Scott and Dan hit up the comics racks from 76 years ago…
This week for RETRO HOT PICKS, Scott and I are selecting comics that came out the week of April 1, 1950.
Last time for RETRO HOT PICKS, it was the week of March 25, 1980. Click here to check it out.
(Keep in mind that comics came out on multiple days, so these are the issues that went on sale between March 29 and April 4.)
And, hey, check out that Walt Grogan banner! It’s the first time we’ve used the Golden Age version!
—
So, let’s set the scene: Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s disgraceful campaign of fear-mongering that ruined the lives of countless Americans and infected generations of U.S. foreign policy, had begun in earnest in February when he made accusations that communists had infiltrated the State Department. But McCarthy was just getting started.
This month alone, the Senate established a subcommittee that began investigating McCarthy’s claim. On March 21, the Republican told reporters that he had informed Senate investigators of “the name of the man — connected with the State Department — whom I consider the top Russian espionage agent in this country” — soon identified as Owen Lattimore. McCarthy was full of it, but he began piling on with more names and Lattimore, who had been stationed in Afghanistan, rushed back to the U.S. to fight the charges.
The senator’s unscrupulous assault was fully unleashed and by March 28 it had a name: McCarthyism, first used in the Christian Science Monitor. The next day, it got even wider exposure — thanks to Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herbert Block, aka Herblock:
Meanwhile, a Gallup Poll was released April 4 that showed 37 percent of Republicans — a large plurality — wanted former Gen. Dwight Eisenhower to be the GOP pick for president in 1952. Ohio U.S. Sen. Robert Taft finished second in the survey — 20 points behind. Also telling: A third of independents said they would vote for Eisenhower. For his part, Eisenhower hadn’t even decided to run — and it wasn’t even clear yet whether he was a Republican or a Democrat.
Hedy Lamarr
Francis — featuring Francis the Talking Mule and Donald O’Connor — was the most popular movie in the U.S. Other hits included Cecil B. DeMille’s Samson and Delilah, starring the magnificent genius Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature in the title roles, Disney’s Cinderella and the espionage classic The Third Man. Cheaper by the Dozen, starring Clifton Webb, Jeanne Crain and Myrna Loy, open this week, as did the musical The Daughter of Rosie O’ Grady — with Debbie Reynolds in her first speaking role.
Radio revenues dropped this season for the first time in 17 years, but it was still the primary source of home entertainment. Top shows included the anthology series Lux Radio Theater, Jack Benny, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, Fibber McGee & Molly, and My Friend Irma. One show was popular enough that on March 31, citizens of Hot Springs, New Mexico, voted to rename itself Truth or Consequences.
Television, however, was picking up steam: The first national Nielsen ratings were measured this month. Milton Berle’s Texaco Star Theatre was the most popular show, but two programs starring Arthur Godfrey also drew viewers, as did Ed Sullivan’s The Toast of the Town. Kids and adults alike thrilled to The Lone Ranger. One of my favorite shows as a young kid in the early ’70s was Beat the Clock, which premiered this month. I even had the home version.
On March 29, RCA gave the first demonstration of its color television system, in Washington, D.C. The system would ultimately become the standard for color broadcasting, rather than a competing version designed by CBS.
Music! Music! Music! by Teresa Brewer with the Dixieland All Stars, was the No. 1 hit song. There was also If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake, by Eileen Barton with Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Morty Craft; Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy, by Red Foley; The Cry of the Wild Goose, by Frankie Laine with Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer; and Rag Mop, by the Ames Brothers with Orchestra directed by Roy Ross.
It seemed like anyone who owned a turntable owned Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific original Broadway cast recording album, featuring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza.
—
Scott Tipton, contributor-at-large, 13th Dimension
Superboy #8, DC. Look, he can’t fight Darkseid every month, all right?
—
Blue Beetle #59, Fox. I like how Blue Beetle is in kind of a power shrug here. “I DON’T KNOW!? JUST BUY IT!”
—
Wonder Woman #41, DC. If you wanna be a serious PI, you know you have to have your name stenciled on your frosted glass window of the door.
—
World’s Finest Comics #46, DC. It’s the World’s Kitest Cover!
—
Dan Greenfield, editor, 13th Dimension
The Adventures of Bob Hope #3, DC. This series would last all the way to 1968. This one involves a beauty pageant at a beach, because of course it does.
—
Hedy of Hollywood Comics #38, Red Circle. No, not Hedy Lamarr, Hedy De Vine! Oh, come on Stan Lee, who were you kidding? Even her hairstyle was the same — you just made her a blonde! (Red Circle Magazines was part of the company that would become Marvel. Not the same Red Circle owned by Archie.)
—
Crime and Punishment #27, Lev Gleason. What’s with the panther?
—
Lady Luck #89, Quality. One of the great public-domain heroes of the Golden Age, created by Will Eisner, no less, with artist Chuck Mazoujian. Cover by Gill Fox.
—
Will Rogers #1, Fox. He never read a comic he didn’t like.
—
Black Cat Comics #23, Harvey. Why did this outfit work so much better for the Black Cat than it did for Catwoman years later?
—
Howdy Doody #3, Dell. I never realized just how creepy Clarabell was until now.
—
MORE
— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of March 25 — in 1980! Click here.
— RETRO HOT PICKS! On Sale The Week of March 18 — in 1957! Click here.
—
Comics sources: Mike’s Amazing World of Comics and the Grand Comics Database.