Dick Tracy by Mike Curtis and Charles Ettinger for October 27, 2015

I freely admit that I am not a good poet. There are many here that speak more eloquently than I do. But, I can honestly say that when I first discovered this site, one of the things that made me want to be a part of it was seeing the comments from Vista Bill. This kind and considerate gentleman made me want to “join the conversation”. So, Thank You, Mr. Raley. Happy Birthday today, and many, many more! I know that I am merely one of many who celebrate you.

Young man, how does it feel to be 18?Remember that we are in the Midnite Mirror :)

What a thrill for old Vista Bill81 years beyond his birth.We like to see him on this boardFor whatever that might be worth.Gweedo brought some birthday punchCpalmer brought the cake.Rikki has just what you needSo enjoy, for goodness sake.Here’s to a grand celebrationWell-wishers offer affirmation.Light the candles. Make a wish.Extinguish that hot blaze.To Vista Bill we make a toastA blessing for all days.

Party Down in Tracytown!Tracyville is in high gear,for now has come that time of yearto concentrate on making preparations.No cost is spared to guaranteethat this event is sure to bethe greatest of all birthday celebrations.Rikki plans a gala festand Flintheart brings a special guest.The M.C.U. sends its congratulations.So let us join with them this day,that, one and all, we might conveyto Vista Bill our birthday salutations.Happy 81st Birthday, Vista Bill Raley!Best wishes from Jonathan K., Linda and Sue.Enjoy the Tracyville bash before moving on to the one at the cemetery.

.Good morning guys!.My 81st birthday has arrived!.

Didn’t take long for Gravel Gertie to put in her appearance.

Was today the day, Bill?

The countdown confused me.

My birthday gift from Jeff B.! Lenova lighted “clickly” (mechanical) keyboard for Comet!.

Before I forget…..

Boss Bacy has an attitude and a temper.

From Wikipedia, concerning the number 81 …

“In base 10, it is a Harshad number, and one of three non-trivial numbers (the other two are 1458 and 1729) which, when its digits are added together, produces a sum which, when multiplied by its reversed self, yields the original number”

And there you have it.

Mathematical Proof that VistaBill is Non-Trivial! :)

Happy birthday, Vista Bill. I’d have made you a picture, but I’ve been working overtime and I just can’t keep up. I wish you many, many more birthdays after this one.

“Bad Lizz” has no pupils.

So, Gertrude seems to be the receptionist at Boss Tracy’s gang headquarters and “The Chalice” is confirmed to be a private detective. I’m not sure who figured that out first.

By the way, Bill, you’re in good company.

Actress Sophia Loren turned 81 last month. :)

Oh, and I should say that Gertrude is the alter ego of our good friend Gravel Gertie who first appeared in the strip August 31, 1944. I think that’s when Vista Bill was about 10 years old, but my math isn’t good this time of day.

Happy Birthday, Bill. You’ve been young a long time. Thank You Pequod..for all your poetic input. Boss Macy is on a roll..

There seems to be a closely knit group of posters here, so I didn’t dare to join in for the big anniversary last year, but here goes. Happy birthday, Vista Bill!

Happy Birthday Vista Bill, from me too!

Wow! You guys have made my 81st a very, very happy day. I’m a year older now and it’s time for bed. Thanks everyone!

Call it a hunch, but somehow I suspect we’ll only see Tracy in silhouette for the duration of this story.

Happy Birthday, VB! Sorry I’m not as adept at putting in links to cakes and such, but many Happy Returns!-Blune.

Maybe we’ll see Boss Tracy clearly in the very last strip of this sequence, just as Dick wakes up from his nightmare.

Gweedo colorfully responded,we could use a decoration or two around the old clubhouse. *-———————————————————————-.Awesome, Gweedo! Be careful when you leave tonight!

Gweedo noticed,Don’t think I like this pinterest,-—————————————————————————.Opps! My ccp didn’t update! So, I provided a wrong reply to AnyFace. Sorry, guys! My new keyboard is great but it sets higher than I am accustomed to. I’m on a cloud at the moment anyway!

Hope next year is even better Vista Bill, you’re 11 years younger than my pop.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VISTA BILL, NUMBER 81!

Boss Tracy drinks a bit, has fits of rage, and (implicitly) enjoys a little hanky-panky with his sleazy moll, Lizz. Thank goodness this is the Midnite Mirror universe and not reality….

Happy birthday, Vista Bill!

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill!

I lurk here daily and post annually. I think the last time I posted was at last year’s birthday.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Vista Bill, Happy Birthday!!! You are one of the main reasons I even read the comments sir. No fancy fonts or other gifts for you other than a wish to see you post for many years to come !

@Vista Bill

I haven’t been a part of the comical banner that goes back and forth on this forum, but you and I go way back to the days before Annie was canceled. Anyway, I wish you the best on your 81st birthday!

Very Happy Birthday wishes to Vista Bill from North Carolina. !!!!

Happy Birthday Vista Bill. New to the scene but glad to meet you.

Funny how Anti-Lizz’s eyes in panel 2 more closely resemble Gould’s original artwork.

Happy birthday VB, from a longtime lurker!

Happy bDay, Vista Bill. Enjoy your day !

@**Vista Bill Raley**Happy 81st Birthday, Vista Bill!!

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill!

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill! Make it AWESOME!

Happy Birthday, VB! With Rikki at your side and the little blue pills, you are the envy of this neighborhood! Woo-hoo!

So, Flat Top is a ‘Dick’.

Happy Birthday Vista Bill! May it be a great one.

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill!

For you, @Vista Bill Raley, may this be the first of many more birthdays. I thought this card would be perfect.

It reminds me of an older cherokee woman, who has agreed to be my new dideyohvsgi (teacher) to learn Tsalagi (the Cherokee language.) Teach us, dideyohvsgi Bill. For the mature is more important to us, than all the rock stars, and sports legends.

http://www.spiritisup.com/mygoldenyearsrb.html

Boss Tracy has a short fuse, doesn’t he? Hmm…

I found this site about 1 year before Team Tracy took over the DT reins. At first, I scanned the comments sections of several strips. I soon stopped reading them all except DT comments. And Vista Bill has been one of the main reasons I have daily stopped at this wonderful family of friends and experts. Happy Birthday to a classy gentleman! May he have many, many more.

Good morning my friends.-—————*Happy Birthday Vista Bill. May God bless you with many more.-—————-Have a blessed day y’all.

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill!

I don’t know how to thank you guys for all the happy birthday wishes and nice comments! I’m overwhelmed with this and so very happy today! Thanks everyone!

This Tracy is left handed?!?

Happy Birthday Vista Bill; Ya got friends you don’t even know.

A very Happy Birthday to you, Vista Bill! I see you are also interested in trains, as well as typography. So am I! I don’t model, but I surely do enjoy watching the real trains roll by. And I am retired from the printing trades.

Happy 81st birthday, Vista Bill! You may not know me, because I post very rarely, but I hope that you have a wonderful birthday and pray that you have a blessed year to come.

Lizz has become very sexy!

… and one to grow on!

VistaBill,

From Myself, StillDaMan! and especially from someone who thinks you’re the best!

Here’s to another 81 my friend, stay young!!!

A bright welcome to you as well, @Ladykat. Enjoy your stay.

Okay, now it’s official…HAPPY BIRTHDAY VISTA BILL!

And now, back to our story:Could this be a dream induced by some kind of new “designer drug” – and the main story will be Tracy and Crew working to get this new drug off the streets?

Happy Birthday Vista Bill. Have a great day.

Happy Birthday, Vista Bill!

A Happy Birthday Vista Bill from Berkeley, California!:)

Thanks again guys, for all the wonderful comments and images that made my 81st birthday a truly happy one. If I did not reply to your comment individually, please forgive me. I read each and every one of them (several times).

AnyFace offered this,… and one to grow on!-—————————————————————————————.Wow!

TO THE GRAND MAN OF THE TRACY CLAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTA VISTA BILL RALEY!

As many before have said, a very happy birthday to our Vista Bill, and may you enjoy many more in good health, happiness and surrounded by those you love and those that love you. You are a remarkable beacon to us all.

VB! 121 posts today! And they are almost ALL for you! You got more hoo-rahs and friendly posts than Mattie did when he announced he was leaving the Board! Man, that’s some feat!

Atsiv Llib….have a very Happy Birthday in the the Tracy Mirror World…you are so famous here..and you’ve been young a long time, my friend!!

It’s late but I still want to add my HAPPY BIRTHDAY to VISTA BILL. Not everyone makes it to 81 but may you have many more. Stay healthy and keep enjoying all the things you do. Hope to see you still around at Tracy’s 100th anniversary in 2031.

I like to imagine that the Boss hesitated briefly before he said ‘detective’. There’s only one Dick in this town!