March 20, 1942 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Symphony Hour is Released to Theaters
“Macaroni has got a new find! And tonight, we make history!”
On March 20, 1942, the Mickey Mouse short film Symphony Hour was released to theaters. This short contains the last appearance of Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, and Clara Cluck in the golden age of Disney shorts; they would not appear again in film until 1983’s Mickey’s Christmas Carol. The short was directed by Riley Thompson, and features the piece Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppé.
Rehearsals for Mickey’s orchestra are going very well, and Mr. Macaroni listens happily from the sponsor’s booth. At the end of the rehearsal, Macaroni heaps praise upon praise on Mickey, and declares that they will make history tonight. That night, the Macaroni Symphony Hour is highly advertised in front of the Wiz Theater, and everyone prepares for the show. As the audience takes their seats, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy run for the elevator as they hear the stage manager announce the last call. Mickey and Donald make the elevator; Goofy crashes through the elevator doors and falls to the bottom of the shaft. He drops all the instruments he was holding, and while he makes it out unscathed, the instruments are completely flattened by the elevator.
Mickey takes the stage as the announcer begins the broadcast of the “Symphony Hour”
It’s close to air time, and Goofy, along with the instruments, are missing. Mickey panics, but when he hears Goofy call out that he’s on his way, Mickey relaxes slightly, and takes his place when it is time for the show to begin. Mickey heads out on stage while Macaroni, listening from his own private booth, smokes a cigar and thinks of all the money he will make that evening. As Mickey begins the piece, he is shocked to hear the sound coming from Horace’s flattened horn. Horace’s horn breaks, and is sent flying across the room, landing around Donald’s neck. Macaroni shakes his radio, wondering what the heck is going on with the sound. Mickey nearly faints from the disaster, but tries to keep his composure, although he continues to see Macaroni throwing a fit in the booth. Goofy’s instrument breaks apart as he plays it, and he just shrugs at Mickey. Donald, frustrated with how the piece is going, is seen looking at the “Help Wanted” ads, and mocks Mickey. Mickey steps down from the podium, rolls up his sleeves, and throws Donald back into the percussion instruments. After seeing another tantrum from Macaroni, Mickey looks back to the orchestra to find Donald packed up and walking out. After literally throwing the book at him, Mickey motions for him to get back to the percussion section. When Donald ignores him, Mickey rushes over and threatens Donald with a gun. Donald then runs back and finishes the percussion with a tantrum of his own. Macaroni starts crying that he’s a ruined man, but stops when he hears the wild applause from the audience. He then embraces Mickey, while Mickey keeps conducting in a daze.
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