Gasoline Alley by Jim Scancarelli for February 14, 2010

He has a lot of memories but he should at his age.

This is poignant, very nice.

Also - kind of sad. A few years back, Walt wandered off about Valentine’s Day. When Skeezix went to look for him, there were several strips commemorating the history of Walt’s experiences with Skeezix - including Skeezix’s Valentine’s Day “birthday.” When they returned home, Phyllis told Walt and Skeezix that there was “more” to the story about Walt discovering Skeezix on his doorstep. However, since it was late, they decided to wait until the following day to learn what else had been involved in Walt finding Skeezix. However, during the night, Phyllis passed away. Following the funeral, Walt discovered letters between Skeezix’s mother and Phyllis - which indicated that Phyllis had ALWAYS known the whole story of Skeezix’s birth - AND the decision to leave Skeezix on Walt’s doorstep.

Classic! Nice to see Gertie again, too!

I am now 84, started reading “Gasoline Alley” as a kid and my father often called me “Skeezix”. I remember reading the strip when I was a Marine in WWII and noticing Skeezix was in the service, too. Raising a family and following the story line, I guess “Gasoline Alley” has truly been a part of my life. Great to see it continue as I stil identify with “Skeezix”. Cheers!

Ageing! I forgot to say that I was born on Valentine’s Day, too!!

cowboy bob is still alive? cool…

So grateful to still have this classic still around.

robert martin, I admire you

I hope Walt never dies. I just want him to fade away to the Old Comics Home and drop in once in awhile for the occasional reminiscence. Nothing wrong with that.

I sure do like to see him talk about the old days, when he was young and strong. Makes me feel like a kid.

Happy Valentines Day, y’all!

It was SO nice to see Gertie again. Also the short history of the Walt family.

I always figured Walt had to be 19 years old when Skeezix was left on his doorstep. That would make him around 108 now!!

Walt must be the oldest living man on the planet!

Skeezix biological mom was Helene Octave a professional opera singer and sister to Phyllis. Due to her career she had to give up Skeezix. She also wasn’t married and the scandal would have ruined her. After a few years her maternal instincts got to her and she finally “married” Skeezix’s father Colonel Coda, her conductor/manager. Then she waged a custody battle with Walt. Walt proved to be a fit foster parent and eventually married Phyllis. For this was heavy stuff for comics especially in the 1920s but it was a sensation. Around 1990 a will was found from Col.Coda leaving Skeezix money and land in South America which later turned out worthless.HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKEEZIX.

What a fantastic strip today. It’s great to see Walt happy and off in his own world. Let’s remember folks, this is indeed a comic strip to be enjoyed, NOT a police report. Feel blessed.

A wonderful strip and thoughtful comments from all,

God bless us, every one.

happy Birthday Robert Martin, thanks for sharing.

Blondie and Dagwood met, married, had children. The children have become teen-agers, but they’ve been stuck there a long time.

Happy birthday Robert Martin. I hope you have many more.

In 1920, Walt hadn’t met Phyllis yet. There was a plain local woman named Clarissa who had her eye on him for a while in ‘21, and in March of ‘22 there was Juliet, a niece of Avery’s who people were trying to steer in Walt’s direction. An unnamed woman rents the garage next to Avery’s in May 1922. We first saw her face in the May 29th strip (she had light hair at first). On 6/2/22, Avery offers to introduce Walt to her and refers to her as “Mrs. Blossom,” the first time her name is mentioned. On 6/18/22, her car breaks down and Walt gives her a tow home (this was a Sunday strip–I’m getting these dates from “Walt & Skeezix Vol. 1,” which only has the dailies). On 6/30, Walt lets Mrs. Blossom take Skeezix for a ride in her car, and can’t figure out why he does it so readily. By late July of 1922, people are acting like Walt and Phyllis (whose first name hasn’t been revealed yet) are a couple. Walt is still resisting. In late August, Phyllis is spotted riding in a car with an older man, who is revealed later to be her Uncle Charlie from Nevada. Walt is happy that he’s “not a husband or a fiance or anything!” By October he’s definitely interested and gives her a huge bouquet of flowers on 10/2. Her hair is dark by then. she invites him over for dinner on 10/11 and she asks him to tell her how he came to have Skeezix. She also wants to see the basket, the clothes and the note. She goes away for a while and returns them when she gets back. In November, they go to dinner at a fancy restaurant. A male friend shows up and asks her to dance, calling her “Blossom.” In January 1923, Walt’s petition to adopt Skeezix is at the courtroom stage, when a woman shows up asking for a postponement, stating that it was she who left the baby on Walt’s doorstep. On 1/25, Phyllis says “I must tell! This has gone far enough. I can’t keep quiet any longer!” After a two-week postponement, the parents still haven’t shown up. Phyllis stands up and says she knows who the mother is, and that there can be no objection to the adoption. The judge grants the adoption. Obviously, Walt wants to know about Skeezix’s parents, but Phyllis asks him to please be understanding and trust her. Over dinner, on February 22, 1923, she asks him to please call her “Phyllis” instead of “Mrs. Blossom.” So we finally learn her first name, eight months after she first shows up. 1923 dates are from “Walt & Skeezix Vol. 2.”

Paul-

Yes, I thought there was something wrong, here. Skeezix was already with Walt when Mrs. Blossom showed up.

I doubt that many readers are very concerned with details like this, but is it possible that Scancarelli didn’t do his homework?

He’s usually pretty faithful to GA’s history, so this is rather blatent. Also, the reference to Rachael was odd. Isn’t she a caracter (or caracature) better left forgotton today?

-MJ