Category: Cartooning

Joe Sinnott, from Bing to Beatles

Joltin’ Joe Sinnott’s granddaughter Erin has been posting a very enjoyable weekly series of video Q&A’s with Joe on his Facebook page. Joe’s fans and friends know that he’s a big fan of Bing Crosby, and this week’s question comes from a fellow Der Bingle fan, who’s none other than my co-conspirator in fanboy endeavors, Dennis F. Rogers.

[flv:http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Video/2012/JoeSinnottBing.flv 512 384]

Joe’s praise for Bing singing the plaintive Hang Me, Oh Hang Me makes it deserving of a listen, so here it is.

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Audio/2012/12/BingCrosby.mp3|titles=Bing Crosby – Hang Me Oh Hang Me]

I’m pleased no end that Joe Sinnott also has a connection to the Beatles, because when they came to America in 1964, Joe had the distinction of being picked to illustrate the authorized comic book of their story…

… and here’s Joe talking about drawing the Beatles. A couple of years later he would be in the thick of his legendary run with Jack Kirby on The Fantastic Four.

[flv:http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Video/2012/JoeSinnottBeatles.flv 512 384]

Charlie Brown is no turkey

Being the loyal Peanuts fan that I am, last night I watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and today I’m pleased to see that the ratings are looking good.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving delivered its biggest audience in four years — 8.1 million viewers and a 2.2 rating in the adult demo, up 22 percent from last year. Pretty spry for a 39-year-old repeat, huh?

Ziggy and Alfalfa in Paris

This is Sunday’s Ziggy from a week ago.

My father got a kick out of this, because Paris, Illinois is his hometown. Paris is a small town and he knew a kid his age named Carl Switzer, who was more commonly called Alfalfa. Carl was a real hell-raiser when he was older. My father said when they were hanging out as teenagers every other word out of Carl’s mouth was f–k, but he always had girls around him, so he was worth having as a friend. Later, my dad went in the Navy and he was sent to Japan as part of the occupation forces. Carl kept trying for parts in movies, and he had a notable bit in It’s a Wonderful Life. My dad says Carl’s death in 1959 was stupid and tragic, but not necessarily a surprise to anybody who knew him.

Dr. Horrible for President

Joss Whedon takes a secular view of the Endtimes, but he arrives at the same place as those on the religious right, who welcome its coming.

“It’s a brand new day…”

P.S. Whedon’s comment about “ungoverned corporate privilege” has some irony to it, considering that his movie The Avengers grossed more than $1.5 billion before going to video, and yet Disney-Marvel has no money for Jack Kirby, without whom the Avengers wouldn’t exist. With Whedon signing to direct the Avengers sequel, I’d like to think he can bring some pressure to bear on the studio to propose a settlement with Kirby’s family.