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'' Ko-Ko Song Car-Tunes'', ''Song Car-Tunes'', or (as some sources erroneously say) ''Sound Car-Tunes'', is a series of short three-minute
animated Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby image, still images are manipulated to create Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on cel, transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and e ...
films produced by
Max Fleischer Max Fleischer (born Majer Fleischer ; July 19, 1883 – September 11, 1972) was an American animator and studio owner. Born in Kraków, in Austrian Poland, Fleischer immigrated to the United States where he became a pioneer in the development ...
and
Dave Fleischer Dave Fleischer (; July 14, 1894 – June 25, 1979) was an American film director and producer who co-owned Fleischer Studios with his older brother Max Fleischer. He was a native of New York City. Biography Early life and career Fleisch ...
between May 1924 and September 1927, pioneering the use of the " Follow the Bouncing Ball" device used to lead audiences in theater sing-alongs. The ''Song Car-Tunes'' also pioneered the application of
sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...
to animation.


History

47 ''Song Car-tunes'' were produced and released between 1924 and 1927. The first, ''Come Take a Trip on My Airship'', was released on March 9, 1924. Beginning in 1925, an estimated 16 ''Song Car-tunes'' were produced using the
Phonofilm Phonofilm is an optical sound-on-film system developed by inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case in the early 1920s. In 1919 and 1920, de Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patents on a sound-on-film process, DeForest Phonofi ...
sound-on-film Sound-on-film is a class of sound film processes where the sound accompanying a picture is recorded on photographic film, usually, but not always, the same strip of film carrying the picture. Sound-on-film processes can either record an Analog s ...
process developed by
Lee DeForest #REDIRECT Lee de Forest #REDIRECT Lee de Forest {{redirect category shell, {{R from move{{R from other capitalisation ...
{{redirect category shell, {{R from move{{R from other capitalisation ...
. The remaining 31 titles were released silent, designed to be played with live music in theaters. The Fleischer brothers partnered with DeForest, Edwin Miles Fadiman, and Dr.
Hugo Riesenfeld Hugo Riesenfeld (January 26, 1879 – September 10, 1939) was an Austrian-American composer. As a film director, he began to write his own orchestral compositions for silent films in 1917, and co-created modern production techniques where film ...
to form Red Seal Pictures Corporation, which owned 36 theaters on the East Coast of the U.S., extending as far west as
Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...
. In September 1926, the U.S. division of DeForest Phonofilm and Red Seal Pictures Corporation filed for bankruptcy, and the Fleischers ended their use of the Phonofilm system, releasing their last sound ''Song Car-Tune'', '' By the Light of the Silvery Moon'' (1927), just as the
sound era A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befo ...
was about to begin. In early 1929, the Fleischers signed a
Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
contract. Former Fleischer partner, Alfred Weiss re-released some of the silent ''Song Car-Tunes'' between 1929 and 1932 with new soundtracks, new animation, and new main titles that exploited the reputation of the popular song films with the elimination of the names of Max and Dave Fleischer. With the sound era established, the Fleischers revived the song film series as ''
Screen Songs ''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. Paramount brought back the sing-along cartoons in 19 ...
'' in February 1929 on the strength of being the holders of the original Patent on the concept. Though Ko-Ko the Clown had been temporarily retired due to complications with the dissolution of the original Inkwell Studios, the "Bouncing Ball" was retained. This new series ran a full seven minutes, with more animation than the early Song Car-Tunes, built around the theme of the featured song. The first films in the new series used standards such as ''
The Sidewalks of New York "The Sidewalks of New York" is a popular song about life in New York City during the 1890s. It was composed in 1894 by vaudeville actor and singer Charles B. Lawlor (June 2, 1852 – May 31, 1925) with lyrics by James W. Blake (September 23, 18 ...
'' (released on 5 February 1929) and ''
Old Black Joe "Old Black Joe" is a parlor song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864). It was published by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York in 1860. Ken Emerson, author of the book ''Doo-Dah!'' (1998), indicates that Foster's fictional Joe was inspired by a servant in t ...
''. The series continued with new productions of songs previously released in the earlier series, such as ''Daisy Bell'', ''Good Bye, My Lady Love'', ''Mother Pin a Rose On Me'', ''
Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 that gives a comic perspective on military life. Berlin composed the song as an expression of protest against the indignities of Army routine shortly after being ...
'', and ''Come Take a Trip in My Airship'', released by
Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
for nine years. Many of the Screen Songs featured popular stars of stage, radio, and records such as
Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann; January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American singer and actress. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, musical theater,Obituary ''Variety Obitua ...
, Rudy Vallee,
Lillian Roth Lillian Roth (December 13, 1910 – May 12, 1980) was an American singer and actress. Her life story was told in the 1955 film ''I'll Cry Tomorrow'', in which she was portrayed by Susan Hayward, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best ...
,
The Mills Brothers The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed The Four Mills Brothers and originally known as Four Boys and a Guitar, were an American jazz and traditional pop vocal quartet who made more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and g ...
, and the Boswell Sisters. Starting in 1934, the Screen Songs series focused on the big bands of the "Swing Era", such as
Abe Lyman Abe Lyman (born Abraham Simon; August 4, 1897 – October 23, 1957) was a bandleader from the 1920s to the 1940s. He made recordings, appeared in films and provided the music for numerous radio shows, including '' Your Hit Parade''. Biography Bo ...
,
Shep Fields Shep Fields (born Saul Feldman, September 12, 1910 – February 23, 1981) was an American bandleader who led the Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm orchestra during the 1930s. His distinctive Rippling Rhythm sound was featured on big band remo ...
,
Gus Arnheim Gus Arnheim (September 4, 1897 – January 19, 1955) was an American pianist and an early popular band leader. He is noted for writing several songs with his first hit being " I Cried for You" from 1923. He was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. ...
,
Hal Kemp James Hal Kemp (March 27, 1904 – December 21, 1940) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. Biography Hal Kemp was born in Marion, Alabama. He formed his first band in high school, and by the ...
,
Jack Denny Jack Denny (September 25, 1895 – September 15, 1950) was an American dance band leader during the pre-World War II years. He was born in the United States and started his musical career in Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebe ...
,
Vincent Lopez Vincent Lopez (December 30, 1895 – September 20, 1975) was an American bandleader, actor, and pianist. Early life and education Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, Distinguished Americ ...
, Henry King, Jay Freeman, Jerry Baline, Bert Block, Frank Dailey, and
Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peopl ...
. The "Screen Songs" concept was revised in a special edition of the
Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...
'' Noveltoons'' series in 1945 with ''When G. I. Johnny Comes Home Again'', and the series officially returned in 1947 with ''The Circus Comes to Clown'' and continued until 1951. Paramount attempted to revive the series in 1963 after the television success of '' Sing Along With Mitch'' with the cartoon ''Hobo's Holiday''. The concept of the "Bouncing Ball" has become such an established cultural icon, that it has been used in television commercials to sell all sorts of products from sleeping tablets to cat food. Just before retiring in 1968, Dave Fleischer used a form of the "Bouncing Ball" for the ending of '' Thoroughly Modern Millie'' where he shot cutout animation to "bounce" the head of Beatrice Lillie over the lyrics to the title song.


List of ''Song Car-Tunes''

Screen Songs ''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. Paramount brought back the sing-along cartoons in 19 ...
for sound reissues in
Cinephone Patrick Anthony Powers (October 8, 1869 – July 30, 1948) was an American producer who was involved in the movie and animation industry from the 1910s to 1930s. He established Powers' Cinephone Moving Picture Company, also known as Powers Pi ...
were released independently by Alfred Weiss. 1924 * ''Come Take a Trip in My Airship'' (1924) (silent; sound re-issue) * ''Goodbye My Lady Love'' (June 1924) (sound) * '' Oh Mabel'' (May 1924) (sound) 1925 * ''Daisy Bell'' (May 1925) (sound) * ''
Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas have shifted over the years), or the extent of the area i ...
'' (November 1925) * ''
My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean", or simply "My Bonnie", is a traditional Scottish folk song and children’s song that is popular in Western culture. It is listed in Roud Folk Song Index as No. 1422. The song has been recorded by numerous artists ...
'' (September 1925) * ''My Wife's Gone to the Country'' (1925) (sound) * ''
Oh Suzanna "Oh! Susanna" is a Folk music, folk song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of ...
'' (1925) * ''Old Pal'' (''Dear Old Pal'') (1925) (sound) * '' Pack Up Your Troubles'' (1925) * '' Sailing Sailing Over the Bounding Main'' (1925) * ''The Old Folks at Home'' (1925) * ''
The Sidewalks of New York "The Sidewalks of New York" is a popular song about life in New York City during the 1890s. It was composed in 1894 by vaudeville actor and singer Charles B. Lawlor (June 2, 1852 – May 31, 1925) with lyrics by James W. Blake (September 23, 18 ...
'' (1925) (sound) * '' Swanee River'' (1925) 1926 * '' Alexander’s Ragtime Band'' (1926) (silent; sound re-issue) * ''
Annie Laurie "Annie Laurie" is an old Scottish song based on a poem said to have been written by William Douglas (1672 - c1760 ) of Dumfriesshire, about his romance with Annie Laurie (1682–1764). The words were modified and the tune was added by Alicia Ann ...
'' (1926) (sound) * '' By the Light of the Silvery Moon'' (August 1926) (sound) * ''Coming Through the Rye'' (September 1926) (sound) * '' Darling Nelly Gray'' (February 1926) (sound) * '' Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?'' (March 1926) (sound) * ''I Love a Lassie'' (January 1926) * ''
In the Good Old Summertime IN, In or in may refer to: Dans * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independen ...
'' (1926) * ''
Margie Margie is a feminine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of the related names Margaret, Marjorie, or Margarita, all of which mean "pearl". Margie may refer to: People * Margie Abbott (born 1958), Australian businesswoman * Margie Ac ...
'' (October 1926) (sound) * ''
Mother, Mother, Mother Pin a Rose on Me ''Mother, Mother, Mother Pin a Rose on Me'' is a film, produced by Out of the Inkwell Studios in the Phonofilm sound-on-film system, and released on March 1, 1925, as part of the '' Song Car-Tunes'' series. Max Fleischer, Lee de Forest, Hugo ...
'' (December 1926) (sound) * ''
My Old Kentucky Home "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!", typically shortened to "My Old Kentucky Home", is a sentimental ballad and regional anthem of Kentucky. It was written by Stephen Foster, probably composed in 1852. It was published in January 1853 by Firt ...
'' (June 1926) (sound) * ''Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning'' (October 1926) (sound) * ''Old Black Joe'' (July 1926) (sound) * ''The Sheik of Araby'' (1926) (sound) * '' Sweet Adeline'' (June 1926) (sound) * '' Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Dee-Aye'' (February 1926). * '' Trail of the Lonesome Pine'' (1926) * ''Toot Toot Tootsie'' (1926) * ''Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are Marching'' (May 1926) (silent; sound re-issue) * ''Waiting for the Robert E. Lee'' (1926) * ''When I Leave This World Behind'' (1926) * ''When I Lost You'' (1926) (sound) * ''When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam (1926) (sound) * ''Yak-A-Doola-Hick-A-Doola'' (1926) (sound)SilentEra entry
/ref>


See also

*
History of animation Animation, the method for creating moving pictures from still images, has an early history and a modern history that began with the advent of celluloid film in 1888. Between 1895 and 1920, during the rise of the cinematic industry, several diffe ...
*
Sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...
*
Phonofilm Phonofilm is an optical sound-on-film system developed by inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case in the early 1920s. In 1919 and 1920, de Forest, inventor of the audion tube, filed his first patents on a sound-on-film process, DeForest Phonofi ...
*
RCA Photophone RCA Photophone was the trade name given to one of four major competing technologies that emerged in the American film industry in the late 1920s for synchronizing electrically recorded audio to a motion picture image. RCA Photophone was an op ...


References


Sources

*
Leonard Maltin Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, '' Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'', published from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film criti ...
, ''Of Mice and Magic: A History of the American Animated Film'' (1980, revised 1987) *
Richard Fleischer Richard Owen Fleischer (; December 8, 1916 – March 25, 2006) was an American film director. His career spanned more than four decades, beginning at the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood and lasting through the American New Wave. He was the ...
, ''Out of the Inkwell: Max Fleischer and the Animation Revolution'' (2005) * Ray Pointer, ''Max Fleischer's Ko-Ko Song Car-tunes (with the Famous Bouncing Ball)'' DVD (2002)


External links


List of early sound films 1894-1929 at Silent Era website
{{Fleischer Studios Film series introduced in 1924 Animated film series 1920s American animated films Fleischer Studios series and characters Sing-along