`Sweet Mamas` to `Bodacious` Hillbillies - TopSCHOLAR

Transcription

Western Kentucky University
TopSCHOLAR®
History Faculty Publications
History
2006
From ‘Sweet Mamas’ to ‘Bodacious’ Hillbillies: Billy
DeBeck’s Impact on American Culture
Anthony Harkins
Western Kentucky University, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/history_fac_pubs
Part of the American Popular Culture Commons, Appalachian Studies Commons, Social History
Commons, and the United States History Commons
Recommended Citation
Anthony Harkins, “From ‘Sweet Mamas’ to ‘Bodacious’ Hillbillies: Billy DeBeck’s Impact on American Culture,” Studies in American
Humor (New series 3, No. 14, 2006), 55-72.
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From
Hillbillies:
From"Sweet
"SweetMamas"
Mamas" to
to "Bodacious"
"Bodacious" Hillbillies:
Billy
BillyDeBeck's
DeBeck's Impact
Impact on
on American
American Culture
Culture
by
byAnthony
AnthonyHarkins
Harkins
Who's
the most
Who's the
most important
important man
man this
this country
countryever
everknew?
knew?
Who's
the man
manour
ourPresidents
Presidentstell
tellallall
their
troubles
Who's the
their
troubles
to?to?
No
No it
it isn't
isn't Mister
Mister Bryan
Bryan and
and ititisn't
isn'tMister
MisterHughes
Hughes
I'm
chance to
to introduce
introduce
I'm mighty
mightyproud
proudthat
thatI'm
I'm allowed
allowed aa chance
Barney
Google
with
his
goo-goo-googly
eyes.
Barney Google with his goo-goo-googly eyes.(Rose)
(Rose)
As
hit-song
"Barney
As the
the creator
creatorof
ofthe
theinspiration
inspirationfor
forthe
the
hit-song
"BarneyGoogle"
Google"
of
1923
whose
refrain
is
still
widely
known
today,
Billy
(William
Morgan)
of 1923 whose refrain is still widely known today, Billy (William Morgan)
DeBeck's
prominent place
among American
American cartoonists
cartoonists has
long been
been
DeBeck's prominent
place among
has long
assured.
In
the
1920s
and
1930s
he
gained
international
recognition
for
assured. In the 1920s and 1930s he gained international recognition for
his
continuities, and
and
his striking
strikingdrawing
drawingstyle,
style,panoramic
panoramic layouts,
layouts, innovative
innovative continuities,
numerous
numerous contributions
contributionstotothe
theAmerican
Americanlexicon
lexiconincluding
includingphrases
phrasessuch
suchas
as
0'
fire,"
and
"times
"sweet
marna,"
"heebie
j
eebies,"
"hotsy
totsy,"
"balls
"sweet mama," "heebie jeebies," "hotsy totsy," "balls o' fire," and "times
a'a' wastin'."
The National
National Cartoonist
Cartoonist Society
Society prize
prize for
for Cartoonist
Cartoonist of
of the
the
wastin'." The
Year
was
originally
named
the
"Billy
DeBeck
Award"
(it
was
renamed
the
Year was originally named the "Billy DeBeck Award" (it was renamed the
Reuben
and he
he is
is among
among the
the elite
Reuben Award
Award for
forRube
Rube Goldberg
Goldberg in
in 1954),
1954), and
elite twenty
twenty
cartoonists
thethe
Postal
Service's
cartooniststotobebeincluded
includedinin
Postal
Service's1995
1995"Comic
"ComicStrip
StripClassics"
Classics"
1
stamp
strips and
and their
their creators.
stampseries
series celebrating
celebrating American
American comic
comic strips
creators.1
Yet
is important
important for
YetDeBeck
DeBeck is
for more
more than
thanjust
justhis
hisenormously
enormouslycreative
creative
use
of
language
or
his
mastery
of
both
the
daily
gag
and
the
suspensefully
use of language or his mastery of both the daily gag and the suspensefully
developed
strip
developed story
story line.
line. Although
Although not
not one
one of
of the
the pioneers
pioneers of
of the
the comic
comic strip
such
Outcault, Jimmy
Jimmy Swinnerton,
he was
was
such as
as Richard
Richard Outcault,
Swinnerton, or
or Winsor
Winsor McCay,
McCay, he
aa central
figure
in
the
medium's
rise
from
an
occasional
pleasure
in
a
central figure in the medium's rise from an occasional pleasure in a few
few
big
big city
citynewspapers
newspapers to
to aa mainstay
mainstay of
of American
American cultural
cultural life.
life. In
In the
the nearly
nearly
23
(later renamed
renamed
23 years
years that
thathe
heproduced
produced his
his famous
famous strip
stripBarney
Barney Google
Google (later
Barney
andSnuffy
Snuffy Smith
Smith and
andfinally
finally just
just Snuffy
Snuffy Smith)
Barney Google
Google and
Smith )he
hecontinuously
continuously
reinvented
reinventedhis
hiscreation
creationtotoa adegree
degreeunmatched
unmatchedby
byany
anyof
ofhis
hiscontemporaries,
contemporaries,
adding
remaking his
his comic
comicstrip
stripin
in aa way
waythat
that captured
captured the
the
adding new
new characters
characters and
and remaking
radically
distinct
eras
- the
"Roaring
radically different
differentzeitgeists
Zeitgeistsofofthree
three
distinct
eras
- the
"RoaringTwenties,"
Twenties,"
the
Great
Depression,
and
the
World
War
II
years.
Nor
is
his
significance
the Great Depression, and the World War II years. Nor is his significance
limited
pages.
limitedonly
onlytotothe
thefunny
funny
pages.As
Asthe
theUnited
UnitedStates
Statesbecame
became an
an ever
ever more
more
commercialized
and consumerist-oriented
consumerist-orientedsociety,
society, the
the dramatic
dramatic rise
riseof
ofthe
the
commercialized and
of
the
mass
media
led
to
the
breakdown
scope,
influence,
and
legitimacy
scope, influence, and legitimacy of the mass media led to the breakdown of
of
formerly
unquestioned
"brow
formerly
unquestionedcultural
cultural
"browlevel"
level"distinctions.
distinctions.DeBeck's
DeBeck's personal
personal
55
55
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56
56
,r
/'
L
-.---Billy
Beck, sketch
sketch of
of Snuffy
Snuffy Smith
Billy De
De Beck,
Smith inside
inside back
back
cover
on
endpaper,
George
Washington
Harris,
Sut
cover on endpaper, George Washington Harris, Sut
DeBeck
Becklibrary.
library. Courtesy
Courtesy
Lovingood
Yarns (1867),
Lovingood Yarns
(1867), De
James
Branch
Cabell
Library,
Virginia
Commonwealth
James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth
57
57
shift
yet financially
highly
shiftfrom
fromananaspiring
aspiring"fine
"finearts"
arts"painter
paintertotoa a"debased"
"debased" yet
financially highly
successful
cartoonist
perfectly
reflected
this
broader
transformation.
successful cartoonist perfectly reflected this broader transformation.
Born
initially dreamed
BornininChicago
Chicago in
in 1890,
1890, DeBeck
DeBeck initially
dreamed of
of becoming
becoming
aa serious
painter
and
attended
the
Chicago
Academy
of
Fine
Arts
after
serious painter and attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts after
graduating
graduatinghigh
highschool
school in
in1908.
1908. Yet
Yet he
hehad
hadalways
always been
been drawn
drawn to
to cartooning,
cartooning,
copying
McCutcheon,
copying the
thestyles
stylesofofChicago
ChicagoTribune
Tribuneeditorial
editorialcartoonist
cartoonistJohn
John
McCutcheon,
"When
Friend"creator
creator Clare
ClareBriggs,
Briggs,and
andillustrator
illustrator
"When aa Feller
Feller Needs
Needs aa Friend"
Charles
Gibson(Walker
(Walker9).2
9).2Although
Althoughhehelater
lateradvised
advisedstudents
studentsof
ofhis
his
Charles Dana
Dana Gibson
correspondence
course
on
cartooning
"First
learn
how
to
draw-then
go
to
correspondence course on cartooning "First learn how to draw - then go to aa
good
andget
getaafirm
firm foundation
foundationininthe
thearts,"
arts,"his
hiscoursework
coursework
good art
art school
school and
at at
thethe
Chicago
endedafter
after only
Chicago Academy
Academy ended
only two
two years
years once
once he
he saw
saw how
how big
big an
an impact
impact
his
caricatures
of
models
had
on
his
fellow
art
students
(Sheridan
36,
his caricatures of models had on his fellow art students (Sheridan 36, 37).
37).
DeBeck
thus made
the fateful
illustrator and
DeBeck thus
made the
fatefuldecision
decision to
tobecome
become aa newspaper
newspaper illustrator
and
cartoonist,
but
success
came
only
after
years
of
slowly
developing
his
craft.
cartoonist, but success came only after years of slowly developing his craft.
He
as aa staff
staff artist
ShowWorld
World
He got
got his
his first
firstprofessional
professional job
job as
artist with
with the
theChicago
Chicago Show
theatrical
with the
Telegram(1910(1910theatrical weekly,
weekly, then
then aa position
position with
the Youngstown
Youngs town (PA)
(PA) Telegram
1912)
as
a
political
and
sports
illustrator,
and
finally
a
political
cartoonist
1912) as a political and sports illustrator, and finally a political cartoonist
job
job with
with the
thePittsburgh
PittsburghGazette-Times
Gazette-Times that
that he
he held
held until
until 1914.
1914. Returning
Returning to
to
Chicago,
he
began
to
teach
cartooning
through
a
correspondence
course
and
Chicago, he began to teach cartooning through a correspondence course and
atatnights
Fine
Arts
Academy.
these
same
nightsatatthe
the
Fine
Arts
Academy.InIn
these
sameyears,
years,heheproduced
producedseveral
several
short-lived
short-livedcartoon
cartoonseries
seriesincluding
includingFinn
Finnan'
anHaddie
'Haddie for
forthe
theAdams
AdamsSyndicate
Syndicate
and
thelatter
latterfeaturing
featuring aa
andMarried
Married Life
Life for
forthe
theChicago
Chicago Herald
Herald (1915-1918),
(1915-1918), the
theme
themetotowhich
whichhe
hewould
wouldrepeatedly
repeatedly tum:
turn:a ahenpecked,
henpecked, diminutive
diminutive husband
husband
desperately
trying
to
escape
the
clutches
of
his
controlling
wife.
DeBeck
desperately trying to escape the clutches of his controlling wife. DeBeck
replaced
Life for
for aa short
short time
new strip,
strip, O
Olie
and
replaced Married
Married Life
time with
with aa new
lie Moses
Moses and
oO'Mara
'Mara Inc.,
Inc., about
aboutclothing
clothingsalesmen
salesmenwho
whorelocate
relocatetotoglamorous
glamorousHollywood.
Hollywood.
Finally,
in
1919,
he
launched
in
the
Chicago
Herald
&
Examiner
the
strip
that
Finally, in 1919, he launched in the Chicago Herald & Examiner the strip
that
would
- - Take
wouldmake
makehim
himfamous
famousand
andwealthy
wealthy
TakeBarney
BarneyGoogle
GoogleF'rinstance
F'rinstance
(soon
thereafter
renamed
simply
Barney
Google)
that
ran
for
several
(soon thereafter renamed simply Barney Google ) that ran for several years
years
on
the
sports
pages
before
moving
to
the
"funnies
page"
in
most
newspapers
on the sports pages before moving to the "funnies page" in most newspapers
(Walker
(Walker 10).
10).
Cultural
Cultural historians
historians have
have long
long argued
argued that
that the
theera
erabetween
between the
theworld
world
wars
fundamental transformation
transformation in American
culture, one
onethat
that
wars marked
marked a fundamental
American culture,
saw
the
rise
of
mass
(or
proto-mass)
cultural
forms
such
as
motion
pictures,
saw the rise of mass (or proto-mass) cultural forms such as motion pictures,
radio
and aa discernible
discernibleshift
shift from
from aa
radio programs
programs and
and syndicated
syndicated newspapers
newspapers and
citizenry
(whether farmers,
farmers, factory
factory
citizenrythat
thatsaw
saw itself
itself primarily
primarily as
as producers
producers (whether
workers,
or
bankers)
to
one
increasingly
self-identified
as
consumers
workers, or bankers) to one increasingly self-identified as consumers
(including
(includingof
ofthe
themedia)
media)(Kammen,
(Kämmen,Susman,
Susman,Dumenil).
Dumenil).Olie
OlieMoses
Moses and
and
O'Mara,
Inc.
and
the
various
incarnations
of
Barney
Google
reflected
O 'Mara, Inc. and the various incarnations of Barney Google reflected
DeBeck's
innate understanding
understanding of
of the
the expanding
place of
ofcommercialized
commercialized
DeBeck's innate
expanding place
58
58
Daddy Acting
Acting
Justin
JustinHoward,
Howard,"Sut
"SutLovingood's
Lovingood's Daddy
Horse,"
Sut
Lovingood
Yarns
by
George
Washington
Horse," Sut Lovingood Yarns by George Washington
Harris
Harris(New
(NewYork:
York:Dick
Dick&& Fitzgerald,
Fitzgerald,1867).
1867).
59
59
entertainment
entertainmentand
andthe
theculture
cultureof
ofcelebrity
celebrityworship
worshipininAmerica.
America. The
The former
former
strip,
after
all,
explicitly
showed
this
transformation,
as
the
two
clothing
strip, after all, explicitly showed this transformation, as the two clothing
proprietor
proprietorprotagonists
protagonistssuddenly
suddenlyrelocate
relocatetotoHollywood
Hollywood and
and move
move into
into the
the
motion
picture
industry,
with
cameos
by
stars
such
as
Charlie
Chaplin,
Mary
motion picture industry, with cameos by stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Mary
Pickford,
Pickford,and
andDouglas
DouglasFairbanks.
Fairbanks. Similarly,
Similarly,Take
TakeBarney
BarneyGoogle
GoogleF'rinstance
F 'rinstance
initially
centered
on
the
title
character's
desire
to
escape
his
wife
initially centered on the title character's desire to escape his wifeand
andwatch
watch
the
Jess
Willard-Jack
Dempsey
training
sessions
for
their
big
boxing
match.
the Jess Willard-Jack Dempsey training sessions for their big boxing match.
Countless
featured boxing
Countless later
laterepisodes
episodes also
also featured
boxing matches,
matches, horse
horse races,
races, and
and
celebrity
sightings
(Walker
10,
20).
celebrity sightings (Walker 10, 20).
Barney
BarneyGoogle
Google (as
(as ititwas
wassoon
soonrenamed)
renamed)quickly
quicklybecame
becameaasuccessful
successful
strip
and
King
Features
Syndicate,
with
typical
hyperbole,
trumpeted
thenew
new
strip and King Features Syndicate, with typical hyperbole, trumpeted the
creation
wonders of
of the world" the advertisement
creationin
in1920:
1920: "There
"There are seven
seven wonders
advertisement
boasted,
"-and
'Barney
Google'"
(Walker,
24).
It
was,
however,
DeBeck's
boasted, " - and 'Barney Google'" (Walker, 24). It was, however, DeBeck's
July
naggiven
giventotoBarney
Barney
July17,
1 7,1922
1 922introduction
introductionof
ofSpark
SparkPlug,
Plug, aa bow-legged
bow-legged nag
by
his fall
fall out
out aa window,
window,that
thatmarked
markedthe
the
byaagrateful
gratefulman
man after
afterBarney
Barney breaks
breaks his
beginning
ofDeBeck's
rise
to
fame
and
fortune.
Though
nearly
the
complete
beginning of DeBeck's rise to fame and fortune. Though nearly the complete
opposite
and scruffy
opposite of
ofwhat
whata arace
racehorse
horseshould
shouldlook
looklike
like- - sagging
sagging and
scruffyinstead
instead
of
ofsvelte,
svelte,and
andcovered
coveredby
byaaragged
raggedhorse
horseblanket
blanketemblazoned
emblazoned with
with his
his name
name
that
it
wears
even
when
racing
Spark
Plug
improbably
wins
the
Abadaba
that it wears even when racing - Spark Plug improbably wins the Abadaba
Stakes
Stakesrace
raceand
andits
its$50,000
$50,000 prize.
prize.The
Therelationship
relationshipbetween
betweenBarney
Barneyand
andSpark
Spark
Plug
was
often
a
contentious
one
Barney
freely
kicked
his
horse
in
the
Plug was often a contentious one - Barney freely kicked his horse in the
rear
him or
or hired
hired him
him out
out to
to raise
raise money
moneyand
and"Sparky"
"Sparky"
rearwhen
when he
he disappointed
disappointed him
(as
Barney
fondly
called
him)
lost
more
races
than
he
won.
But
DeBeck
(as Barney fondly called him) lost more races than he won. But DeBeck also
also
was
able
to
establish
a
genuine
emotional
bond
between
the
two
and
this
was able to establish a genuine emotional bond between the two and this
mixture
madethe
the strip
strip aa
mixtureof
ofpathos,
pathos,adventure,
adventure,and
and"main
"mainchance"
chance" schemes
schemes made
major
success
with
all
walks
of
American
life
(Walker,
35,
45;
Goulart
major success with all walks of American life (Walker, 35, 45; Goulart21).
21). A
A
reporter
sent
to
interview
Judge
Elbert
Gary,
the
Chairman
of
United
States
reporter sent to interview Judge Elbert Gary, the Chairman of United States
Steel,
when Gary
Gary opened
openedthe
the session
sessionby
byasking,
asking,
Steel, for
forexample,
example,was
was amazed
amazed when
"Will
Barney
Google's
Spark
Plug
win
the
International
Derby?"
Gary
went
"Will Barney Google's Spark Plug win the International Derby?" Gary went
on
thatthe
the question
questionhad
hadarisen
arisen
a recent
on to
toinform
informthe
theastonished
astonished newsman
newsman that
atat
a recent
Board
of
Directors
meeting
because
everyone
on
the
Board
read
the
Board of Directors meeting because everyone on the Board read the comics
comics
("Funny
("Funny Strips"
Strips" 18).
18).
As
As Brian
BrianWalker
Walkernotes,
notes,DeBeck's
DeBeck's creation
creation of
ofSpark
SparkPlug
Plugalso
alsoproved
proved
totobe
a
"merchandising
bonanza"
as
DeBeck
and
his
syndicate
authorized
be a "merchandising bonanza" as DeBeck and his syndicate authorized
all
all manner
manner of
ofcommercial
commercial products
products from
from toys
toysand
and games
games to
to knick
knick knacks
knacks
totopopular
songs
from
the
eponymous
smash
hit
to
the
far
less
successful
popular songs from the eponymous smash hit to the far less successful
tunes
and "So
"So II took
took the
the $50,000"
(Walker35,
35,85).
85).
tunes"Come
"Come On
On Spark
Spark Plug!"
Plug!" and
$50,000" (Walker
DeBeck
himself
in
1924
noted
in
amazement
that
"[a]ll
over
the
United
States
DeBeck himself in 1 924 noted in amazement that "[a]ll over the United States
you
and Spark
SparkPlug
Plugdrums
drums
you find
findstuffed
stuffedSpark
SparkPlugs
Plugsand
andSpark
Spark Plug
Plug games
games and
60
60
and
and Spark
Spark Plug
Plug tin
tin pails.
And there
there is
is aa Spark
andSpark
Spark Plug
Plug balloons
balloons and
pails. And
Spark Plug
Plug
play
on
the
road.
The
only
thing
that
is
lacking
is
a
Spark
Plug
grand
opera"
play on the road. The only thing that is lacking is a Spark Plug grand opera"
(Walker
so synonymous
synonymous with
with the
(Walker 35).
35). Spark
Spark Plug
Plug was
was so
so popular
popular and
and became
became so
the
Sunday
funnies,
that,
according
to
one
scholar,
his
name
became
a
common
Sunday funnies, that, according to one scholar, his name became a common
nickname
for children
were comic
comicstrip
stripdevotees
devotees- -most
most
famously
the
nickname for
children who
who were
famously
in in
the
case
of
Charles
"Sparky"
Schulz
of
Peanuts
fame
(Markstein).
Clearly,
Spark
case of Charles "Sparky" Schulz of Peanuts fame (Markstein). Clearly, Spark
Plug's
was an
animportant
important antecedent
antecedent to
to future
future promotional
promotional
Plug's merchandising
merchandising was
product
toys, songs,
songs,and
andfilms
filmstied
tiedto
to cartoon
cartoonor
oranimation
animation
product streams
streams of
of games,
games, toys,
characters
from
Schulz's
own
Snoopy
to
Garfieldto
the
PowerpuffGirls
and
characters from Schulz 's own Snoopy to Garfield to the Powerpuff Girls and
Sponge
Square Pants
Pants of
of today.
today.
Sponge Bob
Bob Square
Spark
Plug's
popular
success
led DeBeck
DeBecktototransform
transform the
Spark Plug's popular success led
thepreviously
previously
lower
middle-class
Barney
Google
(reminiscent
of
Chaplin's
"Little
lower middle-class Barney Google (reminiscent of Chaplin's "LittleTramp"
Tramp"
persona)
into an
representative
nouveau
riche.
With
persona) into
an almost-respectable
almost-respectable representative
ofofthe
the nouveau
riche.
With
his
silk
top
hat
and
tails
and
expensive
cigars,
Google
now
epitomized
the
his silk top hat and tails and expensive cigars, Google now epitomized the
stereotypical
"the
Roaring
Twenties."
DeBeck's
stereotypicalfreewheeling
freewheelinglifestyle
lifestyleofof
"the
Roaring
Twenties."
DeBeck's plot
plot
lines
exploited
popular
fads
of
the
day
from
flagpole
sitting
to
swimming
lines exploited popular fads of the day from flagpole sitting to swimming
the
Gertrude Ederle's
1926feat
feat that
that
theEnglish
EnglishChannel
Channel (Spark
(Spark Plug
Plug matched
matched Gertrude
Ederle's 1926
same
his comic
strip contemporaries
same year)
year) (Walker
(Walker 96).
96). Unlike
Unlike his
comic strip
contemporaries Walt
WaltWallet
Wallet
of
Gasoline
Alley
and
Andy
Gump
of
The
Gumps
whose
typical
middle
of Gasoline Alley and Andy Gump of The Gumps whose typical middleclass
class
lives
focus
on
family
and
home,
Barney
skirts
Prohibition
restrictions,
chases
lives focus on family and home, Barney skirts Prohibition restrictions, chases
flappers,
flappers,hangs
hangsout
outinindisreputable
disreputablelocales
locales such
such as
as sports
sports bars
bars and
and racetracks,
racetracks,
and
pursues
countless
"get
rich
quick"
schemes,
although
usually
with little
little
and pursues countless "get rich quick" schemes, although usually with
success.
much of
of Barney's
appealstems
stems from
from his
his avoidance,
avoidance, ifif not
not
success. Indeed,
Indeed, much
Barney's appeal
outright
repudiation,
of
the
traditional
commitment
to
family,
marriage,
and
outright repudiation, of the traditional commitment to family, marriage, and
slow
As Gilbert
Gilbert Seldes
Seldessimultaneously
simultaneously
slow but
but steady
steady economic
economic advancement.
advancement. As
lamented
and
boasted
in
his
1924
essay,
"The
'Vulgar'
Comic
lamented and boasted in his 1 924 essay, "The 'Vulgar' Comic Strip,"
Strip," Barney
Barney
Google
(along
with
Mutt
of
Mutt
and
Jeff,
Jiggs
of
Bringing
up
Father,
and
Google (along with Mutt of Mutt and Jeff, Jiggs of Bringing up Father, and
the
s] so
little respect
for law,
thetitle
titlecharacter
characterininAbie
Abiethe
theAgent,)
Agent,)"ha[
"ha[s]
so little
respect for
law, order,
order,
the
rights
of
property,
the
sanctity
of
money,
the
romance
of
marriage,
and
the rights of property, the sanctity of money, the romance of marriage, and
all
ofAmerican
Americanlife,
life,that
thatififthey
theywere
wereput
putinto
intofiction
fiction
all the
the other
other foundations
foundations of
the
Society
for
the
Suppression
of
Everything
would
hale
them
incontinently
the Society for the Suppression of Everything would hale them incontinently
totocourt
courtand
andour
ourmorals
moralswould
wouldbe
besaved
savedagain"
again" (201).
(201).
DeBeck's
socialportrait
portrait in
in Barney
BarneyGoogle,
Google,itithardly
hardlyneeds
needssaying,
saying,
DeBeck's social
represented
almost
exclusively
the
perspective
of
urban
white
male
America
represented almost exclusively the perspective of urban white male America
(a(a view
in nearly
strips of
view exhibited
exhibited in
nearly all
all the
the comic
comic strips
of that
thatera).
era). Barney
Barney not
not only
only
hangs
out
at
long-established
male
bastions
such
as
boxing
rings,
racetracks,
hangs out at long-established male bastions such as boxing rings, racetracks,
fraternal
fraternallodges,
lodges,and
andsaloons,
saloons,he
helives
livesaabachelor
bachelor existence
existence despite
despite remaining
remaining
married
few
months
the
strip,
hehe
"escapes"
married to
tohis
his wife.
wife. After
Afterthe
thefirst
first
few
monthsofof
the
strip,
"escapes" from
from
her
(she
is
described
in
the
song
"Barney
Google"
as
being
"three
times
his
her (she is described in the song "Barney Google" as being "three times his
size"
oftendepicted
depictedher
herbearing
bearingaarolling-pin
rolling-pinasasaapotential
potentialcudgel)
cudgel)
size" and
and DeBeck
DeBeck often
61
61
and
andpursues
pursues an
an endless
endless stream
stream of
offlapper-like
flapper-like"sweet
"sweetmamas."
mamas." Furthermore,
Furthermore,
though
Google
is
at
times
the
butt
of
jokes
for
his
squat
size
though Google is at times the butt of jokes for his squat size and
and bulging
bulging
of control
control over
over the
the minority
minority characters
eyes,
in aa position
eyes, he
he isis always
always in
position of
characters that
that
occasionally
appeared
in
the
strip,
always
as
servants
or
hirelings
of
whites.
occasionally appeared in the strip, always as servants or hirelings of whites.
DeBeck
made his
his racially
raciallysuperior
superiorstatus
statusmost
mostexplicit
explicitininhis
hisrelationship
relationship
DeBeck made
with
his
pint-sized
and
simple-minded
but
ever-loyal
jockey,
Sunshine,
whose
with his pint-sized and simple-minded but ever-loyal jockey, Sunshine, whose
favorite
favoriteexpression,
expression,"You
"You sho
sho am
am aa smaht
smahtman,
man,mistah
mistahGoogle,"
Google," sums
sums up
up the
the
subservient
subservientcomic
comic foil
foil role
role he
heplayed
played in
in the
thestrip
strip(Walker
(Walker86-7V
86-7).3
Despite,
Despite, or
orperhaps
perhapsbecause
because of,
of, his
his refusal
refusaltotoabide
abideby
bysocial
social
conventions
conventionsand
andresponsibilities,
responsibilities,Barney
BarneyGoogle
Googlebecame
became one
one of
of the
theera's
era's
leading
strips
and
DeBeck
one
of
the
busiest
and
wealthiest
practitioners
leading strips and DeBeck one of the busiest and wealthiest practitioners
4 AA
of
1933
estimated that
that
ofhis
hiscraft.
craft.4
1933Fortune
Fortunearticle
articleon
on the
thecomics
comics business
business estimated
DeBeck
was then
then earning
earning $1200
weekatatthe
the heart
heart of
of the
the Depression
DeBeck was
$1200 aa week
Depression
and
a
1940
article
reported
that
his
strip
was
carried
by
210
papers
with
and a 1940 article reported that his strip was carried by 210 papers with
aa combined
combined circulation
circulationof
often
tenmillion
million("The
("TheFunny
FunnyPapers"
Papers" 49;
49; "Barney
"Barney
Google's
Birthday"
60).
His
lifestyle
of
a
sports-crazed
bon
vivant
reflected
Google's Birthday" 60). His lifestyle of a sports-crazed bon vivant reflected
his
status. He
He rubbed
rubbed shoulders
shouldersand
and
hisnewfound
newfound wealth
wealth and
and quasi-celebrity
quasi-celebrity status.
played
played golf
golfwith
withthe
thelikes
likesof
ofBabe
BabeRuth,
Ruth,Jack
JackDempsey,
Dempsey,and
andGene
Gene Tunney
Tunney
asas well
as
sports
writers
Damon
Runyon
and
Grantland
Rice.
He
married
well as sports writers Damon Runyon and Grantland Rice. He married
and
to the
woman), wintered
wintered in
in aa1414and divorced
divorced and
and remarried
remarried (once
(once to
the same
same woman),
room
estate
in
Florida,
and
lived
in
Paris
in
the
late
1920s
(Walker
77-81,
room estate in Florida, and lived in Paris in the late 1920s (Walker 77-81,
83;
Birthday," 60;
83; "Barney
"Barney Google's
Google's Birthday,"
60; Hartzell).
Hartzell). And
And he
he was
was not
not alone
alone among
among
cartoonists.
cartoonists. Though
Though their
theirtone
tonewas
was often
often one
one of
ofincredulity,
incredulity,numerous
numerouspress
press
of
these
daily
"pen
and
pencil
accounts
reported
on
the
astounding
wealth
accounts reported on the astounding wealth of these daily "pen and pencil
humorists"
humorists"and
andthe
theincredible
incredibleinfluence
influencethey
theyseemed
seemedtotohold
holdover
overallallclasses
classes
ofthe
American
public
("Sprightly
Comics").
In
1933,
Fortune
listed
fifteen
of the American public ("Sprightly Comics"). In 1 933, Fortune listed fifteen
cartoonists
or more
week for
for their
their art
cartoonistswho·
whomade
made $1000
$1000 or
more aa week
art("The
("The Funny
Funny
Papers").
That same
same year,
year, writer
marveled that
that the
Papers"). That
writer William
William Berchtold
Berchtold marveled
the entire
entire
universe
of
syndicated
cartoonists
could
fit
into
the
chamber
of
the
House
universe of syndicated cartoonists could fit into the chamber of the House ofof
Representatives
paltry
Representatives but
but would
would tum
turn up
up their
theirnoses
noses at
at the
theCongressmen's
Congressmen's paltry
$15,000
annual
salary
or
even
the
President's
$75,000
(35).
Ten
years
later,
$15,000 annual salary or even the President's $75,000 (35). Ten years later,
inin"Everybody
noted with
with aa slightly
"EverybodyReads
Reads the
theComics,"
Comics," Esquire
Esquire noted
slightly disdainful
disdainful
edge
read the
the
edge that
that"[f]our
"[f]ourout
outof
ofevery
everyfive
fiveofofthe
the70,000,000
70,000,000 people
people who
who read
papers
at
all
today,
shamelessly
and
regularly
read
the
comics"
(Rodell).
papers at all today, shamelessly and regularly read the comics" (Rodell).
Though
(that status
status went
wentto
to Ham
HamFisher
Fisherwith
withhis
hisfar
farinferior
inferior
Though not
not the
the wealthiest
wealthiest (that
strip
Joe
Palooka),
DeBeck
certainly
was
among
the
industry
leaders
and
strip Joe Palooka), DeBeck certainly was among the industry leaders and
socialized
socialized accordingly.
accordingly.
As
wealth
As the
the 1920s
1 920sgave
gave way
way to
to the
the 1930s,
1 930s,and
andthe
theseemingly
seemingly endless
endless wealth
and
prosperity
of
the
previous
decade
vanished
into
the
worst
economic
and prosperity of the previous decade vanished into the worst economic
62
62
downturn
downturnof
ofthe
thecentury,
century,DeBeck
DeBeck abruptly
abruptly shifted
shifted the
the direction
direction of
of his
his strip
strip
once
more.
His
readers
had
become
accustomed
to
his
constantly
changing
once more. His readers had become accustomed to his constantly changing
exotic
the
exotic adventure
adventure continuities
continuities set
set everywhere
everywhere from
from Florida
Florida to
to Paris
Paris to
to the
fabled
Sultanate
of
Sulu
(in
the
Ooby
Jooby
Sea!)
(Walker
74).
Thus,
when
fabled Sultanate of Sulu (in the Ooby Jooby Sea!) (Walker 74). Thus, when
the
had
theaudience
audience learned
learned in
in the
theJune
June14,
14,1934
1934 episode
episode that
that Barney
Barney Google
Google had
been
been named
named by
by "a
"a hill-billy
hill-billy by
by the
thename
nameof
ofGoogle"
Google" the
the sole
sole heir
heir to
to an
anestate
estate
ininthe
North
Carolina
mountains,
little
did
they
realize
that
this
storyline
would
the North Carolina mountains, little did they realize that this storyline would
continue
continue for
forthe
thenext
nextdecade
decadeor
orthat
thatBarney
Barneywould
wouldeventually
eventuallybe
besupplanted
supplanted
almost
entirely
by
the
even
more
outrageous
character
Snuffy
Smith.
almost entirely by the even more outrageous character Snuffy Smith. In
In the
the
process,
DeBeck
would
fundamentally
reinvent
his
strip
in
a
way
that
captured
process, DeBeck would fundamentally reinvent his strip in a way that captured
the
thenew
newcultural
culturalethos
ethosof
ofthe
theDepression
Depression years.5
years.5
Far
from
merely
an
attempt
to
cash
Far from merely an attempt to cash in
in on
on the
the current
current craze
craze for
for all
all
things
strip's
plot
and
setting
revealed
DeBeck's
thingsmountain,
mountain,the
thechange
changeininthe
the
strip's
plot
and
setting
revealed
DeBeck's
passionate
andabiding
abidinginterest
interestininliterary
literary portrayals
portrayalsof
ofthe
the people
peopleand
andculture
culture
passionate and
of
ofthe
theSouthern
Southernmountains.
mountains.Unlike
Unlikehis
hisfellow
fellow cartoonists
cartoonists of
ofhillbillies,
hillbillies,Paul
Paul
Webb
Webb (creator
(creator of
ofThe
TheMountain
Mountain Boys
Boys cartoon
cartoon in
inEsquire)
Esquire )and
andAl
AlCapp
Capp (who
(who
began
Li
'/
Abner
the
same
year
DeBeck
introduced
Smith),
DeBeck
began Li 7 Abner the same year DeBeck introduced Smith), DeBeck read
read
dozens
dozens of
of nineteenthnineteenth- and
and twentieth-century
twentieth-centurynovels
novels and
and nonfiction
nonfictionbooks
books
about
Appalachia
about the
thehill
hillfolk
folkand
andhis
hisdebt
debttotoearlier
earlierfabricators
fabricatorsof
ofsouthern
southern
Appalachia
and
the
mountaineer
is
obvious.
He
was
strongly
influenced
by
the
and the mountaineer is obvious. He was strongly influenced by the works
works
of
ofMary
MaryMurfree
Murfreeand
andGeorge
George Washington
Washington Harris,
Harris, and
and his
his copy
copy of
of Harris's
Harris's
Sut
heavily annotated
annotated and
and includes
includeshis
hispreliminary
preliminary sketches
sketches
SutLovingood
Lovingood is
is heavily
of
ofSnuffy
SnuffySmith.
Smith.He
Healso
alsodrew
drewheavily
heavily on
on the
thelanguage
language and
and spellings
spellings used
used
by
Harris
and
other
southwestern
humorists,
freely
mixing,
as
did
they,
by Harris and other southwestern humorists, freely mixing, as did they,
genuine
traveled
genuine local
local expressions
expressions with
with ones
ones he
he invented.
invented. Although
Although DeBeck
DeBeck traveled
through
and conversed
conversedwith
withthe
thelocal
local
throughthe
themountains
mountains of
ofVirginia
Virginia and
and Kentucky
Kentucky and
inhabitants,
his
fanciful
plots
and
colorful
phrasings
show
that
he,
like
Webb,
inhabitants, his fanciful plots and colorful phrasings show that he, like Webb,
clearly
humor primarily
primarily on
clearly based
based his
his imagery
imagery and
and humor
on these
these literary
literary accounts
accounts
rather
than
on
the
people
and
conditions
themselves
(lnge
74-5).
rather than on the people and conditions themselves (Inge 74-5).
DeBeck
alsorelied
reliedon
onmany
manyofofthe
the same
sametropes
tropesand
andthemes
themesasashis
his
DeBeck also
literary
the early
early months
months of
of the
the mountain
mountain episodes,
episodes,hehe
literarypredecessors.
predecessors. In
In the
portrayed
the
mountaineers
as
impoverished
(Google's
"estate"
is
portrayed the mountaineers as impoverished (Google's "estate" is nothing
nothing but
but
aarun
down
shack
similar
to
other
domiciles
in
the
region);
ignorant
(Google
run down shack similar to other domiciles in the region); ignorant (Google
expresses
or kindergarten);
kindergarten); and
expresses shock
shock that
that there
thereisis no
no school
school or
and culturally
culturally
isolated
(in
a
strip
titled
"Catching
Up
with
History!,"
a
mountain
isolated (in a strip titled "Catching Up with History!," a mountain woman
woman
who
maid has
has never
never seen
seen aa movie
movie but
but has
has heard
heard that
W.
who serves
serves as
as Barney's
Barney's maid
that D.
D.W.
Griffith
is
planning
to
direct
the
new
film
Birth
of
a
Nation).
In
his
most
Griffith is planning to direct the new film Birth of a Nation). In his most
dramatic
as an
an almost
almostsupernatural
supernatural
dramaticpanels,
panels, he
he presents
presents his
his mountain
mountain man
man as
primitive
force
of
potential
violence
that
emerges
spontaneously
from the
the
primitive force of potential violence that emerges spontaneously from
63
63
6
surrounding
surroundingwoods.
woods.6
Snuffy
SnuffySmith,
Smith,the
thestocky
stockyand
andornery
ornerymountaineer
mountaineerwho
whowould
would soon
soon
dominate
the
strip,
epitomizes
the
qualities
long
associated
in
popular
culture
dominate the strip, epitomizes the qualities long associated in popular culture
with
withSouthern
Southernmountaineers.
mountaineers.Ignorant
Ignorantof
ofall
all things
thingsmodem,
modern,he
hemakes
makes his
his
meager
and stealing
stealingchickens
chickensand
andhorses,
horses,and
andresponds
responds
meager living
living by
by moonshining
moonshining and
totoall
so threatens
threatens
allcomers
comers with
with the
the threat
threatof
ofhis
hisomnipresent
omnipresent squirrel
squirrel rifle.
rifle. He
He so
social
social decorum
decorum and
and stability
stability that
thathe
heisisfeared
fearedand
anddespised
despisedeven
even by
byhis
hisfellow
fellow
mountaineers
of
Hoot
in'
Holler
who,
DeBeck
informs
his
readers,
tarred
mountaineers of Hootin' Holler who, DeBeck informs
tarredand
and
feathered
him
the
last
time
he
made
an
appearance.
Smith
is
clearly
drawn
feathered him the last time he made an appearance. Smith is clearly drawn
from
and
fromearlier
earlierfictional
fictional
andactual
actualpersonages
personagessuch
suchasasDavy
Davy Crockett,
Crockett, Sut
Sut
Lovingood,
and
"Devil
Anse"
Hatfield.
Warns
his
wife,
Lowizie:
"'twixt
[his]
Lovingood, and "Devil Anse" Hatfield. Warns his wife, Lowizie: "'twixt [his]
drink
drinkan'
an'deviltry,
deviltry,mos'
mos'folkses
folkses hev
hev been
been keerful
keerful ter
tergive
give him
himplenty
plentyelbow
elbow
room
....
"
To
this
image
of
an
insular,
trigger-happy
primitive,
DeBeck
room . . . ." To this image of an insular, trigger-happy primitive, DeBeck
added
of absolute
laziness.Snuffy
Snuffyisisconstantly
constantlyseen
seenprone
prone
added the
the Webbian
Webbian vision
vision of
absolute laziness.
or
asleep,
his
whisky
jug
clearly
suggesting
his
constant
state
of
inebriation.
or asleep, his whisky jug clearly suggesting his constant state of inebriation.
Like
jokesoften
oftenrevolve
revolvearound
aroundSnufify's
Snuffy's sleeping
Like Webb's,
Webb's, DeBeck's
DeBeck's jokes
sleeping for
fordays
days
atataatime,
time,despite
despitethe
theconstant
constantactivity
activityand
andnoise
noise around
around him.7
him.7
Snuffy
violent, lazy,
lazy, and
andabusive,
abusive,but
buthehealso
also
SnuffySmith
Smithmay
may be
be immoral,
immoral, violent,
represents
andphysical
physicalprowess
prowess
representsthe
theanti-elite
anti-eliteattitudes,
attitudes,rugged
ruggedindependence,
independence, and
of
the
mythic
frontiersmen
epitomized
by
Davy
Crockett
and
Daniel
of the mythic frontiersmen epitomized by Davy Crockett and DanielBoone.
Boone.
DeBeck
often
portrayed
Snuffy
as
a
symbol
of
the
common
man
who
rejects
DeBeck often portrayed Snuffy as a symbol of the common man who rejects
any
he
anypretensions
pretensions of
ofcultural
culturalrefinement
refinementand
andtaste.
taste.On
On aa visit
visit to
to Chicago,
Chicago, he
refuses
to
stay
in
the
"Hotel
Aristocrat"
on
the
basis
of
its
name
alone.
Instead,
refuses to stay in the "Hotel Aristocrat" on the basis of its name alone. Instead,
he
hegoes
goes to
to aa flophouse
flophouse by
by the
the stockyards,
stockyards, but
butstill
stillaccuses
accuses the
the landlady
landlady of
of
running
a
"ristercrat
hotel"
because
she
tries
to
change
the
sheets
after
two
running a "ristercrat hotel" because she tries to change the sheets after two
weeks.
are overlaid
overlaid with
with conceptions
conceptionsof
ofmountaineer
mountaineer
weeks. Clearly
Clearly these
these episodes
episodes are
filth,
rebellion
filth,but
butthe
thetheme
themeofof
rebellionagainst
againstclass
class pretension
pretension isis unmistakable.
unmistakable.
As
a
symbol
and
defender
of
frontier
democracy,
Snuffy
refuses
As a symbol and defender of frontier democracy, Snuffy refusestotokowtow
kowtow
totojudges,
military
officers,
and
other
authority
figures
and
prizes
personal
judges, military officers, and other authority figures and prizes personal
independence
consistent flaunting
flaunting of
independence and
and cultural
cultural tradition
tradition over
over money.
money. His
His consistent
of
social
rules
also
makes
him
something
of
a
sex
symbol
to
female
characters
social rules also makes him something of a sex symbol to female characters
who
of you
every night,"
night," writes
who thrill
thrillatathis
hiscoarse
coarse individuality.
individuality. "I
"I dream
dream of
you every
writes
one
female
admirer
in
the
strip,
"your
mountain
ruggedness
your
forceful
one female admirer in the strip, "your mountain ruggedness - your forceful
personality-your
scornofofsociety."8
short,Snuffy
Snuffyisiscut
cutininthe
themold
moldofofthe
the
personality - your scorn
society."8 InIn
short,
American
folk
hero,
a
point
clearly
understood
by
at
least
one
contemporary
American folk hero, a point clearly understood by at least one contemporary
writer,
writer,Lovell
Lo veilThompson,
Thompson,who
whoinin1937
1937called
called him
him "a
"a hero
hero with
withall
allof
ofa ahero's
hero's
trappings."
trappings." Although
Although for
forSnuffy
Snuffythese
thesetrappings
trappingsare
are"a
"abroken-down
broken-down Kentucky
Kentucky
Colonel
hat, aa corn-cob
com-cob pipe,
pipe, and
and aarifle
rifle borrowed
borrowedfrom
from James
James Fenimore
Fenimore
Colonel hat,
Cooper"
rather than
of Minerva,"
Minerva," Thompson
Thompsonargued,
argued,
Cooper" rather
than "the
"the owl
owl and
and shield
shield of
64
64
their
in their
their profundity
theirmeaning
meaning isis nevertheless
nevertheless "Greek
"Greek in
profundity and
and rigidity"
rigidity" (4).
(4).
of
Snuffy
Simultaneously
whimsical
and
serious,
Thompson's
description
Simultaneously whimsical and serious, Thompson's description of Snuffy as
as
mythic
constantly played
upon and
and undercut
undercut
mythichero
herorecognizes
recognizeshow
howDeBeck
DeBeck constantly
played upon
the
the comic
comicpossibilities
possibilities
themutually
mutually
themountaineer
mountaineer myth,
myth, fully
fully realizing
realizing the
in in
the
supporting
hillbilly.
supportingduality
dualityof
ofnoble
noblemountaineer
mountaineerand
andsemi-savage
semi-savage hillbilly.
AA final
ofSnuffy
Snuffy's
ofthe
themythic
mythicfrontier
frontier
final component
component of
's personification
personification of
folk
hero
is
his
unquestioned
Anglo-Saxon
or,
at
least,
Northern
European
folk hero is his unquestioned Anglo-Saxon or, at least, Northern European
racial
racial lineage.
lineage. As
As he
he had
had in
in Barney's
Barney's relationship
relationshipwith
withSunshine,
Sunshine,DeBeck
DeBeck
of
many
early-twentiethcontinued
his
long-standing
practice
(mirroring
that
continued his long-standing practice (mirroring that of many early-twentiethcentury
charactersasasservants
servantsofofwhite
whiteAmerica
America
centurycartoonists)
cartoonists) of
of showing
showing black
black characters
and
and even,
even, in
in Snuffy
SnuffySmith,
Smith,of
ofhumble
humblemountain
mountainfolk.
folk.Whereas
Whereas numerous
numerous
characters
in
positions
of
status
and
authority
(businessmen,
bankers,
judges,
characters in positions of status and authority (businessmen, bankers, judges,
lawyers)
lawyers) commonly
commonly refer
refertotoSnuffy
Snufïyand
andhis
hiskin
kinasas"hill-billies,"
"hill-billies,""yokey(s),"
"yokey(s),"
and,
even
on
one
occasion,
"back-woods
trash,"
black
characters
and, even on one occasion, "back-woods trash," black characters almost
almost
never
call
him
anything
other
than
"suh"
or
"boss."
As
had
been
the
case
never call him anything other than "suh" or "boss." As had been the case
Barney
Google,
assertion of
with
withhis
hisportrayal
portrayalofof
Barney
Google,DeBeck's
DeBeck's unequivocal
unequivocal assertion
of
Snuffy's
whiteness
through
his
domination
over
African-American
figures
Snuffy's whiteness through his domination over African- American figures
mitigates
mitigatesthe
thedegrading
degradingaspects
aspects of
ofhis
hischaracter
characterand
andreinforces
reinforcesSmith's
Smith'srole
role
asas mythic
hero.
mythic hero.
Although
work partially
partially reflected
reflected the
Although DeBeck's
DeBeck's work
the "Benighted
"Benighted South"
South"
vision
and Erskine Caldwell
in the
the 11920s
vision ofH.L.
of H.L. Mencken
Mencken and
Caldwell in
920s and
and 1930s,
1 930s, aaview
view
of
a
society
characterized
by
a
degraded
culture,
oppressive
economic
and
of a society characterized by a degraded culture, oppressive economic and
political
and widespread
widespreadpoverty,
poverty,itit perhaps
perhaps
political institutions,
institutions, staggering
staggering inequality,
inequality, and
of
rural
Southerners,
and
better
represented
a
more
upbeat
counter
vision
better represented a more upbeat counter vision of rural Southerners, and
mountaineers
in particular,
that celebrated
their independence
independenceand
andtraditional
traditional
mountaineers in
particular, that
celebrated their
9
ways
by aa diverse
group of
ways oflife.
of life.9This
Thisviewpoint
viewpoint was
was advanced
advanced by
diverse group
of observers
observers
of
an
increasingly
mechanized,
prewho
questioned
the
consequences
who questioned the consequences of an increasingly mechanized, prefabricated,
these intellectuals,
intellectuals, writers,
writers,
fabricated,and
andcentralized
centralized modem
modern America.
America. To these
artists,
and
even
government
administrators
characterized
collectively
artists, and even government administrators - characterized collectively
theoriginal
originalpromise
promiseofofAmerica
Americarequired
requiredthe
the
asas Regionalists
recoveryofofthe
Regionalists -- recovery
rediscovery
of "the
"the folk."
folk." Whether
Whetherdefined
definedasasnineteenthnineteenthrediscovery and
and celebration
celebration of
century
pioneers
who
"broke
the
Plains"
or
present
day
American
Indians,
century pioneers who "broke the Plains" or present day American Indians,
ex-slaves
ex-slaves or
or Midwestern-farmers,
Midwestern- farmers,totothe
theRegionalists,
Regionalists,"the
"thefolk,"
folk,"embodied
embodied
the
cultural
values
and
the
simple
but
honest
lifeways
essential
to
saving
the cultural values and the simple but honest lifeways essential to saving the
the
nation
from
what
Walter
Lippmann
called
"the
acids
of
modernity"
(qtd.
nation from what Walter Lippmann called "the acids of modernity" (qtd. in
in
Dorman
24).10
Dormán 24).
10
Mountaineers
central role
role in
in this
this cultural
cultural movement
movement that
that
Mountaineers played
played aa central
emphasized
with the
the land
and escape
escapefrom
from the
the
emphasized the
the importance
importance of
of oneness
oneness with
land and
confinements
of
industrialized
and
urbanized
life.
Writing
for
an
urbane
confinements of industrialized and urbanized life. Writing for an urbane
middle-class
articulated this
this
middle-class readership
readership in
in 1924,
1924, playwright
playwright Percy
Percy MacKaye
MacKaye articulated
65
65
conception
conception of
of the
thepromise
promiseof
ofmountain
mountainsociety:
society:
Over
Over there
therein
inthe
themountains
mountains are
are men
men who
who do
do not
not live
live in
in cages;
cages;
aamillion
Americans,
who
do
not
chase
the
dollar,
who
do
million Americans, who do not chase the dollar, who donot
not
time-serve
do not
not learn
learn their
their manners
manners from
from
time-servemachines,
machines, who
who do
the
thethe
beauty
parlors.
themovies
movies or
ortheir
theirculture
culturefrom
from
beauty
parlors.Shall
Shallwe
we
not
then,
hasten
to
civilize
them
convert
their
dirty
lognot then, hasten to civilize them - convert their dirty logOr shall
shall we
we inquire
inquire whether
whether
cabins
cabins into
intoclean
cleancement
cementcages?
cages? Or
they
contribute to
to our
our brand-new
brand-new
theymay
mayhave
have something
something to
to contribute
civilizationsomething which
which of
of old
old we
we cherished
cherished but
but now
civilization - something
now
perhaps
have
forgotten?
(327).
perhaps have forgotten? (327).
of resurgent
nativismand
andimmigration
immigrationrestriction,
restriction,the
theidea
idea
Indeed,
Indeed, in
in an
an era
era of
resurgent nativism
of
ofthe
theuniqueness
uniquenessand
and importance
importance of
ofmountain
mountain society
society and
and culture
culture extended
extended
well
wellbeyond
beyondthe
theRegionalist
Regionalistmovement.
movement. Endlessly
Endlessly trumpeted
trumpetedas
as"100
"100 percent
percent
Americans"
of
"pure
Anglo-Saxon
stock"
who
continued
to
live
as
had
their
Americans" of "pure Anglo-Saxon stock" who continued to live as had their
ancestors
of the
the mountains
werepresented
presentedacross
across
ancestors centuries
centuries earlier,
earlier, the
the people
people of
mountains were
the
thecultural
culturalspectrum
spectrumasasaa sort
sortof
of"Ur-folk."
"Ur-folk."Yet,
Yet,although
although all
all these
these cultural
cultural
formats
purported
to
present
the
"real
mountaineers,"
nearly
all
portrayed
formats purported to present the "real mountaineers," nearly all portrayed
their
broader
theirsubjects
subjectsas
asromantic
romanticprimitives
primitivesutterly
utterlyisolated
isolatedfrom
from
broadereconomic
economic
To
better
define
their
subject
as
a
people
caught
forever
and
social
forces.
and social forces. To better define their subject as a people caught forever in
in
the
past,
they
underplayed
or,
more
often,
simply
ignored
the
racial,
social,
the past, they underplayed or, more often, simply ignored the racial, social,
and
heterogeneity of
of the
the impact
and economic
economic heterogeneity
the region
region and
and the
impact of
of market
market forces
forces
on
present-day
mountain
folk
(Shapiro;
Batteau;
Harkins).
on present-day mountain folk (Shapiro; Batteau; Harkins).
art reflected
reflected this
DeBeck's
DeBeck's art
this same
same mix of celebration
celebration and distortion of
of
mountaineers
and
mountain
culture.
On
the
one
hand,
he
portrayed
a
more
mountaineers and mountain culture. On the one hand, he portrayed a more
full-bodied
of mountain
mountain society
society than
than did
did any
any of
of his
his
full-bodied and
and naturalistic
naturalistic vision
vision of
peers.
Unlike
Webb
and
Capp,
who
based
their
texts
on
standard
stereotypes
peers. Unlike Webb and Capp, who based their texts on standard stereotypes
of
to mountain)
mountain) dialect
dialect from
from vaudeville
vaudevilleand
andmotion
motion
ofSouthern
Southern(as
(as opposed
opposed to
of mountain
mountain expressions
"plimepictures,
pictures,DeBeck
DeBeck used
used dozens
dozens of
expressions such
such as
as "plimeblank"
(meaning
"exactly")
and
"a
lavish
of'
(meaning
"a
lot
of')
in his
his
blank" (meaning "exactly") and "a lavish of' (meaning "a lot of') in
work.
to unfamiliar
unfamiliar mountain
mountain expressions
expressions
work. He
He even
even introduced
introduced his
his audience
audience to
by
incorporating
brief
definitions
of
the
terms
in
the
text
itself.
by incorporating brief definitions of the terms in the text itself.He
He was
was
far
from
a
stickler
for
absolute
accuracy
in
the
use
of
dialect
and
freely
far from a stickler for absolute accuracy in the use of dialect and freely
blended
expressionswith
withauthentic
authentic mountain
mountainsayings,
sayings,inventing
inventing
blended his
his own
own expressions
such
famous
neologisms
as
"discombooberated"
(which
has
evolved
into
such famous neologisms as "discombooberated" (which has evolved into
"a leetle
leetle tetched
tetched in
in the
the haid,"
haid ,"
"discombobulated")
"discombobulated")," "time's-a-wastin'"
"time's-a-wastin'," "a
"bodacious,"
and
"balls
0'
fire"
(Inge
75).
Nonetheless,
even
the
phrases
"bodacious," and "balls o' fire" (Inge 75). Nonetheless, even the phrases
he
had the
the ring
ring of
he coined
coined had
of truth
truthtotomany
manyreaders
readerswho
who could
could not
not distinguish
distinguish
66
66
between
and invented
invented phrases.
phrases. AAreporter
reporter in
in 1940,
1940,for
for example,
example,
between the
the actual
actual and
introduced
a
list
of
De
Beck's
famous
phrases
from
the
strip
as
"hillbilly
lingo
introduced a list of DeBeck's famous phrases from the strip as "hillbilly lingo
(authentic
Birthday"60).
60).
(authenticand
andotherwise)"
otherwise)" ("Barney
("Barney Google's
Google's Birthday"
DeBeck's
depictionsof
ofmountain
mountain society
society were
were also
also somewhat
somewhat more
more
DeBeck's depictions
accurate
and
sympathetic
than
either
of
his
cartoonist
peers.
His
cabins,
accurate and sympathetic than either of his cartoonist peers. His cabins,
spinning
costumeswere
werebased
basedononphotographs
photographs
and
descriptions
spinning wheels,
wheels, and
and costumes
and
descriptions
in in
texts
on
the
southern
mountains
and
were
designed
primarily
to
be
illustrative
texts on the southern mountains and were designed primarily to be illustrative
of
lifestyle rather
rather than
ofaaplain
plain but
buthonorable
honorable lifestyle
than distorted
distorted to
to present
present aa demeaning
demeaning
portrait
portraitof
ofa asavage
savage society.
society. In
In stark
stark contrast
contrastto
toWebb,
Webb,whose
whose figures
figures barely
barely
communicate,
DeBeck's
panels
overflow
with
colorful
dialogue
and
communicate, DeBeck's panels overflow with colorful dialogue and his
his
characters
seem
to
be
genuinely
listening
to
one
another
rather
than
merely
characters seem to be genuinely listening to one another rather than merely
delivering
deliveringgag
gaglines.
lines.Further,
Further,DeBeck
DeBeck conveys
conveys genuine
genuine emotion
emotion and
and pathos
pathos in
in
the
budding
relationships
between
his
teenage
mountain
sweethearts,
between
the budding relationships between his teenage mountain sweethearts, between
Snuffy
Snuffyand
andBarney,
Barney,and
andeven
evenbetween
betweenSnuffy
Snuffyand
andLowizie.
Lowizie.
Yet
Yet the
theverisimilitude
verisimilitude of
of his
his vision
vision of mountain
mountain life
life should not be
overstated.
primary focus
amusement
overstated.DeBeck's
DeBeck's primary
focus as
as a
a cartoonist
cartoonist was
was always
always amusement
rather
than
cultural
edification
and
he
played
a
leading
role
in
constructing
rather than cultural edification and he played a leading role in constructing
aabroad-based
conceptionof
ofSouthern
Southern hill
hill folk
folk as
cartoonish figures.
figures.
broad-based public
public conception
as cartoonish
He
instrumental in
He also
also was
was instrumental
infreely
freelyblending
blendingOzark
Ozarkand
andAppalachian
Appalachian settings
settings
into
a
single
mythical
geographic
location.
Although
the
strip
was
initially
into a single mythical geographic location. Although the strip was initially
set
refer to
setin
inthe
theNorth
NorthCarolina
Carolina mountains,
mountains, characters
characters in
in an
an early
early episode
episode refer
to
ordering
store-bought
clothes
from
the
nearby
big
city
of
"Little
Rock"
in
ordering store-bought clothes from the nearby big city of "Little Rock" - in
reality,
suggests the
the
reality,600
600plus
plusmiles
miles to
tothe
thewest.
west.Such
Such geographic
geographic confusion
confusion suggests
willingness
(and other
other creators
creators of
willingness of
ofboth
bothDeBeck
DeBeck (and
of the
the hillbilly
hillbilly image)
image) and
and
his
reading
public
to
accept
the
conflation
of
hundreds
of
miles
of
distance
his reading public to accept the conflation of hundreds of miles of distance
and
fantasy mountain
andtwo
two diverse
diverse cultures
cultures into
intoaa homogenous
homogenous fantasy
mountain South
South -- a a
process
in the
the work
process that
thatwould
would only
only accelerate
accelerate in
work of
of Al
Al Capp.1I
Capp.11
Nor
did
DeBeck
ever
even
hint
at
the
large-scale
Nor did DeBeck ever even hint at the large-scaleeconomic
economicand
andsocial
social
changes
in
actual
mountaineers'
lives.
Like
Webb's
and
Capp's
hillbillies,
changes in actual mountaineers' lives. Like Webb's and Capp's hillbillies,
DeBeck's
characters remained
remained largely
largely outside
DeBeck's characters
outside of
of the
thelarger
largereconomic
economicnexus
nexus
beyond
the
immediate
borders
of
their
"hollers."
He
did
not
acknowledge
beyond the immediate borders of their "hollers." He did not acknowledge
the
industries such
suchasascoal
coalmining
mining
lumbering
the
thepresence
presence of
of extractive
extractive industries
oror
lumbering
or or
the
rise
of
textile
mills
that
collectively
were
displacing
thousands
of
people
and
rise of textile mills that collectively were displacing thousands of people and
radically
ofmen
men and
andwomen
womenthroughout
throughout
thesouthern
southern
radically transforming
transforming the
the lives
lives of
the
mountains.
Nor
would
the
strip's
readers
gain
any
sense
of
the
wave
of
wildcat
mountains. Nor would the strip's readers gain any sense of the wave of wildcat
strikes
were
strikesthat
that
werespreading
spreadingthroughout
throughoutthe
theregion's
region'smill
milltowns
townsininthe
the1930s.
1930s.
Nonetheless,
present (at
least initially)
initially) an
an at
at least
least
Nonetheless, unlike
unlike his
his peers,
peers, he
he did
did present
(at least
plausible
mountain
community
where
both
men
and
women
work
the
land,
plausible mountain community where both men and women work the land,
raise
attachedtotoone
oneanother.12
another.12
raisefamilies,
families,and
and are
are socially
socially and
and economically
economically attached
67
67
DeBeck's
more fully
fully developed
portrayal of
DeBeck's more
developed portrayal
of Southern
Southern mountain
mountain
life
and
society,
however,
did
not
translate
into
increased
popularity
with
life and society, however, did not translate into increased popularity with
audiences.
Tothe
the contrary,
contrary, his
KingFeatures
FeaturesSyndicate,
Syndicate,
urged
that
audiences. To
his employer,
employer, King
urged
that
the
"atmosphere
[he
portrayed]
so
faithfully
be
'toned
down'"
(Scheinfeld
the "atmosphere [he portrayed] so faithfully be 'toned down'" (Scheinfeld
142-3).
beginning in
in 11934
1 42-3).Fred
FredLasswell,
Lasswell, who
who assisted
assisted DeBeck
DeBeck beginning
934 and
and replaced
replaced
him
after
his
death
from
cancer
on
November
11,
1942,
recalled
later
thatthe
the
him after his death from cancer on November 11,1 942, recalled later that
"authentic
was "rather
"rather difficult
difficult for
"authentic mountain
mountain dialect"
dialect" was
forthe
theaverage
average flatlander
flatlander
totoread
though DeBeck
DeBeckmade
madeconcerted
concerted
effortstoto
read and
and understand."
understand." Even
Even though
efforts
move
move away
away from
frommountain
mountainsettings
settingsand
anddialect,
dialect,having
havingboth
bothBarney
BarneyGoogle
Google
and
Snuffy
Smith
join
the
armed
forces
(Navy
and
Army,
respectively)
the
and Snuffy Smith join the armed forces (Navy and Army, respectively) atatthe
start
of
the
United
States'
involvement
in
World
War
II,
the
strip's
popularity
start of the United States' involvement in World War II, the strip's popularity
continued
tookover
overthe
the strip
strip in
in the
continued to
todecline.
decline. When
When Lasswell
Lasswell took
the early
early 1940s,
1940s,
Joe
JoeConnolly,
Connolly,head
head of
ofthe
theKing
KingFeatures
FeaturesSyndicate,
Syndicate, told
toldhim:
him:"Billy
"Billy lost
lost aa lot
lot
of
client
papers
and
if
the
trend
continues,
we'll
have
to
drop
it."
Connolly
of client papers and if the trend continues, we'll have to drop it." Connolly
urged
to "[k]eep
"[kJeep the
the same
samegeneral
generallook
lookand
andflavor"
flavor"initially
initiallyand
and
urgedLasswell
Lasswell to
then
"gradually
inject
your
own
ideas
and
your
own
characters."
Lasswell
then "gradually inject your own ideas and your own characters." Lasswelldid
did
just
this,
dropping
Barney
Google
almost
entirely
and
adding
new
members
just this, dropping Barney Google almost entirely and adding new members
of
family
and
community.
HeHealso
ofSnuffy's
Snuffy 's
family
and
community.
alsoabandoned
abandoned the
theauthentic
authenticdialect,
dialect,
instead
working
to
broaden
his
audience
by
following
the
dictum:
"keep
instead working to broaden his audience by following the dictum: "keep itit
folksy,
twang"
(Lasswell
up on
on
folksy,with
witha country
a country
twang"
(Lasswell 17,
17, 21).
21). And
And he
he largely
largely gave
gave up
long-running
stories
in
favor
of
daily
sight
gags
and
one-liners.
Ironically,
long-running stories in favor of daily sight gags and one-liners. Ironically,
although
although the
thestrip
stripincreasingly
increasinglyfocused
focused on
on Snuffy
Snuffy Smith
Smith and
and his
his mountain
mountain
environs,
less about
about the
the hillbilly
hillbilly and
and his
his place
placeininsociety,
society,
environs,ititsaid
said less
less and
and less
becoming
instead
a
homespun
vision
of
generic
rustic
America.
becoming instead a homespun vision of generic rustic America.
What
Whatthen
thenisisDeBeck's
DeBeck's lasting
lasting legacy?
legacy? Certainly
Certainly he
he was
was an
an inspiration
inspiration
totoaageneration
of
cartoonists
who
devoured
his
work
and
named
theirhighest
highest
generation of cartoonists who devoured his work and named their
honor
BarneyGoogle
Google
and
Snuffy
Smith,
too,thrived
thrivedfor
forthe
the
honor in
in his
his memory.
memory. Barney
and
Snuffy
Smith
, too,
half
hishis
death
as as
Fred
Lasswell
halfcentury
centuryafter
after
death
Fred
Lasswellrebuilt
rebuiltaasubstantial
substantialcirculation
circulation
for
Snuffy
Smith
over
the
following
decades
(from
206
newspapers
in11946
to
for Snuffy Smith over the following decades (from 206 newspapers in
946 to
542
At the
the same
542 in
in 1964
1964 to
to900
900 in
in21
21 countries
countriesby
by1989)
1989) (Walker
(Walker 167).
167). At
same time,
time,
though,
along
with
Li
'I
Abner,
the
strip
became
the
focus
of
much
opposition,
though, along with Li 'I Abner, the strip became the focus of much opposition,
especially
within the
the southern
southern mountains.
mountains.Country
Countrymusic
music
starRoy
Roy
Acuff,for
for
especially within
star
Acuff,
instance,
filmGrand
GrandOle
OleOpry
Opryifif
instance, refused
refused to
toparticipate
participate in
inthe
the1940
1940 Hollywood
Hollywood film
the
studio
"put
in
a
'Snuffy
Smith-sloshwocker'
background"
a
condition
the studio "put in a 'Snuffy Smith - sloshwocker' background" - a condition
the
("RoyAcuff
Acuff").
").Although
Althoughmany
manySouthern
Southern
thestudio
studio eventually
eventually accepted
accepted ("Roy
mountaineers
took the
the strip's
charactersasasclearly
clearlyfictional
fictionalcaricatures
caricaturesmeant
meant
mountaineers took
strip's characters
totosatirize
human,
not
regional,
foibles,
to
others
the
name
Snuffy
Smith
was
satirize human, not regional, foibles, to others the name Snuffy Smith was
synonymous
portrait of
synonymous with
with aa demeaning
demeaning portrait
of hill
hill folks
folks for
for the
theamusement
amusement of
of
urbanites.
Regardless
of
how
the
strip
was
received,
DeBeck,
along
with
Capp
urbanités. Regardless of how the strip was received, DeBeck, along with Capp
68
68
and
of the
andWebb,
Webb,solidified
solidified an
an instantly
instantlyrecognizable
recognizable graphic
graphic image
image of
the hillbilly
hillbilly
that
has
survived
into
the
twenty-first
century,
one
that
unified
derogatory
that has survived into the twenty-first century, one that unified derogatory
conceptions
and positive
ideas of
of
conceptions of
ofbackwardness,
backwardness, ignorance,
ignorance, and
and savagery
savagery and
positive ideas
ruggedness,
independence,
and
devotion
to
family
and
home.
ruggedness, independence, and devotion to family and home.
More
creativity
More broadly
broadly significant,
significant, perhaps,
perhaps, is
is the
the way
way DeBeck's
DeBeck's creativity
and
but also
alsoculturally
culturallylegitimate
legitimatethe
the
and artistry
artistryhelped
helped not
notjust
just popularize
popularize but
American
comic
strip.
As
Seldes
famously
wrote
in
1924
in
"The
'Vulgar'
American comic strip. As Seldes famously wrote in 1924 in "The 'Vulgar'
Comic
Strip," "of
"ofall
allthe
the lively
livelyarts
arts the
the Comic
ComicStrip
Stripisisthe
themost
mostdespised,
despised,
and
Comic Strip,"
and
with
the
exception
of
the
movies
it
is
the
most
popular."
Seldes's
defense
with the exception of the movies it is the most popular." Seldes's defense of
of
the
medium
against
critics
who
deemed
it
as
"a
symptom
of
crass
vulgarity,
the medium against critics who deemed it as "a symptom of crass vulgarity,
of
for all
know, of
of defeated
defeated and
and inhibited
inhibited lives"
lives"was
was
ofdulness
dulness [sic],
[sic], and,
and, for
all II know,
almost
unique
for
its
time
and
an
opening
salvo
in
the
breaking
down
of
almost unique for its time and an opening salvo in the breaking down of the
the
notion
notionof
ofdistinct
distincthierarchically
hierarchicallyconstructed
constructedlevels
levelsof
ofculture
culture(213).
(213).Yet
Yetsuch
such
distinctions
to such
degreethat
that by
by the
the 11960s
comicstrips
stripsthemselves
themselves
distinctions faded
faded to
such aa degree
960s comic
could
could be
be the
the subject
subject and
and inspiration
inspiration for
for artists
artistsininthe
thepreviously
previouslycategorized
categorized
"high
"high art"
art"field
fieldof
ofpainting,
painting,including
includingAndy
AndyWarhol,
Warhol, Roy
Roy Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein and
and
others
of
the
"Pop
Art"
school
(Kammen,American
Culture
121-122).
Such
others of the "Pop Art" school (Kämmen, American Culture 121-1 22). Such
aa dramatic
and cultural
cultural changes
changes
dramatic transformation
transformationwas
was rooted
rooted in
in larger
larger social
social and
including
the
rise
of
a
"middle
class"
consumerist
society
and
the
steady
including the rise of a "middle class" consumerist society and the steady
decline
commerceand
andart,
art,but
but itit was
also
decline in
in the
thedistinction
distinction between
between advertised
advertised commerce
was also
aaresponse
(andmass
massculture
cultureiningeneral)
general)into
intoa amultimultiresponse to
to the
the growth
growth of
of comics
comics (and
million
dollar
industry
that
deeply
penetrated
all
aspects
of
American
society.
million dollar industry that deeply penetrated all aspects of American society.
With
Withhis
hismove
move from
frombeaux-arts
beaux-arts painter
painter to
to cartoonist,
cartoonist, pioneering
pioneering forays
forays into
into
the
commodification
of
his
characters,
innovative
wordplay,
and
constant
the commodification of his characters, innovative wordplay, and constant
reinvention
changing
reinventionof
ofhis
hiswork
worktotomatch
matchthe
the
changingsocial
socialand
andcultural
culturallandscape,
landscape,
Billy
wascertainly
certainlyan
aninstrumental
instrumental player
player in
in this
this process.
Billy DeBeck
DeBeck was
process.
Notes
Notes
DeBeck also
also coined
coinedsuch
suchonce
oncepopular
popularbut
butnow
nowlargely
largely forgotten
forgotten
expressions
took the
"the guy
guy with
with the
expressions as
as "So
"So II took
the $50,000,"
$50,000," "the
thegreen
greengloves,"
gloves," and
and
"OKMNX"
(the
last,
a
take
off
on
the
joke
about
an
immigrant
diner
who
"OKMNX" (the last, a take off on the joke about an immigrant diner who
says
90).
says to
tohis
hiswaiter
waiterwith
witha athick
thickaccent
accent"okay,
"okay,ham
hamand
andeggs.")
eggs.") (Walker
(Walker 90).
1 'DeBeck
2Walker's
2Walker'sbook
book offers
offersthe
thebest
bestconcise
concise biographical
biographical overview
overview of
of
DeBeck.
DeBeck.
3For
3Foraafuller
fullerdiscussion
discussion of
of the
the nature
nature and
and role
role of
ofAfrican-American
African-American
stereotypes
in
comic
strips
and
American
and
Western
popular
culture, see
see
stereotypes in comic strips and American and Western popular culture,
Jones,
Jones,Lott,
Lott,and
andPieterse.
Pieterse.
69
69
4In
was producing
producing Barney
BarneyGoogle
Google,
he also
also
4Inthe
thesame
sameyears
yearsDeBeck
DeBeck was
, he
developed
Bughouse
developed two
two other
otherstrips,
strips,the
theshort-lived
short-lived
BughouseFables
Fables and
and the
theSunday
Sunday
topper
toppercartoon
cartoon(that
(thatwas
wasprinted
printedabove
above his
his regular
regular comic
comic strip)
strip) Parlor,
Parlor,
Bedroom
producedthe
the latter
latter
Bedroom and
and Sink
Sink that
thathe
helater
laterrenamed
renamedBunky.
Bunky.DeBeck
DeBeck produced
from
from1926
1926toto1942,
1942, and
and ititwas
was continued
continued by
bynew
new artist
artistFred
FredLasswell
Lasswell until
until
1948
(Walker,
65).
1948 (Walker, 65).
5Snuffy's
that even
the title
title of
5 Snuffy usurpation
's usurpationwas
wasso
socomplete
complete that
even the
of the
the comic
comic
strip
changed
from
Barney
Google
to
Barney
Google
and
Snuffy
Smith
strip changed from Barney Google to Barney Google and Snuffy Smith (on
(on
24
to Snuffy
Snuffy Smith
1942).Currently,
Currently,the
thestrip
strip
24 October
October 1938)
1938) to
Smith (on
(on 11
11 May
May 1942).
isisentitled
andSnuffy
Snuffy Smith
entitledBarney
Barney Google
Google and
Smith although
although the
the former
former character
character
almost
never
appears.
All
references
to
the
text
and
artwork
of
this
almost never appears. All references to the text and artwork of this comic
comic
strip
episodes
stripcome
comefrom
fromthe
the
episodespublished
publishedsix
sixdays
daysaaweek
week in
inthe
theCapital
Capital Times
Times
(Madison,
Wisconsin)
between
1
June
1934
and
1
February
1946.
(Madison, Wisconsin) between 1 June 1934 and 1 February 1946.
6Barney
his Knowledge!,"
Knowledge!,"2121
6BarneyGoogle,
Google, 17
17 June
June 1934:
1934: n.p.;
n.p.; "Beyond
"Beyond his
June
June1934:
1934: 17;
17; "Catching
"Catching Up
Up with
with History!,"
History!," 23
23 July
July 1934:
1934: 11.
11.
7In
character as
7Ina a 1940
1940 interview,
interview,DeBeck
DeBeck described
described his
his character
as aa
"moonshining,
"moonshining,horsehorse-and
and chicken-thieving
chicken-thievingilliterate
illiteratewho
whodoes
does what
what he
he
damn
pleases,"
but
added,
"you
can't
help
liking
the
little
cuss"
("Barney
damn pleases," but added, "you can't help liking the little cuss" ("Barney
Google's
Google's Birthday,"
Birthday,"59-60;
59-60; Barney
Barney Google,
Google, "An
"An Unpleasant
Unpleasant Encounter!,"
Encounter!,"
28
Nov.
1934:
13).
28 Nov. 1934: 13).
8Barney
17;"Under
"Under
%BarneyGoogle,
Google,"Snuffy
"SnuffyLoses
LosesCount!,"
Count!," 26
26 Nov.
Nov. 1935:
1935: 17;
His
Own
Steam!,"
16
Dec.
1935:
13;
"Too
Close
for
Comfort,"
12
Apr.
His Own Steam!," 16 Dec. 1935: 13; "Too Close for Comfort," 12 Apr.
1938:
1938: 15.
9The
"benighted
South"
Tindall.
9Theterm
term
"benighted
South"comes
comesfrom
from
Tindall.See
Seealso
alsoHobson,
Hobson,
Jr.
A
representative
sample
of
Mencken's
viewpoint
is
his
"The
Sahara of
of
Jr. A representative sample of Mencken's viewpoint is his "The Sahara
the
theBozart."
Bozart."
lODorman's
10Dorman's book
book offers
offers the
thebest
best overview
overview of the
the entire
entire movement.
movement.
For
an
analysis
of
the
competing
approaches
of
advocates
of
a
regionally
For an analysis of the competing approaches of advocates of a regionally
distinct
distinctfolk
folkculture
cultureand
andthose
thosetouting
toutingaaunified
unifiednational
national culture,
culture, see
see Kammen,
Kämmen,
of
Memory,
ch.
13.
Mystic
Chords
Mystic Chords of Memory, ch. 13.
IlBarney
nBarneyGoogle,
Google,"Surprise
"SurprisePackages!,"
Packages!," 88Aug.
Aug.1934:
1934: 13.
13.
70
70
12For
in the
the twentieth
12Foroverviews
overviews of
ofthe
thedramatic
dramaticchanges
changes in
inAppalachia
Appalachia in
twentieth
century,
see
Eller
and
Williams.
century, see Eller and Williams.
Works
Works Cited
Cited
"Barney
Birthday: He's
He's221
Nowbut
but Sadly
Sadly Eclipsed
Eclipsedby
bythe
the Toughie
Toughie
"Barney Google's
Google's Birthday:
1 Now
Snuffy
SnuffySmith."
Smith."Newsweek
Newsweek14
14October
October 1940:
1940: 60.
60.
Batteau,
U of
of Arizona
Arizona P,
P, 1990.
1990.
Batteau, Alan.
Alan. The
The Invention
Inventionof
ofAppalachia.
Appalachia. Tucson:
Tucson: U
Berchtold,
of Comics."
NewOutlook
OutlookApril
April 1935:
1935:34-40.
34-40.
Berchtold,William
William E.
E. "Men
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Comics." New
Dorman,
The Regionalist
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Movementinin
Dormán, Robert
Robert L.
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18-19.
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had more
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Famethan
than most
most have
have''ever
everseed'."
seed' ."
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Scott Taylor.
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St.
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Inge,
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Mississippi, 1990.69-77.
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Jones,
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StevenLoring.
Loring."From
"From'Under
'UnderCork'
Cork'totoOvercoming:
Overcoming:Black
BlackImages
Images in
in
in the
the Comics.
Ed. Charles
CharlesHardy
Hardyand
and
the
theComics."
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th
the
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New
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NewYork:
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Lasswell, Fred.
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Theft -- Blackface
BlaclifaceMinstrelsy
Minstrelsy
and
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American
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Lott,Eric.
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MacKaye, Percy.
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America: AA Comment
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on aa Sojourn
Sojourn in
in the
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Kentucky
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Survey
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`Sweet Mamas` to `Bodacious` Hillbillies - TopSCHOLAR

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