February 3rd, 2017

Timeline – 1960 Part 3

by Brian Walker, Greg Walker and Chance Browne

Hi and Lois Sunday page color proof, May 8, 1960.

The Sunday page above is another classic nostalgia trip from the team of Mort Walker and Dik Browne. Mr. Foofram, who is Hi Flagston’s boss, is looking back at the good old days when life was simpler.

He runs Foofram Industries, which manufactures fooframs of all kinds (whatever those are). He inherited the business from his father and if it weren’t for his position, no one would take him seriously. He sits at an ornate throne in his office and vainly tries to get his employees to do his bidding. He is the quintessential small man in a big job – a lot of power but not very much wattage.

Foofram appeared regularly in the strip in the early years but isn’t seen as often any more. That is because his type is not as common in today’s high-pressure business world. He would have been swallowed up in a huge corporate merger long ago.

Foofram is never as mean as Dagwood Bumstead’s boss, Mr. Dithers. In fact, he isn’t such a bad guy. If he weren’t worth millions, you could almost feel sorry for the old coot.

– Brian Walker