Screen Songs

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Screen Songs (formerly known as KoKo Song Car-Tunes) are a series of animated cartoons produced at the Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures between 1929 and 1938.[1] Paramount brought back the sing-along cartoons in 1945, now in color, and released them regularly through 1951. Two of Paramount's one-shot cartoons quietly revived the format later: Candy Cabaret (1954) and Hobo's Holiday (1963).

A cover by artist John Frew depicting a fictional bandleader Alexander and his men performing in a bandstand.

History

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The Screen Songs are a continuation of the earlier Fleischer series Song Car-Tunes in color. They are sing-along shorts featuring the famous "bouncing ball", a sort of precursor to modern karaoke videos.[2] They often featured popular melodies of the day. The early Song Car-Tunes were among the earliest sound films, produced two years before The Jazz Singer. They were largely unknown at the time because their release was limited to the chain of 36 theaters operated by The Red Seal Pictures Company, which was equipped with the early Lee DeForest Phonofilm sound reproduction equipment. The Red Seal theater chain—formed by the Fleischers, DeForest, Edwin Miles Fadiman, and Hugo Riesenfeld—went from the East Coast to Columbus, Ohio.

Between May 1924 and September 1926, the Fleischers released 36 Song Car-Tunes series, with 19 using the Phonofilm sound-on-film process. The films included Oh Mabel, Come Take a Trip in My Airship, Darling Nelly Gray, Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?, and By the Light of the Silvery Moon. Beginning with My Old Kentucky Home (1926), the cartoons featured the "follow the bouncing ball" gimmick, that lead the audience singing along with the film. The other 17 films in the Song Car-Tunes series were silent, designed to be shown with live music in movie theaters.

The Fleischers were ahead of the sound revolution, and just missed the actual change when Red Seal Pictures filed for bankruptcy in the fall of 1926.

Releases after Red Seal Pictures

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In 1928, the Weiss Brothers reissued through their Artclass Pictures company and other independent distributors a number of the silent "Ko-Ko Song Car-tunes" with new animation created for the beginnings, removing the original titles and opening original footage.

New contract with Paramount Pictures

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The Fleischers signed a new contract with Paramount Pictures in late 1928. Beginning in February 1929, the song cartoons returned under a new name, Screen Songs, using the Western Electric sound-on-film process. The first was The Sidewalks of New York (East Side, West Side) released on 5 February 1929. In the 1930s, the shorts began to feature such musical guest stars as Lillian Roth, Ethel Merman, Cab Calloway, Rudy Vallée, The Mills Brothers, the Boswell Sisters, and others. The series, which eventually focused on many of the "Big Bands" of "The Swing Era" continued until 1938. In 1945, Famous Studios, successors to the Fleischers, revived the Screen Songs as an all animated series. The earliest Screen Song released as part of the Noveltoons series, When G.I. Johnny Comes Home, was released on February 2, 1945.[3]

Filmography

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Fleischer Studios

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1929

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Film Characters / Musicians Original release date
The Sidewalks of New York February 5, 1929
Yankee Doodle Boy March 1, 1929
Old Black Joe April 5, 1929
Ye Olde Melodies May 3, 1929
Daisy Bell May 31, 1929
Mother, Pin a Rose on Me July 6, 1929
Dixie August 17, 1929
Chinatown, My Chinatown One-shot Chinese characters August 29, 1929
Goodbye My Lady Love August 31, 1929
My Pony Boy September 13, 1929
Smiles One-shot human quartet September 27, 1929
Oh, You Beautiful Doll Tommy and Mariah Cat October 14, 1929
After the Ball Charles K. Harris and Fitz the dog November 8, 1929
Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet One-shot animal characters November 22, 1929
I've Got Rings on My Fingers One-shot animal characters and (human) Irish cop December 17, 1929

1930

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Bedelia Fitz January 3, 1930
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree One-shot bear characters January 18, 1930
I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark Fitz January 30, 1930
The Prisoner's Song Fitz and prisoners March 1, 1930
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles One-shot mouse characters March 15, 1930
La Paloma Bimbo April 12, 1930
Yes! We Have No Bananas One-shot animal characters April 26, 1930
Come Take a Trip in My Airship Mariah Cat (here called "Kitty") April 26, 1930
In the Good Old Summer Time One-shot animal characters June 6, 1930
A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight One-shot mouse characters Seymour Kneitel August 1, 1930
The Glow-Worm Special bilingual entry
Song sung first in German, then in English.
Rudy Zamora August 23, 1930
The Stein Song One-shot animal characters Rudy Zamora
Shamus Culhane
September 6, 1930
Strike Up the Band One-shot dog sailors Al Eugster September 27, 1930
My Gal Sal Bimbo Willard Bowsky
Rudolph Eggeman
October 18, 1930
Mariutch Bimbo (in Italian lead role) Grim Natwick
George Cannata
November 15, 1930
On a Sunday Afternoon One-shot dog characters and (briefly) Bimbo Rudy Zamora
Shamus Culhane
November 29, 1930
Row, Row, Row Bimbo (in villainous lead role) and Betty Boop prototype Seymour Kneitel
Rudolph Eggeman
December 20, 1930

1931

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Please Go 'Way and Let Me Sleep Bimbo and (briefly) Betty Boop prototype Grim Natwick
George Cannata
January 10, 1931
By the Beautiful Sea One-shot mouse characters Willard Bowsky
Reuben Timinsky (later Reuben Timmins)
January 24, 1931
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now Tommy and Mariah Cat Al Eugster
George Cannata
February 14, 1931
I'd Climb the Highest Mountain Bimbo Seymour Kneitel
Reuben Timinsky
March 7, 1931
Somebody Stole My Gal Bimbo George Cannata
Reuben Timinsky
March 20, 1931
Any Little Girl That's a Nice Little Girl Tommy Cat and Betty Boop prototype Seymour Kneitel April 18, 1931
Alexander's Ragtime Band Bimbo Rudy Zamora
Shamus Culhane
May 9, 1931
And the Green Grass Grew All Around One-shot bug characters May 30, 1931
My Wife's Gone to the Country Bimbo and (briefly) Betty Boop May 31, 1931
That Old Gang of Mine Mariah and (briefly) Tommy Cat July 11, 1931
Betty Co-ed Rudy Vallée, Betty Boop prototype August 1, 1931
Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean Gallagher and Shean Al Eugster August 29, 1931
You're Driving Me Crazy Harriet Lee, vocalist (Radio Queen of 1931-32)
Snooks and his Memphis Ramblers
September 19, 1931
Little Annie Rooney Bimbo (in "Joe" role of song) Seymour Kneitel

Bernard Wolf

October 10, 1931
Kitty from Kansas City Rudy Vallée, Betty Boop October 31, 1931
By the Light of the Silvery Moon Bimbo and (briefly) Betty Boop Seymour Kneitel
Myron Waldman
November 14, 1931
My Baby Just Cares for Me Eddie Cantor, Bimbo (monkeylike design) December 5, 1931
Russian Lullaby Arthur Tracy, Aloysius December 26, 1931

1932

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Sweet Jennie Lee One-shot animal characters January 9, 1932
Show Me the Way to Go Home One-shot animal characters January 30, 1932
When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along One-shot bird characters February 19, 1932
Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie The Round Towners Quartet, Betty Boop and Bimbo Seymour Kneitel
Myron Waldman
March 4, 1932
Just One More Chance Art Jarrett, Betty Boop Shamus Culhane

Dave Tendlar

April 1, 1932
Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning Les Reis and Artie Dunn, Betty Boop Seymour Kneitel

Bernard Wolf

April 22, 1932
Shine On Harvest Moon Alice Joy, one-shot animal characters Shamus Culhane

Reuben Timinsky

May 6, 1932
Let Me Call You Sweetheart Ethel Merman, Betty Boop Shamus Culhane

Dave Tendlar

May 20, 1932
I Ain't Got Nobody The Mills Brothers, one-shot animal characters Willard Bowsky

Tom Bonfiglio

June 17, 1932
You Try Somebody Else Ethel Merman, Betty Boop July 29, 1932
Rudy Vallée Melodies Rudy Vallée, Betty Boop August 5, 1932
Down Among the Sugar Cane Lillian Roth, one-shot animal characters Shamus Culhane

William Henning

August 26, 1932
Just a Gigolo Irene Bordoni, Betty Boop Shamus Culhane

Reuben Timinsky

September 9, 1932
School Days Gus Edwards, one-shot animal characters William Henning

Dave Tendlar

September 30, 1932
Romantic Melodies Arthur Tracy, Betty Boop and Bimbo Seymour Kneitel
Bernie Wolf
October 21, 1932
Sleepy Time Down South The Boswell Sisters, one-shot animal characters Seymour Kneitel
Bernie Wolf
November 11, 1932
Sing a Song James Melton, one-shot animal characters Seymour Kneitel
Myron Waldman
December 2, 1932
Time on My Hands Ethel Merman, Betty Boop Willard Bowsky
Thomas Goodson
December 23, 1932

1933

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Dinah The Mills Brothers, one-shot animal characters Dave Tendlar
William Henning
January 13, 1933
Ain't She Sweet? Lillian Roth, Tommy and Mariah Cat Seymour Kneitel
Tom Johnson
February 3, 1933
Reaching for the Moon Arthur Tracy, one-shot space alien characters Willard Bowsky
Ugo D'Orsi
February 23, 1933
Aloha Oe Royal Samoans, one-shot jungle animal characters Bernie Wolf
Dave Tendlar
March 17, 1933
Popular Melodies Art Jarrett Willard Bowsky
Myron Waldman
April 7, 1933
The Peanut Vendor Armida, one-shot animal characters Seymour Kneitel
Tom Johnson
April 28, 1933
Song Shopping Ethel Merman and Johnny Green, one-shot animal characters Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
May 19, 1933
Boilesk The Watson Sisters, one-shot animal characters Willard Bowsky
Myron Waldman
June 9, 1933
Sing, Sisters, Sing Three X Sisters, one-shot animal characters Bernie Wolf
Dave Tendlar
June 3, 1933
Down by the Old Mill Stream The Eton Boys, one-shot animal characters Willard Bowsky
William Sturm
July 21, 1933
Stoopnocracy Stoopnagle and Budd, one-shot animal characters Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
August 18, 1933
When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba The Mills Brothers Bernie Wolf
Tom Johnson
September 15, 1933
Boo Boo Theme Song The Funnyboners Willard Bowsky
Myron Waldman
October 13, 1933
I Like Mountain Music The Eton Boys Willard Bowsky
Myron Waldman
November 10, 1933
Sing, Babies, Sing Baby Rose Marie Seymour Kneitel
Dave Tendlar
December 15, 1933

1934

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Keeps Rainin' All the Time Gertrude Niesen Seymour Kneitel
William Henning
January 12, 1934
Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing Les Reis and Artie Dunn, one-shot cat and bird characters Myron Waldman
Tom Johnson
February 9, 1934
Tune Up and Sing Lanny Ross Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
March 9, 1934
Lazy Bones Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals Willard Bowsky
Dave Tendlar
April 13, 1934
This Little Piggie Went to Market Singin' Sam Hicks Lokey
Paul Fennell
May 25, 1934
She Reminds Me of You The Eton Boys Willard Bowsky
William Sturm
June 22, 1934
Love Thy Neighbor Mary Small Myron Waldman
Edward Nolan
July 20, 1934
Let's Sing with Popeye Popeye (Billy Costello (actor)) Seymour Kneitel
Roland Crandall (archival)
Produced for Saturday morning matinee "Popeye Club".

1935

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
I Wished on the Moon Abe Lyman and his Orchestra, Wiffle Piffle Tom Johnson September 20, 1935
It's Easy to Remember Richard Himber and his Orchestra (vocal by Stuart Allen) Tom Johnson November 29, 1935

1936

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
No Other One Hal Kemp and His Orchestra (vocal by Skinnay Ennis), Wiffle Piffle Tom Johnson January 24, 1936
I Feel Like a Feather in the Breeze Jack Denny and his Orchestra, Wiffle Piffle Tom Johnson
Harold Walker
March 27, 1936
I Don't Want to Make History Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra (vocal by Johnnie Morris), Wiffle Piffle Tom Johnson
Harold Walker
May 22, 1936
The Hills of Wyomin The Westerners / Curt Massey Tom Johnson
Harold Walker
July 31, 1936
I Can't Escape from You Joe Reichman and His Orchestra (vocal by Billie Bailey) Tom Johnson
David Hoffman
September 25, 1936
Talking Through My Heart Dick Stabile and his Orchestra, Wiffle Piffle Tom Johnson
Harold Walker
November 27, 1936

1937

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
Never Should Have Told You Nat Brandwynne and His Orchestra, Wiffle Piffle Roland Crandall January 29, 1937
Twilight on the Trail The Westerners / Louise Massey Roland Crandall March 26, 1937
Please Keep Me in Your Dreams Henry King (musician) and his Orchestra (vocal by Barbara Blake) Roland Crandall May 28, 1937
You Came to My Rescue Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Roland Crandall July 30, 1937
Whispers in the Dark Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra (vocal by June Robbins) Roland Crandall September 24, 1937
Magic on Broadway Jay Freeman and his Orchestra Roland Crandall November 26, 1937

1938

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Film Characters / Musicians Animation Original release date
You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart Jerry Blaine and his Streamline Rhythm Orchestra (vocal by Phyllis Kenny) Roland Crandall January 28, 1938
Thanks for the Memory Bert Block and his Orchestra Roland Crandall March 25, 1938
You Leave Me Breathless Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra (vocal by Bob Eberly) Roland Crandall May 27, 1938
Beside a Moonlit Stream Frank Dailey and his Orchestra Roland Crandall July 29, 1938

Famous Studios

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"Start your day with a song and sing the whole day through. Even while you're busy working, do just like the birdies do! Though the day may be long, you never will go wrong. Off-key, on-key, any old key, just start your day with a song!"

— Opening to the Famous Studios Screen Song shorts.

For all the shorts, the musical arrangements were made by Winston Sharples.

Film Theme Song Director Story Animation Scenics Original release date
The Circus Comes to Clown[a] Circus "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" I. Sparber Bill Turner
Larz Bourne
Tom Johnson
Frank Endres
Anton Loeb December 26, 1947
Base Brawl Baseball "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Seymour Kneitel Dave Tendlar
Tom Golden
Robert Connavale January 23, 1948
Little Brown Jug Cider "Little Brown Jug" Bill Turner
Larry Riley
Orestes Calpini
Morey Reden
Bill Hudson
Tom Ford February 20, 1948
The Golden State California "California, Here I Come" Larz Bourne
Larry Riley
Dave Tendlar
Bill Hudson
Robert Little March 12, 1948
Winter Draws On[b] Bird Migration "Alabamy Bound" Larz Bourne
Bill Turner
Al Eugster
Irving Spector
Tom Ford March 19, 1948
Sing or Swim Beach "By the Beautiful Sea" I. Klein
Larry Riley
Robert Connavale June 16, 1948
Camptown Races Blackface Acts "Camptown Races" Bill Turner
Larry Riley
Tom Ford July 30, 1948
The Lone Star State Texas "Deep in the Heart of Texas" I. Sparber Larz Bourne Dave Tendlar
Morey Reden
Robert Connavale August 20, 1948
Readin', Ritin' and Rhythmetic School "School Daze" Seymour Kneitel I. Klein Al Eugster
Bill Hudson
October 22, 1948
The Funshine State Florida "Tallahassee" Larz Bourne Dave Tendlar
Morey Reden
Shane Miller January 7, 1949
The Emerald Isle Ireland "MacNamara's Band" I. Klein Al Eugster
Bill Hudson
Tom Ford
Robert Owen
February 25, 1949
Comin' Round the Mountain Hillbillies "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" I. Sparber Bill Turner Tom Johnson
Frank Endres
Anton Loeb March 11, 1949
The Stork Market Newborn Babies "Pretty Baby" Seymour Kneitel Bill Turner
Larry Riley
Al Eugster
Wm. B. Pattengill
Shane Miller April 8, 1949
Spring Song Spring "Spring Song" I. Sparber I. Klein Myron Waldman
Larry Silverman
June 3, 1949
The Ski's the Limit Switzerland "I Miss My Swiss, My Swiss Miss Misses Me" Bill Turner
Larry Riley
Dave Tendlar
Tom Golden
Robert Connavale June 24, 1949
Toys Will Be Toys Toys "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" Seymour Kneitel I. Klein Myron Waldman
Gordon Whittier
Robert Little July 29, 1949
Farm Foolery[c] Autumn/Winter Harvest "Shine On, Harvest Moon" Larz Bourne Al Eugster
Bill Hudson
Tom Ford August 5, 1949
Our Funny Finny Friends[d] Fishes "Three Little Fishies" Larz Bourne
Larry Riley
August 26, 1949
Marriage Wows Wedding "For Me and My Gal" I. Sparber Bill Turner
Larry Riley
Myron Waldman
Gordon Whittier
September 16, 1949
The Big Flame Up[e] Firefighting "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" I. Klein Dave Tendlar
Martin Taras
September 30, 1949
Strolling Thru the Park 1890s Parks "Strolling Thru the Park" Seymour Kneitel Myron Waldman
Larry Silverman
Robert Little November 4, 1949
The Big Drip[b] Noah's Ark "It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'" I. Sparber Larz Bourne
Larry Riley
Myron Waldman
Nick Tafuri
Tom Ford November 25, 1949
Snow Foolin' Winter "Jingle Bells" I. Klein Myron Waldman
Gordon Whittier
December 16, 1949
Blue Hawaii Hawaii "Blue Hawaii" Seymour Kneitel Larz Bourne Al Eugster
Wm. B. Pattengill
Lloyd Hallock Jr. January 13, 1950
Detouring Thru Maine Maine "The Maine Stein Song" Al Eugster
Bill Hudson
Robert Connavale February 17, 1950
Short'nin' Bread Baked Goods "Shortenin' Bread" I. Sparber Larz Bourne
Larry Riley
Myron Waldman
Gordon Whittier
Anton Loeb March 24, 1950
Win, Place and Show Boat Mississippi Riverboat "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" Al Eugster
Wm. B. Pattengill
Robert Connavale April 28, 1950
Jingle Jangle Jungle Africa "Civilization (Bongo Bongo Bongo)" Seymour Kneitel Joe Stultz
Larry Riley
Myron Waldman
Larry Silverman
Tom Ford May 19, 1950
Heap Hep Injuns Native Americans "My Pony Boy" I. Sparber Larz Bourne Tom Johnson
George Rufle
Anton Loeb June 30, 1950
Gobs of Fun[f] Sailors "Strike Up the Band (Here Comes a Sailor)" Larry Riley
Joe Stultz
Al Eugster
Irving Spector
Robert Owen July 28, 1950
Helter Swelter Summer "In the Good Old Summer Time" Seymour Kneitel Larz Bourne
Larry Riley
Al Eugster
Wm. B. Pattengill
Tom Ford August 25, 1950
Boos in the Nite[g] Halloween "Pack Up Your Troubles" I. Sparber Joe Stultz
Larry Riley
Myron Waldman
Nick Tafuri
Anton Loeb September 22, 1950
Fiesta Time[h] Mexico "El Rancho Grande" Seymour Kneitel I. Klein Myron Waldman
Larry Silverman
October 20, 1950
Fresh Yeggs[i] Prisons "Give My Regards to Broadway" Larz Bourne Myron Waldman
Nick Tafuri
Robert Owen November 17, 1950
Tweet Music[j] Birds "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing" I. Sparber Joe Stultz Al Eugster
George Rufle
February 9, 1951
Drippy Mississippi Mississippi River "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I" Seymour Kneitel Larz Bourne Myron Waldman
Gordon Whittier
Anton Loeb April 13, 1951
Miners Forty-Niners Miners "Clementine" I. Sparber I. Klein Myron Waldman
Larry Silverman
May 18, 1951
Sing Again of Michigan[k] Michigan "I Want to Go Back to Michigan Down on the Farm" Larz Bourne Al Eugster
George Rufle
Robert Owen June 29, 1951

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ First Screen Song short in the Paramount Picture series.
  2. ^ a b First two Screen Song shorts featuring Buzzy the Crow in the Paramount Picture series.
  3. ^ Only Screen Song short with only a picture cameo appearance of Little Audrey.
  4. ^ Only Screen Song short featuring the fishes from McElligot's Pool, based on the book by Dr. Seuss in the Paramount Picture series.
  5. ^ Only Screen Song short featuring Tim Turtle in the Paramount Picture series.
  6. ^ Only Screen Song short featuring Herman in the Paramount Picture series.
  7. ^ Only Screen Song short featuring the ghosts from Casper the Friendly Ghost in the Paramount Picture series.
  8. ^ First Harveytoon short in the Paramount Picture series and first Screen Song/Harveytoon short reissued by Harvey Films.
  9. ^ Only Screen Song/Harveytoon and Harveytoon short featuring Wolfie in the Paramount Picture series.
  10. ^ Only Screen Song/Harveytoon and Harveytoon short featuring Inchy in the Paramount Picture series.
  11. ^ Final Screen Song short featuring Buzzy the Crow in the Paramount Picture series and third Harveytoon short featuring him in it. Also final Screen Song short and the final Screen Song short reissued by Harvey Films.

References

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  1. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 133–134. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ^ Markstein, Don. "Screen Songs". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. ^ Pointer, Ray (2016) "The Art and Inventions of Max Fleischer: American Animation Pioneer", McFarland & Co. Publishers
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Further reading

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  • Leslie Cabarga, The Fleischer Story (Da Capo Press, 1988)
  • Leonard Maltin, Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons (Penguin Books, 1980, revised edition 1987)