Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #240

 Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again it is time for some classic cartoons. 

Today's cartoon selection starts with a true Disney classic, Mickey's Circus (1936). Though this movie features major stars like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, Walt Disney himself had a fondness for a supporting character in this cartoon. That character was the littlest of the seals. Walt loved this character and because of that he suggested gags for the seal and even wished to revive him in later cartoons. The character would appear in only one more film and that would be over a decade later. That cartoon was Mickey and the Seal (1948). Mickey and the Seal would also give the character a name, Salty. The following is from a review from the Film Daily, "There are serval barrelsful of laughs in this Technicolor Mickey Mouse cartoon from Walt Disney's workshop. The very ridiculousness of the antics of Donald Duck, Mickey and the trained seals bring laughs whether one wants to laugh or not." The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald. "MICKEY'S CIRCUS: Mickey Mouse— Average Mickey Mouse, not as good as several previous ones but still good. - John A. Mulligan, Broadway Theatre, Schuylerville, N.Y. General Patronage." 

Now for one of the best Casper the friendly ghost cartoons, Ghost of Honor (1957). This short film tells the story of how Casper became a cartoon star.

Up next is the Fleischer Screen Songs cartoon, My Gal Sal (1930). The title song was written by Paul Dresser (born April 22, 1857, passed away January 30, 1906), brother of novelist Theodore Dreiser. Having performed in minstrel shows, medicine shows and vaudeville, he was a popular singer, composer and actor of his day. He had even been compared to Stephen Foster. His biggest hit was the 1897 song, On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away. Unfortunately, around the turn of the century, his music fell out of style and in 1905 his music publishing company would declare bankruptcy. 

Next is Hoot Kloot in Gold Sturck (1974). 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes the first Daffy Duck cartoon directed by Chuck Jones, Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur (1939). Today many cartoon fans associate Chuck with being one of the main people who changed Daffy from his early high energy crazy self into a more vain, jealous and greedy character. This film however features Daffy in his early crazy high energy mode. A review in The Motion Picture Herald even stated, "The gags and situations are appropriately matched to the zany personality of the duck." Another review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "Leon Schlesinger delivers good color cartoon work in this "Merrie Melody," but the striving for whimsy hits only in spots." The following is an exhibitors' review also from The Motion Picture Herald, "Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur: Merrie Melodies—Very few laughs in this one. Not up to standard of most cartoons in this series. Running time seven minutes. - Don Bloxham, Place Theatre, Exira, Iowa, General and rural patronage."
 

Now for Felix the cat in The Cold Rush (1925). 

Up next is the Disney short, Goofy Gymnastics (1949). I have mentioned many times here that I am a massive fan of the Goofy cartoons that Jack Kinney had directed for Disney. Kinney remains one of my favorite cartoon directors and I view him as being on the same level as Tex Avery and Chuck Jones. This short film made its TV debut on an episode of the Disneyland TV show entitled The Goofy Sports Story (1956). It would later air on an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color entitled In Shape with Von Drake (1964). 

Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in Space Patrol (1987). This is one of the shorts made for The Tracey Ullman Show before the animated family got their own series. 

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 

Resources Used

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History by J.B. Kaufman and David Gerstein 

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Goofy_Gymnastics

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

Video Link: Gene Autry - Yodeling Cowboy (from Red River Valley 1936)

The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland (2025)

 

If you love going to Disneyland as much as I do, this book is simply a must have. Written by Disney legend Don Hahn and imagineer Christopher Merritt, this is a very absorbing history of Disneyland. Focusing on the period where Walt Disney was alive and overseeing production of this park, this book not only gives you a clear and concise history behind various attractions but also gives you a fascinating look into how Walt envisioned the park. This book is full of quotes from Walt and people who worked with him. Because of this as you read you begin to understand how in many ways Disneyland (especially the parts that still exist from the era Walt was alive) is a reflection of who the man is and how he saw the world. Yet this book makes sure to credit the many others who made the park happen. Not only does it tell us who helped create what in the park, but it also gives us some background information into their personal lives and their work elsewhere. This helps us understand why each of them was perfect for the job they were given in the park. 

This book is also brilliantly structured, with an opening that discusses the origins of the park and then chapters focusing on each individual land. The story of Disneyland is not only told through text but also through visuals. The book is full of various original sketches for various attractions and for the park itself. Also seen here is plenty of sketches for parts of the park that never came to be. There are also plenty of behind-the-scenes photos that are priceless and also give us who are not old enough to remember the original Disneyland, a great peak into a bygone era. Both the sketches and the photos will be new to both causal readers and hard-core Disney-philes.

The book also delves into the Disneyland TV series that help promote the park. While this information may not be new to long time Disney fans, putting within the context of the park's creation makes it still a great read. The book also highlight how the culture of the mid-1950's to the late-1960's helped shape much of the park, even parts that are still with us today.

A must own for Disney fans.    

Filming Disney's True-Life Adventures

Even those who criticize Walt Disney's True-Life Adventure films have to admit that the actual nature photography is simply incredible. As a nature lover, I greatly enjoy these films because of how great they capture the beauty of nature. 

Here is an article from a 1954 issue of American Cinematographer about the people who shot these films. If you have trouble reading any of the following pages, click on them and use your touch screen to zoom in. If you don't have a touch screen, click here. Note that sometimes the article will resume in the middle of these pages. 

Now enjoy the first of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventure films, a short film called Seal Island (1948). This short would win the Oscar for Live Action Short Film. 

The following is a review of Seal Island from the Motion Picture Daily. 

"'Seal Island' introduces a new Walt Disney series, 'True-Life Adventures,' the subjects of will 'delve deep into the most vital concerns of man and the universe which affects his fate and fortunes.' Although this three-reel production does not do precisely that, it most certainly depicts in thrilling details the fascinating life of Alaskan fur seals herded on the Pribilof Reefs of Seal Island in the Bering Sea. 

"There are few who will not be moved by the sweep of color, beauty and abundance of the rare plants and birds on the island, the impressive musical background and interesting cavortings of 100,000 seals which annually emerge from the sea each May, like clockwork and depart in mid-fall. A Disney production crew stayed on the island through a whole season, so we are told, to photograph the cycle of the seals, and the results of their patience and skill have produced an astonishing record of wildlife, most deserving of the Academy documentary award accorded it last month. Plaudits aplenty to cinematographer Alfred G. Milote, to Winston Hibler's interesting and entertaining narration, to James Algar's direction and to the musical arrangements by Oliver Wallace. Running time, 28 minutes." 

Here is Film Historian and Critic Leonard Maltin talking about the True-Life Adventures films. 



    

Classic Cartoons and Silent Movies on Blu-Ray

 Call me old fashioned but I am still a fan of physical media. I do stream films sometimes, but to me nothing is better than physically owning a film you love. Another aspect of physical media that I love is that it offers me a wider variety of choices than streaming those. Streaming is perfect for if I want to watch a big budget blockbuster or a well-established classic. However, it is less helpful, if I want to watch an obscure silent movie, some old B-Western, a lesser appreciated work by a great old Hollywood filmmakers or old short subjects. When painstaking work goes into restoring classic films though, this is when I am most adamant about buying physical media, as it helps support the people whose hard work has made me able to watch these films in great condition. With this in mind I would like to highlight three recent Blu-Ray sets, that I think are essential to own. One of these contains silent movies, while the other two are collections of classic cartoons. 

Looney Tunes Collector's Vault Vol.1

I am sure most people reading this post have already heard of this Blu-Ray set and have heard nothing but praise for it. I must join in by agreeing with every word of this praise. This set is a must own for any Looney Tunes fan. It contains 50 cartoons including many truly wonderful shorts (and Good Night Elmer (1940)). Many of these shorts include films that somehow have never been on Blu-Ray or DVD before. These include such masterpieces as Wild About Hurry (1959), Of Fox and Hounds (1940), The Dixie Fryer (1960) and Let it Be Me (1936). Also included is a personal favorite cartoon of mine (though probably no one else), Beauty and the Beast (1934), also making its debut on Blu-Ray (it hasn't appeared on DVD either). This short was made before the Warner cartoons found their own identities and most of the cartoons were imitations of Disney. While few of these imitations reached the heights of Disney, this film has a great charm to me through its great use of color and its catchy title song. It also wonderful to see new restorations of such cartoons as Bars and Stripes Forever (1939) and A Day at the Zoo (1939). Both of those films, I have become very used to seeing in very faded and worn prints. While neither of them is among my favorite Warner Brothers shorts, I still greatly enjoyed seeing them look this good. Also included in this set are such beloved cartoons as Ain't She Tweet (1952) (probably my all-time favorite Tweety cartoon), Daffy Duck and Egghead (1938), Hare Triggered (1945), Porky's Duck Hunt (1937) and Rabbit Punch (1948). This is a must have for any Looney Tunes fan. 

Clara Bow Double Feature: "Kid Boots" and "Get Your Man"

Known as the "It Girl," Clara Bow was one of the most popular actresses of the 1920's. Watching her movies today it is easy to see why. She is still just as charming and captivating to a modern audience as she was to movie fans of her time (if you ever get to see her movies with an audience this quickly becomes abundantly clear. She has the ability to make a good movie great and a weaker movie better. Her talents are fully on display in this new Blu-Ray from the Film Preservation Society. This Blu-Ray set includes two of her silent movies, both of which show her at the top of her game. The set starts with a new restoration of Kid Boots (1926). This is a delightful and incredibly funny comedy in which she co-stars with Eddie Cantor (in his first movie role). The new restoration is simply incredible, and this is the best this movie has probably looked since 1926. It is restorations like this that make you truly appreciate the hard work of those behind it. Get Your Man (1927) might not be as incredible of a restoration, but it is a really fun romantic comedy. Also included in this set is a very well made D.W. Griffith Biograph short, Decree of Destiny (1911), which stars Mary Pickford. 

Tom and Jerry: The Complete Cinemascope Collection

In the 1950's, the MGM cartoons went into the wide screen Cinemascope format with movie audiences now able to see Tom and Jerry (and others) in adventures with much wider and larger pictures. Sadly, when most of these theatrically released cartoons made it to TV, the picture was cropped to where cartoon fans were not able to see the whole picture. Even more sadly, those are still the versions that are shown on TV today, even on otherwise great cartoon channels. Many of us have grown up with these films in this horrendous format. As such being able to own all the Tom and Jerry Cinemascope shorts in the correct format is true treat for cartoon fans everywhere. Seeing these films in their correct format, you can see how visually pleasing many of these cartoons truly are in a way you can't on the cropped versions. Also included in this set are the two Spike and Tyke spin-off theatrical cartoons and Good Will to Men (1955). The latter is directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and is a remake of the Hugh Harmon directed short, Peace on Earth (1939).    

Video Link: Jeepers Creepers (From Going Places (1938)) - Louis Armstrong

Cowboy Church #226

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with The Lord is Counting on You from one of the duo's little golden records for children. This was released as the B side of a 1954 record with Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sun Shine In on the A side. Both of those songs were Christian songs written for younger believers by Stuart Hamblen. This was appropriate as Stuart Hamblen had been a singing cowboy on radio since back in 1926. Probably his most famous compositions were It is No Secret (What God Can Do) and This Old House. The Lord is Counting on You reminds kids of the importance of Sunday School.

This is followed by Onie Wheeler with his 1961 recording of Mother Prays Loudly in Her Sleep. This song was written by Onnie himself. 

Afterwards is Anne Wilson with her recent recording of her original song, God Story.

Then comes The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Lloyd Perryman sings lead on this recording and his softer voice fits this song perfectly. This recording was made on December 16, 1937, in Hollywood. This was towards the end of Roy Rogers (or Leonard Slye as his birth name was) being a member as he would leave the group to become a solo movie star. This recording features both Roy and Pat Brady on it. Pat Brady would be Roy's replacement as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers. In later years Pat Bradey would become Roy's sidekick on TV's The Roy Rogers Show. 

Next is Anita Carter with God Is.

Then comes Johnny Cash with Dark as a Dungeon. In the line notes for the Unearthed box set, John stated, "You say it sounds like a song I should have written? I always thought so too. Merle Travis wrote this song in the '40s and I recorded it over the years two or three different times, but I never really got it the way I wanted it. But I kept on trying. I really don't know how to explain what the ingredient is that makes it a keeper or a reject. It depends on the song, the performance, on a lot of things. Merle's been dead 10 or 12 years now, but I told him that I would keep trying until I get it right, and I did. Hence this version here."   

Afterwards is 19-year-old Jordana Bryant with her self-penned When God Closes Doors.

Today's musical selection ends with Gene Autry's recording of There's a Gold Mine in the Sky. Gene recorded this song on November 24, 1937, in Los Angeles. The song was written by composer Charles Kenny and his brother poet Nick Kenny, the same duo that wrote Love Letters in the Sand. This song would later be used in the Gene Autry movie, Gold Mine in the Sky (1938). 

Next comes an episode of Red Ryder radio show.

Now for a sermon from Charles Spurgeon.

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.