By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:26:06 +0000

Believe it or not: many of the same thoughts have crossed my mind regarding the Puppetoons. It seems like they were re-issued(?) under the name “Madcap Models” when I saw them on TV in the ’50’s. Tubby the Tuba? Little Jim Dandy? John Henry and the something. Two Seuss: 500 hats and Mulberry St. One w. a miniature ginger-bread house/barometer, w. a girl who can only come out when it’s “Fair” and a guy only when “Foul”. I remembered the “Tulips” one, though not the title. I remember, or thought I remembered, another Puppetoon with the Nazi-esque Screwball Army, but in this one, they are defeated by a statue of a famous composer that comes to life – couldn’t have told you who. So, inspired by my luck with so quickly finding your website, I googled “Screwball Army” and almost instantly found the title that matched my memory: “Bravo, Mr. Strauss”.
What started all of tis for me: “The best bones of all go to Symphony Hall!” It’s crossed my mind at times, too. I saw that cartoon so many times that, much like you, I imagine, many of the basic moments are burned in my memory. How gratifying to find your thoughts on this… If I told anyone else they would think I was crazy. And then to see it again on YouTube!!!!!
BUT: I also dimly recall other “Phantasy” cartoons from Columbia: Scrappy and Krazy Kat (oddly, not the one with Ignatz). I can still hum their intro themes. Willoughby Wren? But I also too dimly remember other surreal Phantasy cartoons. Wish I could see them again, too.
One more ear (eye?)-bender: Warner Bros. ’40’s cartoon: Bugs Bunny pops up out of the ground in the Black Forest; Hermann Goering in lederhosen, blunderbus hunting “Rabbitte!” mit dachshund = Elmer Fudd. Obligatory chase includes Ur-Bugs/Brunhilde moment later used in “What’s Opera, Doc?”. But I’ve been mildly obsessed with the punch-line of this cartoon, where both Hitler and Goering yell “Himmel!” with fright and exit after looking in the catch bag for Bugs and finding him dressed as Stalin, in uniform, with a big pipe. Stalin/Bugs line is something about “short tobacco”… What the hell? I guess it was topical, for adults, but when I’ve run it (admittedly can’t remember the actual line) by people who were adults during World War II, they draw a blank. Any thoughts?

Comments on: Comics in Context #212: Finally Felix

By: Scott