Hello my friends and happy Saturday morning. Once again, it is time for some classic cartoons.
Today's cartoon selection begins with Oswald the rabbit in Everybody Sing (1937). Many animation histories end Oswald's story with when Walt Disney learned that he did not actually own the rights to this character he created, which lead to him creating Mickey Mouse. However, the rabbit's story does not end here. He would appear in many cartoons afterwards, first produced by Charles Mintz and then Walter Lantz (later of Woody Woodpecker fame). In the earlier Walter Lantz Oswalds, the character was very recognizably the same character that Walt Disney used. However, in the later ones (including this film), he was redesigned to the point where he no longer looked like the Walt Disney character. Though this is technically an Oswald cartoon, the rabbit actually receives quite little screen time here.
Next comes Cubby Bear in Mischievous Mice (1934). This short film is one of three that Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising made three shorts for the Van Buren studio after leaving Warner Brothers (where the made the earliest Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies). The first two of these (Cubby's World Flight (1933) and Gay Gaucho (1933)) received a theatrical release. However, this third film didn't. In the late 1940's Hugh Harman Productions did however release a print of this film with music from the studio's Industrial film, Easy Does It (1946). Enjoy.
Next comes one of my favorite cartoons from director Norm McCabe, Daffy's Southern Exposure (1942). I absolutely love the way this film treats Daffy. He is very much in his early wild and crazy mode. But at the same time there is a bit more to him than just being crazy. He is also the type of duck who is always simply looking for a good time and will ignore the warnings of others if they try to get in the way of him having fun. Still even when getting his comeuppance, he never learns any sort of lesson and remains the same duck he was the beginning of the cartoon. This is a fun characterization for Daffy, especially as he is still fun of the pure energy that makes the early Daffy so popular. This is just as much of a fully formed character as the one we would see in the later Chuck Jones classics of the 1950's. The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "DAFFY'S SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: Cartoon- Good black and white cartoon. Enjoyed by people that saw it. —Conrad H. Tapia, Chief Theatre, Casa Grande, Ariz."
Now we join Donald Duck in Donald’s Happy Birthday (1949). This short film made its TV debut on an episode of the Disneyland TV show entitled At Home with Donald Duck (1956). It later appeared on an episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color entitled Kids is Kids (1961).
Now it is time for a commercial break.
Next, we join Popeye in Greek Mirthology (1954). This short film is the Hercules story as told by Popeye. The cartoon was directed by Seymour Kneitel, who started working with Popeye when the Popeye theatrical animated shorts began in the mid-1930's. He would continue working with the character through his 1960's TV cartoons.
Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, The Old Oaken Bucket (1941). The following is a review from Showman's Trade Review. "No wonder quartets continue to sing of 'The old oaken bucket that hangs in the well,' if the story behind it is as pleasant and delightful as the animators have made it here. The bucket is an elevator which lowers the hero, a frog, to his sweetheart, whom he takes to his sweetheart, whom he takes to neighborhood amusement park, where they try the parachute jump, the tunnel of love, the roller coaster and other 'thrills' before returning home. While this is no
'Great shakes' as a cartoon, it is still entertaining, and a good subject to brighten any program. Paul Terry produced."
Next is the Pink Panther in Pink Arcade (1978).
Let us close with a song.
Thank you for joining me. Come back next week for more animated treasures. Until then may all your tunes be looney and your melodies merry.
Resources Used
Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald
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