ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

Abelman, Frayne, &Schwab

On July 26, 1949, Hillerich & Bradsby Co. received a registration for their brand of baseball bat:

The year was 1884 and slugger Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning was in a slump. Browning, who had a career .341 batting average, was a star player with the Louisville Eclipse of the old American Association. Andrew "Bud" Hillerich was in the crowd that fateful day when Browning broke his favorite bat. Hillerich was playing "hooky" from the woodworking shop of his father, J. Frederick Hillerich, a German immigrant and craftsman.

After the game, "Bud" Hillerich invited Browning to come with him to the woodworking shop. He said that he was sure he could make a new bat for him. Browning agreed and he and young Hillerich picked out a fine piece of white ash and Hillerich went to work, using the skills his father had taught him. Browning directed Hillerich's efforts and periodically took practice swings with the bat while it was still under construction. Finally, after hours of work, Browning was happy with the new bat. He used it the next day and went three for three. From that day forward, Browning used a Hillerich bat. He spread the word to his Louisville teammates and soon everyone wanted a "Louisville Slugger" bat. Today, baseball stars from Derek Jeter to Ken Grffey, Jr. use Louisville Slugger bats.

On July 28, 1931, King Features Syndicate Inc. received a registration for the name of the comic strip character:

The year is 1929, January 17th, to be exact. A 10-year-old comic strip by Elzie Seagar: "The Thimble Theatre", which originally revolved around Olive Oyl's family, entertained a new character, not too brilliant, not too handsome, not too strong - it was a sailor, standing in the harbor - to the question: "ARE YOU A SAILOR" he replied: "Ja THINK I'M A COWBOY" -

Popeye quickly eclipsed older characters to become the star of the strip. With Popeye came a host of new, off-beat funny folks such as Swee'Pea, the "infink" Popeye adopted; J. Wellington Wimpy, the world's most hamburger-obsessed moocher; and Brutus, the hairy "heavy" with the glass jaw.

Popeye made the jump to the silver screen in a 1933 Betty Boop cartoon entitled, "Popeye the Sailor" from the Fleischer Studios. Nearly 600 Popeye cartoons were made and are still in worldwide syndication. The Fleischer Popeye cartoons can be seen today on the Superstation TBS and The Cartoon Network.

Popeye is an underdog with a long fuse and a keen sense of fair play. Everyone identifies with Popeye when he finally says, "Thas' all I can stands, 'cause I can't stands no more!"