The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1933

Merry Dog Release Date: 1/2/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, George Cannata, "Bill" Weber, Fred Kopietz, and Charles Hastings Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 585 First onscreen credit for Fred Kopietz A Pooch the Pup cartoon

The Plumber Release Date: 1/16/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, "Bill" Weber, Jack Carr, and Don Williams Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 496 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Fell into the public domain in 1961 First onscreen credit for Don Williams Some sources incorrectly list this cartoon as Oswald the Plumber. This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits. The song It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo' (written in 1923 by Wendell Hall) is featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon.

The Terrible Troubadour Release Date: 1/30/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, George Cannata, "Bill" Weber, Fred Kopietz, and Charles Hastings Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 586 A Pooch the Pup cartoon The Mills Brothers make an appearance singing Hold That Bull (a take-off on Hold That Tiger). The song Lady of Spain (written in 1931 by Robert Hargreaves, Tolchard Evans, Stanley J. Damerell, and Henry Tilsley) is prominently featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon.

The Shriek Release Date: 2/27/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Charles Hastings Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 497 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon First onscreen credit for Cecil Surry This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits This cartoon's title is a play on the 1921 Paramount feature The Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino.

The Lumber Champ Release Date: 3/13/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, Fred Kopietz, and Charles Hastings Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 587 A Pooch the Pup cartoon The song The Cute Little Things You Do (written in 1931 by J.F. Hanley) is prominently featured on the soundtrack of this cartoon.

Going to Blazes Release Date: 4/10/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr and Don Williams Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 498 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits

Beau Best Release Date: 5/22/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Don Williams Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 499 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Copyrighted as Beau Beste This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits Includes reused animation from Africa, Alaska, The Singing Sap, and Mars (all 1930). The snake charmer is actually a caricature of Mahatma Gandhi. This cartoon's title is a play on the 1926 Paramount feature Beau Geste, based on the 1924 adventure novel of the same name by P. C. Wren.

Nature's Workshop Release Date: 6/5/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, Fred Kopietz, Charles Hastings, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 589 A Pooch the Pup cartoon Reissued as Natures Work Shop by Guild/Firelight Incorrectly listed as Nature's Work Shop in Michael Fitzgerald's Universal Pictures First onscreen credit for Ernest Smythe at Lantz 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.

Ham and Eggs Release Date: 6/19/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Don Williams Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 500 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Last onscreen credit for Don Williams This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits.

Pin Feathers Release Date: 7/3/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, Fred Kopietz, Charles Hastings, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 590 A Pooch the Pup cartoon Pooch's appearance in this film (as well as the others to follow with the exception of Hot and Cold) is much more different than in previous ones. His new design is strikingly similar to Fleischer's Bimbo.

Confidence Release Date: 7/31/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 501 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Working title: A New Deal This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits. Prominently features a caricature of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Hot and Cold Release Date: 8/14/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Les Kline, Fred Kopietz, and Charles Hastings Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 588 A Pooch the Pup cartoon Working title: S.O.S Icicle (a play on the 1933 Universal feature S.O.S. Iceberg) This short prominently features the song Turn on the Heat from the 1929 Fox musical comedy Sunnyside Up featuring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell.

King Klunk Release Date: 9/4/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, Fred Kopietz, Charles Hastings, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 591 A Pooch the Pup cartoon This cartoon is an obvious satire of the 1933 RKO feature King Kong. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

---

Five and Dime Release Date: 9/18/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 502 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits. Includes reused animation from Ham and Eggs. Caricatures include Jimmy Durante, Charlie Chaplin, and Laurel and Hardy. The first cartoon to use the Warner-esque Oswald-zooming-in opening titles. Previous Lantz Oswald releases used an opening title with some variation of the rabbit appearing from behind a fence. This short prominently features the song I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store) originally sung in 1931 by Fanny Brice and later popularized by Bing Crosby and the Boswell Sisters in separate recordings. It should also be noted that Ragamuffin Romeo (written in 1930 by Mabel Wayne and Harry DeCosta for Universal's King of Jazz) is played over this cartoon's opening titles. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

---

She Done Him Right Release Date: 10/9/33 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Manuel Moreno, Les Kline, Fred Kopietz, George Grandpre, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 592 Final Pooch the Pup cartoon This cartoon is a satire of the 1933 Universal feature She Done Him Wrong starring Mae West. First onscreen credit for George Grandpre. Grandpre replaced Charles Hastings who left shortly after blinding Tex Avery in the left eye with a rubber-band powered paper clip. A frequent player in the 1933-35 Lantz cartoons, Dopey Dick, makes his first appearance here. Dopey looks and acts strikingly similiar to that of Wimpy from the Fleischer Studios' Popeye series. The soundtrack of this cartoon features the songs And If You See Our Darling Nellie (written in 1930 for Universal's King of Jazz) and Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day (written in 1932 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for Cab Calloway). Since the Pooch series would be discontinued, Lantz returned to directing Oswalds. His unit and Nolan's would rotate. Avery and Jack Carr soon started doubling up as gagmen for Nolan, and Avery started functioning as something of a co-director (ditto for Manuel Moreno working with Lantz). Interestingly, the next two Lantz-directed Oswalds released (The Merry Old Soul in 1933 and Chicken Reel in 1934) both have the rabbit sporting a Pooch-like sweater as opposed to his usual white-collar shirt. It could be that both were initially planned as Pooch the Pup cartoons. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Universal Cinema Classics: She Done Him Wrong (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

---

The Zoo Release Date: 11/6/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 503 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits The Zoo is most notable for Tex Avery's gag involving moths who chew up a bear's fur coat. When the bear is left in his underwear, he turns to the audience and, instead of running away or blushing, says "Well, imagine that!"

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

---

The Merry Old Soul Release Date: 11/27/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Manuel Moreno, Lester Kline, Fred Kopietz, George Grandpre, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 593 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon Academy Award nominee This cartoon was only directed by Walter Lantz, despite the misleading credits Hidden Gag: Watch for a cameo appearance by Laverne Harding's comic-strip character Cynical Susie. Caricatures include Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Ed Wynn, Laurel and Hardy, Joe E. Brown, Will Rogers, Paul Whiteman, Roscoe Ates, Edna Mae Oliver, W.C. Fields, Al Jolson, Mae West, Jimmy Durante, Harold Lloyd, Zasu Pitts, and all four Marx Brothers. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Parking Space Release Date: 12/18/33 Direction: Walter Lantz and "Bill" Nolan Artists: Ray Abrams, Fred Avery, Cecil Surry, Jack Carr, and Ernest Smythe Musical Score: James Dietrich Notes: Production Number: 504 An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon This cartoon was only directed by Bill Nolan, despite the misleading credits.