Popeye and Pals - Do We Really Know Them? Quiz

Answer: January 17, 1929

Popeye first appeared when he was hired by Olive Oyl's brother to take him on a ship voyage. He was meant to be a one-time character but readers like him. After a few weeks (and several fan letters) he was brought back and became a regular. January 17, 1929 marked the beginning of a civil war in Afghanistan; it's unlikely the introduction of Popeye had anything to do with it. Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935. December 7, 1941 was the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. June 6, 1944 is known as D-Day. Dates that will always be remembered... okay, maybe three of them.

Answer: Thimble Theater

The "Thimble Theatre" comic strip had run for 10 years when, in January 1929, cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar added Popeye as a temporary character. The "Thimble Theatre" strip was eventually renamed "Popeye."

Answer: Elzie Crisler Segar

Cartoonist Segar often "signed" his work with a drawing of a cigar (his name was pronounced SEEgar). Segar was only 43 when he died of leukemia and liver disease in October 1938. Allen Swift was a voice actor and the first host of New York City's WPIX TV show "Popeye Show." He hosted from 1956 to 1960.

Answer: He was Olive Oyl's boyfriend

The original newspaper comic strip "Thimble Theater" starred Olive Oyl and her boyfriend Harold Hamgravy. This went on for 10 years until Popeye arrived on the scene. Eventually Popeye became Olive's boyfriend and Harold appeared less and less... until he was gone forever.

Answer: He rubbed the feathers of Bernice the Whiffle Hen

Introduced in 1928, Bernice the Whiffle Hen would grant unbeatable luck to anyone who would rub her feathers. When Popeye was gunned down he kept rubbing her feathers until he fully recovered. There is a statue of Bernice the Whiffle Hen in the town of Chester, Illinois. Chester is the hometown of "Thimble Theater" creator Elzie Crisler Segar.

The Wiffle Hen was brought back (as the magical Whiffle Bird) in the 1960's made-for-television cartoons.

Answer: Poopdeck Pappy

Poopdeck Pappy was introduced in 1936. His first cartoon appearance was in 1938's "Goonland." The premise was that Popeye located his long-lost father and had to rescue him from the Goons. Poopdeck Pappy was a somewhat unsavory character; besides abandoning Popeye years earlier, he stole from Popeye's bank account, insults Olive Oyl, etc.

Answer: A Betty Boop cartoon

In 1933 Betty Boop was already established as a cartoon favorite so, therefore, Paramount thought it would be a good idea to tie in Popeye's film debut with her. Though it is primarily a Popeye cartoon, Betty does appear in the cartoon and does a hula dance with Popeye.

Answer: Bluto the Terrible

Bluto showed up in September 1932 for was meant to be one appearance in the "Thimble Theatre" comic strip. He was put back in service when Fleischer Studios needed an antagonist for their Popeye cartoon series that began in 1933.

Answer: a copyright mistake

When Paramount Pictures stopped producing new Popeye cartoons in 1957, people were under the (mistaken) impression that Paramount Pictures were copyright holders of the "Bluto" name. In fact, the name was retained by King Features (original owners). By the time this came to light the new name had already been established in comic books and new made-for-television cartoons. Though generally conceded to be the same guy, in several comic books Brutus was identified as Bluto's identical twin brother

Answer: Tuesday

"I will gladly pay you Tuesday... for a hamburger today." Wimpy was rarely used in the classic cartoons of the 1930s and '40s. He reemerged as a more-featured character in the 1960s made-for-television cartoons. 1934 a hamburger-restaurant chain called "Wimpy" was started in the U.S. using Wimpy's image.

It eventually grew to 26 restaurants. The last of these closed in 1977 due to competition and the death of the founder.