"Little Nemo in Slumberland" dated May 03, 1925:
Transcript of Tweets by @LittleNemo1905 (OCTOBER 05, 2021):
This strip features McCay setting his mind to technological wonder as he proposes a new transportation method that would see people fly across the airwaves from place to place! - 1/20
This strip was undoubtedly inspired by the events of March 1925 (only two months earlier), that saw John Baird demonstrate his "televisor" by casting an image across a room at Selfridges Department store in London. - 2/20
This gimmick, meant to attract shoppers, continued through April of that year and would soon (in January 1926) lead to the first public demonstration of a mechanical tv. 3/20
I assume that this is what Doctor Pill is referring to when he mentions in panel 7 that "they are sending pictures over the radio now." The timing is right and given the strip's narrative, it makes sense. - 4/20
The strip is interesting because it speaks very subtly to the trepidations that people have when new technology replaces old. Here, we're seeing the radio being repurposed as a travel technology. - 5/20
Fear of having one technology replaced by another is not uncommon (video did kill the radio star, after all), but I find it fascinating that McCay was so quick to imagine an alternative use for the radio so quickly. - 6/20
Alternatively, maybe he just took the projection of images to it's most logical (if extreme) conclusion and this isn't so much a theory on how radio could survive television, but more an assumption about the general future. - 7/20
Both intrigue me for different reasons. - 8/20
After many weeks, we have another example of Pill abandoning Flip, Impie, and Slivvers through some form of deception. This time, he has the guard close them out and the castle itself propels away from them. - 9/20
It's interesting that no one really remarks on the moving, floating castle; that's just what building do in Slumberland. I like that. - 10/20
It makes the "transportation by radio waves" idea infinitely more palatable since we've already been unconsciously reminded that we are in a dreamscape. - 11/20
I love the centre panel and the massive warning sign that warns any would be test-subjects of the dangers involved in the trial. We know, from our experiences with Slumberland, that death isn't really something we need to worry about here. - 12/20
Long-time readers will have no need to worry about the safety of our friends and new readers will have the stakes raised ever so slightly by the warning. It works in both ways and is an eye-catching moment! - 13/20
Because of it's spatial location, I immediately knew this strip would involve something "dangerous" even before I read it, because the WANTED was the first thing I saw. - 14/20
Admittedly, I read it as WARNING at first glance through iconic solidarity (I think the red writing caused that), but I wasn't that far off… - 15/20
I'm pleased to see that the Princess scolds Pill for abandoning their friends twice in this strip… well, one real scolding in panel 4 and a final comment in panel 9 that she wishes they were there. - 16/20
Of course, this last comment is the crux of the gag as Flip, Impie, and Slivvers appear straight out of the radio horn crashing into the group and knocking down the furniture. - 17/20
Another point of interest is the fact that Nemo is entirely silent again. It's been a while since I've noticed this element… even though he's given up some of his narrative centrality, he's been frequently involved of late… - 18/20
I feel as though there is a lot to unpack her and I've only scratched the surface! I'm excited for our chats today! - 19/20
This is my reading of "Little Nemo in Slumberland" #461. What’s yours? - 20/20