Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
Popeye's arch nemesis, Brutus is sometimes called Bluto - Why please?
I have a query that has plagued me for 50 years
- Thread starter Bretrick
- Start date
I got this off of AI
"Early Name: Bluto
When Popeye first appeared in the 1930s cartoons (from Fleischer Studios), his big, bearded adversary was called Bluto. He was the original brute who fought Popeye for Olive Oyl’s attention.
Later Change to Brutus
In the 1950s, when King Features Syndicate made Popeye the Sailor TV cartoons, they didn’t think they had the rights to use the name Bluto (because the original Fleischer shorts were controlled by Paramount). So they created what they thought was a “new” character—Brutus—who looked and acted almost exactly the same.
The Confusion
In reality, King Features did own the rights to Bluto, but they didn’t realize it at the time. So for years, Popeye’s nemesis bounced between being called Bluto and Brutus, depending on which series or studio was making the cartoons.
Today
Both names are recognized as referring to the same character. Most modern Popeye adaptations stick with Bluto, but old TV reruns and comics still show Brutus.
In short: He’s the same guy. The name difference came from a rights mix-up in the 1950s."
oscash
Senior Member
- Location
- Sydney - Australia
Well, I've learned some trivia today. Very interesting.
Bretrick
Well-known Member
- Location
- Perth Western Australia
Thank you. I can sleep easy now with that off my mind.I got this off of AI
"Early Name: Bluto
When Popeye first appeared in the 1930s cartoons (from Fleischer Studios), his big, bearded adversary was called Bluto. He was the original brute who fought Popeye for Olive Oyl’s attention.
Later Change to Brutus
In the 1950s, when King Features Syndicate made Popeye the Sailor TV cartoons, they didn’t think they had the rights to use the name Bluto (because the original Fleischer shorts were controlled by Paramount). So they created what they thought was a “new” character—Brutus—who looked and acted almost exactly the same.
The Confusion
In reality, King Features did own the rights to Bluto, but they didn’t realize it at the time. So for years, Popeye’s nemesis bounced between being called Bluto and Brutus, depending on which series or studio was making the cartoons.
Today
Both names are recognized as referring to the same character. Most modern Popeye adaptations stick with Bluto, but old TV reruns and comics still show Brutus.
oscash
Senior Member
- Location
- Sydney - Australia
If his name had been Blotto, here in Australia that would be a slang name for "Drunk".
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
