111 Detouring America

Title: Detouring America (technically "Detouring America", with the quote marks)
Studio: Warner Bros.
Date: 8/25/39
Credits:
Supervision
Fred Avery
Story by
Jack Miller
Animation
Rollin Hamilton
Musical Direction
Carl W. Stalling
Series: Merrie Melodies
Running time (of viewed version): 7:55

Synopsis: A narrator narrates some things about some states.





















Comments: Opening with a text joke involving Democrats and Republicans; not unprecedentedly political, but more political than usual. I hear Yankee Doodle before then, Sitting on a Baby Bumblebee, California Here I come, and Dixie under the text joke. There are others. Empire state building looks washed out up top. I think the military academy joke is that their legs aren't in step. It doesn't strike me as funny tho. It didn't even strike me as initially out of place. The cow puncher's voice is I think a caricature of someone specific. The black character in Alaska sings as a notable because it is not stereotypical sweet tenor; he is carried back to old Virginny by an equally stereotypical looking Eskimo. The Oh Bwunhilda piece is played. The prairie dogs look Chuck Jonesy. Yet another prospector. Lots of racial caricature. Yet another trouble making fawn. This cartoon relies on camera pans across multi-level backgrounds more than most.