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In 2020 Popeye’s rival for the affection of
Olive Oyl, Brutus, celebrates his 60th birthday. Brutus paid a
special visit to Watertown Massachusetts in 1994. I contacted Jackson
Beck who provided the bully’s voice asking if he could perform it for my cable
access series Drawing With Fred. I sent him a blank cassette tape and
payment for his time. He was kind enough not only to record Brutus’ voice
but sent back my money. His kindness inspired me to tape a special episode
featuring Brutus with children in the audience. Beck’s Brutus voice, for
Drawing With Fred, can be heard at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ZL1z6J7OQ
For years the belief had been Bluto’s name
was changed to Brutus because Walt Disney felt “Bluto” sounded too much like
“Pluto”. I asked Beck about this and he gave me a piece of information
which uncovered the mystery. Bluto was created for the Popeye comic strip
in 1932 syndicated by King Features Syndicate. He was used in the Popeye
theatrical cartoons produced by Paramount Pictures in 1933. King Features
Syndicate decided to produce a series of color Popeye cartoons which would make
their debut in 1960. Paramount Pictures was under the impression they
owned the rights to the name Bluto. To rectify this problem, Al Brodax, who
produced this new series of Popeye’s colorful adventures, created Brutus to
harass Popeye. Photo: Jackson Beck, the voice of Bluto and Brutus Initially King Features Syndicate promoted Brutus as a new character. However, Jackson Beck’s vocal performance of Brutus was the same as his rendition of Bluto. Essentially Brutus was Bluto with the addition of a gut and minus his white sailor’s uniform. 
A panel from The Return of Bluto storyline by Bobby London In the Popeye strip and books the bearded
bully was referred to as “The Big Guy That Hates Popeye” and “Sonny Boy” before
the name “Brutus” was utilized. On
Popeye related merchandise he was dubbed “Mean Man” and these items have become
highly sought-after collectibles. On occasion various writers and cartoonists
have presented Bluto and Brutus as twin brothers. Bobby London wrote a
hilarious storyline for the Popeye daily comic strip called “The Return of
Bluto”. In this story Bluto intends on getting rid of the bearded bullies who
have been impersonating him calling themselves “Brutus”. London drew the
different character designs of Bluto/Brutus within one storyline.  Jackson Beck was a talented performer whose
kindness will always be remembered by this Popeye fan. Fred M. Grandinetti Home Paged.grandinetti@comcast.netEntertainment Magazine© 2021 EMOL.org Entertainment Magazine. All rights reserved. |
