{"id":83457,"date":"2024-01-16T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T08:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/?p=83457"},"modified":"2024-01-14T22:40:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T06:40:33","slug":"van-bueren-music-1931-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cartoonresearch.com\/index.php\/van-bueren-music-1931-32\/","title":{"rendered":"Van Beuren Music 1931-32"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>1931 and \u201832 would see some slight changes in Van Beuren\u2019s output and approach. The Aesop\u2019s Fables<\/em>, which had been the sole bread and butter of the studio for years, were now lacking in recurring characters to provide any hook, the studio having lost access to Farmer Al Falfa, and also discouraged by lawsuit from using Disney-copyrighted mice. Waffles and Don had evolved into human form in the guise of Tom and Jerry, and the studio\u2019s first two outings with the new duo had apparently done well. Now launched under their own series banner, increasing importance seemed to be placed upon the marketing of the studio\u2019s new \u201cstars\u201d, allowing Tom and Jerry to begin eclipsing the tried and true Aesop\u2019s series. While T&J would receive the attention of the writers for strange locales and occasionally adventurous situations, the Aesop\u2019s series no longer seemed to inspire the writers\u2019 limited creativity, and began to fall into a certain sameness from episode to episode. Within a few short seasons, this trend would magnify into a search by the studio for new properties, leading to the ultimate abandonment of the Aesop\u2019s banner. <\/p>\n

The Last Dance<\/strong> (11\/23\/31) – Waffles without Don. He is going to see his girlfriend at her house, and is followed by several rivals for her affection. He tries picking petals off a daisy to see if she loves him, and winds up commiserating with a clock in a public place, as the girl appears to be late for a rendezvous. Waffles goes back to her house, and gains entrance, though several other cats do likewise. The rivals are disappointed, however, as she only seems to have eyes for Waffles. It turns out Waffles cannot dance, but can he sing. Songs<\/strong>: \u201cNarcissus\u201d and \u201cMy Baby Just Cares For Me\u201d, both previously discussed, and \u201cWhy Dance?\u201d, a waltz which had a modest degree of popularity in 1931, but has since been virtually forgotten, even among record collectors. Victor gave it to Rudy Vallee (below), while a Ben Selvin studio group did it for Harmony, Velvet Tone, and Clarion. <\/p>\n