354) Mrs. Fitz’s Flats…

Original Mrs. Fitz’s Flat by Frank Roberge 1-18-1971

Master cartoonist Mort Walker created the comic strip Mrs. Fitz’s Flats and turned the project over to his former assistant Frank Roberge. While it never achieved the popularity of Walker’s other creations (Beetle Bailey, Hi and Lois, and Boner’s Ark) it  appeared in newspapers from 1957 to 1972, a respectable run for a rather pedestrian strip.

Roberge had solid drawing skills, but sources differ as to whether Roberge, Walker, or Walker’s creative team contributed the jokes. I suspect that it was a mix of all three.

The feature revolved around the antics of the bizarre tenants of an apartment building owned by the widow Fitz’s. The occupants of the flats included Lord and Lady Balderdash, an upper crust British couple of diminished means; Sireen, an aspiring actress; Turf, a gambler; Danube and Ludwig, an obese bickering couple; Professor Neutron, a crazed scientist; Linseed, a unsuccessful artist; and Linseed, the incompetent custodian of the apartments.

Some critics have suggested that the strip had too many dated and stereotypical characters to succeed in attracting a dedicated following. Attempts to shake up the storyline and add new situations and characters failed to draw more readers. After fifteen years Mrs. Fitz’s Flats was discontinued.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me at themythfits@gmail.com