Could somebody please help me with the following references in Bill Walsh and Floyd Gottfredson??s "The World of Tomorrow"?
They appear in the strip of August 19, 19, depicting the school of the future.
"Tyrone Pyrone" must be Tyrone Powell,
and "Benny Betterman" is obviously "Benny Goodman" ,
but who are "Lenore Grable" and "Will Bill Hamm" ?
For "Lenore Grable" , Betty Grable is a strong possibility for the last name,
but surely "Lenore" must have referred to someone else.
"Will Bill" naturally evokes Wild Bill Hicok, but this is not poster for a Western.
Since the poster advertises an upcoming Grammar class, Wlash & Gottfredson
may have picked "Wild Bill" to spice it up, but whom could "Hamm" referred to?
Or might it just have been a pun on "ham" (ie, a poor actor prone to exaggeration)?
Thanks for helping me with these.
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Author
Topic: Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
(5 messages)
Olivier
Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
Message 1 -
2012-04-01 at 21:46:38
Robb_K
Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
Message 2 -
2012-04-01 at 22:08:12
Tyrone POWER (1940s-'50s actor)- Yes, Betty Grable. Don't know who "Lenore" would be. "Hamm" must be making fun of a hammy actor. I can't think of anyone with a name to which it could be referring.
Lars Jensen
Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
Message 3 -
2012-04-01 at 22:59:32
Quote from user: OlivierFor "Lenore Grable" , Betty Grable is a strong possibility for the last name,
but surely "Lenore" must have referred to someone else.
In Betty Grable's 1945 movie "The Dolly Sisters", one character (although not played by Grable) was named Lenore (or Lenora, depending on who you ask). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dolly_Sisters .
but surely "Lenore" must have referred to someone else.
In Betty Grable's 1945 movie "The Dolly Sisters", one character (although not played by Grable) was named Lenore (or Lenora, depending on who you ask). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dolly_Sisters .
Olivier
Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
Message 4 -
2012-04-01 at 23:04:17
Quote:Tyrone POWER (1940s-'50s actor)
Ooops-- how could I make such a mistake (I do know the name)? sorry, and thanks for correcting me.
Thank you both!
I should have explained I'm using a few panels or strips from Gottfredson, Barks and Rosa comics to give as assignments (after doing a few examples); the theme is "inventions / the future"; the students will have to comment on the inventions, the visions of the future, and analyze the humor (how it is created).
Ooops-- how could I make such a mistake (I do know the name)? sorry, and thanks for correcting me.
Thank you both!
I should have explained I'm using a few panels or strips from Gottfredson, Barks and Rosa comics to give as assignments (after doing a few examples); the theme is "inventions / the future"; the students will have to comment on the inventions, the visions of the future, and analyze the humor (how it is created).
Olivier
Cultural references in "The World of Tomorrow"
Message 5 -
2012-04-07 at 00:31:55
Ole Nielsen found something very interesting and much more probable than my guess.
(He sent his reply to the DCML)
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It makes little sense for this to be a reference to Wild Bill Hickok, who died a lifetime before, in the context of spoofing famous current actors. More likely the reference is to (Wild) Bill Elliott, who starred in various westerns and the popular serials shown alongside the lead features at movie theatres at the time. See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254381/ and books.google.com (search for Wild Bill Elliott: a complete filmography).
The 'wild' epithet came along after Elliott played the role Wild Bill Saunders three times. then Wild Bill Hickok a dozen times between 1940 and 1942, followed by one appearance as Wild Bill Tolliver. He would then star in eight serials under the character name Wild Bill Elliott between 1943-1944, the last of which, Hidden Valley Outlaws, premiered on April 2nd 1944.
One can speculate that his rise to stardom may have affected his self image, and by anyone but the matinee audience of children (remember the Barks one-pager?) he would be considered a "ham".
He went on to portray the Red Ryder in sixteen more appearances, and star in his own comics series between 1950 and 1955. The next year Red Ryder Comics too folded, and the golden age of the western was over.
Elliott's last five movies, 1955-1957, starred him as a police lieutenant in modern Los Angeles.
(He sent his reply to the DCML)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It makes little sense for this to be a reference to Wild Bill Hickok, who died a lifetime before, in the context of spoofing famous current actors. More likely the reference is to (Wild) Bill Elliott, who starred in various westerns and the popular serials shown alongside the lead features at movie theatres at the time. See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254381/ and books.google.com (search for Wild Bill Elliott: a complete filmography).
The 'wild' epithet came along after Elliott played the role Wild Bill Saunders three times. then Wild Bill Hickok a dozen times between 1940 and 1942, followed by one appearance as Wild Bill Tolliver. He would then star in eight serials under the character name Wild Bill Elliott between 1943-1944, the last of which, Hidden Valley Outlaws, premiered on April 2nd 1944.
One can speculate that his rise to stardom may have affected his self image, and by anyone but the matinee audience of children (remember the Barks one-pager?) he would be considered a "ham".
He went on to portray the Red Ryder in sixteen more appearances, and star in his own comics series between 1950 and 1955. The next year Red Ryder Comics too folded, and the golden age of the western was over.
Elliott's last five movies, 1955-1957, starred him as a police lieutenant in modern Los Angeles.
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