MA GHERKINS

MA PERKINS
NBC, CBS 1933-1960

MA GHERKINS-- SHE'S ALWAYS IN A PICKLE
Cracked #98, January 1972
a: Vic Martin

Ma Perkins was “America's mother of the air” similar to Mary Worth in the comics, a daily radio soap opera starring Virginia Payne.The term “soap opera” got its name from this because it was originally sponsor by Oxydol, a soap company.

Also parodied here is radio character Just Plain Bill. In the graffiti are characters Stella Dallas and Fibber McGee of Fibber McGee and Molly. I can't make quite out the graffiti in the last panel but it might say Elsie Beebe (LCBB), nickname for Life Can Be Beautiful.

There was a radio soap called Mary Noble, Backstage Wife probably better known for the Bob and Ray parody Mary Backstage, Noble Wife. Also referenced is Vic and Sade. Featured are comic strip characters Snuffy Smith, Luhweeze, and Jughaid from Snuffy Smith, Hairless Joe and Lonesome Polecat from Li'l Abner (who co-incidentally also did Oxydol ads), Little Orphan Annie, Henry, Fritz Katzenjammer, Happy Hooligan, and A. Mutt.