The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1941

Mouse Trappers Release Date: 1/27/41 Direction: Alex Lovy Story: Ben Hardaway Artists: Alex Lovy and George Dane Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 994 An Andy Panda cartoon The first musical score by Darrell Calker Poppa Panda's voice has been changed. He now sounds like W.C. Fields. Most copies of this cartoon are missing the drinking scene featuring the mouse and the cat. Also missing in many prints is the scene that takes place after Poppa Panda tries to shoot an apple off of the mouse's head. Poppa is such a bad shot, that the mouse hands him a card reading "You Are Exempt from Military Service" (obviously a reference to FDR's peacetime conscription). Click here to see images of the edited scenes.

Fair Today Release Date: 2/24/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Alex Lovy, Ralph Somerville Story: Ben Hardaway Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 995 A Cartune short Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat Release Date: 3/28/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway Artists: Alex Lovy and Frank Tipper Music Arrangement: Darrell Calker Music and Words: Don Raye Notes: Production Number: 999 A Cartune short Fell into the public domain in 1969 Michael Fitzgerald incorrectly lists this cartoon as an April release. Viewable online at the Internet Archive's Moving Images Archive. This cartoon has been withheld from distribution by Universal since 1949 due to its portrayal of African-Americans. The decision was made after a strong objection was raised by the NAACP upon the short's reissue in 1948. The entire episode was a shock to Lantz who prided himself on avoiding problems with the censors. He repeatedly stated that his cartoons were never meant to offend anyone. After the 1948 decision, Lantz made a major effort to make sure that offensive caricatures of any racial or ethnic group would never appear in his cartoons again. He also personally made sure that Scrub Me Mama would never be distributed on television. Video availability: Johnny Legend Presents: The Complete Weird Cartoons (DVD; Rhino) Johnny Legend Presents: Weird Cartoons, Vol. 1 (VHS; Rhino) Cartoon Classics #9 (VHS; Video Yesteryear)

Hysterical Highspots in American History Release Date: 3/31/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Alex Lovy and Verne Harding Story: Ben Hardaway Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 996 A Cartune short Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Dizzy Kitty Release Date: 5/26/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway Artists: Alex Lovy and Harold Mason Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 997 An Andy Panda cartoon Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 8 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

Salt Water Daffy Release Date: 6/9/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway and Lowell Elliott Animation: Alex Lovy and Les Kline Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 998 A Cartune short The final appearance of Punchy

Woody Woodpecker Release Date: 7/7/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway and Lowell Elliott Animation: Alex Lovy and Les Kline Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 1000 Reissued as The Cracked Nut by Castle Films The first in the Woody Woodpecker series Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 2 (Edited TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 (VHS; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 3 (VHS; Universal/MCA) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition (Laserdisc; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 3 (Laserdisc; Universal/MCA)

Andy Panda's Pop Release Date: 7/28/41 Direction: Alex Lovy Story: Ben Hardaway and Lowell Elliot Artists: Alex Lovy and George Dane Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 1002 A Cartune short, featuring Poppa Panda Reissued as Goofy Roofer for television By this time, Poppa Panda had become such a success that Lantz decided to have him star in his own cartoon. It should be noted that Andy Panda himself does not appear here at all. Andy's mother does make a cameo appearance, however. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 6 (Retitled TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Walter Lantz Presents: The World of Andy Panda (VHS; Universal/MCA)

The Screwdriver Release Date: 8/11/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway and J. Cosgrove Artists: Alex Lovy and R. Somerville Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 1003 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Reissued as Woody's Jalopy for television Incorrectly listed as Woody Woodpecker, The Screwdriver in Michael Fitzgerald's Universal Pictures The final appearance of Mel Blanc as the voice of Woody Woodpecker. Danny Webb would provide the voice for the character in Pantry Panic and The Hollywood Matador before being replaced by Kent Rogers. Blanc's famous Woody laugh would continue to be utilized until 1951, while his "Guess Who?" would be used until the end of the series in 1972. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 2 (Edited, retitled TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends: The Screwdriver (VHS; Goodtimes) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 2 (VHS; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 2 (Laserdisc; Universal/MCA)

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company "B" Release Date: 9/1/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Alex Lovy and Verne Harding Story: Ben Hardaway and Lowell Elliott Musical Arrangement: Darrell Calker Music: Hughie Prince Lyrics: Don Raye Notes: Production Number: 1004 A Cartune short Academy Award nominee Includes reused animation from Scrub Me Mama With a Boogie Beat. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Man's Best Friend Release Date: 10/20/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Story: Ben Hardaway and J. Cosgriff Artists: Alex Lovy and Harold Mason Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 1005 A Cartune short Pinto Colvig, who previously worked for Lantz as an inbetweener and animator in the studio's days of infancy, returned to voice the hunter in this cartoon. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 11 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Walter Lantz Presents: Man's Best Friend (VHS; Universal/MCA)

Pantry Panic Release Date: 11/24/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Alex Lovy and Lester Kline Story: Ben Hardaway and L.E. Elliot Music: Darrell Calker Notes: Production Number: 1006 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Working title: What's Cookin' Copyrighted as What's Cookin' Incorrectly listed as What's Cookin' in Michael Fitzgerald's Universal Pictures Fell into the public domain in 1969 Michael Fitzgerald incorrectly lists this cartoon as an October release. Model sheets for this cartoon refer to the cat as "Korny Kat" Viewable online at the Internet Archive's Moving Images Archive. The first appearance of Danny Webb as the voice of Woody. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker Favorites (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 9 (DVD; Columbia House) Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (VHS; Universal/MCA) Comedy Legends: Abbott and Costello: Hold That Ghost (VHS; Universal/MCA)

$21 a Day (Once a Month) Release Date: 12/1/41 Direction: Walter Lantz Artists: Alex Lovy and Frank Tipper Story: Ben Hardaway and L.E. Elliot Music Arrangement: Darrell Calker Music: Felix Bernard Lyrics: Ray Klages Notes: Production Number: 1007 The first Swing Symphony cartoon Be sure to look for cameos by Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda, and Snuffy Skunk Click here to see $21 a Day (Once a Month) sheet music. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)