I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my favorite time of year to read was in the summer. There was nothing better than grabbing a book and reading in a shady spot. Some things never change. It’s still one of my favorite pastimes during these hot months.
My book of choice during those mid-1970s lazy summer days was The Family Circus Comics. Cartoonist Bil Keane created the strip that appeared in 1,500 newspapers worldwide. It debuted in February of 1960 along with his 89 compilations.
If you did read The Family Circus, do you remember the characters? The mom and dad were Thelma and Bill. Billy was the oldest child, followed by Dolly, Jeffy, and PJ the baby. Grandma, Bill’s Mom, also occasionally appeared in the comic. I certainly can’t forget their dogs Barfy and Sam, and a cat appropriately named Kittycat. Fun fact, all of them were modeled after Bil Keane’s family members, including himself and his animals!
The siblings were hilarious and because I was a kid when I read them, I related to their playful mischief and humor. I always had a Family Circus book in my hand and could recite the captions by simply glancing at the comic. I loved reading them and was so thrilled when Mom treated me to the latest edition.
Bil Keane was clever when he incorporated my favorite “dotted lines” and the “Not Me” Gremlins into his comics. The invisible Gremlins observed the kids when they were sassy and tried to shift the blame on others by saying, “Not Me”! If you were an avid reader of Family Circus, I’m sure you remember!
When Billy or Jeffy went on an adventure in the comic strip, I traced the dotted line Kean created, with my finger. I would track the boys’ windy path as they got distracted and took the longest route to get to their destination. It was fun following them! When the Gremlins or dotted line comic was printed in the Sunday morning paper, it was a good start to the day!
When my boys were young, they also became loyal fans after I shared my Family Circus books with them. Between my vintage copies and the ones I bought for them, we have 26 books. My Mom bought me one that still has a 95-cent price tag attached! That gives you an indication of how long I’ve adored them.
Those four little kids were pure entertainment for me. It’s been 63 years since the comics were first published and they still crack me up! Thank you, Billy, Jeffy, Dolly, PJ, and the rest of the family for lots of belly laughs and true joy! You kept me entertained on many summer days!
