Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for March 15, 2023

I AM in Manhattan, and even the bright lights of Broadway can’t help save this sinking ship of a story!

“Oh, ‘Turning Tables’! I didn’t know you liked Adele!!”

Good morning™, everyone!

More streets named after a Dick Tracy artist and writer, Locher and Collins. Anyway, this is why Archie came to Dick Tracy. Tracy knows the turf, way better than Archie ever would.

If Dick were in Manhattan with his slow as molasses pace, he’d be waiting on tables, not turning them over!

Is that weed the cabbie is smoking?

Hope he bought it legally!

I feel like I’m on a carousel going round and round and nowhere fast and when this seemingly never-ending ride will end…

I’ll be dam-ned if I know…

Let me say that the artwork is it’s usual stellar self.

See, I don’t just complain for the sake of complaining.

If Tracy was in Manhattan he would have the same experience as Clint Eastwood in “Coogan’s Bluff” — the cabbie would arrive at Tracy’s destination after passing Bloomingdales 3 times.

Some nosy coppers looking to make a bust.

Another Take starts the interrogation about 11 hours ago

@Gweedo it’s legal here Murray

How’d you ever discover that guy and who helped him put out 16 CDs worth of music???

firestrike1 continues it 9 minutes ago

@Gweedo it’s legal here Murray

yes, and how DID you run into Dave?… Taker and I want to know…

I believe that was his entire output from over the years and sadly, a bunch of it low grade audio. Electra not keeping him took away his top flight studio status. In ‘74 Dad and me went over to his brother Denny’s home, where I met step son David. So while Dad visited with D. and 2nd/current wife Pat, I was left with Dave and a couple of his guys. The legal, before it was, was passed and Mr. Peel’s “American Revolution” was given a spin. In ‘76, on the west coast, I was looking for that record, didn’t find it but got “Have A Marijuana”, which was an instant hit with roomie and friends. I now have the CD reissues of those records. Searching showed other content available. I ordered, received and I believe a note in the package stated that I was $5 short, but he sent it anyway. His phone number was on the card and so I called. My real worthwhile encounter with a “Real” Rock Star. :-)

Good morning™, inquisitors !

It is refreshing seeing Tracy gumshoeing the way a man in his line of work should be doing and not at the desk scarfing an endless cuppa joe and bulk packaged no name brand donuts.

Cabbie guy is forthcoming with the ‘four-one-one’. Good man.

Doesn’t Tracy have any stoolies to help him ?

“I had instructions to pick him up and take him to the corner of Locher an’ Collins”. The names on these streets…are they some point reference?

Now Goodwin and Tracy must go over to Checkerboard. They’re getting a lot of miles on the shoe leather.

Did anyone catch the inside joke there? I certainly did.

Thought they were Checker Cabs?!

Oh oh, looks to be a bit of rivalry between the detectives

A little more Wolfe background for you.

Wolfe’s household runs on a very clear timetable each day, though it is a little more relaxed on Sundays.

Wolfe has breakfast (served by Fritz, the chef/housekeeper) in his bedroom while wearing yellow silk pajamas; he hates to discuss work during breakfast, and if forced to do so insists upon not uttering a word until he has finished his glass of orange juice. Archie eats breakfast in the kitchen. If something has occurred to Wolfe in the night, he may summon Archie, Saul, or even Fred or Orrie or all of them to receive instructions for the day. Archie is sometimes excluded from briefings for the others, so he doesn’t always know what Wolfe is up to.

Afterwards, he works with his orchid-keeper Theodore Horstmann (who is rarely seen) in the plant rooms (on the top floor of the house, which hold up to 10,000 orchids) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. No appointments are allowed during this time, though Archie can sometimes discuss a case with him.

Lunch is usually at 1:15 p.m. Wolfe absolutely refuses to discuss business during meals, though he will convers on other topics with Archie and with any guests.

Wolfe returns to the plant rooms from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Again, no appointments are allowed.

Dinner is generally at 7:15 or 7:30 p.m. Again, no business will be discussed. While lunch will often be something quite fancy, dinner is a major production and there are often arguments about the exact method of preparation with Fritz earlier in the day.

The remaining hours, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and after dinner, are available for business, or for reading if there is no pressing business. Whether Archie can get Wolfe to actually do any work is an open question.

Many “business” meetings with clients or suspects will go very late into the night or early morning.

Sunday’s schedule is more relaxed, not least because Theodore often goes out.

I have been wondering why Archie needed a detective.

Love the artwork….

OT: You know you need rest in the county when you have a DT strip dream. Pretty sure I ordered up something restfful, probably having to do with pizza and a Shamrock Shake. I get comic strip in full color.

As I recall, Archie, there is one particular taxi driver you like to use often.

I don’t understand Tracy’s last remark. Can anybody enlighten me?

“Locher and Collins”…..goodness me!

btw, nice P2 work: THAT’S a busy runnin’ board there……..

I remember when cars and trucks had running boards you could sit or stand on. Sure kept the doors cleaner!

1-CABBIE: Beat it! Get your own – NO SHARESIES – CAPICHE?

2-…And get your foot off my hack and your crotch outta my face! This ain’t no shoe shine stand ya dam tourist!

3-ARCHIE: Uh, way to work that guy for info? I’m not sure how those facts help us find Nero though.

DT: True but now I know why I can never get a shoe shine at those mobile, yellow shoe shine stands. So not a total loss.

ARCHIE: Ummm, sure. Say, is there anyone else who might be able to help me. You seem really busy and all…

MOVIE QUOTE:

SHEMP:“There’s my face. And as pretty as a picture!”

MOE: “Yeah,of an ape!”

BRIDELESS GROOM—1947

When t hey finally find Wolfe.he probably won’t WANT to be rescued.

Check the places that serve Wolfe’s favorite food—-eventually he’ll “order out”.Great Panel 3.

I’m enjoying the oldschool detective work going on in this flashback story! As much as I love the far out Diet Smith and Lunarian adventures, seeing actual sleuthing is fun!

(screams) Picking up the new car today has been a flaming nightmare. It finally arrived and neither of us like the features that the demo unit had but this unexpectedly lacks. Now, on hugely windy and cold day, we get to drive across the city to see two others.

car shopping… one of life’s true pains-in-the-ass…

In Chicago,the bus doesn’t go straight down Michigan Avenue.You have to go back to State Street before you can find abus t hat goes complete North-South.

Or “Madison Street” from the RUGHEAD story—1954

Back in the day, Yellow Cab and Checker Cab were the two competing taxi companies in the city of Chicago (metaphorically Tracyville). Other, smaller cab companies prowled the suburbs. Nowadays, the taxi business is more complicated, with many players….

But for our detectives, it is fortunate that this cabby remembers Wolfe well, and the destination to which he transported the portly New Yorker.

Panel 3’s prickly banter seems to mirror that between Archie and Nero.

Carry on, detectives!