Saturday Silliness: Chicken a la King, 1937

If a chicken sultan had Popeye's voice, this is what would happen.

Saturday Silliness: The Original Color Pilot for “The Munsters”

The Munster Residence as we knew it from the show.

Personally, I preferred The Addams Family because, to me, at least, they seemed more realistic. However,The Munsters was not without its appeal. I always loved the façade of the Munsters’ house. That set still exists (though drastically altered and nearly unrecognizable) at Universal City and was most recently used as a façade for Desperate Housewives.  Universal doesn't value its old sets the way the former Columbia Ranch (now Warner Brothers) does, but that's one of my hot-button topics and I'm not going to start on it just now.

As is often the case, the pilot show for The Munsters was quite different than the program that was picked up. The pilot was filmed in color with a largely different cast. The house is the same façade, however, it is in its original state—known at the time as “Maxim House.” The set was changed when the show went into production. The Second Empire tower and central gable were altered for the final show.



The Original Munster Facade
Known as "Maxim House"
Retroweb

Network executives felt that the unaired pilot was too similar to The Addams Family. The character of “Phoebe” was changed to “Lily.” Phoebe as played by the stunning Joan Marshall (also known as Jean Arless) was stylistically too close to Morticia Addams. When the show was picked up, Joan Marshall was replaced with Yvonne DeCarlo.

This clip from the unaired pilot is quite interesting, especially if you’re a fan of The Munsters. It’s always a bit startling to see pilot episodes, but they’re an integral part of the history of any production. Imagine what the show might have been like had the cast remained the same.

Saturday Silliness: Silly Symphonies - King Neptune (1932)

This is why I don't like the sea.

Saturday Silliness: I'm Wearing my Green Fedora, 1935

I'm wearing my green fedora,
Fedora
Not Alice, not Annie, not Casey but Fedora
I usually come to town in a battered old hat of brown
But it got red/green when me and my queen go steppin' around.

She's Fussy about colors,
She's very I think,
But if she won't fix it,
Might even wear pink.

That's why I wear my green fedora.

Fedora.
Fedora is the girl I love

The popular song "I'm Wearin' My Green Fedora" was written in 1935 by songwriters, Al Sherman, Al Lewis and Joseph Meyer for the short animated film, “My Green Fedora.” The film, animated by Chuck Jones and Robert Clampett, was directed by Friz Freleng and produced by Leon Schlesinger. Released on May 4, 1935, the film was heralded for its parody of the famous act of comedic actor Joe “Wanna Buy a Duck” Penner. You’re sure to know this song, even if not from its original source. The song was featured in other films and cartoons, notably in 1936 and 1937.

Saturday Silliness: Good Little Monkeys, 1935

Copy of “The Inferno” comes to life. Shiny Devil escapes. Monkey sculpture becomes animated. Horrible things happen. Harman-Ising. Enough said. Watch and be afraid.

Saturday Silliness: Popeye the Sailor in "Never Kick a Woman"

Yes, I colored it.

This 1930s Max Fliescher “Popeye” cartoon is entitled, ‘Never Kick a Woman” which is a fair enough instruction. It seems that Popeye has decided that Olive Oyl needs some lessons in self defense and, so, as one does, he brings her to a languid, blonde, Mae West type who appears to be constructed entirely of cartilage and saline. Despite Mae’s curious chemical composition, she attempts to seduce Popeye, much to Olive’s chagrin. Chaos and spinach theft ensue.

Saturday Silliness: Chicken a la King, 1937

If a chicken sultan had Popeye's voice, this is what would happen.

Saturday Silliness: The Russian Boy, 1959

I was introduced to this animated short from Russia over my Christmas vacation and it is now amongst the other beautifully horrid and bizarre cartoons which top my list of things to watch over the holiday.

It's known as "The Christmas Visit," "The New Year's Visit" and "The Russian Boy," depending on the translation and who is distributing it.

And, it defies explanation in a variety of ways.  

Enjoy!

Saturday Silliness: Howdy Doody's Christmas, 1957

How could I not share this with you?

Saturday Silliness: Private Eye Popeye, 1954

I think this explains itself.  Happy Saturday before Thanks-a-ma-giving.

Saturday Silliness: Silly Symphonies - King Neptune (1932)

This is why I don't like the sea.

Saturday Silliness: Popeye in "Fright to the Finish"

In honor of this week's Halloween festivities, I'd like to offer this Popeye short.

Saturday Silliness: Cookin' with Gags, 1954

Why Popeye continues to court Olive Oyl is beyond me.  What's her appeal?  It's like Hazel.  All the men wanted Hazel.  Why?  Shirley Booth must have driven the boys wild with desire.  Just like Olive Oyl.  I'll bet Bluto would have liked Hazel.  Pity they never met.

Some things are just lost on me, I guess.  But, it's Saturday, so here's a cartoon.

Saturday Silliness: In My Merry Oldsmobile 1931

The popular song, “Come Away with Me Lucille, in My Merry Oldsmobile” has been interpteted by Max Fleischer into a bizarre saga of perversion, peeping tommery, rough lovin', suggestive candy, elaborate underwear, and… 

Just oddness as only 1931 could serve up. 

This short film was also meant to sell cars. Really. It was an ad. It doesn’t make me want an Oldsmobile, not that I could get one anyway.

Saturday Silliness: Little Audrey in “Tarts and Flowers”

I've shared this with you before--a couple of years ago, but I think it's time to trot it out again.

In the late 1940’s when Paramount decided not to renew the license to use the popular cartoon character, “Little Lulu,” they came up with their own variation on the idea of the precocious girl—Little Audrey. Though Little Audrey had an entirely different look than her predecessor, she had similar adventures which were often fantastical—like visiting Santa Claus with a group of multi-racial children or even bizarre like traveling to a land ruled by anthropomorphized cake.

The idea of the “Land of Cake” was a carry-over from the 1920’s and 1930’s when standard cartoon subject matter often featured rather unsettling microcosms filled with knee-bending creatures which were made of the same material as the land which they inhabited.

The viewers of the late 1940’s cartoon, “Tarts and Flowers” are almost relieved to know that Audrey is dreaming about this grotesque land of breathing baked goods. However, that comfort is yanked away in the final seconds of the short.

Enjoy!

Saturday Silliness: Historical Footage of Vaudeville Acts from 1898-1910

Don't blame me.

Saturday Silliness: Good Little Monkeys, 1935

Copy of “The Inferno” comes to life. Shiny Devil escapes. Monkey sculpture becomes animated. Horrible things happen. Harman-Ising. Enough said. Watch and be afraid.

Saturday Silliness: Trolly Ahoy, 1936

Nom nom nom...

Well, it's Saturday.  So, here's another van Beuren cartoon for you.  This one's from 1936.  

Cannibalism and pancakes abound.  

I don't know why.  

Saturday Silliness: Greedy Humpty Dumpty, 1936

Deep in the horrors of Fairytale Town, Humpty Dumpty lords over the citizens with a miserly fist and a desire to see sheep humiliated.

From Flesicher Studios, this 1936 animated short requires no further explanation. Well, it needs a lot of explanation. But, I have none. 

Saturday Silliness: Popeye the Sailor in "Never Kick a Woman"

Yes, I colored it.

This 1930s Max Fliescher “Popeye” cartoon is entitled, ‘Never Kick a Woman” which is a fair enough instruction. It seems that Popeye has decided that Olive Oyl needs some lessons in self defense and, so, as one does, he brings her to a languid, blonde, Mae West type who appears to be constructed entirely of cartilage and saline. Despite Mae’s curious chemical composition, she attempts to seduce Popeye, much to Olive’s chagrin. Chaos and spinach theft ensue.