Gasoline Alley

I did it the wrong way around--as I saw the sequel to this ("Corky of Gasoline Alley") before the original film "Gasoline Alley". But, since I enjoyed this second film, I sought out this first one. It appears that Columbia Pictures was trying to create some sort of B-movie series--much like the Blondie and Dagwood films. But, as they only made two of them, it's obvious that the series never really caught on with the public.

Gasoline Alley was a comic strip that followed a family. Unlike many strips, this one aged over the years--and America watched the family expand and have various minor adventures. Much of the strip's history is summarized in the first five minutes of the film. Then the plot itself unfolds. The youngest son, Corky, arrives home unexpectedly. He's dropped out of college and married Hope. Now the two move in with his family and Corky is looking to start some sort of career. Eventually, he and some friends decide to open up a diner and they know their work is cut out for them--as restaurants so often fail. Can Corky and his new bride make it or will they give up, go on relief and end up committing a string of strong-armed robberies and murders before succumbing in a hail of police bullets? Well, actually, I made up all the last stuff, as this IS a family drama--a light and enjoyable one at that. No cops, no killing--just good 'ol wholesomeness. And, while it's not a super-exciting film or a laugh a minute, it's enjoyable and sweet--and well worth your time if you enjoy well made B-movies.

Corky (played by Scotty Beckett) drops out of college to marry Susan Morrow. Everyone in the family is upset as he tries a couple of jobs to support his wife. Then the opportunity arises to buy a diner, with attendant difficulties.

It's a pretty good representation of the daily continuity of Frank King's comic strip (which is still running!) with Don Beddoe made up to look exactly like Walt Wallet in the comics. The strip originated in the form of four World War I vets talking about cars. By the early 1920s, a baby was left on Walt's steps to appeal to women readers. Gasoline Alley was unique in that the characters aged in normal time, so that young orphan, named "Skeezix" fought in the Second World War, and matters have continued on, although the aging process was stopped for a couple of decades, then later resumed. As a result, Walt is probably the oldest man alive at something over 120 years of age.

With Dick Wessell, Gus Schilling, and Byron Boulger.

Child star Scotty Beckett stars in this neat little film as a married college dropout who goes into business for himself in a diner. Based on the incredibly long-running comic strip, this is a family drama with comedy and a very good cast of familiar faces.

Beckett plays Corky, the younger brother, who comes home from college with a surprise: a wife (Susan Morrow). The father (Don Beddoe) and older brother (Jimmy Lydon) try to take Corky under their wing, but he's determined to make his own way. Rather than take a good job they've arranged for him, he finds work as a clothes model and then as a dishwasher in a diner. When he discovers a filthy, run-down diner for sale, he talks the brother, named Skeezix, into lending him the money to buy it.

He's only 20 and runs into all kinds of problems getting the diner cleaned up and operating. Luckily, the cook (Dick Wessel) from his first job goes with him since he's an army buddy of Skeezix. Simple story, well told, and very well acted.

Also in the cast are Madelon Baker as the mother, Patti Brady as the kid sister, Byron Foulger as the strange man, Virginia Toland as the vamp, Jimmy Lloyd as the creep, Charles Halton as the owner, Christine McIntyre as Myrtle, and in an especially good role, Gus Schilling as Joe.

Schilling's character is a real surprise for a 1951 family film, and he just about walks off with the picture except that Beckett is terrific. Followed by a sequel with pretty much the same cast and also released in 1951. These would proved to be Beckett's last starring roles in films.

Never a fan or follower of comic strips, I was only vaguely aware of "Gasoline Alley" as an entertainment entity growing up, as well as later in life. But having just now an opportunity to see the film, made in 1951, I looked at the IMDb synopsis and decided to give it a whirl. And it was a most pleasant experience and it is very nice to spend time with such a warm and happy extended family. Although inspired by and including characters from the comic strip, the film certainly can stand alone and be appreciated without an awareness of its origin.

"Gasoline Alley" is a loving and in some ways bittersweet retrospection of small town life in America that has largely evaporated, unknown and not even missed by the ever increasing numbers of dwellers in the urban confines of America's twenty largest populated conglomerations. Lucky are those remaining citizens who still live in the comparative idyllic rural enclaves. And lucky it is, too, that documents like this film exist to remind us of what much of America was like in the days of yore.

Director Edward Bernds captains a careful and sweet approach to the program in only his fourth year of making features (including some of the last Blondie movies), having already been at Columbia for years as screenwriter and short subject director (including the Three Stooges). One gets the feeling that the cast and crew enjoyed their time together giving life to this movie and were as happy and cohesive as the family depicted on screen.

The remaining point of interest for me weighs on one of the Alley's characters named Skeezix. This is a pet name my mother occasionally used for me over the years, but I had no idea and never even thought about where it came from. Apparently I know now! It certainly is an odd given name and one assumes it was on the character's birth certificate. But were there any real life people named Skeezix?

Final comment: I then went on to see the second and last film of the series, "Corky of Gasoline Alley," made also in 1951. I did not enjoy that one quite as much as the first one, primarily because the "Corky" film was a little too madcap and urgent, perhaps just a little too much a comic strip come to life. Charm in this followup didn't seem to permeate the fabric of the film like it did in the first. Additionally, the actor Gordon Jones' character in the second film, Mr. Martin, had a difficult personality that was just a little too much on display. But nonetheless, it deserves to be seen if the first one is, to complete the arc. Indeed it is disappointing that more imagined installments did not work out.

What a delightful little surprise. The cast blends together in lively fashion without overdoing it, along with excellent pacing from director Bernds. Then too, the flick's from Columbia meaning there's more expertise behind the production than than the usual low-budget product.

So, can the Wallet family turn a broken-down diner into a real money-maker. Watch young entrepreneur Corky go at it, while also proving he's as talented as his successful older brother, Skeezix. Surely their names don't sound like businessmen, but then names aren't everything. And what a bunch of charming family girls (the boys' wives and sister) and note how everyone combines to convert the diner into a winner, despite the many temptations and drawbacks along the way. The question is: can they keep it.

It's a morale booster to see family and new friends pitching in whatever their initial misgivings. All in all, it's an excellent cast, both the leads (Beckett, Morrow, Lydon) and the supports (Brady, Wessel, et. Al.) who happily add both humor and grit. And catch the many humorous touches that spice up the story-line. I especially like Dad's limp tulip that appears to be growing atop his forehead, or pens that disappear at the last minute proving that even questionable skills can serve a higher purpose.

Anyhow, be sure to catch this little delight despite the obscurity. The chuckles remain, though I'm still wondering what the flick has to do with Gasoline Alley, a popular comic strip of of the time. Oh well, the likely box-office appeal was well placed, nevertheless.

In Passing - roadside diners were still popular for quick meals in the early '50's, but were soon replaced by drive-thru's like McDonalds. And thank goodness leaky fountain pens were soon replaced by reliable ball-points. That sure made my highschool years easier. Meanwhile time marches on, but our charming little flick can happily override those passing decades. So, my viewer's salute to both cast and crew.