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.

BoxOffice, August 19, 1939

This entry is a bit late for balance; it technically would have run immediately after the last BoxOffice if I'd run it in the right place.

p33

"Dr. Duck Gets Degree as Crowds Roar

It seems that Walt Disney will have to be more respectful to Donald, now that the Duck is a doctor of international friendship. It happened at the World's Fair and at Carnival-land to be exact about it. Dr. Frank Monaghan, professor of American history at Yale and director of research at the Fair, did the honors. The camera proves it."

(presumably there's a picture in the issue)

p79
"Cartoon Unit installed by Metro

M-G-M third cartoon unit has been installed William Hanna and Joe Barbera in charge under the general supervision of Fred Quimby. Producing musical cartoons, the unit will increase the annual output from 15 to 18.

The Hanna-Barbera department will function as a supplement to the units already being operated by Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising."

p79
"Cartoons on Schedule
Leon Schlesinger has shipped the first "Merrie Melodie" and the first "Looney Tune" on his 1939-40 quota for Warner, the cartoons were completed right on schedule. Schlesinger has 18 others in various phases of production."



p127 (125?)

"The Two-Headed Giant

20th Century-Fox

they

(Terry-Toon)

7

Mins.

A fairly entertaining reel about the adventures of Jack, the Giant-Killer. The villain of the piece is a two-headed giant is bested by Jack in a fierce struggle. There is little in it, however, that is very original."

"Jitterbug Knights
Columbia
(Color Rhapsody)
7 Mins.

The Golden West

20th Century-Fox (Terry-Toon) An ordinary cartoon account

7 Mins.
trials and of the tribulations of the Belle of the Golden West. Bad Bill comes along and kiddnaps the heroine. The hero and his pint-sized Indian friend. Dodo, finally vanquish Bad Bill and, as in all westerns, the hero gets the Belle.

Another sprightly Technicolor cartoon from Columbia. This one is packed with syncopation, showing an heir born to the king. The son is a regular jitterbug and is a talented youngster at playing several musical instruments. Even the dignitaries of the king's palace fall in line and all the knights step to the lively tunes. Should make a hit, especially with the kiddies."

110 The Golden West

Title: The Golden West
Studio: Terry
Date: 8/25/39
Credits: None on viewed print
Series: -
Running time (of viewed version): 5:12

Synopsis: Villain kidnaps hooker, RCMP officer gets her back.
















Comments: Another extremely truncated beginning. We have a western show girl in a big bell like skirt (she's named Belle; she was the Lady Gaga of her day; skillful entertainer, elaborate costume, bubububutter face bububutter face). It's similar to Red Hot in a few cartoons but more reserved, a reminder that Red was an evolution along established lines in the form, but at the same time Red had a design that crossed lines, making it a breakthrough (although maybe only in terms of skin, since we we end with an Indian guy wearing a skirt with the girl and the hero doing some sort of mouth action under it). We have a mountie of the blonde Dan from the Lantz Mello-Dramas school (eventually renamed the Dudley Doo Right school). Was there a specific blonde live action mountie these things took their imagery from? (This is actually the same hero and villain, presumably, as in One Gun Garry in The Nick of Time.) According to the poster, Belle was good for bonds and dances. The mountie has an Indian companion. Was that also a thing, or were they just ripping off laterally from the Lone Ranger/their own earlier cartoon? The villain has a loyal skunk and a loyal horse. The hero shoots him through a poster for no reason early in the cartoon. The villain later abducts the girl, but up to that point, he was blameless.

109 Slap Happy Valley

Title: Slaphappy Valley (Slap Happy Valley in some sources)
Studio: Lantz
Date: 8/21/39
Credits:
Director ... Alex Lovy
Story ... Vic McLeod
Music ... Frank Marsales
Animators ... George Dane, La Verne Harding
Series: Crackpot Cruise
Running time (of viewed version): 7:02

Synopsis: A narrator follows a train trip from LA to Slaphappy Valley.





















Comments: That Squiggy voiced narrator again. Hiccuping train conductor is pulling the Porky gag (with I think Mel Blanc's voice), but without technically stuttering. The little guy (Punchy, apparently) also looks like an Egghead rip off. And there's a posted bill advertising the "Hotel Looney". The cartoon feels more modern (modern meaning the '40s, in this usage) than many Lantz entries for the year. It makes me think Lantz was looking at Schlesinger's output and saying "hey guys, copy this little guy's look, and Mel, can you stutter but hiccup instead of actually stuttering, and just everyone in general step it up a bit, wouldja?". It's not exactly like the WB cartoons tho; it's generally more likable than the WB output, and it looks cleaner. It's also much more likable than much of the Lantz output for the year. I think the prospector is a Fred Allen voice caricature. Garbo caricature, for vanting to be alone; she has really long high heeled shoes instead of skis... Alex Lovy's cartoons generally improved over the year (he directed enough), with a few missteps like I'm Just A Jitterbug. There's enough of a quality difference in some cartoons that I would expect someone else was sub directing some of them (or all of them, and it was actually the sub directors who were improving the cartoons; I should compare the credits at the end of the year and see who was credited on good cartoons and who on bad). I can't help but think the tiny dog and the giant luggage might have been seen and lifted by Dr. Seuss for the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (unless it only looked that way in the cartoon, in which case, substitute Chuck Jones/Maurice Noble).