The Real Popeye: The Man Behind the Sailor Man Legend
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Popeye the Sailor Man, with his trademark pipe and can of spinach, has been a mainstay of American pop culture for nearly a century. However, few know that the character was inspired by a real person who lived in creator Elzie Crisler Segar's hometown of Chester, Illinois. The true tale of the man behind Popeye is a journey through early 20th-century America and the life of one Frank "Rocky" Fiegel, who became the unwitting muse for the iconic cartoon character.
**Frank "Rocky" Fiegel: The Inspiration**
Born in 1868, Frank Fiegel was a local legend in his own right. He was well-known in Chester - a small town along the Mississippi River – for his strength and his propensity for getting into fistfights, despite his small stature. Fiegel was a bachelor throughout his life and worked as a bartender and handyman. His physical attributes were notable; he had a prominent chin, was bald, and was often seen smoking his pipe, traits that would all become synonymous with the Popeye character.
Segar, who would go on to create "Thimble Theatre" and introduce Popeye in 1929, grew up in Chester and was familiar with…
