'Family Circus' Turns 45

Editor and Publisher ^ | February 28, 2005 | E&P Staff

[sully777]

NEW YORK "The Family Circus" reached its 45th anniversary today. Or maybe it will reach its 45th anniversary tomorrow. That's because the comic panel started on a leap-year day -- Feb. 29, 1960.

Bil Keane created "The Family Circus," and now does it with his son, Jeff Keane, for more than 1,500 newspapers via King Features Syndicate.

[Cyclopean Squid]

[ServesURight]

And it's easily a finalist for "Lamest Cartoon to Run 45 Years."

It's one of the few cartoons that has a positive, wholesome Christian message to it.

A movie about it would make millions.

[Ciexyz]

Pax, Peace and Shalom to you also, Squid!

[sully777]

I take exception to that's gross, acerbic, highly unwholesome phrase you used









past bedtime :)

[BradyLS]

I think Hank Ketchum did Dennis the Menace even longer. When did he finally go to the Great Panel Strip Gig in the Sky?

[BradyLS]

45 years of "WTF???"

At least he makes an honest living with it. Taxes going to countless "WTF?" agencies and programs has been happening for decades longer.

[Lancey Howard]

I was following 'Family Circus' before the Dad started wearing glasses.
I think he got his glasses in the late '60s.

[Lancey Howard]

I always liked 'Ernie' (now called 'Piranha Club').

[Lancey Howard]

My misspent youth included lots of R Crumb comics:

I still have them up in the attic somewhere. Good old Captain Pissgums and his Pervert Pirates!

[PennsylvaniaMom]

There is one, newer stripe, called Agnes that I really like. She is neurotic fourth grader, with a sidekick. My favorite cartoon as a kid was Tumbleweeds.

And just my thoughts, but wasn't Michael Jackson actually Dondi two noses ago?

[Lancey Howard]

Ha! I used to love 'Tumbleweeds', too.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I still like B.C. (which first appeared at around the same time that Family Circus did.) And its writer is a conservative Christian who's not afraid to show support for God in his strips.

[Lancey Howard]

Johnny Hart. Yep, 'B.C.' is another classic.

[LexBaird]

Second best. Right after "Bloom County."

Bloom County was good, but it lasted well past its "use by" date. Then Breathed compounded his error with "Outside" (or whatever it was called), trying to resurrect the old magic by recycling characters. Everybody liked Opus, but the heart and soul of Bloom County was Milo.

[buccaneer81]

Then Breathed compounded his error with "Outside" (or whatever it was called), trying to resurrect the old magic by recycling characters.

I agree with you about "Outland". It was lame. The new "Opus" strip is better, but it'll never be "Bloom County".