The golden age of American animation was a period that began with the popularization of sound synchronized cartoons in 1928 and gradually ended in the 1960s when theatrical animated shorts started to lose popularity to the newer medium of television. Animated media from after the golden age, especially on television, were produced on cheaper budgets and with more limited techniques between the late 1950s and early 1980s.
Terrytoons, Inc. was an American animation studio headquartered in New Rochelle, New York, which was active from 1929 until its closure in December 1972. Founded by Paul Terry, Frank Moser, and Joseph Coffman, it operated out of the "K" Building in downtown New Rochelle. The studio created many cartoon characters including Fanny Zilch, Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, Gandy Goose, Sourpuss, Dinky Duck, Little Roquefort, the Terry Bears, Dimwit, and Luno; Terry's pre-existing character Farmer Al Falfa was also featured often in the series.
The Van Beuren Corporation was a New York City-based animation studio that produced theatrical cartoons as well as live-action short-subjects from the 1920s to 1936.
Burton F. Gillett was a director of animated films. He is noted for his Silly Symphonies work for Disney, particularly the 1932 short film Flowers and Trees and the 1933 short film Three Little Pigs, both of which were awarded the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and both of which were selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry.
Farmer Al Falfa, also known as Farmer Alfalfa, is an animated cartoon character created by American cartoonist Paul Terry.
Dinner Time (1928) is an American animated short subject produced by Amadee J. Van Beuren, directed by Paul Terry, co-directed by John Foster, and produced at Van Beuren Studios. Josiah Zuro arranged and conducted the "synchronized" music score. The film is part of a series entitled Aesop's Fables and features the Terry creation Farmer Al Falfa who works as a butcher, fending off a group of pesky dogs.
The Little King is an American gag-a-day comic strip created by Otto Soglow, which ran from 1930 to 1975. Its stories are told in a style using images and very few words, as in pantomime.
Paul Houlton Terry was an American cartoonist, screenwriter, film director and producer. He produced over 1,300 cartoons between 1915 and 1955 including the many Terrytoons cartoons. His studio's most famous character is Mighty Mouse, and also created Heckle and Jeckle, Gandy Goose and Dinky Duck.
The fourth wave of Walt Disney Treasures was released December 7, 2004. This is the only wave that comes in White cases, and is the final wave that is in double DVD cases. Starting with this wave, the side strap was replaced with seal wrap with stickers and the back was no longer printed on the tin but included as a card glued to the back.
Eugene Frederick Rodemich was a pianist and orchestra leader, who composed the music for numerous films in the late 1920s and early 1930s, mostly cartoons and live-action short subjects produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.
Scrambled Eggs is a 1926 silent short animated film created by Fables Studios. It is among the cartoons of the Aesop's Fables with the appearance of Farmer Al Falfa, both created when its originator Paul Terry was still involved. One of the reissues of this cartoon, the Commonwealth TV reissue, made in the 50s, titles this cartoon as Closer than a Brother, the same name as a 1925 cartoon, which is also part of Aesop's Fables.
Circus Capers is a 1930 animated short film made by The Van Beuren Corporation and distributed by Pathé Exchange. The film, which featured the characters Milton Mouse and Rita, is part of the early sound cartoon series entitled Aesop's Sound Fables, though it is not based on an Aesop fable.
A Close Call is a 1929 animated short film which is part of the early sound cartoon series entitled Aesop's Sound Fables. It was produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and released by Pathé Exchange.
Laundry Blues is a 1930 animated short film produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and released by Pathe. The film, which takes place in a laundromat run by Chinese caricatures, was released on August 17, 1930.
Good Old Schooldays is a 1930 American animated short film produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and released by Pathé Exchange. The film, which features Willie Jones and other animals, was directed by John Foster and Mannie Davis, with synchronization by Gene Rodemich.
The Iron Man is a 1930 animated short film which was directed by John Foster and Harry Bailey. It was produced by The Van Beuren Corporation, and released by Pathé Exchange, a film distributor which had the newsreel Pathé News.
College Capers is a 1931 animated short film produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and released by the film distributor Pathé Exchange.
Western Whoopee is a 1930 animated short film directed by John Foster and Harry Bailey. It is part of the early cartoon series Aesop's Sound Fables. It was produced by The Van Beuren Corporation and released by the film company Pathé Exchange. It, like other Sound Fables at that time, features Milton Mouse and Rita, who resemble Mickey and Minnie Mouse to such an extent that Disney sued Van Beuren for the resemblance.
Milton Mouse is an animated character created at Fables Studios for Paul Terry's cartoon series Aesop's Fables. The character was introduced in 1921, and appeared in dozens of cartoon shorts through 1931. Milton often appeared alongside a girlfriend mouse, usually named Rita.
