Gertie
Also known as: Gertie the Dinosaur, Winsor McCay's Gertie, Winsor McCay America's Greatest Cartoonist And Gertie
- Studio
- Winsor McCay
- Distributor
- Vitagraph Film Corporation, Box Office Attractions, Jewel Productions
Synopsis
Winsor McCay first appears on camera in Gertie with cartoonist George McManus and humorist Roy McCardell. They visit a natural history museum and the remains of a dinosaur. McCay bets McManus that he can make the dinosaur live again in a series of cartoons. Thus, he breathes life into Gertie The Dinosaur, one of his most famous creations- and the most popular animated character of the day. When McCay's friends gather in a posh dining room, they are treated to Gertie, who does her best to please despite occasional distractions from passing sea monsters and elephants. "Gertie" rhythmically keeps pace as other creatures interact, such as a monkey in a tree that gets whipped around a bit for playing too close to "Gertie."
Characters
Gertie the Dinosaur, Sea Monsters, Elephants, Monkey.
Live Action: Winsor McCay, George McManus, Roy McCardell
Live Action: Winsor McCay, George McManus, Roy McCardell
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Winsor McCay
Producing
- Producer
- Winsor McCay
Writing
- Writer
- Winsor McCay
Animation
- Animator
- Winsor McCay
Production notes
Silent cartoon; mix of animation and live action.
In 1991, "Gertie the Dinosaur" was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.
In the early years of the 20th century, Winsor McCay was a cartoonist for a New York newspaper and the creator of the comic strip "Little Nemo" McCay was also a notable vaudeville performer featured in the major circuit theaters such as the New York Palace. He built his act around his cartoon sketches.
McCay's "Gertie the Dinosaur" made in 1909 was the first major animated cartoon to catch the public imagination. It is said that 10,000 separate drawings were required for "Gertie." It was also the first animated film to use key frame animation.
A story regarding the initial release of this cartoon, which may or may not be true:
In 1991, "Gertie the Dinosaur" was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.
In the early years of the 20th century, Winsor McCay was a cartoonist for a New York newspaper and the creator of the comic strip "Little Nemo" McCay was also a notable vaudeville performer featured in the major circuit theaters such as the New York Palace. He built his act around his cartoon sketches.
McCay's "Gertie the Dinosaur" made in 1909 was the first major animated cartoon to catch the public imagination. It is said that 10,000 separate drawings were required for "Gertie." It was also the first animated film to use key frame animation.
A story regarding the initial release of this cartoon, which may or may not be true:
McCay had a very tough time getting a distributor for "Gertie the Dinosaur," and one fellow offered him an absurdly low figure for his creation.
McCay protested, observing that the price of the film stock needed to produce the cartoon was more than the amount offered.
The distributor's reply went something like this: "It was worth more before you drew all over it!"
