The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1931

China Release Date: 1/12/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Animation: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 149 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Click here to see the original poster for China The song Chinatown, My Chinatown (written in 1910 by William Jerome and Jean Schwartz) is prominently featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon.

College Release Date: 1/27/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Animation: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 150 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The song I Like to Do Things for You (written in 1930 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen for Universal's King of Jazz) is prominently featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon.

Shipwreck Release Date: 2/9/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Animation: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 151 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as Shipwrecked The first cartoon where Oswald wears rubber gloves. The song It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo' (written in 1923 by Wendell Hall) is featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon. Hidden Gag: As the parrot is lowered down via fishing line, he greets each of the fish, "Hi Bill, Hi Charlie, Hello Cecil, Howdy Ella!" Bill, Charlie, Cecil, and Ella are actually referring to staff members, William "Bill" Nolan, Charles Hastings, Cecil Surry (an inbetweener at this point), and possibly a woman from the ink and paint department by the name of Ella. Click here to hear the hidden gag.

The Farmer Release Date: 3/23/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Animation: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 152 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Includes reused animation from Alaska (1930)

The Fireman Release Date: 4/6/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, Charles Hastings, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 153 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Includes reused animation from Amature Nite (1929)

Sunny South Release Date: 4/20/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 154 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as The Sunny South

Country School Release Date: 5/5/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 155 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as The Country School Our only copy of this film has no soundtrack. If you have an original print with the soundtrack or just the soundtrack alone, please contact us.

The Bandmaster Release Date: 5/18/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 156 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as The Band Master Incorrectly listed as The Band Master in Michael Fitzgerald's Universal Pictures Fell into the public domain in 1959 Includes reused animation from My Pal Paul (1930) Not to be confused with The Bandmaster (1947) The songs Ragamuffin Romeo (written by Mabel Wayne and Harry DeCosta) and Happy Feet (written by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen) are featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon. Both were written in 1930 for Universal's King of Jazz and both appear in this short in sequences that were more-or-less reused from My Pal Paul (1930).

Northwoods Release Date: 6/1/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 157 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as The North Woods Reissued as The North Woods by Guild/Firelight.

The Stone Age Release Date: 7/15/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 158 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon

Radio Rhythm Release Date: 7/27/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 159 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The soundtrack of this cartoon features the tunes I Like to Do Things for You (written in 1930 by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen for Universal's King of Jazz), And If You See Our Darling Nellie (also written in 1930 for King of Jazz), and One More Time (written in 1931 by Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson).

Kentucky Belles Release Date: 9/2/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 160 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Working title: The Horse Race Copyrighted as Kentucky Belle Reissued as Kentucky Belle by Guild/Firelight Incorrectly listed as Kentucky Belle in Michael Fitzgerald's Universal Pictures Includes reused animation of the crowd scenes from Radio Rhythm (1931)

Hot Feet Release Date: 9/14/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Chet Karrberg, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 161 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The final onscreen for Chet Karrberg at Lantz. The animator suddenly died at the age of 21 due to pneumonia. He was replaced by Vet Anderson from New York, best known for his work on Paul Terry's "Aesop's Fables" series in the 1920s.

The Hunter Release Date: 9/12/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Clyde Geronimi, Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Vet Anderson, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 162 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The first appearance of Oswald with a shirt. First animation credit for Vet Anderson at Lantz. The poster seen here seems to demonstrate a very different plot.

Wonderland Release Date: 10/26/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, Vet Anderson, and "Pinto" Colvig Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 163 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Last screen credits for Pinto Colvig and Clyde Geronimi at Lantz Video availability: Attack of the 30's Characters (DVD; Thunderbean)

The Hare Mail Release Date: 11/30/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and Vet Anderson Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 164 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Mickey Rooney provides the voice of Oswald in this cartoon.

The Fisherman Release Date: 12/7/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and Vet Anderson Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 165 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Mickey Rooney provides the voice of Oswald in this cartoon. Our only copy of this film is a Guild/Firelight reissue print. If you have a print with original opening and closing titles, please contact us.

The Clown Release Date: 12/21/31 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Manuel Moreno, Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Lester Kline, and Vet Anderson Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 166 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Includes reused animation of the crowd scenes from Radio Rhythm (1931)