The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1954

"Socko in Morocco"

Release Date: 1/18/54
Supervision: Don Patterson
Animation: Ray Abrams, Herman Cohen, & Ken Southworth
Story: Homer Brightman
Set Designs: Art Landy
Music: Clarence Wheeler

Notes:

Production Number: U-28

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"A Horse's Tale"

Release Date: 2/15/54
Supervision: Paul J. Smith
Animation: Gil Turner, Laverne Harding, & Robert Bentley
Story: Michael Maltese
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-27

First appearance of Sugarfoot the Horse. Even though Sugarfoot began his career as a solo cartoon star, he eventually became a supporting character in later Woody Woodpecker cartoons.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Alley to Bali"

Release Date: 3/15/54
Supervision: Don Patterson
Animation: Herman Cohen, Ray Abrams, & Ken Southworth
Story: Homer Brightman
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-30

Retitled "Bali Ho" by Castle Films.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Dig That Dog"

Release Date: 4/12/54
Written and Directed By: Ray Patterson & Grant Simmons
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Narration: Frank Nelson

Notes:

Production Number: U-29

Even though Cuddles the Great Dane was only featured in this one cartoon, he appeared on merchandise including drinking glasses and coloring books. Lantz, a great dane owner himself, was probably fond of this cartoon and the character.

"Dig That Dog" and "Broadway Bow Wows" were made independently by the Grantray studio. Grantray (Lawrence) was of course Grant Simmons and Ray Patterson' post-MGM studio. Lantz gave them the go-ahead to write and direct several theatrical cartoons for him. There was no need for them to hire their own music director or background people since Lantz people needed the work. Walter Lantz went so far as to have have a complete budget worked out for every facet of these two cartoons, but was shrewd enough to be sure he obtained ownership of them outright. The relationship is very nearly identical to Iwerks Cartoon Films Ltd. making all those "Color Rhapsodies" for Mintz/Columbia but then having them scored by the Mintz music director, and then the cartoons were the property of Columbia. [Thanks to Tim C. (Sogturtle) for this information]

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Under the Counter Spy"

Release Date: 5/10/54
Supervision: Don Patterson
Animation: Ray Abrams, Herman Cohen, & Ken Southworth
Story: Homer Brightman
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-32

Retitled "Secret Agent F.O.B." by Castle Films.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Hay Rube"

Release Date: 6/07/54
Directed by: Paul J. Smith
Animation: Robert Bentley, La Verne Harding, & Gil Turner
Story: Michael Maltese
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-31

A Sugarfoot cartoon.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Hot Rod Huckster"

Release Date: 7/05/54
Supervision: Don Patterson
Animation: Ray Abrams, Herman Cohen, & Ken Southworth
Story: Homer Brightman
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-34

Woody sings the same song he sang at the beginning of "The Screwdriver" in 1941 (this time voiced by Grace Stafford, of course).

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Broadway Bow Wows"

Release Date: 8/02/54
Written and Directed By: Grant Simmons & Ray Patterson
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Narration: Dick Nelson

Notes:

Production Number: U-35

For more information about this cartoon, also see: "Dig That Dog" (1954)

Retitled "Vodvil Daze" by Castle Films.

Hidden Gags: As John and Mary's name quickly moves up to the top of the marquee, watch for the names of the following acts (from bottom to top): "Mophisto the Magician", "The Duo Trio", "Chinese Jugglers", "Trained Seals", "Omalet in Hamlet", "Tightrope Walkers", "'Gulpo' the Sword Swallower", "Tiny the Elephant", "Snake Hips "Suzzy"", "Pierre's Puppets", "Seedy's Bird Act", "Max and His Sax", and "The Gilhooley Girls."

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Pig in a Pickle"

Release Date: 8/30/54
Directed By: Paul J. Smith
Animation: Laverne Harding, Robert Bentley, & Gil Turner
Story: Michael Maltese
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Art Landy & Raymond Jacobs

Notes:

Production Number: U-37

Retitled "The Piggy That Stayed Home" by Castle Films.

You can watch this cartoon in RealVideo at Toon Tracker's website.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Real Gone Woody"

Release Date: 9/20/54
Directed By: Paul J. Smith
Animation: Gil Turner, Laverne Harding, & Robert Bentley
Story: Michael Maltese
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-33

Retitled "A Beat Beatnik" by Castle Films.

First, and only, animated appearance by Woody's girlfriend, Winnie Woodpecker (she became a regular on the updated Fox Kids series in 1999).

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"A Fine Feathered Frenzy"

Release Date: 10/25/54
Directed By: Don Patterson
Animation: Herman Cohen, Ray Abrams, & Don Patterson
Story: Homer Brightman
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-36

Retitled "The Last Chase" by Castle Films.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"Convict Concerto"

Release Date: 11/20/54
Directed By: Don Patterson (uncredited)
Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, & Herman Cohen
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Piano: Raymond Turner
Story: Hugh Harmon
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs & Art Landy

Notes:

Production Number: U-38

Retitled "The Piano Tooner" by Castle Films.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

"I'm Cold"

Release Date: 12/20/54
Directed By: Tex Avery
Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, & Laverne Harding
Story: Homer Brightman
Music: Clarence Wheeler
Set Design: Raymond Jacobs

Notes:

Production Number: U-43

First appearance of Smedley the Dog.

First of four Lantz cartoons to be directed by Tex Avery, who had previously worked at the studio in the early thirties.

Retitled "Some Like It Not" by Castle Films.

Screen Shots (click to enlarge):

1953 | Home | 1955