Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again, it is time for some classic cartoon.
Today's cartoon selection begins with Porky's Pooch (1941). Though all the classic Charlie Dog cartoons would be directed by Chuck Jones, this Bob Clampett short clearly sets up the template that all of those later cartoons would follow. In fact the first Charlie Dog cartoon, Little Orphan Airedale (1947), would be a remake of this film. The backgrounds in this film are live action photographs. A year later Bob would use a live action opening for Eatin' on the Cuff or The Moth Who Came to Dinner (1942). The following is an exhibitor's review from Motion Picture Herald, "PORKY'S POOCH: Looney Tunes Cartoons—Right up my alley for my patronage. Running time, 7 minutes. —Vic Stephano, Grove Theatre, Groveton, Tex. Small Town Patronage." A review in The Motion Picture Daily called the film, "Good for a few laughs." The Showman's Trade Review gave advice to movie theater owners on how to advertise this cartoon, "Play it up to all Porky fans and make some new fans to win over some of the dog lovers in your community by staging a pet show, prize contest for best snapshot of a pet or prize contest for a brief essay on 'why my dog is the best in town.'"
Up next is the Fleischer Screen Song short, I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark (1929).
Now we join our hero Mighty Mouse in A Fight to the Finish (1947). During this period many of the Mighty Mouse cartoons were operatic melodrama parodies. Like many cartoon fans, I have a real fondness for the Mighty Mouse films of this period.
I have also mentioned before that I am also a fan of the cartoons Jack Kinney directed for Disney. These were some of the studio's funniest, often providing an almost Tex Avery like sense of humor that I find irrespirable. Next comes one of those great cartoons, Motor Mania (1950). Despite this film being such a comedic tour de force, it also had a successful life as a safety film. This film received the National Safety Council Award. This cartoon was even used in 1953 in Oakland, California as a mandatory part in its Traffic Violator School. No need to look at this film as an educational experience, it is just as fast paced and funny as any of Jack Kinney's great cartoons for Disney. The cartoon is narrated by John McLeish, who had previously done the narration of other Goofy cartoons including, How to Ride a Horse (1941). Jack Kinney would later remember, "We were sitting around, chewing it over, trying to think of someone to do the narration, and I had just said, 'Gawd! I wish John McLeish was in town. He'd be perfect,' when as if on cue, the phone rang. It was John calling from New York. 'McLeish!' I shouted into the phone. 'I wish you were here!' 'I shall be,' he intoned, 'If you've got a job for me.' 'You got it.' 'I'll be there Monday.'"
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Now it is silent movie time with the Out of the Inkwell short, No Eyes Today (1929).
Next is the Columbia Color Rhapsody cartoon, Bon Bon Parade (1935). This a cute and sweet little film and the rare sentimental cartoon from Columbia that kind of works. Despite this sentimentality the highlight is the caricatures of The Three Stooges.
Today's cartoon selection ends with The Simpsons in The Money Jar (1988). This is one of the shorts made for the Tracey Ullman Show before the animated family got their own TV series.
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Resources Used
Walt Disney and Assorted Other Characters by Jack Kinney.
Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Cartoon by Leonard Maltin
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
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