I remember when TVs and radios had tubes. When they quit on you, you would just open the back and look for the tubes that weren’t lit up when the power was on. Then you’d unplug it, pull the tubes, and then take them down to the drug store and test them on the tube tester. They had all the replacement tubes in the cabinet just below the testing panel.
If that didn’t work, you called the TV repairman and he would come to your house. TV’s must have been relatively expensive back then for that option to be cost effective. Life was good back then…there was much less waste. But of course the picture was always flipping and you had to adjust the horizontal hold.
Joe - You’re right. I like it alot better than the comics who merely do a recap of what’s gone on the week, or weeks (or months in the case of Dick Tracy) before.
Joel’s identical cousin Noel is the bishop (“Aunt Theodosia’s boy, Noel!”, GA, June 25-July 1, 2001). Unless Noel’s job description doesn’t require literacy, some members of Joel’s family had the smarts, ambition, and/or opportunity to learn to read.
That was really grand. NOW - if Go Comics would be able to offer an archive of G.A. strips going back to the 20s, 30s and 40s, something like that MIGHT be worth paying to have. Not only beautiful art work - but the war years dealt with some contemporary issues. THAT is the Gasoline Alley which I remember!
Devon, man, lighten up. We get the idea. We prefer the originals as well. But that doesnt keep us from enjoying the new characters. At least the current art team doesnt try to tell us that it was all a dream or that a time warp made them all you again. I’d much rather have legitimate new characters instead of them bastardizing (will net nanny bleep that? Only one way to find out) or illegitimizing them. At least the current team treats US with respect and gives us credit for having some bit of common sense. Consider what they could do. Walt is just suddenly young again, in the year 2010. That, my deathly friend, is when I call it quits. So just remember, it could be worse. Try and enjoy what we’ve got. It’s pretty durn good when you give it half a chance. And wonderful when you consider the alternative. Star Trek will never be right again.
And that goes for you as well, NotNorman! I see you out there, waiting to pounce!
What channels do you think Joel is picking up on his TV, when it’s working? I can’t imagine him having an HD converter box. Or a VCR, or cable for that matter. I see him sitting around an old console B&W, fiddling with the rabbit ears on top. Or Rufus crouched around back, adjusting things until Joel shouts out, “Now jes hold it there Rufus, dat’s fine!”
Those “old timey characters” are still there, just as you remember them– in the reprint books. Calling Scancarelli a “hack”? That’s just ridiculous. Having trouble avoiding the strip? Really? Why? I don’t like Garfield, and I haven’t read it in years.
Hey there everyone where TV and VCR are concerned I have a mom who is 84 and I do not want to try to convert her to HD. We here do use TV and VCR with tapes. I do a lop of tapping and where I live there is a TV repair place. We have a newer TV about 7 years old and the picture was changing. With the cost of TV it was at the time cheaper to get fixed and we did only cost us $110 better then paying $900? or so for a brand new set. Sad part the converter boxes do not last forever, we had to replace one already.
We may have to take our small TV, since it has a VCR built in the picture went out. Normally I would agree cheeper to buy new but what we need is not made.
My in-laws have the same problem. We live in a rural part of Kentucky and up until recently got their local channels off of the antenna. They’re still trying to learn to cope with the converter box.
Axe-grinder -
Easy there big fellah, don’t let him get you riled up. Some folks just don’t know any better. Problem with people like that is they don’t know how to let other people enjoy something when they lack the capacity to enjoy it themselves. A dog in the manger kind of thing.
Some folks havent learned that you should not criticize the work of another if you can’t do better yourself.
I’ve been reading this strip for 44 of my 50 years, and to me, characters like Rufus and Joel and Gertie, etc., are original. Sure, I miss Doc and Avery and Phyllis. But the name of the strip is Gasoline Alley, not “The Wallets.” Just as life itself involves an ever-shifting cast, should not a strip which emulates humanity reflect the same?
Meanwhile, let’s give Jim credit for being a master craftsman, truly one of the last of the trade. His storytelling is wonderful, and his artwork stands second to none.
Thank you, Jim, for giving us this refreshing, enlightening moment every day through your work!
oldbooger almost 15 years ago
Hooray! Gasoline Alley is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alondra almost 15 years ago
LOL they think thesaurus is some kind of dinosaur!
comic-reader almost 15 years ago
why o why do I keep coming back…
I guess addictions are hard to break
WaitingMan almost 15 years ago
In the last panel, the donkey looks like he’s thinking, “How did I get stuck pulling this idiot around?”
BuzzDog almost 15 years ago
Wow…I haven’t heard “get your TV fixed” in quite a number of years. Most people just throw it out and buy a new one!
axe-grinder almost 15 years ago
BuzzDog said, Wow…I haven’t heard “get your TV fixed” in quite a number of years. Most people just throw it out and buy a new one!
I remember having a TV and a CD player fixed back in the early 1990s, then realizing shortly after that it was no longer a cost-effective option.
jpozenel almost 15 years ago
I remember when TVs and radios had tubes. When they quit on you, you would just open the back and look for the tubes that weren’t lit up when the power was on. Then you’d unplug it, pull the tubes, and then take them down to the drug store and test them on the tube tester. They had all the replacement tubes in the cabinet just below the testing panel.
If that didn’t work, you called the TV repairman and he would come to your house. TV’s must have been relatively expensive back then for that option to be cost effective. Life was good back then…there was much less waste. But of course the picture was always flipping and you had to adjust the horizontal hold.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Joe - You’re right. I like it alot better than the comics who merely do a recap of what’s gone on the week, or weeks (or months in the case of Dick Tracy) before.
axe-grinder almost 15 years ago
I do hope for a wedding Sunday when Earl and Gertie tie the knot. We need the extra room for flowers and guests.
JanLC almost 15 years ago
jt, I remember the tube testers. I used to go with my dad to the drugstore. He would carry all of the tubes he wanted to test in an egg carton.
OldManMountain almost 15 years ago
Joel’s identical cousin Noel is the bishop (“Aunt Theodosia’s boy, Noel!”, GA, June 25-July 1, 2001). Unless Noel’s job description doesn’t require literacy, some members of Joel’s family had the smarts, ambition, and/or opportunity to learn to read.
436rge almost 15 years ago
Gasoline Allley Autumn Walks. Roger Clark Art. http://rogerclarkart.com/art/ga Wonderful album of Sunday walks from 1923-2006.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I had to get my tv fixed just the other day. We couldnt find anyone to take the puppies.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
436rge - The link didnt work exactly, but with a little bit of fiddling I did find this on the same site. Thanks!
http://rogerclarkart.com/htl/GA-AutumnWalk.html
DebJ4 almost 15 years ago
That was really grand. NOW - if Go Comics would be able to offer an archive of G.A. strips going back to the 20s, 30s and 40s, something like that MIGHT be worth paying to have. Not only beautiful art work - but the war years dealt with some contemporary issues. THAT is the Gasoline Alley which I remember!
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Devon, man, lighten up. We get the idea. We prefer the originals as well. But that doesnt keep us from enjoying the new characters. At least the current art team doesnt try to tell us that it was all a dream or that a time warp made them all you again. I’d much rather have legitimate new characters instead of them bastardizing (will net nanny bleep that? Only one way to find out) or illegitimizing them. At least the current team treats US with respect and gives us credit for having some bit of common sense. Consider what they could do. Walt is just suddenly young again, in the year 2010. That, my deathly friend, is when I call it quits. So just remember, it could be worse. Try and enjoy what we’ve got. It’s pretty durn good when you give it half a chance. And wonderful when you consider the alternative. Star Trek will never be right again.
And that goes for you as well, NotNorman! I see you out there, waiting to pounce!
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
What channels do you think Joel is picking up on his TV, when it’s working? I can’t imagine him having an HD converter box. Or a VCR, or cable for that matter. I see him sitting around an old console B&W, fiddling with the rabbit ears on top. Or Rufus crouched around back, adjusting things until Joel shouts out, “Now jes hold it there Rufus, dat’s fine!”
axe-grinder almost 15 years ago
Those “old timey characters” are still there, just as you remember them– in the reprint books. Calling Scancarelli a “hack”? That’s just ridiculous. Having trouble avoiding the strip? Really? Why? I don’t like Garfield, and I haven’t read it in years.
kab2rb almost 15 years ago
Hey there everyone where TV and VCR are concerned I have a mom who is 84 and I do not want to try to convert her to HD. We here do use TV and VCR with tapes. I do a lop of tapping and where I live there is a TV repair place. We have a newer TV about 7 years old and the picture was changing. With the cost of TV it was at the time cheaper to get fixed and we did only cost us $110 better then paying $900? or so for a brand new set. Sad part the converter boxes do not last forever, we had to replace one already. We may have to take our small TV, since it has a VCR built in the picture went out. Normally I would agree cheeper to buy new but what we need is not made.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
My in-laws have the same problem. We live in a rural part of Kentucky and up until recently got their local channels off of the antenna. They’re still trying to learn to cope with the converter box.
Durak Premium Member almost 15 years ago
Axe-grinder - Easy there big fellah, don’t let him get you riled up. Some folks just don’t know any better. Problem with people like that is they don’t know how to let other people enjoy something when they lack the capacity to enjoy it themselves. A dog in the manger kind of thing.
Some folks havent learned that you should not criticize the work of another if you can’t do better yourself.
alegator almost 15 years ago
I’ve been reading this strip for 44 of my 50 years, and to me, characters like Rufus and Joel and Gertie, etc., are original. Sure, I miss Doc and Avery and Phyllis. But the name of the strip is Gasoline Alley, not “The Wallets.” Just as life itself involves an ever-shifting cast, should not a strip which emulates humanity reflect the same? Meanwhile, let’s give Jim credit for being a master craftsman, truly one of the last of the trade. His storytelling is wonderful, and his artwork stands second to none. Thank you, Jim, for giving us this refreshing, enlightening moment every day through your work!