If you?ve read my ?Variants Without the Guilt? column in CBG #1609, you know what this is about: Confirming the existence of all the variant Adventures of the Big Boy promotional comics from the first 175 issues of the series.
For years, artists drew two different versions of the main character in the comics — conforming to the fact that while the many franchisees in the Big Boy chain used the same name and promotional items, the design of the character in some chains used a different-looking mascot. (Read more about it in the ?Big Boy Primer? thread here!)
It is known that the ?Eastern? or ?blond? Big Boy appeared in variants at least until #152 in December 1969; what isn?t known for certain is whether two versions of each issue exist — or when the ?blond? version ends. That?s what the CBGXtra.com Two-Faced Big Boy Challenge is about!
Below is the checklist of the variants from #1-175 that I have either in my possession, have a scan for, or have other confirmation of. The first eight people who post scans of at least three copies of either kind I haven?t yet seen will receive from me an Eastern variant of Big Boy #119, from 1967.
As they?re posted, I?ll be revising the checklist — so once someone else posts a copy not on my checklist, posting it again yourself won?t count toward the reward. But thee are at least 120 potential Eastern variants I haven?t seen — and another 121 Western (or ?traditional look?) issues I haven?t got scans of, so there?s a few to choose from. (If we wind up with more than eight people posting at least three unseen copies, we?ll try to find something nice for the rest of you. I?m lucky to have this many spares of #119!)
Remember, this is the WEBS Advertising Group series with issues coming out from 1956-1970 — not the Paragon series that was done for Shoney?s in the late 1970s and early 1980s. I?m missing some scans of those, too, but they?re not part of this search.
When you post your images — JPGs, please — any info you can also supply on which chain the cover came from will help. Just look on the back. You might also list the states where that chain was active.
Here?s the list (updated: issues posted to CBGXtra in italics):
EASTERN copies
(Big Boy is a strawberry blond and wears a chef?s hat with his name on it; his suit is striped; his face is less rounded)
Distributed in these chains, among others (?): Azar?s, Frisch?s
Confirmed (80 of a possible 175):
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9
10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19
20, 21, 23, 25, 26
30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39
41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48
50, 54, 57
60, 62, 68, 69
71, 72, 76, 77,78
81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 89
92, 94
101, 102, 106
110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119
122, 123, 124, 126
130, 131, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138
140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
152
WESTERN copies
(The ?traditional? Big Boy; he?s got dark hair, is a bit plumper, wears a checkered suit, and no hat.)
Distributed in these chains, among others: Elby?s, Kip?s, Marc?s
Update: ALL Western copies now confirmed, from Heritage’s File Copy Auction
That?s the list. See below for the differences in the characters — from #69?s infinity cover, an issue signed inside by ?Brod.? (Sol Brodsky? Who knows?) I?m also posting what the Eastern #119s I?ve got so folks can see what they look like.
Good hunting!
–John Jackson Miller
The Magazine
Adventures of the Big Boy #52, Western version…
Great finds. I hope to update the list at the top of the thread again soon.
Did you get the issue I sent? It went out a couple of weeks ago.
Hi John,
That was rude of me not to let you know (Got tied up with work and school), yes, they arrived all fine and well! Thanks again.
I’ll keep looking for more of these editions, especially issues in the 150 range to finally find out the exact moment the East and West versions disappeared. I will find them yet!
And I’ll keep all posted here.
I wonder, eBay has a ton of Big Boys that never seem to get sold. I just wonder if all those people who collect giveaways (and, apparantly, have been driving up the prices for them), do not buy Big Boys. Could it be because of the shear number of issues in the run that scares them off? Perhaps. I can only speculate. The comic has had such a long run and it is the only reason I can think of as to why more collectors haven’t posted their Big Boy covers here.
Perhaps, they just do not have them. Perhaps both versions of Big Boy titles are rarer than we think or collectors of this comic just do not exist–consigning back issues to comic book stores’ storage rooms or quarter boxes everywhere.
my best
-Ray
This is another fresh off of eBay, though a lousy scan. Eastern version from Frisch’s, #77…
Wow….great thread! It’s fun to see so many familiar covers. I grew up near a Big Boy (in New Mexico), so ours were all the “western” version. Our chain was Vip’s Big Boy. I still have them somewhere, but have been unable to locate them.
New additions from the Web:
A rather sorry scan of #86 West
Western (and perhaps only) #165, which we now see is a reprint of #77/West
And a bigger scan, this time of #171 West
I have updated the list at the top of the thread to reflect these additions and those submitted by Ray.
We are now at 54 Easterns and 87 Westerns out of the search range of 175. Realistically, if #152 is really the end of the split, then we have 74 Westerns which is two shy of half the total. I have story information in my records on some of those issues which suggests I have seen some of the missing ones in the past, but I will wait for visual confirmation.
Actually, looking at that above scan, I just finally noticed the Barksian pointers that are in BB’s eyes. I thought it might be a clue to Manny Stallman’s work, but the theme seems to run waaaaay back. Looks like it was part of the early design — so much for me paying attention to details!
Never let an old joke go dept: Three different re-dos of the same cover gag — here on #113, #204, and the original, on #18 … Not to mention that #77, above, which itself was reprinted as #165. “Oblivious” seems to be BB’s major defining characteristic…
And completing this holiday week look through the files, I turned up what initially appeared to be a non-holiday variant of the holiday cover they kept reusing. Here ’tis in #260, with the “regular” versions from #118 and #332.
#260 was a December issue, so I can’t figure why the dialogue went all secular on us…
And, coincidentally, I am pleased to report that the series continues — and will reach its 50th anniversary next year.
I hadn’t seen an issue since #509, but Maggie just spoke with publisher Craig Yoe, who says the current issue is #521.
By my calendar, that looks like they’re on a quarterly tempo. In any event, this is great news and perfect timing, as it comes just in time for my feature in #1614 on “legacy comics.”
I’m glad the series continues, …but which restaurants or chains stock it? The last time I was in a Big Boy (on the east coast) they didn’t know anything about a child menu/comic book.
I have been meaning to ask Craig Yoe why is that… There are two Big Boys on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Michigan (near where I live), only about 5 mile apart. One has them, the other gives you funny looks when you ask them about it…
It makes no sense why the giveaway premium is not mandiatory at all Big Boy locations (at least the ones controlled by the Big Boy Corporaton directly).
Last place I found one was in Michigan, though on the other end of the state. South side of the Mackinac bridge, summer of 2003. I don’t recall if there was a separate name to the franchisee, just that they didn’t print anything like that on the comics.
Some more Big Boy covers, courtesy of Lone Star Comics as these covers appeared at mycomicshop.com. It does confirm that the composite Big Boy (brown-haired one) showed up by 156. So the last East (red haired) and West (black haired) looks to have appeared from 152-155 (152 known to have east/west versions). This time around, I am providing from that web site East versions for issues #19, 68 & 72. West versions for 17, 66, 129, 145. And a copy of issue #156.
Enjoy!
my best
-Ray Bottorff Jr
….
…
Checklist updated to reflect new postings.
My hunch continues to be that #152 is the end of the line, given that it also appears to be the last issue from the 1960s.
Now we can add, thanks to eBay, an eastern version of issue #17!
my best
-Ray
Front page list updated — and corrected the count, which was off by one. That’s 57 Easterns. We’re turnin’ ‘em up…
And now from eBay, a missing Western version of issue #124…
Western #75 from eBay!
#122 west!
Some more covers from the eastern Big Boy, in this case issues #123 & 126 from the good sellers on eBay…
List updated.
That finishes off the 120s with the Westerns. Interesting how, before #100, we seem to have found East and West in similar quantities. It’s after #100 where the Western version really takes over. I would imagine they lost one of the Eastern franchisees.
I think I know which franchise it was too, Azar’s. Manner’s, Frisch’s both seem to continue Eastern versions til the bitter end. However, I have recorded on my listings early issues with Azar’s being Eastern version and later issues being the Western version (until they combo version came out).
Azar’s is also one of the franchises (along with JB’s and most notably Shoney’s) who bailed from Webs in 1976 to do their own comic books under Paragon.
my best
-Ray
…That #122 west that CA put up could sure look like a modern-day comic book , with the rather ” flat ” artwork .
If you say it’s a pre-1962 I believe you , but………
Actually, it’s June 1967. And that’s an example of a weaker stretch in the series’ art — of which there were a few. I would guess that in between the Timely guys and Manny Stallman later in the 1970s, Manfred Bernhard possibly had to go off to advertising artists, now and again.
Of related interest in this month’s CBG (#1615) is an article by James Mishler who looks at the genesis of Dungeons & Dragons comics, which was back in a series of Marvel advertisements. James managed to find out all about the production of the ads, including how after the ad agency produced the first one to appear (which looked pretty lousy), the TSR guys said, “well, we could do better ourselves” and brought in the young Bill Willingham, among others…
Another Eastern issue from eBay with a lousy scan to boot! This is issue #38 and it is from Azar’s when Azar’s was still selling Eastern editions…
my best
-Ray
I did some cross-checking and came up with a few things:
These are the issues that haven’t been seen in any version since our search began:
11, 12, 14, 16, 21, 22, 24, 27, 29
32, 33, 35, 40, 42, 49, 51, 53, 55, 56, 58, 60
63, 64, 65, 70, 71, 73, 74, 79, 80, 83, 84, 88
95, 104, 109, 110, 111
131, 135, 139, 142, 144, 151
Now, checking against our database, I find that I do have some facts about some of these. First, what may have been a mistake in my initial lists here did not count #71, for which we had seen both an East and a West. The Eastern one is below. So that’s pulled off the list.
Secondly, I have some facts that indicate we did see at some point (though did not snag images of)…
#65 — a Cowboys and Indians cover
#80 “The Great Uranium Hunt”
#88 “The Case of the Phantom Thief”
#95 “The Case of the Faking Fakir”
#110 “Throwing the Bull”
#111 — a fireman cover
#142 “Big Boy and the Samurai”
Maybe I saw the images before we began doing the East/West thing and I recorded the story title — I don’t know. In any event, since I did not note that those were East or West, I don’t want to count these as either until we see them again. My assumption is that they were all West versions, but since we’ve been going with photographic proof we might as well keep it up.
In any event, we are now at 43 books on the list that haven’t been seen in either version — 36 if we count the ones mentioned just above. Target in sight…
Some more missing items from new eBay auctions. Some covers are tucked in with scans that include other comics.
First scan is a West #79.
Second scan is a West #114 (the timber cover).
Third scan is an East #137 (scan on the right of the pic).
my best
-Ray
Slowly but surely they are surfacing…here is a Western version of issue #131…almost done with the 130s!
I gave the previous posts a quick once-over, and don’t think any of these were listed, but I apologize in advance if I’m duplicating anything.
Here are a few ‘striped pants’ Big Boys, all from the Frisch’s chain. #115, 116, 129, 150, 149. I also have #168 of the ‘checkered pants’ variety and will post it if you like.
cont.
Terrific Craig!
Great to see more covers of our fair-haired red-headed “Eastern” Big Boy!
my best
-Ray
To correct myself — The other issue I have handy is #158, which I don’t think is on your checklist (I mistook the hand-lettered issue number for #168).
I also have #157, 159 & 166 of the checkered-pants series, but I believe you’ve got those accounted for already.
Ah, thanks to eBay, we have another missing Eastern issue. This scans show a lot of Big Boys out of our realm of study, but in the lower right hand corner of the scan is an Eastern version of issue #112…
Slowly but surely, they are showing!
my best
-Ray
Continuing our little mis-adventure of the Big Boy. Thanks to an eBay camera man who apparantly can’t shoot straight, here is a western issue #95!
Continuing the list, more from eBay, this time an image with a Western version of issue #142…
my best
-Ray
Re: the scan of BigBoy number #20 with the gag of the Statue of Liberty: with the eyebrows and the eyes of Dolly, it looks to me a lot like Veronica and Betty. Could that issue be done by Dan DeCarlo? I don’t claim to be an expert on art style, but that ‘s what it looks like to me.
As I understand it Dan DeCarlo did do Big Boy…
from Jerry Bails’ Who’s Who
Promotional comics
ADVENTURES OF THE BIG BOY~ (a) 1957 for Big Boy Restaurants
Oh, absolutely. My records show DeCarlo did covers and interiors for #7-13. All are signed or were attributed inside, I believe.
I imagine there might have been a few more, but they switched from Timely producing the books fairly quickly in there…
Some more poor scans from eBay however we continue to fill in more gaps…here is “west” versions for issues #139 and 140!….Hey John, I think it is time to update to list at the beginning!
my best
-Ray
Yeah, I’ll try to fix the list again later this week. Thanks for the finds!
More eBay finds, slowly the 130s are filling up…here is a “west” #135…
All in all, #135 is one seriously disturbing cover…even Big Boy looks, disturbed!
Regarding Dan DeCarlo and Big Boy — Here, in Dan’s most recent National Cartoonists Society bio page, you’ll see that he included Big Boy among his accomplishments even in his later days (Kool-Aid man, too!). As I recall, Stan Lee wrote those early Big Boys that Dan drew.
http://reuben.org/ncs/members/memorium/decarlo.jpg
More eBay finds, Eastern version of issue #57…
Another ebay find, amongst this pic, an Eastern 21!
I don’t know where my search would be without eBay but here is another…
Frisch version of an Eastern edition of #136…
The photo shows only one issue in full, but the auction states the rest of the issues were Eastern Frisch versions of issue # 125, 126, 131, 132, & 138, which the picture shows only a part of…
my best
-Ray
How many more to go?
I think this wraps up Western 150′s…Issue #151 this time…
Hey, Ray, finally got a moment after the conventions to think about this.
I like the theory, but before creating an empty box for them, are we sure that the non-Frisch’s copyright on #155 necessarily translates to the existence of a Frisch’s #153-155?
I ask because it looks like we still haven’t found them, and an alternative explanation for the #155 you found is that W.E.B.S. simply forgot to change the copyright line on the version that it would be using for #153-155.
I’ll agree that the different copyright is strongly suggestive of a Frisch’s #153-155, but then we also know that publishers fail to change indicias and things all the time. It could be that Bernhard and his clients really didn’t get their act together until a couple of months after the breakup — during which time they settled on their new features and everything.
Found a very clean #300 in Chicago, by the way…
Some updated news for you John, from the San Diego Comic-Con I just came back from.
I can declare that the last issue of the the “West” or Bob’s Black hair Version Big Boy and the “East” or Frisch’s Red hair version Big Boy was in issue #155.
I will show scan for issue #155 and 156. The I will show scans (in order) of the copyright notice on 155 and 156.
For the last few years of the East/West versions of Big Boy comics, each title had its own unique copyright notice. The Black Haired version would be listed as copyrighted by Marriot Corp, the then owners of the Bob’s franchise. The Red Haired version would be listed as copyright Frisch’s.
My west copy of #155, shows Big Boy with Black hair and the Marriot copyright.
Issue #155 shows Big Boy with Brown hair and the copyright would become the same generic copyright notice that would last for the next couple hundred issues or so.
But here is what I consider my final confirmation of the end for the black and red haired Big Boys. Also starting in issue #156 is a feature that would last for the next several years, “This Month’s “State of the Union” which would focus on Alabama.
Not only were these features designed to promote local states, but also to promote which preferred Big Boy franchise you should go to and what cities they were located in. In this issue we have Alabamas’ Shoney’s locations. And the Brown-Haired Big Boy is in the logo. In my opinion, such a feature would not have been practical with two different Big Boy icons, because it would lead to confusion for those out of state trying to find the right Big Boy, especially if they were looking for the location based on the statue of Big Boy in front of the location. I believe a compromise or settlement between the two different Big Boy characters and those who owned them was done to help maintain consistency across the franchise…
And the comic was changed to reflect this too.
So that is what I have come to believe. Hopefully more east Big Boys will show up, especially between 152-155. There will be none from 156 onwards…
my best
-Ray
copyright info…
…Yes , it was a local joke , and when I have more time for ” leisurely ” posting “…
Then , only a couple of days later , the syndicated PBS did a joke that involved a Big Boy caricature .
For a comics connection additionally , the Chron cartoon also depicted the Doggie Diner head , familiar to Zippy The Pinhead followers . Yow !!!!!
Hey John,
While it maybe possible the “east” Big Boy stopped before the “west” version did, I get the funny feeling 155 is the last for both editions. Its three things really that change between 155 and 156 for me.
1) “west” Big Boy hair color goes from black to brown from 155 to 156
2) Specific copyright changed to generic copyright from 155 to 156.
3) The start of the long running State celebration feature, which gave fun facts about all 50 states and lists the local Big Boy chains in those states, something I don’t believe would have been possible with different mascots versions showing up and confusing the traveling public. One agreed upon Big Boy figure by all chains which then won’t confuse anyone who may wonder who that red-haired Big Boy was when they travel from place to place…
If given enough time, or pleas to comic collectors in Penn. and New York, I think you’ll find those missing “east” Big Boys. I’d almost be willing to bet on it.
my best
-Ray
Well I am back, with some more excuses for John to update the lisitings on page one (hint, hint
).
Two more missing books, thanks to auctioners on eBay, “Western” #109
And an “Eastern” version of probably what is one of the most disturbing comic book covers even made. Issue #135. A clearly deranged Frisch Big Boy juggling live grenades. Makes a nice Earth-Two counter-part to the already shown Bob’s Big Boy deranged cover version.
Enjoy as always!
my best
-Ray
You’re right — that IS disturbing!
Hoping to get a moment to update the list out front this week.
…The SF Chronicle’s Tom Meyer has an editorial cartoon today ( 10/9/06 ) that may interest some here………..
http://www.sfgate.com
…And , today , PEARLS BEFORE SWINE…
Kinda a sad commentary on how this effort has so slowed up that the two most recent invoices were quasi-spam having nothing to do with Big Boy comics? Interest me it asks? Nope.
…CA , did you even check out what I was talking about there ?
I am rather POd to be even quasi-referred to as ” spam ” .
Does everything have to be laid right nto your lap ???????????
As it happens , this board’s policy means that I cannot put a working link up , but………..
I was not going to post today , but , this comment…
Chill Walter, the commentary was more on the slowness of this group than your posting…
Saw the editorial cartoon, It must be a regional thing since I don’t understand the context of Big Boy and the Michelin Man.
I imagine it might be of intereat to others here. Not me so much, but my opinion is not of importance really in that regard. To each their own…
my best
-Ray
And, Walter, we do allow you to hotlink. Simply follow these instructions to do so.
Remember to include the http:// in the web address or it won’t work.
I think I am going to tease John a bit and remind him the update the first page list of issues found to date…
In the meantime more eBay finds!
“western” versions of issues #53 and 111!
Even its only me, this list will make it to a page 4!
Here is some more from eBay…”western’ versions of issues #62 and 72! 72 includes a Tops back cover.
Enjoy!
my best
-Ray
FINALLY I have gotten a chance to get in here and update the listings. Whew!
Check my math, but I now have 71 Easterns and 112 Westerns — of which 97 of the Westerns are in the likelies search range of #1-152. I wonder what the deal is with the #40s in the Westerns — very few out there.
I did not count the issues unseen, lower down in that one advertised stack that was posted. Should we?
Again, terribly sorry for the delay. When I started this, I was just running CBGXtra. Now I’m helping run…
http://www.antiquetrader.com
http://www.artistsmagazine.com
http://www.artistsnetwork.com
http://www.banknotereporter.com
http://www.bigreel.com
http://www.blademag.com
http://www.cnamag.com
http://www.coinpricesmagazine.net
http://www.coinsmagazine.net
http://www.comicsretailer.com
http://www.cbgxtra.com
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http://www.discoveriesmag.com
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http://www.fantasysportsmag.com
http://www.framebuildingnews.com
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http://www.gundigestmagazine.com
http://www.hortmag.com
http://www.howdesign.com
http://www.idonline.com
http://www.loghomesinfo.net
http://www.loghomesillustrated.com
http://www.memorymakersmagazine.com
http://www.metalroofingmag.com
http://www.militarytrader.com
http://www.militaryvehiclesmagazine.com
http://www.numismaticnews.net
http://www.oldcarspriceguide.net
http://www.oldcarsweekly.com
http://www.pasteljournal.com
http://www.popularwoodworking.com
http://www.postcardcollector.com
http://www.printmag.com
http://www.ruralbuilder.com
http://www.scrapbookretailermagazine.com
http://www.scubadiving.com
http://www.scryemag.com
http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com
http://www.toycarsmag.com
http://www.toyshopmag.com
http://www.trapperpredatorcaller.com
http://www.tuffstuff.com
http://www.turkeyandturkeyhunting.com
http://www.vintagebikemag.com
http://www.watercolormagic.com
http://www.woodworking-magazine.com
http://www.worldcoinnews.net
http://www.writersdigest.com
… and no, Brent, I ain’t hotlinking all of those. I’m too tired!
Sorry again to all for the delay — and thanks, Ray and Craig, for the images.
Just when John things he has left, I am going to pull him back in…
Eastern version issue #124. Front and back cover. From friendly eBay.
How many issues did Big Boy wear that blond afro that he wears on the cover of Eastern #124? It really is a different look for him.
Its on both the East and West version…its a helmet. Big Boy has, ugh, hat hair this time!
Front page updated.
I guess if we wanted to be anal-retentive about it, we’d say that because of the helmet we can’t prove there were different #124s from the cover alone. We’re comics collectors, though — we’re not like that!
The answer is in the pants, and the franchise. Striped pants, “east”, franchise Fritsch, “east”
Continuing my exploring of eBay auctions, here comes a nice copy of an Eastern #87!
In what is probably the worse scan yet I have posted to this list (how do people on eBay expect to sell stuff with scans like this?). Here is an eastern #110!
Really!
my best
-Ray
Well, its’ not the best scan in the world, but here is a “eastern” Big Boy #147…!
Well John maybe moving on, but it appears I ain’t! Here is “western” #83! (Ebay again!)
eBay fill-in of a eastern 90s! A Frisch copy, “eastern” Big Boy #92!
Not the greatest scans, but included here are Western versions of issues #85 and the other scan includes Western versions of issues #94…
Are you sure that’s an #85? We have scans of #85 which are “The Wild Tiger Hunt,” both east and west. “Uranium Hunt” should be issue #80, according to my notes. That’d be one I saw before but had no image for.
Unless there’s a better source image, I’m assuming that’s a Western #80. Front page count now updated…
My bad John, yer right, its 80. My typo!
my best
-Ray
This one is no error, one day after an update by John! Sorry! Big Boy “western” version #45.
Updated. Not too many Westerns in the 40s found yet.
From eBay again, western #5 and MAYBE #16. The person taking the picture didn’t both to photograph enough of the cover to tell…well at least we got an early missing one!
my best
-Ray
From eBay, an “Eastern” #102!
Its been a while! eBay hasnt produced the covers like in the past, but here is one. John has it listed on the known list already, but no scan has been posted here yet of it, so here it is…”Western” Big Boy #141…
Tada! Western #88 from our good friends on eBay!
More eBay finds…Eastern #36!
Front and Back Covers!
my best
-Ray
…A belated explanation to my long-ago ” I’ll explain later ” reference to a San Franciso Chronicle editorial cartoon referencing Big Boy and more…
This cartoon used images of Big Boy , the Michelin Man , and the Doggie Diner Heads , mid-20th century symbols of a then-hot dog chain that have appeared in ” ZAIIPY ” a lot , comics-wise .
There are a few DDHs surviving , only one?? in working use , not for the chain they were originally erected for .
The subject of what DDHs survive/are original ones/will stay up has been somewhat over-exposed in the San Francisco press in my time here , though there has been a rest in it as of late .
Expanation:
A ways ago , the French Guide Michelin guide to expensive resturaunts announced only its second ever US edition , an SF Bay Area one .
After a while , it came out…and suprised and disappointed many , by the fact that it was fairly stingy in giving its highest numerical ranking , of three stars , a rest. called The French Laundry ( thanked in the credits to Pixar’s Ratatouille , incidentally ) , a highly-praised ” traditional ” haute cuisine , I guess , French rest. in these parts , that I , incidentally , sure cannont afford . Well , imagine that . ( That a ” traditional ” French boite got the biggest nod , I mean . )
It’s not that they greatly put down BA resturaunts…They were not American-style heavy with the superlatives . (Sic?)
However , this story got legs/a second day when it was discovered that , as published , the GM Bay Area contained a number of factual mistakes .
Not horrendous – I guess – ones , but real ones , mostly?? things like claiming that someone was a co-owner of a rest. when they’d left long ago , or that something that a rst. no longer served was a specialty .
Looks like ze Frenchies zon’t dey bother wif editing and checking no more , neither , non ?????????
Thus , the cartoon .
The former WLL/DHL .
” I don’t know what they expect from me it’s like the mo’ money that comes along the mo’ problems we see ”
poilte comments welcome at jgbook2006@yahoo.com
Still checking eBay, long after this contest ended
I found a two for one!
On this scan are “western” versions of issues #48 and 83!
Both currently missing from the list!
Yippee! I think John, it maybe time for an update to the master list!
my best
-Ray
This cover is already on the list, but I do not believe has been posted here yet so…
here is a “western” #67!
my best
-Ray
From eBay, here is another scan which includes a western #102, 103, but most importantly #104, which is missing from John’s list!
my best
-Ray
Here is another from eBay, this is a cropped image of western #144, #144 is the one shown twice in the picture, not a great pic, but does show it exists!
enjoy!
Western #24! Looks like these issues from 10s-30s are pretty hard to find!
Gotta love eBay! Here is a new scan, an Eastern #60…
The funny thing about the scan, it also, maybe, contain Eastern #s 66, 76, 83, 90, 131, 136, 138, 148, & 150, but the person who did the auction only scanned just the edges of those covers.
Sigh.
Well, enjoy!
-Ray
Hey, fresh from eBay, confirmation of an “eastern” #76. Sock it to ‘em Frisch’s Big Boy!
my best
-Ray
Front page updated — including reflecting the presence of ALL the Western issues from #1-152 in the Heritage file copy auction. That’s one half the job done!
Nice! Here’s the auction, still open as I write it. Perhaps, perhaps whoever wins it would index the series for the GCD
http://comics.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=828&Lot_No=41245
So, that leaves the search to only those Eastern copies. I still contend those end with issue #155, but its only been verified up to issue #152.
Perhaps John, someday, more than me, you and the occassional other, will post some of these Big Boy scans…!
my best
-Ray
Ta da!
I am back, this time another eBay elusive “Eastern” Big Boy, from the lacking “#90s” portion of the run, this one a Manner’s #96!
I will continue to update this post as I get them, I hope someday more of you will join in!
my best
-Ray
It’s been a while since I last ran through the web looking for new Big Boy covers, and lo and behold, found one.
Craig Yoe was holding out on us it seems!
“Eastern” #11
Though they come in drips and drabs, here is a new ‘eastern’! issue #99!
so that leaves 11, 96 and 99 need to be added to the eastern count
Some more from eBay, this time, “eastern” #118 and 134! Yeah!
In this scan shows “easterns” 134 & 138 which have already been show, but a 139!
An “eastern” 56! We are in bad need of those in the 50-range!
Ah, this is a big “eastern” haul from the eBay auctions…
Nice pick of a bunch missing from the lists, this one includes
#6, 29, 35, and 49
I am back with another Eastern cover, this time issue #65!
Just keeping the Eastern listings up to date, here is where we stand now (with all Western issues confirmed):
EASTERN copies
(Big Boy is a strawberry blond and wears a chefs hat with his name on it; his suit is striped; his face is less rounded)
Distributed in these chains, among others (?): Azars, Frischs
Confirmed (80 of a possible 175):
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19
20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29
30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49
50, 54, 56, 57
60, 62, 65, 66, 68, 69
71, 72, 76, 77, 78
81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 89
92, 94, 96, 99
101, 102, 106
110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119
122, 123, 124, 126
130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
152
and maybe 83, 90
Oops forgot this
Confirmed (93 [maybe 95] of a possible 175):
Here is an Eastern #73!
Three more to our Eastern list from eBay, all from Manner’s Big Boy this time (I didnt save the backs). here you go…
Yikes, forgot to mention the issues last time, add to the Eastern List
28, 47, 91
and here is a 16!
Hey I am baaaacckkk!
From eBay, and Eastern #12, front and back cover!
-Ray
I’m not a collector of this title, but I remember getting some of these comics when I was a kid and I’ve enjoyed both the history and ongoing discussion thread. We recently stopped by a Big Boy restaurant and my son was desperately seeking one of the comics. He was practically heartbroken when the waitress informed him that they no longer made them.
So now my newest mission is to find some cheap ones (if possible) at a future comic show. My work is never done.
Some Big Boy eateries stopped giving away the comics and then would claim they were no longer being made, which was not true. Craig Yoe was making them, but I have heard rumors that he just only recently stopped doing them.
OK this pic has Fritsch Easterns #101-105 and 111. I can only make out is 104, so we can add that to the Eastern list!
Thought it would be good to start 2010 with the update on the Eastern list of Big Boy comics
EASTERN copies
(Big Boy is a strawberry blond and wears a chefs hat with his name on it; his suit is striped; his face is less rounded)
Distributed in these chains, among others (?): Azars, Frischs
Confirmed (100 [maybe 106] of a possible 175 [but probably only 155):
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29
30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
50, 54, 56, 57
60, 62, 65, 66, 68, 69
71, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78
81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 89
91, 92, 94, 96, 99
101, 104, 102, 106
110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119
122, 123, 124, 126
130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150
152
and maybe 83, 90, 102, 103, 104, 105
This is a Manner’s “Eastern” Big Boy issue #42. That completes all eastern 40s!
OK, I see the posts are out of order.
And I see no way of attaching scans either.
I have eBay scans of Eastern copies, they are group shots so only a couple issues are actually visible in the whole while other issues you only see parts of them.
So one scan has Eastern 29, 34, 36, 41, 47, 50, 52, 69.
The other scan has 58, 61, 63, 68, 70, 72, 76, and 94.
As I noted elsewhere, the posts are in reverse order as a side effect of the migration. When the forums are up and running very soon, a new thread can be started for your scans.
Got some new cover scans…but a quick note on my previous entry on the Big Boy series…
Adventures of Big Boy by Paragon and Adventures of Shoney’s Big Boy by Shoney’s is the same series. JB’s and Azar’s also co-branded on this series which ran for at least 76 issues.
and now, west covers for issues #116 & 123
my best
-Ray
I saw the latest issue of the CBG with the Big Boy article and I am surprise there wasn’t mentioned the discussions about Big Boy variants over on the Grand Comic-Book Database (GCD), so…here I am to bring those here!
It is good to see discussion about the variant issue search for Big Boy, something close to my heart since almost all Big Boy covers from the GCD came from me. Now I am going to post all that I have that John doesn’t list. Not all of them were good enough to be in the GCD (eBay pics in many cases) but I’ll post them there anyway for the sake of historical accuracy.
I am also going to post here the story of the Big Boy comics as I know it to be so far, for your entertainment pleasure. Since the Big Boy corporation is headquartered not too far from where I live, one day I’ll pay them a visit to see if they kept any information about the comic book giveaways.
my best
-Ray Bottorff Jr
Adventures of Big Boy #1-2 East (Timely/Webs)
Adventures of Big Boy #1-2 West (Timely/Webs)
—Franchise co-branding variations began right from beginning. East version=Big Boy character redrawn, red hair, striped pants, cook’s hat. West version=original version of Big Boy character with black hair, checkered pants. No hat.
Adventures of the Big Boy #3-12 East (Timely/Webs)
Adventures of the Big Boy #3-12 West (Timely/Webs)
Adventures of the Big Boy #13 – 152? East known (Webs)
Adventures of the Big Boy #13 – 152? West known (Webs)
—Unknown: What all variations were there? When did East/West versions stop (probably between #152 and 159,–known Frisch Big Boy version #152 has East coast version character, by 159 had Brown-haired West coast version)? Issue #157 has a completely covered up Big Boy on cover, but copyright notice is the same as what appeared on later issues. Previously, West Coast version had copyright info on Wian. East Coast had copyright info on Frisch. Issue #159 is known to have the “Brown-haired” Big Boy. Brown-haired Big Boy doesn’t seem to have started until end of East Coast version.
Known possible franchise co-branded variations (printed with franchise logo [or not] and region sold):
Abdows (Known printed-Massachuetts, Connecticut)
Azar’s (Known printed-Colorado, N. Indiana)
Bob’s (Known printed-Arizona, California, Delaware, E. Pennsylvania, Hawaii, New Jersey, Southeast U.S. after Shoney’s left)
Eat ‘n Park (Printed as “Your Favorite Family Restaurants?”-Pittsburgh-area 1950s)
Elby’s (Known printed-E. Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia)
Elias Brothers (Known printed-Michigan, N.W. Ohio, Ontario)
Franklins (Exists? Printed as “Your Favorite Family Restaurants” issue #260 onward?-location unknown)
Frischs (Known printed-Kentucky, N. Tennessee, S. Indiana, S. Ohio)
JB’s (Known printed-Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Wyoming)
Kip’s (Known printed-Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas)
Lendys Yoda’s (Hand stamped-Virginia, pre-1961 was part of Shoney’s)
Manners (Known printed-N.E. Ohio)
Marcs (Known printed-Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin)
McDowell’s (Printed as “Your Favorite Family Restaurants” issue #260 onward?-South Dakota)
Shoneys (Known printed-Southeast U.S.: North Carolina, South Carolina, S. Tennessee, Virginia)
TJ’s (Known printed-New York)
Top’s Drive (Known printed at least early-Illinois [used Big Boy food but not Big Boy name])
VIPs (Printed as “Your Favorite Family Restaurants” issue #260 onward?-Washington, New Mexico)
Known west: Abdow’s; Bob’s; Azar’s; Elias Brother’s; JB’s; Kips; Lendy’s; Shoney’s; Tops.
Known East: Azar’s (as of 1962); Frisch’s; Manners.
Lendy’s co-branding version seems to be blank where resturaunt info was printed and hand-stamped with Lakeside Yoda’s (Lendy’s) stamp. Implies possible blank back cover variations where co-branding does not exist for some locations or use of “Your Favorite Family Restaurants” instead?
Adventures of the Big Boy #153?-259 (Webs)
—Unknown: When did EAST & WEST versions stop? What was the last issue of the Azar’s, JB’s, & Shoney’s co-branding variations (sometime in 1976)?
Adventures of Big Boy #1-76? (Paragon Productions)
—Known co-branding variations: Azar’s; JB’s; Shoney’s. Issue #76 known to exist. 76 known issues. Mostly known as Adventures of Shoney’s Big Boy as the other regional versions are much harder to find.
Shoney’s Fun and Adventure Magazine (#1-10?) (Shoney’s Incorporated)
—Comic or activity book? Issue #10 known to exist.
Adventures of Big Boy #260-299 (Webs)
—Unknown: Co-branding started to appear on the front cover. There is a generic co-branding entitled: “Your Favorite Family Restaurants.” Did this appear before on back cover as co-branding in previous issues, or were the are left blank in issues #259 and before? Which franchises used this generic co-brand?
Adventures of the Big Boy #300-466 (Webs)
—Unknown: Sometime between issues #374 & 379, the co-branding variations stopped (at least for Elias Brothers) and became just a generic comic for entire chain? Towards end, back page becomes a menu, possible different franchises may have had different menus. “EL-US” code on back on menu might refer to Elias Brothers menu variant.
Big Boy (#467-470) (YOE! Studio)
—No co-branding variations. Craig Yoe reports that some early issues had menu differences, some had coloring pages and others did not. Unknown which issues had what. “EL-US” code on back on menu might refer to Elias Brothers menu variant. 6 week publishing schedule. Indicia title doesn’t act like an indicia title, “The Big Boy Comic/Magazine Big Wigs:”, it acts more like a creator credits list. So title comes from the cover.
Big Boy Magazine (#471-Present, currently at #515) (YOE! Studio)
—No co-branding variations. Craig Yoe reports that some early issues had menu differences, some had coloring pages and others did not. Unknown which issues had what. “EL-US” code on back on menu might refer to Elias Brothers menu variant. 6 week publishing schedule. Indicia title doesn’t act like an indicia title, “The Big Boy Magazine Top Dogs:” or “The Big Boy Magazine Crew:”, it acts more like a creator credits list. So title comes from the cover.
This history below came from a web site I can no longer find. It is strictly copyrighted the original author and would love to credit him/her once I know who they are:
MORE BIG BOY HISTORY THAN YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW
California chain Bob’s Big Boy started as Bob’s Pantry in 1936 when Big Boy founder Bob Wian bought a local Glendale restaurant. Wian developed a signature double-decker hamburger (the Big Boy) and a Big Boy statue with wavy hair that eventually became an icon to many restaurant goers. Wian turned to franchising sometime in or the 1940s, and unlike chains like McDonald’s, Wian did not require strict uniformity among franchisees. Outside of California, Big Boy restaurants could go by their franchise owner’s name, as some restaurants were called everything from Kip’s Big Boy to Azar’s Big Boy to Frisch’s Big Boy. There were also franchises such as Tops Drive In that did not even use the
Big Boy name, but did serve the Big Boy sandwich and used the image of Big Boy for advertising.
Eventually, the Marriott company bought the franchise business in 1967; and, in the late 1980s, many restaurants in Southern California were sold off and became Coco’s or Carrows. Marriott sold Big Boy to the Elias brothers from Michigan in 1987, who then sold the bankrupt chain in 2000 to Robert Ligget. The chain, now based in Michigan and called Big Boy Restaurants International, has 160 restaurants, and according to CEO Tony Michaels, has developed a new store-design that will spearhead a re-introduction foray into Southern California.
In 1946 Dave Frisch of Cincinnatti, Ohio purchased Big Boy franchise rights from Bob Wian of Glendale, California, the originator of the Big Boy double decker sandwich and the Big Boy chain of restaurants. Dave did make one change to the sandwich – he used tartar sauce instead of thousand island dressing on the sandwich. This difference between the Frisch’s Big Boy sandwich and all the other Big Boy sandwiches continues to this day. Frisch opened other Big Boys in northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana, then began selling franchises for Frisch’s Big Boy, which his agreement with Mr Wian allowed. There are over 100 Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants now covering much of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and they no longer have any connection to Big Boy Restaurants International.
In 1951 Alex Schoenbaum purchased Big Boy franchise rights for the southeastern states, which meant that not only could he open his own Big Boy restaurants, he could sell franchises to others in the southeast, and so the Shoney’s Big Boys expanded. In 1986 he dropped Big Boy, becoming instead just Shoney’s Restaurants. He also began expanding outside the southeast. There are now over 300 Shoney’s Restaurants, which have no connection with Big Boy.
In 1952, brothers Louis, Fred and John became franchisees and changed their diners to Elias Brothers Big Boy Restaurants — featuring the double-decker hamburger, the Slim Jim, and the immortal chubby kid with a curl in his hair. They later (1987) purchased the base franchise rights from Marriott and during the period in which they owned these rights, bought out the Elbys Big Boy restaurants in West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western Pennslyvania.
There were several franchise owners who put their name on the Big Boy Restaurants they operated. Already mentioned are Kips, Azars, Frischs, Shoneys, Elias Brothers, and Elbys others are Abdows, Franklins, JBs, Lendys, Manners, Marcs, and VIPs. I very much doubt that this list is complete.
**postscript: from me, Ray– In an eerie coincidence to later big business debacles like Enron, by the mid-1990s Elias Brother’s had seriously over extended themselves in buying other franchises and had to declate bankruptcy. Hundreds of restaurants in locations for decades closed down, especially old Bob’s Big Boy’s in California. Completely reorganized when out of bankruptcy, the company is now known as just Big Boy Restaurants. It seems around this time, franchisee Frisch’s continued under Big Boy banner, but openly states it no longer has affliation with the Big Boy corporation.
More West
More west
more west
Winding down better west scans…
Based on the copyright notice, my gut tells me this is a west coast version…not that one can tell by the cover!…
Now for some East scans…
More East
More East
This cover John includes as a possible part of the West version. To me, the starting of the Brown-haired Big Boy marks the end of East/West variations…but here i is for completion sake…
Working backwards I am beginning to post the really lousy scans that don’t past the GCD-muster. Rife with bad, out-of-focus, off-centered, and eBay watermarked images–they none-the-less document these issues existence.
So starting with the Brown-haired Big Boy within John’s list…
Some more Eastern scans…
In case the last scans were not clear on issue #, they were East 15, 89, 106. The next are 114 & 138 east
I dawned on me, I did list all the issue number previously. they are in order:
West: 19, 47, 54, 57, 78 (posted in error, i meant to post #76, see below), 96, 126, 127, 128, 132, 133, 134, 136, 143, 147, & maybe West #157
East: 20, 23, 25, 26, 41, 43, 85, 86, & 140.
And Brown haired #170
Moving on to questionable scans, West style here is #7, 36, & 97…
Here is west #98, 99 & 146
And here is brown-haired big boy #162
Awesome, Ray! I’ll make the changes to the checklist at top as soon as you’re done!
I was pretty sure you had some more and would have dropped you a line, but figured this would be more fun (and educational at the same time for folks). I had looked at GCD, but found the listing a little confusing — the title seemed to be in several times. Were there multiple posts of it, or was I missing something?
This is great stuff — keep ‘eem coming!
–John Jackson Miller
So the above final tally is as follows:
In order as posted:
West: 19, 47, 54, 57, 78, 96, 126, 127, 128, 132, 133, 134, 136, 143, 147, & #157
East: 20, 23, 25, 26, 41, 43, 85, 86, & 140
Brown haired #170, 159, 172, 174
East: 15, 89, 106, 114, & 138
West #76, 7, 36, 97, 98, 99 146
Brown haired #162
Except for #78, that makes 42 covers confirmed not previously on John’s list.
John, hope all that helps!
my best
-Ray
<
I was pretty sure you had some more and would have dropped you a line, but figured this would be more fun (and educational at the same time for folks). I had looked at GCD, but found the listing a little confusing — the title seemed to be in several times. Were there multiple posts of it, or was I missing something?
This is great stuff — keep ‘em coming!
–John Jackson Miller>>
Hi John,
The title is listed at breaks in the run or variations in the cover title (notice the variations in cover title, since the variations can only be determined by cover since these books had no indicia).
Adventures of Big Boy, The #1-2 (east & west, Marvel/Timely/Web)
Adventures of the Big Boy #3-12 (east & west, Marvel/Timely/Web)
Adventures of the Big Boy #13-162 (east & west), #163-259, #300-466 (Webs)
Adventures of Big Boy #260-299 (Webs)
Big Boy #467-470 (YOE Studios!)
Big Boy Magazine #471-515 (YOE Studios!)
Adventures of Big Boy #1-76 (Paragon/Shoney’s/JB’s)
my best
-Ray
Aha! Our first re-used cover in the series: #132 reuses #94, as seen below.
(And it seems to come at the end of a stretch of the most amateurish cover art of the run — look there at #126-128. An execution cover on #127?!?!?)
#133 looks original, but we’ll have to see more covers to be sure.
–John Jackson Miller
And #159 and #20, both of which you posted higher above, is not a case of reprinted art but actually a swipe from the series itself — look at how Nugget and some of the other elements have been moved around!
–John Jackson Miller
And I was in error on listing #76 East in saying that I had it; looks like we don’t. So I’m taking that one off the board.
From the looks of the geographical notes you’ve posted, East/West may not be the appropriate way to name these. Do you think “Frisch” may wind up being the right suffix? Blond copies tend to have the copyright in Frisch’s name, and I think even a blond Azar’s copy I saw was copyrighted by Frisch’s — I’d have to look.
–John Jackson Miller
<
From the looks of the geographical notes you’ve posted, East/West may not be the appropriate way to name these. Do you think “Frisch” may wind up being the right suffix? Blond copies tend to have the copyright in Frisch’s name, and I think even a blond Azar’s copy I saw was copyrighted by Frisch’s — I’d have to look.
–John Jackson Miller>>
The red-haired Big Boy was created by Frisch independently from the black-haired Bob’s Big Boy we are all familiar with. I believe they hold the copyright to it until this day. It is odd Manner’s and early Azar’s used it and not places like TJ’s, JB’s or Shoney’s which were just as “east”. Perhaps East and West should only refer to coasts of origin of the Big Boy character, west for the one originated by Bob’s, East for Frisch’s.
my best
-Ray
To add to list of reused covers. Issue #140 [East] is reused with issue #203.
http://www.comics.org/covers.lasso?SeriesID=11780
Issue #130 [West] from above represents a repeated Christmas theme used often.
Issue #237 & #249 share a common New Year’s theme too.
I would imagine Web though that if they spaced out their reusing of covers over a couple of years, they will have a whole new generation to appeal too without them knowing of the duplication. They probably had no clue about people like us poping up 30 years later.
my best
-Ray
I had seen some reused gags before, but the above was the first reused cover I’d seen.
The Azar’s copy of #69 I have has the Frisch’s copyright, as we’d expect — except on the inside, where the copyright is the same as the Western edition — Robert C. Wian Enterprises. Maybe they just didn’t bother changing the indicias.
By the way, e-mail me your mailing address, Ray — you’ve definitely earned that first copy of #119! (And while the race for the Standard Catalog copy is still on, it’ll take a heavy-duty Big Boy completist to outpace you…)
–John Jackson Miller
There is always Bud Plant, who owns the Manfred Bernhardt bound copy of the first 15 issues or so…
my best
-Ray
Sorry, meant Steve Geppi owns that…
A new one from eBay, this time an issue missing now confirmed…Western version of Adventures of the Big Boy #26…
Continuing what seems to be just John & I’s lonely quest to clarify Big Boy comic book editions, I wanted to add another “reused” cover (courtesy this crappy scan from an eBay auction). This one is issue #186 and it reuses the cover for issue #106. Earlier you will see a cover for an Eastern version of #106. I would love to see a Western version of that same #.
That way we can see red-haired Eastern, black-haired Western, and brown-haired amalgam version all with the same cover…more or less.
A little out of the scope of what John is looking for, but interesting none-the-less.
my best
-Ray
>>Continuing what seems to be just John & I’s lonely quest
Not entirely surprised — you and I had already pretty much turned up everything that was visible anywhere online.
This is to be permanent ongoing drive — the offer for the bonus issue will be good for as long as I have them — and I’ll open it up now to just single examples as opposed to at least three examples.
I’ll try to get your copy out this week.
–John Jackson Miller
John, don’t think you’re alone in the interest of this series, I just never lived all that close to a Big Boy restaurant. The last time I was in one, was on the east coast about 6 years ago, and the waitress had never heard of the comic book when I asked her for one.
I really like the chain and the character. I think it’s time for the first year by Stan Lee to be collected into a Marvel Masterworks volume.
Seriously, I do think they could make some money by merchandizing the character outside of their restaurants for nostalgia appeal.
Actually, the character is heavily merchandised — and at least some of that is outside the restaurants. I think we publish some book or other that includes a lot of the stuff — not just Bib Boy, but also Ronald McDonald and other restaurant memorabilia.
Speaking of which, the Ronald McDonald comic book is a really odd duck on its own. Brent collects what little there was of that series, I believe…
–John Jackson Miller
I don’t know if I’d say I “collect” Ronald McDonald Comics. I have one example in my collection, possibly given to me by my friendly neighborhood pharmacist back in the day. He often gave kids slower-moving merchandise, which would explain the handful of Presidential trading cards in another random box at my house.
Courtesy of an intrepid seller on eBay, a missing issue. Adventures of the Big Boy #148 (West)…
As always…enjoy!
my best
-Ray
Another eBay find, another confirmed issue. #18 Eastern version. Franchise not known.
my best
-Ray
From eBay this week, a set for sale that confirms Eastern versions of the following issues, #122, 133, 145, 146, and 148 (previously confirmed).
my best
-Ray
More fun from eBay, this time a bit better scan, an Eastern copy of issue #71!
A new sale from eBay, this time confirmation of Eastern editions for issue #s 81-82 from October-November 1963…
Is there anyway to get the last posts I posted on the now defunct new/old chat lists? I had the most updated listing of the Big Boy eastern comics discovered to date…
I can add issue #7 to the list, I think before I added 104, 107, 151 to the known list in the last few months. I also believe I added 34, 52, 58, 61, 63 and 70 too, but need to see to confirm.
Alas, this site was the only place the recording of this data to confirm Eastern Big Boy issues existed.
If I can figure it out, I will post (or repost I guess) the pics..
my best
-Ray
I’ll look into that for you, Ray. In the meantime, if you want to send me the images, I’ll be happy to post them here for you.
Will try to do that Brent,
Adding to the list, I got an eastern 128 to add to the mix…
Brent what is your email address? I cannot locate it on the website. Feel free to send me an email if you do not want to post it here…
brent.frankenhoff@fwmedia.com
Ok here is a new post due to a new one being posting on eBay. Adding to the list of confirmed covers for “Eastern” Big Boys…
154
EASTERN copies
(Big Boy is a strawberry blond and wears a chefs hat with his name on it; his suit is striped; his face is less rounded)
Distributed in these chains, among others (?): Azars, Frischs
Confirmed (104 [maybe 118] of a possible 175 [but probably only 155):
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29
30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39
41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
50, 54, 56, 57
60, 62, 65, 66, 68, 69
71, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78
81, 82, 85, 86, 87, 89
91, 92, 94, 96, 99
101, 104, 102, 106
110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119
122, 123, 124, 126
130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149
150, 152, 154, 155 (yes, 155, which I am sure is the last!)
and maybe 34, 52, 58, 61, 63, 70, 83, 90, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 151
And will email Brent in near future the new scans for his posting here. I hope.
In the my continuing, “you have to take my word for it” portion of this thread, I ran into another eBay auction with “eastern” covers. The auction showed clearly issues 117, 119, 129, 133, 136… thereby adding issue 129 to the most recently updated listings. Some day Brent, I will send these new ones to you!
I’m looking forward to them.