Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #300

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

Today's cartoon selection starts with Gandy Goose in Peace-Time Football (1946). Why Gandy is on a team called The Mice that otherwise is only mice is not a question I know the answer to. 

Next comes the Fleischer Screen Songs cartoon, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1931). The title song was written in 1909 by lyricists Will M. Hough and Frank R. Adams and composers Joseph E. Howard, Harold Orlob. In 1909 the song was already being recorded by the popular crooner Henry Burr. Over the years such artists as Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Danny Kaye, Ray Charles, Bobbin Darrin, Dean Martin, George Hamilton IV and Anne Murray.  

Next is the early Porky Pig cartoon, Plane Dippy (1936). This is the movie in which we learn Porky's full name, Porky Cornelius Washington Otis Lincoln Abner Aloysius Casper Jefferson Philbert Horatius Narcissus Pig. I'm sure you all will memorize that name. As well as Porky this film also has some other characters that also premiered in the Merrie Melodies cartoon, I Haven't Got A Hat (1935) such as Little Kitty (who plays an important role here). Comic fans may also notice that the character of Professor Blotz looks extremely similar to a character from the Mickey Mouse comic strip, Professor Ecks. Though this movie is directed by Tex Avery, don't except the pure insanity of his later cartoons, as this was still early in his directorial career and he hadn't fully developed his style yet. Still this cartoon has many very funny gags in it, I especially love Porky writing his name. The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "PLANE DIPPY: Looney Tune—This is a very comical cartoon. Above the average.—Paul J. Pope, Avon Theatre, Geneva, Ala., Small Town and Rural Patronage." 

Now for a Columbia Phantasy cartoon, Polly Wants a Doctor (1943). This short film was directed by former Disney animator and future Hanna-Barbera animator Howard Swift.

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Most Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons follow the same basic formula and therefore feel very repetitive. Boo Moon (1954) is a delightful exception and my favorite Casper cartoon. This short film features our hero heading to the moon and meeting and befriending a bunch of tiny men and even becoming their protector. If this sounds like Gulliver's Travels to you, then the similarities were certainly not lost on the filmmakers either. This film uses similar designs (and even reuses some) to the Lilliputians from the Fleischer Brothers' animated feature length movie version of Gulliver's Travels (1939). This was also the first and only Casper cartoon to be released in 3-D, however most of us today know it much better in 2-D.

Now for an early Aesop's Sound Fables cartoon, The Faithful Pup (1929). 

Up next is the Mickey Mouse cartoon, The Castaway (1931). This was the first cartoon to be directed by Wilfred Jackson who would direct some of the best Disney cartoons of the 1930's. Jackson had become a director hugely through a misunderstanding. He wanted to animate a whole short by himself and he asked Walt if he "could handle a picture" himself. Instead of animating a cartoon by himself he would up directing The Castaway. According to Jackson, "we never did get this misunderstanding cleared up." Walt ended up very unhappy with the finished film and Jackson remembered overhearing Walt and Roy Disney having a conversation about it. Roy said, "But Walt, it doesn't look like a Disney picture. I don't know if we ought to release it." Walt replied, We've got to release it to meet our schedule Roy." Despite this the cartoon is actually pretty good and should delight Disney and movie fans of all ages. This movie also marked the first time Frank Churchill would do a musical score for a Disney film. He would later score music for such Disney features as Snow White (1937), Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942)

Now to close with a song. 

Resources Used

Working With Walt: Interviews With Disney Artists by Don Peri

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

Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in its Golden Age by Michael Barrier

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #299

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with the Fleischer Screen Song cartoon, I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1931). The title song comes was written by lyricist Lew Brown and composer Sidney Clare. The same year this cartoon came out, Bing Crosby sang this song in the short film, One More Chance (1931). In 1926 this song was recorded by Al Jolson. Decades later the song would become a hit for Ricky Nelson. 

Next is Bugs Bunny and Wile E. Coyote in Compressed Hare (1961). This movie marked the fourth time Bugs and Wile E. would be pitted against each other. Unlike in the Roadrunner cartoons, in these films, Wile E. talks quite a bit. There would be only one more theatrical cartoon pairing the two characters, Hare-Breadth Hurry (1963). However, in Hare-Breadth Hurry, Wile E. would not speak. 

Now for Dinky Duck in The Orphan Egg (1953). Despite being released in the 1950's, this film feels more like a 1930's cartoon, along the lines of the Silly Symphonies or especially Happy Harmonies shorts. There is a cute moralistic story and even a chorus singing the narration. This is a far cry from the fast paced, gag filled cartoons that Warner Brothers, MGM or even Disney were making or the experimental and graphically daring films UPA was making. 

It is time for a true classic with the Disney Silly Symphony short, The Tortoise and the Hare (1934). This was an especially important cartoon in the history of American animation and is often credited with bringing a real sense of speed that had not previously been seen in cartoons. Director Wilfred Jackson once told in a 1939 studio lecture that this was their first film where "we depicted speed on the screen. Before that time nobody dared to move the character across the screen in five frames." However, unlike future fast paced cartoon this film was not simply a quick procession of gags. Animator Dick Huemer told film historian Joe Adamson, "If [any other studio] had done The Tortoise and the Hare it would have been a series of assorted gags about running one after another. Not all this clever, boastful stuff like stopping with little girls and bragging and being admired and showing off how he could play tennis with himself." The character of Max Hare perhaps has a greater significance to cartoon history rather than just starring in this great film. Tex Avery and Frank Tashlin (both of whom had directed cartoon for Warner Brothers) have stated that Bugs Bunny was greatly inspired by Max Hare. Animator Ham Luske also stated that Mortimer in the Mickey Mouse cartoon Mickey's Rival (1936) was based off of Max Hare (Ham animated on both cartoons). Such a cartoon however would not have the effect it does now if not for the top-notch group of animators working at Disney at this time. They were the ones who made not only the speed work but made these characters feel more real and full of personality here. Louie Schimdt animates the opening scene with the crowd at the starting line. Dick Lundy (who would go to direct cartoons for both MGM and Walter Lantz) animates the introduction of Toby Tortoise and Max Hare and Toby running with the snails, dodging branches and passing Miss Cottontail's school. Milt Schaffer animates the crowd in the bleachers and at the finish line. Frenchy de Trémaudan animates the starter. Ham Luske animates Max running, tricking Toby, showing off for the girls and playing tennis and baseball with himself (some of the tennis animation would later be reused in the Donald Duck cartoon, The Hockey Champ (1939). Future Disney legend and one of Walt's Nine Old Men was Ham's assistant animator. Larry Clemmons animates the trees being uprooted. Eric Larson (another of Walt's Nine Old Men) animated Max passing the picket fence and crane. Les Clark (another of Walt's Nine Old Men and one of the finest Mickey Mouse animators) animates the little girls. Dick Huemer animates the finish of the race and of the film. A song was written for this cartoon called Slow but Sure. This song had music by Frank Churchill and lyrics by Larry Morey. While the lyrics are never heard an instrumental version is used as Toby's theme music. About the music in this film Wilfred Jackson would state in another 1939 studio lecture, "We tried to phrase it so the peaks of the siren [used as a repeating sound effect] would fall naturally on the peaks of the music and still give us time to cut back and forth." This cartoon would make its TV debut on an episode of the Disneyland TV show entitled From Aesop to Hans Cristian Anderson (1955). Max and Toby would later star in a sequel film Toby Tortoise Returns (1936) and would appear in the opening of TV's The Mickey Mouse Club. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next is one of my favorite Walter Lantz produced Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, Wax Works (1934). 

Now for Herman and Katnip in Frighty Cat (1958). 

Next comes an excellent Daffy Duck cartoon, A Coy Decoy (1941). This film was part of a series of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies in the 1930's and 1940's that featured books coming to life at night. The first of these was I Like Mountain Music (1933) and the last was Book Revue (1946, also starring Daffy Duck). This cartoon features the early Daffy Duck meaning he is not yet the greedy and attention seeking duck he would be later. He is just simply crazy which works perfectly with this crazy short. As much as I love the later Daffy, I have a special fondness for this early crazy duck. A review in The Motion Picture Daily states, "The net result is moderate amusement." The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "COY DECOY, A: Looney Tunes Cartoons—A dandy black and white cartoon.—C. L. Niles, Niles Theatre, Anamosa, Iowa, General Patronage."

Now let us close with a song. 

Thanks 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

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

Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald 

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

https://www.fleischerallstars.com/id-climb-the-highest-mountain.html

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #297

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

Today's cartoon selection starts with a delightful short from the Disney studio, Suzie the Little Blue Coop (1952). This cartoon is a perfect example of what Disney could do better than nearly any other animation studio. It not only humanizes an inanimate object, but it makes us truly emotionally connect with this little blue car. This is a sweet and charming film that never fails to make me smile. This short film would make its TV debut on the Disneyland TV show episode, Adventures in Fantasy (1957), only five years after this film hit theaters.  

We continue with a real classic, Gold Diggers of '49 (1935). This short film was directed by the one and only Tex Avery. It was the first film, he directed for Warner Brothers and much of his famous style is already here. This cartoon does not feel like the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts that came before it. Instead, this cartoon has a faster pace and wackier sense of humor. While there is no doubt that Tex would have timed some of these gags even faster later in his career, you can clearly see the inklings of what would become his signature style. This is also the first black and white Looney Tune to feature Porky Pig (though the character had appeared in a color Merrie Melody beforehand). This is important as Porky would soon become the main star of the black and white Looney Tunes series. Yet in this film he is a supporting character. The real star is Beans the Cat. Both of these characters had made their debut in the color Merrie Melodies short; I Haven't Got a Hat (1935). Beans would remain the star of the Looney Tunes series for short while until Porky took over the series. 

Next comes Gandy Goose in The Frog and the Princess (1944). This short film follows a typical Gandy Goose pattern with its story. Gandy falls asleep and dreams of some elaborate fantasy world. 

Now for another Terry Toons cartoon, Fanny's Wedding Day (1933). This cartoon features a human villain named Oil Can Harry, years before Mighty Mouse fought a feline villain with the same name. Many cartoon fans believe these to be the same character. This human Oil Can Harry did not only appear in this character but in a series of melodrama spoofs. 

Now it is time for a commercial break.

Now for the silent cartoon short, Koko the Knight (1927). 

The Pink Panther began his animated career appearing in the opening credits of Blake Edwards' great live action feature, The Pink Panther (1964). Blake Edwards contacted animation producers Friz Freleng and David DePatie to create an animated Pink Panther for this title sequence. They created many different panthers, but when Blake saw the various drawings, he immediately knew which one he wanted in his film. The title sequence was a smash hit, and the character was spun off into a series of theatrical cartoon shorts (at a time when those were on their way out). Today we will look at the first and possibly best of these cartoons, The Pink Phink (1964). This cartoon set a template for many more shorts to come. The basic storyline involves a formula that would be often used. The Pink Panther wants to turn everything pink much to the annoyance of a little man (who may look a little like Friz). The gags come fast and furious and the design work is lovely. All in all, this cartoon was a delight and the best way to start this series possible.

Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Jesse and James (1931). 

Now to close with a song. 

Thanks 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

Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town! by Jerry Beck

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

  

Some Cartoons For Saturday Morning #296

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with a classic Frank Tashlin Porky Pig cartoon, Porky's Railroad (1937). This is one of the many cartoons of this time that used the formula of Porky being placed in a different job. In fact, earlier the same year Tashlin had directed a very similar Porky Pig cartoon, called Porky's Building (1937). That film like this one featured Porky up against a rival for his job. This cartoon opens up using of Tashlin's favorite types of gags that of words appearing on the screen to introduce the action. Often times he would do this in the form of a "disclaimer", but here he simply introduces the two trains. Also notice the ship that Porky picks up is the SS Leon named after the cartoon's producer Leon Schlesinger.

Now for a lesser-known cartoon from the Fleischer Studio, Zero the Hound (1941). This is part of the studio's Animated Antics series. This series lasted from 1940 to 1941 and included 11 cartoons. Some of these cartoons starred miscellaneous characters while others featured characters from the studio's feature film, Gulliver's Travels (1939).  

Next, we go out west with our friend Gandy Goose with Wide Open Spaces (1950). This was nearing the end of the Gandy series. He would only have three more theatrical cartoons after this.

Now for a true Mickey Mouse classic, Thru the Mirror (1936). Well before the Disney Studios feature length adaption of Alice in Wonderland (1951), this short film adapts Lewis Carrol's Alice Through the Looking Glass. It is a very loose adaption, but it captures the spirit better than most feature length versions of Carrol's Alice books do. I have always loved Disney cartoons that or not afraid to be silly. This is one of the perfect examples of that. One of the highlights is a sequence with Mickey do a Fred Astaire type dance which was animated by Dick Lundy, who specialized in dancing animation. Dick Lundy would later direct some great cartoons for Walter Lantz and MGM. Elements of this short would play a major role in the video game Epic Mickey.

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next is Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in The Toy Shoppe (1934). Like many Oswald films of this era, the rabbit becomes a supporting character in his own cartoon. 

Next is the Terry Toons cartoon, Sage Struck (1951). This is the first of only two cartoons to star the forgotten character Half Pint. 

Up next comes an early example of Disney's Silly Symphonies cartoons with The Bird Store (1932). This short film is similar to many of the Silly Symphonies of the time period. The movie starts out with simply a bunch of cute little gags involving a bird store and then a villain enters and many of the characters team up to stop this villain. The cartoon is directed by Wilfred Jackson, who would later co-direct such Disney features as Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and Lady and the Tramp (1955). The movie also features an all-star cast of Disney animators. David Hand, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942), animates the opening scene. Future Donald Duck director, Jack King animated the lovebirds, the canaries being excited and the baby being returned to its parents. Frenchy de Tremaudan, who worked as an uncredited animator on many of Disney best short films, animates the bird sharpening its beak and the parrot with the cash register. Johnny Cannon animated the jalopy birds and the canaries pecking at the cat. Clyde Geronimi, who would be a co-director on Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953) and Lady and the Tramp (1955) and the supervising director for Sleeping Beauty (1959), animates the horn birds and the cat in the cage. Norm Ferguson, whose animation would later help define the character of Pluto, animates the parrot with both the mirror and the typewriter. Future Woody Woodpecker and Barney Bear director Dick Lundy animates the whooping birds and the cat stalking the canaries. Future Hanna-Barbera director, Rudy Zamora animates the Marx Birds. Future Looney Tunes and Van Beuren director, Tom Palmer animates the baby canary taking on a singing lesson. Albert Hunter animates the birds watching with excitement. Master Mickey Mouse animator, Les Clark animates the baby canary running from the cat and the scene with the dogs. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be the supervising director for such Disney features as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941), heads a whole crew of animators including Chuck Couch, Marvin Woodward, Hardie Gramatky, Harry Reeves and Dick Williams. 

Let us close with a song. 

Thanks 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

Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman 

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

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

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #295

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Gandy Goose and Sourpuss in Lights Out (1942). During World War 2, multiple cartoons were made featuring these two characters in the army, with Sourpuss as a sergeant and Gandy as a private. 

Next we join Daffy Duck in Scrap Happy Daffy (1943). This movie marks Daffy Duck's last appearance in a black and white cartoon. It is also simply a delightful film. The short is directed by Frank Tashlin, who would go on to direct many live action feature films. His Looney Tunes are some of the most cinematic and feature wonderful filmmaking. The use of editing and montage here are excellent and hold up to many of the great live action films of the time. Yet this is also simply a very funny cartoon, including one of the funniest fade-out/fade-ins in the history of cartoons. This cartoon appears in Jerry Beck's book, The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes.

Now for the Screen Songs cartoon, Comin' Round the Mountain (1949). The title song is one I am sure you are all familiar with (so you have no excuse not to sing along). Most of you probably know it as a children's song. However, it was originally a 19th century African American spiritual. The song is believed to have been originally intended to be about the second coming of Christ. 

Next comes the only theatrical cartoon short to star the comic strip character Skippy, The Dog Catcher (1938).

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next comes a great early Mickey Mouse cartoon, Barnyard Battle (1929). This cartoon takes place back when Mickey was a simple country mouse. One thing I love about the early Mickey cartoons is these barnyard settings. They provide the films with a good sense of atmosphere and are full of gags that come from the setting. Like the Our Gang kids these cartoon characters make all sorts of inventions out of simple barnyard objects. This gives the films a charm and creativity that the later Mickey's never fully captured. This was also before Walt came up with the idea to do away with some of the more cartoony gags where characters bodies could do impossible things. While I love many of the Disney studio's shorts of the 1940's and 50's I wish these gags didn't fade away because they are a lot of fun. This cartoon features Mickey going to war with a bunch of cats (that all look like Pete) and in many ways feels like a follow-up to such previous Disney war cartoons as Oswald's Great Guns (1927) and the Alice Comedy, Alice's Little Parade (1926). In fact, many of these gags would have felt right at home in those pre-Mickey cartoons. This movie would be banned in Germany due to the cat's helmets resembling German army helmets. 

Now we join the mightiest of superheroes, Mighty Mouse in Mother Goose's Birthday Party (1950).

Next is Porky Pig in Rover's Rival (1937). This was the first Looney Tune to use The Merry Go-Round Broke Down as the theme song. It would remain the Looney Tunes theme song long afterwards. This was also the first cartoon to end with Porky popping out of the drum and saying, "That's All Folks." The film was directed by Bob Clampett, whose black and white Porky cartoons helped solidify him as the character we all know today. Clampett wasn't the only legendary animation director who worked on this short film. One of the animators was Chuck Jones, who really gets to show off his skill here. He gets to deliver some excellent character animation including such scenes as Rover leaving the kennel towards the start, the little pup fetching the dynamite and then bring it back after Porky throws it away and Rover's shock after reading what dynamite is. Bobe Cannon, who would direct some fantastic films for UPA animates the little pup blowing Rover to the ground.

Now comes the Color Rhapsody cartoon, The Little Moth's Big Flame (1938). 

Now to close with a song. 

Thanks 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

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

The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes edited by Jerry Beck

https://likelylooneymostlymerrie.blogspot.com/2012/08/180-rovers-rival-1937.html

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/how-shell-be-coming-round-the-mountain-evolved

Some Cartoons for Saturday Morning #288

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

Today's cartoon selection begins with Krazy Kat in Ritzy Hotel (1932). These Columbia Krazy Kat cartoons bare scant resemblance to George Herriman's Krazy Kat comic strip on which they were supposedly based. If it wasn't for the main character having the same name, you could never tell that there was supposed to be any connection between them. As a fan of the comic strip, I was originally put off by these cartoons. However, over time, I learned to enjoy them for what they are. 

Next is the early Porky Pig cartoon, Plane Dippy (1936). This is the movie in which we learn Porky's full name,  Porky Cornelius Washington Otis Lincoln Abner Aloysius Casper Jefferson Philbert Horatius Narcissus Pig. I'm sure you all will memorize that name. As well as Porky this film also has some other characters that also premiered in the Merrie Melodies cartoon, I Haven't Got A Hat (1935) such as Little Kitty (who plays an important role here). Comic fans may also notice that the character of Professor Blotz looks extremely similar to a character from the Mickey Mouse comic strip, Professor Ecks. Though this movie is directed by Tex Avery, don't except the pure insanity of his later cartoons, as this was still early in his directorial career and he hadn't fully developed his style yet. Still this cartoon has many very funny gags in it, I especially love Porky writing his name. The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "PLANE DIPPY: Looney Tune—This is a very comical cartoon. Above the average.—Paul J. Pope, Avon Theatre, Geneva, Ala., Small Town and Rural Patronage." 

Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Bird Symphony (1955).

Next comes an early Silly Symphony cartoon, Frolicking Fish (1930).  Like all Disney cartoons of this period this movie benefits from a great cast of animators. Ben Sharpsteen, who would later be supervising director for such Disney feature films as Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940) and Dumbo (1941) animates the opening scene, the octopus dancing with the fish and the fish dropping an anchor on an octopus. Les Clark, who would become one of Walt's famed Nine Old Men and be one of the greatest Mickey Mouse animators of all time, animates the fish riding the seahorse and the octopus punching the bubbles. Dave Hand, who would later be Supervising director on such Disney feature films as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Bambi (1942) animated the fish dancing on the anchor chain. Wilfred Jackson, who would later become a fine director of both Disney shorts and features animates the octopus chasing the fish to the sunken ship. Norm Ferguson, a wonderful animator whose gift at character animation would later help define the character of Pluto, animates the trio of fish tap dancing. Jack King, who would later director some wonderful Donald Duck cartoons as well as a few cartoons for Warner Brothers, would animate the lobster dancing and playing the harp. Johnny Cannon animates the fish dancing on the springboard. Tom Palmer, who would later direct cartoons for both Warner Brothers and Van Bueren, animates the majority of the bubble dance and the big fish blowing bubbles. Merle Gilson animates the anchor falling on the octopus. The animation for this film was completed between April 22 and May 10, 1930. It would make its TV debut on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club that aired on February 24, 1956. 

Now it is time for a commercial break. 

Next up comes the Betty Boop cartoon, Pudgy Picks a Fight (1937). Much like how Mickey's Mouse's cartoons would be overtaken by Mickey's co-stars, the same thing would happen with Betty Boop. Though Betty was unquestionably the star of the earlier Betty Boop shorts, as the series reached its later years, the attention would later shift to her supporting characters. This led to many cartoons, where her dog Pudgy was the main character. Here is an example of that. 

Now for the Terry Toons cartoon, Mrs. Jones' Rest Farm (1949). 

We continue with Popeye in I'm in the Army Now (1936). This short film is a bit of a cheater and features clips from previous Popeye cartoons. The cartoons that clips are used from include Blow Me Down (1934), Shoein' Hosses (1934), Choose Your 'Weppins' (1935) and King of the Mardi Gras (1935). This is one of my favorite cheater cartoons, because the new scenes are just as entertaining as the clips. I especially love Bluto talking about what a big star he was in the movies. This serves as a good reminder for those of us who grew up watching these films on TV that they were originally made for movie theaters. 

Now 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

Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman 

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

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons by Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald 

https://mediahistoryproject.org/