They’re all bunk. What do people like Jerry Beck know? He’s written, what, maybe one or two books? Anyone can write books. Type one word and then the next. Big deal.
It behooves (look it up) us to present to you the REAL top five cartoon series of all time. Every single one of them puts the “Golden” in “Golden Age.” Drum roll, please, professor.
5. LITTLE AUDREY
Fish, mammy housekeepers, truant officers, she loves them all. Her mixed chorus theme songsters remind us she says “Save for a rainy day.” You’ve heard her say that in many a cartoon.
Then there’s her cheering, cheerful laughter. We can’t hear it enough. Don’t worry, Little Audrey. We’re laughing WITH you, not at you.
4. COOL CAT
You know when you see a swirling line and hear Bill Lava’s lush score to open a cartoon instead of concentric circles, you’re in for top-quality entertainment. Pink Panther? A pale imitation of Cool Cat. Pink didn’t have that groovy ‘60s far-out-ness.
Larry Storch forgot he voiced the character? A minor slip.
3. DAFFY AND SPEEDY
A perfect pairing, far superior to Laurel and Hardy, Felix and Oscar, Gilligan and the Skipper. Lightweights, all. Everyone knows ducks chase mice, especially gringo ducks.
That old “Woo-hoo”-ing Daffy? Unfunny and old hat. Better make that “old sombrero.” This is a Daffy for today’s generation, not Bob Clampett’s (and what did he do after Warner Bros., anyways?).
The only thing that could improve this beloved twosome is if they were directed by Tom Palmer.
2. THE BEARY FAMILY
Who could tire of the screamingly-amusing antics of Charlie Beary? Fixing something himself to save money? No one’s ever done that in a comedy. Mother-in-law coming over? Fresh and unique entertainment.
Add the superior directorial touches of Paul J. Smith, and full, symphonic orchestrations of Walter Greene, and you have non-stop hilarity. We’re talking “Laffs” with two “f”s.
Before we get to Number One, let’s give you our Honorable Mentions:
BUDDY
What was Leon Schlesinger thinking, replacing this charmer with a stuttering pig and a smarty-pants wabbit? What does someone wearing a carnation know about screen comedy? Nothing, that’s what. Saying “That’s all, folks” to this series shows Schlesinger is no buddy to us all.
HAM AND HATTIE
UPA was known the world over for their giggle-fests. This series featured characters that were, well, I’m not quite sure what they were doing. But they were loveable and cuddly. UPA cartoons are worshipped for their painstakingly-crafted, rollicking, slapstick comedy.
AMOS ‘N’ ANDY
Van Beuren’s well-drawn, sensitive portrayal of two white guys as African-Americans has won over fans of ethnic humour for generations. You won’t be “regusted” watching this series, which unfortunately ended after its stars checked and double-checked this fine-grained artwork, got into a Fresh-Air Taxi Cab and quit.
And now, the Greatest of All Time:
1. LUNO
Terrytoons had a challenge, trying to overcome such unpopular “Woolworth” series as Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle. The retired Paul Terry, counting his money while living in an exclusive gentlemen’s club in New Rochelle, must have been overjoyed with this crowning glory to his studio’s reputation.
Luno features the thrilling adventures of a flying horse, an original idea if ever there was one. Yes, Casper had a flying horse but that was a GHOST horse. This is different.
The studio wisely did not restrict these oft-mistaken-for-Disney cartoons to television alone. They were made available to eager theatre owners for the world to see. Their witty writing alone would make the denizens of the Algonquin Round Table (look it up) lower their collective heads in crimson-faced shame.
Oh, one other thing.
APRIL FOOL!!
Actually, we do have one other thing.
Not everyone reading this blog enjoys exactly the same cartoons or any other kind of entertainment. Yet some people go ballistic if someone dislikes (or make fun of) something they really like. Oh, they’re killing a childhood! One that ended years ago.
Here’s the deal. Watch cartoons you like. Don’t waste time getting worked up if someone disagrees. They’re just cartoons. There are more important things in life that should concern you. You’ll be healthier and happier.
And Luno still sucks.
Thanks for a good laugh (or "laff")! You made my day!
ReplyDeleteI normally don't do these. Every year, the internet is full of trite and obvious ones ("A release date is out for the Censored 11"). It'll come down at the end of the day.
DeleteIt took me a few seconds to realize it, but I quickly caught on that this was April Fool's Day...and I enjoyed this April Fool's joke!
ReplyDeleteSame,though I had forgotten it was that day.
DeleteHappy April Fools to all. Great blog, Yowp. When I see “ Little Audrey “, I think of not my childhood, but those “ Bargain Bin “ VHS and DVD Public Domain collections back the the 90s and early 2000s parents could buy for a buck.Four hours of Popeye, Baby Huey, Mel-O-Toons, Animated 3 Stooges, a few Merrie Melodies,Looney Tunes, most of the Famous Studios stuff, and yes…Little Audrey. Four hours of the great, the good intentioned, the take or leave it, and the really bad.
ReplyDeleteSeriously,though, I do enjoy Little audrey.
DeleteFair play for that sensible closing statement and introducing me to a cartoon I've never heard of before - although it's open for debate whether that second part is a good thing or not!
ReplyDeleteNice joke - thanks for the laugh!!
ReplyDeleteHilarious column. Oh, to hear the swelling strains of a Bill Lava composition! Oh, as a kid, I was not discriminating about cartoons---I'd watch anything. But Little Audrey did make me uncomfortable, and Luno was the first cartoon where I realized "This is bad!"
ReplyDelete"Yet some people go ballistic if someone dislikes (or make fun of) something they really like. Oh, they’re killing a childhood! One that ended years ago."
ReplyDeleteI don't think that all people are upset because of their childhood being ruined by your opinions per se, but also due to some other things you tend to do in your reviews. Like you sometimes not really explaining your reasoning WHY you don't like a cartoon. For instance, I remember reading your post on "A Cartoonist's Nightmare" (Special Appearance by Bob Clampett) and you basically said: "This cartoon is bad and the only interesting thing about it is a Bob Clamped cameo". Now I like that cartoon (many people do too) and I was really curious as to wondering why you didn't like it, but you just didn't elaborate. And I know your rebuttal to that statement would be to say that "the cartoon speaks for itself" but sometimes the cartoon quality jay DOESN'T speak for itself. It also might be for your occasional blunt statements. Now, blunt statements CAN be funny but they can also be interpreted the wrong way.
"Here’s the deal. Watch cartoons you like. Don’t waste time getting worked up if someone disagrees. They’re just cartoons."
I disagree with your "Don't like it, don't watch it" argument. PIEGUYRULZ made an excellent rebuttal to that statement (here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiGMXlyEtaA) but to summarize: Watching cartoons you don’t like can be a learning experience, it can promote blind hatred of the cartoons you hate and it is mostly just used to silence critics.
Though then again, maybe it's just me. I'm not trying to attack you by writing this comment, nor am I writing this because my childhood has been ruined. I’m just writing this because I just want you to understand some reasons as to WHY some people be upset when you speak about something they like negatively. I will also admit however that I’m not nearly as harsh in my criticism as you are (and you’re not NEARLY as harsh as most people on the internet are) and I do realize reading some of you’re posts about your childhood that you were more critical as a child than other people were (what with you hating nostalgia (something that I will say that I think isn’t all bad but still)).
Just saying.
(Also where did you get that info about Larry Storch supposedly not remembering that he voiced Cool Cat? The Washington Post (link here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/07/08/comic-actor-larry-storch-dies/) says that Larry died from the Alzheimer's disease, which is notorious for making people lose memories)
“Everyone knows ducks chase mice, especially gringo ducks.”
DeleteActually, you’re not gonna believe this but…they do! They actually can chase and eat mice! (Links here: https://www.reddit.com/r/duck/comments/1aj205v/til_that_ducks_eat_mice/, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yEoLDB4Lozk)