The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia: 1956

Pigeon Holed Release Date: 1/16/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Settings: Raymond Jacobs Music: Clarence Wheeler Character Voices: Dal McKennon Notes: Production Number: U-55 Pigeon Holed marks the first appearance of Homer Pigeon (now redesigned) since 1943. It was also his final cartoon. Hidden Gags: In one scene, Homer's two friends are identified as "Alex" and "Paul". They were probably named after directors Alex Lovy and Paul J. Smith. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 11 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

After the Ball Release Date: 2/13/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Animation: Robert Bentley, Gil Turner, and Herman R. Cohen Music: Clarence Wheeler Settings: Art Landy Story: Jack Cosgriff Voice: Daws Butler Notes: Production Number: U-52 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon First onscreen credit for Daws Butler at Lantz First onscreen credit for Jack Cosgriff at Lantz since his departure in 1948 Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Get Lost Release Date: 3/12/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Story: Jack Cosgriff Animation: Herman R. Cohen, Gil Turner, and Robert Bentley Settings: Art Landy Music: Clarence Wheeler Voices: June Foray (uncredited) and Dal McKennon Notes: Production Number: U-54 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Last onscreen credit for Gil Turner at Lantz The first animated appearance of Splinter and Knothead. Reissued as Hansel and Gretel by Castle Films. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 7 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

Combined Image

The Ostrich Egg and I Release Date: 4/9/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Ray Abrams, Don Patterson, and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Music: Eugene Poddany Settings: Raymond Jacobs and Art Landy Voices: Grace Stafford and Daws Butler Notes: Production Number: U-56 First onscreen credit for Grace Stafford at Lantz The first musical score by Eugene Poddany The first Maggie and Sam cartoon. Since the two characters were so successful in Crazy Mixed Up Pup (1955), Alex Lovy decided to cast them in their own short-lived series. This cartoon's title is a play on the 1947 Universal feature The Egg and I starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 6 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

Chief Charlie Horse Release Date: 5/7/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Animation: Robert Bentley, Herman R. Cohen, and Ray Abrams Music: Clarence Wheeler Settings: Art Landy Story: Jack Cosgriff Voices: Dal McKennon Notes: Production Number: U-58 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Last onscreen credit for Jack Cosgriff at Lantz Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Room and Wrath Release Date: 6/4/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Laverne Harding, Ray Abrams, and Don Patterson Story: Homer Brightman Settings: Raymond Jacobs Music: Clarence Wheeler Voice: Daws Butler Notes: Production Number: U-57 A Chilly Willy cartoon Originally storyboarded by Tex Avery 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)

Woodpecker From Mars Release Date: 7/2/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Animation: Herman R. Cohen, Robert Bentley, and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Music: Clarence Wheeler Settings: Raymond Jacobs and Art Landy Voice: Dal McKennon Notes: Production Number: U-59 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Includes reused animation from Termites From Mars (1952) "Captain Zoom" is actually a caricature of Dal McKennon. "Zoom" was based on a character called "Captain Jet" who McKennon played on a local Los Angeles television station at the time. Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 4 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

Hold That Rock Release Date: 7/30/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Ray Abrams and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Music: Clarence Wheeler Settings: Raymond Jacobs and Art Landy Voices: Daws Butler "Chilly Willy" Vocal By: "Wee" Bonnie Baker Notes: Production Number: U-63 A Chilly Willy cartoon Originally storyboarded by Tex Avery Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 4 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

The Talking Dog Release Date: 8/27/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Ray Abrams and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Music: Clarence Wheeler Settings: Raymond Jacobs and Art Landy Voices: Grace Stafford and Daws Butler Notes: Production Number: U-61 A Sam and Maggie cartoon Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 8 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House)

Calling All Cuckoos Release Date: 9/24/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Story: Homer Brightman Animation: Les Kline and Robert Bentley Settings: Art Landy and Raymond Jacobs Music: Clarence Wheeler Notes: Production Number: U-62 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)

Niagara Fools Release Date: 10/22/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Animation: Les Kline and Robert Bentley Story: Milt Schaffer and Dick Kinney Settings: Art Landy and Raymond Jacobs Music: Clarence Wheeler Voices: Bob Johnson Notes: Production Number: U-64 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon First onscreen credit for Dick Kinney at Lantz Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 13 (DVD; Columbia House)

Arts and Flowers Release Date: 11/19/56 Direction: Paul J. Smith Animation: Don Patterson, Robert Bentley, and Herman R. Cohen Story: Homer Brightman and Frank J. Goldberg Settings: Art Landy and Raymond Jacobs Music: Clarence Wheeler Voice: Dal McKennon Notes: Production Number: U-60 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA) Woody Woodpecker and Friends, Vol. 6 (TV print; DVD; Columbia House) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition, Vol. 2 (VHS; Universal/MCA) Walter Lantz Presents: Woody Woodpecker: Collector's Edition (Laserdisc; Universal/MCA)

Woody Meets Davy Crewcut Release Date: 12/17/56 Direction: Alex Lovy Animation: Ray Abrams and Laverne Harding Story: Homer Brightman Settings: Raymond Jacobs Voices: Daws Butler Music: Clarence Wheeler Notes: Production Number: U-66 A Woody Woodpecker cartoon Video availability: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2 (DVD; Universal/MCA)