The comic pages have certainly changed over the years, and I don’t mean the strips themselves (though the Katzenjammer Kids have been around forever). The style today certainly isn’t what it was 100 years ago, with little lettering and more elaborate settings.
Let’s look at the comics from Christmas-time, 1913. They appeared in papers on either December 20th or 21st. You can click to enlarge each of them.
Ah, yes, here’s Jimmy Swinnerton’s “Little Jimmy” getting into trouble again.
“Bringing Up Father” was George McManus’ major comic. It began in early 1913. But this is “Their Only Child,” originally printed as “The Newlyweds” in 1904.
Well, “The Newlyweds” continued. McManus went to Hearst in 1912 and renamed his comic. The Pulitzer papers continued carrying the original strip, now drawn by Albert Carmichael.
Frederick Opper drew this. He was best known for “Happy Hooligan.” Dialect humour was big back then; I think the accent is supposed to be Swedish.
The class of the comic world in 1913, as far as I’m concerned, is Winsor McCay’s “Little Nemo in Slumberland.” His layouts were at times mind-boggling and his inking intricate. It’s a shame this isn’t in colour. This comic is comparatively simple to some of McCay’s work that I’ve seen. But look at the angles and jingle bells on the dinosaur. Isn’t McCay great?
Gus Mager drew “Hawkshaw the Detective” for the New York World starting in 1913.
C.M. Payne’s “Nippy’s Pop” began in 1910. Apparently, everyone in this cartoon lisps. Hyuk, hyuk!
“The Step Brothers” was by Gene Carr. Is that a German accent in this one? “Spareribs and Gravy” is another McManus cartoon taken over by Carmichael when McManus changed newspapers.
Sorry, I didn’t run into a Katzenjammer page. Maybe next Christmas.
There’s some impressive work in the Tom and Jerry cartoon “The Night Before Christmas,” which takes Harman-Ising style personality animation and puts it into personalities you actually want to watch.
Here’s a cute little scene with great expressions; it has nothing to do with the plot (there isn’t much of one to begin with). Jerry sees a reflection in a Christmas ornament. You can see the various emotions play out. He screws around at the end before moving on to the next part of his journey around the house.
No animators are credited. Someone should get a lump of coal in their stocking for that. But Santa Kausler tells you who did this scene in the comments.
Director Shamus Culhane gets the most out of his animators’ drawings to save Walter Lantz some money in “Ski For Two” (1944) when Wally Walrus decorates his winter lodge for Christmas.
Here’s Wally putting up a wreath.
And here’s Wally putting up another wreath. Say, those drawings look familiar.
Don Williams and Grim Natwick get the animation credits. The layouts are by Art Heinemann.
Network radio was live, at least until after World War Two, so that meant if a radio show fell on Christmas Day, the stars showed up live to do it (and they did two shows, one for the Eastern and Central time zones, the other for the Pacific). And there were specials, too. For example, I’ve spotted Jack Benny as one of the guests of a two-hour show sponsored by Elgin in 1943 and 1945. The odd thing is the Benny show was on NBC at the time, while the Elgin special was on CBS.
The Benny Christmas shopping shows are considered high points in his broadcasting career, mainly because of Mel Blanc’s overwrought performance. The following week or two, he’d do a Christmas show involving “the gang” at Jack’s home with Dennis Day (or Larry Stevens) singing a carol at the end. But what did Jack really do Christmas Day? Let Uncle Miltie tell you. This short unbylined piece appeared in newspapers in December 1977.
Berle Tells Xmas Story
NEW YORK (NEA)—If you find yourself at a party this upcoming holiday season, surrounded by holly and less-than-jolly folk, you might find comfort in this story told by Milton Berle.
For 25 years, Berle shared Christmas time with the late Jack Benny—always the same way.
Every Christmas Day, recalls Berle, a prominent theatrical attorney held open house at his Beverly Hills mansion. And every year the place was packed with wall-to-wall celebrities.
"And every year, around noon," said Berle, "I'd get the same phone call: 'Hello, this is Jack.'
"I'd say, 'Jack who?' and he'd say, 'Jack, Jack Benny,' I'd say, Oh, I thought it was Jack Oakie.' Then he would say, 'Are you going to the...' and I'd interrupt with 'You mean the Christmas party? The answer is yes, and you want me to pick you up, right? "To which Jack would say, 'How did you know?'
"Anyhow, I'd pick up Jack and we'd go to this beautiful home. We'd squeeze our way into the front doorway, the maid would start to take our coats and Jack would look around, fingers to cheek in his typical fashion. After milking the moment as only he could, he would turn back to me and say, 'I'm ready (to go) anytime you are.'
"But then next year on Christmas Day around noon I'd get the same phone call. Not once did I get to stay at that party."
Here’s one of the Benny Christmas shopping shows from December 19, 1948. It not only features Blanc but Frank Nelson, Artie Auerbach and Elliott Lewis.
Leave it to Tex Avery and storyman Rich Hogan to concoct a Christmas cartoon about a satanic kid (pig) and the wolf trying to kill his family. The little pig is based on Red Skelton’s Mean Widdle Kid on radio and is (thanks to the possibilities of the cartoon medium) far more sadistic than anything Skelton and his writers came up with.
Because “One Ham's Family” is an Avery cartoon, it means you’ll see signs. And because it’s an MGM cartoon, you’ll see perspective animation drawn at an angle. Example?
The wolf chases the little pig up a long Christmas tree. He gets to the top. The pig’s not there. A sign is. Look at the range of emotions when the wolf realises he’s been had, that the tree is now shaking and it’s because the pig is chopping it down.
Cut to the determined pig.
The Christmas tree falls. A couple of drawings in perspective.
And a pan over to the end result.
Ray Abrams, Ed Love and Preston Blair are the credited animators, with Claude Smith designing the characters.
No excuse is needed to post about the funny Arnold Stang, but I’m using one anyway. Stang died four years ago today. He’s known for cartoon voices, the great gas station destruction scene in “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and guest shots on a pile of TV shows.
To me, his best work was in radio. He was terrific on ‘The Henry Morgan Show’ where he blatantly lied on his tax return, confidentially and repeatedly telling Morgan “Who’s to know?” Then there was his work with Milton Berle, first on radio, where he’d gain increasingly loud indignation at Berle to the building laughter of the studio audience.
Here’s a “Broadway After Dark” column from the Long Island Star Journal of December 1, 1968.
Stang’s Voice Still in Great Demand
By WARD MOREHOUSE
Arnold Stang was a television pioneer, along with Milton Berle and other flamboyant figures. But he never thought TV would last, rather regrets that it has, and longs for the resurgence of radio.
“I went on television in the first year of scheduled broadcasting by NBC,” he said. “I think it was 1937. Anyway, it was so early nobody had a television set and my parents had to go to an appliance store to watch me. Hildegarde emceed the show and I did a sketch with Gertrude Berg. Every 15 minutes they put on a test pattern to rest the eyes because they believed TV was bad for the eyes. They used wooden television cameras on one show I did — it all sounds very primitive.
"I thought television was a novelty, just a gimmick, and would disappear. I loved radio and still do. I feel it’s a superior medium for the audience. Television has reduced everything to the least common denominator. Fifty per cent of radio depends on the audience’s mind and imagination, but there is nothing stimulating about TV. Comedy on radio was of higher order. I keep hoping radio will [be] reborn.”
• • •
ARNOLD looks a bit like a praying mantis. Or an undersized Beatle with a haircut — height, 5 feet three; weight, 105. Not by any means an imposing figure, he has been an enduring one, leapfrogging in comedy from radio to television to Broadway to motion pictures.
In Universal’s new feature-length color cartoon, “Pinocchio in Outer Space,” he provides the voice for Nurtle the Twurtle, an animated character. The picture will be released Dec. 22 for the Christmas trade.
“Nurtle is Pinocchio’s buddy,” he explained. “He’s not a turtle, he’s a twurtle and he has a short fuse on his temper. I did the voice over a period of three years; animation is a long, tedious process. Nurtle and Pinocchio have a lot of adventures in outer space.”
• • •
ARNOLD is something of a spaceman himself. He flew about 100,000 miles last year, from New York to California and back again. Films and television take him West; his family pulls him East.
“I often make two round trips to California in a week,” he said. “My wife always takes me to Kennedy Airport, and always meets me, no matter what the hour. I'll wake up on the plane and it really will be an effort to know where I am. But I’m usually the first one off and when I see my wife I know I'm home.”
He and his wife; Jo Anne, live in New Rochelle. They have two children — David, 14 and Deborah, 13—, two basset hounds, Just under an acre of land, and a number of fruit trees. Mrs. Stang is a writer.
“JOANNE did an interview with me. I liked her immediately and it hasn’t worn off. She is a very good wife and mother. We have a big freezer and it’s full of things like apple pie and apple cake and applesauce. I peel the apples and she cooks. She also puts up brandied peaches.”
Arnold was born in Chelsea, Mass. At the age of nine he ran away from home, took a bus to New York and auditioned for The Children’s Hour on radio. He was hired for the show and also for “Let’s Pretend,” another children’s program.
“My parents were astonished, but they let me stay on in New York with my grandmother, until they moved here to live. They made me promise to continue my school work. When I was in the eighth grade I had the highest scholastic average in New York State.”
For reasons known only to Arnold Stang, he insisted for years he was born in Massachusetts. He wasn’t. Census records clearly state he was born in New York to Harold Louis and Anna Stang. And for decades, Stang shaved five years off his age. No doubt it was to allow him to get juvenile parts he would have lost if radio producers of the early ‘40s had known he was born on September 28, 1918. It’s possible he auditioned for “The Children’s Hour” at age 9; the show signed on the air in 1927. But a Brooklyn Eagle story of December 6, 1942 put the age at 12, and states he was born in 1923. Do the math.
Stang and his parents were living in Brooklyn in 1930 and Stang graduated from Montauk Junior High in June 1933. (I’ve found only one earlier newspaper mention of Stang, a curious one in the Mt. Vernon Daily Argus of October 20, 1928 mentioned a judgement in favour of him and against Sloan’s Pharmacy for $24.17). The 1940 Census lists no occupation for him but a newsletter from Local 19 of the ILGWU (his father was in the silk underwear manufacturing business) states Stang had been a member before going to Hollywood. The first newspaper mention of his radio work I can find is in April 1941 involving his role on “The Goldbergs.” From there on, he worked steadily for years and made a lot of people laugh. Critics adored him, though they weren’t crazy about an ABC-TV show he starred in (they blamed bad writing for the poor quality of “The Billy Bean Show,” not Stang. It debuted on March 1, 1949, not 1951 as the internet keeps saying).
We finish off the post with some Stang photos. The one at the the top is an ad from The Radio Annual. His first listing is in the 1942 edition. The first photo is a publicity shot from a time when he was on “The Goldbergs” in 1941. The two head shots are from the 1950s and the signature with the face is from The Radio Annual from some time in the ‘40s.
Stang also cut a number of children’s records. You can hear one below.
John Sutherland Productions grabbed all kinds of great talent from theatrical animation studios and turned out some visually attractive corporate propaganda shorts in the 1950s.
This is from “It's Everybody's Business” (1954). I’m a sucker for ‘50s design so long as it doesn’t overwhelm the cartoon (as happened at UPA too often).
Dun’s Review and Modern Industry was delighted with the short. It declared “By coating the economic facts of life with humor and verve seldom found outside Hollywood's entertainment cartoons, John Sutherland ... has created perhaps the outstanding picture of its particular class.” To the right, you see what Billboard magazine had to say about it.
The cartoon was designed by Maurice Noble during one of his sojourns from Warner Bros. The animators were Bill Melendez, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow and Bill Higgins; Higgins had worked as an assistant in Tex Avery’s unit at MGM. Bill Scott worked on the story with George Gordon. Carl Urbano directed. Les Baxter and Eugene Poddany provided the score. A top crew. And you may recognise one of the voices as belonging to Herb Vigran, who made the jump from radio to TV playing character parts.
The good news is this is one of a number of Sutherland shorts restored and released on DVD by Steve Stanchfield at Thunderbean. Included on the disc is another great Sutherland cartoon called “A is For Atom” with some fun designs by Lew Keller and Gerry Nevius. Find out more about the DVD on Jerry Beck’s Cartoon Research page.
Here’s the third of four parts looking at 1938, cartoon-wise, from the pages of The Film Daily. A few interesting things cropped up over the first part of the second half of the year.
● Just like Walter Lantz explained years later in his biography, he was considering a feature cartoon. In fact, it seems he was considering several. But Lantz’ precarious financial position—Lantz seemed to live well but continually complained about a lack of money for the studio—probably nixed the idea. Cal Howard had left Warners and made a stop at Lantz before heading to the Fleischer studio.
● No wonder Friz Freleng got out of MGM. Was there a more inept manager than Fred Quimby? Within a year after setting up their own cartoon studio, Metro was negotiating with the guys Quimby replaced to bring them back in some capacity.
● The Fleischers were trying to work out a union contract and move to Miami at the same time.
● Paul Terry decided to spend money on colour. Then he must have remembered spending money was not to be done at Terrytoons. He then cut back on plans for colour.
● Leon Schlesinger brought in Charlie Thorson from Disney as a character designer. Charlie signed a goofy rabbit model sheet “Bug’s Bunny” and the rest is history.
● A list of completed cartoons by the Schlesinger studio you see below is missing part of a name. It’s likely Frank Tashlin’s “Porky’s Spring Cleaning.” The other three cartoons are from the other units—Hardaway/Dalton, Avery and Clampett.
● There’s a reference to Cartoon Films, Ltd. Ub Iwerks was directing there but whether it’s actually the old Iwerks studio, I can’t tell. Contemporary records show it was owned by Lawson Haris, not Iwerks.
July 1, 1938
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• • • LUNCHEON at "21" yesterday, given by Mrs. J. P. McEvoy, wife of the noted writer, to Mrs. Walt Disney . . . the Disneys leave for Hollywood on Friday after a brief visit in the East, during which Walt received honorary degrees from Yale and Harvard [Master of Arts. Disney received a Master of Science degree from U.S.C. on July 1].
"Snow White" at Pop Prices West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Los Angeles — After its record-breaking run of 18 weeks at the Carthay Circle in Los Angeles, Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" opened at the Pantages and Hillstreet Theaters day-and-date today.
July 2, 1938
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• • • WHEN TWO enterprising urchins hear about this, they'll be plunged into gloom . . . these youngsters of 13 and 11 years visited the offices of the Walt Disney Enterprises in the RKO building, applying for jobs on the Disney staff of cartoonists . . . they brought copy books along with samples of their work . . . they were given literature explaining the Disney qualifications, and the interviewer suggested they return when they were twenty-one . . . five minutes after they departed, Walt Disney came in, and was fold the story he dashed out to the reception room to talk to the youngsters . . . they had gone . . . and here's hoping they don't read this, and learn what a thrill they missed in missing talking to Walt Disney.
Mickey Mouse Now Air-Conditioned West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Harold Stockly, Los Angeles consulting engineer, has devised a unique air conditioning installation for the Walt Disney Studios whereby fresh outside air is drawn through Trane Cooling Coils, thus lessening its moisture content before it enters the building. A portion of this air is then mixed with the return air from the building and discharged from a cooling tower. The Disney staff believes that even Mickey's famous voice will be more melodious from now on.
July 5, 1938
Schlesinger Ships Four
Leon Schlesinger, producer of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, shipped four cartoons during the month of June. They included two Looney Tunes, "Porky," and "Porky and Daffy," and two Merrie Melodies, "Love and Curses" and "Cinderella Meets Fella."
July 7, 1938 Terry May Increase Color Shorts to 10 for Season
Release of the first Terry Toon in Technicolor that 20th-Fox has scheduled on its new shorts program has been set for first or second week of the new season, it is learned. It is expected that Terry will send the cartoon to the Hollywood laboratories of Technicolor next week. Terry's agreement with 20th-Fox calls for 6 Technicolor cartoons among the 26 he will deliver to the company, but it is expected that he may increase this total to 10.
Terry augmented his staff at his New Rochelle studio this week, and has a staff of 60 men working at the present time. The staff is now engaged on the second Technicolor short and the story is being readied for the third.
July 8, 1938
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• • • WITH THE release of "Good Scouts," a Disney with Donald Duck and his three nephews on high adventure in Yellowstone National Park . . . Barret McCormick's boys do their daily good deed in the exploitation world . . . lookit! . . . a drawing of Donald and his nephews in Boy Scout uniform was presented to Dr. West, Chief Scout Executive, and an 8 x 10 print for each of a thousand Scout executives throughout the nation . . . publicity releases to 5,400 newspapers . . . reproduction of drawing in current Boys' Life and Scouting mags . . . stories in scout magazines . . . Scout tie-ups with theaters . . . notification of coming Disney one-reeler to 38,000 Scoutmasters . . . all this might well be called major league promotion . . . and on a short!
July 11, 1938 Says Schlesinger West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Says Producer Leon Schlesinger of exhibitor squawks that lack of quality in pictures coming out of Hollywood is responsible for the present b.-o. slump.
"Let's stop passing the buck and really look the situation squarely in the face. All this business needs is a few lessons on what constitutes a good meal of entertainment. Give a child too much candy and it makes him sick. Giving the public four and five-hour shows has the same effect."
July 13, 1938 Ising Would Reorganize Co. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Harman Ising Pictures Inc., has filed a petition in Federal court seeking to reorganize under section 77B. Harman Ising has assets of $41,265.98 and liabilities of $12,017.28.
July 15, 1938 Para. Enjoins Exclusive
Paramount has obtained an injunction against Exclusive Studio of Chicago, restraining the latter from continuing the production of 16 mm. versions of Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons. The order is effective on cartoons produced after Dec. 31, 1937. Paramount charged that Exclusive violated its contract.
July 19, 1938 Schlesinger Signs Thorson West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Leon Schlesinger has signed Charles Thorson to a five-year contract as a character model to work on his "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies." Thorson was formerly connected with Walt Disney.
July 19, 1938 Museum's Free Disney Pix
Chicago—Four Disney films are being shown in morning shows at the James Simpson theater of the Field Museum without charge. "Black Beauty" also is presented.
July 27, 1938 "Snow White" in Danish
Copenhagen — Gloria Films, distributors for RKO Radio in Denmark, have decided to make a Danish version of Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Production is scheduled for Copenhagen. A Swedish version of "Snow White" also is being made, with production in Stockholm under the supervision of the RKO Radio branch there.
July 29, 1938 Schlesinger in Wind Up West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Leon Schlesinger has just finished photographing the 1ast "Looney Tune" and "Merrie Melody" of his 1937-38 program and is readying the two pictures for shipment to New York. The "Looney Tune" is called "Wholly Smoke" and the "Merrie Melody" is "Cracked Ice." Schlesinger will start immediately on the new season's program.
August 5, 1938 Shorts in Cinecolor West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Latest additions on list of short subjects to be filmed in Cinecolor, are the "Illustrated Mechanics" series of 13, "The Herman Kingdom," a travel picture about Siam, and a "Pictorial Review" on fur fashions, all to be made at Warners. Others include Paramount's “Unusual Occupations” series, and a trio of cartoons produced by the newly-formed Cartoons Ltd.
August 9, 1938 Exhibs Disney Revue
Use of four Walt Disney shorts as a "revue" in lieu of the second feature in theaters customarily playing duals was reported yesterday by RKO Radio. Idea originated with the Des Moines Theater, Des Moines.
August 10, 1938 Walt Disney Renews Kamen Contract for Five Years West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Walt Disney has renewed Kay Kamen's contract as sole representative for Walt Disney enterprises. The pact is for five years,
effective Jan. 1, 1939.
For the past six years Kamen has had exclusive representation of all commercial and licensing activities in connection with Disney names and characters.
About 150 manufacturers have been licensed to use the Disney characters on over 2,000 different articles, it is stated, which are handled by more than 50,000 stores in the U. S. alone.
August 11, 1938 60 Fleischer Artists Due in Miami Sept. 7
Sam Buckwald, general manager of Max Fleischer studios in New York, leaves Saturday for Miami where he will inspect the company's new studio which will start operating next month. Buckwald is to be followed by approximately 60 artists who are due to arrive in Miami Sept. 7. More than 300 persons will be employed at the plant when completed.
Buckwald said yesterday that recording devices were now being installed and that work on the new studio was being pushed to an early completion. Miami real estate operators are busy finding homes for the incoming artists and their families.
Paul Terry May Make 12 Cartoons in Technicolor
With the balance of the first two months' releases on the new 20th-Fox short subjects program completed, a release schedule for the first 26 of the 52 one-reelers, covering the period, Aug. 5-Jan. 27, has been set. It is expected at Movietone headquarters that Paul Terry will be able to increase the number of Technicolor cartoons he makes to 12, a 100 per cent increase over the original figure.
August 19, 1938 Live Talent and Films on NBC's Tele Program
First television program in the new series to be broadcast experimentally in the Metropolitan area by NBC next Tuesday will feature Lily Cahill, Pat Lawrence, Barbara Weeks and Elvin Field in the dramatic sketch, "Good Medicine," by Harold O. Godwin and Ewin Burke. Program is set for 8-9 p.m. EDST, over W2XBS. Program also includes a dancing lesson by Charlotte Kingston and Robert Gallub and three films — Disney's "Hawaiian Holiday," cartoon; Pathe News and a Paramount short.
August 22, 1938 Half of Terry Toons May Be Made In Technicolor
Paul Terry, producer of Terry Toons, which are being distributed by 20th-Fox on its new shorts program, will in all probability deliver 13 of the 26 he has scheduled in Technicolor, it was learned yesterday. Terry is said to have set his goal at 13 in color after first reports came in which proved to him the popularity of the shorts in their new dress. He originally scheduled 6 in color for next year's program.
August 23, 1938 New Financing Will Take Harman-Ising Out of 77B West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Completed plans for financing the Harman-Ising pictures corporation have been announced by Harry Wurtzel. Wurtzel will leave for New York this week to get the papers signed. Harman-Ising company was in 77B and Wurtzel arranged eastern financing. Deal calls for complete reorganization of company, which will start work immediately on a series of color short cartoons and later will make a feature cartoon. Wurtzel is carrying on negotiations for two major releases.
August 24, 1938 Expect Agreement Today By Fleischer and Artists
An agreement is expected to be reached today in meeting between Max Fleischer studios and United American Artists on new contract covering wage scales and working conditions, it was learned last night.
It was said that outcome of today's meeting will determine whether or not a number of artists now employed by the studio will move to Florida when Fleischer shifts his headquarters to the new studio he is constructing there.
August 25, 1938 M-G-M Again May Release Harman-Ising Cartoons
Harman-Ising cartoons again may be released by M-G-M under a pending deal, it was learned yesterday. Negotiations are under way and a contract may be closed shortly. With new financing understood to be set, Harman-Ising is scheduled to get under way immediately on a series of color subjects and possibly a feature-length cartoon.
August 25, 1938 Coming and Going
ANTHONY A. PABIAN, animated cartoon artist, leaves Hollywood tomorrow by auto for Miami, Fla., where he starts work in the new Max Fleischer studios on Sept. 12.
September 7, 1938 Walter Lantz Planning Four Feature Cartoons West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Walter Lantz's production schedule for the coming season will include a feature cartoon of "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp," which will cost three-quarters of a million dollars. Lantz is also looking for material for three more feature cartoons. The first of the new series of cartoons will be released next week. The series will be known as "Walter Lantz Cartune Comedies."
A new cast of mice characters will be used throughout. One of the group will be titled "Dead End Mice." These will be included in the 26 cartoons Lantz will make for Universal. The rest will consist of the "Simple Simian Family" (Jock and Jill), “The Meany-Miny-Moe” group and "Little Speedy, the World's Fastest Mouse."
Lantz is now using 120 people in the studio. The story department has been enlarged under the supervision of Victor McLeod and now consists of nine writers. Two new stories as yet untitled are being prepared by Jim Miele and Cal Howard. They will go into shooting in the very near future.
Will Publicize Disney
Antoinette Spitzer has joined RKO's publicity department and will work exclusively on Walt Disney copy.
VENICE EXPO. AWARDS TO U. S. FILM, STARS
. . . "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was recently given a "special" prize. . . .
Internationally, observers stated yesterday, the assignment of the Mussolini Cup to the German film "Olympia" has been unpopular, as also has been the strained fashion in which the award committee of the exposition decided to give a special prize to Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Critics of the exposition charge that the Disney opus could not be gracefully side-stepped, and that the action of the committee was obviously aimed at a diplomatic way of doing so, and hence a new prize was created so that a political purpose could be achieved.
September 8, 1938 Additional U. S. Films Draw Awards at Venice
Venice (By Cable) — Further awards to films of the 17 nations which competed this year for laurels at the Venice Exposition are announced here, the prize for the best cartoon subject going to "Sinbad the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves," produced by Max Fleischer and released by Paramount.
September 9, 1938 Pix at County Fair
Chilton, Wis.—Grandstand attraction in connection with the Calumet County Fair here included the flicker "Stan," plus a Walt Disney Silly Symphony in Technicolor. Believed to mark one of the first times films have been used in connection with county fairs.
September 12, 1938 Disney Signs Deems Taylor West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Walt Disney has signed Deems Taylor who will collaborate with Leopold Stokowski in the preparation of a full-length musical feature which will be in production from one and a half to two years. Taylor will handle the writing assignment as well as the narration.
September 13, 1938 Semi-Closed Shop Sought
Reumption of negotiations between Max Fleischer, Inc., and the United American Artists and Professional Workers to discuss a new contract hinges on whether or not the union presses its demand for a semi-closed shop, it was said yesterday. Fleischer however, will carry out his plans to move to Florida regardless of the outcome, it is said.
September 15, 1938 Fleischer Miami Studio Opens With 80 Employed
Miami, Fla.—The Max Fleischer organization has taken possession of its new $300,000 studio plant, with about 80 artists and other employes reporting for work this week. A second contingent of about 80 will arrive from New York Sept. 27. Complete transfer of the personnel from New York is expected to be made by December.
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• • • PICTURE BIZ at last enters the Realm of Art . . . film mugs have been kidding themselves for years that they are engaged in an Art and not an Industry . . . now comes evidence that mebbe they are right . . . at least, insofar as Walt Disney's creative efforts . . . are concerned for the Julien Levy Galleries at 15 East 57th Street in New York will open their new season with an entire Walt Disney exhibit. . . . beginning today, and continuing for three weeks the exhibit is open to the public . . .
• • • MOST OF the pictures will be from "Snow White" . . . with an additional group from Disney's latest short, also based on a Grimm fairy tale, "The Brave Little Tailor" . . . Mr. Levy, head of the art galleries in question, is convinced that the Disney drawings are definitely a new form of American caricature.
September 21, 1938 Fleischer-Union Contract Talks Near Critical Stage
Further discussions this week between Max Fleischer, Inc., and a committee representing the United American Artists and Professional Workers, in an effort to work out a contract governing conditions and wages at the new Fleischer studio in Miami, in all probability will ether bring an agreement or complete breakdown of negotiations, it was learned yesterday.
Only real hitch remaining that has prevented an agreement from being reached is said to be the union demand for a closed shop, which Fleischer has opposed.
Fleischer has already opened the new Florida plant, and has a fairly large staff working there. Augmentation of the staff with employes now remaining in New York is expected shortly.
September 23, 1938 “Merrie Melodies” and “Looney Tunes” Producer Sees Big Year for Cartoons
By LEON SCHLESINGER Producer of "Merrie Melodies" and "Looney Tunes" for Warner Bros.
HOLLYWOOD—THE 20-year-old art of animated cartoon making has weathered many startling upheavals in production technique. As a result, the once humble cartoon has finally taken its rightful place in the sun as an integral factor of motion picture production.
With clever stories, original gags, glorious color and fine music, the
modern cartoon emerges a film of beauty and excellent entertainment for young and old, compared to the crude animated pix of yesteryear.
The cartoon producer knows this standard must be maintained to keep the fans happy.
With the heaviest program of any cartoon producer for the 1938-39 season, I'm looking forward to a grand year for cartoons. Our schedule calls for 16 "Looney Tunes," starring Porky Pig, and the "Merrie Melodie" series in Technicolor, has been boosted from 20 to 26, making a total of 42 pictures.
I believe we have struck the correct stride in our productions.
Satire, screwball comedy, caricatures, and travesties of popular classics, seem to be the answer in our case. We strive, however, in treatment of story, and in technique to be as surprisingly original as possible. Throughout we aim to amuse, which is still and always will be, the primary function of a cartoon comedy.
SHORTS' PROSPECTS BRIGHT, SAYS LANTZ West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Short subjects and particularly animated cartoons will soon take their places as important factors of a theater program. This is the belief of Walter Lantz, who produces the yearly output of Universal's cartoons.
"What with double features, Bank Night, Keeno, automobile giveaways, country store, gas range contests, etc., the short subject has been taking a beating the past few years," this producer declares.
In many instances, Lantz points out, the exhibitor has paid rental for shorts and necessarily had to shelve them because his double ran too long or one of the games of getting - something - for - nothing interfered.
Again a lot of exhibitors saved their cartoon novelties until they had four, which saved the rental, but certainly did not enhance the value of these shorts to what should have been if placed on a well balanced program.
Disney's combination of Academy winners released during the last year's awards should not be included in this willy-nilly method of presentation, Lantz points out, since there was a definite showmanship angle in reshowing them at the time.
"But now with a few doses of this same showmanship being injected into the business, together with the gradual disappearance of the giveaways, and double bills, the day is not far distant when the short subject will again assume its important place on theater programs throughout the U. S.," Lantz said.
100 MANUFACTURERS IN DISNEY TIE-UPS
Arrangements have been concluded by Kay Kamen, Ltd., sole representative of Walt Disney Enterprises, with more than 100 manufacturers for license to use the Walt Disney characters in a much closer tie-up than ever heretofore between motion picture releases and commercial products.
Thousands of articles will be closely identified with the characters and themes of the 18 Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony motion pictures, with special emphasis on a half dozen super films. Merchandise will be played up particularly with reference to "The Brave Little Tailor," "Ferdinand the Bull," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Practical Pig" and others.
Retailers have gone strongly for this angle of publicity and merchandising, believing that theaters will welcome co-operative campaigns featuring Disney pictures as individual releases. The fourth edition of the Walt Disney Character Merchandise Catalogue published annually by Kay Kamen, Ltd., has just been released.
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Cartoon sequences of the short subject "The World Is Yours" in connection with the "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment" campaign will be made in Technicolor.
September 28, 1938
Phil M. Daly column, New York
• • • MICKEY MOUSE'S Tenth Birthday celebration last nite was a really gala affair . . . 500 guests were making merry in the Terrace Room of the Hotel New Yorker . . . each guest received a pad and pencil, and was asked to draw his interpretation of Mickey . . . the drawings were then turned over to those famous illustrators, Russell Patterson and McClelland Barclay, and Kay Kamen . . . who picked the winners and awarded prizes . . . Henry Busse's ork played sweet music from the Disney picture scores throughout the joyous evening . . . a team of ballroom dancers introduced the Mickey Mouse Drag . . . they were dressed in Mickey and Minnie costumes . . . there was a foyer display of colored art work from Disney's newest short, starring Mickey, "The Brave Little Tailor" . . . there were several other good parties for Mickey about town . . . but it is safe to say that all those who attended the one at the Hotel New Yorker were fully and gleefully occupied for the evening . . . and part of the morning.
September 29, 1938 Jules Levy to Chicago on RKO-Circuit Deals
Jules Levy, general sales manager of RKO Radio Pictures left last night for Chicago in connection with negotiations for product deals with Balaban & Katz and the S & S Circuit.
Just before his departure Levy closed a deal for RKO Radio's 1938-39 product to play over the Comerford Circuit of theaters in New York and Pennsylvania. More than 100 situations are included in this chain.
Levy announced yesterday that this week's anniversary in tribute to Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney has resulted in the greatest day-and-day representation for short subjects in the history of the industry. Every national key situation is playing a Disney this week and four thousand theaters in all will have played a Mickey Mouse or Silly Symphony comedy before the close of the week.
September 30, 1938 Artists Union to Discuss New Fleischer Pact Today
Negotiations between Max Fleischer, Inc., and a committee representing the United American Artists and Professional Workers union to work out terms of a new contract will be resumed today, it was learned last night. Contract would cover working conditions and wage scales of employes of Fleischer's new Miami studio. New southern plant is now in full operation with only 50 employes remaining in New York, and they are scheduled to leave for Florida on Oct. 12.
REVIEWS
July 1, 1938 "Hunky and Spunky" (Color Classics)
Paramount 7 mins. Funny New Characters
Introducing two new cartoon characters, Spunky and Hunky, a little mule and its mamma. Done in technicolor, the mules are wandering over the desert country out west. They talk to each other in donkey language, showing their teeth and making very funny noises, which will amuse the kids. An old prospector captures little Spunky, and makes him carry his heavy pack. Ma Hunky comes to the rescue and kicks the prospector right through his own shack on top of the mountain, and then kicks the shack over to the top of another mountain. Then the two mules proceed happily on their journey to the tune of a western song. A Max Fleischer cartoon.
"Love and Curses" (Merrie Melody)
Vitaphone 7 mins. Burlesque Meller
Swell burlesque in Technicolor cartoon of the oldtime meller with the villain, the hero and the heroine. Opens with an old couple looking through a picture album, which recalls memories of the old days when they were the hero and heroine having trouble with Roger St. Clair, the villain. Then into the flashback showing what happened when they were young, as the villain repeatedly stole the girl with the hero eternally in pursuit, till the finale in the old sawmill. The tag line has the villain stealing the old lady as she is looking through the album, starting the eternal chase all over again. Produced by Leon Schlesinger.
"Porky's Spring Planting" (Looney Tune)
Vitaphone 7 mins. Farmer Troubles
Garden activities are started by Porky with the help of his pooch and they plant all the seeds for the various vegetables, with special emphasis on the corn. When the crops are ripe, the hen starts selling tickets to the rest of the chickens, turning the garden into a cafeteria. The corn gets special attention. Before everything is gone, Porky makes a deal with the chickens, agreeing to plant a separate garden of corn for them. Produced by Leon Schlesinger.
July 2, 1938 "The Lost Kitten" (Betty Boop)
Paramount 7 mins. Amusing
The little pup Pudgy sees a poor kitten having a tough time trying to get some food, and goes out of the house and brings the kitten back to his mistress, Betty Boop. Soon the kitten is eating all the pup's food, making use of his nice bed, and finally supplanting him in the affections of his mistress. This is the last straw. Pudgy sneaks out and finds the mother cat yowling for its kitten, and brings it to the house to rescue the unwanted stranger. Then Pudgy is happy again as Betty Boop gives all her attention to him. A Max Fleischer cartoon.
July 18, 1938 "Poor Little Butterfly" (A Color Rhapsody)
Columbia 8 mins. Fair Cartoon
The good ship turtle arrives in the land of the cherry blossoms where the sailors are greeted by the lovely maidens on shore. A little butterfly greets her sailor fondly and they are going to get married, but the ship suddenly sails. However, the sailor is washed overboard and he swims back to shore and forsakes the navy for a more pleasant life. The film is done in Technicolor. Charles Mintz produced and Ben Harrison directed.
"Cinderella Meets Fella" (Merrie Melody)
Vitaphone 7 mins. Amusing Cartoon
Burlesquing the story of Cinderella, this cartoon has plenty of laughs. Cinderella calls for the fairy godmother, and the police finally locate her after her three sisters have gone to the ball. There are a few amusing mistakes made by the fairy godmother before she gets the coach ready, but Cindy finally gets there. The prince is a very amusing character and the following sequence has some good gags. The prince sets out to find her the next day and discovers her in a neighbourhood theater, and they both stay to see the show. Leon Schlesinger produced.
"City Slicker" (Scrappy Cartoon)
Columbia 6 mins. So So Cartoon
Scrappy, the city slicker, goes to visit his cousin out in the country. He is one of those boys that carry electrical buzzers in the palm of their hand, and water-squirting bouquets in their button hole. However, when Scrappy arrives on the farm he discovers that his cousin is not so dumb and suffers several indignities at his hands which even them up. Finally he sees that he is off on the wrong foot and he decides to behave himself. Charles Mintz produced.
"Porky and Daffy" (Looney Toon Cartoon)
Vitaphone 7 mins. Fair Cartoon
Porky Pig is the manager for Daffy Duck, a fighter. The champion comes to town and an offer of $500 is made for any person that can stay ten rounds with him. Daffy and Porky arrive at the arena and hop into the ring when the referee asks for challengers. Daffy has some zany tactics as a fighter, but he finally wears the champ out and knocks him cold. Leon Schlesinger produced.
July 25, 1938 "The Jeep"
Paramount 7 mins. Amusing Cartoon
Popeye and Jeep, his magical dog, go to visit Olive Oyl. When they get there Olive discovers that Sweet Pea is missing, and is frantic. Popeye instructs the Jeep to trail Sweet Pea down and discovers where he is hiding. The chase starts out on a dangerous and circuitous route over clotheslines and roof tops with Popeye hard pressed to keep up with his dog. Finally the Jeep returns to Olive's apartment and discovers Sweet Pea hidden in a shade which had rolled up. The kids will be amused with this one. Max Fleischer produced.
"Buzzy Boop"
Paramount 7 mins. So So Cartoon
Betty Boop, Max Fleischer's inkwell damsel, gets a country cousin in this new release. Betty meets Buzzy at the station, and she is no end perturbed to discover her erstwhile relative hanging from the engine for a thrill. Buzzy proves to be a regular tomboy and outsmarts the larger kids at their own tricks. Buzzy becomes unpopular because she is a smart aleck, and it is not until she saves the other children from being battered by an angry goat that they make her one of the gang. Max Fleischer produced the cartoon.
"Beside a Moonlit Stream"
Paramount 8 mins. Entertaining Musical Number
Frank Dailey and his orchestra offer a tuneful orchestration of "Beside a Moonlit Stream" in this musical short, and Howard Dulany, vocalist with the orchestra, gives a catchy vocal rendition of the number. The well known bouncing ball is used to get the audience into the spirit of the film. The story revolves around a bear cub that is having a birthday party. The guests arrive and the orchestra is cut in. The picture ends with the cub gobbling up the birthday cake and getting a tummy ache. Max Fleischer produced.
August 4, 1938 "A Day At the Beach" (Captain and the Kids Cartoon)
M-G-M 10 mins. Lively Cartoon
The Captain and his family spend a day at the beach, and encounter a series of adventures. The Inspector has his troubles building sand castles which the waves wash away, Momma almost gets drowned in the surf as she rides a rubber horse that deflates. The Captain tries to rescue her, but she rescues him instead. The kids, Hans and Fritz, get into a variety of mischief, as usual, and are the only ones who get any fun out of the day's outing.
August 15, 1938 "Silly Seals" (Oswald the Rabbit)
Universal 7 mins. Cartoon Fun
In a North Pole classroom Professor Seal is teaching the little seals all about fishing. But one tiny seal plays hookey while he practices his juggling act with snowballs. On a fishing trip for a demonstration lesson, the little seal gets himself in bad with teacher. But later when they return to the classroom he is the means of saving the lives of all the others when the polar bear is ready to cart them off for a nice meal. He starts doing his juggling act, and the bear is so intrigued that he decides to stay in the class and learn how to juggle, too. Produced by Walter Lantz.
August 24, 1938 "Barnyard Romeo" (Oswald the Rabbit)
Universal 7 mins. Barnyard Gags
Fun in the barnyard, as romance blooms between Clock Gobble, the turkey, and Dulcie Duck, who talks with a Hebrew accent which is very funny. But Miss Peacock comes along to vamp the Romeo away from his love. Miss Duck is smart, find disguises herself as a gay Mexican caballero, and the fickle vamp gives Gobble the gate for the new lover. When Gobble is broken-hearted and tries to commit suicide by drowning, Dulcie Duck rescues him. Now he realizes who his true love is. Produced by Walter Lantz.
August 29, 1938 "A-Lad-ln-Bagdad" (Merrie Melody Cartoon)
Vitaphone 7 mins. Clever Skit
Back in the ancient days of Bagdad, the fabled Aladdin is seen winning the magic lamp in a game of skill. He rubs it, and his wishes are granted immediately by the genii of the lamp. He finds himself transported on the magic carpet to the Sultan's palace, who has staged a contest of entertainers, the winner to receive the hand of his daughter. Aladdin nearly loses the contest when the villian steals his lamp, but he makes a quick recovery and wins the beautiful daughter. But only to lose her when she rubs the lamp and gets her wish of a handsome movie star for a husband. Produced by Leon Schlesinger. Story by Dave Monahan.
September 2, 1938 "All's Fair at the Fair" (Color Classic)
Paramount 7 mins. Novelty Cartoon
A couple from the sticks visit the Fair grounds, and find themselves participating in a series of adventures with the ultra-modern mechanism operated by robots. Finally, I they reach the dance pavilion, and I the wife and husband each are taken in hand by robots and whirled round the floor. Other mechanical gags give them a marvelous meal, beauty and barber treatments, and clinical attention to restore their youth. Very clever and novel. A Max Fleischer cartoon in Technicolor.
"Bulldozing the Bull" (Popeye Cartoon)
Paramount 7 mins. Fast Action
Just to please a nifty senorita named Olive Oyl that he flirts with, Popeye goes into the bull ring to subdue a specimen. He tries to show the bull that he just wants to play around, and not to hurt his pal, but the bull refuses to take things playfully. He almost wipes up the field with Popeye, who then gets sore, and with his helpful spinach to restore him, he puts the bull away. A Max Fleischer cartoon.
September 16, 1938 "Brave Little Tailor" (Walt Disney)
RKO Radio 9 mins. Brilliant Achievement
Will rank as one of the finest Disneys ever produced. Mickey is a tailor in a village near the castle in the days of knights and giants. The king has sent his couriers forth to find a brave man capable of slaying the terrible giant who is threatening to destroy the land. Mickey, by a fluke, after killing seven flies with a fly-swatter, and bragging about it, is misunderstood to have said he killed seven giants with one blow. So he is haled before the king in the castle as the hero to bump off the Giant. Scared stiff, Mickey is sent forth outside the castle walls to kill the Giant, while all the populace hides and awaits results. Mickey encounters the Giant, and the contrast of the great feet crunching along as Mickey barely keeps a step ahead of the Giant forms some of the finest screen portrayal ever seen. One great scene is where the Giant sits down on a barn, leans over and starts to eat the pumpkins out of a basket at his feet, the pumpkins in proportion appearing the size of berries. Mickey is hiding in the pumpkins, and is taken up in the Giant's massive hand. Then the excitement begins as the Giant discovers this funny little "bug." How Mickey finally overcomes the villain will form one of the thrilling things for the youngsters to talk about for months to come.
"The Cat and the Bell" (Walter Lantz)
Universal 7 1/2 mins.
Walter Lantz has made a very enjoyable cartoon which deals with the hatred of the mice for the cat. So as to know the cat's whereabouts, the mice decide to tie a bell to the cat's tail. The job is forced upon the smallest mouse and after much ado, the cat gets the bell in his mouth. By a quick snap, it shoots right through to his tail where it rings every time he moves. There is a lot of action, speed and laughs to the affair. Walter Lantz produced from a story by Victor McLeod and Hicks Lokey. Alex Lovy directed and music was handled by Frank Marsales. Animators were Frank Tipper and Ray Faringer.
September 19, 1938 "Mickey's Parrot" (Disney Cartoon)
RKO Radio 8 mins. The Tops
At home listening to the radio, Mickey and Pluto get a police announcement of the escape of a killer. A few minutes later a seaman's parrot is jolted out of a cage in a moving van, and finds his way into the furnace in Mickey's cellar. The strange sounds convince Mickey and Pluto that the killer is hiding somewhere in the house. Then begin a series of laughable incidents as first Pluto and then Mickey searching in different parts of the house, hear strange noises that scare them silly. One funny sequence has the parrot concealed and making grumbling noises in seaman lingo, with Pluto thinking it is a goldfish in a bowl that is giving him back talk. The parrot finally upsets popcorn on the stove, and it begins to pop like machine-gun bullets, with Mickey bravely firing in return. When the parrot, more scared than Mickey and Pluto, says "I give up!" Mickey is a very happy guy.
September 23, 1938 "The Whalers" (Disney Cartoon)
RKO Radio 8 mins. A Winner
A wild adventure at sea on a whaling vessel, with Mickey the captain and Donald Duck the chief mate The Goof acts as the harpooner, and shoots a harpoon by mistake into the crow's-nest where Donald has just spotted a big whale. After the excitement of getting Donald out of the ship's bell where he has been knocked by the harpoon, Goofy rams the anchor into the cannon, and fires it. He is yanked overboard as the rope uncoils, and winds up in the whale's stomach. The whale spouts him out again along with a ton of water, and Donald the Duck meanwhile is out in the ocean coming to the rescue of his shipmate. It all winds up in a terrific climax with all hands fed up on whale fishing. It's another Disney winner.
"The Frog Pond" (Color Rhapsody)
Columbia 7 mins. Lively Cartoon
Down in the pond the little frogs are having a picnic, when Bully Frog appears and starts to spoil the fun. Finally, they gang up on him, and grab the bully's house, and pushing it into the water, where it is carried alongside the prison. The bully gets himself jailed, and is breaking rocks as the other little frogs dance gleefully away. Produced by Charles Mintz. Directed by that oldtime, U. B. Iwerks.
"Gym Jams" (Krazy Kat)
Columbia 7 mins. Very Funny
The private gym of Krazy Kat is invaded by a desperate escaped convict, Hippo. The big brute starts to bully Krazy around and demands special attention. So Krazy puts him through a series of violent reducing exercises, and finally after the steam bath the Hippo shrinks to a little fellow, and Krazy turns him over to the cops. A Charles Mintz production.
September 28, 1938 "Hollywood Graduation" (Scrappy Cartoon)
Columbia 7 mins. Cute Cartoon
The graduation class and their parents at the Hollywood school are addressed by the professor and then he calls the students up for their diplomas. The scholars are the children of the film stars, and of course they do impersonations of their parents. Produced by Charles Mintz.
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