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CAL TRIMBLE

Real Name: Cal Trimble

Identity/Class: Human, citizen of the United States

Occupation: Manager of the Corinth hotel

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Bob Courtney, Louie the Eel, Brian Muldoon, Steve Rogers, unnamed hotel tenants

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York

First Appearance: Captain America I#153 (September, 1972)

Powers/Abilities: Cal Trimble possesses no known superhuman abilities. Cunning and opportunistic, Trimble's main vice is gambling. He is an avid card player who has little luck or talent.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 140 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: None

History:

(Captain America I#158 (fb) - BTS) - Cal Trimble worked as the manager of the Corinth, a cheap, rundown extended stay hotel in New York City. An avid gambler, he was a regular participant in Louie the Eel's poker game but didn't have much luck with the cards.

(Captain America I#153 (fb) - BTS) - Feeling the need to build a life for himself outside his duties as Captain America, Steve Rogers moved into the Corinth. Living in the low rent hotel allowed him to combine his work as an Avenger and SHIELD operative with his new job as New York City policeman.

(Captain America I#153) - Trimble was alerted to noise coming from Steve Rogers' room (he was fighting with Nick Fury over a romantic squabble). Banging on the door, Trimble lied about receiving noise complaints from the other tenants. Keeping his Captain America costume out of sight, Rogers told his landlord they were having a party that got a little rambunctious, slipping him 100 dollars to cover the damages to the room (see comments). A delighted Trimble pocketed the cash, planning to spend it at Louie the Eel's all night poker game.

(Captain America I#156) - Trimble caught patrolman Bob Courtney and police sergeant Brian Muldoon going through Steve Rogers' room (they were looking for evidence Steve was a crooked cop). The two officers claimed they were friends of Steve's who were going to throw him a surprise party. Flashing their badges, they asked Trimble not to mention it to Steve. Recognizing Muldoon, Trimble didn't buy their excuse but he allowed them to leave the hotel (see comments).

(Captain America I#158) - Trimble waited for Steve Rogers to return to the Corinth hotel and confronted him in his ransacked room. He told Rogers about officers Muldoon and Courtney and then attempted to blackmail Steve because he figured he had found out his secret: Trimble was convinced Steve secretly held down a second job outside his regular duties, which was frowned upon. If Steve didn't pay up, word just might reach his superiors about him moonlighting. Not taking the bait, Rogers quietly walked out of the Corinth, leaving Trimble behind.

Comments: Created by Steve Englehart, Sal Buscema, Jim Mooney.

It's never been explained how or why Trimble recognized police sergeant Brian Muldoon (or why Muldoon didn't recognize Cal for that matter).
As wonderful an artist as Sal Buscema is, the panel in Captain America I#153 in which Steve Rogers hands Trimble that bill is anatomically impossible.

This profile was completed 8/22/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Cal Trimble should not be confused with:


images: (without ads)
Captain America I#158, p11, pans2&3 (main image)
Captain America I#153, p7, pans2&3 (gets paid off by Cap)
Captain America I#156, p10, pan6 (catches Muldoon)


Appearances:
Captain America I#153 (September, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Captain America I#156 (December, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Frank McLaughlin (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Captain America I#158 (February, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), John Verpoorten (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)


First Posted: 09/24/2021
Last updated: 09/23/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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