June 13, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Channel Swim is Released to Theaters
On June 13, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Channel Swim was released to theaters. It was the 52nd Alice Comedy released, and the fifth starring fourth and final Alice actress, Lois Hardwick. Unfortunately, like many of Hardwick’s short films, the film has since been classified as a lost cartoon.
June 11, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Poor Papa is Released to Theaters
On June 11, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Poor Papa was released to theaters. This was the first Oswald short created, though not the first released (as that honor goes to Trolley Troubles). When it was sent to Universal for review, the character of Oswald was deemed too old and fat, and a new imagining of the lead character was needed. The film was eventually released a year later. The short had been thought of as a lost film for decades, but three copies were found in the United Kingdom. Disney was later able to buy a print and restore the film, releasing it on the Blu-Ray of Pinocchio in 2017.
June 8, 2013 – Hungry Hobos is Screened at UCLA’s 24th Silent Film Event
“This cartoon as far as we know hasn’t been seen in over half a century.” – Dave Bossert, Producer, Creative Director, and Head of Special Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios
On June 8, 2013, the 24th Silent Film Event was held at UCLA, with the 1928 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Hungry Hobos touted as the headline of the event. The short film was previously thought to be lost, but a 16-mm print of the movie had been discovered two years prior in a movie vault in England. Since then, Disney has bought the print and restored it extensively, preparing it for this “re-premiere” at UCLA.
May 30, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Picnic is Released to Theaters
On May 30, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Picnic was released to theaters. It was the 51st Alice Comedy produced, and the fourth to star fourth and final Alice actress Lois Hardwick. Though not considered a lost film, it has not been released on home video.
April 18, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Circus Daze Premieres in Theatres
On April 18, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Circus Daze was released to theaters. It was the 48th Alice Comedy produced, and the first to feature fourth and final Alice actress Lois Hardwick.
It’s a fun day at the circus, with the animals preparing for the show. There are plenty of sideshow attractions, including a rubber man. Meanwhile, Alice and Julius are preparing for their act while the circus begins its main show. There’s a mouse that rides a bicycle while riding an elephant, an adept jaguar tamer, and a lion tamer who comically loses his head. Finally, Alice and Julius present their high wire act, where Julius balances a stack of chairs, and Alice, on his nose. Unfortunately, as he shows off by lighting a cigarette, he sets the wire on fire, and the chairs come crashing down one by one, though Julius is able to save Alice with a ladder. The pair lands on the ringmaster, who chases them out of the tent.
April 4, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Auto Race is Released to Theaters
On April 4, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Auto Race premiered in theaters. It was the 47th Alice Comedy produced, and the 31st to star second Alice actress Margie Gay. The short has since become classified as a lost film.
April 2, 1928 – The Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Short Film Sagebrush Sadie is Released to Theaters
On April 12, 1928, the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short film Sagebrush Sadie premiered in theaters. Although the film is considered a lost film, some scenes in pencil drawings from the film survive in the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. The short was animated by Ub Iwerks, Hugh Harman, and Rollin Hamilton.
March 28, 1910 – Host of The Mickey Mouse Club and Disney Legend Jimmie Dodd is Born
“Why? Because we like you!”
On March 28, 1910, Jimmie Dodd was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gifted with musical talent, Dodd attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville before attending the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Schouster-Martin School of Dramatics. He supported himself with various music gigs, starting with performing for a radio show in St. Petersburg, Florida. While unable to fight during World War II due to a heart condition, Dodd made his contribution to the war effort through performances with the USO along with wife, dancer Ruth Carroll. It was during his USO stint that he met Jinx Falkenburg, who was instrumental in giving Dodd his first television appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s program; he later appeared on Falkenburg’s own program. Dodd’s career with Disney began in the 1950s, when he was asked by old friend Bill Justice to help compose a song for Disney’s television program. Walt was so impressed with Dodd’s song that he hired Dodd to be the MC for a new children’s program: The Mickey Mouse Club. Dodd not only performed on the show, but wrote several songs for it, including the “Mickey Mouse Club March.” Dodd stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1959, and then accompanied several cast members on a Mickey Mouse Club tour of Australia. On November 10, 1964, Dodd passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii. For his work with The Mickey Mouse Club, Dodd was honored as a Disney Legend in 1992.
March 7, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice the Collegiate is Released to Theaters
On March 7, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice the Collegiate premiered in theaters. It was the 45th Alice Comedy created, and the 29th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay. It has since been classified as a lost film.
February 21, 1927 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Rodeo is Released to Theaters
On February 21, 1927, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Rodeo premiered in theaters. The short was also released with an alternate title of Alice at the Rodeo. It was the 44th Alice Comedy produced, and the 28th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay. Although not classified as a lost cartoon, the short has not been released for home viewing.
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