Mickey Mouse continued to be popular (and heavily promoted). The studio had signed a deal to have exclusive use of the three-strip Technicolor process for cartoons, which it unveiled in “Flowers and Trees.” And it won two Oscars—one for “Trees” and a special award for the creation of Mickey Mouse.
The Disney cartoon were now being released by United Artists, though Columbia still had some in distribution from the end of its contract. Here are extremely attractive ads in The Film Daily. The full-colour ones are pretty impressive.
Let’s go through the Film Daily for July to December of 1932 and pick out the animation news and reviews. News items are few and far between. The theatrical studios at the time, besides Disney, were Harman-Ising (Warners), Iwerks (MGM), Terry-Toons (Educational), Van Beuren (RKO), Fleischer (Paramount) and Mintz (Columbia). Ted Eshbaugh was also making cartoons (with Carl Stalling as musical director) and you’ll see a mention of several other studios which are a bit of a puzzle.
July 5, 1932
Mickey Mouse is Credited As 'Symphonies' Producer
In connection with the new lineup of "Silly Symphonies," being released by United Artists, Walt Disney is using the line, "Mickey Mouse Presents—." The object apparently is to let the fans know that the "Silly Symphonies" are from the same shops as the "Mickey Mouse" subjects.
July 6, 1932
Ad Man and Fleischer At A.M.P.A. Tomorrow
I. A. Hirschmann, advertising and publicity head of Lord and Taylor, and Max Fleischer, producer of cartoons, will be guests of honor at the Ampa meeting tomorrow, in Sardi's Restaurant. Fleischer will demonstrate how cartoons are made and will be assisted by Mae Questel, original Betty Boop girl; Cookie Bowers, his vocal sound effects genius, and Sammy Timberg, musical composer. Hirschmann will expound his theory on how to inject news value into ads.
July 23, 1932
MAGIC CARPET, MICKEY WIN AWARDS SHORTS
Magic Carpet of Movietone and Mickey Mouse have been honored as the outstanding short films of the 1931-32 season, in Awards of Merit just presented by the Film Bureau, a volunteer organization located in New York for the support of the best motion pictures. Presentation of the awards was made to Fox, for the Magic Carpets, which are, the work of Louis de Rochemont and staff, and to Columbia, for the Mickey Mouse subjects, the work of Walt Disney and staff.
July 29, 1932
New Kid Club Idea Gets PlayNAT WOLF, Warner Theaters Ohio district manager, has had remarkable success with the formation of a comedy kiddie club called the "Looney Tune Club," based on the "Looney Tune" Vitaphone cartoons which points the way to appreciable "gravy" money for exhibitors. Formed at the Uptown Theater, Cleveland, as an experiment, the second week's attendance of 800 kid members of the "Looney Tune Club" has led to the organization of similar clubs in other Warner theaters in the district. The idea is now being adopted by all Warner Theaters. A comprehensive manual drawn up under Mr. Wolf's supervision gives the Warner Ohio managers full instructions on the formation and conduct of the "Looney Tune Clubs." Membership applications, buttons, cards and pledges, merchant cooperation and sponsorship, newspaper publicity campaigns, club yell and theme song, trailers election of officers, stunt and giveaway suggestions and prize contests are provided for in the manual.
—Uptown. Cleveland.
August 23, 1932
"The Sunny Side of Life," is the title of the first of a series of six one-reel animated cartoons to be produced by J. H. Harper and scheduled to go into production today at the Atlas Sound Studio, Long Island City. L. P. Wight will direct, with Bob Pattersons' orchestra furnishing musical effects.
Mickey Mouse Cartoons Planned by Japan Studio
Tokio — Success of the Mickey Mouse cartoons in this country has induced Shochiku to make similar subjects at its Kamata studio. First picture is called "Might and Women Rule the World," with Director Ikeda in charge of production.
August 26, 1932
DISNEY STUDIO RECESS
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—A two weeks' layoff has been declared at the Walt Disney studios. Production of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons will be resumed next month. About 300 are employed at the Disney plant.
August 27, 1932
"The Sunny Side of Life," the first of a series of six one-reel animated cartoons being produced by J. H. Harper, was completed last Thursday at the Atlas Sound studio, Long Island City.
August 30, 1932
IT GIVES us pleasure to report that Frank Moser associate of Paul Terry, the cartoon creator takes a leap into the Unknown with Isabel Fairclough this Thursday then to Bermuda for a honeymoon where the girl can recover from the shock at leisure.
August 31, 1932
COLOR CARTOON AT ROXY"Flowers and Trees," first of the Walt Disney Silly Symphony cartoons to be made in Technicolor, will be shown at the Roxy with the new program which starts tomorrow. Will Rogers in Fox's "Down to Earth" is the feature.
September 1, 1932
"MICKEY" FIRST-RUN HOUSE
When United Artists takes over the Rivoli on Sept. 14 with the premiere of Douglas Fairbanks is "Mr. Robinson Crusoe," the house will become the "Home of Mickey Mouse," it is announced by Harry D. Buckley of U.A., who is to supervise the theater operation. All first-runs of the Mickey cartoons will take place here, although the other Walt Disney cartoon feature, "Silly Symphonies," will be sold to other theaters one at a time.
Sept. 17, 1932
WALT DISNEY DELIVERS FIRST SEVEN 10 U. A.
Five of the new Mickey Mouse cartoon comedies and two of the new Silly Symphonies, made under Walt Disney's new production contract, have been delivered to United Artists, and all but two of them have been released nationally.
One will have its first showing at the premiere of Douglas Fairbanks' "Mr. Robinson Crusoe" at the Rivoli, New York, next Wednesday, and the seventh will be distributed Oct. 7.
There will be 18 Mickeys and 13 Sillies in the year's program. Either a Mickey or Silly will be released every 10 days throughout the year.
Shorts released or set for release to date include: "Bears and Bees," "Mickey's Nightmare," "Just Dogs," "Trader Mickey," "Bugs in Love," all in the Mickey Mouse group, and two Silly Symphonies, "Flowers and Trees," "King Neptune."
Cartoons Indispensable On Movie Programs Today
"Cartoons have become as indispensable a part of a motion picture program as a newsreel," says Harvey Day, sales representative for Terry-Toons. On his latest tour of key cities, Day observed that exhibitors are fully cognizant of the fact that their patrons expect an animated cartoon on each program. It is no longer a question of whether the exhibitor should show a cartoon, but where he can secure the best animated reels.
Discussing the plans of the producers of the Terry-Toons, Day stated that Terry and Moser will pursue the plan they adopted when they introduced the Terry-Toons three years ago—that of providing unusual musical accompaniment with the animated humor.
Vast World-Wide Organization Behind Mickey Mouse Cartoons
Now that the Walt Disney-United Artists combination has had an opportunity to get its bright new machinery into motion, Mickey Mouse and the Silly Symphonies find themselves the centrifugal point of a world-wide organization the like of which has never before been attempted on single-reel features. Or any other features, for that matter, according to United Artists. Mickey and the Sillies have long since been the favorite film entertainment of a score of countries of the world, but now they are infinitely extending their influence, and, with the aid of the U. A. world-wide organization, are reaching a clientele never before dreamed of.
Through the various ramifications of this organization, millions of persons throughout the world are behind the popularizing of Mickey and the Sillies. These include about 40 mercantile manufacturers who make Mickey Mouse articles and toys, employees of nearly 300,000 retail stores, more than 15,000 exhibitors, publishers of nearly 200 newspapers in the United States alone and almost 1,000,000 children, members of the Mickey Mouse Clubs.
It was only two short months ago that Mickey Mouse reaped the reward of his unprecedented artistry by becoming a producer-member of United Artists, thereby joining hands with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and all the others. But in those two montns he has grown by leaps and bounds. And now his imprint upon the cinematic scheme of things is as deeply etched as that of any star in the business. This despite the insurmountable fact that Mickey is only a pen-and-ink character and all the others are flesh and blood pulchritude. Mickey will be four years old Oct. 1. It is only since the talkies came in that he has become a star, for he and Al Jolson were the first to see the possibilities of the new medium. He receives as many as 20,000 letters in three weeks at times, and he has a different name in almost every country in the world.
Meanwhile, out in Hollywood Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, are pumping back every penny into the business with a view to keeping Mickey and the Sillies so far above any other short features that there will be no comparison.
MERCHANDISING TIEUPS EFFECTED BY COLUMBIAColumbia will buttress its program of short feature releases with an extensive merchandising tie-up campaign rivaling the efforts expended on feature productions.
The merchandising arrangements effected by the company include the "Scrappy" Cartoon school and "Scrappy" candy manufactured by the Repetti Candy Co. on Charles Mintz's "Scrappy" cartoons which Columbia releases, the Mickey Mouse clubs for the Mickey Mouse series; the Screen Book Magazine publicity tie-up in conjunction with the company's "Screen Snapshots," and the cooperative production of the "Lambs Gambols" by Columbia and the Lambs Club drawing upon the tremendous array of famous stage actors, writers and composers for this new series of two reelers.
Special press books and accessories are being prepared by Columbia on each short feature providing for an adequate campaign on these subjects.
MICKEY MOUSE IN COLOR MAY FOLLOW SYMPHONIES
As a result of the tremendous reception at Grauman's Chinese in Los Angeles and the Roxy in New York of the first Silly Symphony in natural color, Walt Disney, its creator, says all the Symphonies to be released this year by United Artists will be done in Technicolor and that later the Mickey Mouse may also be photographed in natural color.
The first Silly in Technicolor, "Flowers and Trees," was in the nature of a feeler. It was made to touch out the public reaction to color in an animated short feature.
After the first showing in Hollywood, in conjunction with M-G-M's "Strange Interlude," Disney decided that he had hit upon one of his most popular moves. Sid Grauman also was highly enthusiastic about "Flowers and Trees."
The same thing happened when the picture was shown at the Roxy. And now the second Silly, "King Neptune," will have its premiere at the opening of "Mr. Robinson Crusoe," Douglas Fairbanks' new feature, at the Rivoli next Wednesday.
October 7, 1932
Harvey Day Appointed 'Terrytoons' Bus. Mgr.
Harvey Day, special representative for Educational for years, has joined Moser & Terry, producer of "Terrytoons," as business manager.
October 8, 1932
RUFLE GETS CARTOON PATENTA patent covering a synchronization method and apparatus for making sound cartoons was recently granted to George Rufle, animator on the staff of "Tom and Jerry" cartoons. The representation of a conductor's baton occupies different positions on a work print in synchronization with the movements of characters to afford a visual tempo indicator to the director of the sound crew. The apparatus is already in successful operation at one eastern studio. Two other inventions pertaining to visual and audible tempo indicators are now being installed.
October 12, 1932
Color Cartoon Series Also to Be on 16 MM.
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood — Musicolor Fantasies Co., which plans a series of sound and color cartoons based on "Wizard of Oz" stories, will also produce sound and color cartoons on 16 mm. film for home projectors. Ted Eshbaugh is in charge of production, and Carl Stallings is musical director.
October 17, 1932
3 Vitaphone Subjects in Cutting Room
Vitaphone has 13 shorts now in the hands of the studio's cutters under Bert Frank, film editor. Nine are one-reelers, including. . . "Inklings," a novelty cartoon by William J. Giegerich.
November 7, 1932
Close Contest Results In Picking Best Shorts
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Because the vote on M-G-M's "Swinging High" and Mack Sennett's "Wrestling With Swordfish" was so close, both shorts will be run off Wednesday before the full membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to decide the winner of the award for the best novelty short of the year. Winners of the cartoon and comedy shorts have been decided upon, but will not be made public until the Academy dinner, Nov. 18. Comedy nominations were: "Music Box," with Laurel and Hardy, MGM; "Loud Mouth," Mack Sennett; "Scratch as Scratch Can," RKO. Cartoons included: "Flowers and Trees," Walt Disney; "It's Got Me Again," a Herman-Ising production with Leon Schlesinger as associate producer, released by Warners; "Mickey's Orphans," Disney.
November 16, 1932
Disney Short Wins
"Flowers and Trees," Walt Disney's first Silly Symphony in Technicolor for United Artists release, will be given the animated cartoon award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week, according to word received by United Artists.
November 17, 1932
Mickey Mouse Gets Disney Special Academy Award
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Walt Disney has been awarded the "extra special" award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his creation of Mickey Mouse. The only like awards in the past were won by Warners, for pioneering in sound, and Charlie Chaplin, for "The Circus."
December 10, 1932
Neil McGuire Producing Cartoon Series on Coast
West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY
Hollywood—Neil McGuire has begun production on the first of a series of cartoon pictures at his studio at 1050 N. Cahuenga Avenue. These pictures will combine animated cartoons with human players, painted backgrounds and miniature. McGuire recently came back from New York, where he produced forty short subjects for Master Art Productions with the following stars: Tony Wons, Boswell Sisters, Lew White, Ann Leaf, Jesse Crawford and "The Street Singer." McGuire will produce the new picture independently.
Silly Symphonies Set New Mark In the Animated Comedy Field
Started in the nature of an experiment, Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies in natural color are now the most talked-of product in the industry. Everywhere they are shown they are eliciting unstinted praise for their artistry. The Sillies had been making a name for themselves months before United Artists took over their distribution last July, but when he signed the new contract Walt Disney cast about for an idea that would elevate them to an even higher standard, if posible. He decided upon adding natural color to one or two of them, just to see how the public reacted to them.
The result is history. Instantly the Sillies became a sensation. The first one, "Flowers and Trees," not only registered an unprecedented hit upon screens throughout the country, but it blossomed forth in the art columns of newspapers and magazines, one of these, the "Philadelphia Public Ledger," devoting several columns to it on its Sunday art page.Each successive one marked a distinct advance in artistry and ingenuity. "King Neptune" took up where "Flowers and Trees" left off; "Babes in the Wood," now showing in the Palace, New York, with "The Kid From Spain," is receiving vociferous applause, and "Santa's Workshop," the fourth, is being pointed to as one of the best short features ever made.
The trouble is that Walt Disney has just been awarded two prizes by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences—one for the creation of Mickey Mouse and the other for his colored Symphonies—so now the Academy is going to have a tough time next winter in finding a new award for him.
Disney Animation Takes Human Form
Through vastly improved facilities and more painstaking efforts, Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony films now have the advantage of animation as perfect as that of the human players of the screen. In other words, the animation is as perfect as human ingenuity is able to achieve.
The reason, to strip the matter of its technical verbiage, is this: Heretofore, Disney and other producers of animated pictures contented themselves with one drawing to every four frames, which meant that there were four drawings to each foot of film. This gave an approximation of perfect animation, but more often than not a discerning eye could detect sketchy and jumpy action.
Now Disney has a drawing to each frame, making 16 drawings to a foot of film, instead of four, the result being the most perfect animation ever attained in a so-called cartoon subject. If Mickey Mouse now stands in front of a camera and raises his right arm slowly, he does it in the very same manner as does Douglas Fairbanks or any other human star. And the effect upon the screen is identical, despite the fact that Mickey is only a pen-and-ink, and therefore a synthetic, character.
THREE DISNEY CREATIONS HAVE SPECIAL YULE ANGLE
Two Silly Symphonies and one Mickey Mouse, made especially for the Christmas season by Walt Disney, are now being marketed by United Artists under direction of Al Lichtman, vice-president and general manager of distribution. Because of their year-round appeal to children, the Disney features lend themselves admirably to Christmas and Santa Claus.
The two Sillies, both in natural color, are titled "Santa's Workshop" and "Babes in the Wood," and the Mickey is "Mickey's Good Deed." The first-named is the best of the three, so far as ' Christmas is conceited. It pictures Santa Claus and his gay little crew completing work upon toys and other gifts to be distributed throughout the world. It is the last, and probably the best, Silly Symphony ever made.
The other Silly, "Babes in the Wood," is now being shown at the Palace, New York, in front of "The Kid from Spain," Eddie Cantor's starring picture. And at every show it is evoking thunderous applause, which is something, even for a full-length feature.
Aesop Fable Countess Is Given a New Voice
Countess Cat, leading lady of the Aesop's Fable cartoon series has a new voice. This transformation was not brought about by an operation, but by the signing of a contract, and the young lady involved is Marjorie Hines, well known radio artist and musical comedy star.
By terms of the contract, Miss Hines is to lend her voice exclusively to cartoons produced by Van Beuren. The peculiar qualities of this young lady's voice make her particularly adaptable to the character of Countess Cat, which is more or less featured in the Fable series.
Some of the Aesop's Fable cartoons released by RKO' Radio in which Miss Hines' voice is to be heard are "Venice Vamp," "Hokum Hotel," "Pickaninny Blues," "A Yarn of Wool," and "Bugs and Books."
SANTA CARTOON AT ROXY
"Santa's Workshop," Walt Disney cartoon in color, distributed by United Artists, will have its first showing at the Roxy the week starting Dec. 16. It is rated one of the finest colored shorts ever produced.
Christmas "Melodie"
A special cartoon for the Christmas holidays has been made by Leon Schlesinger for release through Warner Bros, as part of the "Merrie Melodies" song cartoon series. It is entitled "In a Shanty Where Santa Claus Lives." The action is built around a street urchin who goes to bed supperless on Christmas eve. Santa arrives and takes the youngster to his home in toyland, where, surrounded by a galaxy of toys, the urchin finds a child's paradise.
December 15, 1932
VAN BEUREN STUDIO MOVING
Studios and recording rooms of Amedee J. Van Beuren's "Aesops Fables" and "Tom and Jerry" cartoons, will be moved from 318 West 46th St. to the 16th floor of 729 Seventh Ave. shortly after the new year.
December 16, 1932
CARTOON MUSIC BY RUBINOFF
Dave Rubinoff and his violin have been assigned by Max Fleischer to furnish music for a new Betty Boop Talkartoon.
December 23, 1932
FOUR-STAR CARTOON
"Babes in the Wood," Silly Symphony cartoon distributed by United Artists, received four stars in "Liberty Magazine." This is the first short to receive such a high rating in that publication.
December 30, 1932
At the Roxy
Preceding the RKO feature "The Animal Kingdom" the customers were treated to a surprise animated cartoon . . . an Aesop Fable "Opening Night" . . . presented by Amedee J. Van Beuren and cleverly colored by Brock . . . and was it funny . . . just ask us.
July 9, 1932
"The Queen Was in the Parlor" (Merrie Melodie)
Vitaphone 5612 7 mins.
Okay
Based on the currently popular song, "The Queen Was in the Parlor," this Merrie Melodie is a good number of its kind. The cartoon antics revolve chiefly around the king, a fat and comical duffer, and the members of his regal household. Action and musical work are okay.
July 14, 1932
Rudy Vallee in "Rudy Vallee Melodies" (Screen Song)Paramount 10 mins.
Swell
One of Paramount's new season crop of shorts, given an advance showing at the Rialto. In addition to presenting Rudy Vallee singing several of his favorite songs, there are some lively cartoon sequences in which Betty Boop gives a party to her animal friends, and plays up to Vallee, who is inserted photographically, as her hero. A bouncing ball number also is included. Numbers by Vallee include "Keep a Little Song Handy," as the opening and closing theme; "Deep Night," "A Little Kiss Each Morning" and the "Stein Song" accompanied by football action shots. The combination of materials in this Max Fleischer production makes it a swell bit of entertainment.
July 19, 1932
"Redskin Blues" (Tom and Jerry Cartoon)
RKO 7 mins.
Nifty Animated Number
This is one of the best of the Tom and Jerry animated cartoons seen thus far. The central characters land in a reservation, where preparations are made to burn them at the stake, but they are saved in a rescue scene that brings out army, navy, air forces, tank corps, etc., with grand effect. There is a dance by a group of squaws, who discard their robes and stand revealed as Broadway chorus types; and when the old chief, who has kept himself covered with a blanket up to his ears, finally is shaken out of his seat, he turns out to be a Hebrew. A lively, funny and tuneful number.
July 23, 1932
"Spring Is Here"
Educational 7 mins.
A Paul Terry-Toon with some animated artistry that is above the average. The old farmer again appears, along with the animals, all affected by the call of spring in various ways. A fine musical score by Philip Scheib greatly enhances the comedy antics of the animals.
"I Love A Parade"Vitaphone 7 mins.
Good Cartoon
A cartoon of opening day at the circus, with the idea of the parade predominating, and constituting the theme song. The cartoon work is very original and different from the routine treatment of the animateds. The scenes at the sideshow are especially good, and are well gagged. Here is a cartoon that gets away from the cut-and-dried animal antics.
August 5, 1932
Lillian Roth in "Down Among the Sugar Cane"
Paramount 7 mins.
Okay Screen Song
A Max Fleischer short, combining a name singer in the person of Lillian Roth, animated cartoon work and the usual bouncing ball singing sequences. Lively, tuneful and generally enjoyable.
August 9, 1932
"Bosko at the Beach"
Vitaphone 7 mins.
Good Cartoon
Animated cartoon comedy in which Bosko and his friends disport themselves at the shore. A little one is washed out into the water by a big wave, and Bosko stages an amusing rescue.
August 13, 1932
"Stopping the Show" (Betty Boop Cartoon)
Paramount 7 mins.
Nifty
A knockout animated cartoon number from the Max Fleischer studios. Different, clever and highly entertaining. It presents a vaudeville performance in the Betty Boop Theater. First comes a burlesqued "Paramouse Noose Reel" that is a pip. It's followed by Bimbo and Koko in a two-act, and Betty Boop comes on and stops the show with her imitation of Fanny Brice and Maurice Chevalier. A treat on any bill.
"Mind the Baby" (Scrappy Cartoon)
Columbia 6 mins.
Okay
Scrappy is left at home to mind the baby, a tough brat who makes plenty of trouble for his guardian. Feeding the infant, dressing him, putting him to sleep, etc., are among Scrappy's problems, and he solves them in amusing fashion. Makes an acceptable filler of its kind.
August 23, 1932
"Trader Mickey" (Mickey Mouse Cartoon)United Artists 7 mins.
Swell
Highly amusing takeoff on "Trader Horn." Shows Mickey floating down a jungle river on a boat loaded with merchandise. Cannibals pounce upon him, grab his goods and prepare to make stew out of Mickey. But with the aid of a musical instrument the rodent soon has everybody, from the fat king all the way down the line, laughing and singing. An ace cartoon subject that will click anywhere.
August 26, 1932
"Bosko's Store" (Looney Tune)
Vitaphone 5412 7 mins.
Good Cartoon
A thoroughly entertaining animated cartoon number. Shows Bosko at work in a grocery store, where he performs various amusing antics in slicing boloney and doing other chores around the shop. Lively and tuneful.
August 31, 1932
"Bring Em Back Half Shot" (Aesop Fable)
RKO 7 mins.
Swell Animated Cartoon
Van Beuren has turned out an excellent travesty on its own current feature hit, "Bring 'Em Back Alive." One of the characters impersonates Frank Buck as the intrepid explorer invading the jungles with cameras. He finds most of the supposedly ferocious animals disporting themselves in languorous style, but there also are some simulated "battles for life" contests on the order of the Buck feature. Amusing, timely and well done all around.
September 6, 1932
"Flowers and Trees"United Artists 9 mins.
Fine Color Cartoon
The first of the Walt Disney Silly Symphonies in Technicolor. Here is a genuine novelty that bids fair to put the cartoon on a new plane of importance. The color work is exceptionally well handled. The theme lends itself admirably to color treatment, being a humorous little conceit of a romance between two trees, with the hero and the villain, and all the rest of the incidental business that makes up a regulation human romance. It is a finely artistic production, with plenty of comedy, and it looks as if color has definitely scored in the animated field.
September 17, 1932
"Bosko, the Lumberjack"
Vitaphone 7 mins.
Okay
A Looney Tune cartoon. A burlesque of the North Woods and the lumber country, with the cartoon hero having his troubles with the half-breed bully who kidnaps his girl. The cartoon work is novel, and moves fast with plenty of good animated gagging.
"Mickey's Revue" (Mickey Mouse Cartoon)
Columbia 7 mins.
A Pip
Mickey Mouse and his girl friend Minnie Mouse are at their best in this number. Shows Mickey putting on a musical revue before an audience of assorted animals. Mickey is an all-around artist, directing the orchestra in the pit and then doubling on the stage as a one-man band, while Minnie officiates at the piano and contributes other assistance. Some very comical bits are provided by the antics of the various performers in the revue, and there are funny interruptions from a hound who keeps intruding on the stage, and a noisy peanut-eater up in the gallery. Animation is excellent and the musical accompaniment is good. A sure-fire number of its kind for any audience.
"Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle"
Paramount 8 mins.Dandy
An excellent Betty Boop subject, with the added attraction of the Royal Samoans, musical aggregation, and Miri, a hula dancer. Plenty of engaging cartoon action with Betty and Bimbo, while the Samoans supply enjoyable accompanying music for the entire picture.
October 14, 1932
Mickey Mouse in "Touchdown Mickey"
United Artists 7 mins.
Fine Football Comic
A football game gives Mickey Mouse the background for this number. It is lively and funny all the way, with Mickey playing the part of a gridiron star who makes touchdowns in all sorts of miraculous ways. The stadium crowd atmosphere and comic radio announcer are all there.
"Betty Boop's Ups and Downs"
Paramount 7 mins.
Swell
Max Fleischer has put an extra touch of novelty into this Betty Boop cartoon. Betty apparently is a depression victim and must evacuate her home. The "For Sale" sign goes up in front of the house and finally there is an epidemic of such signs, until the whole earth itself is on the block, with other planets bidding for it. Saturn gets the Earth for about 30 cents, and in pulling it up toward him by a string he yanks loose what is called the Earth's Magnet, which thereupon proceeds to draw everything, including Betty, from this globe up into the heavenly area. Eventually the magnet is lowered to the Earth again and the other things follow.
October 15, 1932
"Farmer Al Falfa's Birthday Party"
Educational 7 mins.
Good Animated
A Paul Terry-Toon, in which all the animal friends of old Al FaLfa attend his birthday party, with some exciting consequences. Things do not go as smooth as the old farmer intended, with some good cartoon gags being pulled that make this a swell laugh number for the kids. The original scoring of Philip Scheib builds it up nicely on the musical angle.
October 18, 1932
"Hook and Ladder No. 1" (Terry-Toon)Educational 7 mins.
Good Animated
An outstanding number in the Terry-Toon series. It's a sort of fire department burlesque revolving around "Ginsburg's house burning down" and the accompanying antics of the animal fire crew. Added novelty is injected by having some comic lyrics sung in operatic style as an accompaniment just before the climax is reached. The whole affair moves along at an unusually fast pace and is highly amusing all the way.
October 19, 1932
"Hokum Hotel" (Aesop Fable)
RKO 8 mins.
Fair Cartoon
Not much to laugh at in this Aesop Fable. The animation is good and the synchronization well done, but good gags are lacking. The story concerns many goings on in and about the Hokum Hotel with a tough cat trying to capture a valuable string of pearls from one of the guests. There is quite a bit of singing by a quartette of felines and more or less consternation when the chase begins.
"A Spanish Twist"RKO 8 mins.
This Tom and Jerry cartoon takes the boys to Spain where they watch some snake-like dancers shake themselves and where they get mixed up in the bull ring and give a herd of toros a bad licking. The tussle tires the lads so they decide to return to the U.S.A., especially because they are notified that the Volstead Law has been repealed. The cartoon is unfunny and lacks the necessary snap and spontaneous gags.
November 3, 1932
"King Neptune" (Silly Symphony)
United Artists 7 mins.
Swell
Walt Disney's clever staff has fashioned another distinctive comicality that stands way out in the animated cartoon line. The action takes place in Neptune's domain, where some pirates kidnap a mermaid, thereby bringing on an offensive by the myriad denizens of the deep and old King Neptune himself. In addition to the antics of the various sea animals, there is a rollicking musical score that admirably fits the action.
"Betty Boop, M. D."
Paramount 7 mins.
Lively
A Max Fleischer cartoon, with Betty Boop assisted by Bimbo in putting over her patent medicine show. She sells her tonic to the natives and works wonders among the "hicks" till they discover that the "medicine" comes from the town pump. Some very funny and original cartoon gags are worked out in this lively animated.
"The Venice Vamp"
RKO 7 mins.
Good Cartoon
An Aesop Fable, being a clever travesty on the Italian opera. The scenes are in Venice with the here making love to the lady in a gondola. All goes well till the heroine's hubby, a barber, interferes. There is a very comical animal orchestra which executes some clever cartoon tricks. The musical parodying of the operatic air is well done, with the incidental action getting the laughs.
November 10, 1932
"Feathered Follies" (Aesop's Fable)
RKO 7 mins.
Very Good
Among the best of the Van Beuren animated subjects. Shows various birds and other denizens of the forests doing song and dance capers in the form of a musical revue. Then a villain, a black cat, appears on the scene and attempts to pounce upon some of the feathered performers. This arouses the birds into a combined attack that puts an end to the villain, whereup the birdies resume their musical diversions.
Mickey Mouse in "Whoopee Party"
United Artists, 7 mins.
Okay
Mickey and Minnie throw a fast-moving party in this latest Walt Disney creation. Minnie's piano playing gets so hot that even the furniture joins in the dance, to say nothing of the police reserves sent to quell the riot. Plenty of laughs for Mickey's fans.
Mickey Mouse in "The Wayward Canary"
United Artists 7 mins.
Swell
Mickey Mouse, Minnie and their dog are at their best in this animated cartoon. Mickey, calling on Minnie, brings her a canary and its flock of little ones as a present. After the birdies have disported themselves around the house with considerable damage to the place, all except one return to their cage. The remaining youngster leads Mickey and his gang a merry chase before it is finally caught in an amusing fashion by the dog.
November 17, 1932
"A Great Big Bunch of You" (Merrie Melody)
Vitaphone 6803 7 mins.
Good Cartoon
A discarded clothes dummy is thrown on the city dump and proceeds to enliven things by singing and dancing to the tune of the song. "A Great Big Bunch of You." Broken-down pianos, bed springs, statues, tin soldiers and miscellaneous junk is brought to life to play in the orchestra and to sing and dance. Produced by Leon Schlesinger.
"Betty Boop's Ker-Choo"
Paramount 7 mins
Good Animated
In this Max Fleischer cartoon Betty Boop goes out to the auto races and enters the speed contest along with Bimbo, Koko and others. Betty has a cold and when she coughs it upsets those around her. The ker-chooing spreads and in the end it causes the collapse of the other drivers' cars, enabling Betty to win the race. Then the grand stand collapses.
November 23, 1932
"Babes in the Woods" (Silly Symphony)
United Artists 7 mins.
Swell and Seasonal
In addition to being as nifty an example of animated cartoon art, in Technicolor, this Walt Disney number has the extra advantage of holiday appeal for the kids. It's a sort of Hansel and Gretel yarn, with a little boy and girl wandering out into the fantastic woods. They come upon a colony of bearded dwarfs at work and play. Just as the kids are joining in the fun, along comes an old witch and the dwarfs run to cover. The two youngsters are carried away on the hag's broomstick, and she takes them to her cottage, where she turns kids into animals, but finally they are rescued by the dwarfs, who knock the stuffings out of the witch, and all the caged animals are turned back into children again. Mickey Mouse in "In Arabia"
United Artists 7 mins.
Fine
Another choice bit of cartoon comicalities from the Disney shops. This time Mickey and Minnie are tourists in the Arab country. Riding into town on their dilapidated camel, Minnie is spotted by a sheik, who carries her off to his castle. Mickey follows on the trick camel and effects her rescue to the tune of plenty laughs.
November 30, 1932
"Just Dogs" (Silly Symphony)
United Artists 7 mins.
Dandy
Right up to the standard of the Walt Disney shops. A flock of dogs are imprisoned in cages within the dog-pound walls. All types of odd mutts are included. One of the pups forces himself loose and then proceeds to release the others, who dash forth and go capering all around the park's the "No Dogs Allowed" signs. . The little hero idolizes a big hound, who doesn't appear very friendly until the other one digs up a big bone for him and later rescues it again when all the other mongrels try to take it away.
Tom and Jerry in "Pencil Mania"Novel Cartoon
7 mins.
A Tom and Jerry cartoon, with Tom as the artist, and little Jerry making a monkey out of his artistic efforts with his magic pencil. With this pencil he creates characters and anything required, to form a regular thrill romance, with a heroine and villain. Tom acts as the hero in the pencil meller, but in the end little Jerry takes the heroine back into his magic pencil.
"Pickaninny Blues" (Aesop Fable)
Radio 7 mins.
Weak
An Aesop Fable, with Waffles Cat the hero seen as a cotton picker on a southern plantation. His dream becomes the cartoon which follows, showing him adventuring in Egypt, where the mummies come to life and engage in jazzy modern dances. Nothing new or original, being an adaptation of ideas from other cartoon series. They even introduce a Betty Boop and a Mickey Mouse.
December 10, 1932
"Toyland"
Educational 7 mins.
A Pip
A swell cartoon for the Holiday season. A Paul Terry-Toon that is one of the best of this popular line. There is a funny li'l pup as the hero that they ought to be able to build up to the popularity of Mickey Mouse. He's that cute. The Pup has a visit from Santa Claus, and the littlt kittens, his guests, grab the presents and have a wonderful time. One clever sequence shows all the characters of the Nursery Rhymes coming down the chimney and doing their stuff. The kids should go nuts over this one. A natural for the Holidays that you're a sucker to overlook.
Mickey Mouse in "The Klondike Kid"
United Artists
Swell
7 mins.
Shifting his field of operations to the frozen north, Mickey Mouse has an encounter with a Canuck villain who kidnaps Minnie Mouse. Mickey goes in pursuit, and in the melee the villain's shack, with all of them in it, goes toppling down the side of a tall mountain and is shattered to pieces below, with the menace being flattened, while Mickey and Minnie and their dog come up smiling.
"Ride Him, Bosko" (Looney Tune)Vitaphone 6701 7 mins.
Good Animated
Quite a bit of western whoopee is packed into this Looney Tune number. Bosko plays the part of a cowboy who goes after some stagecoach robbers and works himself into a rather complicated state of affairs. Instead of extracting him by one of the ordinary expediences of dramatic license, the picture winds up with a studio sequence in which members of the Leon Schlesinger staff appear and decide to let Bosko solve his own difficulty. A novel finishing touch.
"Sing Em Back Alive"
Master Art 7 mins.
Good Singing Parody
A parody on the wild African features, in the Organlogue series. Featuring the Eton Boys who put over the comedy, assisted by Lew White The comedy is put over with cartoon sequences and illustrations of the adventures of the two "explorers" in wild Africa. The song numbers are "Tiger Rag," "Down in Jungle Town," "Margie" and "I've Got Rings on My Fingers." Should make a great hit with the kids, for comedy animals and natives are featured all through.
December 29, 1932
"Time On My Hands" with Ethel Merman
Paramount 9 mins.
Okay
A Max Fleisher "bouncing ball" cartoon which starts out with some funny horse-play in animation, and ends with Ethel Merman singing "Time on My Hands" as the ball bounces in perfect synchrony with the music.
Mickey Mouse in "Mickey's Good Deed"
United Artists 7 mins.
Fine
Right up with the best of these animated cartoons. Subject has a special holiday flavor in that it shows how Mickey and his dog manage to bring cheer into a big family of needy animal folks. Clever and lively, as usual.
"Betty Boop's Museum"
Paramount 9 mins.
Spooky Cartoon
Betty gets lost in a natural history museum and is locked in for the night. The skeletons come to life and have a great time rambling through the halls. Betty sings and squeaks a bit. This one is up to Max Fleischer's standard.
"Bears and Bees" (Silly Symphony)
United Artists 8 mins.
Amusing
Up to the usual good standard of Disney cartoons with synchronization perfectly timed. Story amusingly shows the struggle between a pair of cubs and a wolf for the bee's honey. The manoeuvre the bees do in flying formation protecting their honey from the wolf brought forth many laughs.
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