Saturday, May 07, 2022
Herriman Saturday: April 2 1910
April 2 1910 -- Herriman is called upon to make almost daily strips about the upcoming Fight of the Century. Naturally (I suppose) this devolves mostly into jibes against Johnson, in the spirit of giving mostly white newspaper readers what they want.
This strip, in which Johnson sets out to outdo Jeffries on various counts, includes a doubled speeding ticket in the final panel. There is a story often told of the champ that he was once pulled over for speeding and that the fine, to be paid directly to the officer, was $50. The champ supposedly hands him a $100 bill, and the cop says he can't make change for the big bill. Johnson tells him not to worry, keep the extra $50 as he has every intention of driving just as fast on his return trip later.
I don't know if this story was already in circulation by April 1910, but I have to guess it was; otherwise Herriman is exhibiting quite an amazing ability to foretell the future.
Labels: Herriman's LA Examiner Cartoons
