What -- No Spinach?

The man reason that the early Popeye cartoons were popular was that the characters were depicted as ordinary working-class types in everyday urban surroundings, which many in the Depression era could identify with. This more or less ended when Paramount bought out the series in the early 1940's and put their own take on it.

Very popular among viewers were the asides mumbled by the voice of Popeye Jack Mercer. The quick-witted Mercer would often ad-lib these asides randomly. Some needed to be edited out, because they wouldn't get past the censor, but most were left in as-is. Mercer continued to voice Popeye, except when overseas during World War 2, until his death in 1984.

Gus Wickie was the voice of Bluto in about 20 of the early cartoons. When the Fleischer brothers moved from New York City to Florida, Wickie decided to stay in The Big Apple, where could more-easily find work as an entertainer.

In this cartoon, and others in the series, Wickie was also allowed to ad-lib asides, which were also popular with the public. Neither Wickie's predecessor, William Pennell, nor his successor, the talented Jackson Beck, opted much for the same ad-libbing,

Also, the character of Wimpy had a more prominent role in this cartoon than in others during the era.

The interaction and dialog between the three is among the best in the series.

...and in which the star is none other than J. Wellington Wimpy.

It's a wonderful change-of-pace cartoon and lots of fun to see the great hamburger moocher as the center of attention.

Popeye and Bluto are clearly playing the role of straight men to Wimpy's shenanigans.

Wimpy is on no one's side. Just as long as he gets his hamburger. Only in one cartoon, the equally oddball "Hello, How am I?" does this characteristic, at least superficially, make him take on the role of villain.

Very uncharacteristic Popeye cartoon and extremely funny. Too bad Wimpy didn't get a chance to be a star more often.

Popeye goes into Bluto's diner and tries to order roast duck. However, Wimpy is the waiter, and he tries to mooch everything... especially the hamburgers.

Lou Fleischer provides Wimpy's voice, and yes, he was a relative of Max and Dave: their brother. There was a lot of nepotism in Hollywood at the time; Universal was famous for it under 'Uncle' Carl Laemmle. The Fleischers had brothers-in-laws, nephews, and such on the payroll, but they definitely earned their keep.

As is often the case with the Fleischer cartoons in this period, you had to keep an attentive eye open for all the throwaway gags that Dave instructed his staff to put in.

Bluto runs a greasy spoon. For some reason, Wimpy is hanging around, eating up all the profits. When he sabotages all the efforts of his boss, Popeye, a customer, is furious. Soon he and Bluto have it out. There are great sight gags and it is quite original.

"What! No Spinach?" was very amusing-- and appropriately titled (as spinach was not on the menu). Bluto's Restaurant was clearly a mediocre eatery. The sign said TRY OUR SOUP-SANDWICH, so Bluto was clearly trying to show off. J Wellington Wimpy, who worked at this dump, sang his Hamburger Ode, which was very pretty. It was yet another sign of Wimpy's love for hamburgers,and tendency to mooch them! Then in happened Popeye. Olive Oyl was not with him, but Bluto's Restaurant was NOT the kind of place to bring her on a date! (She would have had fits!) Wimpy showed electric sign saying MENU (which Popeye thought was an ENTREE, saying he didn't want any of that) HAMBURGER ROAST DUCK HAMBURGERS SOUP HAMBURGERS Popeye ordered roast duck, which led Wimpy to request "One hamburger, please", which he tried to mooch, but Bluto flipped the burger on a fork over and over to Popeye, who said "I SAID ROAST DUCK!" This chain of events led Popeye and Bluto into a brawl; Wimpy took advantage of that and emerged the winner. All in all, very amusing-- and a fit