RSS Feed

Tag Archives: 1920s

August 22

August 22, 1927 – The Final Alice Comedy Alice in the Big League Premieres in Theaters

AliceInTheBigLeague

On August 22, 1927, the 57th and final Alice Comedy, Alice in the Big League, was released to theaters. It starred Lois Hardwick as the fourth and final actress to play Alice. By the time this short film was released, it had become apparent to Walt, as well as his distributor Charles Mintz, that the Alice Comedies had run their course, with Alice not serving well as a comedic figure and Julius the cat providing most of the comedic intrigue; Walt was also working with Ub Iwerks on the first cartoon of what would become Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. While Alice in the Big League is not a lost cartoon, it has not been released on home video.

August 20

August 20, 1928 – The Last Disney Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Hot Dog Premiered in Theaters

Oswald Hot Dog

On August 20, 1928, the final Disney created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film, Hot Dog, was released to theaters. The short film marked the end of the working relationship between Charles Mintz and Walt Disney, with Disney losing the character to Mintz after refusing to resign with a 20% cut in profits; this would ultimately lead to the creation of Mickey Mouse. The film has since become a lost cartoon, with only the title card and a storyboard page surviving.

August 1

August 1, 1924 – The Alice Comedy Alice the Peacemaker is Released to Theaters

AtPM

On August 1, 1924, the seventh Alice Comedy, entitled Alice the Peacemaker, premiered in theaters. The film featured Virginia Davis as Alice. While not considered a lost film, the short has not been released through the Disney Studios for home viewing; it has, however, been shown at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, with the original print kept in protective storage in the Disney Archives.

July 23

July 23, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Sleigh Bells Premieres in Theaters

SleighBells

“The restoration of [Sleigh Bells] will introduce many audiences to Disney’s work in the silent period – it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key pint in his early career.”

On July 23, 1928, the 25th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Sleigh Bells was released to theaters. Originally considered a lost film, it was discovered by the British Film Institute (BFI) in their collection in 2015. The collection had been uploaded to an online database, where a Disney researcher spotted the film. Before being spotted, the film reel was earmarked to be thrown away, but BFI’s upload ultimately saved the film. The film premiered for the public on December 12, 2015, almost 90 years after its premiere.

July 6

Posted on

July 6, 1925 – The Disney Brothers Make Down Payment on Hyperion Studios

Hyperion

On July 6, 1925, Walt and Roy Disney made a down payment on Lot 21 at 2719 Hyperion Avenue, the area that would eventually become the early Walt Disney Studio (also known as Hyperion Studio). The down payment was $400, which is almost $5,500 in 2016 rates. A larger studio was necessary after the success of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, as well as making sure that the brothers’ enterprise would pay off for their growing families. After a final payment of $600 in August, the brothers and their staff would move into the completed studio in January 1926 from the Kingswell Avenue location. Some of the buildings were eventually relocated when the studio moved to Burbank, but the rest were razed in 1966, leaving no trace of the studio’s humble beginnings.

June 1

Posted on

June 1, 1924 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Fishy Story Premieres in Theaters

ACAFS

“Cease…!! We’re on a strike!!”

On June 1, 1924, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Fishy Story was released to theaters. It was the fifth Alice Comedy produced, and starred Virginia Davis as Alice.

The short begins with Alice at the piano, changing the clock to make it look like her piano practice is over so she can go fishing with the boys. Her mother heads outside to tell the gang that Alice can’t go with them, and Alice pouts as she watches from the window. She sneaks out the window to go fishing anyway, after getting her dog to play the piano for her. Alice and her friends head to the fishing hole, and they quickly begin to catch fish – except for Alice. She starts to tell a story about being at the North Pole with Julius, and in her daydream, it’s announced that fishing is no longer possible due to the Arctic being completely frozen. Julius gets an idea and drills a hole into the ice with his tail, then uses it as bait to catch fish. Unbeknownst to Julius, the fish are refusing to be caught, and they trap Julius under the ice. Julius is saved by a fisherman, and explains the situation to Alice. Alice comes up with an idea when she spies an abandoned ship stuck in the snow, and the pair rush to drop tobacco into the water. When the fish come up to spit the tobacco, Julius hits them over the head and pulls them out, ensuring that there will be enough fish for the entire continent. The boys, however, don’t believe her story. Unfortunately for the group, they are fishing where they aren’t allowed, and are chased away from the fishing hole.

May 16

Posted on

May 16, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Three Bad Eggs is Released to Theaters

LHA

On May 26, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Three Bad Eggs premiered in theaters. It was the 50th Alice Comedy produced, and the third starring fourth and final actress Lois Hardwick as Alice. It has subsequently been labeled a lost cartoon.

May 2

Posted on

May 2, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Knaughty Knight is Released to Theaters

LHA

On May 2, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Knaughty Knight premiered in theaters. It was the second Alice Comedy to feature the fourth and final actress to play Alice, Lois Hardwick, and was the 49th Alice Comedy produced. It has since been classified as a lost cartoon. The short features Julius donning a suit of armor made out of junk in order to win back his paramour.

April 16

April 16, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Ride ‘em Plowboy is Released to Theaters

REP_Oswald

On April 16, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Ride ‘em Plowboy premiered in theaters. It was the 18th Oswald short film released, and has since been considered a lost film. The only remnant of the film that survives to this day is a storyboard page depicting Oswald tilling a field, using a cow as a plane, and a rooster in a musical hen house.

April 1

April 1, 1924 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Spooky Adventure is Released to Theaters

ASA

“You knocked it in there— now go get it—

On April 1, 1924, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Spooky Adventure premiered in theaters. It was the third Alice Comedy created, and starred Virginia Davis as Alice.

The short begins with Alice and the gang accidentally hitting a baseball through a nearby window. However, the boys refuse to retrieve it because they think the house is haunted, which leaves Alice as the lone volunteer. She heads inside and looks for the baseball, and sees a moving box instead. However, she is relieved to see that it’s only a cat. She is startled by something else and falls backwards, with several items and a sheet falling on her head. She then wakes in the cartoon world, where ghosts are haunting all the houses and items are flying through the air. She hears a cry for help from a ghost, which, when she pulls off the sheet, is revealed to be her friend Julius. The pair then hear some nearby music and start to dance before heading over to the Spookville Open Air Concert. Ghosts are dancing and having fun at the gathering, though Julius finds himself in trouble when he interrupts a mahjong game. Alice knocks the ghosts out to save Julius, and the two celebrate, with Julius declaring his love for Alice. Meanwhile, Alice wakes up back in the real world, and heads out of the house with the baseball, but is caught by a cop, who locks her up in a cell for trespassing.