Thimble Theatre Launches

E.C. Segar begins work at William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal where on December 19 he launches the “The Thimble Theatre” comic strip starring Olive Oyl and Harold Ham Gravy.

Popeye’s First Appearance

On January 17, E.C. Segar introduces the character Popeye to the “Thimble Theatre” cast with his famous first line — ’Ja think I’m a cowboy?!.

FunFact: Popeye is known as Iron Arm in Italy, Karl Alfred in Sweden and Skipper Skraek or “Terror of the Sea” in Denmark.

Popeye Boosts Spinach Consumption

The spinach industry credits Segar and Popeye with increasing the United States consumption of spinach by 33%!

Fun Fact: Popeye’s canned and fresh spinach has been available for consumption for decades and is still available today! Click HERE to find out more!

Popeye’s Silver Screen Debut

Popeye makes his silver screen debut in the July 14, 1933 Betty Boop cartoon entitled “Popeye the Sailor”, produced by Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Popeye was originally voiced by William Costello and later by Jack Mercer. Popeye’s first animated appearance also introduces his theme song, “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man,” composed by Sammy Lerner, giving birth to Popeye’s most famous line “I’m strong to da finich ‘cause I eats my spinach”.

Bluto Enters the Scene

On September 12, Popeye first encounters “Bluto the Terrible.” Bluto was later adapted into animated form by Fleischer Studios in 1933. Bluto is also known as Brutus.

Popeye Is On The Radio

The Popeye the Sailor radio program airs 15-minute episodes three times a week. Supporting voices included Detmar Poppen as Popeye, Olive Lamoy as Olive Oyl, Charles Lawrence as Wimpy, Jackson Beck as Bluto and Mae Questel as Swee’Pea.

Popeye Is Honored For His Positive Influence

Spinach Capital of the World, Crystal City, Texas, erects a statue to honor E.C. Segar and Popeye for their influence on America’s spinach eating habits, making Popeye one of the first cartoon characters ever immortalized in public sculpture.

Famous Studios Begins Production

Popeye’s animated adventures are produced by Famous Studios.

Popeye’s Debut in Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade

On Thanksgiving Day, 1957, a 56-foot-tall Popeye balloon soared through New York City. He continued to wow the parade’s onlookers for the next ten years, his last year being 1968. The balloon was created by Goodyear engineer William Ludwick and draftsman Jack Grisak of Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s Aviation Products Division.

Saturday’s Popeye

Andy Warhol debuts the concept of “pop art” in 1961 with a collection of paintings including a piece entitled, Saturday’s Popeye.

POPEYE MAGAZINE LAUNCHES

Popeye was one of the very first Pop paintings that artist Roy Lichtenstein created in the summer of 1961.

The All New Popeye Show Runs On CBS

Hanna-Barbera Productions releases The All-New Popeye Hour, an animated series of 60-minute episodes that aired as part of the CBS Sunday Morning lineup. Later, in 1981, the show was cut into shorter 30-minutes episodes and re-titled The Popeye and Olive Show, which ran on CBS until 1983.

Olive Oyl makes her debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Olive Oyl makes her debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and was the first new female character balloon in decades.

Commemorative Stamp Is Issued

The U.S. Postal Service features Popeye in its “American Comic Classics” collection of postage stamps issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American comic strip.

New Popeye Series Stars Popeye and His Son

Popeye and Son, an additional Hanna-Barbera animated series runs.

Popeye offically adopts Swee’pea

In November, Popeye officially adopts Swee’pea in a ceremony officiated by Judge Greg Mathis and hosted by the National Council for Adoption.

Popeye’s First Appearance in 3-D

Popeye’s first-ever 3-D, CGI animated production “Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy” airs on Fox.

Popeye’s Arcade Game is Reimagined for Game Boy®

Olive Oyl Becomes a Spokescharacter

Olive Oyl stars in a commercial for Prego pasta sauce.

Popeye Appears as the Google Doodle

Popeye is featured as the Google Doodle on December 8 in honor of his creator Elzie Crisler Segar’s birthday. The image appeared with scroll-over text, “E.C. Segar’s Birthday.”

Olive Oyl Promotes Butter

Olive Oyl appears in a UK advertisement for Kerrygold spreadable butter.

Popeye Inspires a Designer Fragrance

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier globally launches his “Le Male” fragrance, inspired by Popeye, across Europe and in the US.

Kiehl’s Features a Popeye Men’s care collection

Kiehl’s launches two Popeye-themed men’s care kits for Father’s Day at David Jones in Australia.

Joyrich Collection Launches

Joyrich launches collections of Popeye apparel for both men and women.

FEELING MOODY

In April, Norwegian designer brand Moods of Norway launches their Popeye collection

POPEYE’S SCULPTURE GOES DIGITAL

Artist Jeff Koons partners with Snapchat to release an augmented reality “World Lense” of his famous Popeye sculpture, available for activation in 9 public parks around the world.

OH, SWEETHEART!

Lindt chocolatiers celebrated Valentine’s Day in Italy with Popeye and Olive Oyl designed boxes of chocolate.

POPEYE MEETS ICEBERG

Designer streetwear brand, Iceberg launches a Popeye apparel collection with a promotional campaign featuring American model, Lucky Blue Smith.

POP! EYE

Funko, one of the leading creators and innovators of collectible licensed pop culture products, releases the first Popeye Funko Pop! vinyl figure

POPEYE TOYZ

Mezco Toyz releases a high-end, highly collectible transforming Popeye figure.

POPEYE IN COLOR

On December 11, Warner Bros. releases “Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s Volume 1” on DVD and Blu-ray, marking the first time Popeye’s original theatrical color cartoons are made available for home viewing by the public.

PARABÉNS POPEYE!

On January 19th, Brazil’s Museum of Image and Sound (Museu da Imagem e do Som) celebrates Popeye’s 90th birthday with a special comic exhibit that teaches fans about Popeye’s history and how to draw him.

POPEYE X HUF

On March 8th, Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpy hit the streets with popular streetwear brand, HUF Worldwide, in a knockout collection of apparel and accessories.

POPEYE VISITS THE BARBER

In Spring 2019, Razor MD opens Popeye Barber shop online – an exclusive online 90th anniversary offering of men’s grooming kits featuring Popeye and Bluto.

POPEYE LOVES NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

Popeye partners with New York City and Chicago foodie favorite, Dos Toros, to unveil their new Spring Veggie Mix.

POPEYE STAYS REAL

Asian streetwear brand, STAYREAL, launches a 90th Anniversary Popeye apparel and accessories line for Men and Women in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.

BRUTUS X SCOTCH & SODA

On July 8th, Scotch & Soda unveiled “The Boathouse” a limited-edition capsule collection starring Brutus (aka Bluto).

POPEYE FIGHTS PLASTIC POLLUTION WITH THE SEACLEANERS

On April 13, Popeye joined The SeaCleaners’ fight against plastic pollution by raising awareness of the ocean clean-up organization’s conservation efforts worldwide.

POPEYE SAILS THE HIGH-FASHION SEAS WITH ORIGINAL MARINES

Sustainable fashion brand, Original Marines teamed up with Popeye and Olive Oyl to launch a global collection of playful apparel for Boys and Girls.

POPEYE X THE WOD LIFE

On December 7th, Popeye’s first ever collaboration with Australian sportswear company, The WOD Life was released, featuring Men’s and Women’s fitness apparel and accessories.

YOUTOOZ COLLECTABLES LAUNCH

STARTER COLLECTION TAKES TO THE STREETS

November 12th, 2021 – Leading apparel brand, Starter Brazil launches a new streetwear collection inspired by Popeye. The unique line includes apparel and accessories for both Men and Women.

POPEYE FIRST-EVER NFT RELEASED BY FUNKO

In January, Funko dropped first-ever NFT featuring Popeye as part of their Retro Comics collection

POPEYE GAMING PARTNERHSIP SUPPORTS OCEAN CONSERVATION

January 27th – February 6th, Angry Birds Friends launched a week-long Popeye themed tournament in support of ocean clean-up organization, The SeaCleaners.

ICE COLD APPAREL DROPS FROM ICEBERG

February 8th, 2022 – Longtime Popeye partner, luxury brand ICEBERG, releases a Popeye themed men’s ready-to-wear collection inspired by the sailor’s optimism and self-confidence.

LOUNGING IN STYLE WITH INTIMISSIMI

Menswear brand, Intimissimi features Popeye in a new collection accented with the sailor’s trademark nautical style, and tough but playful persona.

NOAH LAUNCHES COLLECTION FOR WORLD WATER DAY

March 22nd, 2022 – Men’s streetwear brand, Noah, features Popeye in their collection of apparel and range of nautical-themed accessories, including a clam knife, towel, and more

A LEFTIES COLLECTION IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Popeye and Lefties, international leader of affordable and inclusive clothing, have teamed up for an apparel collection featuring the iconic character. The exclusive collection began rolling out designs worldwide this past Fall including T-shirts, shorts, tops, sweatshirts, socks, pajamas, and jogger pants for both men and women.

HIGH END WATCHES LAUNCH FROM VANGUARD

October 12th 2022 – Franck Muller x Bamford Watch Department Releases Popeye Inspired Vanguard© watch featuring our favorite sailor man and Swee’Pea.

Von Dutch, Popeye, & The SeaCleaners Team Up for the Ultimate, Initiative Driven Collaboration

November 9th, 2022 – Hollywood heritage brand, Von Dutch, teams up with Popeye and The SeaCleaners for a custom apparel collection supporting the fight for a pollution-free Ocean. To promote the collab, Von Dutch hosted an influential dinner, sparking the interest of many.

SURF’S UP AT OCEAN PARK

Popeye and Olive take to the beaches of France with this new collection of casual tees.

EXCITING DESIGNS AND VIBRANT COLORS FROM SOULED STORE

New Souled Store collection from India features the whole gang in fun, exciting poses.

Popeye Now Available at Target

C-Life Group collection brings Popeye online and into Target stores near you!

OLIVE CELEBRATES MOTHERS EVERYWHERE

Olive Oyl x Loungerie’s Mother’s Day collection celebrates how mother’s can be anything they want.

A COLLECTION WHERE COMFORT AND CLASSICS MEET

Women’s Secret launches loungewear featuring our favorite sailor man.

New Popeye Collectables Launch

Hunt for treasure with these new building blocks featuring Popeye & Olive and the Me Ship! from Guangdong Pinqi.

POPEYE GETS COMFORTABLE WITH ARTEX

Vintage inspired, nautical bedding featuring Popeye and Friends is available from Brazilian home goods store, Artex.

POPEYE RECEIVED GH NUTRITIONIST APPROVED EMBLEM.

In honor of his lifelong commitment to nutritious eating and his focus on fitness, the Good Housekeeping Institute awarded our American pop culture icon Popeye the GH Nutritionist Approved Emblem!