Isn't Life Terrible? » Popeye

Model Toy Misfires: How Do You Follow "The Visible Woman?"

Don — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:01:00 +0000

Continuing our series on poorly conceptualized toys:

Revell was quite successful with its model kits “Visible Man” and “Visible Woman.” As I recall, “The Visible Woman” (below) had a snap-on pregnancy accessory kit which confused an entire generation of impressionable boys about the mechanics of reproduction.

Far less successful was “The Visible Popeye,” since, traditionally, all Fleischer characters were drawn without internal organs.

The New, Improved 1939 Popeye, Now With Muscles

Don — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:28:00 +0000

In an earlier post, I was quite critical of the King Features Characters that showed up at the 1933 Century of Progress in Chicago. I’m pleased to report that somebody must have alerted King Features Syndicate to the sub-standard characters, because six years later, we have these improved versions out for a night on the town, going to see Olsen & Johnson’s Hellzapoppin’. Still far from perfect – the illusion is shattered on Wimpy in particular, due to the visibility of the performer’s face and neck, but at least KFS is trying. The performer portraying Olive Oyl was doubtless cast on the basis of her (his?) wonderfully knobby knees.

Oh, The Humanity!

Don — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:17:00 +0000

Hey! You’re telling me that this represents a “Century of Progress” at the ‘33 Chicago World’s Fair?

Walk-around characters wearing paper masks?

And… that blimp!!

What kind of people… what kind of people, I ask you… would place kids into the “gondola” of the Akron?

The Akron crashed into the Atlantic during a thunderstorm and sank on April 4th, 1933. The “Century of Progress” picture above was taken on May 23rd.