Woody Woodpecker and Friends
Season 1953
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 1953
13 Episodes
- What's Sweepin'
E1What's Sweepin'Woody is a street sweeper and gets into trouble with Officer Wally Walrus. He tries to get even for Wally throwing a banana peel on the sidewalk. He steals the cop's uniform and gets into the Jingling Bros. Circus because he is wearing it. Wally tries to get in, but he gets thrown out. He sneaks in under a tent, and Woody gives him a merry chase. Wally disguises himself as an elephant to catch the bird. - The Dog That Cried Wolf
E2The Dog That Cried WolfA sheep rancher entrusts his goofy sheepdog Dizzy to guard his herd one night. The dog is told to blow a whistle when he sees a wolf, but he spends his time fooling his master by "crying wolf," and he proceeds to blow the whistle for no reason other than to excite the farmer. The fun begins when a real wolf shows up to steal the flock after Dizzy has worn out his warning. Taken from the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" story. - The Mouse and the Lion
E4The Mouse and the LionThe Lion, the King of the Jungle, is taking his royal snooze when a mouse comes on a safari to his royal hideaway. The mouse is from Bungling Brothers Circus [us], and his mission is to take HRH back to the states as a circus act. The mouse then goes about his business of capturing the lion. At the fadeout, back in the USA, the lion of performing on a precarious tight-rope, high above the arena sawdust, while the mouse whip lashes him. - Operation Sawdust
E5Operation SawdustLumber mill workers Woody Woodpecker and Buzz Buzzard are friends when they are sawing trees, but when Wally Walrus (making a brief cameo as the lumber camp chef) rings the dinner bell, they become bitter enemies. Woody and Buzz duke it out over food, with the woods being pecked to death in the process. - The Flying Turtle
E6The Flying TurtleHerman the turtle has a great ambition: to fly like a bird! He salvages jewels from the deep to pay an avaricious eagle to teach him. The eagle carries him up, up and up. The eagle lets go and starts to give instructions. The turtle falls immediately and crashes. Fortunately, he lands in "Turtle Heaven," where he becomes an angel and wins his wings for keeps! - Maw and Paw
E8Maw and PawOne morning at breakfast, Milford gets a phone call from a radio game show. He answers a question from the host and wins a new super-deluxe automobile for the family. The car is delivered to the house, and everyone is admiring the car. The problem is that no one in the family knows how to drive it (Maw thinks that the antenna is a "new-fangled clothesline"). Eventually, Milford goes for a joyride around the farm, chasing most of the residents, before finally crashing into a tree, reducing the vehicle to the size of a Model T. It is now the right size for the family! The joy is short-lived, however, as the "Model T" goes into a mudhole and sinks into the horizon. - Plywood Panic
E11Plywood PanicMilford the pig gets the mail and informs Paw that the family has won a brand new house after Maw and Paw have accumulated a million boxtops. Their joy turns to frustration when they learn the catch: the house is prefabricated, and they must put the entire house together themselves. With the family's intelligence (especially Paw's competence), this isn't an easy task. Examples: Paw is shrouded in measuring tape when Milford lets go too suddenly. When Maw carries a board, it starts vibrating to the point where it carries her into the air, dropping her into the washing machine (Paw thinks that he's watching Maw on TV). Finally, the house is finished, and the family moves inside. Unfortunately, Paw steps on a loose floorboard, causing the house to disassemble into a pile of rubble. - Hot Noon or 12 O'Clock for Sure
E12Hot Noon or 12 O'Clock for SureWhen Western bad guy Buzz Buzzard returns to town to settle a score with the sheriff, the sheriff gets the bright idea of pinning his badge on an unsuspecting little saloon piano player named Woody Woodpecker. Woody goes after Buzz in order to protect his small Western town and impress his Tex-Mex girlfriend. While he doesn't have enough sense to run from a showdown, Woody proves that there's a lot of imagination in being brave as he faces Buzz. - Chilly Willy
E13Chilly WillyA schooner anchors at the South Pole, and the skipper goes ashore and leaves the ship's mascot, a St. Bernard dog, to stand watch and guard the ship. A small penguin, Chilly Willy (the only penguin not equipped for cold weather...anywhere), sees the ship and tries to get warm by its stove. The watchdog attempts to get rid of him, but Willy manages to get the dog drunk from the rum in its own cask. The captain returns to find Willy saving the ship from sinking, while the dog is found sleeping it off. Willy is made mascot and the dog is tossed in the ship's brig.
