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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon 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 would also became shorter. Lantz felt that Woody's size played an important role in the films, as he observed that audiences were more inclined to empathize with the "little guy" over the "big bully." Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Walter Lantz Presents: Wild and Woody (VHS; Universal/MCA)

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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Last onscreen credits for Ben Hardaway and Heck Allen at Lantz 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. 10 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 3 (VHS; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and His Friends, Vol. 3 (Laserdisc; Universal/MCA)

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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Reissued as Wicky Wacky by Castle Films 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 "Cohen 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?" The speaker is actually early 20th century comedian Joe Hayman performing the Cohen on the Telephone monologue. It was recorded in London in 1913 and is believed to be the first comedy monologue to sell a million copies. The entire record can be heard online at the Internet Archive's Audio Archive (note that Hayman's name is misspelled as "Hayden"). Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 6 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

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 A Woody Woodpecker 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. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 8 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon 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. 2 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 (Scenes in wrong order; VHS; Universal/MCA) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition (Scenes in wrong order; Laserdisc; Universal/MCA)

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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Reissued as The Gate Crasher by Castle Films. The lyrics of the song The Woody Woodpecker Polka were written by Warren Foster and Tedd Pierce (music by Billy May). Watch for cameos by the comic book versions of Oswald Rabbit, Andy Panda, Miranda Panda, and Charlie Chicken at the beginning of this one. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 10 (DVD; Columbia House)

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 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Reissued as The Invisible Woody by Castle Films. This cartoon's title is a play on the 1950 George Pal feature Destination Moon. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 1 (DVD; Universal/MCA)