Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #54

Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Of course that means it is time for more classic cartoons. 

Ever wonder how jazz music came to be. Well let Krazy Kat teach you in his very educational film, The Birth of Jazz (1932). 


Terrytoons while very enjoyable cartoons were always behind the times when compared to other cartoons of their times. Though made in 1940, Club Life in the Stone Age (1940) feels like a cartoon from the early 1930's and this was not just due to it being in black and white when many studios were making color cartoons. The gags, their execution and especially the character designs, all feel like they belong to a bygone era. An exhibitor's review in The Motion Picture Herald stated "A very good black and white cartoon. Was afraid of this after the color cartoons but it went over very well." Another exhibitor's review called the film, "Just an ordinary cartoon." Another was much harsher stating "Poor. No Laughs." I personally enjoy this cartoon, especially the ending gag. Still it certainly seems a little primitive for 1940.




For cartoon fans what could be better than a Tex Avery cartoon from MGM. So enjoy a true laugh out loud classic with Doggone Tired (1949).




Foney Fables (1942), is an enjoyable little Merrie Melodie cartoon parodying various fairy tales and nursey rhymes. This film was directed by Friz Freleng and there is no denying that it is not one of Friz's very best and perhaps Tex Avery could have done this better (both are great directors but a short like this does feel more up Tex’s alley). Still for what it is this is quite an enjoyable cartoon with some really good gags. I especially like the Sleeping Beauty scene and the Old Mother Hubbard joke. A review in The Film Daily stated "The irreverence pays off with plenty of laughs." A review in The Motion Picture Daily stated, "There are some chuckles in the lot." A review in Variety called the cartoon, "Only moderately humorous."




I have never been shy on this blog about my love of the cartoons Jack Kinney directed for Disney. These are some of the fastest paced and funniest cartoons of all time. Up next is another example of this with the Goofy cartoon, Californy or Bust (1945). A review in The Film Daily said the cartoon "... had enough amusement to warrant it being booked." An exhibitor's review in The Motion Picture Herald stated, "It is on the unusual side and it is entertaining." While these are positive reviews, I feel that I still like this cartoon much more than those reviewers did.




Let us close with a song.




Thanks for joining me, come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then Peace, Love and Cartoons.

-Michael J. Ruhland