A Goblin Damned

A little ghost story from history to help set the mood for Halloween. This is from the Spokane Falls Review, March 1, 1888. The gentleman named Everett Willis in this article is no relation to me as far as I know.

The Wonderful Cure "606"

The word this newspaper ad (Newport Miner, Apr. 13, 1911) is trying to avoid saying in public is "Syphilis."

The ad has a typo. It was Dr. Kelley's Museum. Apparently Morris DeWitt Kelley was born around 1878 and raised in the Covington, Kentucky area. When he came to Washington and applied for professional physicians license in 1906 he was denied, so he opened this "museum" in Spokane.

He left Spokane around 1914-1915 and returned to Kentucky. Eventually he made his way to Birmingham, Alabama, where he died as the result of a fall in 1942. At the time of his death he was recognized as a medical professional.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, majestic queen of the vast Inland Empire, with a population of 185,000, is the second largest city in Washington. With its lovely park, rushing river, plunging waterfalls, graceful bridges, splendid recreational facilities, fascinating historical sites, ornate old-world cathedrals, modern buildings, flourishing trade and commerce, and surrounding rich farm and forest lands, it is a city of which both tourists and natives alike can be proud as the epitome of America the Beautiful."

Wow. That is some serious postcard prose there. 1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, Washington. The Lilac City's skyline as seen from the World Famous Riverfront Park, located on the Spokane River."

1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, Washington. This view of the Lilac City is seen from the Maple Street Bridge area -- in the foreground is the Monroe Street Bridge and Spokane River -- in the background a portion of Metropolitan Spokane."

1970s, probably.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane skyline from the Spokane River. View of the business district looking south from Spokane River."

I'm guessing this was taken in the 1950s, around the time when I lived there as an infink and little shaver.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane County Commissioners, in the 90's, offered a prize for the most original courthouse design. It was won by 29 yr. old W.A. Ritchie, a 'correspondent' architect with no formal training. This unbelievably beautiful, yet functional old Chateau was built for a cost of $340,000. (Estimated to be $4,000,000 today.) It is said to resemble most closely the Chateau d'Azay Le Rideau, France, 1516. The Annex, built in 1957 cost $559,190 and the new, adjacent Public Safety Building cost $7,500,000."

Probably from the 1970s, back when "the 90's" meant the 1890s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. Spokane Falls Boulevard borders the Riverfront Park from east to west south of the Spokane River. The clock tower and convention center are central in this view. 'Spokane' - Indian name meaning - 'Children of the Sun.'"

1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"This overall, wide angle view shows left to right: Upper Falls on Spokane River, the Coliseum and Old Flour Mill (distant), River Over The Falls Terminal, Imax Theatre, Pavilion, Clock Tower, The Carrousel (just beyond Spokane Falls & Northern Railway Terminal), and Riverpark Convention Center & Opera House. Spacious grounds, blue water, and interesting bridges unite these impressive attractions."

Later half of the 1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. This spectacular view of the city is seen from Cliff Drive on Spokane's South Hill. Cliff Drive is a portion of the 'City Loop Drive,' a 33 mile tour of Spokane's attractions. 'Spokane' -- Indian name meaning - 'Children of the Sun.'"

Early 1970s?

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Romantic vantage point from Cliff Drive, shows in the distance of this downtown photograph, two major thoroughfares, North Monroe (center) and North Division (right). In the foreground, this time exposure reveals, from different colors from car lights, two one-way streets, Stevens (left) and Washington (right). Interestingly, the strong red from the tail-lights, indicates a common application of brakes on this down hill thoroughfare. With 4,000 rooms, Spokane provides comfortable headquarters for enjoyment of the Inland Empire."

Probably from the 1970s. This is one of the more surreal bits of postcard prose I have posted, and it describes one of my favorite cities, Old Spoogaloo.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"The National Municipal League selected Spokane as one of 12 cities throughout the USA an an All America City. A timely award to the competition, and Spokane was the only city in the Northwest, and one of the only two in the West to receive the honor. Judging was based on urban improvement, imagination, and reinvigoration achieved through citizen efforts. View is from Cliff Drive, looking north over the constantly changing skyline."

Photo taken in the late 1970s.

I was born near the spot where this photo was taken and we lived in what would've been the newer part of town back then, in a tiny house near the horizon line of this shot.

One of my favorite animators, Chuck Jones, was also born in Spokane.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"These upper falls take on varied appearances. Depending on time of year, from a wild torrent during spring run-off to a babbling stream in late summer. This northern portion of the river is split around Canada Island in Riverfront Park and is crossed by a unique suspension footbridge. Man's earliest utilization of the river was near this site."

1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"The mirrored reflections in the placid Spokane River are viewed here from near the end of the Division Street bridge. A matchless setting for a revitalized city on the move. New and remodeled stores, skywalks, parking buildings, a convention center, and the impressive Riverfront Park make Spokane, Washington, an exciting place to live and to visit."

Probably later half of the 1970s.

Postcard - Spokane, Washington

"Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. Sprague Avenue is a vital part of Spokane's metropolitan shopping area. 'Spokane'-- Indian name meaning 'Children of the Sun.'"

Possibly from the early 1970s.

Postcard - Olympia, Washington - 1959?

"Olympia, Washington. 4th & Capitol Way."

We moved to Olympia from Spokane in 1958. This is pretty much how I first remember seeing downtown Oly. [Click on image to enlarge]

Grays Harbor County Rain

On a clear day I can see the foothills of the Olympics from my front yard. But we don't get a lot a clear days here in Grays Harbor County, Washington. Mostly we get rain. A lot. And this is why we are called "The Evergreen State." At least on the western side. Today my front yard visibility is about 4 blocks.

I am guessing this constant rain, which keeps many of us inside most of the year, is a major contributing factor to why so many cartoonists come from the Pacific Northwest.

The best description of our climate I have ever read came from Ken Kesey in Sometimes a Great Notion. I note that recent immigrants to our corner of the world don't mind the rain so much as the constant overcast and lack of sunlight.

But this is Washington, my home, wherever I may roam. This is my land, my native land, Washington, my home. I was born in Spokane, but raised on the wet side, so I consider myself a true trans-Cascade Washingtonian, loving both sides of this great state.

Weird Gifts From My Brother

I try to weed these things out every once in awhile, but for years my brother Bryan has exhibited a strange taste in holiday and birthday gifts. Some examples:


Bad albums are a staple (yes, I still play vinyl). This one is right up there among the worst, Come On In! by the New Hope Singers International, "A musical collage from Jamaican calypso to the sounds of ancient Scotland to American rock." This group was sponsored by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon.


That's a picture of little Stevie sitting on a kiddie potty in Spokane, Washington back in the 1950s. The potty is adorned the head of some kind of poultry. I guess that makes it partly poultry. Get enough of these together and you can throw a partly poultry potty party.

Anyway, why is this photo encapsulated in a Kellogg's Corn Flakes place mat?


When I almost threw out this papier-mâché model of planet Earth (made by my brother when he was in grade school) as we were cleaning out the family farm in order to sell it a few years ago, Bryan stopped me and made a big deal of presenting it to me as a precious relic. And I, perhaps foolishly, accepted it.

My own name plate! How thoughtful.


Hey! Look! What every household needs, a concave Jesus face!

I think this is supposed to be something you can use in creating an illusion with light, either that or it is a really freaky gelatin mold.


My phone camera is not the greatest when it comes to close-ups. This amputee Leprechaun wasn't so lucky, apparently. Note the bloody stump. Maybe he was a leper, thus making him a Leperchaun. Also, leaving the tag with an obviously doctored inflated price is another frequent theme in these gifts as a demonstration of how "priceless" they are. In this case the cheap piece of crap was supposedly purchased for at least 22 bucks.

Ruth loved clowns so much she kept one in a jar!

Where does he get this stuff?

Santa has an array of little finishing nails in his beard. I think this is supposed to be an advent calendar, but the effect is quite creepy.


There has been much, much more over the years. I do look forward to receiving these fine items and perhaps I should start cruising garage sales now in order to return the favor next holiday season.

Storm Warnings

1st edition, February 1986, Pullman, Washington. 50 copies, white cover, enlarged digest size.

2nd edition, February 1986, Pullman, Washington. 30 copies, white cover, enlarged digest size.

3rd edition, 1990, Seattle, Washington : Starhead Comix. 17 x 13 cm. Color covers.

Available as a print-on-demand title in regular digest size, 1996.

1st Danger Room Reprint edition. July 2005. 5 copies, blue cover, regular digest size.

The nationally distributed Starhead version reprinted the 1980s story "Downtime Laff Riot" and a maze not found in the original edition.

My initials follow me around. I was born in Spokane, Washington. SW. I live in Southwest Washington. SW. Storm Warnings. SW.

I'm not particularly fond of this comic, especially the Rainmaker story. Oddly, it seems to me that out of all my comix, this one is the most acceptable to fans of conventional comic books.

Trivia:

P. 3-4: Mr. Wright also appeared in Delayed Stress Syndrome Funnies.

P. 13: Mukey and porcupines. It doesn't get much better than this, one of the few bright and happy spots in this book. Notice Mukey has a Max Fleischer character type of nose here. He was still under construction.

P. 23: Hey, isn't that ... Brad Foster in that crowd? Why, yes, I think it is!