Tag Archives: Goofy

January 4, 1952 – The Goofy Short Film Father’s Lion is Released to Theaters

“Here is the home of Mr. G. G. Geef, daring adventurer, famous explorer, great athlete, pioneer woodsman, Indian fighter, trapper, and soldier of fortune!…in the eyes of his son, that is.”

On January 4, 1952, the Goofy short film Father’s Lion was released to theaters. This is one of Goofy’s “everyday man” shorts, where he is playing character George Geef. It was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Dick Kinney and Milt Schaffer.

The sun rises over the quiet suburban house of George Geef and his family, with George taking his kid on a camping trip. Junior is really excited to hear the tall tales George tells, believing them to be reality. When their back tire goes flat, George decides to park the car and climb the trail to the campsite. A mountain lion is trying to rest in the woods, but is disturbed by the gunshots from George’s shotgun as George is shooting at some empty cans. Junior notices a mountain lion in the nearby tree, and George grabs the lion by the tail and beats him up, unaware that he has actually attacked a real mountain lion. The lion is angered by George’s attack and tries to bite George, although Junior saves his father with his pop gun. The lion continues to try and attack George, but is unwittingly beaten by smoke and flapjacks. As they go to sleep, the lion sees this as his chance, but is interrupted by Junior’s requests. Having had enough, the lion attacks the group, and narrowly misses getting shot by George’s shotgun. The lion chases George around the campsite, but once again is thwarted by Junior’s popgun. George decides to get out of dodge, although he starts telling another tall tale as they head back to suburbia.

December 25, 1953 – The Goofy Short Film How to Sleep is Released to Theaters

“Since the beginning of time, man has always had the problem of sleeping.”

On December 25, 1953, the Goofy short film How to Sleep was released to theaters. It was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Milt Schaffer and Nick George.

The short begins with the history of sleep – or, rather, the lack of it. For present day, they observe various ways people try to go to sleep, from being walked to being rocked. More and more people seem to have difficulty trying to sleep due to the demands of their day. The short then goes into various methods to help people sleep, including hot milk and opening a window. As Goofy tries to count sheep, this only makes his situation much worse. He then has to go see a scientist to help him find the best way to sleep using a variety of electronic devices all at the same time. Unfortunately, his dreams continue to keep him awake. In conclusion, the only way science has determined to put Goofy to sleep is to use a giant mallet over the head, effectively knocking him out.

December 21, 2007 – The Goofy Short Film How to Hook Up Your Home Theater is Released to Theaters

“Modern sports fans, however, can fully immerse themselves in game day with a new home theater system. The advanced technology practically puts the viewer on the field.”

On December 21, 2007, the Goofy short film How to Hook Up Your Home Theater was released to theaters; this was the first Goofy theatrical short film since 1961’s Aquamania. It was directed by Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton, with story by Deters, Wermers-Skelton, Wilbert Plijnaar, and Dan Abraham. It stars Corey Burton as the narrator, and Bill Farmer as Goofy.

The short begins with a look at the big game, on Goofy’s tiny black and white television, when Goofy sees his neighbor getting a new big screen television and home theater system, and decides to get his own the next day at his nearest electronics store. He is laden down with several “important” elements of his system, and goes to pick his screen, which is the biggest in the store. Finally, it is delivery day, and Goofy waits anxiously, although the system arrives early the next day. The system is so massive that they have to lift Goofy’s house to fit the boxes inside. After unpacking it, and removing about a million packing peanuts, Goofy finds the instructions, although they are incredibly complex. He then has trouble plugging in the cables, and has to use a chainsaw to cut a wall of his house in order to reach the back of the screen. He then sets up all the speakers, surrounding him all around and ensuring eventual deafness. He mounts the speakers in crazy places, leaving wires and overloaded sockets in his wake. After setting it all up, he almost forgets about the big game, when he finds the universal remote and turns the television on. The television explodes, sending Goofy, chair, and screen to the actual playing field, where, after getting pummeled by the players, he remarks that “it’s almost like being there!”

November 14, 1941 – The Goofy Short Film The Art of Skiing Premieres in Theaters

“Skiing is fast becoming the most popular of all winter sports. And small wonder, for there is no finer conquest than that of a mountain clad in its glorious winter mantle of glittering white.”

On November 14, 1941, the Goofy short film The Art of Skiing premiered in theaters. It was directed by Jack Kinney.

The short begins at the Sugar Bowl Lodge, with Goofy fast asleep inside, clad in several blankets and jackets to keep him warm, as his breath turns to ice. His alarm goes off and he slowly wakes up, removing several hot water bottles. As the narrator explains the skier’s proper attire, Goofy slowly gets dressed, and goes straight back to sleep. The narrator wakes him up again, and he dons a sweater and hat before setting off on his skiing adventure, forgetting his trousers. He tries to pull them on over his skis, but of course he has some difficulty. Finally, he is ready to ski, and he ungracefully gets off the lift. He tries to follow the narrator’s instructions, but ends up in a tangled mess. He heads on his first ski, only to go backwards down the hill and finds himself dangling from a cliff, his head caught inside one of his skis. Goofy then tries to climb up a hill and ends up climbing up too far before falling and creating patterns in the snow. When Goofy attempts to do a jump turn, he is separated from his skis and ends up crossing paths with them several times before they bury him in the snow. He attempts to slalom down a hill and crashes into a tree, then slams into the side of a cliff. He finally tries the ski jump, although his skis end up flying faster than he does, and he tries to reclaim them midair, using them like wings. Eventually he crashes into his room in the ski lodge, falling right back to sleep.

October 21, 1951 – The Goofy Short Film Fathers Are People is Released to Theaters

“The new father should start immediately sharing the responsibility for the child’s upbringing.”

On October 21, 1951, the Goofy short film Fathers Are People was released to theaters. This was one of several shorts where Goofy is portrayed as everyman George Geef. There is also a Hidden Mickey in this short, found on Junior’s bed. The short was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Dick Kinney and Milt Schaffer.

The short begins with George entering the waiting room in the hospital with a box of cigars, proudly announcing that he is a father. Soon after, he is seen performing chores around his house, hanging up diapers, collecting milk bottles, preparing bottles for his son, and trying his best to help his wife. In the middle of the night, George goes to feed Junior, and ends up making himself a cocktail before turning off the light. The next morning, it’s time to take the family to Grandmother’s, forgetting one important thing: the baby. A picture diary shows the milestones in Junior’s life, including his first tooth, first step, and first word. One Sunday morning, Junior is seen getting in a fight with a neighborhood kid, with George and the other father fighting over which kid is in the wrong, although the kids just begin to play again. George tries to play with his father, but this “play” wears George out, as Junior is rather rough. George tries to sit and read the paper, although Junior pesters his father, wanting him to play. Junior also disobeys his father, and George tries to use reverse psychology, but to no avail. In the end, George falls on a roller skate, and decides that he’s had enough, and is going to give Junior a paddling. However, Junior is able to weasel out of it by acting cute. George decides that kids aren’t that bad, and wishes he had a million of them. When his wife asks how a tiny sweater she knitted looks, George panics, but relaxes when he realizes that he and his wife may only have the one child after all.

September 15, 1944 – The Goofy Short Film How to Play Football is Released to Theaters

“To the spectator, football may appear rather rough at times, but in reality, it’s a character-building game.”

On September 15, 1944, the Goofy short film How to Play Football was released to theaters. It was seventh of the popular “How To” series that Goofy became known for. The short was directed by Jack Kinney.

The short opens with the narrator listing everything one needs for football: “a college covered with ivy; a coliseum or stadium filled to overflowing with a 100,000 rabid, wildly cheering fans; great armies of vendors; managers; mascots; photographers; sportswriters; doctors; elaborate brass bands; assorted coaches; old grads; scores of Annie Oakleys; and two teams resplendent in brilliant uniforms.” After these elements are put together, the narrator tries to explain the object of the game, but is drowned out by the crowd. The game starts, and the camera tries to follow the players, but can only show the backs of the spectators. The first touchdown is scored by Taxidermy Tech against Anthropology A&M, and the star quarterback is taken out to be saved, as he is Taxidermy’s star player. The next play begins, with many well-placed puns and wordplay. The injured players are soon carted off the field, though their injuries are chalked up to “character-building.” For the next play, a foul is called for unnecessary roughness, but after Taxidermy kicks the ball, everyone seems to fumble about before Anthropology A&M is able to accidentally score a touchdown.

The game gets rather rough after Taxidermy Tech scores the first touchdown

The score is 7 to 6, but A&M is able to score another touchdown, although their final kick doesn’t exactly go over the goalpost, giving A&M a score of 12.5 at the half. In the locker room, the coach for Tech surveys his weary and wounded players, and changes his moods every split second to supposedly rally their spirits. He sends in his star quarterback, who is able to make a touchdown before he is viciously sacked. The coach tries to revive his star, and they send him back in for one final play, although he makes his way around the field in a dazed stupor. By sheer luck, he manages to make the final touchdown, giving Tech the win with 13 to 12.5. The coach is seen driven mad by the game, and is tied in a straight jacket after the game is over.

August 31, 1951 – The Goofy Short Film Get Rich Quick is Released to Theaters

“Eh, put up or shut up!”

On August 31, 1951, the Goofy short film Get Rich Quick was released to theaters. This short was released as part of Goofy’s “everyman” series. It was directed by Jack Kinney, with story by Milt Schaffer and Dick Kinney.

The short begins with the introduction of George Geef, who never passes up a chance to gamble away his money, whether on a football pool, chain letter, pyramid club, and more. He was considered a soft touch and a pushover when it came to betting, but never seemed to win. He never gets too discouraged, as he feels his victory is just around the corner. He plays a dice game in a back alley, and wins a barrel full of cash, which he soon invests at the race track, losing everything. He then heads to a poker game in a smoky room, where all players are wearing their poker faces. The game gets too tense for Geef, but he ends up winning a huge jackpot. He cashes out and soon heads home, where he has another gamble: waking his wife after arriving home in the early hours of the morning. His wife starts lecturing him for coming home so late, but when she sees the pile of money he’s won, she quickly forgives him before taking every penny away from him. He ends with a simple saying: “Easy come, easy go.”