Niagara Fools

Woody Woodpecker is a tourist inspecting the wonders of Niagara Falls. Listening to the guide narrating the history of those who rode over the Falls in a barrel, Woody decides that this is for him. Grasping a barrel, Woody is about to emulate the heroic feats of some of his more famous predecessors when the barrel is rudely snatched away from him by the guide, who warns Woody that this stunt is strictly prohibited by law. Now more determined than ever to make this death-defying ride, Woody grabs the barrel away from the guide. In the ensuing struggle, the guide lands in the barrel and loses his balance. Over the Falls he goes, much to the amazement and vociferous applause of the startled tourists. Woody makes three more attempts to ride over the Falls in a barrel, but each attempt is thwarted by the guide, who always ends up taking the ride that Woody originally intended for himself. Desperate, the guide posts a reward for Woody and calls out the entire force to help him get rid of the woodpecker. They converge upon Woody from all sides and believe that they have him safety wrapped in a barrel destined for the North Pole. When the smoke of battle clears, however, they discover that it's the guide who's on his way to the North Pole. Via cartoon magic, the guide returns in time to stop Woody's fifth attempt to ride the Falls. But in doing, he himself goes over the Falls for the fifth time, and he's given a citation by Woody for breaking the law.

Woody Woodpecker, Guide, Tourists

With arguably the most famous laugh of any cartoon character in history ("ha-ha-ha-HA-ha"), Woody Woodpecker pecked his way into our lives through a 1940 Andy Panda theatrical short entitled Knock Knock. Woody continued to appear in short films throughout the 40's and 50's, and in 1957, the Kellogg's company packaged these theatrical works into the syndicated package The Woody Woodpecker Show.Walter Lantz created the famed bird, and in the show's early days, the animator would host from his office, demonstrating how cartoons were made by showing the viewers at home such essentials as painting cels and drawing storyboards. Woody, an obnoxious mischief-maker, would usually star in the shorts, occasionally taking a backseat to his friends Andy Panda, Wally Walrus, Gabby Gator, Buzz Buzzard, Oswald the Rabbit, and Arctic penguin Chilly Willy.

Woody was by far the most politically incorrect and audacious character of his time. In an era when cartoons were trying to promote a positive message or somehow prove educational, Woody was breaking taboos left and right. The early theatrical shorts were chock full of sexual innuendo, tobacco use, and rampant alcohol consumption. One episode even showed a hotel bill with a charge for "Cocaine" (all of which were later edited out before hitting the airwaves). While other cartoons were trying to do the right thing, Woody was joking, fighting, stealing, and antagonizing.

Another difference between our fine feathered friend and other animated icons is that he didn't always come out on top. Sometimes he'd dig himself too deep into a hole to get out. Perhaps "if Woody had gone to the police, this never would have happened," but then we wouldn't have had so much fun watching him try.

After a three year run from 1957-60, The Woody Woodpecker Show was not seen on network television again until the fall of 1970, when it made its Saturday morning debut. Although his physical appearance was slightly altered and updated, Woody was as big a troublemaker as ever. The immortal show has lived on in syndication ever since leaving network TV in 1977.

In 1999, a brand new Woody Woodpecker Show debuted on the Fox Kids schedule. Woody, Buzz Buzzard, Wally Walrus, Chilly Willy, and Willy's dog pal Smedley were joined by newcomers Winnie Woodpecker, Knothead, Splinter, Dapper Denver Dooley, and Mrs. Meany.