The IAD Forums
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago
A recent interest of mine has been the 1928-29 season of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon, done directly by Winkler, supervised by George Winkler and ran creatively (initially) by Harman-Ising. I think the ones I've seen are better than much of the Disney Oswalds, using better gags an with more refined animation. Information on them remains pretty scare beyond David Gerstein's well written page on them,  but I imagine information on pieces, particularly with ones thought missing then, are dated. I make this filmography list, with bold ones as definite survivors, and italics as unsure survivors. Would love to know what more exists from what's publicly known!

1928:
HIGH UP survives with British titles crediting Disney for production. It seems to be the first cartoon produced, but released earlier, and thus using the Disney titles. It seems Disney has "adopted" this cartoon as their own because of the title, despite the fact it's definitely not produced by them, and done by Ising and Hamilton, as the copyright correctly says. If an American print surfaced, its likely correct credits would be displayed

Mississippi Mud remains missing, but was released in 8mm kodascope form, which means a print likely lingers out somewhere. Cartoon is about Oswald working on a steamboat when Fanny is kidnapped, so Oswald in Oswald fashion, saves the day. No Credits on the Copyright

Similarly, Panicky Pancakes remains missing but was released in 8mm kodascope form, which means a print likely lingers out somewhere. Cartoon is about Oswald running a Carnival Pancake stand that elephants and mice steal refreshments from. A Film Daily item  notes that "Hamilton and Palmer are now handling the work", not only a unique pair up, but also not what the copyright states (Harman and Clopton). My educated guess is that the credits are taken from either Mississippi Mud or Rocks and Socks, both of which were copyrighted without credits, or perhaps both. Investigation into this is needed

Fiery Fireman  survives in 16mm prints of 1930s vintage. About Oswald and a Camel's job as firefighters at an apartment. By Freleng and Rudy. Thanks David Gerstein for the upload

Rocks and Socks remains missing. Cartoon is about Oswald hunting, first a tiger, and then prehistoric monsters (!), which leaves a lot to want to see. No Credits

South Pole Flight remains missing. A Film Daily article reveals it as a parody of then current actions of Commander Bryd's ventures to reach the South Pole. Copyright reveals Oswald goes by airship, which eventually falls, to which Oswald makes another one with animals, by Harman & Clopton

Bull-oney remains missing. A bullfighting cartoon by Lantz & Palmer

A Horse Tale remains missing. A Western cartoon involving a drunken horse ala Mickey in Gallopin' Gaucho, by Hamilton and Lantz

Farmyard Follies survives preserved as a (roughly) 3 minute incomplete print at UCLA.   Involves Oswald's antics on the Farm. I have learned the print isn't a fragment, but rather so beat up that much of the cartoon doesn't make sense

1929:

Homeless Homer survives preserved from a complete 35mm nitrate print at UCLA, which deteriorated in 1992.  Rudy Ising's last credit as he was fired the month before from showing up a few minutes late on Dec/26th. About Oswald sharing his home with Homer the Cat, only leading to disaster and destruction. Due to a lack of information UCLA would've had, an incorrect end title is on the circulating upload is taken from a Lantz Oswald, where the Winkler Oswalds had a unique end title of Oswald painting THE END on an elephant's rear

Yanky Clippers  survives from a few 16mm Kodascope prints and cutdowns. About Oswald's work as a barber, reusing some ideas from Alice Loses it. Final silent Oswald, by Lantz and Palmer

Hen Fruit remains missing. First post-synced Oswald (Please note: I'm not sure if any soundtracks on the Winkler Oswalds survive, but a few might). About Oswald's experiences running an egg factory, by Freleng. Also the first Oswald credited to an individual animator, which after the next cartoon became the standard

Sick Cylinders  survives in 16mm from a print Serge Bromberg/Lobster has, and aired on Cartoon Factory. It seems UCLA stores this print, or a similar print  now. Tommy Stathes also maintains a copy of the same variant. About Oswald's misadventures on a car ride with Fanny, eventually resulting in her leaving with Pete. Final short done by two animators; Harman and Clopton

Hold 'Em Ozzie! survives in 16mm form. Football cartoon by Ham Hamilton

THE SUICIDE SHEIK survives in a nearly complete 16mm, at the Wisconsin Historical Society with its soundtrack/url] More investigation needs to go into this one to prove it. Cartoon is about Oswald trying to kill himself after Fanny rejects his marriage, only to save her life when her house goes in flames. By Hugh Harman

Alpine Antics  survives from a collector's pristine 35mm print. Thanks to David Gerstein, this is one of the surviving Winkler Ozzies you can find online, about Oswald rescuing Fanny in the Alps

The Lumberjack, according to Wikipedia, seems to survive in a silent cutdown. But UCLA's online catalogue (not always reflect of what they have) doesn't say the same story. More research is needed. About Oswald finding gold while working as a lumberjack, while his boss (?) Pete steals it. By Ben Clopton

The Fishing Fool remains missing. It's about Oswald's misadventures during a fishing trip. By Ham Hamilton

Stage Stunts remains missing. About Oswald giving a performance at a theater with farm animals. By Walt Lantz

Stripes and Stars remains missing. Similar to Ozzie of the Mounted, it's about Oswald's attempts to arrest Pete after he murders all (!) the other officers. One wonders if this considered a remake of Ozzie of the Mounted, which follows a similar plot. Walt Lantz's final Oswald, who took over production of the Oswalds from after this season

The Wicked West was possibly reissued by Lantz in 1931, which would mean Universal might have a copy of this short. It would be nice to figure this one out. Western cartoon by Friz Freleng

Ice Man's Luck remains missing. About Oswald's unfortunate day as a deliver of ice for Ice Boxes, directed by Ham Hamilton, his final Oswald

Nuts and Jolts survives in 16mm form. Hugh Harman's final Oswald, and from descriptions seems to be him trying to make a better version of Sick Cylinders, with Oswald buying a used car from Pete and going on a ride, which ends as a disaster

Jungle Jingles   survives in a 16mm print. Jungle hunting cartoon by Ben Clopton

Weary Willies  [url=https://search.library.ucla.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991320573506533&context=L&vid=01UCS_LAL:UCLA&lang=en&search_scope=ArticlesBooksMore&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Articles_books_more_slot&query=any,contains,Weary%20Willies,AND&mode=advanced&offset=0]survives in a 16mm tinted print at UCLA.  Cartoon is sorta a followup to Hungry Hoboes, with Oswald and Pete still pals, and trying to get food while evading a cop. Thanks again to David Gerstein for the upload. Friz Freleng's final Oswald

Saucy Sausages, the final Winkler Oswald, is still at large as far as I know. Cartoon is about Oswald the Butcher giving an orphan some meat, which leads to the whole orphanage stealing his stuff, similar to Dinner Time. By Ben Clopton
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago
Please note that the above text is a WIP; some links are either missing or direct to the wrong source, and more information needs to be added. If anyone knows any information on these films, please let me know!
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago
Wowie! Just added a lot more. I checked the Wisconsin Library's holdings, and they indeed list Suicide Sheik in their holdings.  Hoping to figure out more in the coming days
Tommy Stathes
3 years ago
The only item in this list that was an official Kodascope offering is Yanky Clippers. When they turn up in old 16mm prints, the others are almost always Universal Show-at-Home prints, or the odd Ensign print from the UK.
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago
Thanks for this Tommy. For note, the Kodascope listing I was using was for 8mm, not 16mm (For Panicky Pancakes and Mississppi Mud, but I will edit the others in that case). If one of these did surface that way, it would be nice, but a 16mm would always be better
Tommy Stathes
3 years ago

Thanks for this Tommy. For note, the Kodascope listing I was using was for 8mm, not 16mm (For Panicky Pancakes and Mississppi Mud, but I will edit the others in that case). If one of these did surface that way, it would be nice, but a 16mm would always be better

Originally Posted by: S. C. MacPeter 



You're right! There were a few additional offerings, especially in 8mm...and I think especially abroad. There were some French and British Kodascope offerings that could not be found stateside. In any case, 8mms would only be reference copies because of the poor quality. The good news is any of this stuff could turn up at any time.
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago

You're right! There were a few additional offerings, especially in 8mm...and I think especially abroad. There were some French and British Kodascope offerings that could not be found stateside. In any case, 8mms would only be reference copies because of the poor quality. The good news is any of this stuff could turn up at any time.

Originally Posted by: Tommy Stathes 



Let's hope so! I'm sure that somewhere most of these Oswalds survive, as Universal (as I recall) made their home prints en masse, which is why a good chunk of their silent library survives (I'm sure most people here know what they did to the masters). Hopefully more surfaces as searches for lost pieces of film emerge on a professional scale!
Tommy Stathes
3 years ago

You're right! There were a few additional offerings, especially in 8mm...and I think especially abroad. There were some French and British Kodascope offerings that could not be found stateside. In any case, 8mms would only be reference copies because of the poor quality. The good news is any of this stuff could turn up at any time.

Originally Posted by: S. C. MacPeter 



Let's hope so! I'm sure that somewhere most of these Oswalds survive, as Universal (as I recall) made their home prints en masse, which is why a good chunk of their silent library survives (I'm sure most people here know what they did to the masters). Hopefully more surfaces as searches for lost pieces of film emerge on a professional scale!

Originally Posted by: Tommy Stathes 



The Universal Show-at-Home prints are far, far scarcer than Kodascopes. But they are out there. And nitrates are still bound to turn up. Let's just hope new finds don't wind up in the wrong hands.
S. C. MacPeter
3 years ago
Yes, and that's a good thing, as now that memory is coming back, they've been essential in being source materials of surviving Universal films of the period. And like you said, nitrates or alternative sources can pop up! The world is full of odd possibilities, and usually it favors those with good morals and good intentions! (at least in the end!)
S. C. MacPeter
2 years ago
Ended up rewatching a few and decided to update some information. I also made a few observations when watching a few, but I'll be saving these for a blogpost. All I can say, Tex Avery started work as an ink and paint boy at the Winkler Studio, and one wonders if he created some gags in the cartoons as well
S. C. MacPeter
2 years ago
Added information to FOLLIES, and was able to confirm THE SUICIDE SHEIK has it's original soundtrack. No, I cannot share it. It sounds like an early Lantz track, slide whistles and all. The final scene is missing on the print. All I will say for now
kazblox
2 years ago
Note that on the Ensign elements of HIGH UP, the end card looks to use the same design as the previous cards, but is actually redrawn. Ensign wouldn't be necessarily responsible here; I know that other Ensign elements did not replace it since no copyrights and numbers had to be blanked out.

As for everything else; Yowp notes Film Daily had announced that OZZIE OF THE CIRCUS was ready for show in April. This was when Winkler was still handling the series, months before the copyright was registered. Could it be that OZZIE OF THE CIRCUS is potentially a reworked Winkler Oswald? Interestingly, it was the first produced of the Lantz shorts. At the very least, he would have began production somewhere around June; maybe he did start early in April, I think he hadn't announced the takeover of the property, however.

We'll never be able to tell unless we have an extensive record of the payrolls.
Tommy Stathes
2 years ago
Animation historian & archivist Nate James recently discovered the original poster for this bit of post-Disney Oswald lost media. Our lists here should be updated as such...
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a year ago

Animation historian & archivist Nate James recently discovered the original poster for this bit of post-Disney Oswald lost media. Our lists here should be updated as such...
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Originally Posted by: Tommy Stathes 



😂 For a second I thought that was that real!
Kristjan
a year ago
Going through the list in the op it seems that we are close to at least half of the Winkler Oswalds existing (far as we know) i.e 12 (possibly 13).of 26