Popeye.
The discussion of Popeye during his 75th anniversary recently (go to Flat Earth for the best coverage) had me thinking about how when I was a kid, the book to check out of the Richard Bard Elementary School library was a Popeye 50th Anniversary edition hardcover, detailing the history of the character, complete with strip reprints. There was a waiting list a mile long to get that book into your hands. Now, 25 years on, how many school-age kids really know anything about Popeye? Not many, I’m guessing.
This article from the Washington Post goes over some of the modern day problems Popeye is having. (found via TV Tattle)