One of our loyal readers (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent us this classic cartoon treat:

I just found this 78 after a decades-long search. Thought you’d enjoy hearing it.It’s on Peter Pan Records, and the credited narrator is Somer Alberg. The label carries an undated copyright to “Terry Toons, Inc.”. Brief segments of this record appear on many kiddie albums and 45s, most with the references to Mighty Mouse still there, very mysterious when taken out of context. Hence my decades-long search for the complete version.

Here then is Mighty Mouse In Toyland (download MP3 format)

John Canemaker tells us of a search for a 3-D Computer Animation Teacher at NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Tisch School of the Arts Kanbar Institute of Film & Television:

The Department of Undergraduate Film & Television seeks to fill a full-time faculty position in 3D computer animation for the 2005/2006 academic year. Position is available at the junior or senior level – tenure track or on a one-year visiting basis for a senior faculty applicant or for a professional in the industry.Qualifications: 3-D computer animator with solid professional experience, preferably in features, television and/or commercial production; an in-depth knowledge of MAYA is a must and a working knowledge of a range of 2-D and 3-D computer animation software and applications as well as solid teaching experience at the university level. Applicants must know the animation process from storyboard to post-production in traditional and computer animation and multimedia.Duties include teaching five undergraduate-level courses per year, student advisement, and participation in departmental and school-wide committees. On-going professional work while teaching is encouraged and expected.Salary to be negotiated & excellent benefits package. Please send letter stating your qualifications, curriculum vitae, and list of 3 references by December 15, 2004 to: Undergraduate Film & Television Search Committee, Attn: Wendy Kaplan, Administrative Director, Kanbar Institute of Film & Television, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, 721 Broadway, Room 1102, New York, NY 10003 (fax 212/995-4062, wendy.kaplan@nyu.edu)
Finalists will be asked to submit creative portfolio. NYU encourages applications from women and minorities.

The man who talked for “the talking magpies” has passed away. Comedian and comic actor Dayton Allen has died. He was a mainstay at the Terrytoons studio who, in addition to Heckle & Jeckle, voiced Astronut, James Hound, Lariat Sam and my favorite of his, Deputy Dawg. He also voiced Professor Weirdo, Fearless Fly and Flukey Luke on The Milton The Monster Show for Hal Seegar. Mark Evanier has a fuller obit on his site.

From the AP: An image of Popeye sits in an exhibit dedicated to the cartoon character at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004. The museum unveiled a retrospective Saturday featuring rarities and collectibles from the cartoon hero’s career as Popeye celebrates his 75th birthday this year. Click here for the full story from the Associated Press.

In the world of online auctions, it’s practically impossible to compete with eBay–but for cartoon and comics fans, Heritage Comics does, with a series of ongoing auctions that includes an amazing array of high-quality stuff. Their site is well-done, and they publish glossy catalogs for some of the auctions that are a treat to peruse whether or not you actually bid on anything.

Up at the moment are scads of terrific vintage animation posters, including ones for Felix, Dinky Doodle, Flip the Frog, Oswald, Krazy Kat, and (drool!) Scrappy shorts. (If you’ve got a spare $45,000 or so, you can get in on the bidding for an original poster for MICKEY’S NIGHTMARE.)

Wonderful stuff–drop by the Heritage site and take a peek.

With those 99¢ Store dvds of Van Beuren’s TOM & JERRY flying off the shelves, interest in this early talkie cartoon duo has never been higher. To the rescue come David Gerstein and Pietro Shakarian with a brand new website devoted to the underappreciated rubber-hose pair.Hosted by Cartoon Research.com, this new Van Beuren Tom & Jerry page is an illustrated filmography, loaded with good information and fun images. David and Pietro are still fine tuning the site and will be adding a few final pieces to the filmography within the next few weeks – but it’s officially open to the public as of today. Good work, guys!

Mike Mallory dropped us this note:

Ed Kemmer, star of “Space Patrol” on TV and the cheesy sci-fi film “The Spider”, has died at 84. What’s not as well known is that he acted out Prince Phillip in the live action study footage film made for Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty.”

Crusader Rabbit TV syndication salesmen have a drink and blow off a little steam (circa 1957). Click on image for larger picture.
(Image courtesy of TheImaginaryWorld.com)

I’m a big fan of what I call “mystery art”–stuff that’s entertaining in part because it’s confusing. This piece of original art I happen to own fits the bill. I know it’s of an alligator. And I know it’s stamped “Return to Dave Tendlar,” though I don’t know why. What production, or studio, is it from? And did Tendlar actually draw it, or did he simply wish that it be returned to him? And if the latter, why?

I feel some sort of weird remorse every time I look at it, because clearly, Dave Tendar wanted it back, badly enough to stamp it with a request to that effect in two places–and he apparently didn’t get it. And given that he’s no longer with us, it’s too late to do anything about it.

Anyhow, I’m puzzled by this piece, but I think it has quite a bit of personality, and without knowing what film it’s from, I’m going to guess that this sketch is more exuberant and pleasing than the finished film it was prepared for.

Anyone out there have any guesses or solid information on the story behind the sketch? E-mail me if you do.

Brew readers who live in the New York metropolitan area, may want to attend this special classic cartoon screening next Monday night.The Academy Theater at Lighthouse International is screening a weekly showcase of Oscar nominated films entitled, “MONDAY NIGHTS WITH OSCAR”. This Monday, the screening will be focused on cartoons that either won or have been nominated for the Academy Award, in a program entitled “OSCARS AND ANIMATION”. Animator Michael Sporn will be hosting this special evening.The screening starts at 7:30pm. Doors Open at 7pm. Tickets $5, $ 3 for students. For more info call Call 1-888-778-7575 or check the Academy websiteNovember 15, 2004
Academy Theater at Lighthouse International
111 E 59th St
New York, NY(Thanks to Nelson Hughes for the link)

Heads up! This Saturday, Brewmaster Jerry Beck will be heard as a guest on a radio show based in New Orleans, which will be broadcast on the internet live and archived on their website. On November 13th at 1 pm Central Time (that’s 2pm on the East coast and 11am on the west) I’ll be on the second hour of “Movie Talk with David DuBos” on WGSO AM 990 (aka Biz Radio), to discuss Looney Tunes! Tune in and Toon in!

2004 is the 85th Anniversary of the creation of Felix The Cat, and Felix historian David Gerstein has been updating the data on his wonderful wonderful website, The Classic Felix The Cat Page, recently filling out the 1919-1921 Paramount Magazine filmography to it’s most complete form yet. David has uncovered previously unresearched corporate documents and has posted all the titles, and most of the synopses, for the vast majority of these earliest Felix films. Researching silent animation is difficult, but David is diligently making progress on the ultimate resource to the classic Sullivan/Messmer creation.

Brad Bird (THE INCREDIBLES) has been sitting for interviews everywhere – and all of them are worth reading. Here is one of the best: at The Onion.