Big Apple Con — Soupy Sales

Along with Morty Gunty and Chuck McCann, a favorite NY TV host of mine when I was a kid was Soupy Sales. Soupy was at the Big Apple Con, and sadly he’s obviously not the man he was. Although Soupy can no longer speak, he understands everything and he still communicates very well. I was happy to be able to express my appreciation. Here’s a picture of my buddy Dennis with Soupy.

Dennis Rogers with Soupy Sales

I’ve customized a YouTube player with a more-or-less complete show from 1965, at the peak of his run in New York. God Bless You, Soupy Sales!

 

PETition Reminder!

Hey, all of you British natives, nationals, and residents! Richard Harries has written to remind me, to remind you, to please sign the PETition to have Petula Clark promoted from MBE to full-fledged Dame! I will be very petulant if there aren’t at least 1000 signatories on the form before the March 12 deadline. I may have a Brit name, but I’m a Yank, so I can’t sign, but as Rich points out, “US citizens (and other non Brits ) can sign if they have a UK address. Sheila Ferguson of the Three Degrees signed on that basis!” So there you have it.

Go to THIS LINK NOW and add your name to those who have already signed. In thanks for your participation in this worthy cause, here is a very special and personal song by Pet.

[flv:/Video/NOV07/PetLive.flv 400 300]

Bob Andelman, Mr. Media

Bob Andelman, aka Mr. Media, makes a comment on one of my posts about Monte Schulz, at this link. Andelman has posted an audio interview with David Michaelis, the author of the controversial book Schulz and Peanuts.

I’m going to do something I don’t normally do, and that’s hotlink to Mr. Andelman’s MP3 file. I think he should give streaming audio a try, and this is my way of nudging him in that direction. I would also suggest editing the properties of the MP3 files to include an artist and title, so the player could display something like “Mr. Media” and “David Michaelis Interview.” First, the David Michaelis interview…

[audio:http://www.andelman.com/mrmedia-pod/MM-DavidMichaelis101707.mp3]

I recommend listening to what Michaelis has to say, but as I’ve said before, while reading the book I’ve come around to an understanding what Monte and his sisters Amy and Jill are getting at in their criticism of Michaelis’ analysis of Charles M. Schulz as a man and as a father.

I’m very pleased to see that Andelman has also posted an interview with none other than Joe Sinnott, who I saw in New York a week ago. Thanks very much for this, Bob!

[audio:http://www.andelman.com/mrmedia-pod/MM-JoeSinnott071007.mp3]

Big Apple Con — Marvel Comics Panel

Mark Evanier comments at this link on a panel he moderated at the Big Apple Con last weekend. Hey, I recognize that photo! My best friend Dennis took it, and Evanier gives him credit for it. Here’s another version. Refer to Mark’s post for the names.

Big Apple Con - Marvel Comics Panel

I could have listened to these guys talk all day! Dick Ayers told some great stories from WW2, and it was fascinating hearing these talented pros delve into their past as comic book creators, when they were all sitting at home drawing and writing, working as freelancers, yet bonded together in the minds of fans by Stan Lee’s insistent descriptions of Bullpen camaraderie.

The PA system at the hotel was, to say the least, inadequate. I hate — emphasize HATE — technical problems such as these. Evanier complained, and the A/V boy in me sprang into action, doing the best I could to make the audio sound as good as possible.

Sgt. Fury 1970 AnnualGary Friedrich wrote many issues of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, as well as the 70’s version of Ghost Rider that was turned into a movie earlier this year that I didn’t much care for, as I stated here. During the Q&A portion of the panel I made a point of telling Gary that he helped me think through my opposition to the Vietnam War when I was 14. I cited the Sgt. Fury summer double issue from 1969, but it was actually the 1970 annual special. Click the thumbnail picture to see the particular page I was thinking of.

Mallard Fillmore Gets It Wrong Again

One of the worst comic strips I know of is Mallard Fillmore, by Bruce Tinsley. The Mallard character is like Howard the Duck, except he’s a neo-con. Mallard Fillmore is amusing to me only when Tinsley says something so inanely misinformed or misleading that I laugh at his idiocy. An excellent example is the installment from a few days ago, about Stephen Colbert.

Mallard Fillmore, 19Nov2007

I saw Stephen Colbert last week in New York, and he certainly had no difficulty being funny and entertaining, entirely on his own. Colbert is as much a writer as he is a performer, with improvisation and ad-libbing being what he does best! I don’t know if Tinsley doesn’t know this, or if he’s deliberately trying to create a false impression, but once again he has proven himself to be a cartoonist with no other point than the one at the tip of his pen.