Gasoline Alley and the Old Comic Strip Challenge 26

In a sequence that began on April 9, 2013, Gasoline Alley centenarian Walt Wallet receives an invitation to the Old Comics Home dinner. Walt has reminisced before about his fellow characters from discontinued comic strips. And since Gasoline Alley began in 1918, there are quite a few of his contemporaries who have been retired.

Days 26 brings in another character I had been waiting for. Joe Palooka was an amazingly popular strip in the 1940's (running in over 900 papers at its peak). Ham Fisher's boxing champ even survived his creator's suicide in 1955, and the comic strip ran for another 29 years, ending in 1984. So there's a good chance relatively young readers might have first-hand memories of Joe Palooka (as opposed to, say, Old Doc Yak, which ended in 1917). I'm surprised Scancarelli didn't bring him in before, but still glad he made an appearance.

1. Joe Palooka - Joe Palooka (1930-1984) by Ham Fisher
2. Maggie - Bringing Up Father (1913-2000) by George McManus
3. Fearless Fosdick - Li'l Abner (1934-1977) by Al Capp


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