Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #174
Published July 1967
Cover Price 0.12 USD
Pages 36
Editing Richard H. Goldwater

Cover Details - "I could dance like this forever!"

Characters Archie Andrews; Veronica Lodge; Betty Cooper
Genre Teen; Humor
Pencils Dan DeCarlo
Inks Rudy Lapick

6 page Archie story "Racket Romance"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Jughead Jones; Veronica Lodge; Reggie Mantle
Synopsis Archie and Betty decide to play tennis together. Archie invites Veronica to come with them, but she declines. They get to the tennis courts only to find that they're closed for repairs. Shortly thereafter, Veronica walks up and says that the best tennis courts are the private ones at her exclusive country club. Betty is annoyed. Veronica asks Betty if she wanted Archie to play tennis, and Betty says that was the idea, so Veronica walks off with Archie saying she'll see to it that he plays tennis, but each member is only allowed to bring one guest. Betty is upset, and soon Reggie comes along. Betty explains what has happened, and Reggie can't figure out why Veronica's playing tennis with Archie when he's the greatest. He decides that Veronica's loss is Betty's gain, and says that he's also a member of the country club, and invites Betty to play with him. Reggie is continuing to brag about himself, as they head out to the courts. Veronica says Reggie should be more selective of his guests, and he says that Veronica has already scraped the bottom of the barrel. He tosses the ball in the air to serve it, and promptly hits Archie in the head with the ball - even though Archie is on the other court. Reggie helps Archie up, saying that he must have missed his mark, but Archie isn't so sure. Betty returns the ball, and Reggie says it's a nice return, but he's going to smash it - then promptly "accidentally" smashes his racket over Archie's head, claiming he missed. This knocks Archie out, and Reggie and Veronica head off to the pools. Veronica claims that non-members aren't allowed in the pool on cloudy Tuesdays, and Betty is left to drag Archie home. As they're heading home, they pass Jughead, who comments about Betty being a huntress returning with her kill. Betty says she always brings them back alive. In the last panel she tells Jughead that before she could net Archie, he was mangled by a social butterfly and a conceited creep, and is seen pulling Archie home in a wagon.
Genre Teen; Humor
Script Frank Doyle
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Letters Vincent DeCarlo
Notes No credits given, but artwork is clearly Lucey's.

Half page Jughead advertisement "Choice Advice From Jughead"

Characters Jughead Jones; Souphead Jones
Synopsis Jughead and his cousin Souphead are standing outside a bike shop. Souphead tells Jughead that he can't decide what kind of new bike he wants, and that he can't decide if he wants a Bendix coaster brake, or a Bendix 2-speed Automatic - or maybe a lightweight bike with the new Bendix Torpedo three-speed. Jughead agrees that it's a tough choice, but tells his cousin to be sure of one thing - no matter what bike he gets, it'll be a better bike with a Bendix brake.
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Notes No credits given, but artwork is clearly Lucey's. Bendix brakes and bike hubs were apparently popular in the late 60s. Bendix is now part of Honeywell. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_Corporation for more on the company's history, and http://www.bendixbrakes.com for more information on the company's current products. This ad occupied the top half of the page. Bottom half was occupied by an ad for collector's stamps. This ad included a coupon that could be filled out and mailed in to receive a free brochure on Bendix bicycle brakes and the new Bendix stick shift.

1 page Li'l Jinx filler "Low Cost Overhead!"

Characters Li'l Jinx
Synopsis Li'l Jinx decides to hold an art show along the sidewalk in the neighborhood. She sets up her paintings and puts up a sign saying "Genuine original paintings by Li'l Jinx", with prices above each of the four paintings. After a while, she notices raindrops, picks up her paintings and runs home, using one of the paintings as an umbrella of sorts.
Genre Children; Humor; Gags
Script Joe Edwards
Pencils Joe Edwards
Inks Joe Edwards
Letters Joe Edwards

1 page Betty and Veronica illustration "Pin-Up"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Veronica Lodge
Synopsis Betty and Archie are dancing at a local restaurant. Veronica tells Archie to dance with Betty now while she goes to put more money in the jukebox. Archie, exhausted from all the dancing, says that he didn't realize he made dates with both of them for the same night. Betty says "You made it, so make the best of it! Keep dancing!"
Genre Teen; Humor; Gags
Pencils Dan DeCarlo
Inks Vincent DeCarlo
Letters Vincent DeCarlo

6 page Archie story "Safe Unsound"

Characters Archie Andrews; Jughead Jones; J.P. [Hiram] Lodge; Veronica Lodge
Synopsis Archie is at the Lodge mansion visiting Veronica. She tells her dad that he looks terrible and asks if he's still worried about prowlers. Archie asks about this, and Veronica says that there's been some trouble in the area and her dad is worried. Mr. Lodge tells Archie that he prefers his troubles out in the open where he can SEE them - like HIM (Archie). Mr. Lodge says he can't make up his mind what to do - should he buy a dog? Hire guards to patrol? Archie says he shouldn't do any of this as it's just another way of wasting his money. He tells Mr. Lodge that he wants to save his money. Mr. Lodge asks him how, and Archie says to let him protect it. Mr. Lodge, thinking he heard Archie wrong, starts laughing, but Archie points out that this is what he said. Mr. Lodge still can't figure out how Archie can protect the property. Archie points out that he didn't mean he'd personally protect it and that he was talking about an alarm. Mr. Lodge asks about this, and Archie asks to install one in Mr. Lodge's home. Mr. Lodge says that if he did want an alarm, he'd be an idiot to let Archie install it, but Archie insists. Veronica is annoyed and says that this wasn't exactly the kind of afternoon she'd planned. The next day, Archie says that the alarm is all finished and tells Mr. Lodge to open a nearby door, which immediately sets off an alarm with bells, sirens, horns, etc., which makes Mr. Lodge a nervous wreck. Archie then asks him to try a window, which sets off a similar alarm. Archie tries to get Mr. Lodge to try another alarm, but Mr. Lodge says he'll take Archie's word for it. Archie says he'll give them a final test, and Mr. Lodge says "you do that!" as he stumbles up the stairs to go lie down in his bedroom and calm his nerves. Shortly thereafter, he hears more loud noises. Storming downstairs, he mutters something about how he'd rather have his money in the bank - then notices that he's been robbed - a picture that was hiding the safe has been turned and the safe is open, completely empty. Mr. Lodge says he's been robbed, and Archie says this is impossible because there are alarms all over the place. Mr. Lodge yells at him saying that with all the racket the alarms made, who could hear the burglars? In the last panel, Archie and Jughead are walking away from the Lodge mansion, and Jughead points out that Mr. Lodge has taken steps to protect his home, as we see guards armed with dogs patrolling the area. Sighing, Archie says that Mr. Lodge hired the guards to keep him out.
Genre Teen; Humor
Script Frank Doyle
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Notes No credits given, but Artwork is clearly Lucey's. In this comic, Mr. Lodge is known as "J.P." (as evidenced by the plack outside his house saying "J.P. Lodge Estate"). At some point he officially became known as Hiram, but he was commonly known as J.P. in earlier Archie comics.

1 page Archie advertisement "The Fun One!"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Jughead Jones; Veronica Lodge; Reggie Mantle
Synopsis An ad offering readers a free, giant-size, full-color pinup of The Archies when they ordered Archie Annual #19 for 25 cents.
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Notes Archie Annual was part of the "Giant" series. Offer never expired. No credits given, but artwork matches that found in the previous stories in this book.

5 page Archie story "The Sign"

Characters Archie Andrews; Miss Geraldine Grundy; Reggie Mantle; Mr. Waldo Weatherbee
Synopsis In the first panel, Archie is seen standing on a ladder with a scrub brush in hand and a bucket of what is assumed to be water or some sort of cleaning solution sitting on the tray on the ladder. "Reggie is a ratfink" is seen painted on the wall, but Archie tells Mr. Weatherbee that he didn't do it. Mr. Weatherbee assumes that Archie did do it since he and Reggie are enemies, but Archie says Reggie is his best enemy (as opposed to his worst enemy) and that this is just the sort of thing Reggie would do to get him in trouble. Mr. Weatherbee finds Reggie and asks him about it, but Reggie asks Mr. Weatherbee why he'd write that about himself. Mr. Weatherbee says that this is just the type of thing Reggie would do and that he did it to make him think Archie did it. Reggie responds by saying "How about if ARCHIE did it to make you think I did it to make you think ARCHIE did it?" ["I" is also emphasized]. Hearing this, Mr. Weatherbee goes to find Archie again, and starts to explain what Reggie said, but gets confused and asks Reggie to explain it. Reggie questions why he should have to, saying Archie knows he did it. Archie says he knows Reggie did it, and calls him a wise guy. Reggie tells Archie to soak his head and dumps the bucket of cleaning solution on Archie. Archie pushes the ladder over, knocking Reggie off, and tells Reggie to come down there and say it. Reggie lands right on Mr. Weatherbee, knocking him over. Mr. Weatherbee yells "Guards! Rally to your leader!", which brings Miss Grundy running, asking if he called (and calling him "exalted one"). Mr. Weatherbee says he bellowed (not called), and tells Miss Grundy to put Archie and Reggie to work. Miss Grundy says it will be a pleasure, and Mr. Weatherbee tells her to have them wash the whole hall. Reggie and Archie both point to each other and say "But HE did it!". Mr. Weatherbee is a bit annoyed at "the decisions that have to be made at the executive level", and walks off as Archie gets back up on a ladder to scrub the hall. As he's walking off, he sees "Betty has bleached hair" painted on the wall. Mr. Weatherbee says that Veronica must have done it... Unless Betty did it to make him think Veronica did it... or Veronica did it to make it look like Betty did it to make it look like... Confused, he asks Reggie how it goes again, and Reggie starts to explain, but Archie gets annoyed and says "Let's not start that all over again". In the last panel, Archie is cleaning the whole hall by himself. Miss Grundy questions this, and Mr. Weatherbee says that Archie insisted.
Genre Teen; Humor
Script Frank Doyle
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Letters Vincent DeCarlo
Notes This is a classic Archie word gag. In this story it is clearly evident by the mischievous grins on Reggie's face that he's the one who did it. No credits given, but artwork is the same as in the other stories.

2 page Archie Club News letters page

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis The regular feature that showcases winning articles from Archie Club Members. This month's winners are Walter Shamkin from Jackson Heights, New York [$5 First Prize for his article about his hobby of collecting autographs from football and baseball players]; Judy Taylor of Westminster, Colorado [$4 Second Prize for her article about the time she and a friend explored a deserted house]; Dave Sundin from Woodville, Texas [$2 Third Prize for his article about his trips to Big Bend National Park, Austin and Odessa] and Charles A. Wintermeyer Junior from the US Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany (APO New York) [$1 Fourth Prize for his article on his travels as the son of a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force]
Script Walter Shamkin; Judy Taylor; Dave Sundin; Charles A. Wintermeyer, Jr.
Letters Typeset
Notes First page contains the First- and Second-prize articles, and half of the Third-prize article. The second page contains the second half of the Third-prize article, the Fourth-prize article and an offer to join the Archie Club for 20 cents.

5 page Archie story "The Big Spender"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Veronica Lodge; Ethel Muggs; Reggie Mantle; un-named insurance saleswoman
Synopsis Archie is standing outside Veronica's door after a date, tallying up how much he spent (and therefore how much "Veronica's half" of the total is). Veronica is annoyed and yells at him, asking if this is how he expects to take her to the big dance next Saturday. He says he only gets a small allowance. He tells Veronica "We manage all right, don't we?". Veronica says they do - as long as HER allowance holds out. Archie asks what he can do about it, and Veronica suggests he get a job. Archie doesn't like this idea because that means he has to work. Veronica responds with "That's the general idea", then slams the door in his face saying that she refuses to share her date expenses - and Archie can just whistle for her half of the night's tab. The next week, Veronica is at the Choklit Shoppe and asks Betty and Ethel if they've seen Archie, adding that he hasn't been there in a couple days. Ethel says she's seen him - he was riding down Main Street with some girl. Reggie confirms this, saying he's been with her all week. Veronica thinks maybe she was too rough and that she might have embarrassed Archie. We now learn that Reggie went outside, and he peeps his head in the door, telling Veronica that Archie is coming now. Archie drives by with a girl in his car, and says hi to everyone. This angers Veronica and she thinks he's just trying to get even with her for calling him a cheapskate. She says he's trying to embarrass her, but it's not going to work. She then mutters about what she'll do if she ever gets her hands on him, but Reggie teases her about saying that it's not going to work. She tells Reggie to shut up and storms out of the building as everyone laughs at her. She continues down the street, still angry and says that nobody makes a fool of her and gets away with it. Just as she's mumbling about what she'll do if Archie dares to show his face, when Archie says hi to her from across the street. She yells at him, calls him a two-timer and throws her purse at him. She then continues to beat Archie on the head with her purse as he asks what he did. Veronica says he knows full well what he did, and smacks him in the face one last time with her purse. She then sees the girl that Archie has been with and yells at her, calling her a man stealer. The girl questions this, and tells Veronica that she can have Archie - she just hired him to be her chauffer. She adds that she sells life insurance, and has a feeling that Archie can use some. Veronica apologizes and asks Archie why he didn't tell her. Archie said that he wanted to surprise her at the dance and wonders if they could make it into a masquerade, still bruised from where Veronica clobbered him.
Genre Teen; Humor
Script Tom Ruth ?
Pencils Harry Lucey
Inks Harry Lucey
Letters Vincent DeCarlo
Notes Another great Archie story. Once again, no credits, but the artwork is the same in this story as it is in the others.