to figure what
he is and discuss what to do with him.
Dec. 14, 1952 ­– The group of little men start off, dragging an unconscious
Pogo by his tail. They speak a unique dialect. Pogo comes to and tries
sneaking off. The men give chase, shouting that they intend to have Pogo
for Christmas dinner.
Dec. 21, 1952 ­– The little men explain that they want Pogo for Christmas
dinner ­– as their guest. Merry Christmas to all!
Dec. 28, 1952 ­– Pogo is shown the backwoods men’s Fountains of Age and
Youth. 1953 is just around the corner. Happy New Year!
SWAMP TALK by R.C. Harvey • Page 323
WALT KELLY BIO • Page 335
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Page 337
DAILY STRIPS
FPO
Daily Strips
4
january 1-6, 1951
5
Daily Strips
6
january 8-13, 1951
7
Daily Strips
8
january 15-20, 1951
9
Daily Strips
10
january 22-27, 1951
11
Daily Strips
12
january 29-February 3, 1951
13
Daily Strips
14
February 5-10, 1951
15
Daily Strips
16
February 12-17, 1951
17
Daily Strips
18
February 19-24, 1951
19
SUNDAY FUNNIES
Sunday, january 7, 1951
217
Sunday, january 14, 1951
218
Sunday, january 21, 1951
219
Sunday, january 28, 1951
220