America's Greatest Showman: A Pop Culture TL

[Bisexual-Mart]

In Kansas City in 1918, a young man had to choose between cigarettes and food. He chose food, and never picked up another cigarette again.

His name was Walt Disney.

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

In 1920, Walt Disney, who had been the broke head of Laugh-O-Gram began producing the Alice Cartoons. After a dispute with distributor Margaret Winkler, he opened his own studio.

In 1923, the Walt Disney Studio opened on Hyperion Street in Burbank, California.

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

New studio by Chicago artist opening in Burbank, first animation studio on West Coast
-Los Angeles Times

East Coast studios claim new animation studio in California no threat
-New York Post

MGM, 20th Century-Fox potentially considering setting up animation studios to join Chicago artist's West Coast animation studio
-Los Angeles Times

 

[AG_AG]

Maybe combine these tiny snippets into somewhat larger chapters covering larger periods, as many tiny updated can be hard to navigate. Besides that I'm somewhat interested about where this will go.

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Chicago-born animator Walt Disney holds talks with United Artists, Universal, and RKO for distribution
-Los Angeles Times

Chicago-born animator Walt Disney signs deal with Universal executive Charles Mintz to produce shorts
-Los Angeles Times

Max and Dave Fleischer sign distribution deal with Paramount Pictures
-New York Post

MGM and 20th Century-Fox to set up animation units following deal between Chicago-born animator and Universal
-Los Angeles Times

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

MGM and 20th Century-Fox set up animation units.

MGM Animation:
-Fred Quimby
-*Arthur Fox
-*Thomas Welch
-*Raymond Cole
-*Peter Haygood

20th Century-Fox Animation:
-William Fox
-*Harold Cotton
-*Mark Simmons
-*Bert Leons
-*Andy Walsh

New MGM, 20th Century-Fox animation units may bring Chicago animator's tiny Burbank studio to brink
-Los Angeles Times

Will 20th Century-Fox, MGM sink Chicago animator's California studio?
-Baltimore Sun

20th Century-Fox, MGM animated studios might produce short subjects
-Variety

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

MGM:
Stumble Inn
Gasoline Alley
Fred & Marley
Americana

20th Century-Fox:
American Scene
Baseball Illustrated
The Yellow Kid
Evening Magazine

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Peter Haygood's work on Fred & Marley earns critical acclaim. Most of the MGM and 20th Century-Fox shorts earn similar critical acclaim. However some criticism is made of 20th Century-Fox's shorts for being very timely and not having that much value for rewatching multiple days in a row at the same theater.


20th Century-Fox's animated newsreels are tiring
-Baltimore Sun

Cincinnati native Peter Haygood earns critical acclaim for Fred & Marley.
-Cincinnati Enquirer

Why Peter Haygood may be the closest competitor to Chicago artist Walt Disney in the animated shorts department.
-Arizona Republican

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Chicago animator Walt Disney releases the first short of his new series with Universal, featuring a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Disney's Oswald second-highest grossing short subject of the year following Fred & Marley
-Variety

The rivalry between Fred & Marley and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is one to watch
-Variety

The popularity of Oswald and Fred & Marley show 20th Century-Fox needs to up its game in the area of short subjects
-Billboard

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Disney/Universal:

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

MGM:

Henry Hurricane
Glory
Sunrise

20th Century-Fox Animation:

Horace Hawk
Thomas May, Private Detective

 

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The latest batch of Fox shorts is better than the animated newsreels
-Dallas Morning News

Rabbit Beats Hawk: Disney's Oswald beats Fox's Horace Hawk at the box office
-Variety

Horace Hawk is a great short, but Fox needs more to beat Walt Disney at the box office
-Atlanta Journal

 

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Rise of A New Medium: NBC Red, Blue radio networks attract more and more listeners
-New York Post

Will short studios license shorts for radio shows?
-Variety

MGM, 20th Century-Fox each claim animation units will not produce radio shows.
-Variety

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Rumors persist that John W. Campbell of Amazing Stories may work with NBC Blue, Red radio networks to launch radio series based on popular "science-fiction" magazine.
-Variety

Campbell Soup, Quaker Oats, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, National Lead, and Sears, Roebuck, & Co. all interested in possibly sponsoring radio programs.
-Billboard

Will the rise of radio destroy short animation?
-Variety

Radio Corporation of America, owner of NBC Blue, Red radio networks holds presentation for companies interested in potentially sponsoring radio shows. Major consumer firms like Campbell Soup, Quaker Oats, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, National Lead, Sears, Roebuck, & Co., and Coca-Cola all display potential interest in new medium as home for marketing messages.
-New York Post

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

John W. Campbell launches "Amazing Stories" as radio program on NBC Blue radio network sponsored by General Motors, hosted by theater actor *Charles Montgomery Scott
-Billboard

Columbia Records head William S. Paley launches Columbia Broadcasting System, hoping to compete with NBC Red and Blue radio networks. Already, corporations like Sears, Roebuck, & Co., National Lead, Campbell Soup Company, Quaker Oats, Ford Motor Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Bendix Corporation, and Washburn-Crosby Company are expressing interest in possibly sponsoring programs on the new radio network.
-Billboard

A small animation studio in New York City operated by Max and Dave Fleischer has signed a distribution deal with Paramount Pictures. The small studio which has survived for many years on small commissions will now have to compete with MGM, 20th Century-Fox, and Disney
-New York Times

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

In February 1927, Charles Mintz broke the distribution deal between Walt Disney Studios and Universal Studios, and took the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit with him. A number of Walt Disney's staff also left along with the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.


Media Reaction:

Chicago-born head of animation studio might have to go back to the Midwest.

-Chicago Tribune

Mintz Fires Disney! Will Studio Survive!
-Boston Globe

It's not hard to imagine the world of animation without Walt Disney Studios. The man himself can always find a job at 20th Century-Fox, MGM, or Fleischer
-Baltimore Sun

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Notable animator Walt Disney looking for new distribution deal after Mintz's betrayal: RKO, Warner Bros., Mack Sennet, and Poverty Row studio CSC Film Distribution interested in distributing new shorts.
-Los Angeles Times

Could Walt Disney move from animated shorts to radio shows?
-Variety

Rumors state that Radio Corporation of America's NBC Blue and Red radio networks and William S. Paley's Columbia Broadcasting System are trying to recruit former short animator Walt Disney to produce a radio show perhaps featuring new characters created by the short animator. Rumors state Washburn-Crosby or Kellogg interested in possible sponsorship of show.
-Billboard

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Tuesday Morning

Released by
Mack Sennett

Starring
*Tommy Cooper as Paul
*Robert Robertson as James
*John Dean as Carl

Plot

Paul, James, and Carl are three young men looking for an adventure of a lifetime. So naturally, the adventure of a lifetime finds them one Tuesday morning.

The Jazz Singer

Released by
Warner Bros.

Starring
Al Jolson as Jakie Robinowitz/Jack Robbins

Sound by
Western Electric

The first sound film, The Jazz Singer marks a revolution in motion pictures. The film focuses on Al Jolson's character, Jakie Robinowitz, who desires to become a jazz performer under the name "Jack Robbins". However, his father does not approve.

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Rumors state that 20th Century-Fox, MGM, and Fleischer, along with former short animator Walt Disney, whose studio still operates on a skeleton crew after Charles Mintz' takeover of the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series and end of distribution deal with Universal, may consider producing sound cartoons.
-New York Times

If cartoons feature sound, might some of these cartoons be adapted into radio shows quicker? Kellogg, Washburn-Crosby considering sponsorship agreements for any potential radio show based on an animated short.
-Billboard

Mack Sennet, RKO, CSC Film Distribution, and Warner Bros. might consider distributing potential sound cartoons produced by Walt Disney and Walt Disney Studios
-Billboard

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

MGM, 20th Century-Fox produce sound Fred & Marley and Horace Hawk shorts. 20th Century-Fox rumored to offer Thomas May, Private Detective short in sound as well
-Billboard

Walt Disney Studios signs distribution deal with RKO Radio Pictures, ready to produce first sound short.
-Billboard

Fleischer ready to produce sound short.
-New York Times

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

RKO Radio Studios, Walt Disney Studios release first sound short: Steamboat Willie, featuring the character of Mickey Mouse, created while on vacation by Walt Disney in late 1928, while traveling by train.
-Billboard

Oswald who? Steamboat Willie puts 20th Century-Fox, MGM, Fleischer on short notice.
-Billboard

Rumors state Fleischer seeking licenses for animated shorts from comic strips.
-Billboard

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

The stock market suffers a crash on October 16, 1929.

How might the stock market crash effect the animation industry?
-Billboard

Rumors state that Fleischer may not be able to deliver short commitment to Paramount Pictures. Some say that the Fleischer Brothers may use characters from planned sound shorts to produce radio show.
-Billboard

Rumors of Max and Dave Fleischer shutting short studio and producing radio instead lead Kellogg & Washburn-Crosby stating at this time the aftermath of the crash might force them to put any planned sponsorship on hold
-Billboard

 

[Airblast]

How about Disney doing a 1940s Alice in wonderland with Judy Garland?

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

Panic sets in as stock market continues to be effected by October crash.
-New York Times

Fleischer brothers unaware of how to proceed with studio.
-New York Times

Reparations payments by Germany coupled with affects of stock market crash lead to German UPA studio signing agreement with Paramount to distribute three features in United States
-New York Times

Rumors state William S. Paley may sell Columbia Broadcasting System. However few buyers are interested.
-New York Times

20th Century-Fox, MGM may shutter animation units.
-Billboard

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

20th Century-Fox:
The Gold Mask
Classics Animated
Mother Goose's Rhymes

MGM:
The Roman Years
Animated Newspaper

Fleischer:
Western Tales
The People
Sammy Douglas

 

[Bisexual-Mart]

The Roman Years is MGM's most successful short yet.
-Billboard

Fleischer's Sammy Douglas is a really amazing short.
-Billboard

As many people avoid the news, MGM seems poorly timed with Animated Newspaper
-Billboard