The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1951

"Puny Express" Release Date: 1/22/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Story: Ben Hardaway and Heck Allen Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, and La Verne Harding Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-1 First onscreen credit for Don Patterson at Lantz The first musical score by Clarence E. Wheeler. The first Walter Lantz cartoon to be released through Universal since 1947. Grace Stafford, Lantz's wife and the future permanent voice of the woodpecker, provides Woody's trademark laugh for the first time in this cartoon. It can be heard at the beginning and end. Oddly, the original Mel Blanc Woody laugh can be heard at one point during the short as well. When his studio reopened, Lantz felt that Woody ought to be streamlined again. Woody's top knot would now be pushed forward, his beak would curve up slighly, and he also became shorter. Lantz felt that Woody's size played an important role in the films, as audiences tend to root for the little guy over the big bully.

"Sleep Happy" Release Date: 3/26/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Story: Ben Hardaway and Heck Allen Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, and La Verne Harding Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-2 Last onscreen credits for Ben Hardaway and Heck Allen at Lantz

"Wicket Wacky" Release Date: 5/28/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Animation: Don Patterson, Ray Abrams, La Verne Harding, and Paul Smith Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-3 First onscreen credit for Ray Abrams since his depature in 1937. The gopher in this cartoon was identified on model sheets as "Goofy Gopher". He is identified onscreen as "J. Goofer Gopher". Hidden Gags: In one scene, the gopher speaks to Woody in what many identify at first as gibberish. However, when slowed down, one can hear a man saying random phrases such as "Stone is trying to call off the manager of a certain bank, who happens to be his landlord" or "Hello? What? What number do I want? Well, what numbers have ya got?" Later in the short, Woody confronts the gibberish-speaking gopher for a second time. Again, when slowed down we hear a man speaking a few more choice phrases including "Are you the bank?" or "This is not a telescope? It's a telephone?"

"Slingshot 6 7/8" Release Date: 7/23/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Animation: Don Patterson, Ray Abrams, La Verne Harding, and Paul Smith Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-4 Thanks to Dragan Kovacevic for sending us a image of the title card for this cartoon. Hidden Gags: As Woody first comes into the Western town, look for "Ray Abrams' Gun Shop", "Patterson's Mining Supplies", and "Ken's Coffee and Do-Nuts" (probably refers to animator Ken Southworth) in the background.

"The Redwood Sap" Release Date: 10/1/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Animation: Don Patterson, Ray Abrams, La Verne Harding, and Paul Smith Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-5

"The Woody Woodpecker Polka" Release Date: 10/29/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Animation: Don Patterson, Ray Abrams, La Verne Harding, and Paul Smith Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish "The Woody Woodpecker Polka" Sung By: The Starlighters Notes: Production Number: U-6 Reissued as "The Gate Crasher" by Castle Films. Look for cameos by the comic book versions of Oswald Rabbit, Andy Panda, Miranda Panda, and Charlie Chicken at the beginning of this one. The lyrics of the song "The Woody Woodpecker Polka" were written by Warren Foster and Tedd Pierce (music by Billy May).

"Destination Meatball" Release Date: 12/24/51 Direction: Walter Lantz (uncredited) Animation: Don Patterson, Ray Abrams, La Verne Harding, and Paul Smith Music: Clarence E. Wheeler Sets: Fred Brunish Notes: Production Number: U-7 Reissued as "The Invisible Woody" by Castle Films. The title of this cartoon is a satire of the George Pal feature, "Destination Moon" (1950).