1920 - 1933, theatrical
Fables Studios, Van Beuren
Studios |
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Hundreds
of fables are attributed to Aesop, who is dated to have
lived around 620 B.C. (although his historical existence as
a person is questionable.) These popular "children's"
tales are still widely read, and their moral significance is as pertinent today as when they were written.
Animated shorts based on Aesop's classic tales were first
produced by Fables Studios and released in theaters from
1920-28. At the end of 1928 Van Beuren Studios took over
production of the series, which lasted until 1933.
When Fables
Studios first began production of the cartoons, the medium
was still in its infancy and film makers did not yet have
the benefit of adding sound to their films. Van Beuren
Studios' 1928 Aesop's Fable cartoon "Dinner Time" holds
the distinction of being the very first cartoon produced
and released as a sound cartoon. It premiered at the Mark
Strand Theater in New York and used the RCA Photo phone
sound system. Walt Disney called the cartoon "a lot of
racket and nothing else." Note: "Steamboat Willie" was
originally conceived and produced as a silent cartoon,
with sound added just before release.
In 1945, new Aesops (without the 's) Fables cartoons were
produced under the Terrytoons banner and shown on
television. |
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Fables Studios
1920:
The Animal
Aviators
A Cat's Life
Day at the Park
On the Air
Wedding Bells
Wonders of the
Deep
1921:
Cats at Law
Mice at War
Mice in Council
The Cat and the
Canary
The Country
Mouse and City Mouse
The Donkey in
Lion's Skin
The Fashionable
Fox
The Fox and the
Crow
The Fox and the
Goat
The Goose That
Laid the Golden Egg
The Hare and
Frogs
The Hare and
the Tortoise
The Hermit and
the Bear
The Lioness and
the Bugs
The Rooster and
the Eagle
The Wolf and
the Crane
The Cat and the
Monkey
The Dog and the
Bone
The Fly and the
Ant
The Frog and
the Ox
The Owl and the
Grasshopper
Venus and the
Cat
The Woman and
the Hen
The Frogs That
Wanted a King
The Conceited
Donkey
The Wolf and
the Kid
The Wayward Dog
The Cat and the
Mice
The Dog and the
Flea
1922:
Chemistry
Lesson
The Bear and
the Bees
The Cat and the
Swordfish
The Dog and the
Thief
The Farmer and
the Ostrich
The Fox and the
Grapes
The Miller and
His Donkey
The Spendthrift
The Tiger and
the Donkey
The Villain in
Disguise
The
Dissatisfied Cobbler
The Lion and
the Mouse
The Rich Cat
and the Poor Cat
The Wicked Cat
The Wolf in
Sheep's Clothing
The Boy and the
Dog
The Eternal
Triangle
Love at First
Sight
The Model Diary
The Dog and the
Wolves
The Hunter and
His Dog
The Maid and
the Millionaire
The Cat and the
Pig
The Farmer and
His Cat
Crime in a Big
City
The Boastful
Cat
The Brewing
Trouble
The Country
Mouse and City Cat
The Dog and the
Fish
The Mischievous
Cat
The Worm That
Turned
The Farmer and
the Mice
The Fearless
Fido
The Mechanical
Horse
The Dog and the
Mosquito
The Two
Explorers
The Two Slick
Traders
The Elephant's
Trunk
The Enchanted
Fiddle
The Hated
Rivals
The Henpecked
Henry
The Romantic
Mouse
The Two of a
Trade
The Rolling
Stone
Friday the
Thirteenth
Henry's Busted
Romance
The Fortune
Hunters
The Man Who
Laughs
The Dog's
Paradise
The Frog and
the Catfish
Two Trappers
A Stone Age
Romeo
Cheating the
Cheaters
1923:
A Fisherman's
Jinx
A Raisin and a
Cake
The Alley Cat
The Gliders
The Mysterious
Hat
The Sheik
The Spider and
the Fly
The Traveling
Salesman
Troubles on the
Ark
Day by Day in
Every Day
One Hard Pull
Pharaoh's Tomb
The Gamblers
The Jolly
Rounders
A Fishy Story
Amateur Night
on the Ark
Spooks
The Mouse
Catcher
Springtime
The Stork's
Mistake
The Beauty
Parlor
The Burglar
Alarm
The Covered
Pushcart
Do Women Pay?
The Pace That
Kills
Mysteries of
the Seas
The Bad Bandit
The Great
Explorers
The Marathon
Dancers
The Pearl
Divers
The Nine of
Spades
The Cat That
Failed
The Cat's
Revenge
The Walrus
Hunters
Derby Day
Love in a
Cottage
The Cat's
Whiskers
Aged in the
Wood
The Circus
The High Flyers
Thoroughbred
A Dark Horse
Farmer Al
Falfa's Pet Cat
Happy Go
Luckies
The Best Man
Wins
The Five
Fifteen
The Cat That
Came Back
The Morning
After
The Animals'
Fair
Five Orphans of
the Storm
Good Old Days
All Star Cast
1924:
The Black Sheep
A Rural Romance
Good Old
College Days
The Rat's
Revenge
Captain Kidder
From Rags to
Riches
Herman the
Great Mouse
The All-Star
Cast
Why Mice Leave
Home
Runnin' Wild
The Champion
A Trip to the
Pole
Anideal Farm
Horneless Pups
If Noah Lived
Today
The Jealous
Fisherman
When Winter
Comes
The Jolly Jail
Bird
The Organ
Grinder
That Old Can of
Mine
Home Talent
One Good Turn
The Body in the
Bag
Desert Sheiks
A Woman's Honor
The Sport of
the Kings
Amelia Comes
Back
Flying Fever
House Cleaning
The Prodigal
Pup
A Message from
the Sea
The Barnyard
Olympics
In the Good Old
Summer Time
The Mouse That
Turned
A Lighthouse by
the Sea
Hawks of the
Sea
Noah's Outing
Black Magic
Monkey Business
She Knew Her
Man
The Cat and the
Magnet
Good Old Circus
Days
Lumber Jacks
Down on the
Farm
Mysteries of
Old Chinatown
On the Ice
Sham Shooters
She's in Again
African
Huntsmen
One Game Pup
Hold That
Thought
Biting the Dust
1925:
Bigger and
Better Jails
Fisherman's
Luck
Transatlantic
Flight
In Dutch
Jungle Bike
Riders
The Pie Man
Clean Up Week
At the Zoo
Housing
Shortage
S.O.S.
Permanent Waves
The Adventures
of Adenoid
Darkest Africa
Runaway Balloon
When Men Were
Men
Wine, Women and
Song
Bugville Field
Day
Office Help
Over the Plate
Bubbles
Yarn About Yarn
Barnyard
Follies
The Window
Washers
Deep Stuff'
Hungry Hounds
Nuts And
Squirrels
The Lion and
the Monkey
Ugly Duckling
Air-Cooled
Closer Than a
Brother
The Hero Wins
The Honor
System
Wild Cats of
Paris
Laundry Man
The Great Open
Spaces
On the Links
Charleston
Queen
Day's Outing
More Mice Than
Brains
Noah Had His
Troubles
The Bonehead
Age
The English
Channel Swim
The Haunted
House
1926:
Coast to Coast
The Huntsman
Hunting in 1950
Lighter Than
Air
Little Brown
Jug
The June Bride
The Wind
Jammers
Three Blind
Mice
Wicked City
The Mail Coach
The Merry
Blacksmith
Scrambled Eggs
Fire Fighters
Big Hearted
Fish
Farm Hands
Hearts and
Showers
Rough and Ready
Romeo
The Shootin'
Fool
An Alpine
Flapper
Liquid Dynamite
A Bumper Crop
Pests
Chop Suey and
Noodle
Jungle Sports
Plumber's Life
The Land Boom
Pirates Gold
Little Parade
The Last Ha Ha
A Knight Out
Watered Stock
Why Argue
Phoney Express
Buck Fever
Hitting the
Rails
Home Sweet Home
In Vaudeville
Radio
Controlled
Through Thick
and Thin
Bars and
Stripes
Musical Parrot
School Days
Where
Friendship Ceases
1927:
Ant Life As It
Isn't
Monkey Shines
Rats in His
Garret
Short Circuit
The Mouse's
Bride
Chasing
Rainbows
Plow Boy's
Revenge
Tit for Tat
The Mail Pilot
All For a Bride
Cracked Ice
Taking the Air
The Honor Man
A Fair Exchange
Bubbling Over
Pie-Eyed Piper
When Snow Flies
Horses, Horses,
Horses
A Dog's Day
Big Reward
Crawl Stroke
Kid
Died in the
Wool
Digging For
Gold
Hard Cider
One Man Dog
Riding High
Ant Life as It
Isn't
Red Hot Sands
Cutting a Melon
Line and Sinker
The Small-Town
Sheriff'
All Bull and
Yard Wide
Human Fly
In Again, Out
Again
River of Doubt
Lindy's Cat
The Big Tent
Brave Heart
Saved by a
Keyhole
The Fox Hunt
Flying Hunters
1928:
Happy Days
In the Bag
Flying Age
War Bride
Static
Alaska Or Bust
Sunday on the
Farm
Monkey Love
Big Game
Laundry Man
On the Links
Day Off
Barnyard
Politics
Flying Hoofs
Gridiron Demons
Mail Man
White Elephant
Land 0' Cotton
1929:
The Water Cure
Break of the
Day
Snapping the
Whip
Wooden Money
Sweet Adeline
Queen Bee
Grandma's House
Back to the
Soil
Lad and His
Lamp
Underdog
Fight Game
Homeless Cats
Little Game
Hunter
Custard Pies
Ball Park
Fish Day
Polo Match
Snow Birds
Kidnapped
In His Cups
The Cold Steel
A Midsummer's
Day
Farmer's Goat
3 Game Guys
Enchanted Flute
Fruitful Farm
The Cabaret
Van Beuren
Studios
1928:
Dinner Time
1929:
The Faithful Pup
Concentrate
The Jail Breakers
Woodchoppers
Presto Chango
Skating Hounds
Stage Struck
House Cleaning Time
A Stone Age Romance
The Big Scare
Jungle Fool
Fly's Bride
Summer Time
Mill Pond
Barnyard Melody
Tuning In
Night Club
A Close Call
1930:
The Iron Man
Ship Ahoy
Singing Saps
Sky Skippers
Good Old Schooldays
Dixie Days
Western Whoopee
The Haunted Ship
Noah Knew His Ark
Oom Pah Pah
A Romeo Robin
Jungle Jazz
Snow Time
Hot Tamale
Laundry Blues
Frozen Frolics
Farm Foolery
Circus Capers
Midnight
The Big Cheeze
Gypped in Egypt
The Office Boy
Stone Age Stunts
King of the Bugs
1931:
A Toytown Tale
Red Riding Hood
The Animal Fair
Cowboy Blues
Radio Racket
College Capers
Old Hokum Guy
Play Ball
Fisherman's Luck
Pale Face Pup
Making 'em Move
Fun on the Ice
Big Game
Love in a Pond
Fly Hi
The Family Shoe
Fairyland Follies
Horse Cops
Cowboy Cabaret
In Dutch
The Last Dance
1932:
Toy Time
A Romeo Monk
Fly Frolic
The Cat's Canary
Magic Art
Happy Polo
Spring Antics
Farmerette
Circus Romance
Stone Age Error
Chinese Jinks
The Ball Game
Wild Goose Chase
Nursery Scandal
Bring 'em Back Half-Shot
Down in Dixie
Catfish Romance
Feathered Follies
Venice Camp
Hokum Hotel
Picaninny Blues
A Yarn of Wood
Bugs and Books
1933:
Silvery Moon
Tumble Down Town
Love's Labor Won
A Dizzy Day
Barking Dogs
The Bully's End
Indian Whoopee
Fresh Ham
Roug on Rats
Aesop's Fables: The Mosquito
Aesop's Fables: Foiling The Fox
Aseop's Fables: Golden Egg
Goosie
Happy Valley
Sparky the Firelfy
The First Flying Fish
Aesop's Fables: The Tiger King |
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from "A Close
Call" (1929) |
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from "The Animal
Fair" (1931) |
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