Herbie Popnecker

Herbie Popnecker
Examples of Recurring Themes

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Herbie Claus, stuck in a chimney

Herbie Popnecker Examples:
Recurring Gags:
Jewish References

Created: 2005-07-30 Updated: 2012-08-21
Stories: 17 Examples: 24 Links: 8

Related:

Background (14 examples)
Herbie's Creators (6 examples)
Says-Schmez (14 examples)
Bop you with this here lollipop (35 examples)
Shrugging (44 examples)
Fat, Fat, Water Rat (40 examples)

Herbie stories have many Jewish references in character names, food, and manner of speaking. This may be attributable to the roots of the author of the stories.

According to "Forbidden Adventures: The History of the American Comics Group", by Michael Vance, Greenwood Press, 1996, Richard E. Hughes' real name was Leo Rosenbaum (p.43), which makes one wonder if there were subtle Jewish jokes inserted in Herbie stories. References to the YMHA and lox and bagel suggest an orientation. References-Schmeferences. Herbie's speech patterns, like "You want I should bop you with this here lollipop?" are consistent. And so what's with all the shrugging? But is Herbie Jewish? There are no cases where he is overtly religious, and in #14b, Herbie is in the Christmas spirit, so the Jewish references appear to be just jokes, but perhaps there is a deep underlying reference.

Index terms: Leo Rosenbaum, Jewish, Horowitz, Jack Benny, YMHA, bagels, lox, schlemiehl, schlemiel, Shapiro, pickles, Goldilox, shrugging, Richard E. Hughes, Ogden Whitney

Frenchy Horowitz?

Source: Forbidden Worlds #110 p.4 (1963-03)

Updated: 2008-11-23

Themes Cover Scan

Frenchy Horowitz?

Source: Forbidden Worlds #114 p.9 (1963-09)

Updated: 2012-06-17

Themes Cover Scan

Forbidden Worlds #1149

In FW #116, Herbie does Jack Benny.

Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.5 (1963-11)

Updated: 2005-09-20

Themes Cover Scan

In FW #116 , Herbie does Jack Benny .

#4b - So? Couldn't get away with Nu?

Source: Herbie #4b p.4 (1964-09)

Updated: 2005-09-20

#4b - So?

#4b - gate writing dialect "You're not such a much!"

Source: Herbie #4b p.7 (1964-09)

Updated: 2005-09-20

#4b - gate writing dialect "You're not such a much!"

#5a - so show me

Source: Herbie #5a p.3 (1964-10)

Updated: 2005-09-20

#5a - so show me

#5a - so I'll protect you

Source: Herbie #5a p.11 (1964-10)

Updated: 2012-03-19

#5a - so I'll protect you

In #6a, reference to YMHA (Young Men's Hebrew Association)

Source: Herbie #6a p.6 (1964-12)

Updated: 2005-07-30

In #6a , reference to YMHA (Young Men's Hebrew Association)

#6a, cavemensch greets Herbie by saying "Lousy drape... Crummy material... What schloch joint you buy?" while feeling the material between his thumb and finger.

Source: Herbie #6a p.9 (1964-12)

Updated: 2005-09-20

#6a , cavemensch greets Herbie by saying "Lousy drape...

I'm not sure if Herbie's reaction is to Dad's idea or the possibility of not eating, but the hand reminds me of Jack Benny (although maybe it's a little high).

Source: Herbie #6b p.1 (1964-12)

Updated: 2012-03-21

I'm not sure if Herbie's reaction is to Dad's idea or the possibility of not eating , but the hand reminds me of Jack Benny (although maybe it's a little high).

#8b, bagel and lox

Source: Herbie #8b p.7 (1965-03)

Updated: 2005-09-20

#8b , bagel and lox

That's a Jack Benny reaction.

Source: Herbie #11a p.3 (1965-08)

Updated: 2012-03-21

That's a Jack Benny reaction.

#11a - a spy named Lovely Horowitz?

Source: Herbie #11a p.6 (1965-08)

Updated: 2008-11-23

#11a - a spy named Lovely Horowitz?

The title of #15a is "Call Me Schlemiehl!" Schlemiel is a Yiddish expression for a dolt, a bungler, an inept, clumsy person.

Source: Herbie #15a p.1 (1966-02)

Updated: 2008-11-19

The title of #15a is "Call Me Schlemiehl!" Schlemiel is a Yiddish expression for a dolt, a bungler, an inept, clumsy person.

Very Jewish dialect: "What gives with Schlemhiel business?"

Source: Herbie #15a p.3 (1966-02)

Updated: 2012-03-21

Very Jewish dialect: "What gives with Schlemhiel business?"

Jack Benny or just a headache?

Source: Herbie #16a p.3 (1966-03)

Updated: 2012-03-21

Jack Benny or just a headache?

Chauncey Gotgelt (gelt is Yiddish for money) makes an appearance.

Source: Herbie #19a p.4 (1966-08)

Updated: 2012-03-21

Chauncey Gotgelt (gelt is Yiddish for money) makes an appearance.

#19b "lock, stock and bagel!"

Source: Herbie #19b p.10 (1966-08)

Updated: 2005-09-21

#19b "lock, stock and bagel!"

#20a Dracula has gone nuts for pizza, but his assistants prefer bagels.

Source: Herbie #20a p.7 (1966-09)

Updated: 2005-09-21

#20a Dracula has gone nuts for pizza, but his assistants prefer bagels.

#20a "With us, it's bagels!"

Source: Herbie #20a p.12 (1966-09)

Updated: 2005-09-21

#20a "With us, it's bagels!"

#21b A Viking named Eric Shapiro? ...

Source: Herbie #21b p.4 (1966-10)

Updated: 2005-09-21

#21b A Viking named Eric Shapiro?

...who loves pickles?

Source: Herbie #21b p.2 (1966-10)

Updated: 2008-11-23

...who loves pickles?

Source: Herbie #22b p.8 (1966-12)

Updated: 2012-04-11

Jack Benny

Prime Example: In #23a, lox and bagel

Source: Herbie #23a p.10 (1967-02)

Updated: 2005-07-30

Prime Example : In #23a , lox and bagel