MODELING (1921)
Out Of The Inkwell Films (Fleischer)

One of the most popular animated series of the silent film era was the product of pioneer animators Max and Dave Fleischer, who would later go on to create Betty Boop and the animated versions of Popeye and Superman. The Out Of The Inkwell cartoons combined cartoon animation and live action in an effective and delightful manner that would not be surpassed by any other studio until the 1940s. This particular cartoon is one of the earliest entries in the series. As in most of these films, it is Max Fleischer himself that plays the part of the cartoonist that brings to life the cartoon clown, who in 1923 would be christened "Ko Ko".

PIANO TOONERS
(1932) Van Beuren Studio

A black-and white cartoon featuring Tom and Jerry. Obviously, this is not M-G-M's famous cat and mouse characters of the same names (one of their films is posted below), but a bland but cheerful humanoid duo that starred in about two dozen Van Beuren cartoons produced between 1931 and 1933. This particular entry has one of the earliest instance of "toilet humor" known to me, which is pretty commonplace in some of the TV cartoons now. Before the mid-1930s there were few restrictions on film production as far as content went, and it seems the cartoon makers of the day revelled in it!

THE WOODS ARE FULL OF CUCKOOS
(1937) WB/Leon Schlesinger

A delightful Technicolor Merrie Melodie cartoon with an all-star cast, of sorts. The film is a burlesque of a radio program of the day called Community Sing. Fans of 1930s movies and radio shows should have no trouble identifying the many celebrities being spoofed in this cartoon. Among those are the likes of Ben Bernie and Walter Winchell, carrying on their phony feud in the manner of the more famous Jack Benny-Fred Allen feud during this same time. This animated farce was directed by Frank Tashlin, who would later be equally successful as a live-action comedy director.

THE TRUCE HURTS
(1948) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Starring the cat and mouse duo Tom and Jerry, along with Butch the bulldog. In an attempt to end their long-running feud, the three draw up a peace treaty among themselves. But for some reason we get this feeling that it won't last for very long! This particular recording was taped from a weekday-afternoon airing of Tom and Jerry cartoons on SuperStation WTBS sometime in November 1986. It also includes several seconds of footage (during the mud puddle scene when the three are trying to cross it) that has since been deleted.

'SNO FUN (1951)
Paul Terry/Terrytoons

Probably the most popular and successful of all of Paul Terry's characters were the pair of magpies known as Heckle and Jeckle. In this cartoon they are Northwest Unmounted Policemen in hot pursuit of that notorious outlaw Powerful Pierre. During most of the film Heckle (the bird that speaks with a Brooklynesque accent) is speaking al la Humphrey Bogart. Ultimately, Heckle and Jeckle get their man. Another cartoon recorded from the USA Network's Sunday-morning Mighty Mouse show back in 1993-94.

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Monday, 12 February 2007 (4 Cartoons)