“The Archies” America on Records
American History and antiwar protest spark two unusual records from that ‘toon teen who has less than a month to live. THE U.S. OF ARCHIE Peter Pan Records #8154 (12”…
Fleischer Promo Art #5: “Popeye and Betty, Box Office Champs”
Here we are, the fifth and final installment of 1934’s Paramount Sales News cartoons by Hal Seeger. The sun has set on Betty Boop while the Popeyes are increasingly excellent….
The Tezuka Pro TV Specials #5: “Primrose: A Time Slip of 10,000 Years”
We resume our survey of the Tezuka Pro TV Specials of 1978-1989 with the one based on Tezuka’s Prime Rose manga series. Time Slip Ichimannen Prime Rose. Primrose: A Time…
More Public Service Announcements
We’re back with another assortment of spots that may actually help to improve life in your town, maybe even the world. (I’m sorry, but we are legally obliged to devote…
Animation Anecdotes #168
The Cow Problem. Animation producer Walter Lantz discussed in the January 4, 1958 issue of TV Guide some of the difficulties with using his classic animated shorts on his new…
Thunderbean Thursday Triple-Play
This week: Three (somewhat) related to animation distractions for this mid-summer Thursday: Nitrate film isn’t our friend (or is it?) I think everyone reading this already knows that Nitrate film…
‘Cartoon Carnival’ Event Updates
Now that the summer is upon us, I’m very excited and pleased to be bringing more ancient cartoons to the general public again. This month marks the beginning of a…
Popeye on Golden Records
Jack Mercer and Mae Questel, and one of the most popular children’s labels of the baby boom era, combined for a perfect storm of cartoon spinnery: Popeye on Golden Records!…
Fleischer Promo Art #4: “Betty Boop’s Box-Office Farm”
Starting in July 1934, all films had to pass under the Motion Picture Production Code, and that is usually blamed for destroying the Betty Boop series (the garter seen here…
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]
