Good morning™, everyone, and a happy birthday to Dick Tracy!
The history in the third panel is a little misleading, although it’s essentially what I believed to be true until about a year ago. We are led to believe that Gould sent samples to Capt. Patterson at the Tribune, but it’s a little more complicated than that, because the Captain didn’t work at the Tribune at the time. In fact, he didn’t even work in Chicago, aside from occasional visits. He didn’t approve it on behalf of the Tribune, either. The Trib didn’t start carrying it until months after it began.
Cousins Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick and Captain Joseph Medill Patterson, became the editors and publishers of the Chicago Tribune in 1914. After learning about the tabloid format from a London publisher, the Captain went to New York in 1919 to found the Daily News tabloid. McCormick and Patterson were both listed as editors and publishers of both papers until 1925/26 when Patterson officially gave up his position at the Tribune and McCormick gave up his titles at the Daily News.
McCormick-Patterson had founded Liberty magazine in 1924, but it constantly lost money (reportedly $12 million) until they finally sold in 1931 it to magazine publisher Bernarr Macfadden, partly in exchange for Macfadden’s newspaper, The Detroit Mirror. During the following 16 months, the paper lost $2 million and it was suddenly closed down without warning in August 1932. Employees of the Mirror got one week’s severance pay. The Detroit Free Press promptly started carrying Dick Tracy that month.
Eventually, I will write more of this, because I find it rather fascinating.
Oct 4 1777 George Washington tried to retake Philadelphia in a surprise dawn attack that resulted in the battle of Germantown. Despite initial success Washington’s troops got bogged down and by 10 AM Washington was pulling back first to settle at Whitpain PA that was still too close to the British forces and would eventually end in december as he led the colonial army into a place called Valley Forge.
Some fans would like to see further Tracy crossovers featuring The Shadow and Doc Savage. Will this happen? I am not certain…but if anyone could pull it off and do it well, it would be Curtis and Staton.
“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, all you hip cats and cool swingers out there in that Terrific Town of Tracyville! I’m your HOWWWWWWWLingly hip BMBG deejay, JPuzzle The Whiz, here, and on this very special of days, there is just one tune I gotta spin for a very special lawman:
1-SAM: Watch this Doll. Tracy’s so old he’s forgotten how to shake hands…
2-…Put ‘er there pal!
DT: Oh, hi…Sam? Ummm, how’s this ritual go, start with the left…no…the right…let’s see…that’ll have to do. Carry on, Sam.
Fans of this comic will be glad to know that Tracy has begun a regimen of those memory pills they advertise on TV that are made of squid guts. Expect to see changes soon. *
Possibly in bathroom habits but not likely to be in memory improvement.
AnyFace about 3 years ago
Brian Premium Member about 3 years ago
“Diet Smith sent a drone back so I could view my own birth!”
seanyj about 3 years ago
Happy 90th Birthday Tracy
22ph about 3 years ago
80 years….
pschearer Premium Member about 3 years ago
Don’t they have a retirement age in this P.D.?
Johnny Q Premium Member about 3 years ago
In the earliest strips Tracy looked like a weenie! (He didn’t yet have the square jaw…)
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray about 3 years ago
Good morning™, party boys !
I hope I look half as good when I’m Dick’s age. Lizz looks like a boy in drag, with those “exuberant” eyelashes.
coratelli about 3 years ago
90 YEARS!
Jab Jr 1957 about 3 years ago
Does anyone else find it strange that Lizz and Sam don’t know Tracy’s birthday?
Ashmael about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday!
BigDaveGlass about 3 years ago
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Aladar30 Premium Member about 3 years ago
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DICK TRACY!
Major Matt Mason Premium Member about 3 years ago
(raises a glass) Here’s to another 90 years! :)
blunebottle about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday, Dick!
iggyman about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday Dick, and you sure do not look your age!
Neil Wick about 3 years ago
Good morning™, everyone, and a happy birthday to Dick Tracy!
The history in the third panel is a little misleading, although it’s essentially what I believed to be true until about a year ago. We are led to believe that Gould sent samples to Capt. Patterson at the Tribune, but it’s a little more complicated than that, because the Captain didn’t work at the Tribune at the time. In fact, he didn’t even work in Chicago, aside from occasional visits. He didn’t approve it on behalf of the Tribune, either. The Trib didn’t start carrying it until months after it began.
Cousins Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick and Captain Joseph Medill Patterson, became the editors and publishers of the Chicago Tribune in 1914. After learning about the tabloid format from a London publisher, the Captain went to New York in 1919 to found the Daily News tabloid. McCormick and Patterson were both listed as editors and publishers of both papers until 1925/26 when Patterson officially gave up his position at the Tribune and McCormick gave up his titles at the Daily News.
McCormick-Patterson had founded Liberty magazine in 1924, but it constantly lost money (reportedly $12 million) until they finally sold in 1931 it to magazine publisher Bernarr Macfadden, partly in exchange for Macfadden’s newspaper, The Detroit Mirror. During the following 16 months, the paper lost $2 million and it was suddenly closed down without warning in August 1932. Employees of the Mirror got one week’s severance pay. The Detroit Free Press promptly started carrying Dick Tracy that month.
Eventually, I will write more of this, because I find it rather fascinating.
zoner1974 about 3 years ago
Very impressive! Happy birthday!
avenger09 about 3 years ago
Happy birthday Dick, cut back on the coffee!
kantuck-nadie about 3 years ago
Happy birthday Tracy! May we have many, many more years of this fine strip.
farside2000 Premium Member about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday Dick Tracy and Congratulations on your longevity
tripwire45 about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation about 3 years ago
Oct 4 1777 George Washington tried to retake Philadelphia in a surprise dawn attack that resulted in the battle of Germantown. Despite initial success Washington’s troops got bogged down and by 10 AM Washington was pulling back first to settle at Whitpain PA that was still too close to the British forces and would eventually end in december as he led the colonial army into a place called Valley Forge.
Chris about 3 years ago
well, congrats Tracy! Enjoy your party, you’ve more than earned it.
upanddown17 about 3 years ago
I believe the first villian Tracy had to deal with was Muggs Skeater.
Civanfan about 3 years ago
Here’s to another ninety years of “flesh wounds” and holey hats.
Zoomer&Yeti about 3 years ago
Happy 90th!
I like that Dick’s birthday is 10-4.
oakie817 about 3 years ago
HIPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crowmeus about 3 years ago
They should have had Tess and the rest of the Tracy clan bring in a cake.
TracyFan 65 about 3 years ago
Ninety years. A pretty darned good run!
Sayman about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday!
rickmac1937 Premium Member about 3 years ago
It’s 90
TheBigPickle about 3 years ago
Lookin’ pretty good for a fella of 90 years.
rabbeye about 3 years ago
Yup it is School today Happy Birthday
Phantomfire 01 about 3 years ago
Wow! Dick Tracy shares a stellar 90th anniversary with The Shadow! Walter B. Gibson and Chester Gould should be toasting themselves up there!
TheFiddleBackSpider about 3 years ago
Happy birthday dick tracy!
Phantomfire 01 about 3 years ago
By the way…Happy Birthday to Dick Tracy! Special thanks to the Curtis-Staton team for always kicking you know what!
Phantomfire 01 about 3 years ago
Some fans would like to see further Tracy crossovers featuring The Shadow and Doc Savage. Will this happen? I am not certain…but if anyone could pull it off and do it well, it would be Curtis and Staton.
L Silverman about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday, Tracy! Shame on Sam and Lizz for not knowing!
jssheppard3 about 3 years ago
And I’ve been following you for almost 70 of those years. Congratulations, Tracy!
sundogusa about 3 years ago
Looks good for 90!
Durak Premium Member about 3 years ago
The first 90 years was great! I can’t wait to see what the next 90 bring us!
avenger09 about 3 years ago
Gweedo’s the only one here who remembers Tracy’s debut. Moonshine and Raccoon road kill must add many years to your life!
IvanB.Cohen about 3 years ago
An order will be placed at a bakery for a cake. After this appearance, everybody will adjourn to B.O. Plenty’s. Big fun was had by all.
IvanB.Cohen about 3 years ago
I wonder if MCU personnel have a 401-K plan. Tracy’s is probably considerable.
IvanB.Cohen about 3 years ago
Sam left out that part where a song says, “may the bluebird of happiness fly up your nose”.
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl about 3 years ago
I wonder how many newspapers still carry the strip. None in my area run it.
A few years ago I emailed Tribune Content Agency asking this and they said they don’t divulge that sort of information.
Bill The Nuke about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday! You don’t look a day over chiseled.
ridenslide65 about 3 years ago
Hard to believe Sam didn’t know.
RonnieAThompson Premium Member about 3 years ago
Happy 90th Birthday! It’s been a long and winding road. I hope that we are all around for the 100th birthday celebration.
JPuzzleWhiz about 3 years ago
“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, all you hip cats and cool swingers out there in that Terrific Town of Tracyville! I’m your HOWWWWWWWLingly hip BMBG deejay, JPuzzle The Whiz, here, and on this very special of days, there is just one tune I gotta spin for a very special lawman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeOHAzjxLhk
198.23.5.11 about 3 years ago
Happy 90th Anniversary.Been following his adventures since 1972.
No word from Pinkie The Stabber;who apparently still holds a grudge.
No knock on Staton,but Lizz looks like she got up on the wrong side of the cell block this morning.
buckman-j about 3 years ago
Many more, (hopefully better than what we’re getting lately. Neil seems to really need a job
martinman8 about 3 years ago
well happy birthday tracy
LAFITZGERALD about 3 years ago
Wow – happy birthday to you, Dick Tracy!
Another Take about 3 years ago
1-SAM: Watch this Doll. Tracy’s so old he’s forgotten how to shake hands…
2-…Put ‘er there pal!
DT: Oh, hi…Sam? Ummm, how’s this ritual go, start with the left…no…the right…let’s see…that’ll have to do. Carry on, Sam.
Fans of this comic will be glad to know that Tracy has begun a regimen of those memory pills they advertise on TV that are made of squid guts. Expect to see changes soon. *
Possibly in bathroom habits but not likely to be in memory improvement.MooseBreathMints about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday! I have read Tracy for 70 years now!
Eric S about 3 years ago
so Dick Tracy himself is about 120
Darryl Heine about 3 years ago
Happy 90th., Dick Tracy!
198.23.5.11 about 3 years ago
If you’re looking to slip Jerry Lawlor back into the strip,remember that one of the bestremembered villains,T.V. Wiggles;was a pro wrestler.
WDD about 3 years ago
90 years! And Dick (only his wife calls him that) is still able-bodied and on active duty.
ScottHolman about 3 years ago
You forgot your bosses’ birthday?
Ken in Ohio about 3 years ago
Today’s Ginger Meggs comic strip has a side note tribute to Dick Tracy.
BreathlessMahoney77 about 3 years ago
Happy Birthday, Dick Tracy. Not surprising he’s a Libra — thoughtful & selfless.
Sisyphos about 3 years ago
Congratulations, Tracy, old man! Many more years of fighting crime left in you, I hope!
CRUUNER about 3 years ago
Take note that police code for “OK” is “10~4!!” Wonder if that was the case in 1931??
jonahhex1 about 3 years ago
So that explains all the odd twist popping up lately.