Today in Comics History, March 31: Happy birthday, Robert Lippert!

Born on this day in 1909: cinema chain owner and film producer (that first one really helps out the second one) Robert L. Lippert! You may remember him from such films featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 as Rocketship X-M, Lost Continent, Jungle Goddess, King Dinosaur, Radar Secret Service and Last of the Wild Horses!

He (not pictured) also helped singer/actor Brenda Lee get her start in Hollywood!


from Brenda Lee: Life Story one-shot (Dell, July 1962), pencils and inks by Tony Tallarico (?)
...which leads to stuffed animals getting their start in motion pictures, so it's indirectly thanks to Robert Lippert that I might be in a movie someday!


So happy birthday and thank you, Robert Lippert, for making us laugh at movies...again.


from Mystery Science Theater 3000 [King Dinosaur], season two, episode 10 (Best Brains, December 22, 1990)

Today in Comics History, August 12: Happy birthday, Jane Wyatt!

Born on this day in 1910: actor Jane Wyatt, known for her TV role of Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best and many movie roles (Great Expectations, Lost Horizon, Hurricane Smith, Treasure of Matecumbe and many more). Here she is in 1961's The Two Little Bears with Brenda Lee and...let's say, uh...Jimmy Olsen.


from Brenda Lee: Life Story one-shot (Dell, July 1962), art by Tony Tallarico (?)

Today in Comics History, May 18: Happy birthday, Perry Como!

Born on this day in 1912, crooner Perry Como!, the most relaxed man in show business!

But what does Mr. Como have to do with comic books, you ask? Hmmmm...




advertisement from DC Comics cover-dated September 1958
Well, for one, here he is, RIGHT ON A FREAKIN' COMIC BOOK COVER. That's what!


cover of Penny #6 (Avon, September 1947), pencils and inks by Harry Haenigsen