Summertime
- Studio
- Van Beuren Studios
- Distributor
- RKO Radio Pictures
Synopsis
Summertime is an apt title but it takes a while to understand why this cartoon is so named. It consists of three scenes. There is no story continuity linking them.
The first features a Frog, a Monkey, an enthusiastic Squirrel, and a grumpy, sleepy Owl. The Frog and Monkey are musicians who play a duet. The Squirrel loves it and cheers loudly. The Owl doesn't like all this noise and takes action. End of scene.
The second scene feature a mouse, and later several mice, and two older women. The mouse finds the summer heat oppressive but spots a solution. One of the two women is quite overweight and casts a large shadow. The mouse takes refuge there but is spotted by several other mice who soon gather there also. Once the women see what is happening, using the old cliché, they scream and run off. End of Scene.
The third and final scene features Farmer Alfalfa. He steps outside to check his thermometer and watches as it boils over. The sun comes to life and shoots down to the Farmer's yard making things even hotter. To find relief Farmer Alfalfa goes back into his house and mixes an alcoholic drink. As he enjoys it several mice comes out of his walls, jump on his piano and play a song.
The Farmer doesn't take kindly to all this and chases them outside and across some fields. The mice take refuge near a donkey. The Farmer has brought along his shotgun so he takes a few blasts at the mice but, possibly due to the effects of his drink, he misses the mice and hits the donkey in its rear. The now irate donkey sees who did this and chases the Farmer down the road and off the screen. End of Scene and Cartoon.
And, in case that title is still not clear, Van Beuren has shown three misadventures all taking place in the “Summertime” As with all other episode in this series this cartoon ends with a moral that has nothing to do with the cartoon just presented or anything Aesop had ever intended.
The first features a Frog, a Monkey, an enthusiastic Squirrel, and a grumpy, sleepy Owl. The Frog and Monkey are musicians who play a duet. The Squirrel loves it and cheers loudly. The Owl doesn't like all this noise and takes action. End of scene.
The second scene feature a mouse, and later several mice, and two older women. The mouse finds the summer heat oppressive but spots a solution. One of the two women is quite overweight and casts a large shadow. The mouse takes refuge there but is spotted by several other mice who soon gather there also. Once the women see what is happening, using the old cliché, they scream and run off. End of Scene.
The third and final scene features Farmer Alfalfa. He steps outside to check his thermometer and watches as it boils over. The sun comes to life and shoots down to the Farmer's yard making things even hotter. To find relief Farmer Alfalfa goes back into his house and mixes an alcoholic drink. As he enjoys it several mice comes out of his walls, jump on his piano and play a song.
The Farmer doesn't take kindly to all this and chases them outside and across some fields. The mice take refuge near a donkey. The Farmer has brought along his shotgun so he takes a few blasts at the mice but, possibly due to the effects of his drink, he misses the mice and hits the donkey in its rear. The now irate donkey sees who did this and chases the Farmer down the road and off the screen. End of Scene and Cartoon.
And, in case that title is still not clear, Van Beuren has shown three misadventures all taking place in the “Summertime” As with all other episode in this series this cartoon ends with a moral that has nothing to do with the cartoon just presented or anything Aesop had ever intended.
Characters
Frog, Monkey, Squirrel, Owl, Mouse, Several Mice, Two older women, Farmer Alfalfa, Donkey
Credits
Directing
- Director
- John Foster, Harry Bailey
Producing
- Producer
- Amadee J. Van Beuren
Crew
- Synchronization
- Carl Edouarde
- Sound Recording
- RCA Photophone System
Production notes
A series of animated short subjects created by Paul Terry and actor-turned-writer Howard Estabrook. Estabrook suggested making a series of cartoons based on Aesop's Fables. Although Terry claimed he had never heard of Aesop, he felt that Estabrook's idea was something worthwhile. Terry immediately began to set up a new studio called Fables Studios and received backing from the Keith-Albee Theatre circuit.
The earliest films were loose adaptations of the actual fables. Later entries usually revolved around cats, mice, and the disgruntled Farmer Al Falfa. Each short concluded with a "moral" that usually had nothing to do with the actual cartoon itself.
In 1929, Terry quit to start his own TerryToons Studios and John Foster took over the series under Amadee J. Van Beuren's brand new Van Beuren Corporation, a renamed Fable Studios. The series finally came to a close in 1933.
The earliest films were loose adaptations of the actual fables. Later entries usually revolved around cats, mice, and the disgruntled Farmer Al Falfa. Each short concluded with a "moral" that usually had nothing to do with the actual cartoon itself.
In 1929, Terry quit to start his own TerryToons Studios and John Foster took over the series under Amadee J. Van Beuren's brand new Van Beuren Corporation, a renamed Fable Studios. The series finally came to a close in 1933.
