Woody Woodpecker and Friends
Season 1941
TV-PG
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, The Beary Family and Arctic penguin Chilly Willy.
Where to Watch Season 1941
13 Episodes
- Mouse Trappers
E1Mouse TrappersAndy Panda's dad is bragging about his prowess as a hunter when Mom directs his attention to a severe mouse problem. Andy's father is trying to catch a pesky mouse with his own "scientific" approach, while young Andy keeps pushing the idea of an old-fashioned mousetrap. Dad "shows" Andy how to catch a mouse, one failed attempt after another. The help of a cat proves ineffective, as it turns out that the cat and mouse are drinking buddies. - Fair Today
E2Fair TodayFairs, rides, attractions and horses at the county fair are all made fun of. Like a world's fair, there are some ultra-modern exhibits. You'll see the Rubber Man, the Fat Lady, the Tattoo Man, the Sword Swallower, elephants, lions and a giraffe... but the real problem is a little old lady looking for her dog. A "Cream Separator" is operated by a small child with a bowl. A "Crazy Quilt" lives up to its name. Announcer: "Say, this turkey has no neck!" Turkey: "Aw, nobody eats the neck, anyway!" There's a hog-calling contest ("You're a hog!"). - Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie Beat
E3Scrub Me Mama with a Boogie BeatLazy folks in Lazy Town (Pop. 123½) are napping and attracting flies. They are so lethargic they even fight in slow motion. Then a riverboat arrives with a red hot mama on board and she quickly has everyone moving to a Harlem boogie beat, dancing, scrubbing clothes, and eating watermelon. As the boogie-woogie comes to a close, Mammy hoists her skirt. Her big bottom reads "The End". - Dizzy Kitty
E5Dizzy KittyPop throws out Andy's dopey cat Romeo, but when he finds out that the feline can win $25 at a cat show, he catches Romeo, figuring that the prize money should not go unclaimed by a member of the family. Andy and his dad try to pretty up Romeo. They try bathing him, resulting in a riot of claws, fur and water. Furious fun on a springboard leads to a yowling climax. - Salt Water Daffy
E6Salt Water DaffyA narrator tells how military recruits are trained on land and sea. Men get a physical, undergo basic training, do duties on board ship for gunnery practice, clean the decks, and prepare for battle. Lots of gags (very similar to Abbott and Costello's "In the Navy") concerning naval training, recruits' love of the ladies and tattoos, hatred of physical exams and their inability to fire a shot that hits the target. A sailor kisses his gal with such vigor that he gets the porthole ripped right out of the ship. - Woody Woodpecker
E7Woody WoodpeckerThe peace and quiet of Birdland comes to an end when Woody Woodpecker begins to annoy the inhabitants with zany antics. Their countermeasures are hilarious, but they fail to dim Woody's zest and enthusiasm. Woody sings, "Everybody thinks I'm crazy." The other animals manage to convince him that he is, so he sees a shrink named Dr. Horace N. Buggy, a fox who's as crazy as he is. Woody heckles Dr. Buggy. - Andy Panda's Pop
E8Andy Panda's PopAndrew P. Panda (Andy's pop) asks the Acme Roofing Company if it will repair his shoddy roof. He is quickly turned off by the exorbitant price ($200) and determines, "I'll fix it myself!" Naturally, Pop isn't the most skilled of workers, but does his best anyway. The ladder collapses, so Andy's pop tries hurling rolls of roofing paper. However, the flying paper snatches him to the roof. His best turns to his worst when an annoying pelican distracts him by making the roof his new home. Pop angrily tries to rid himself of the feathered pest (who just wants to mind his own business) and destroys the roof more than ever in the process. Furious, Pop falls through the skylight, landing (conveniently) near the telephone. Admitting defeat, he again calls the roofing company, only to be irately told, "Fix it yourself!" - The Screwdriver
E9The ScrewdriverWoody Woodpecker is driving along a country road when his car breaks down. The redhead does such a good repair job that he's unable to restrain the car when he starts off again. He drives a policeman crazy in various disguises on the highway. The TV version of the cartoon re-titled as Woody's Jalopy. - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company 'B'
E10Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company 'B'Walter Lantz uses an all-black cast and swings the heck out of the story. Hot-Breath Harry (The Harlem Heatwave) is "the hottest trumpet man in town" until he's drafted by the army. When he gets his draft notice, he's sure that he can get out of serving, but no such luck. His sarge assigns him as the new bugle boy. But that's no great honor- the last one was done in by the guys in the squad. Harry's only chance is to swing it. Like many Lantz cartoons of the era, this combines a hit song of the day with broadly-drawn racial stereotypes. - Man's Best Friend
E11Man's Best FriendOverworked, overtired hunting dog Snoozer has a hard time trying to get plenty of sleep to go hunting with his master the following day. Due to noise, lights, etc., he's up all night. The put-upon dog must put up with an assortment of classic cartoon annoyances from chirping crickets to loudly clicking clocks to a house fire. A classic end gag has the dog turning the tables on the hunter. - Pantry Panic
E12Pantry PanicIn a peaceful bird village in the heart of the forest, a weatherman, Professor Groundhog, predicts a terrible cold front. He reports a storm warning that a blizzard is coming, and that all birds are to go south immediately. The birds close their houses and start leaving. Seeing the birds flying away, Woody Woodpecker asks why, and he's told of the coming storm. Enjoying himself in a swimming pool, Woody doesn't pay any attention. Suddenly, a blizzard hits. Woody's caught in midair as he makes a dive, and he's blown right to his door and into the house. Weeks later, Woody runs out of food- a roaring wind takes all his rations- and starvation stares him in the face. A hungry tomcat knocks at his door, and Woody lets him in. Each eyes the other as a source of food: visions of roast woodpecker to the cat, roast cat to Woody. A battle of wits ensues as to who shall feed on whom. There's a wild riot in the kitchen for a morsel of food. Woody and the cat try to eat each other for supper. - $21 a Day (Once a Month)
E13$21 a Day (Once a Month)Woody Woodpecker makes an appearance in this cartoon, the first in Walter Lantz's Swing Symphony series. The story is built around a performance of the title song, an original by Felix Bernard and Ray Klages about army life. It's set at "Camp Pain," situated within the Toyland Army section of the Toy Department of the "Maybe So Dept. Store" and features the toy soldiers and animals on the shelves coming to life and joining in to do all the orchestral and vocal parts. There's nothing more to it than that, but it's a lively song with some great jazz bits and it benefits from creative musical arrangements by Darrell Calker, Lantz's talented longtime music supervisor.
