Bugs Bunny in “A-Lad-In His Lamp” (1948)
“Hey— look, fellas, I’m a hare-plane!” Travel with Bugs Bunny to Baghdad in this cult classic from Bob McKimson, Mel Blanc and Jim Backus as the Genie.
Walt Disney’s “Dumbo” Soundtrack on Records
The fourth Disney animated feature was short, sweet and successful on the big screen, TV, home video—and on records, from 78 shellacs to internet downloads.
Warner Club News (1963)
These columns usually didn’t acknowledge when a person left the studio – or any dramatic changes of company status – but it was undeniable at this point.
Like, Slap that “Bongo”, Man!
The only song from “Bongo” that clicked was “Lazy Countryside”, a song written by Bobby Worth. And the music industry plugged it for all it was… ahem! … worth!
Disney’s ‘Corny’ WWII Film: “The Grain That Built A Hemisphere” (1943)
The first agriculture film to be completed by Disney for the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs is, by far, one of the oddest the studio ever produced.
Animation Anecdotes #375
Joseph Funaro, pastor of the Catholic church in Brooklyn Heights, got his start at Famous Studios. “I was the first, or one of the first to draw Casper for the cartoons,” said Funaro.
“The best drink in all the world: MILK!” – Out of Milk Bottle (1932)
This is one of my favorite ‘oddball’ educational shorts. It appears to have been originally produced as a silent short then revamped with new footage in the early 30s.
Disney’s “Frolicking Fish” (1930)
The premiere of Frolicking Fish occurred on July 19th, 1930 with prints of the cartoon printed on green stock to produce an effect appropriate for the setting.
Disney/Amblin’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” on Records
After 30 years of vinyl records, audio cassettes and CDs, the live-action/animated brainchild of Disney, Spielberg and Zemeckis is still making soundtrack news.
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]
