September 17, 1932 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film The Whoopee Party Premieres in Theaters
“We’re the kitchen mechanics, we fix all the refreshments.”
On September 17, 1932, the Mickey Mouse short film The Whoopee Party was released to theaters. The short features two popular pieces of music in the 20s and early 30s: “The Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin, and “Runnin’ Wild” by A.H. Gibbs, Joe Grey, and Leo Wood (mostly known for Marilyn Monroe’s performance in the 1959 comedy film Some Like It Hot). It was directed by Wilfred Jackson, and stars Walt Disney as the voice of Mickey Mouse, Marcellite Garner as the voice of Minnie Mouse, and Pinto Colvig as the voice of Goofy.
A splendid party is taking place, with a whole cast of characters dancing happily to the music. Minnie is at the piano playing and singing, while Clarabelle Cow accompanies her on the violin. Mickey, Goofy, and Horace Horsecollar are in the kitchen, preparing snacks for the party and singing their own version of the song as the “Kitchen Mechanics.”
Mickey asks a rather shy pig to dance with him, and when she agrees, the two begin to dance wildly to the music
After Minnie finishes her first song, the Kitchen Mechanics come out and announce with great fanfare that the food is ready. The guests immediately swarm the table, and the band strikes up again, playing Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” The guests dance and eat, and Mickey asks a rather shy pig to dance with him. The furniture and the food get involved in the dancing as well, with everyone having a wonderful time, yelling “Whoopee!” and throwing confetti.
Goofy attaches a glove to the end of his noisemaker, and uses it to scare Clarabelle as she dances. In retaliation, she places a horseshoe in a boxing glove, attaches it to her own noisemaker, and uses it to punch Goofy, sending him flying into a fishbowl. The song then changes to “Running Wild” as Mickey uses various household objects to help create the music.
The party is so successful, even the police join in with the celebrations
Suddenly, a patrol car is sent to Mickey’s house, with the police dashing inside. At first, it appears that they’re using force to subdue the party, but when the audience is taken inside, the police have joined the party, dancing wildly and blowing their whistles in time with the music. The short ends with Mickey and Minnie lifting their hats and letting out another loud “Whoopee!”
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