Toonheads: The Wartime Cartoons

[Jerry Beck]

Hi guys! I'm dropping by to remind everyone to watch (or tape) TOONHEADS on Sunday night (July 1) at 10pm for THE WARTIME CARTOONS special. Cartoon Network did not publicize this show very well - so spread the word if you want to see more uncut cartoons - a good rating here will help!

Also read this article from today's L.A. Times:

http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Calendar-X!ArticleDetail-37003,00.html

[billyjoelfan]

in the words of john mcclane

yeppie kay ya yeah (thats the edited version)


billy joel you were on vh1 last night fan!

[Jack]

I definately have a tape ready, and I just can't wait! They gave it good rating too, TV-PG. That sounds right.




Jack:D

[Nelson]

Correct me if I'm wrong fellas, but isn't this the highest (TV-PG)TV-rating a program has ever recieved on Cartoon Network?

Sunday Night will be great night for Cartoon Network because this time...THEY WILL MAKE TELEVISON HISTORY!!!

[Matthew Hunter]

Well, for them this is a big step. I'm glad they finally want to cater to the older audience and the toon buffs. I just wish they would make "Toon Heads" a more regular show. All they play are those old episodes from around 1998 or so, I think I've seen all but a few twice! They don't even go back to the old episodes that even included some Hanna-Barbera stuff, boy, those were good too.
-Matthew

[Rob]

The article from the L.A. Times was quite interesting and shows the kind of thought that went into this program. Thanks, Jerry, for making the information availaable to us.

I can't wait to see this show!

[daftchris]

Correct me if I'm wrong fellas, but isn't this the highest (TV-PG)TV-rating a program has ever recieved on Cartoon Network?

Nah. Space Ghost C2C in it's most recent season was, for one. That's all I can think of off the top of my head though.

Christine Gregory

[kiddiesunshine]

I also appreciate you taking the time to deliver that information, Mr. Beck. CN is taking a big step towards making the network geared fully towards all ages. On Another note, Mr. Beck, I was wondering if you read any of the things I've been saying since I've been here. I think I may have a reputation of being too opinionated.

[Patrick McCart]

I have a fresh video for this occasion.

It will not be unwrapped until 10 PM on Sunday night. :)

[PorkyandDaffy]

Shouldn't you open it on 9:55 PM? I mean, you don't want to end up missing anything.:D

[hippety hopper]

BUT I don't think I'll be able to see it for years yet,CN UK is really far behind on their Episodes of toonheads.

this week we have
Friday-The year elmer fudd got fat
Saturday-The battle of the bookworms
Sunday-Hubie and bertie

[lislebartman]

I will be out of town, but I have already set my VCR. It will be nice to have a nice clean print of "Scrap Happy Daffy".

Also, there was a nice write-up in today's Chicago Tribune about the Toonheads special. It turns out the four cartoons to be shown are:

Blitz Wolf - 1942
Scrap Happy Daffy - 1943
Herr Meets Hare - 1945
Russian Rhapsody - 1944 (erroneously credited to Chuck Jones in the article)

Please, everyone, spread the word about this special. I hope ratings go through the roof for this special feast!!!

[PorkyandDaffy]

I saw a clip from RUSSIAN RHAPSODY in the Wartime Toonheads commercial, and maybe it was just me, but it looked like it was dubbed. It looked cleaner than the print CN previously showed. I sure hope it's not dubbed because while the dubbed version may be clean looking, I sure wouldn't want to see that stupid dubbed version end title (with the concetric rings probably mismatched) on yet another cartoon.

[Joe Tully]

Russian Rhapsody is a great cartoon, but it already airs on the Clampett show. At first, it kind of disappointed me that it would be on the special since it can be seen elsewhere, but maybe it was chosen to make everyone realize how great some of these wartime cartoons are and how they shouldn't be banned/censored, in which case I think it's a great idea. We need as much support for this as possible.

I have all four cartoons on tape, but I think I'll go buy a blank tomorrow anyways. I might even try to convince some of my non-Toonhead friends to watch.

Hippety Hopper, we haven't been getting many new episodes here in the States either. Go to Jon's page at http://www.toonzone.net/looney/tv/turner/textoon.html and scroll down past the Tex Avery Show listings for a list of the Toonheads. They're just repeating that second season over and over, and have removed the Lost Cartoons special from the rotation. Yesterday, we saw Emily the Chicken.

[Jack]

I always tape the Toonheads specials, I really really really hope we will see a good print of "Scrap Happy Daffy" I want to replace the awful, faded, new-sound-added Cartoon Crazys version I own. And I love all the pictures and things they show between cartoons.

The biggest plus of all (for me, at least) is getting to see "Blitz Wolf."




Jack:D

[The Dork Knight]

got a blank tape ready. This is gonna be sweet. can wait to see russian rhapsody. :D

[BobChief]

Jerry Beck wrote, in part:
Also read this article from today's L.A. Times:

http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Calendar-X!ArticleDetail-37003,00.html

You had a great line in that article, Jerry:

"My dream--and it's not unrealistic--is to move the classic cartoons that were made for theaters, including Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Superman and the Looney Tunes, to a different category," Beck said. "We have 50 years of TV animation now, and people have come to perceive cartoons as kid fodder. The old cartoons don't have to be lumped in with that. They should be in the same league with 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Gone With the Wind' and 'Citizen Kane.' They can run 'The Jazz Singer' on TV. They run 'Babes on Broadway' with Mickey and Judy in blackface. Why can't we see the old cartoons for what they are too?"

There are pitfalls in that point, tho'...could the creation of yet another all-cartoon outlet be in the offing? Orrrrr would the existing classic movie channels of AOL (TCM) and Cablevision (AMC) become the logical place for the older shorts?
Plenty of folks can watch TCM, I'd love to see them do more toons between films, or even half- or full-hour shows (they wouldn't look like the CN ones...:p)

I'm guessing this will be like the other Toonheads and Bob Clampett shows, with a V.O. guy doing the tellin' stuff. Jerry, did you ever consider doing something similar to what Robert Osborne of The Hollywood Reporter does on TCM?

[Jerry Beck]

Me again -
Tonight's the night. I thought I'd give you guys some background notes. First, please judge the show on the whole. That CN was willing to produce this special and show what they do is a big step for them. A big experiment. Longtime and regular CN viewers know that CN is taking a risk here. So please do not complain about small things that could have made this even better. If it were up to me this would have been a four hour show! We tried to squeeze a lot into essentially 44 minutes!
Second, about some of the prints used on tonight's show. I'm going to be just as surprised as you IF I see two things I saw in the rough cut I was sent. I protested both and I am crossing my fingers they were fixed. One was an edit in BLITZ WOLF. Turner's in-house print has this edit in it. I spotted this and complained - I do not know if they changed this. The print of SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY in my rough cut was good, but not great. Better than your average P.D. tape, but not "mint". I was told they were going to get a better version. I hope so. But please be aware my hands were tied. I'm just happy we are showing these cartoons at all.
Some Popeye clips are indeed from colorized versions (or as you say "redrawns"). It's all I could get from Turner, but as clips they make the point, and don't detract from the show's message. We used b\w clips whenever we could get them. RUSSIAN RHAPSOSY was selected and put into the show back in October/November last year when we produced it. THE BOB CLAMPETT SHOW used the film after we had locked our edit. It bugged me, because I wanted to have all premiere cartoons on this show. Imagine my horror when I heard, in the spring, that JUNE BUGS was going to run HERR MEETS HARE. I was actually happy they ultimately didn't run it on June Bugs, so my show still had 3 premieres!
Clips from cartoons like THE DUCKTATORS, TOKIO JOKIO and SNAFU came from my own beat-up 16mm prints, because WB wouldn't provide CN with copies.
All I'm saying here is, you guys like to criticize. You should. Most times your criticisims are valid and correct. But tonight's show needs your support and enthusiasm. If you want to see more uncut cartoons on CN, if you want to see the old cartoons treated with the reverence they deserve, then temper the complaints about an edit here, a clip we should have shown, dupey prints or "why Popeye didn't get more screen time?" on this special tonight. See the glass half full - and praise CN for showing these films and urge them to continue treating the cartoons, and the fans, with respect.

[BobChief]

I'm more worried that forecast STRONG thunderstorms in the PA/NJ/NY area are going to wipe out our cable, and maybe even put us in the dark :( before your show airs, Jerry...

Where I currently am in PA, a far-milder storm a previous year nearly destroyed our designated power substation, blacking us out for 16+ hours!!

[grundle]

I think it's great that Cartoon Network is airing this stuff. Thanks for all the info.

Referring ot the war cartoons special and the twelve missing hares special, the article said:

"Lazzo added that the network also plans to put out these specials on video in the future, as it has with other programming."

Would it be possible to make the videos longer than the actual TV specials? For example, could the video for the war special contain full length versions of all the WB war cartoons? And could the video of twelve missing hares contain full length versions of all 12 cartoons? And will they be on DVD?

[Jerry Beck]

Yes its possible to do a longer version for DVD. But Warner Bros. has no immeadiate plans for cartoons, much less documentaries about cartoons, for DVD.

I will use this thread to answer your any questions, but I fear being bombarded with all kinds of questions I can't answer.

Yes I've considered being the "Robert Osborne" of CN, I even offered to host a Toonheads on-camera, but I was politely turned down.

[Jack]

I'll be happy just as long as the cartoons get shown, look mostly decent, and have have all the footage intact. Any version of "Scrap Happy Daffy" would be better than the PD version I own...

I have some questions, but if any are unanswerable, then just say so and I won't bug you about it again.

First of all, so CN doesn't have prints of SNAFU or other banned cartoons? Do they have prints of all the cartoons cut from June Bugs? Also, once this special is shown, does that mean CN will now have prints of those 4 cartoons to show on other programs, like Late Night Acme Hours or Late Nite Black and White?

And on an unrelated note, do you know why the end gags are cut from cartoons like "Hare Splitter," "Drip Along Daffy," "Roman Legion hare," and "Hasty Hare," even though there is absolutely no way at all turkey farming and such are offensive?

Don't worry about complaining, I won't complain, unless the program is interrupted by some sudden natural disaster, news flash, or other technical difficulty. I think it's great that the cartoons are put into a documentary format, it treats them with some respect.



Jack:D

[Rob]

Jerry said:


But Warner Bros. has no immeadiate plans for cartoons, much less documentaries about cartoons, for DVD.

That's what I find so unbelievable, that they have no plans for the cartoons on DVD. But I don't think they can be so naive about the popularity of these films. Perhaps they're trying to create a pent-up demand so the DVDs will sell well? Does anybody know how the Tom and Jerry disc did sales-wise?

[Patrick McCart]

Was the Snafu cartoon on the "lost toons" special from one of your 16mm prints? It looked pretty good to me.

[Patrick McCart]

I'm looking forward to the special no matter what condition the elements are in...according to some information (from Jon Cooke), Scrap Happy Daffy was computer colorized in 1995, so it must have been cleaned up for B&W showing. I'd be happy to see any of these cartoons again...Russian Rhapsody is a great cartoon, so I'd like to see it again anyways.

Here's two questions I have about the previous special..

This is a little off-topic, but where did

Lady Play Your Mandolin!
Spies (Snafu)
'Crying For The Carolines'
Bosko: The Talkink Kid

...come from for the "Lost Toons" special? Are those also from your 16mm prints?

Also, do you know what the other three "lost" Spooney Melodies are?

[Matthew Hunter]

What I and virtually everyone else on this forum would like to know is, why does CN not show Buddy or Bosko? They have Late Night Black and White, and the cartoons haven't been on TV, except for one on your last toonheads special, for years. Bosko, perhaps, may be a little too edgy, but he's available in the public domain. Buddy, though, hasn't been seen for a long time. Does Warner Brothers not think he's even worth sending to CN or something? I like Buddy! Also, are there any plans to return Speedy Gonzales to regular play?
-Matthew

[PorkyandDaffy]

What does CN find so edgy about Bosko? He's black, but he doesn't look or sound stereotypically ethnic. And if CN is really afraid, then that's what LNB&W is for, and it's shown late at night - so what's the problem? And as for them not showing Buddy cartoons, that's just inexplicable and ridiculous!

[Jack]

I'm just curious, but did the sign on the outside of Sgt. Pork's house say "No Japs Allowed" because it was blurred out?

"Blitz Wolf" is REALLY funny.



Jack:D

[PorkyandDaffy]

Any version of "Scrap Happy Daffy" would be better than the PD version I own...

CN's print was pretty fuzzy and blurry.

[Patrick McCart]

I have a question about Scrap Happy Daffy...was the print a nitrate print or a safety print?

It's a shame WB didn't give CN some cleaned up prints of Scrap Happy and the other cartoons you had to resort to private 16mm prints. But it was great to see this stuff on the tube.

Great show and thank you Jerry!

[barnyarddawg]

Did anybody notice the scene from Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves? It was a pan across some sugar and tires when they were talking about rationing. I'll bet it felt good to sneak that one in! :)

[Jack]

I noiced it too, heh, heh:D

Porky&Daffy, that version of "Scrap Happy Daffy" is actually better than the PD version I own, it wasn't as washed out or blurry. And it didn't have the redone sound.


Jack:D

[Matthew Hunter]

I loved that documentary! I would've posted my comments sooner, but the server was down last night. I thought iit WAS brave of CN to show those cartoons, especially after all the controversy surrounding those 12 Bugs cartoons, one of which was shown here. The print of "Scrap Happy Daffy" was better than my PD copy, which, I think, also removes the subtitle and is apparently time compressed somehow. "Blitz Wolf" was very funny, and I noticed comments about some edits. I'm not complaining, though, I have never seen something like that on CN! The trivia was interesting, so were the scenes used to illustrate the ideas. I noticed clips from "Scrap the Japs", "The Japateurs", "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips", "Rebel Rabbit", "The Stork's Holiday", "Barney Bear's Victory Garden", "Crazy Cruise", "Coal Black", "The Ducktators", "Draftee Daffy", "Foney Fables", "Boom Boom", "Bosko the Doughboy", "What Price Porky", "Daffy the Commando", and several Snafu cartoons, among other clips I forgot/couldn't identify. Very good special, Jerry, I hope this did well, because I think this is a step in the VERY right direction. Also, I noticed that "Russian Rhapsody" looked much better than the copy CN used before. Was this restored CORRECTLY for once, because it had the right closing!
-Matthew

[Pietro]

They also showed clips from "Seein' Red, White and Blue."

-Pietro

[Jerry Beck]

Lady Play Your Mandolin!
Spies (Snafu)
'Crying For The Carolines'
Bosko: The Talkink Kid

All but CRYIN' FOR THE CAROLINES came from private film collectors. CRYIN' was at the UCLA FILM ARCHIVE and they are holding it for Warner Bros.

The print of SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY was poor. It is not a master print - it looked like a 16mm print. I don't know where they got that.

I think Cartoon Network hasn't recieved the BOSKO or BUDDY cartoons from Warner Bros. I'm not sure, but I think they don't air them mainly because they don't have them, they are b/w so that limits where they would run them and Bosko's ethnicity may be a factor, but if it is, they are being ridiculous.

I can't answer questions about Cartoon Network policy, because I don't know what that is. I only work for them on a freelance basis.

Thank you everyone for your comments. As soon as I have rating information, I'll try to post it here or on my website.

[DR. BELCH]

There were a couple of couple of bits in Tex Avery's "Blitz Wolf" that appeared to be censored...one has already been mentioned, the blurred sign outside the pigs' house. The other is in the chant the younger pigs perform. After the line "You're digging a ditch..." the sound and picture pause for about two seconds, then continue, "...You're in the army now!" I'll bet my button cap what was deleted was the phrase, "You son-of-a-b****". Very sloppy-looking, obvious edit; couldn't they just bleep out the last word? Other than that, excellent special; I'd like to see more. "Does your tobacco taste different lately?"

I know I saw "Russian Rhapsody" years ago as a kid (the burping wing-eating gremlin stayed in my mind for years; watch for Hitler doing Lew Lehr!) on channel three, and I think I have a copy of a Superman tape with "Japoteurs" in my vast and cluttered collection.

A joke:
How do you make a Nazi cross?
Kick him in the cojones! :D

[Jack]

Tex Avery would'nt have put "You son-of-a-b****" into a cartoon, especially his fist cartoon for MGM (not a smart career move).


Jack:D

[Thad Komorowski]

After watching an UNCUT copy (off TEX AVERY'S SCREWBALL CLASSICS 4), I can confirm that the following was edited in "Blitz Wolf":

[list=1]
The sign originally said "No Dogs Allowed". However, the Sgt. Pork has crossed out "Dogs" and replaced it with "Japs". "Japs" has been digitally erased, but very poorly.
When we finally get to the end of the cannon, instead of cutting to the wolf, the pigs shoot a bomb, which blows up Tokyo. A sign plops into the Pacific and reads: "Dolittle Dood It!" while YANKEE DOODLE plays on the soundtrack.
[/list=1]

I hope that clears everything up. Also, Dr. Belch (:D), the freeze frame during the "You're in the Army Now" song was always there. It was a hidden joke from Tex Avery, "that we are still watching a cartoon", according to John Canemaker's excellent book, Tex Avery: The MGM Years 1942-1955.

-Thad:D

[Ghastly Gary]

I wish there were more Toon Heads aired like this one and that Warner Bros. would treat us hard core LT and MM fans as the adults we are who wish to see uncensored cartoons when the kids aren't watching. The Bob Clampett Show is the best regular series CN has because of the input of the Clampett family. Despite the obstacles Warner put in the way, Jerry, that was a GREAT show. Now if only we see Bosko on LNB&W or that he has his own late night show with Buddy, Foxy, Popeye and the other stars of the black & white era. As I E-mailed before, I would love to see a special late night edition of The Bob Clampett Show which features "Tin Pan Alley Cats", "The Bugs Bunny Bond Rally", Private Snafu in "Booby Traps" and last, but not least, "Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs".

[ChrisWinston]

Okay, uh, i'm a big maroon, i COMPLETELY forgot about the Toonheads war special...

Is it scheduled to run again or am i just gunna hafta keep my eyes open for it?

Thanks

[Patrick McCart]

I thought the jump take between the horse's rear and Hitler's face was brilliant in Scrap Happy Daffy. It's a really patriotic cartoon and I'll be watching it again.

Sorry Chris, but I doubt this special will be on again.

[Rob]

Well, I don't think I can add much more to what's already been said but...

All in all, a funny, fascinating show. I haven't seen SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY or RUSSIAN RHAPSODY in years, and both were great. HERR MEETS HARE also very funny, but I don't see why it was banned from June Bugs.

Thanks CN (and Jerry)! Keep it coming!

[Jack]

"Scrap Happy Daffy" is a really dynamic Tashlin cartoon. It has a great flow to it. I always liked how Hitler sort of poses when he gets done chewing along the dotted line (as if there is no inbetween animation), and of couse the beginning is handled great, as well as the visions Daffy has of his great great great great great great grandparents.... I also like the pre-UPA design of the scrap yards.

Oh, and the song is catchy, very very catchy. I still have it in my head.

Rob is right, "Herr Meets Hare" is harmless, it could easily be shown in rotation, really.

Jerry Beck made a great show, and I hope he makes more like it.


Jack:D

[PorkyandDaffy]

other is in the chant the younger pigs perform. After the line "You're digging a ditch..." the sound and picture pause for about two seconds, then continue, "...You're in the army now!" I'll bet my button cap what was deleted was the phrase, "You son-of-a-b****". Very sloppy-looking, obvious edit; couldn't they just bleep out the last word?

I noticed that, too. There was also a part in the same cartoon in which the Brick-House Pig almost curses, after saying "You can take this treaty, and..." before being interrupted.

THE BLITZ WOLF was an excellent cartoon, and a great one for Avery to start his career at MGM with. I especially love the ending disclaimer.

SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY was okay, but I didn't care much for it. Maybe because the horrible film print just gave me a headache, and it was hard for me to watch.

HERR MEETS HARE is another very good cartoon. Bugs' Hitler impression scene is great, as well as the opera dance he has with Goering, and the ending with him as Stalin.

It was a real treat to see all of these cartoons. I look forward to another Toonheads special in the future if there is one.

[ChrisWinston]

Originally posted by Rob
That's what I find so unbelievable, that they have no plans for the cartoons on DVD. But I don't think they can be so naive about the popularity of these films...

Ever thought about writing Warner Brothers?
They're not reading your mind!

[Rob]

Originally posted by ChrisWinston
[/i]

Ever thought about writing Warner Brothers?
They're not reading your mind!

Good point! And I will!

[ChrisWinston]

Excellent!!! I'm glad to read that! Just picture 'em there in Burbank with a manila folder, an inch thick, full of letters that people have mailed to them asking for the Warner Brothers collection of cartoons to be released onto DVD. Imagine 'em gettin' a new letter or two or more every single week to add to that folder. There's a jingle comin' to mind here. I'm feelin' a bit musical... Bonnie Raitt sings: "Let's give 'em somethin' to talk about."

And they will start talkin' with enough support. Sadly, many people just aren't writing 'cause, well, who knows why!? Maybe they think it won't matter and their voice doesn't make a difference. IT WOULDN'T HURT!!!!!

[BobChief]

Since the other shows (non-CN) I normally tape are in reruns, I didn't have much of a backlog to get through to find TH:TWC (I had already decided to skip LNB&W as per another thread).

It felt great remembering all (most, anyhow) of the shorts from which excerpts were used (I'm from an area where local TV showed plenty of war-era stuff, particularly post-Fleischer Popeye, without any guilt whatsoever!), and of course the full toons were super, too -- tho I too wonder why a better copy of Scrap Happy Daffy couldn't be had.

The narration didn't trouble me any, partly 'cuz Jerry let us know it was coming, and because the young woman doing it wasn't vocally annoying...

[Brian Cruz]

FYI, this has become the first thread in the history of the TTTP to have more than 1000 views.

--Brian

[Crazy Tom]

Originally posted by Rob
I haven't seen SCRAP HAPPY DAFFY or RUSSIAN RHAPSODY in years, and both were great. HERR MEETS HARE also very funny, but I don't see why it was banned from June Bugs.

OK, my turn! Good thing I recorded this special since I was away for a few days in ol' Virginny.

First, Blitz Wolf was hysterical. I never saw the film before, and I am glad the ending held in tact. Tons of gags that had me rolling. My question is, after investigating all the other above comments, why would the cartoon have all the German references and not the Japanese references? I knew something was up on the "No Censored Allowed" sign...thanks for clearing that one up.

Also, I've never seen Scrap Happy Daffy before, and I thought it was pretty good, but that looked like something from an old videotape that you could buy at a CVS or something for three bucks. It was pretty good, but not the best.

The second half of the show, to me, was disappointing. Herr Meets Hare is a very good cartoon, but I've seen it numerous times...ironically most of which were on TBS some years ago!

Finally, Russian Rhapsody is another ingenius classic by Clampett...I've seen that a few times as well, including once on the Bob Clampett Show a few weeks ago!

This was a very good special, but the one thing that bothered me was that the whole thing was based on German references. What about the Japanese? I was expecting maybe Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips, but now I have figured out why that was not part of the special. The Japanese may not have been fairly portrayed in some instances, but none of the four cartoons had anything dealing with them, and if they did (like Blitz Wolf), it was erased or cut! Did CN somehow forget how WW2 ended, or did CN think they would get more fire from the Japanese than the Germans if the cartoons with Japanese references were shown?

Another case of power and privilege that we are not allowed to know about.:confused:

[Nelson]

This may be an excellent thing for cartoons fans, like Jerry said, this was a victory for all of us who want to see these PIC cartoons on CARTOON NETWORK.

I just hope that the powers that be at CN will start thinking of a weekly showcase for classic UNCUT cartoons on a regular basics instead of waiting for a very long time, to see the next batch of cartoons.

[Sveven Dvorking]

... afraid of offending, Nazis?

Actually, some extremely sensitive Germans might take offense to that cartoon.

[Dave Mackey]

Correct me if I'm wrong fellas, but isn't this the highest (TV-PG)TV-rating a program has ever recieved on Cartoon Network?


It is until "Adult Swim" premieres in September: expect a lot of TV-14 on there.

[Sveven Dvorking]

At the start of the show, they put a TV-G logo on the corner of the screen. I believe billyjoelfan already pointed that out.

[YoungTrek]

Can anyone out there help me? I missed the Toonheads: Wartime Toons special. Anyone know where I can get my hands on a tape? Thanks.

David Young
young_d1@firn.edu
:confused: