Here’s the May 1936 edition of Fleischer’s Animated News, with a front cover illustrated by George Germanetti, one of the studio’s key animators.
Among the highlights inside:
• Tintype bios of Ellen Jenssen and animator Joe Oriolo.
• Gag cartoons by George Hill, Mike Maltese, and Warren Foster.
• The Fleischer staff’s opinion on having an art education to become an animator.
• Reviews of two classics by head animator/director Dave Tendlar: The Cobweb Hotel and A Song A Day.
(Click thumbnails to enlarge)
• Special thanks to Jerry Beck and Bob Jaques for lending these rare materials.
DEVON BAXTER is a film restoration artist, video editor, and animation researcher/writer currently residing in Pennsylvania. He also hosts a 
“Dave Fleischer fed an alley cat some catnip in the conference room a short time ago to get the true feline reaction….”
“‘Bring-‘Em-Back-Alive’ Lippman says, ‘Animators or no, I’m thru with cats. If they want to study action, let ’em use ‘wind-up’ toys!”
I gather from this that Myron Waldman’s unit wanted to study a cat’s reaction to catnip for the Betty Boop cartoon “Happy You and Merry Me”, which was released later in 1936. In it, Betty nurses a sick kitten named Myron back to health by giving it catnip, and hijinks ensue. Cameraman Larry Lippman, who was all of eighteen years old at the time, was evidently assigned the task of rounding up some stray cats from the alley and bringing them into the studio. In a workplace to which pretty much everybody commuted by train, it would have been quite impossible for any staff member to bring in a pet cat for this purpose. I hope that Max Fleischer gave Larry a bonus for going above and beyond the call of duty, and that Larry had a good strong pair of gloves. I wonder if this incident was remembered by any of the animators who later created Katnip?
I’m not sure I get Michael Maltese’s cartoon about the animation class. Was waving one’s handkerchief around like that a gay gesture or something?
That savings certificate plan sounds great! Sign me up, Max!
These newsletters humanize the whole process and are strong reminders that animation doesn’t just happen but requires a whole creative team with busy, active personal lives.
George Germanetti’s cover drawing is very well done, but doesn’t strike me as specific to Popeye. Another fine issue of their newsletter; I’m particularly pleased to see “Cobweb Hotel”, one of my favorite Color Classics, covered.
“Puleeze Pudgy, get very funny quick!” No further comment needed, I think.