She was born in 1919 and for 10 years was the star of her own comic strip. She has run for president, run a farm, been an Indian princess, a boxing coach and has run a restaurant. She has lived through the Great Depression and World War II, been a nurse, a veterinarian, a doctor and has even been a private in the army. She helped raise the four nephews of her boyfriend (Pipeye, Pupeye, Poopeye and Peepeye) and, if you believe the rumors, raise a child of her own, Swee’Pea, although officially Swee’Pea is a foundling and belongs to Popeye.
Who am I talking about? It’s Olive Oyl, of course. She was created in 1919 by E.C. Segar and was one of the original and main members of his comic strip, Thimble Theater. The character, 
Popeye was added to the Thimble Theater cast in 1929. But from 1919 to 1929, Olive Oyl and her brother, Castor Oyl, were the stars of the comic strip.
In 1933, Fleischer Studios licensed Popeye from King Features Syndicates and created over the next 10 years, 108 animated cartoons starring Olive and Popeye. Between 1942 and 1957, another 122 cartoons were produced by Famous Studios. Between 1978 and 1983, Hanna-Barbera Productions produced 159 cartoons for the CBS All New Popeye Hour which was later renamed the Popeye and Olive Show.
Olive Oyl has had a long and productive career. And now she has a website and it’s not a bad one. On the site, run by King Features Syndicate you’ll find her Bio, a section on her various fashion looks, a section marked her diary and her social network which includes Twitter and Facebook entries. It’s an interesting enough site and worth a look. But if you’re interested in Olive Oyl and this web site doesn’t seem to quench your thirst, let me also recommend Pastor Steve’s Popeye’s Page. I think both sites will do justice relative to providing you with information about this fascinating character.
