Collectibles #13-- Choo Choo Activity Books

Top Cat was given a lot of merchandise in the 60s. His merchandise included Soaky bubble bath bottles, Golden Books, and of course comic books. Everybody has seen his merchandise but not many know that his buddy Choo Choo got his own line of activity books. Other members of the gang were also given coloring books of their own but Top Cat and Choo Choo had the most.

Other Members of the gang---

The Times News NC Bugs Bunny Story behind the scenes original content

As you know, one of my most frequent topics is Bugs Bunny's 1980s comic strip and its relationship with the North Carolina Newspaper The Daily Times-News. I have expressed the whole story and have gone deep into research including calling the paper themselves (they thought I was a nut so they hung up). I found this article from 1976, 3 years before the strip was added to the paper. This article is a masterpiece because it expresses about two artists despite their being one. Enjoy and I will be posting more strips and historic info about this relationship soon.

Cartoons that Eased Headaches of Rationing and Taxes

The bayonet 1943-03-11

     During World War II, Disney and Warner Bros were both asked to make propaganda films. In 1943 Disney and Warner Bros both made the headlines for there shorts. The Disney short was Spirit of 43 (seen below) which starred Donald Duck as he encoranged Americans to pay income taxes because "Taxes...to defet the Axis". This cartoon was directed by Jack King and is said to contain the first prototype to Scrooge Mcduck. 
      The second short mentioned was Point Rationing of Foods. This short was all about point rationing. It showed how it works, what it is, the point values, and basically all that's needed to know about rationing. This cartoon was made for and contributed to the OPA by the Screen Cartoonists Guild, Local 852, the Leon Schlesinger Unit. made for and contributed to the OPA by the Screen Cartoonists Guild, Local 852, the Leon Schlesinger Unit. Although he is not credited, Chuck Jones directed this film.
This was to promote what the USO was presenting. This was from The Bayonet Newspaper dated March 11,1943. 

Point Rationing Of Foods

Spirit of 43

June Foray articles and treasures

Articles and other treasures about June Foray who passed away last night. We will miss her.

KNXT on Bullwinkle with June Foray and Bill Scott

Happy birthday Bugs!!

In honor of bugs' birthday, here are more NC Times-News comic strips featuring the rabbit.

Collectibles#12-- Dell Squeeze toys

In 1961, Dell Squeeze Toys were sold 365 days a year. Huckleberry Hound was the most frequently used character but they also used other characters because Dell was using the characters in comics and I guess they ultimately decided to use the characters in toys. They used Disney, Hanna Barbera, and of course Warner Brothers.

Using Bugs's Iconic Pose to Sell Comics

Everybody has seen this drawing. Mckimson did some cels (limited adition). It is Bugs Bunny's most iconic pose and it is his best promotional art. But here it was reused as a way to get people to read looney tunes dell comics.

Animal comics issue: 6

Collectibles 11-- Flintstones Ashtrays

Cartoon Ashtrays!!!

These are from 1961 when the show was still sponsored by Winston. They're made of glass and made by Arrow Houseware.

The Simpsons referenced the first Popeye

The strip 

In the Simpsons

Oscar Frauds

I think that we all need to see this. Apparently Friz and Jack Warner are frauds. They are mentioned in Penn State's oscar fraud list. Friz studdered and Jack Warner "whipped the pants off Walt Disney" Sounds like fun... enjoy

Woody Woodpecker Song 7-- palm desert sunbeam honor's the song's mastermind

 In the last Woody Woodpecker Song series post, Palm Desert sunbeam honors Henry Babbit who is the mastermind behind the song.

Woody Woodpecker Song 6--- Song Crazed Maestro Begins Woodpecker Hunt

Another strange article about the Woody Woodpecker Song

Woody Woodpecker Song 5-- It's a hillbilly song

I guess it's a hillbilly song

Woody Woodpecker song part 4-- Other Countries Ripped OFF the song title

Other countries ripped off this song... clearly. But just the title. This is all a lie. Maybe it is the WW Song there talking about but I doubt it. Maybe Lantz sued... This song was a courtroom favorite (I guess)

Woody Woodpecker Song part 3--- A Suicidal Favorite

Woody Woodpecker Song part 3--
Last time I posted about the woody woodpecker song, the Woody Woodpecker Song was also a favorite of a suicidal man. This is all he asked. That's amazing that he survived that.

That's the Woody Woodpecker Song.

Woody Woodpecker Song part 2---Blanc vs Lantz the Madera Tribune

Part two of our Woody Woodpecker Song headline articles.... This story was told without the article on Cartoon Research as a piece of Jim Korkis' Animation Anecdotes#168. It is also in his book with the same name. To read the history by Jim Korkis, click on this link: Animation Anecdotes#168

Credits:
Jim Korkis