Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

Until I came to Emporium in June 1971, I had never lived in a community that had a mayor. To the best of my knowledge, Beaver Williams is the first mayor that I ever lived under. In those days I was not too interested in the political scene. I am now more aware and I think Emporium has a good mayor.

In 1935, the people of New York City elected Fiorello H. La Guardia and he held this office until 1945. Back when radio was our window on the world, Mayor La Guardia read the Sunday funnies to the kids. I listened to him on KDKA, Pittsburgh. I guess his show was syndicated.

In our Sunday paper, the comic strips were in color. Just under the paper's logo was a drawing of "Puck," or Robin Goodfellow, a mischievous elf. This character tormented people, usually in fun and was sometimes called hobgoblin. Puck once was featured in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." He often exclaimed, "What fools these mortals be!"

Meanwhile, the Katzenjammer Kids, Hans and Fritz, were always into something, chased by Mama with a rolling pin in her hand.

Cartoonist Chester Gould was responsible for "Dick Tracy." His girlfriend, Tess Trueheart, later became his wife. We all laughed when Dick's good friend, Vitamin Smith, invented the wrist radio. They were light years ahead of their time. A trip to the moon, returning with the "Moon Maid," was another farfetched idea that he had.

"Gravel Girty" took care of the Moon Maid and Pat Murphy was the Chief of Police. Still today, if someone is making inquiries, he may be asked, "Who do you think you are, Dick Tracy?"

I also remember a baldheaded kid, "Henry." Very seldom did Henry speak, but his antics could make you laugh. Then there was "Little Lulu," a pest of a girl with long pigtails.

Andy Gump didn't have much of a chin and his son Chester was a carbon copy of him. Funny how the genes will show up, even in a comic strip.

Snuffy Smith lived in the Great Smokey Mountains with his wife Loizzy. His sidekick was Barney Goggle. Snuffy always used to say, "Great balls of fire!"

Steve Canyon, an Air Force officer and pilot, could solve just about any problem. His character was a spin-off from Terry and The Pirates.

Moon Mullins was a taxi driver and ladie's man with a host of relatives. His nephew, Kayo, slept in a dresser drawer.

Little Orphan Annie always wore a red dress and her constant companion was her dog, Sandy. They guy who drew this strip showed her laundry on the line, revealing that she was the proud owner of ten red dresses.

Popeye sure looked like his father, Poop Deck Pappy. Olive Oyl was always being wooed by Bluto until Popeye would down a can of spinach and knock old Bluto into the next county. Wimpy was always on the scene, munching on a hamburger and promising to pay for it by Tuesday.

Blondie and Dagwood are still making the comic strip scene. Mr. Ditchers, neighbor,

Herb and the mailman

still look the same. The kids and Daisy the dog still live with them.

Army Private Sad Sack still marches through my memory. Everything bad that can happen seems to happen to him. This cartoon pokes fun at the Army and, just like in real life today, the grunt always gets the short end of the stick.

Brenda Starr was a beautiful newspaper reporter who could get into, and out of, just about any kind of a predicament. Like Mary Worth, she was always trying to do good. Too bad there aren't more real life people like her today.

Newspaper reporter Clark Kent (Superman) has been on the scene for as long as I can remember. Editor Perry White of the Daily Planet is just like our editor, so busy that he can't find time enough to blow his nose.

Flash Gordon is still four centuries ahead of us. He resides in the 25th century.

Smokey Stover, a funny fireman, is always in a jam. Betty Boop with her big blue eyes and eyelashes should have been an Avon sales lady.

Maggie and Jiggs always reminded me of my mother and dad. My mother's nickname was Maggie.

With the baseball season on its last legs, I was recalling a famous pitcher someone made immortal by drawing a comic strip about him. I can still see Dizzy Dean with a light blue blazer with oversized pockets. In these pockets, he carried baseballs. He would catch the bad guys by beaning them with his famous fastball.