Tag Archives: Black and white

February 15, 1925 – The Alice Comedy Alice Solves the Puzzle is Released to Theaters

“Little Alice never had a cross word, not even with a puzzle.”

On February 15, 1925, the Alice Comedy Alice Solves the Puzzle premiered in theaters. It was the 15^th Alice Comedy, and the first to feature second Alice actress Margie Gay. The short is notable for being the first to feature Disney nemesis Peg Leg Pete, then known as Bootleg Pete.

Alice is trying to solve a crossword, when Julius approaches her. He convinces her to give up her puzzle and go swimming instead, and the two start diving into the water with many aerial skills. Meanwhile, Pete whizzes by on a makeshift jet ski, purposefully goading the cops. Julius gets out of the water a dries off comically before helping Alice button her dress. Alice then returns to her crossword puzzle, though Pete wishes to take it from her, as he collects puzzles. Alice attempts to run away from Pete, but he chases her up the lighthouse steps and around the top of the lighthouse. Julius, seeing Alice in trouble, climbs up a rope to get to her, only to realize that the rope has fallen too late and lands with a splat on the ground. He manages to get up to the top of the lighthouse and beat Pete. As Julius celebrates his feat of strength, Alice realizes she finally knows the answer to her crossword puzzle.

February 1, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice’s Little Parade is Released to Theaters

“I can’t get ‘em up!”

On February 1, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice’s Little Parade premiered in theaters. It was the 30^th Alice Comedy created, and the 14^th to star second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short begins with Julius driving through town announcing that war has been declared. A crowd of people follow him to the recruiting station, where they are suited up for war. The next morning, the troops wake up thanks to a rooster’s call, and line up for the general – General Alice. As Alice studies the troops, Pete and his men fire upon them with cannons. Alice readies her troops to fight back, with mixed results. Julius decides to use a stove as body armor while he shoots at the enemy, though it is quickly blown away, leaving him vulnerable. While he does manage to knock some enemy soldiers out, he is soon blown to smithereens, needing to be rebuilt at the hospital. Julius then finds some very strong cheese and a fan in a nearby safe, which attracts all of Pete’s rat troops; Julius knocks them out one by one, leaving Pete as the lone man standing. In a last act, Julius is able to shoot Pete out of a cannon, and is welcomed back to his troops as a hero.

January 1, 1926 – The Alice Comedy Alice on the Farm is Released to Theaters

On January 1, 1926, the Alice Comedy Alice on the Farm premiered in theaters. It was the 27^th Alice Comedy released, and the 11^th starring second Alice actress Margie Gay.

The short begins with a cow in the yard eating various flowers, though as a gag one of the flowers runs away from the cow, refusing to be eaten. The chickens are dancing in a corner of the yard, while Alice orders Julius to milk the cow. He enlists the help of the farm dachshund, and the pair set to work. Unfortunately, Julius is unable to get milk from the cow, but as he leaves with an idea, two mosquitoes arrive and start biting the cow. Julius then uses the vacuum cleaner to pull milk from the cow, but ends up sucking the cow inside the vacuum cleaner bag. Meanwhile, Alice is dancing with the chickens, when Peg Leg Pete shows up to kidnap Alice. Julius chases after her with a makeshift horse, though it falls apart during the pursuit. He tracks Pete down to a shed and challenges him to a fight. Using starch, he turns his tail into a sword and fights Pete, but is soon disarmed. Finally, Julius throws the bucket of starch on Pete, freezing him in place before punching him into pieces and throwing him in the trash before freeing Alice.