Flapjack ends tonight
Disney's Annie Awards Withdrawal
The Ropes At Disney
Disney Remixes Old Cartoons into Blam!
|
|
|
The Man Behind the First Tom & Jerry
February 22, 2010 3:00 am
Long before Hanna Barbera’s Oscar-winning cat and mouse, a decade before Van Beuren’s rubber-hose human pair, a comical duo named Tom and Jerry created mischef on movie screens in animated theatrical short subjects that have long been forgotten – and are perhaps lost for all time.
In the image above, Tom is the man and Jerry is the mule. This was a stop-motion Tom and Jerry series, filmed in Los Angeles in the 1920’s, modeled and animated by Joseph Leeland Roop, a stop-motion pioneer who today is just as forgotten as the films themselves. Lee Roop, his grandson, is presently preparing a book about the animator and provided Cartoon Brew with tantalizing information about the original Tom & Jerry films. Lee says J.L. Roop worked on twelve shorts for producer Lloyd C. Haynes, released between 1923-1924. All are (as of this writing) lost films. If anyone has any clues to their whereabouts, please contact us. The titles are: The Incomparable Aerial Comedians in Fly-Time by H. C. Matthews Lee Roop provided this biographical information: Joseph Leeland Roop was born in Kentucky on December 22, 1869 and died on December 22, 1932 in Glendale California. He was a sculptor most of his life and his work can be found in Indiana, Kentucky, and California. Lee sent three images (thumbnails below – click to see larger image). 1. a trade advertisement for the Tom & Jerry series, 2. An article from the May 1924 Popular Mechanics magazine, 3. Second page of P.M. article:
This is the kind of stuff I crave, new information on the unsung pioneers of animation history. Mr. Roop will keep me informed on the progress of his book – and I thank him for sending us this little preview. |
ADVERTISEMENTS
EVENTS
RECENT BREW TV EPISODES By David de Rooij and Jelle Brunt. Slim is a saloon owner who suddenly faces competition when a bigger, better saloon opens up.  By Krishna Chandran A. Nair, Manasi Parikh, Nupur Mukherjee, and Chewang Lepcha. Two playful and naughty schoolboys have a unique perspective on life.  By Kazimir Iskander. The story of a Angus Grant, a cranky middle-aged divorcee and Teehan Delko, his spirited, 10-year-old neighbor, cast away from the world on a lonely island in the American Midwest.  Unwanted visitors disturb the tranquility of a campsite at the height of summer. While mayhem breaks out on the lawn, a group of ants makes brave new discoveries in the grass.  Once there was a little girl, always ready for combat, She had a deep dark secret, that she kept in her tiny hat. |
now THIS is why I like the Brew.
There are a couple of semi-familar names among what appears to be the writers of these Roop films. Bumps Adams starred in some decidedly obscure short comedies in the very early twenties, and Glen Lambert had short comedy writing credits throughout the twenties and into the thirties.
Fascinating stuff! I’m still seeking lost bits of information like this on the MoToy Comedies by Howard Moss. A few of those do exist, but the historical information on them is fragmented.
Wow.
Totally agree with first commenter “w” : THIS sort of post is what sets Cartoon Brew apart . I have learned something new about animation. Thank you , Jerry and Lee Roop for sharing this information. A great way to start the week.
Great post, Jerry. Thanks. That’s a book I’ll pre-order.
Absolutely amazing! I really hope he gets the info he’s looking for, as I’d love to see and learn more about this. Please be sure to keep us informed Jerry, and thanks!
Whoa. When Pietro Shakarian and I researched the Van Beuren Tom and Jerrys all those years ago, this was the place where our trail ran cold. Glad to see things heating up.
Jerry, even if I don’t personally like stop-motion. Im glad that animation buffs and historians have gained more information about those lost works. As I do respect what other pepole like even if it is not my cup of tea.
Why has this combination of names been used so many times? And in animation, no less! Interesting.
So… in the course of three decades (the 1920s, the 30s, the 40s), this name combination was used for three animated series. Coincidence? Or was it just found to be an extremely catchy title? If the cat and mouse named Tom and Jerry hadn’t been the fantastic success that they were, maybe today we would also have had a lot of semi-forgotten cartoon series titled “Tom and Jerry” from the 40s, 50s, 60s and onwards…
The name Tom and Jerry orignated as the name of a drink. Or a type of toast. something that involves alcohol.
Actually, the “Tom and Jerry” pairing was first used by British writer Pierce Egan in his 1820s periodical Life in London. The title characters were a pair of drunken young brawlers inhabiting London’s underworld.
The drink (which is a kind of eggnog spiked with rum) was named after Egan’s characters.
Ah, now I get the “You’re not that Tom and Jerry-drinking mouse!” joke from Beany and Cecil!
Then was this what was referenced in one of Fatty Arbuckle’s shorts?
I cannot believe the films are gone for good. Too bad it’s lost!
Clarification:
Believe it or not, Joseph Leeland Roop’s wife is the fifth cousin of General George Armstrong Custer!
Reinhart KUSTER
Johannes KUSTER
Arnold Arets KUSTER
Paulus KUSTER (CUSTER)
Eva Doors KUSTER (CUSTER)-(Siblings)-Arnold Kuster
Eve GOTTSCHALK (GOTTSCHALL)-(1st Cousin)-Nicholas Kuster
Sussanah SHORT-(2nd Cousin)-Emanuel Custer
Susan Tidewater JAGOE-(3rd Cousin)-John Custer
Susan Amanda DRAKE-(4th Cousin)-Emanuel Henry Custer
Rena Elston MILLS-(5th Cousin)-Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Joseph Roop and Rena Mills’ son (5th Cousin 1x removed)-Gen. George Armstrong Custer.
Lee Roop-(5th Cousin 2x removed)-Gen. George Armstrong Custer
I’ve got a copy of the June/July issue of NATURE magazine which features the La Brea tar pit sculptures and gives Joseph Roop full credit for the Fighting Sabre Tooths and the Sabre Tooth on Trapped Primitive Bison sculptures. Herman Beck is given credit for the Sloth, Short-faced Bear, and Lions. You’re right though – other magazines give Herman Beck credit for all the sculptures.
Oops. Forgot to give the year on the NATURE magazine – June/July 1938.