"Abbie" was Abigail Scrapple, a spinster who lived with her sister Sally. "Slats" was Aubrey Eustace Scrapple, their younger cousin who comes to live with them in small town Crabtree Corners. Despite his prim given name, Slats was a stubborn, streetwise city kid. Upon arriving in town he made an enemy of Jasper Hagstone when he drove into Hagstone's limousine while trying to avoid running over a dog. Other important Crabtree Corners residents include Slats's later sweetheart Becky Groggins and her father J. Pierpont "Bathless" Groggins.
Abbie and Slats was the idea of Al Capp, who looked to start a second strip to build upon the success of his popular Li'l Abner. Instead of drawing it himself, Capp recruited successful freelance magazine illustrator Raeburn van Buren. Initially, van Buren turned him down, but was lured by the prospect of steady work. The strip was success, but did not attain anything near the popularity of Li'l Abner. Capp abandoned the strip in 1945, turning the writing chores over to his brother Elliot Caplin. Van Buren stayed on the strip and it ended with his retirement in 1971.
Abbie & Slats began on Monday, July 12, 1937, distributed by United Feature Syndicate (which was already handling Abner, as well as The Captain & the Kids, Fritzi Ritz and other top comics).
Abbie's sister, Sally, more prim and proper than the other two put together, rounded out the household.
Abbie & Slats was a successful strip for years, but not one of the superstars.
Abbie and Slats is an American comic strip which ran from July 12, 1937 to January 30, 1971, initially written by Al Capp and drawn by Raeburn van Buren.
“Slats” was Aubrey Eustace Scrapple, their younger cousin who comes to live with them in small town Crabtree Corners.
Abbie and Slats was the idea of Al Capp, who intended to start a second strip to build upon the success of his popular Li'l Abner.
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