January 1st, 2015

A Holiday Party

by Brian Walker, Greg Walker and Chance Browne

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is often a time for visiting with the neighbors. Although the liquor doesn’t flow quite as freely as it did back in the 1960s, cocktail parties are still in vogue. With increased awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, it’s a real bonus when the destination is within walking distance.

Here is a classic Hi and Lois Sunday page from 1963 that features a neighborhood party.

Hi and Lois Sunday page color proof, November 24, 1963.

It’s fun to sneak the names of real acquaintances into the strip and on this occasion, Mort Walker managed to get a lot of them in. The full names of some of the guests at the Farley’s party are cartoonist couples Frank and Millie Johnson, John and Karen Fischetti, Richard (Dik) and Joan Browne, Gail and Jerry Dumas, Dolores and Bud Jones and Jack and Tina Tippit. There are also relatives and neighbors who are mentioned, including Bob and Ramona Walker, Pat and Doug Soutar, Mary Lou and Ed White, Fred and Sue Mason and Florence and Carl Wold. Friends and family always get a kick out of seeing their names in the funnies!

Here’s hoping all of our readers have a Happy New Year and a fulfilling 2015.

– Brian Walker