Gulliver's Travels

In 1937 Walt Disney and RKO released Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The film was the first feature length American animated film. More than that, it was done in brilliant color with a wonderful story and charming characters. The songs were memorable and the film was a smash hit.

It shouldn't be too surprising that other studios noticed and 'jumped on the bandwagon.' The head of Paramount was the first of the bandwagon jumpers.

So, after a delightful ride around El Segundo he tipped the band, paid the wagon drive and hopped in a cab back to Hollywood.

Soon after Paramount made a deal with Fleischer studios for their own feature length animated motion picture, Gulliver's Travels.

Max Fleischer was arguably as big a name in the cartoon business as Walt Disney in 1937. Max had such popular stars as Betty Boop, Popeye and Superman in his stable.

If Gulliver's Travels had been able to duplicate the success of Snow White perhaps today the world would be very different.

Perhaps millions would be vacationing in Max Fleischer World and Max Fleisher Pictures would be releasing mediocre sequels to Gulliver's Travels and other films.

But, it didn't happen. Gulliver just wasn't as successful as Snow White.

This isn't to say that it wasn't a success. Reaching theaters in 1939 (just two years after Snow White and BEFORE Disney's next project) Gulliver's Travels WAS a hit with audiences and garnered two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Music Score and Best Song. They lost both awards to The Wizard of Oz.

The film was made quickly, in less than half the time it took to make Snow White, yet the visuals were very impressive. Still, the story and characters didn't click with audiences the way that Sleepy, Dopey and company did.

Perhaps the most memorable character in Gulliver is Gabby. Gabby is a little guy who looks a bit like Elmer Fudd. His cantankerous and was popular enough to be spin off into his own cartoon series after the show.

This version of Gulliver's Travels is not faithful to the book version.

It tells of a man named Gulliver who washes ashore on an island full of people who are the size of Smurfs. Two kingdoms on the island are feuding over plans for a royal wedding. Gulliver is caught in the middle but uses his wits to help them.

Paramount no longer holds the copyright on this film so various different companies have released it. It is pretty easy to find in any bargain bin.

My copy was picked up at a dollar store and looks pretty good (all things considered.)

You may like it too, so I recommending going to the dollar store ASAP and jump on the bandwagon.

Ask the driver to take you by Redondo at night, it's beautiful. Also, ask the band to play a polka! The look they will give you is priceless!

Shirley Temple

It may surprise some people under the age of 50, but Shirley Temple is not just the name of a drink that kids order from the bar at weddings.

Shirley was the most popular child star in film history. She was the top box office draw for 4 years and appeared in more movies than you could count.

Well, you probably could count them, but it would take you a while. Then you would have to tell people: "I can't hang out tonight; I have to count Shirley Temple movies."

Then your friends would call you a loser and you would cry. So let's just assume you couldn't count them.

Shirley had lost one of her baby teeth the night that she was honored, but she hid this fact from everyone including her mother. Photos of the event show the tightest lipped smile the little tyke could muster.

That sounds weird.

"The tightest lipped smile the little tike could muster."

BYSTANDER ONE: What's happening?
BYSTANDER TWO: There’s a tyke mustering a smile with a tight lip.
BYSTANDER ONE: Good lord! I better get a cop.

Shirley was honored on March 14, 1935 and wrote "Love to you all" above her name. She also put her hands and BARE feet. During Sid's life no other celebrities were permitted to do so. Shirley said she wanted to do it bare foot so she could be "different."

Shirley's last four films were all released in 1949. She has kept herself busy with other interests including politics.

Still, I keep my fingers crossed for a comeback.

Half a Cup of Coffee

I can't stop laughing when I look at that photo.

YOU ASKED FOR HALF A CUP OF COFFEE!

Get it? Half a cup?

Whoa, Nellie! That's some funny jokes!

I’m being sarcastic.

I found this in an Orlando airport gift shop. It was sort of hidden on a high shelf in a corner. Looking at it I got the feeling that it had been sitting in this store for a loooooong time. Something about it has a very 1970s feel.

Perhaps that just because when I look at the clothes people wore then; I can only imagine that they would have found this to be funny. Lord knows SOMETHING strange was going on during that decade.

I bought this a few years ago and I have waited in VAIN for someone to ask for "half a cup of coffee." No one has ever asked me.

SWEETIE: Could I get you anything? Some coffee perhaps?
GUEST: No, I'm good.
SWEETIE: You look tired. Some coffee would fix that.
GUEST: Really? I'll take a cup then.
SWEETIE: Uh... don't you mean HALF a cup?
GUEST: No, I guess if I am looking tired I better have the whole cup.
SWEETIE: Uh... how about half now and half later.
GUEST: You know, forget the coffee. I think I am O.K.
SWEETIE (throws cup at guest): Damn you! Just laugh at this cup and leave.
GUEST (frightened): Oh, that is a nice cup. Very hysterical. Bye.
SWEETIE: Bye, Mom. See ya on Thanksgiving.

Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed

Don't worry, I am not planning to kill (nor encouraging the death) of someone named Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed.

Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed is the title of a 1926 German animated Arabian Knights film.

Translated it becomes The Adventures of Prince Achmed, but I like Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed it makes this article sound kinda 'artsy.'

In 1937 Walt Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs a film widely regarded as the "first feature length animated film."

At this point The Adventures of Prince Achmed was 11 years old.

So, is The Adventures of Prince Achmed the "first feature length animated film?"

Probably not.

In 1917 an Argentine animated film was made entitled The Apostle. This film was supposedly over 60 minutes (thus making it a feature.) Unfortunately no prints of that film remain so the claim can no longer be verified.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed was almost lost to time as well. The original camera negative and all theatrical prints are lost. A restored version has been made is based on a colored nitrate positive. This colored nitrate positive had been preserved in the National Film and Television Archive at the British Film Institute.

Understand all that? Me neither.

Here are some more things I don't understand:

1. The balk rule.
2. Why 24 hour drug stores have locks on their doors.
3. The popularity of Will Smith.

Anyway, there is a version of The Adventures of Prince Achmed that is available on video and DVD. It also makes the occasional Turner Classic Movies appearance.

The film looks very different than Snow White. In fact, although this is ANIMATED it is certainly NOT a cartoon. This process is silhouette animation, a type of animation is done by photographing back lit cardboard cut-outs that are moved one frame at a time.

The end result is similar to shadow puppets. Like your dad taking the lamp shade off and entertaining the kids by making his hands look like a rabbit or a dog.

The only difference is that this looks really AWESOME and The Adventures of Prince Achmed never mistook a 'Go-Bot' for a 'Transformer' ruining your 8th Christmas.

Produced in Germany, the film is directed by Lotte Reiniger. Lotte is still considered one of the most successful female animators, as well as a pioneer. In fact, in all the Disney DVD bonus features I have watched I don't ever recall a female animator! Why can't women draw? Perhaps it's because they have long nails and don't chew on them like men do. That must be it. Ladies, start biting your nails and YOU might be the next Max Fleischer.

Plus it gives you something to do when you are waiting at a red light.

The film is silent, but luckily the original musical score has been found and is featured on the newer releases.

"The Adventures of Prince Achmed" tells of an African sorcerer who creates a flying horse. The sorcerer offers the horse to the king, in exchange for his daughter Princess Dinarsade. The Princess' brother, Prince Achmed tries to save her but ends up flying out of control on the magic horse.

Later, Achmed finds a harem and begins kissing every woman in sight (you haven't lived until you see a silhouette animation orgy) until the girls become violent and start beating him (and each other.)

By the end, Achmed has found love, battled the sorcerer and witnessed a Wrestlemania-worthy battle between a rooster and a vulture.

The film clocks in at less than 66 minutes, but still feels a little 'slow' at times. It is, however, dazzlingly brilliant to look at and at points a powerful and emotional experience.

And so is biting ones nails (think about trying it, ladies.)

Create a Bug

What a rip off.

As a kid, you are often asked to "entertain yourself." They give you some crayons and blank paper and tell you to 'have fun.'

Can you imagine if they did that to adults? Imagine showing up to see The Lion King on Broadway and having an usher hand you some feathers and a pair of stilts and saying "entertain yourself."

But, kids get dealt this hand all the time. This particular bit of childhood time wasting is a blank page pretending to be a coloring book page.

We are asked to design a bug. CLICK HERE for my attempt

The Coloring Book Main Page

The Element of Surprise

Surprise is a funny thing.

Often surprises are good. Just as often they are bad.

People sometimes speak of the "element of surprise." That's stupid. Surprise it not listed on the periodic table of elements.

Surprise is not an element. If you were a scientist and you found it you would be surprised.

GET IT?

If you don't, I really don't blame you.

So, why do people say the phrase "the element of surprise?"

It is an interesting story.

Back in 1912 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts the Teider Museum was expecting an important package in the mail containing rare artifacts from the childhood of George Washington.

Instead, when the buggy dropped off that day’s mail, the package did not show up.

Days passed and Tom Nuckles, the museum's curator, waited for the package. When it was fifteen days late, he sent a wire to the delivery point (in San Diego.)

His counterpart in San Diego (noted pianist Peter Smasnth) responded with a letter that read:

Dear Tom,
Thank you for the small length of wire that you sent us. I plan to use this wire to hang many paintings in the museum.
Cordially yours,
Peter Smasnth

After reading the letter, Tom wrote back.

Dear Peter,
Send me the George Washington stuff.
Signed,
Tom

A mere 3 days later the package arrived. Inside was a note from Peter reading "these are the elements you requested."

Tom opened the box to find many historic items. They did not belong to George Washington; however, they belonged to George Washington Carver.

They included a pair of roller skates (made of peanuts), a shotgun (complete with peanut bullets) and a giant peanut (made of smaller peanuts.)

Angrily, Tom shipped the package back with a not saying.

Peter,
Yes, these are elements... elements of surprise.
Disappointed,
Tom

Peter liked the phrase and two years later when he was invited to perform at Lollapalooza '14 he called his musical set "The Element of Surprise."

The phrase stuck and is the 1,127 most used phrase in America today. It is just behind "step up the plate" and just ahead of "tuna makes me gassy."