Gasoline Alley by Jim Scancarelli for June 25, 2009

marktrail just try to open Fat Tire, Mighty Arrow or any one of a number of microbrews without one!

I hadn’t heard that one. Now I have been educated: http://www.just-for-openers.org/Church-Key.html

Yes grampa, I know what a church key is

I never knew the suggested tool for opening oblong frozen-fruit (such as Fraser Vale strawberries/raspberries) was termed as “church key”!

Jim S. is himself of the era that knew and used “church keys.” He surely must also be aware that they have not been in general use for nearly four decades. Apparently he could not let that knowledge get in the way of a good line.

I never knew those things were called church keys.

Church keys? I’ve never heard them called anything else.

About anything imported requires one. I guess Ramona Lisa just has expensive taste in beer.

Being very closely related to a micro-micro-brewer, I can attest that the term is still in use among those who absorb this product. Maybe RamonaLisa bottles her own.

I keep one within reach because “You never know!”

How many of you remember that the “other” end was used to open metal cans?

I use one for my Samuel Adams

I remember the type of opener Jim has drawn mostly for punching the two triangular holes in big cans of Hi-C Juice Drinks.

Most of my beer-snob friends have either that type of opener or the loop-headed kind ready to hand. We’re a Killian’s-Guinness-Pete’s crowd and we tend to assume that any non-threaded cap requires an opener.

I do remember the giant Hi-C and Hawaiian Punch cans from my childhood, and using the pointy end of the opener on them.

They’re good for removing old grout and caulk.

Not quite four decades, NotFromIceland–I saw Fraser Vale frozen berry “packets” (the oblong kind, opened with “church key”) with instructions to use that same tool as late as 1979 in Calgary.

I know…I have asked before. Why does Ramona Lisa look like she is wearing diapers?

Got one on the table don’t have to twist that way

Those are “Daisy Dukes” Sid, aka short-shorts or hot pants.

We ussed that tool for evaporated milk cans. They didn’t have a rim that would work with other can openers. I didn’t learn the term “church key” till much later. As a minister’s daughter I was as naive as Slim.

Must be a lot of non-cooks and non-bartenders here. Church keys are still quite common and have many uses. Check out the section where kitchen utensils are sold in the grocery store.

Just thought I would mention that, for those who are interested in reading the strip for FRIDAY, JUNE 26 - you can find that at

HOUSTON COMICS at http://www.chron.com/apps/comics/showComics.mpl

Gasoline Alley is on the left, under black and white. Just scroll down to the comics beginning with G!

Also in the upper right hand corner of that web page - you will find instructions for building your own comics page. You can choose to view your favorite comics either four or six per page. Once you have your Comics page built, remember to bookmark the first page so that you can continue returning to your own personal comics lineup.

RE: Gasoline Alley, June 26, 2009 The scoundrel!

Thanks, Deborah, for the help, and it’s good to see you back. I always enjoy your comments, and feel that I haven’t seen any from you lately.

And commenting on today’s (2009/06/26) strip: wait till Upton finds out the computers are unupgraded 386’s (with 3.1) and the “silverware” is all plastic!

Where is June 26th’s Gasoline Alley??? I heeded a church key to open my last 24 bottle’s of Coor’s Lite, and expect to need it for the next 24, Mark Trail!

I used church keys, no self respecting beer drinker was without one.

Makes me think of Back To The Future; our boy trying to twist off a pop bottle cap…