Talk:Popeye/Archive 1

Too Violent???
I heard that the reason I can't seem to find Popeye on regular (non-pay/basic) cable tv channels is because Popeye has been deemed too violent for children in the U.S.A.; is that true? Does anyone know why I can't find Popeye on any T.V. channel, even cable; it seems that every guy in my cohort of "30 somethings" remembers and would like to watch- and have their kids watch- some good ole Popeye cartoons (we used to watch ours every day from toddler age thru grade school (after school up until about the 3rd grade- 1979-ish?). Any plans to bring Popeye back as a regular? Thanks.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paulsprecker (talk • contribs) 04:52, 14 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I doubt that, it isn't any more violent than other cartoons. And it's rather tame compared to stuff like dragonball-z. And it still airs in Holland, sometimes. I think the reason you can't find it is simply because it's deemed outdated and not popular enough by the networks. But aren't there tons of videos of Popeye? - Redmess (talk) 11:41, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Philippine Popeye movie
There was a licensed Popeye movie back then in the 70's which was produced and shown in the Philippines. The actor playing Popeye was Ariel Ureta. Unfortunately I don't have much info so maybe someone here would like to research on it more.

Surrealism?
The cartoon strip was not literally surrealistic.


 * I think they meant surreal, not surrealistic. But many cartoons are "surreal", that's partly what makes them cartoons. - Redmess (talk) 11:43, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Popeye's Chicken
Later on, Popeye would have a fried chicken chain named after him.

...except one of the founders of same told the New York Times that the namesake was Popeye Doyle from The French Connection --&#9829; «Charles A. L.» 21:18, Apr 20, 2004 (UTC)

He is very strong

Some things

 * The Popeye theme is not in the public domain; we were violating copyright by posting the lyrics in the article.
 * The following has been removed from the article:
 * A Popeye TV cartoon was made in the USA during the 1960s. The characters were substantially simplified (as is common in TV cartooning) and altered further from Segar's original designs. The voice of Popeye was provided by Poley McClintock, whose show-business credits date back to the 1920s, when he was a member of Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, a popular sweet band. It is widely believed that the part sung by Tony Burrows in The Pipkins' 1970 novelty record "Gimme Dat Ding" was intended as a tribute to McClintock.

Jack Mercer voiced Popeye from 1935 to 1982, save for the World War II period when Mae Questel voiced Popeye in some shorts.


 * The character list is roughly in the order the characters joined the strip. I will make it verifyably correct soon, after I located by copy of my Popeye 50th Anniversary book.
 * It's officially "Popeye the Sailor," not "Popeye the Sailor Man."

--b. Touch 09:53, 19 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Math error: "Fleischer Studios produced 108 Popeye cartoons; 106 of them were produced in black and white. The remaining three were two-reel (double-length) Technicolor specials billed as "Popeye Color Features*" Since 106+3=109, I think either the 106 or 108 number is incorrect by one.  I don't know which, however; someone must have the data to fix this typo.  -- Wyvern 21:50, 17 Jan 2005 (UTC)


 * That was my mistake. There are 108 total, which means 105 in black and white, not 106. Sorry about that. Will change immediately. --b. Touch 05:27, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC)

The mention of Popeye's phrase "I am what I am" may have been a way to sneak a salty sailorism into the character. As exerpted, it is the description that God gave to Moses, and may be at least faintly blasphemous. The reputation that sailors had?/have? Is one of being ‘salty’: a bit foulmouthed. Which could not go into a comic book, unless snuck in. Sean —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.189.135.36 (talk) 04:28, 26 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Good luck finding a citation for that theory. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 04:47, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

Three Women
... is a film by Robert Altman. However I have three questions, which are not women. First, was Popeye a sailor in the merchant marine or America's equivalent of the Royal Navy? I have always assumed the former, but this is based entirely on supposition. Secondly, can anybody cite the specific study which supposedly, and erroneously, boosted the iron content of spinach? It's a well-known trivia fact, but is it an urban legend? Thirdly, why was 'Popeye' Doyle of The French Connection so-called? In reference to the cartoon character, or just because he was pop-eyed? Indeed, is 'Popeye' the character's given name, or a nickname? Why won't you tell me? Why? Why? -Ashley Pomeroy 15:04, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)
 * Actually that is nine questions, and three of them definitely are women. "Why won't you tell me? Why? Why?".. These three are on average slighter, they have impertinent and repetitive attitudes, they get shorter in temperment as they get unanswered, and they are dead-sexy cute. Ok, now please put down the meat cleaver. Was just trying some wit. To answer the fourth question: "Popeye" was the nickname of real life cop and later actor Eddie Egan, who partly inspired and even had a bit part in "The French Connection" . He was born in 1930 and apparently got the nickname in his childhood baseball exploits, but it can't be proven (since Popeye predates him) the nickname isn't stolen. Apparently there are two possible explanations for the "Popeye" nickname on the French Connection 2 disc DVD set (in a BBC documentary included on it called "Making the Connection: Untold Stories of the French Connection"). Hope that confuses! To answer the second: There was no one study. Every study showed (and still does) that spinach has lots of iron, plenty of it. However, what they discovered later, was that the iron was still in the spinach, after it passed through you. Oops. But check out most cereals that have "100% iron", you can pick out shavings of it with a magnet. Only certain sizes and shapes of iron will be absorbed by our digestive system. Iron metal isn't very digestable, but organic iron compounds are. Hemoglobin isn't even magnetic, because the electrons that make iron magnetic are bonded. I think. 64.162.10.50 09:45, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

If you mean the "10 times too much iron" study, there is information about it on Spinach (also : "Spinach's iron content had been determined in 1870 by Dr. E. von Wolf but a misplaced decimal point in his publication led to a figure ten times too high."

Re: Popeye in merchant marine or U.S. Navy?
There was a period, beginning in the Second World War, when he enlisted and donned the distinctive uniform of U.S. Navy sailors, but prior to that, and since the 1970's, in the animated cartoons, he was depicted as either merchant marine or, quite frequently, some other occupation besides a sailor.--Aaron Walden 10:47, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

Actualy he is neither is is US Coast Guard

I noticed that Nana Oyl, Olive's mother greets Popeye at the door in the short, "The man on the flying Trapeze." This article incorrectly states that her parents were never in the films. (d.b.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.215.97.249 (talk) 14:23, 10 December 2010 (UTC)

Pictures
Would someone be able to upload some pictures of the different characters? Obviously I can't. (13 January 2006)

My apologies
I've reverted to an already vandalised version. Arsine 12:20, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Are the legends of a Tijuana Bible featuing Popeye simply that, or is there substaance there? And if there is, do they merit inclusion in the article? The vandalism on it got me thinking.

There are Tijuana Bibles featuring Popeye & Olive Oyle, Poopdeck Pappy, Wimpy, and G.W. Geezil (a minor character, but what the heck!). Bluto might be in there someplace. Saxophobia 23:45, 7 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I don't know why this article has been the subject of so much vandalism. I'm going to revert to the previous stable version.  I know I'm loosing a few good rewrites, but these rewrites appear in otherwise seriously vandalized versions of the article, and I can't see any practical way to save them and still restore what has been lost. Rick Norwood 20:01, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

One eye
So, why exactly DOES Popeye have only one eye? Dev920 10:40, 22 August 2006 (UTC)


 * On the topic of short and to the point questions. Was Popeye a British or American creation? Not even I can rememebr that far back! --Dom0803 00:46, 26 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I know what the hell does this have to do with Popeye? It's a classic cartoon. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.148.243.131 (talk) 13:06, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Spinach
I've expanded the note about the spinach iron myth and mentioned T.J. Hamblin, who publicised the error. Sadly, no-one seems to know who corrected the error (just "german scientists"). Anyone who follows the link to the T.J. Hamblin page or the spinach page will see more detail on the origin of the myth. Kayman1uk 14:59, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

Movie
No mention of Popeye The Movie?

Noticed that too. Surely that needs putting in? 82.69.37.32 00:15, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

One eye?
The text states that he only has one eye, his left, yet this picture shows him with a right eye. Image:Popeye-floor-flusher.jpg -Ravedave (help name my baby) 21:57, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

I can't put this in the article, as I don't have a citation:  I remember some people in the cartoons as using the term "One-eyed sailor" when referring to Popeye. Which was his good eye depended on which direction he was facing: To the viewer's left, his right eye was good, and vice-versa. That is, the eye farther from the "camera" was his good eye. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 206.53.197.12 (talk) 16:48, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

In E. C. Segar's original comic strip, Popeye is often referred to as "the one-eyed sailor" and "one-eyed runt." More specifically, his right eye is missing. This can be confirmed in the November 27, 1932 Sunday strip. At the time, Segar was drawing "Play Money" for kids to cut out, with each bill featuring a different Popeye character or scene. On this particular bill of Play Money, Segar drew Popeye with both eyes open and intact (the only time I've seen him do this). The caption next to Popeye says POPEYE BEFORE HE LOST HIS RIGHT "PEEPER". So while later cartoons and other adaptations may have switched eyes and/or came up with the warm-fuzzy notion that one of Popeye's eyes was perpetually winking, Segar clearly intended Popeye to be lacking his right eye (though AFAIK he never gave any specifics as to how he lost the eye). BTW, the specific strip mentioned can be found on page 100 of the third volume (Let's You and Him Fight) in Fantagraphic's series of E. C. Segar's Popeye strips. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Holden rex (talk • contribs) 04:17, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

One eye?
Popeye certainly has two eyes!

"Stephie the Sailor Babe": apocryphal
The entire paragraph on "Stephie the Sailor Babe" was contributed to this article by one person, the unidentified 134.220.3.14, a couple of weeks ago. Though I've been a cartoon researcher for years, I've never heard of "Stephie" and -- in lieu of any sources -- highly suspect that someone is having us on. As to the details of the purported information: the BBC was never in charge of creating or commissioning Popeye cartoons, and elements such as "a bear called Chris" and "a leprechaun called Ian" read like lame efforts at Python-style humor (i. e. give eccentric-sounding characters dully ordinary names). Unless someone can verify this information fast, I think the "Stephie" section should be deleted.

David Gerstein 207.114.33.3 18:04, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Removed it, I always found it farfetched especially the part about it "only being known by close friends and relatives", thanks for contributing-Dark Dragon Flame 19:24, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

--

Popeye speaks English with the same accent as my sister-in-law from the East End of Dublin, Ireland.

14:47, 17 January 2007 (UTC) Conrad

---

Olivia?
Who is Olivia? This person is only mentioned in the list of Popeye cartoon characters, and is not listed as its own bullet point. Did the author mean Olive Oil? As it currently stands, the article says that Popeye had a son with Olivia in the short-lived series & that the niece is Olivia's. I wanted to ask before assuming the answer and making changes. SailorAlphaCentauri 17:57, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

DVD release
Some news on the first volume of the official DVD releases (1933-1938) over here. Esn 15:23, 3 April 2007 (UTC) The new release is great but it is missing the ( made) for tv Popeye that us baby boomers watched! Alice the Goon,The Sea Hag, Brutus! They are no where to be found. These cartoons were seen in over 90% of US markets. The big question though is Where is our Popeye? He is NOWHERE to be found! Rumors online saysome big wheel has him for his personal viewing! I sure hope that is not the case ! I don't believe that stuff,maybe you can find our Popeye! If it is true that some company or person has stole Popeye then shame on us for letting this happen! We need to spread the word to the millions of cartoon lovers who have wondered for 40 some years! Wheres Brutus,Wheres the Sea Hag,Wheres Alice The Goon,and of course Wheres 1960s Popeye.Its true lifes sometimes not fair but this is global robbery!! Spread the word my friend!

The Wedding of Popeye and Olive
A few years back to commemorate a big anniversary of Popeye's, the two characters were married in a one-shot comic book. Was this "canon" or ever referred to again? ChrisStansfield 23:21, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

Revert explanation
To clarify my revert of the unnamed editor who attributed comic strip Popeye's strength to smelling garlic: I suspect you are confusing the origin with the one presented in the animated short Greek Mirthology, which depicts Popeye's "ancestor" as gaining his strength through that vegetable. In fact, Popeye's superhuman strength and recuperative abilities (namely surviving being shot point blank several times) all happened "on camera" in the Thimble Theater comic strip. It is made very clear that Popeye's powers come from his kind treatment of the supernatural Wiffle Hen. In later strips, Popeye would return to the Wiffle Hen at times when his strength was at an ebb. Hope this clears things up for you. ChrisStansfield 05:28, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

English in Singapore
The article says that English is the first language in Singapore, which isn't entirely true. Actually, they use a creole based English, Malay, Chinese and a few other languages, called Singlish. This should be verified and corrected.

71.212.27.154 04:37, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

I cleaned up the section. I totally classify this as pure nonsense. If there ever were such an existance of a "strict" English program we'd be communists by now - There was a Campaign to promote English speaking, not a law or a program. However yes, there was been a ban in Singapore in the 1980s. However in 1995, the ban was lifted. I cannot add this line into the article as I do not have a variable source to prove my word. DVDs are also on sale here and I have the whole collection of them.

SomeForm OFhuman    03:34, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Those Muscular Forearms
Why does Popeye have muscular forearms? Well, historically, ordinary seamen were required to spend a great deal of time working in the rigging of sailing vessels, to arrange the sails according to how the wind was blowing. Climbing around the rigging had the effect of building up forearm muscles, as sailors clung to the ropes, in good and bad weather, for dear life. After years of practice, sailors became quite adept at moving about, executing maneuvers that an untrained person would probably kill himself doing. Popeye, being a middle-aged man in the 1930s, has anachronistically hypertrophic forearm muscles. --72.75.91.146 06:56, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Worth including if you can find a citation for it. It's worth noting (if not already noted) that initially his arms were only a slight exaggeration. By the time the cartoons rolled around, his exaggerated forearms had been established in the strip. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 10:42, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I did not find a relevant reference. However, dig the photo of the body builder who has injected his arms with oil that was intended to be used topically to shine up the physique during exhibition:  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1782095.ece   --72.75.91.146 01:51, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Popeye the Sailor: 1933-1938, Volume 1
I started the article about the first official theatrical Popeye DVD set. How is it? Feel free to add to it. Steelbeard1 (talk) 00:39, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Popeye the Sailor: 1938-1940, Volume 2
Now that enough info about the new Volume Two set is available so that an article can be created, I did that. How is it? Steelbeard1 (talk) 03:35, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Excellent. I changed the wording to "scheduled to be" because wikipedia is "not a crystal ball". Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 03:42, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

New Popeye DVD articles
Now that the planned release date for Popeye the Sailor: 1941-1943, Volume 3 has been announced, that article was created as well as an article for the entire series titled Popeye the Sailor (Warner DVD series). How are they? Steelbeard1 (talk) 18:30, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Looking good! If the contents of the 3rd volume are known for sure, they could be listed, maybe not by disk number, but just in chronological order. That does skirt the area of "speculation", though. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 23:06, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Thank you, Bugs. We all know what the cartoons will be as they will be the remaining black-and-white Popeyes not yet on DVD, but I would wait under the official listings are given before they are included in the article. Steelbeard1 (talk) 23:16, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Agreed. Since there is already a separate chronological list, the contents of the third DVD set can be inferred by the reader, until such time as the true contents are known. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 23:38, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Hellboy
Is it possible that Hellboy is the anti-Popeye? Check out the new trailer where the forearms are disproportionate to the body. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.108.222.131 (talk) 06:19, 3 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Oh, yeh, the resemble is uncanny. Right down to the corncob pipe and the squinky eye. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 07:07, 3 July 2008 (UTC)
 * For Hellboy to be the anti-Popeye he would have to act in opposition to Popeye. Perhaps Hellboy is an inverse Popeye.  Mr  JM  02:27, 8 November 2010 (UTC)

No Socks
Did you ever notice how the main characters particularly Popeye and Bluto (a.k.a Brutus) never wore socks. What was up with that? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.148.243.131 (talk) 19:59, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Proposed change in Marketing, Tie-ins, and Endorsements section of Popeye article
I'd like to suggest a change to the following paragraph:

In 1991, a special series of short Popeye comic books were included in specially marked boxes of Instant Quaker Oatmeal. The plots were similar to those of the films: Popeye loses either Olive Oyl or Swee' Pea to a musclebound antagonist, eats something invigorating, and proceeds to save the day. In this case, however, the invigorating elixir was not his usual spinach, but rather one of four flavors of Quaker Oatmeal. (A different flavor was showcased with each mini comic.) The catch phrase, "Can the spinach! I wants me instant Quaker Oatmeal!" apparently failed to catch on with the general public, and the promotional campaign remains little-known.

Here's the reason for the suggested change:

Quaker discontinued the TV commercials and comic books (which were distributed in instant oatmeal boxes) featuring Popeye after members of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, protested. (It should be noted that Quaker and the Religious Society of Friends / Quakers are not and have never been affiliated with one another.) The Quakers took issue with the line, "I'm Popeye the Quaker Man!" and Popeye's use of his fists in fighting Bluto, aliens, and other antagonists. Quakers are pacifists; they do not believe violence should ever be used to resolve conflicts. For Popeye to call himself a "Quaker man" after beating up someone was offensive to the Quakers and considered a misrepresentation of Quaker values. After a campaign which was started by a group of children at the Durham, NC Friends Meeting and carried on by the larger Religious Society of Friends, Quaker pulled the commercials and comic books.

Please also note that the date mentioned in the original Wikipedia article should be changed to 1989. According to two published articles in the references I've listed below, Quaker had already agreed to pull the ads by April 1990. The Associated Press article published in 1990 says "Quaker Oats Co. ...last year began using the feisty thick-forearmed cartoon character in animated television commercials...". And, according to this page at the Religious Society of Friends website, the ad campaign was created in 1989. http://www.quaker.org/fqa/sandman.html

References:

1. book. Popeye: An Illustrated Cultural History by Fred M. Grandinetti. (2004, McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers,) Pages 112-115.

2. newspaper article. "Religion Notes: Popeye and the Quakers." By Ari L. Goldman. The New York Times, April 21, 1990. link: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDC143DF932A15757C0A966958260

3. newspaper / Associated Press article. "Quakers say Popeye too violent; Oatmeal ad campaign also seen as demeaning to women." By Bill Stieg, Associated Press. Published in the Boston Globe April 24, 1990. link: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=0EADDECF04DF9365&p_docnum=1&s_orderid=NB0108072013232502388&s_dlid=DL0108072013233931260&s_ecproduct=DOC&s_ecprodtype=&s_trackval=GooglePM&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_username=schavis&s_accountid=AC0105091618571105809&s_upgradeable=no

S. Chavis 18:33, 20 July 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Comics B-Class Assesment required
This article needs the B-Class checklist filled in to remain a B-Class article for the Comics WikiProject. If the checklist is not filled in by 7th August this article will be re-assessed as C-Class. The checklist should be filled out referencing the guidance given at Version 1.0 Editorial Team/Assessment/B-Class criteria. For further details please contact the Comics WikiProject. Comics-awb (talk) 17:17, 31 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Done - the article is under-sourced with whole sections lacking any references. (Emperor (talk) 18:54, 17 February 2009 (UTC))

Merge from "I Yam What I Yam"
I suggest that the article on I Yam What I Yam gets merged into this article. Although "I Yam What I Yam" seems to be important/notable, I couldn't find sources which prove its notability, respectively which would justify an article on its own. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Adrianwn (talk • contribs) 09:29, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Oppose -- This was the very first cartoon in the Popeye the Sailor series of theatrical cartoons which lasted through 1957. Yes, it was the second Popeye cartoon overall, but the first one was released as a Betty Boop cartoon. Steelbeard1 (talk) 10:51, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * And if Popeye is notable, how is one of his cartoons not notable? Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? 23:09, 19 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Oppose - Regards to Steelbeard.  Royal  Mate1  02:10, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Public Domain status?
So, Popeye was created in 1929 and his author died in 1938. And yet I don't hear he became PD, which probably means someone's claiming ownership over the character to this day. Can someone tell me what's going on?-- Ivo talk / contribs (join Project Portugal) 22:49, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
 * King Features Syndicate has been vigorously protecting its ownership of the character and of the Popeye trademark. There are some cartoons which have fallen into the public domain because United Artists TV failed to renew the copyright on some of the cartoons.  All three color Popeye specials in the the public domain in the USA for example.  The two articles with the Paramount Popeye cartoons do note which cartoons have fallen into the public domain in the USA.  They are List of Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoons (Fleischer Studios) and List of Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoons (Famous Studios). Steelbeard1 (talk) 23:10, 22 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Then, in theory, one may legally download and share those cartoons that fell under the PD, but due to King Features Syndicate claiming trademark over the character nobody can create derivative works based on him. Is that correct? It's a pretty sad world if corporations can just claim eternal ownership over characters they have nothing to do with.-- Ivo  talk / contribs (join Project Portugal) 02:56, 23 August 2008 (UTC)


 * According to today's The Times, the copyright expires on 31 Dec (in the EU, at least). After that date, there is nothing to stop people using and copying the Popeye artwork. However, the trademark is still registered with King Features Syndicate. Probably, the status of derived works will sadly only be decided by the courts. Bluewave (talk) 22:29, 30 December 2008 (UTC)


 * http://entertainment.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F01%2F04%2F1931214&from=rss--Kittyhawk2 (talk) 02:37, 5 January 2009 (UTC)
 * seeing as popeye is still made or atleast has been recently there is no reason it should enter PD soon--209.181.16.93 (talk) 20:40, 8 December 2009 (UTC)

Spinach=cannabis?
I have read on several sites (this beign one of those) thah "spinach" was common slang for marijuana (cannabis sativa) about the time the comic was created. should this be mentioned? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 200.90.231.232 (talk) 22:45, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I'd suggest against it without an extremely reliable source that discusses the slang term, demonstrates that the slang term had a significant usage (on a national level), and discusses it in relation to Popeye. Or find strong evidence that the usage of the slang term had a direct influence on the creators of the concept. Otherwise based on the arguments given at WP:HTRIV, this fact would fall under inappropriate information. -Verdatum (talk) 23:13, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I would have to agree with Verdatum. As funny as it would be to include this in the article, it needs a more reliable source. Not sure we could find one.MilkStraw532 (talk) 22:55, 26 October 2011 (UTC)