Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #267

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Little Lulu in Snap Happy (1945). In this short film Little Lulu tries to get a news cameraman to take a picture of her. 

Up next is Casper the Friendly Ghost in Casper Comes to Clown (1951). This short film was directed by Izzy Sparber and Myron Waldman. In this cartoon Casper makes friends with a bear and trains him to do circus type tricks. 

Now for an early cartoon staring Porky Pig, Boom Boom (1936). This movie is very similar to an earlier Looney Tunes cartoon, Bosko the Doughboy (1931), which in turn is quite similar to Disney's Oswald cartoon, Great Guns (1927). The film is directed by Jack King, who after his stint at Warner Brothers would direct some of the best Donald Duck cartoons at Disney. Porky here is not yet voiced by Mel Blanc but instead by Joe Dougherty. Joe was the original voice for Porky and unlike Mel he really stuttered. Unfortunately, his stuttering caused real problems with the filmmakers because of how much time it took, and he would later be replaced in the part by Mel Blanc. However, Porky is not the main star of this movie. Our hero is instead Beans the cat. Beans first appeared in the same cartoon as Porky, Friz Freleng's I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). Jack King clearly preferred Beans over Porky and gave Beans the main role in most of his cartoons around this time period. Sometimes Porky just had a cameo and sometimes didn't appear at all. This is the first time that Porky received a decent size role in a Jack King cartoon. Later when Porky's popularity clearly eclipsed that of Beans, Jack King would make cartoons starring Porky. Beans here is voiced by Tommy Bond, who many of you may know for playing Butch in the Our Gang films. 

Now for the Aesop's Fables cartoon, Runaway Blackie (1933). Though this short film is very primitive compared to what Disney or some of the other cartoon studios were putting out at the same time, it has a weird charm all its own. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

One thing that sets the Disney cartoons apart from what other cartoon studios were doing in the 1930's is the sheer number of major characters that appear in one film. For instance, in Hawaiian Holiday (1937), Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Minnie all appear. This cartoon is the first Mickey film to be distributed by RKO after Disney left United Artists. The Disney studio certainly started their RKO run on the right foot with this short. This is a delightful cartoon in every way. This film also shows the mastery Disney had over character animation by this time. This is probably best shown through Pluto's run om with a crab. Though Shamus Culhane was not new to animation at this time (having worked for Fleischer and Ub Iwerks before), with this film he made a name for himself at the Disney studio. He wouldn't stay long at Disney as he would animate for Fleischer, Warner Brothers and most importantly Walter Lantz. At Lantz he would direct some of that studio's funniest films. The following are some exhibitor reviews from The Motion Picture Herald, "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—These Disney cartoons so far out-shadow the other producers in drawing power and workmanship that there is no comparison. This one is great. Running Time, Seven Minutes. - A.J. Inks, Crystal Theatre, Ligonier, Ind. Small town and rural patronage."  "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—This was the first RKO Disney we have played. The kids and adults eat them up and ask for more. Running time, 10 minutes. —R. W. Crickmore, Rainbow Theatre, New- port, Wash. General Patronage." "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Mickey Mouse—I am decidedly a Disney fan. Walt has always given us something to sell that we were sure would click. This was up to the standard of all Disney subjects. Our audiences watch for his subjects like they do weather reports. They are the top money getter of all cartoons, no doubt. Weekend with 'Everybody Sing.' Running time 9 1/2 minutes. - R.D. Leatherman, Rialto Theatre, Denison, Texas, Railroad town patronage."  "HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY: Walt Disney Cartoons- Just a fair Mickey Mouse cartoon. Running time, 7 minutes. —Richard C. Welch, Comique Theatre, Camden, Me. General Patronage." 

Now for a classic silent short film, He Buys a Jitney (1916). 

Now for Slyvester and Tweety in Tweet and Sour (1956). 

Let us close by singing a song we all know. 

Thanks for joining me come back next week for another selection of animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry. 


Resources Used

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

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

https://mediahistoryproject.org/