More old villains making anniversary cameo appearances! The roster of active villains is getting crowded! Tracy needs to be promoted to detective to help thin their ranks!
Sure a good retelling of the “origin” story. All the important details are intact … and the character of our protagonist is fleshed out … BRAVO team Tracy!!!!!.
I’ve actually eaten at the real Ernie’s Steak House and Pyramid room, which is a place in Columbia, Missouri where Chester Gould used to hang out. It was nothing like what’s shown in today’s strip - it was a little greasy-spoon diner. In the rough draft of the review I wrote for the paper, I mentioned that while I was there, I saw a cockroach come out from behind the clock on the wall, realize he was in Ernie’s, and scuttle back out of sight in terror. :)
Good news, people! I talked to Mike this morning and he told me a little of what is coming up in Tracy next year. We’re going to LOVE it! I can’t say much or give any details, but he gave me permission to say a bit. Next summer is the Mr. Crime story and of course Blaze Rize is in it. Prior to that there will be an occasional set of strips building up to that story, so our favorite redhead will appear at least once before then.
Mike gave me a little information on other upcoming stories/villians, but I’ve said enough. Got to keep some surprises!
What are the other two novels Collins did? The only one I have is the movie novelization (which is really good, but for whatever reason, doesn’t include the “Breathless is the Blank” plot twist).
As an interesting aside, I have two different copies of his short story anthology (The Secret Files). One of them omits about half of the stories, but has the same exact ISBN. Wasn’t very much fun trying to submit it to the LibraryThing website.
This is a great story that keeps getting better. All the inside references and cameo appearances make me wonder just how long it took Mike and Co. to develop the script. I think it must have been, “And then they’re eating at Chester Gould’s favorite hangout, and at the next table is Shaky and Itchy, and the waitress is Breathless Mahoney — no, that’s too much! Maybe Shakey spills the salt, and asks Tracy for his — no, no… The waiter asks the Brain to take off his hat and he refuses…” And so on.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Ernie’s connection, here’s a link: http://sites.google.com/site/erniescolumbia/about-us
When I was a kid, I heard about the place and wrote a letter inquiring about it. They sent me a couple books of matches and bumper stickers with the Tracy art on them. They seem to have gotten a lot of mileage out of it.
I wonder if they know about this little reference yet.
The details in the art are wonderful. I remember being taught as a kid in the early 50’s that it was not polite to eat with a fork in one hand and a knife in the other. You were supposed to cut, put the knife down, switch hands, then use your fork, etc.I always thought that was more than silly. But here we have Chief Brandon, the gruff Bachelor, eating dinner in what obviously is a class restaurant, chowing down with utensils in both hands. That attention to detail is great. The way the folks are dressed is late 40s or early 50s, like I’ve seen in photos of my Mom and Dad, or like the way they dressed on Sunday morning. The women’s hair styles and hats, double breasted suit coats on the men. And HOW is Joe making Tracy look younger? I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is, but there is certainly something. I hope the creative team sees this, I want them to know how much I appreciate this!
I just noticed another detail. There is even a hat-check girl in the cloak room in the background of the second from last panel. I read about that service being available in the better establishments in some of the Perry Mason novels that were written during the 30’s and 40’s.
Coming up on the anniversary soon enough… if this is the lead-up, I don’t know if I can handle the payoff. I said it before, but I’ll say it again… Thank you, Team Tracy, for bringing this classic piece of Americana back to life.
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 13 years ago
Whole lotta shaking going on! I’m all shook up!
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ about 13 years ago
Good morning all…
Tarry Plaguer about 13 years ago
It’s nice to see a gentleman remove his hat/cover in a restaurant. You don’t see that much anymore.Two more classic Tracy villains make an appearance
gimmickgenius about 13 years ago
But then, the food’s preparers are REQUIRED to wear hats – or at least hairnets!
Sisyphos about 13 years ago
More old villains making anniversary cameo appearances! The roster of active villains is getting crowded! Tracy needs to be promoted to detective to help thin their ranks!
Det.DanDone about 13 years ago
I can’t wait to see who is next. Everyday has been a surprise!
Mdstudio about 13 years ago
And they’re at Ernie’s, probably having “chopped cow.” Great attention to history and very nice tribute to Max Collins.
APersonOfInterest about 13 years ago
Sure a good retelling of the “origin” story. All the important details are intact … and the character of our protagonist is fleshed out … BRAVO team Tracy!!!!!.
dimeadance about 13 years ago
Tracy was in the navy?
petersandy about 13 years ago
Is that Ernie’s from Hitchcock’s Vertigo?
tcreole about 13 years ago
I’ve actually eaten at the real Ernie’s Steak House and Pyramid room, which is a place in Columbia, Missouri where Chester Gould used to hang out. It was nothing like what’s shown in today’s strip - it was a little greasy-spoon diner. In the rough draft of the review I wrote for the paper, I mentioned that while I was there, I saw a cockroach come out from behind the clock on the wall, realize he was in Ernie’s, and scuttle back out of sight in terror. :)
willamp about 13 years ago
johnrussco about 13 years ago
what-ever
HannoX about 13 years ago
Good news, people! I talked to Mike this morning and he told me a little of what is coming up in Tracy next year. We’re going to LOVE it! I can’t say much or give any details, but he gave me permission to say a bit. Next summer is the Mr. Crime story and of course Blaze Rize is in it. Prior to that there will be an occasional set of strips building up to that story, so our favorite redhead will appear at least once before then.
Mike gave me a little information on other upcoming stories/villians, but I’ve said enough. Got to keep some surprises!
mcguyber about 13 years ago
hmmmm…….I see a crimial plan comming up at the table behind Tracy !!
LordAsaki about 13 years ago
What are the other two novels Collins did? The only one I have is the movie novelization (which is really good, but for whatever reason, doesn’t include the “Breathless is the Blank” plot twist).
As an interesting aside, I have two different copies of his short story anthology (The Secret Files). One of them omits about half of the stories, but has the same exact ISBN. Wasn’t very much fun trying to submit it to the LibraryThing website.
doctor075 about 13 years ago
I’m in fan-boy heaven! How about the rest of you? Thank you Joe,Mike and the rest of the team!
SGIBeachbum about 13 years ago
This is wonderful. I love seeing the flashback in black and white as it should be in the dailies. Thank you team Tracy.
Can't Sleep about 13 years ago
This is a great story that keeps getting better. All the inside references and cameo appearances make me wonder just how long it took Mike and Co. to develop the script. I think it must have been, “And then they’re eating at Chester Gould’s favorite hangout, and at the next table is Shaky and Itchy, and the waitress is Breathless Mahoney — no, that’s too much! Maybe Shakey spills the salt, and asks Tracy for his — no, no… The waiter asks the Brain to take off his hat and he refuses…” And so on.
Mdstudio about 13 years ago
For those who aren’t familiar with the Ernie’s connection, here’s a link: http://sites.google.com/site/erniescolumbia/about-us
When I was a kid, I heard about the place and wrote a letter inquiring about it. They sent me a couple books of matches and bumper stickers with the Tracy art on them. They seem to have gotten a lot of mileage out of it.
I wonder if they know about this little reference yet.
coratelli about 13 years ago
Awesome sunday page!!
Ken in Ohio about 13 years ago
The details in the art are wonderful. I remember being taught as a kid in the early 50’s that it was not polite to eat with a fork in one hand and a knife in the other. You were supposed to cut, put the knife down, switch hands, then use your fork, etc.I always thought that was more than silly. But here we have Chief Brandon, the gruff Bachelor, eating dinner in what obviously is a class restaurant, chowing down with utensils in both hands. That attention to detail is great. The way the folks are dressed is late 40s or early 50s, like I’ve seen in photos of my Mom and Dad, or like the way they dressed on Sunday morning. The women’s hair styles and hats, double breasted suit coats on the men. And HOW is Joe making Tracy look younger? I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is, but there is certainly something. I hope the creative team sees this, I want them to know how much I appreciate this!
Ken in Ohio about 13 years ago
I just noticed another detail. There is even a hat-check girl in the cloak room in the background of the second from last panel. I read about that service being available in the better establishments in some of the Perry Mason novels that were written during the 30’s and 40’s.
Blackthorne42 about 13 years ago
Coming up on the anniversary soon enough… if this is the lead-up, I don’t know if I can handle the payoff. I said it before, but I’ll say it again… Thank you, Team Tracy, for bringing this classic piece of Americana back to life.
akado2000 about 13 years ago
What happened to Mumbles and that guy with the speechdefect? Are they still having it out in the same jail cell?