Spike the Bee
Spike the Bee is an appealing little character who appeared in a supporting role in several Disney animated shorts released during the 1950s. Here’s his story.
Ub Iwerks “Baby Checkers” (1940)
It’s pretty cute and has some nicely executed animation at times. As far as I know, a color print has yet to show up on this title, although it does appear that 16mm prints were made in the mid-40s.
Happy Henfruit Pt. 5: Eggs-cruciating!
More Eggs! I’ve really mixed myself into an omelette on this project, which promises to be my longest trail to date, with more and more discoveries hatching.
Walt Disney’s “Enchanted Tiki Room” on Records
When the soundtrack LP for Disney’s first Audio-Animatronics attractions premiered, it brought a lot of the animation legacy along with it – plus significant roots in “hi-fi” history.
The Popeye Specials That Could Have Been
Considering the hits Fleischer had with the two-reel Popeye epic adventures, a continuation of that format would have a good idea. But it was not to be.
The Origin of Scooby Doo
While we have all accepted the stories about the birth of Scooby-Doo, there are still some things left to be discovered.
A Thunderbean ‘Fireside Chat’ (without the fire since nitrate is involved)
This ‘chat’ is about film collecting, digital cleanup, Vinegar Syndrome, and even a little 9.5mm and 28mm thrown in for good measure.
Happy Henfruit Pt. 4: “More Eggs-acting Detail”
A new decade – an old breakfast. Eggs continue to be delivered sunnyside up by all the major animation studios. Let’s serve up a dozen this week so there’s plenty to go around.
1938-39 Merrie Melodies: The People’s Choice (Pt. 1)
The musical highlights from those Merrie Melodies cartoons familiar from television as part of AAP’s package of shorts, first syndicated in 1956.
Jerry Beck is a writer, animation producer, college professor and author of more than 15 books on animation history. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon Movies and Disney, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He has curated cartoons for DVD and Blu-ray compilations and has lent his expertise to dozens of bonus documentaries and audio commentaries on such. Beck is currently on the faculty of CalArts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
