Dagwood Bumstead | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | King Features Syndicate |
First appearance | September 8, 1930 |
Created by | Chic Young |
Dagwood Bumstead is a main character in cartoonist Chic Young's long-running comic strip Blondie . He debuted in the first strip on September 8, 1930.
He was originally heir to the Bumstead Locomotive fortune, but was disowned when he married Blondie née Boopadoop, a flapper whom his family saw as below his class. He has since worked hard at J. C. Dithers Construction Company as office manager to support his family. The Bumsteads' first baby, Alexander, was originally named Baby Dumpling. The name of his daughter, Cookie, was chosen by readers in a national contest. The family circle is rounded out by Daisy the dog. [1] The origin of both Dagwood's last name and Daisy's name came from Chic Young's long-time friend Arthur Bumstead and his dog, Daisy. [2]
His favorite things in life include his wife Blondie, his kids, naps on the sofa, long baths, and food. Dagwood is famous for concocting tall, multilayered sandwiches topped with an olive on a toothpick, and the term "Dagwood sandwich" has entered American English. Dagwood often made these sandwiches late at night.
Dagwood frequently has problems with door-to-door salesmen, rude telemarketers and store salespeople, crashing into the mailman (Mr. Beasley) as he rushes from home, getting ready before the carpool leaves without him, getting to work on time, his boss J.C. Dithers, and Cookie's many dates. He is often suspicious of her dates and keeps a close watch on them when they come to the house. Other characters in his universe include Elmo Tuttle, a pesky little neighborhood kid who wanders in and out of the Bumstead house; next-door neighbors Herb and Tootsie Woodley; Lou, the sarcastic cook in a local diner; and Mr. Dithers' domineering wife, Cora. Dagwood's birthday is July 20, or April 21. [3]
Over the years, Dagwood has appeared not only in daily newspapers, but also in comic books, Big Little Books, Whitman novels for children and other print materials, as well as radio, film, and television. Arthur Lake played Dagwood in the Blondie film series (1938–50), radio series and the short-lived 1957 TV series. Hal Le Roy portrayed Dagwood in the pilot for the 1957 series. Will Hutchins played him in the 1968 TV series. He made several cameo appearances in Garfield Gets Real , alongside Grimmy from Mother Goose and Grimm . Dagwood and his wife also made a cameo appearance in a Garfield strip originally published April 1, 1997. In a fourth wall break, Garfield refers to this as "moving to a different comic strip". [4] Dagwood made another appearance in Garfield comic strips on August 20, 2005, to invite Jon and Garfield for Blondie and his anniversary party.
Dagwood also made a cameo appearance in the 1946 cartoon Hollywood Canine Canteen , where his wife Blondie and he (named Dogwood in this short) are portrayed as anthropomorphic dogs working in a snack bar. Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake voiced these characters, respectively.
In the song "Homemade Mummy", alternative rapper Aesop Rock briefly refers to Dagwood. [5]
Blondie is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Chic Young. The comic strip is distributed by King Features Syndicate, and has been published in newspapers since September 8, 1930. The success of the strip, which features the eponymous blonde and her sandwich-loving husband, led to the long-running Blondie film series (1938–1950) and the popular Blondie radio program (1939–1950).
Blondie is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Frank Strayer, based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The screenplay was written by Richard Flournoy. The plot involves the Bumsteads' fifth anniversary, Dagwood trying to get a raise, and Blondie trying to buy new furniture.
Blondie is a radio situation comedy adapted from the long-running Blondie comic strip by Chic Young. It stars Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead and, for the majority of its run, Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead. The radio program ran on several networks from 1939 to 1950.
Blondie is the first of two television series based on the comic strip by Chic Young. The show first aired on January 4, 1957 on NBC and ran for one season. Pamela Britton starred in the title role and Arthur Lake played Blondie's husband Dagwood Bumstead, reprising his role from the Blondie film series.
Blondie Goes to College is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer. The film is a part of the Blondie series, starring Penny Singleton in the title role. It is the tenth of twenty-eight Blondie movies starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.
Blondie is an American sitcom that aired on CBS during the 1968–69 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name. The series stars Patricia Harty as the title character and Will Hutchins as her husband Dagwood Bumstead. Jim Backus played Dagwood's boss Mr. Dithers, with his real-life wife Henny Backus playing Cora Dithers. The series also featured the noted child character actress Pamelyn Ferdin as the Bumsteads' daughter, Cookie, and character actor Bryan O'Byrne as the hapless mailman, always getting run over by Dagwood hurrying out the door, late for work.
Blondie Meets the Boss is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.
Blondie for Victory is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. It is the 12th entry in the Blondie series.
Blondie's Holiday is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. The film is based on the comic strip of the same name. The screenplay was written by Chic Young and Connie Lee.
Blondie Goes Latin, also known as Conga Swing, is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and Robert Sparks and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the eighth of the Blondie films. The film showcases musical numbers of Kirby Grant, Ruth Terry, Tito Guizar, with Arthur Lake displaying his drum skills, Penny Singleton her singing and dancing prowess.
Blondie in Society is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the ninth of the 28 features in the Blondie film series released by Columbia Pictures.
It's a Great Life is a 1943 black-and-white film and is the 13th of the 28 Blondie films. It is one of only two movies in the series that did not feature "Blondie" in the title.
Blondie's Blessed Event is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the 11th of the Blondie films. It was the first to feature the character of Cookie.
Footlight Glamour is a 1943 black-and-white film and the 14th of the 28 Blondie films. It is one of only two movies in the series that did not feature "Blondie" in the title. It was the last film in the "Blondie" series for:
Leave It to Blondie is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake and Larry Simms. It was fifteenth of the twenty eight series of Blondie films released by Columbia Pictures.
Life with Blondie is a 1945 American black-and-white domestic comedy film and the 16th of the 28 Blondie films. It was the return of Dagwood and Blondie after Columbia Picture's 1943 decision to cancel the series met with protest.
Blondie's Lucky Day is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the 17th of the 28 Blondie films.
Blondie's Reward is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the twenty-third of the 28 Blondie films.
Beware of Blondie is a 1950 American black and white comedy film and is the last of Columbia's 28 Blondie films in 12 years.
The Blondie film series is an American comedy film series based on the comic strip of the same name, created by Chic Young. The series featured Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead and Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead. Concurrently the film adventures were continued, with the same cast reprising their roles, in the Blondie radio series.