Mutt and Jeff: Demagogues!

(click to enlarge)

From a book I picked up years ago. It's a little known fact that in 1919 Canada was governed by Hitler and that Italy was populated by 1/4 scale people who had mastered the art of levitation. Ya learn somethin' new every day!

Cartoon Release Schedule: 1935

Here is an interesting page from The Motion Picture Herald which I was fortunate enough to pick up last Christmas (thanks to the unblinking eye of Bob) which has, as well as some beautiful Fleischer ads, a page outlining the release schedule of cartoons and short subjects for 1935. A fascinating look into the break-neck world of 30's cartoons!

(click to enlarge)

Ape Magic!

When in doubt go with 'Monkey Meat' (Terrytoons, 1930)

Holy crap, he's winkin' right at me!!

More Playthings

I've been at a loss as what to post lately - so much is already covered on others' blogs in detail which I probably wouldn't have the patience to do myself. So, while I mull, here are a couple more ads from the 1935 Playthings. 

It's interesting to note how Scrappy's design changed from 1931-1935. Dick Huemer left in 1933 but the series remained fairly strong up to 1935. Some excellent Scrappy cartoons released that year included: 'The Gloom Chasers', 'Scrappy's Ghost Story', 'The Puppet Murder Case' and 'Let's Ring Doorbells'.

Love that vinyl Pluto!

Another indispensable lesson!

How to take your little drawing of a messed up horse and make it into a big drawing of a messed up horse! Actually it might be a donkey - I'm not sure. Courtesy of George Carlson and his magic pantograph, 1933.

Musicraft

A little out of the range of what should be posting here (but hey it's just a blog) but here is a nice label for the original release of this classic bebop tune.

McCay Monday

Animation: The Next Wave!

Forget Mo-Cap! I've just discovered the next big wave in animation: The Federal School method from 1927! The enterprising student interested in SUCCESS and ADVANCEMENT will make a thorough study of the following images. At the completion of the course the student will receive a certified Federal Schools diploma, a plug of tobacco and a polio vaccination! 

 

Ghost Gallery 1

While on the subject of things haunted here are some grabs from some of my favourite ghost cartoons. They did a lot of these in the 30's and most of 'em are pretty good. Not that 30's cartoons ever made much sense but I think once the cartoon had a supernatural setting the artists were able to go even a little wilder then they might have in, for instance, a typical barnyard type scenario.

'Snow White' has to be the king of all ghost cartoons. 'Swing You Sinners' has more but there's something really satisfying about seeing Koko the Clown turn into a ghost ... I have no idea why. 

You don't see much of the ghosts until the end of 'I Heard' but it's well worth waiting to see that ghost light his cigar with a bomb! 

It's really sad that 'Swing You Sinners' isn't widely available except for an expensive French PAL DVD set. There are a lot of ghosts in this one but my favourite has to be the razor ghost. 'Brother, you sho gonna get your face lifted ... and a permanent shave"!

'Midnight Frolics' ranks among the best cartoons to be produced from the Color Rhapsodies series. I like to think of this as Iwerks' swan song (although I'm not really sure how much, if at all, he animated on it) before returning to Disney.

*can anyone out there tell me who was animating at Iwerks at this time? I think I read Natwick was there at this time (free-lancing) but who else?*

More Ghosts later!

McCay Monday

New Logo & Links

Added a new (wobbly) logo and a few links. 

'Cartoon Research Garage Sale' is where most of my frame grabs come from. If you haven't already go over there right now and purchase a disc! Jerry Beck (and CO.) have done a great service to cartoon lovers everywhere and shed badly needed light on to some really wonderful cartoons!  

'Doombuggies' has too many ads but there's some neat stuff on my favourite ride as kid: The Haunted Mansion.

 'Virtual Victrola' has a lot of interesting information and downloads of 20's jazz. Who in the world would want to see a quicktime of an old Victor batwing of 'Clementine' spinning on a victrola? Me, that's who!

Bimbo Playing Cards

What always used to drive me crazy was what exactly was on the face of the Betty Boop/Bimbo playing cards which were licensed by the Fleischer Studios in the 30's. Basically no ebay seller ever shows the faces (two of diamonds, ace of spades etc.)  when they come up for auction. So here I solve the mystery: they are just ordinary playing cards except for the image on the back. I have posted the back and front of the joker which is about as (not too) interesting as it gets.

The Nosepickers

Just a design idea I did for my older (and smarter) sisters from an idea they had when they were little in beautiful Hinkley, Ohio. They're called 'The Nosepickers' because they're pick old time bluegrass music (as well as noses)!  

A bit bit more ...

I must be on a 'Piano Mover' kick. Here Krazy and Kitty meet an old perverted dog ...

He 'slaps' the outside of the window - you figure it out ...

He's singing 'That's My Weakness Now'

Do you think he's wearing pants back there?

enter the rolling pin

wow, what a drawing!

whoa.

brilliant!