Richard Thompson est un historien public et consultant dont le travail explore la riche histoire des tramways de l'Oregon. Son profond engagement envers le patrimoine industriel est ancré dans l'héritage familial et sa formation universitaire en histoire. Cette passion pour les tramways a conduit à la création d'une archive personnelle importante, qui a servi de base à de nombreuses publications et entrées historiques. La carrière diversifiée de Thompson comprend une vaste expérience dans le travail d'archives et la gestion de musées.
The historical significance of Slabtown in Northwest Portland is highlighted through its pivotal role in the development of street railway systems. Home to the West Coast's first streetcar manufacturing factory, it was integral to the early streetcar network, with local production dominating until the 1910s. By 1950, Slabtown residents were among the last to use the dwindling streetcar lines, marking the end of an era in public transportation. The narrative captures the evolution of urban transit and the community's connection to this transformative period.
The history of Portland's neighborhoods is intricately linked to the streetcar system, a 19th-century innovation that shaped the city's layout and growth. The carlines facilitated not only daily commutes but also recreational outings, connecting residents to parks, shopping, and social activities. The peak of trolley use occurred in the 1910s, followed by a gradual decline leading to the end of streetcars in 1950, when buses took over. This book delves into the legacy of these classic streetcar lines and their influence on the city's development.
Richard Thompson reminds us that being a 40-year-old isn't hard, but being a four-year-old is. His warm, welcoming reminders are wonderfully lighthearted and funny as he brings home Alice's life in a fun, new Cul de Sac collection.Alice and her Blisshaven Preschool classmates charm fans of all ages. Their adventures ring alarmingly true to parents of little ones, too. From doing projects in a whirlwind of crayons and markers to their nonstop chatter to trying to comprehend a completely incomprehensible world, Thompson's characters make Children at Play a must-read. The little boxes crammed together, the shopping malls, and the insane traffic systems set the scene for the storylines and adventures that only suburban life can provide.Thompson's witty dialogue meets comically unique drawings to make Cul de Sac a place worthy of visiting on a daily basis."I thought the best newspaper comic strips were long gone, and I've never been happier to be wrong. Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac has it all--intelligence, gentle humor, a delightful way with words, and, most surprising of all, wonderful, wonderful drawings." --Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes
"I hope you enjoy Cul de Sac as much as I do. I think you're in for a real treat." --Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, 2008"One of the five best features in any newspaper, period." --The Comics Reporter"One of the few strips around where nearly every individual panel is stand-alone delight." --The Onion "...it really seems like the inheritor of 'Calvin and Hobbes.'" --Art Spiegelman"I can't say enough in his favor, so much is my admiration for his work." --Pat OliphantMore than half of our nation's population resides in the 'burbs. Knowingly, Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac follows the antics of four-year-old Alice Otterloop as she navigates her way through life at Blisshaven Preschool, "the scene of [her] daily toil." Suburbanites across the nation will easily recognize the quirks and conundrums associated with house-lined streets, sidewalk canvases, and magnetified refrigerator art.Instructed by the proper Miss Bliss, Alice regularly has issues with taking a nap, speaking out of turn, and remembering what a triangle looks like. Helping her through life's ups and downs are her eight-year-old brother Petey, Dad (a.k.a. Peter), and Mom (a.k.a. Madeline), as well as Mr. Danders, the preschool's pompously pedantic guinea pig.This is the strip's first book collection incorporating more than a year's worth of strips dating back to the cartoon's 2007 debut. Thompson has received critical praise for doing a masterful job of commenting on social issues while entertaining in a freshly amusing and unexpected way.