Tag Archives: Black and white

July 1, 1933 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film Mickey’s Gala Premiere is Released to Theaters

“Tonight’s the night of Mickey Mouse’s premiere, and every star in Hollywood will be here.”

On July 1, 1933, the Mickey Mouse short film Mickey’s Gala Premiere was released to theaters. Although Disney has officially called the short Mickey’s Gala Premiere, the original title card has it called Mickey’s Gala Premier; this could be seen as a play on words. The short features caricatures of several well-known stars of the day. It was directed by Burt Gillett.

It’s a big night in Hollywood, with celebrations taking place at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and the stars arrive quickly. First to arrive are the stars of the film Rasputin and the Empress, in their costumes: Wallace Beery, Marie Dressler, Lionel, John, and Ethel Barrymore. Laurel and Hardy trail after them, with the Marx Brothers popping out of the window of the car for a cameo. Next, Maurice Chevalier stops at the microphone and sings about Mickey’s new film, joined by Eddie Cantor and Jimmy Durante. Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, and Constance Bennett sing in an “Andrews Sisters” style; soon after, Clark Gable, Harold Lloyd, Edward G. Robinson, and Adolphe Menjou close out the song as if a barbershop quartet. The celebrities flock to the theater, with Mae West causing Sid Grauman to nearly melt in embarrassment.

Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto arrive at their premiere, dressed to the nines

Soon, the star and his girl Minnie arrive in style, along with Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, and Clarabelle Cow. They enter the theater, and everyone is ready to see the new Mickey short, Galloping Romance. The short has Mickey playing a xylophone, and the audience sways along with the music. In the short, Pete kidnaps Minnie, and the audience laughs as Pete pins Mickey comically to the wall. They soon cheer when Mickey chases after Pete, but laugh again once Mickey’s chase grows increasingly comical, with many patrons rolling in the aisles. In the end, Mickey is able to save Minnie, while Pete meets a rather unfortunate end. Mickey is roped out onto the stage to shake hands with all the celebrities, with Greta Garbo coming up to give him a kiss. As she kisses him, Mickey wakes up to find that it’s not Greta Garbo, but Pluto, that’s been kissing him. Annoyed, Mickey pushes Pluto off the bed and tries to resume his happy dream.

May 15, 1930 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film The Cactus Kid is Released to Theaters

“Adios, senor!”

On May 15, 1930, the Mickey Mouse short film The Cactus Kid was released to theaters. This short features Pete once again as the villain, only this time he is named “Pedro.” It was directed by Walt Disney.

Mickey is riding around the desert, with Horace Horsecollar as his trusty steed, when they arrive at the El Adobo Café, where Minnie is a beautiful bartender. Mickey starts playing a melody on glasses to impress her, although he goes a bit too far when he pulls her nose. She starts yelling at him in Spanish and hits him over the head with a lamp before throwing bottles at him. As two mugs are thrown at him, he grabs them and starts dancing again, tapping the mugs together rhythmically. He then sits at the piano and starts playing a piece. Pedro arrives at the door of the café, and starts dancing, although he unfortunately gets his peg leg stuck in a hole in the floor. When he attempts to woo Minnie, Mickey steps in to protect her. Pedro corners Mickey against the wall, but Mickey is able to take his gun and turn it back on him. Pedro is able to turn off the lights, and steals Minnie in the darkness. Mickey attempts to ride Horace, but the saddle and Mickey slip off. Although Mickey ropes Horace, he trails behind, hitting every cactus in the desert. Mickey finally is able to catch up to Pedro and beat him up, and Pedro falls from a cliff, getting hit by a heavy rock at the bottom. Mickey and Minnie watch as Pedro stands and walks away, attened like an accordion.

May 3, 1929 – The Mickey Mouse Short Film When the Cat’s Away is Released to Theaters

On May 3, 1929, the Mickey Mouse short film When the Cat’s Away was released to theaters. This is one of the few shorts where the main title music no longer survives, and one of the few shorts where Mickey is portrayed more as a mouse than his anthropomorphic self. The short was directed by Walt Disney.

Tom Cat posts a sign on his door that he is gone for the day, and locks up before he leaves with a bottle of moonshine and a shotgun. Mickey steps out of a hole in Tom’s porch and unlocks Tom’s door, entering with a whole brigade of mice. Mickey and Minnie start playing the piano together, whiel the rest of the mice start playing with various objects in Tom’s house. Mickey and Minnie discover that the piano is a player piano, and Mickey decides to use Swiss cheese as the player roll, which starts to play a mellow tune. Afterwards, the mice discover Tom’s record collection, and play the music via a makeshift record player. Mickey and Minnie entertain their friends with some slow dancing, ending with a kiss.