Monthly Archives: July 2016

July 30, 1943 – The Goofy Wartime Short Film Victory Vehicles is Released to Theaters

“Who needs a limousine that’s always out of gasoline? Hop on your pogo stick and laugh your cares away!”

On July 30, 1943, the Goofy wartime short film Victory Vehicles premiered in theaters. The short takes a humorous look at rationing and shortages during wartime; it also spawned a song “Hop On Your Pogo Stick,” complete with sheet music, which was written by Ned Washington and Oliver Wallace. It also features a small cameo by Pluto in one of the early scenes. The short was directed by Jack Kinney.

The short begins with an explanation of why cars were necessary. When the gasoline and rubber shortage was started, the use of cars was limited significantly. Many citizens created their own versions of transportation, flooding the patent office with their (not-so-bright) ideas. The ideas span a variety of hobbies and work activities to help people get from point A to point B. Suddenly, the solution to this problem is made clear: the pogo stick. We then see Goofy, a defense contractor, heading to work via pogo stick, with a giant smile on his face. The narrator then talks about all the benefits of having pogo sticks instead of cars, and how it works in any condition. The short ends with everyone in town using a variety of pogo sticks.