Showing posts with label Frank Rocky Fiegel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Rocky Fiegel. Show all posts

Apr 15, 2016

The Real Popeye

Frank "Rocky" Fiegel (January 27, 1868 - March 24, 1947) was a real-life person from Chester, Illinois who inspired the Thimble Theatre character, Popeye.

Rocky was a well-known Chester individual and something of a local legend. He supposedly had an inordinate strength and often participated in fights. Like Popeye, he smoked a pipe and was toothless. He is said to have been kind to children as well. Incidentally, Wimpy and Olive Oyl were also based on real people.