Wednesday, June 14, 2023

 

Toppers: Youse is a Viper

 

Barney Google's main topper, Parlor, Bedroom and Sink Starring Bunky, spawned a new catchphrase, stemming from the disparagement Bunky regularly used on evil Fagin, "Youse is a viper!" Billy DeBeck loved creating new catchphrases, one might even say he was a bit obsessed with it, and when this one started catching on he evidently chafed at not being able to find reason to use it in the Sunday page more often. 

Simple solution to that problem. Add a panel cartoon topper in which the catchphrase can be said in big bold lettering every doggone week. The topper panel Youse is a Viper debuted on May 15 1932, and lasted over two years, finally ending on August 19 1934*. Satisfied that he had called out every viper around, DeBeck dropped it to start a new feature, Knee-Hi Knoodles.


* Source: Start and end dates from Detroit Free Press.

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# posted by Allan Holtz @ 6:00 AM
Comments:
Stuff Smith recorded a pop song called "If Youse a Viper" in 1936. The song is about marijuana smoking, and "viper" is said to be slang for pot smoker. Fats Waller covered the song a few years later, but I first learned if from a Martin, Bogan, and Armstrong record.
# posted by Blogger Chris : 6/15/2023 4:30 AM
 
That topper seems to be titled “ Bunky”, not “if youse a viper” as you write. It also does not make sense. We’re viewing a man-child radio star’s search for his mother that abruptly ends in a different character shouting the phrase at the ceiling.
# posted by Anonymous Jim Garrett : 6/17/2023 6:19 PM
 
I meant “ youse is a viper”, obviously.
# posted by Anonymous Jim Garrett : 6/17/2023 6:20 PM
 
Jim -- The "Youse is a Viper" is a separate panel cartoon, not associated with the rest of the topper strip, "Parlor, Bedroom and Sink Starring Bunky". DeBeck did not do a good job here in differentiating that there were two separate features (or three if you count the main Barney Google strip).

--Allan
# posted by Blogger Allan Holtz : 6/18/2023 6:23 AM
 
I was confused about that at first as well. Then I realized the last panel was stand-alone.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 6/19/2023 4:12 PM
 
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