Roy Rogers: The King of the Cowboys

Born Leonard Slye this date in 1911, Roy Rogers would be 98 years old today!

Roy first came to Hollywood in the 1930's as a member of the group "The Sons of the Pioneers" (That's him below, second from the right)

In addition to playing nightclubs, they landed a job in the movies. Roy's youthful good looks and smooth voice moved him forward from the backing musical novelty and got him a few speaking roles, including one in "The Big Corral" where he plays a bad guy to Gene Autry. After a fistfight, Gene convinces Roy to go straight and help him nab the real bad guys.

Roy did.

He was a good guy from there on out.

Gene Autry was having some salary disputes with the studio and was also called to service in WWII about the same time. This lead to Roy being set up to star in his own series of B Westerns and soon became Gene's chief competitor for the kiddie western matinee dollar.

Along with his sweetheart and soon wife Dale Evans he starred in over 100 films and a long running radio show, then TV show.

Ah, for those days when the good guy really did wear a white hat, had a smart horse and could yodel.

The plots are always straightforward. Some bad guy comes along and Roy puts him in his place. Always winning, for one simple reason...he was on the side of right. We need him back.

All of 'em.

Roy and Dale Evans...

Trigger, the smartest horse in the movies...

Dale's horse Buttermilk...

Roy's trusty dog Bullet...

Roy's goofy sidekick Pat Brady and his Jeep, Nellybelle.

We need Gabby Hayes too.

If only Roy Rogers and his loyal band of followers were still around keeping an eye on things, Osama Bin-Laden wouldn't have a chance.

Like Roy used to say, "So till we meet again, on the screen or in person, goodbye, good luck and may the good lord take a liking to you."

And Happy Trails.

Thanks Roy.

Uncle Jeffy's Sketchbook v. 4.0: "Jeffy TV"

I found a strip I did in January 2008 that I thought I'd share. It's all about "Jeffy TV".

A few years ago it dawned on me how much of a time waster television was. Not the things you can see on it, films and sit-coms and dramas and documentaries are all worth while. I have a problem with the commercials. And the power stations airing a show in syndication have for editing content so they can fit MORE commercials in. I have a problem with the time it takes, searching through 500 channels to find something worthwhile to watch.

Basically I saw myself and people I know sitting in front of the box, not using it to enjoy a program they like, but using the channel surfing thing as a time waster. Occupying themselves (myself) mindlessly instead of actually seeing or hearing something good.

So I cancelled the cable and disconnected the antennae and started buying DVD's of things I liked. That way, when I sit down in front of the television, I am guaranteed to see something that I appreciate.

I ended up with a few thousand DVD's. I have, basically, reeeeeeeeeeeeally expensive TiVo. I'm not that bright.

I took to calling the broadcasting schedule at my house "Jeffy TV". I still use it as background noise to be on while I'm futzing around the house, the difference is, it's ALL stuff I like. I will occasionally plan a series of movies or shows that I'll pop in, just to keep that part from taking up my time.

NOW who's a time-waster? Sigh!

I did a strip about it to rationalize it. I ended up using it as an excuse to draw a naked lady.

Here's the strip.







I was going to put one of these at the beginning of the post:

Then I remembered. It's not my job to raise other peoples kids.

See ya tomorrow.

Uncle Jeffy's Sketchbook v. 1.3

Sketch Three: Ace Hol -

No one knows much of Ace's past, or even what his given name may be. What little is known of his childhood is that he spent the majority of his time, both study and recreational, sitting atop the family dog house muttering to himself about "Sopwith Camels" and "Red Barons". It was the place he took solace in and it was a struggle for his family to get him down.

He grew up showing a natural ability to pilot any vehicle flawlessly, automobiles, motorcycles, planes, submarines, pogo sticks...you name it.

Doctors later found that he has an abnormally large iron deposit in the bridge of his nose, a quality which lets him always find magnetic north. Ace Hol NEVER gets lost!

His natural piloting ability, ease at flying and sometimes haphazard, devil-may-care, caution-to-the-wind attitude towards safety has led to rumors that he is the illegitimate son of Wiley Post...


...and Amelia Earhart...

...though no proof has ever been brought forth.

Nor has anyone attempted to explain the non-logistics of such nonsense.

Ace himself "pish-toshes" at any such explanation of his abilities as heredity or cranial mineral placement as pure "baloon juice". He himself attributes his fetes of aviation skill to an ancient and magical Celtic elixir which he says, sharpens his senses and harmonizes his humors, and allows him to focus on "the now" and "see the wind". See diagram below:

Whatever the story behind this daredevil of the stratosphere is, his call to arms is the fighting of injustices and tyranny around the globe.

Ace Hol uses his many talents of skill, speed and always keeping a steady course, in aiding Congo Jeffy and Action Frank in their never ending battle against the forces of evil around the globe!

Look for him at a blog post near you!

Steve Ditko: Your Friendly Neighborhood Cartoonist

Steve Ditko turns 82 years old today, he was born this date in 1927.

Way back in 1961, Stan Lee was beginning the "Marvel Age of Comics". With the Fantastic Four he had established his mode of doing heroes, not just with personalities, but flawed personalities at that. Jack Kirby was his perfect partner to draw these cosmic misfits who became true dynamic heroes.

In his next endeavor to place human foibles into a person with greater physical abilities, he wanted to really tip the scales. Adding the angst of a misfit teenage science nerd, orphaned and being raised by his elderly aunt and uncle, he was really pushing super-heroes to the human side.

Stan and Jack had a story meeting about the new hero and Jack came up with a few pages of art, but it just wasn't quite right. For all of young Peter Parker's weaknesses as a human being, Jack's style just naturally imbued Spider-Man with a little too much dynamic heroism.

Stan turned to Steve Ditko.

Magic happened.

Steve is a cartoonist who draws the everyman better than almost anybody. They look frail and strong at the same time.

That is Spider-man.

Steve Ditko is a recluse of sorts. He does occasional comic book work still, but he hasn't done an interview or had his picture taken for about 40 years. He says his work is what's important. Let the work speak for itself.

So I will. Here's a feature about Spidey that Steve drew for Spider-Man Annual #1:

Another feature about how Stan and Steve do the comics they did. Pure bullshit. Pure fun.

While Jack Kirby did the art for a great number of the early Marvel heroes, Steve did help create one other major player...and I could NOT imagine this character at all in the hands of Kirby. Kirby was science, Ditko was magic.

The other dimensions that Dr. Strange would travel through and the magic he performed, could only have been actualized by Steve.

Here's Doctor Strange's first appearance, from Strange Tales #110:

Thanks Steve! Your work DOES speak for itself, and it speaks volumes.

That's Right, You're NOT from Texas...But Lyle Wants You Anyway!

Born this date in 1957, Lyle Lovett turns 52 today.

Today is Sunday, let's start out Lovett praise with a trip to "Church":



Lyle was born in a suburb of Houston, Texas. I only bring this up because, I seem to have an inordinate number of songwriting and musician heroes who hail from the Lone Star State. Lovett, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lightnin' Hopkins, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Townes Van Zandt, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Kinky Friedman, Robert Earl Keen, Bob Wills, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earl...it goes on and on. Is there something in the water? Something in the air? I don't know, but whatever it is, it seems to spark a genuine storyteller imagination and a strong desire to play music.



Lyle hit the scene in 1980 as a songwriter and 1986 as a recording artist. They said at the time he was one of the new saviors of country music.

Lovett's music though surpasses any categorization. He mixes traditional country with western swing and big band, folk, gospel, blues and whatever else he can get his hands on. Categories in music are for the tiny minded anyway. A thing for the marketers to wrap their feeble brains around.



Duke Ellington said there's only two kinds of music. Good and bad.

Lyle is a person who a lot of people have heard of, but I don't think many know his music. That Julia Roberts marriage put him on "Entertainment Tonight" and the general public learned about his hair, but that's it.

The best way to pass on my appreciation of his songwriting skills and musicianship is to just let people hear him. Here's a few Lyle songs...you won't be sorry.

Lyle put out a new record on October 20th called "Natural Forces". I haven't heard it yet, but it's on my list of things to get this week. Check out his website for more info.

Thanks Lyle!