Newsroom

ZIPPY dropped from Baltimore Sun after 22 years---readers not happy: Zippy was exiled from the Sun's comics pages on 8/11/08. Letters are pouring in to the editor in protest. Restoration may be possible. Write to: letters@baltsun.com. Zippy has a long history in Baltimore and environs. Click HERE to see many of the "Zippy in Baltimore" strips. Below is the marquee of Zippy's favorite Baltimore movie palace, "The Senator", owned and valiantly operated by Tom Kiefaber.

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PREVIEW of next Zippy book: WELCOME TO DINGBURG (coming in November 2008).

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Bill Griffith on the BBC: Listen to an interview with Bill Griffith in his studio conducted in late June, 2008. Bill is interviewed by BBC broadcaster and stand-up comic (and former cartoonist) Phill Jupitus. Also featured on the show, an interview with "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau. Interview is listed near top of new page, along with other Zippy audios.

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Zippy fronts for Experimental German band, "The Striggles": The latest CD (and vinyl) from The Striggles ("Expressionism") features a Zippy cover, back cover and interior spread, based on a 1982 Zippy strip. Griffy recommends. Here's the "Zippy cake" the band consumed at the album release party recently. Yum.

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Coming October 25, 2008: Bill Griffith appearance at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Panel duscussion on comics and graphic novels. Stay tuned for details.

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"Up From The Underground With Zippy": Slide talk by Bill Griffith presented on April 19, 2007, at Johns Hopkins University. Covers his long and varied career in comics, from the Underground days in the Sixties & Seventies to the current daily strip. Includes Q & A at the end. Entire talk on YouTube in 10 segments:

Segment 1
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 4
Segment 5
Segment 6
Segment 7
Segment 8
Segment 9
Segment 10

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Bill Griffith appearance in comic documentary: Pre-release exerpt from the 1989 Ron Mann film, "Comic Book Confidential" (with Ron Brannan as Zippy--cavorting and singing on the streets of San Francisco). (YouTube)

Bill Griffith interview on YouTube 2002:
Interviewed by NBC-TV, Hartford CT.

Bill Griffith interview on YouTube 2003: See the artist at work in his natural habitat!

Bill Griffith appearance in New York: Bill Griffith will present a favorite (surprise) film at the Speakeasy Cinema, 279 Church St., New York, NY 10019 (3 blocks below Canal St.) on April 22, 2008, at 7PM. Discussion follows screening. For more info, contact Matt Kohn.

WalrusComix B.G. Interview: A particularly interesting exchange between WalrusComix's Branwyn Lancourt and Bill Griffith, ranging fromGriffith's Underground days to his most recent work. WalrusComix.com.

"Daily Crosshatch" B.G.interview: Bill Griffith interviewed by Brian Heater on the comics website thedailycrosshatch.com on June 18, 2007.

BILL GRIFFITH NPR Interview: Zippy's creator was interviewed by Aaron Henkin for "The Signal" on Baltimore's NPR station in early April, 2007. HEAR it here.

DOGGIE NOW A LANDMARK! The last remaining non-privately owned, publicly displayed Doggie head, formerly of the Doggie Diner restaurant chain, has finally been designated an official City of San Francisco Landmark by the S.F. Board of Supervisors. Thanks go to all the Doggie's ardent supporters over the years, especially Joel Schechter and Diana Scott of the Ocean Beach Historical Society. Below--the plaque commemorating this civic triumph, as well as the gloriously positioned and repainted Doggie planted firmly in the median of Sloat Blvd. and 45th Avenue in San Francisco, opposite the S.F. Zoo entrance, where he keeps a watchful eye on the chimps and elephants. The plaque mentions Zippy and his part in the movement to save the Doggie.

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ZIPPY'S Summer uniform? Spotted in a diner somewhere in Maryland: Zippy look-alike (well, sort of) in a short-sleeve muu-muu (actually, "Roadside" mogul Randy Garbin). Notice the snazzy wristwatch--hmmmm...maybe it's Lippy, gone undercover? Photo by Tipster Michael Stewart . Also seated: Tipster Spencer Stewart (that's him in the hat).

COMPUTER-GENERATED ZIPPY at last: This digital masterpiece is by Scott Tygett. Move over, Shrek.

TEAM ZIPPY: Unauthorized, yet in the race to win: "Team Zippy" (wearing homemade Zippy t-shirts and pinheads) pose as they enter the Arcata-to-Ferndale (CA) bike race in May '06. Who are these people? If you know, let us know.

Zippy on Mt. Rushmore at last: The Library of Congress just published "Cartoon America" by Harry Katz, featuring the comics in their collection. The cover shows a few of the LOC's featured comic characters as faces on Mt. Rushmore---Charlie Brown, Ignatz Mouse (from "Krazy Kat"), Popeye and---- Zippy! Order from amazon.com

ZIPPY in Jeopardy!! Well....Zippy on "Jeopardy" was more like it. Zippy was featured on April 12th, 2006 as a visual clue on the popular TV game show, "Jeopardy". Will Alex Trebek soon be wearing a polka-dotted muu-mmu on air? Stay tuned...

Washington Post Online Chat:

Suzanne Tobin of the Washington Post conducted on online chat with Bill Griffith (and James Sturm, founder of the Cartoon Studies school in VT) on December 9, 2005.

Zippy and "the built environment":

The Nov.-Dec. '05 issue of ArchitectureBoston magazine features Zippy on the cover (it's the "Pleasure" issue) and a long interview with Bill Griffith by Jeff Stein, AIA, including many color strips on the theme of architecture. The above link will take you to their site, where you can click on the word "Interview" at the top right to download the interview. If you'd like a FREE COPY of the print issue, go to: freeAB@architects.org (say you want the "Pleasure issue").

Hurricane Katrina charity auction: "Kidrobot", the ultra-hip New York toy company, staged two auctions in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2005, to benefit the child victims of Hurricane Katrina (through "Feed The Children"). Various celebs, Griffith included, painted blank "Munny" dolls. Here's Griffith's contribution---is it collectible yet?

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ZIPPY as Little Nemo: Reader Wm. Steinmayer (alias Lucius Appaloosius) sent this hybrid drawing of Zippy morphed into a pinheaded "Little Nemo" (a la Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland", 1905-1911 ). Beautiful job!

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The ZIPPY PLAY:
"Fun: The Concept"

Zippy on stage!! The IMPOSSIBLE PRODUCTIONS theatre company of San Francisco CA mounted a new play based on the Zippy strip a few years ago. "FUN: THE CONCEPT" was written by Denzil J. Meyers with Jim Fourniadis, with permission from Bill Griffith. It featured Zippy, Griffy, Mr. Toad, Bill Griffith (an actor, not the cartoonist), the Doggie Diner Doggie, Karen Carpenter, Rene Descartes, Dino DeLaurentis and God. Actors, costumes, lighting, non sequiturs!! Performances took place at the Darkroom Theatre, 2263 Mission St. (bet. 18th & 19th), San Francisco. For more info on the play and Darkroom Theatre, CLICK HERE.

CAST

Zippy: Bryce Byerley

Griffy: Mikl Em

Mr. Toad: Seanetta

Guardian Angel: Sherilyn Connelly

Waitress: Katrina James

Bill Griffith: Denzil J. Meyers

Written by: Denzil J. Meyers

Directed by: Denzil J. Meyers & Jim Fourniadis

Produced by: Erin Ohanneson

Set Design: Pamela Holm

Stage Manager: Melinda Addams

Lights: Ty Mc Kenzie

Costumes/Props: Erin Ohanneson

Sound Design: Jim Fourniadis

Stills: Steve Malik

To see photos of OPENING NIGHT by Scott Beale click here.

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ZIPPY (& Bill Griffith) on TV

A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS & OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF premiered last July (2004) on PBS stations across the country . The show is now in reruns and is seen at various times on local stations nationally. Bill Griffith is interviewed as part of the show, spouting off on one of his favorite topics, "roadside attractions" and American vernacular architecture. (Zippy also makes an appearance).

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ZIPPY GETS AROUND: It's always Halloween when you're wearing your own homemade Zippy costume. That's Gary Gellin of Menlo Park CA in the muu-muu. Nice sewing job, Gary. Save a martini for Dingy!!

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ZIP-O-LANTERN!

Sara Corrigan carved this classy Zippy Halloween pumpkin. To get into the spirit, she and her husband both watched Zippy's favorite movie, "Freaks". Gabba, Gabba, Yow!!

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ZIPPY 5K RUN in San Francisco (Mother's Day)

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IGGY POP LOVES CLAUDE FUNSTON!

At least he did in 1985 when he was photographed standing next to David Bowie wearing a Claude Funston "Where's The Party" t-shirt. Photo below from the Sept. '03 issue of "Blender" magazine (pg. 70).

Thanks to Zippy reader George Hook for the media alert!!

AS OF 8/3/03: NEW BILL GRIFFITH e-mail address: griffy@zippythepinhead.com

The DOGGIE DINER DOGGIES INVADE The Big Apple: The April 26th "Laughing Squid" Doggie event in New York (at CBGB's Gallery) was a howling success. The Doggies were parked on The Bowery all weekend and glared balefully at the blase New Yorkers as they scurried by, trying hard to not be alarmed. To see photos (by Bill Griffith) of the surreal moment, click below:

New York Doggies 1

New York Doggies 2

New York Doggies 3

Watch for the New York Doggies to make an appearance in the upcoming Sunday, June 29th Zippy strip.

Zippy's Favorite New Website!!
Let DiDi Glitz redecorate your life!!

Zippy's Favorite Connecticut Getaways!
Yes---and the State of Connecticut wants you to know about them!
Once on the site, click on "52 Getaways", then on "Time for Two"---then click on #17 at the bottom.

ZIPPY AND THE FAMILY CIRCUS--Together again!! (click here for image)

From the "JAVA" column by Pat Seremet ,The Hartford Courant, 7/11/02:

In Thursday's comics, weird-looking Zippy from the "Zippy" cartoon shows up in "The Family Circus" cartoon with adorable Dolly and Jeffy. Does this mean the demise of the family as we know it, not to mention the circus?

Java reached "Zippy" cartoonist Bill Griffith at his East Haddam home, and he said that although Bil Keane's "Family Circus" would seem at odds with his, both cartoonists admire each other.
"His is the only remaining folk art strip," Griffith said. "If you look at it one way, it's a heartwarming moment. At a slightly different angle, it's off the wall. It's supposed to be the epitome of squareness, but it turns the corner into a hip zone."

The Courant runs "Family Circus" next to "Zippy," and Griffith said that he reads "Family Circus" as if it were the first panel to "Zippy." "It adds to the surrealism," he said.
Once, the Ziggy comic strip insulted Zippy in a cartoon, and Griffith had to retaliate in kind. But Keane's cartoon was done all in good fun.
Keane's use of Zippy's head on a totem pole - to which Dolly responds: "Look at the tadpoles!" - will inspire "another tit for tat," Griffith said. But it will be the gentle kind.
It was particularly amusing to people who know Keane's surprisingly salty way of talking, peppered with profanities, that his cartoon with the Zippy head be right next to Zippy himself swearing up a storm.

"We're at opposite ends of the spectrum," said Bil Keane, reached in Arizona,"and it's unusual to have a crossover of two comics." But Keane has featured Jeffy dreaming of Zippy, and Griffith has had Zippy visiting the magical world of Family Circus.
As for the totem poles, he thought it would be fun to see Zippy the Pinhead coming out of one pole, and Silly Philly, a character from Keane's days at the Philadelphia Bulletin, coming out of the other.

Check out that OTHER "surrealist" comic on the funnies pages! Go to: www.familycircus.com

BILL GRIFFITH RECOMMENDS:

Griffy gives the coveted Golden Ding Dong Award to Christopher Pennock and his brilliant four-part series of tortured, autobiographical, self-published comics detailing his years as an actor on TV's infamous cult hit, "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971). Failure, self-loathing and emotional upheaval never looked this funny, or as successfully brought to life. Crudely drawn? Perhaps. But the art's hurried intensity perfectly matches Pennock's overwrought, hilarious writing. You don't need to know anything about "Dark Shadows" to enjoy these little masterpieces--you just need a sense of gallows humor---and a strong stomach. (Adult material)

TO ORDER: There are five issues so far ( Marathon issue and Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. Titles as above). Large format, white book stock. SUMMER SPECIAL: each comic $8.00, shipping included. All books autographed. Send check or MO to: Christopher Pennock, Cafard Productions, PO Box 3611, Idyllwild CA 92549. For deep background, check out: www.christopherpennock.com. Email Chris at: lynnandchris@hotmail.com

W.E. HILL

Featured in the Comics Journal Special Edition ("Cartoonists on Music") Summer 2002 (www.fantagraphics.com), Griffy's favorite syndicated cartoonist (well, up there in the Comics Pantheon with Ernie Bushmiller and Walt Kelly), W.E. Hill. Hill's weekly full-page feature, "Among Us Mortals" ran from 1916 to 1960. Look for an extensive sampling of Hill's work, and a short Hill bio, in this Special Edition of the Comics Journal!

Example : "The Suburban Couple", 1934

PHOTO of W.E. Hill in 1962, the year he died.

IS ZIPPY IN YOUR LOCAL PAPER? WOULD YOU LIKE HIM TO BE?
(Hey, remember, until someone besides ebay finds out how to make money from the web, daily strip cartoonists make their sole income from good old newsprint!!)
SEE BELOW!!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL YOUR LOCAL PAPER TO CARRY ZIPPY IN THEIR COMICS PAGES?
Click on the link below to send your e-mail to the newspaper(s) in your area.
http://colorado2.com/news/us.html

ZIPPY SITE GETS ATTENTION!!
The Zippy site was named a "HOT SITE OF THE DAY" by USA Today Online!

REPRINT RIGHTS

If you would like to reprint any Zippy DAILY or SUNDAY comic strip from King Features, you may write or fax:

James Cavett, Reprint Rights Editor
Reed Brennan Media Associates
628 Virginia Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

800-708-7311, Ext. 246
Fax: 407-894-4578

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