Dem's Da Steaks Dat Prevail!

Wartime and immediate post-war meat shortages made for familiar gags (Bob and Ray were still doing them in the early ‘50s on radio). In What’s Buzzin’ Buzzard (1944), the Jimmy Durante buzzard gesticulates as he envisions biting in to “a big, thick juicy T-bone steak.” The steak fades in to the scene.



Just like one of those slides that was shoved into the projector at theatres, a title card slides across the steak.



The cartoon carries on. But as the iris closes another title card flashes on the screen.



“Ladies and gentlemen, just a moment, please!” shouts the voice of announcer John Wald. “Due to the numerous requests received in the last five minutes, we’re going to show you the steak again.” The title card slides back to reveal the steak as Scott Bradley’s orchestra plays “Auld Lang Syne.”



Ed Love, Ray Abrams and Preston Blair are the animators. The buzzard is not Jimmy Durante (whether it’s Jerry Mann, I don’t know).