GOOFY AND THE HOW TO SHORTS

Goofy was created in 1932, he is a dog that walks on 2 legs and dresses like a human. He is a friend of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. The character is sort of clumsy and not too bright. He proved very popular as a sidekick and eventually went on to star in a series of shorts. In the 1941 film, The Reluctant Dragon, Goofy demonstrated how to ride a horse with disastrous results. That bit of comedy was so funny that the hapless Goofy was soon given his own series of shorts of training films, where nothing ever worked out. He tried to demonstrate skiing, golf and other tasks and mayhem ensued. In the cartoon series Goofy did not talk, a narrator would explain the situation and what Goofy was going to try to do. We then saw what actually happened.

LIST OF HOW TO SHORTS

1941

HOW TO RIDE A HORSE....THE ART OF SKIING....THE ART OF SELF DENSE

1942

HOW TO PLAY BASEBALL....HOW TO SWIM....HOW TO FISH

1944

HOW TO BE A SAILOR....HOW TO PLAY GOLF

1945

HOCKEY HOMICIDE

1950

MOTOR MANIA

1952

HOW TO BE A DETECTIVE

1953

HOW TO SLEEP....HOW TO DANCE

1999

HOW TO HAUNT A HOUSE

2007

HOW TO HOOK UP YOUR HOME THEATER

Humphrey The Bear animated shorts

Some of my favorite Disney cartoons star Humphrey the Bear. He was first a supporting character in a Goofy cartoon “Hold That Pose.” Goofy was visiting a national park and wanted to take a picture of the bear. This was in 1950.

In the following years he appeared in 4 Donald Duck Cartoons: Rugged Bear in 1953, Grin and Bear It in 1954, and Bearly Asleep and Beezy Bear in 1955. The cartoons were so popular that Humphrey was given his own series in 1955. 2 films were made for this series, Hooked Bear and In The Bag. The only reason more films weren’t made was because Disney discontinued all of its theatrical short film series.

Humphrey lived in Brownstone National Park, he is a little like Yogi Bear in that he is always after food, but he doesn’t have a sidekick and he doesn’t really speak. He is also more panicky than Yogi and not as bright. But the series is very funny, too bad more films weren’t made.

In later years, when Disney was mining old material, Humphrey appeared in some episodes of various series on the Disney Channel and also starred in 3 shorts alongside Donald Duck or the Ranger. The titles were Donald’s Grizzly Guest, Donald’s Fish Fry and Hot Tub Humphrey.

Out of the Frying Pan into the Firing Line (1942)

During WWII the United States was cut off from supplies of cooking oil, much of which came from the South Pacific. This oil also had military and industrial uses and there was soon a great shortage. Butter and other fats were being rationed by 1943. This did not completely ease the shortage. There was also a shortage of glycerin which is a byproduct of the use of fat in soap making. Glycerin use was restricted in civilian products to make it available for pharmaceuticals, explosives and other vital wartime uses.

To add to the supply of glycerin the government turned to civilians and asked them to save their fat. Civilians were told that a pound of fat makes enough dynamite to blow up a bridge. Housewives were to store the oil and turn it in for additional ration points.

The government turned to Disney Studios to get the point across to the housewives of America in this entertaining short shown in theaters nationwide.

THE SPIRIT OF '43 (1943)

In 1941 the Disney studios branched out from entertainment films to instructional movies. The first film was for the Lockheed Aircraft Company and explained methods of flush riveting. For the rest of the war, Disney made several training and morale building films. Dozens of films were produced for both civilians and military personnel. Donald Duck was the star of a popular film for the home audience.

Federal Income tax had been collected before WWII but it was only a minor amount and taxpayers were expected to mail in the payment 4 times a year. It was only at the start of WWII that taxes were levied on wages of the average worker. They were still expected to mail it in 4 times a year, but the government was having trouble getting the payments. So they turned to Walt Disney to make a film laying out exactly why it was important to the war effort for everyone to send in their taxes. The Donald Duck film was shown in theaters nationwide and was a great success, although at first the government balked at the price tag.

Aunt Jemima at Disneyland

From the early days of Disneyland corporations were involved in the park. They paid for some exhibits and competed to have their products on sale or used at the park. Aunt Jemima was no exception. This ad is from the early 1960's and celebrates the pancakes connection with the theme park.

SCROOGE MCDUCK 1977 COMIC BOOK COVERS

SCROOGE MCDUCK

Scrooge McDuck was created in the early 1950’s by Carl Barks, while working for Disney Studios. The first appearance was in the comic book Uncle Scrooge number 1 and there was a long series of comics starring the character.

Scrooge is uncle to Donald Duck and he is extremely wealthy, regularly swimming in his money. Scrooge travels the world in search of even more money, gold and treasure. Scrooge is particularly drawn to diamonds and has spent much time in pursuit of spectacular gems.

Scrooge is sometimes accompanied on his adventures by Donald and the 3 younger ducks. His greatest enemies are The Beasty Boys, who are a family of thieves continually trying to steal Scrooge’s wealth and foil his adventures.

MORE DISNEY CHRISTMAS IMAGES

DISNEY CHRISTMAS IMAGES

EARLY WALT DISNEY STUDIO MENU

This menu from the old Disney studio is chiefly interesting due to the prices on the menu.

DEAN JONES DISNEY FILMS

Dean Jones has had a long and successful acting career appearing on Broadway and in movies. But he is probably best known for his Disney movies. He made movies for the company between 1965 and 1977.

Dean Jones was handsome enough to be a realistic leading man, but he really shines as an exasperated man facing outrageous challenges. His movies are some of my favorite Disney productions. Even when the films are not so great, Jones always adds interest. And when the story is strong Dean Jones really shines.





THAT DARN CAT (1965)

THE UGLY DACHSHUND (1966)

MONKEYS,GO HOME!(1967)

BLACKBEARD'S GHOST (1967)

THE HORSE IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SUIT(1968)

THE LOVE BUG (1968)

MILLION DOLLAR DUCK (1971)

SNOWBALL EXPRESS (1972)

THE SHAGGY DA (1976)

HERBIE GOES TO MONTE CARLO (1977)



In 1982 there was a short lived Herbie series that features dean Jones and the actor also made an appearance in a Disney remake. He played the school dean in the remake of The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes and also appeared in 1 last Herbie movie in 1997 on television.

MONKEYS GO HOME! (1967)

Hank Dussard (DEAN JONES) comes from America to see the olive farm he inherited from his mother's family. The realtor,Emile Paraulis, immediately tries to get him to sell, but Hank is determined to farm. He meets a friendly priest, Father Sylvain (MAURICE CHEVALIER), who tells him about the problem of harvesting the olives.

The olives are blown to the ground by the wind, then they must be picked up very carefully, one by one. A man's hands are too rough, children's hands are best. the priest says Hank should marry a local widow with lots of kids, to have a labor force for his farm. However Hank has a different plan.

With the aide of local beauty Maria Riserau (YVETTE MIMIEUX)he imports monkeys to pick the olives. But the local realtor is after the land and whips up a local protest against the monkeys.

This is one of Disney's lesser works, but the monkeys are cute and Dean Jones, as always, makes the most of his part. Maurice Chevalier is also a charming addition to the cast.

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