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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 36, Number 7 Thursday, February 20, 2020 KKATYATY KKEENE,EbyE AndrewN TallacksonE, RReborneborn hen John Lucas was 7, his older sis- ter Martha invited fi ve or six friends over for a slumber party. Martha was six Wyears older then. The last thing she wanted was her younger brother hang- ing around. But John, as little broth- ers are wont to do, had no qualms of bugging his older sibling. “I remember Martha going to our mom and saying, ‘Mom, make John leave us alone.’ You know, the usual classic stuff,” Lucas said. One of Martha’s friends had brought a stack of comic books. Now, you must understand, John’s parents disap- proved of such reading. To them, it was garbage. Typically, John’s only op- portunity to peruse them was at the doctor’s offi ce. So that move, on behalf of Martha’s friend, was a stroke of ge- nius. John left his sister and her pals alone. Thumbing through the comic books, he encountered typical fare, fa- miliar faces like Superman. Then, he gazed upon Katy Keene. John’s 7-year-old eyes could not look away. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. On the cover, she appeared to be emerging from a rose and wearing a strapless evening gown. The title for the edition was “Katy Keene Spectacular.” Turning the pages, John discovered a typical story for the character, promoted by Archie Comics as “America’s Queen of Pin- Ups and Fashions.” The young starlet was aching for her big break in show business. Lucy Hale, of “Pretty Little Liars” fame, stars as the titular character in “Katy Keene” on the CW network. Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 February 20, 2020 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 Beacher Company Directory e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] Don and Tom Montgomery Owners email: Classifieds - [email protected] Andrew Tallackson Editor http://www.thebeacher.com/ Drew White Print Salesman PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by Janet Baines Inside Sales/Customer Service T Becky Wirebaugh Typesetter/Designer T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Randy Kayser Pressman Dora Kayser Bindery Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is Hope Costello, Cheryl Joppek, Production also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. John Baines, Karen Gehr, Dennis Mayberry Delivery erently of the comic-book character, they do so not KATY KEENE, Reborn Continued from Page 1 just of Woggon, but Lucas as well. Lucas was hooked for life. Now, the character has her own TV show on the “I loved her intelligence. For a comic book charac- CW network starring Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Li- ter, a woman in the ’50s, Katy was on her own,” Lu- ars”) as Katy and conceived by “Riverdale” creator cas said. “She was beautiful, obviously, and she was Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who’s also chief creative of- having fun. And she would talk to the audience, like fi cer at Archie Comics. The fi rst episode, which de- ‘What do you think of this? So and so sent this de- buted Thursday, Feb. 6, envisions Katy in a world sign, and I’m going to use this in a movie production.” that’s a mix of “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Ameri- Keene, Bill Woggon’s indelible creation who can Idol” and “A Chorus Line.” It depicts Katy and made her debut in 1945 through Archie Comics, has her pals as 20-somethings pursuing their dreams evolved over the years, with Lucas around for a con- in New York City, whether it be fashion, music or siderable portion of the ride. When fans speak rev- Broadway. John Lucas holds up the drawing he did that served as a gift for “Katy Keene” writer/“Riverdale” creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Photo by Andrew Tallackson THE February 20, 2020 Page 3 The “Katy Keene Spectacular” cover that drew John Lucas’ attention back when he was 7. FREE HAUL AWAY of your old mattress set, Lucas is not directly involved in the show. How- set-up of your new set ever, he was contacted by individuals connected We have a mattress to it during pre-production. He sat down with The for every Beacher to discuss everything Katy Keene, and his need - and every budget! own personal journey in relation to the character, TWIN SINGLES during a brief break from his work as offi ce man- START AT ager for Access LaPorte County. $99 Katy Keene made her debut in the summer of QUEEN SETS START AT 1945, specifi cally in Wilbur Comics No. 5, then in $ popular comics with Archie, Jughead, Betty and Ve- 277 ronica. She scored her own title in 1949, as well as specials like “Katy Keene Pin Up Parade” and “Katy Keene Fashion Book Magazine.” Readers could sub- mit drawings of outfi ts and accessories, which often were incorporated into the comics, the individuals given credit within that edition. Paper Katy Keene dolls in costumes often appeared in issues. The general thrust of the character, Lucas says, was that she was “almost” there, on the cusp of suc- cess. That big break was like the proverbial carrot SAME OR 6 MONTHS dangling just within reach. MORE THAN JUST A FURNITURE STORE! NEXT DAY SAME AS And for Lucas, the son of musically inclined CASH 1106 E US HWY 20, MICHIGAN CITY DELIVERY FINANCING parents James Clyde and Mary Jane Lucas, Katy (219) 872-6501 or 1-800-606-8035 ON ALL AND 90 DAY Keene was the gateway to securing their acceptance OPEN Monday - Friday 9:30 - 6, IN-STOCK LAY-AWAY ITEMS! AVAILABLE! of comic books in their home. Music, you see, was Saturday 9 - 6, Sunday 12 - 4 VISIT US ONLINE! www.naturallywoodfurniturecenter.com Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 February 20, 2020 In the late 1970s, Marilise Flusser, a buyer and KATY KEENE, Reborn Continued from Page 3 fashion coordinator for Saks Fifth Avenue, wanted their forte. Mary Jane gave private piano and voice to use Katy Keene comic-book covers as the back- lessons. James was a school band and orchestra drop for window displays. Lucas says she wrote to teacher. 500 of her favorite individuals who contributed de- “My parents did not want me to get into comic signs to the series. About half of them wrote back, books,” he said. “But when I got them, they found one of which was longtime Katy Keene fan Craig out I was quiet, and I read them. And then my mom Leavitt, who would serve as editor of the Katy Keene starting reading them, saying, ‘Oh, these are pretty Fan Magazine from 1979 to 1983. Lucas was a fre- good. Oh, look at these shoes.’ So, Mom kinda got quent contributor. into it. By that point, it should be noted Lucas had al- “Dad didn’t like it because it was a ‘woman’s comic ready forged an unexpected friendship with Katy book,’ but then he found out it was created by a man Keene’s creator. Wanting to express his gratitude named Bill Woggon who owned a horse ranch out in for Woggon’s legacy, Lucas simply contacted direc- Santa Barbara. He said, ‘Oh OK, this is OK.’ I said, tory assistance and obtained Woggon’s information. ‘Dad, she’s good His fi rst call land- looking!’ He said, ed with Woggon’s ‘Well, yes she is.’” wife, who said her Comic books husband was out also spoke to Lu- golfi ng — his favor- cas’ love of draw- ite pastime — but ing that emerged please, call back at a young age. later. Lucas did. The family didn’t That night. Wog- have a lot of mon- gon did not disap- ey, so he would point. The conver- frequently doodle sation and ensuing on the inside cov- friendship, for Lu- ers of books. Often, cas, was a dream his parents bought come true. In fact, him a ream of typ- it was Woggon who ing paper to keep suggested Leavitt him busy. That get in touch with passion fl ourished Lucas. Woggon felt later at Ball State Lucas’ style was University, where similar to his. he was a double With the fan major in art educa- magazine herald- tion and advertis- ing a resurgence in ing art. That was Katy Keene’s pop- the springboard for ularity, she was a successful career reborn through as an art director Archie Comics in for companies such 1983. The fi rst four as Bick Advertis- issues, Lucas says, ing, Odegard Ad- were reprints of vertising and Tay- Woggon’s original lor-Chalmers. art. The next four And for Lucas, were generated by Katy Keene never various artists. left the picture, “Fans started even by 1961 when writing to Archie her comic books (Comics), saying, were discontinued, A Katy Keene cover by John Lucas. ‘We love the fact a victim to tele- you are bringing vision and the core audience having moved on to Katy back, but who are these artists doing Katy other things. To him, she was forever that visionary Keene? Please contact Bill Woggon or John Lucas. dream, a young starlet courting success. “They were seeing my artwork appear in the fan Turns out, plenty others shared his enthusiasm. magazine.” THE February 20, 2020 Page 5 So, that’s how Lucas became involved with de- cally through Jago & Associates.

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