Unlike Avery’s other cartoons with this plot device, Mr. Twiddle doesn’t run into the distance and make noise. He and other characters hold up little signs instead.
In one scene, Twiddle stubs his toe on a footstool.
Cut to the sign gag and topper.
Notice Twiddle has a red nose like an Avery character at Warners in the late-'30s.
The cartoon is a disappointment to me. The idea of the hotel staff maintaining quiet is completely violated when noise comes from the room next to Twiddle’s. Why aren’t they taking any measures to deal with it? And in the opening scene, Twiddle’s reaction to the noise is weak compared to the emotional reactions of Avery’s wolf in Northwest Hounded Police at MGM ten years earlier.
Avery left Lantz after this cartoon and, after a bit, worked on TV commercials, which he found less stressful.
The picture everyone seems left with is Avery was a sad and broken man when Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera gave him a job near the end of his life, where he had to deal with the restraints of television and the sausage factory attitude of the studio.
As this was Avery’s final cartoon for the big screen, this is our final post as we go on an indefinite hiatus. Thank you for reading.
"As this was Avery’s final cartoon for the big screen, this is our final post as we go on an indefinite hiatus. Thank you for reading."
ReplyDeleteLeon Schlesinger: "He'll be back" :) (I mean seriously, you've tried to retire from this blog at least 3 times already and for months you kept pushing the date when you would retire! I'm betting that you'll return. Mark my words)
"The picture everyone seems left with is Avery was a sad and broken man when Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera gave him a job near the end of his life, where he had to deal with the restraints of television and the sausage factory attitude of the studio."
Indeed. The fact that one of his first works in there was apparently doing storyboard gags into that awful Marvel's The Thing show (according to Scott Shaw) and working on Casper's First Christmas is truly sad.
Oh well. I suppose it's better to retire in animation on crappy SATAM shows than retire doing something like being a greeter at Walmart (I wouldn't take either of those options though).
If this IS indeed the end though....thank you, Yowp for all this great info you've given people like me and thank you as well for being able to tolerate my occasionally annoying and a little bit critical comments.
DeleteEven though I sometimes don't like your style of writing and your sometimes blunt opinions and statements (I'm a little too sensitive to snarkiness), you've really helped me look at cartoons through a MUCH different perspective than before I discovered your blogs.
thank you for all your wonderful posts over the years! Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteFear not. He says he's ending tralfaz (for the time being) all the time.
DeleteThe cartoon, as many know, was based on that 1920s Okeh Laughing record, and,yes,thanks for all the writing..Mejo, I liked the Kwicky Koala show that he got credit for...
ReplyDeleteThought that the Bungle Brothers segments were alright and Kwicky's first short had some energy...that's it really.
Delete*first short in terms of Avery directing it (In a Pig's Eye), not the first short in terms of airing order.
DeleteThanks once again for all your interesting posts. I hope to see you back.
ReplyDeleteHi, E.O. I have no spare time these days and have resigned my responsibilities in several groups.
DeleteI still have uncompleted posts I may get to, and about a dozen obits I have saved for when the time is right. (The Old TV blog has twice-monthly posts banked for the rest of the year and there some Yowp posts which are on delay-posting).
I hope the hiatus is brief. Your blog is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think even Avery said the cartoon didn't come out as well as he hoped, but from what I read, he felt that way about almost everything he did. I do when it comes to the work I do!
I gather that the divorce and his son's death took a lot out of him near the end, but so many people also said what a nice man he was. I'll try to carry that memory.
I, too, hope your departure is a hiatus not a finale, but in any event thank you, thank you, thank you for so many hours of wonderful research, terrific, insightful and well articulated observations. I cannot overstate how appreciated your talents and hard work are in this corner. Will miss you!!!
ReplyDeleteI would be sad if this blog is now gone, but it was a fun ride. I thought the four tex avery lantz cartoons he made were neat in my opinion. Also about that sausage factory attitude thing, it's no wonder why people called that period in animation to be the dark ages.
ReplyDelete