It's Helpful, Anyway

The best gag in Tex Avery’s first cartoon at Warner Bros. follows his credo of being something unexpected. And, in this case, it fits the context of the story quite beautifully.

“Gold!” shouts Beans the cat, as the townsfolk rush out to stake claims in Gold Diggers of ‘49 (1936). Beans thinks he’s found something buried underground. Porky Pig pulls it (and Beans) out as “Rural Rhythm” plays in the background.



What’s in the chest? Something appropriate for a gold field.



Then Avery tops his own gag.



There are a few gags that Avery would continue to use as his career wore on. The bad guy (played by Billy Bletcher) envisions an outrageously long limo. Well, outrageous for 1936. Tex would make them more ridiculously long, and funnier, when he moved on to MGM in 1941. There’s the briefly-interrupted song gag. Oh, there’s, um, a blow-up/blackface gag, too (Bletcher gets to imitate the Kingfish from Amos and Andy).

During the chase scene leading to the climax, we are treated to J.S. Zamecnik’s “Hubby Hobby.”



Enjoy your stardom while you can, Beans. After a few more cartoons, “that’s all, folks” for you.