Small House of Everything

Small House of Everything

Saturday, November 29, 2014

AIN'T GOT NO HOME

Clarence "Frogman" Henry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBsHyMwpIjo

MICKEY FINN #10 (1947)

Truth to tell, I read the Mickey Finn comic strip regularly when I was (much, much) younger and I don't remember much about it.  What I do remember is the character of Uncle Phil -- which would be natural because by the time I started reading comic strips Uncle Phil had become the main focus of the strip.

Mickey Finn was created by cartoonist Lank Leonard in 1936.  The strip ran for 40 years, closing in 1976, and reprints from the strip ran from 1936 to 1947 in various anthology comic books:  Famous Funnies, Feature FunniesFeature Comics, and Big Shot.  The character had its own comic book from 1943 to 1949, published first by Eastman Color and then by Columbia.  It ran for 15 undated issues, so its publishing schedule was a bit erratic.  There were also two issues of Mickey Finn from Headline comics in 1952.

Mickey Finn was a small city policeman and the strip was basically Dick Tracy light.  "During most of the strip's run, Mickey sauntered about in a police uniform, just a big, friendly guy, there to help out," according to Toonopedia.com.  Mickey lived with his widowed mother and her brother, Uncle Phil, who's blustery character provided comic relief.  His long-time girlfriend is Kitty Kelly (or, in this issue at least, her name was changed to Kitty King).  By this issue, Mickey has risen to the rank of Sergeant (he would later be promoted to detective.) and his partner and best friend was Tom Collins.

Mickey Finn #10 begins with the birth of Tom's son, then switches gears to a new class of police recruits.  Mickey is assigned to mentor one of the recruits --Willie Muff, the totally incompetent son of a political boss (it's an election year, you see).  While seeking notorious jewel thief Bangor Benny, Willie's ineptitude and cowardice put Tom in danger and Mickey on suspension.  All's well that ends well, and the story is tied up with a neat little bow.  Well, almost.  Because the comic book consists of daily reprints, there are a few loose threads which I assume would be gathered in the next issue.

Mickey is a clean-cut, likable character.  I think you'll enjoy him.

http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=54074

Thursday, November 27, 2014

UNDERAPPRECIATED MUSIC: CLARK KESSINGER, COUNTRY FIDDLER

My college friend Chris could be moody.  Usually when that happened he would write poetry; sometimes -- not often -- he would rip urinals of the walls in men's rooms in various bars, then he would go back to the bar and drinking flaming shots while glaring at everyone there.  Needless to say, his coping skills needed some work.

My coping skills, however, were finely honed.  When I was in a bad mood (which was not often) I would put my copy of Clark Kessinger, Country Fiddler on the record player and turn the volume way, way up.  Thus, everyone in my dormitory could share my misery.  This is not to say that Kessinger's music is painful; it isn't.  Kessinger was a world-class fiddler and a large influence on old time music.  But "Turkey in the Straw" played full blast at 3:00 am is not everyone's cup of tea.

Judge for yourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU6x2HSdfws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCCygnR9y5c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5gWWc8g0s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJxG1LVWJqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U4bamxLIQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET1QegyEcHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqrnHlb2P2I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SwInLwtNZY

A CORNICOPIA OF THANKSGING

There's a lot to be thankful for this year:  family, friends, health...all the usuals.  We have a lot of problems but they still can be solved, says my very optimistic self.

After the meal, after the football games, why not settle down to some old-time radio?

Here is one hundred OTR Thanksgiving specials to choose from, with my sincere wishes for a pleasant and meaningful holiday:

https://archive.org/details/100OtrThanksgivingHolidayShows

Wednesday, November 26, 2014