The Pickles comic strip is built around the lives of an older couple; Brian's in-laws were his inspiration. Earl Pickles and his wife, Opal, are seniors who are unimpressed with retirement. They celebrated their 50th anniversary a few years ago and are in their 70s. (Crane intends to keep them at this age, just as the characters of the Peanuts gang by Charles Schulz have never aged.) Their daughter Sylvia, her husband Dan, and her son, Nelson, reside with them. Neighbours make regular appearances. The family dog Roscoe and cat Muffin add more outlets for some truly funny cartoons.
Brian Crane was born into a Mormon family in Twin Falls, Idaho in 1949. His family moved to San Francisco when he was two years old. As a small child, he drew and dreamed of having his own comic strip. He then put his dreams aside for many long years.
Crane attended Brigham Young University, receiving an Art degree in 1973. He began his career designing advertising for the Hayward Daily Review in Oakland, California. Crane married Diana, a fellow student at Brigham. After graduation, he worked at advertising agencies around the country, finally making the Reno, Nevada area the family home for his wife and seven children. (Seven children!)
The yearning to create his own cartoon never left Brian. He bravely tackled the comics world when he was in his 40s. He drew an older man and was intrigued by the possibilities for humour. Brian found there were few cartoons about older people. He found his niche.
Three syndicates looked at the Pickles comic strip and three syndicates rejected the Pickles comic strip. Brian was ready to give up, but his wife insisted that he continue to submit his work. It was good advice. The Washington Post Writers Group picked up the cartoon for their comics line-up, and Pickles made its debut on April 01, 1990 in 24 newspapers. It now appears in 300 newspapers and is growing around the world.
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