First – some Thunderbean news:

As I write this, it’s a beautiful late spring night here in Ann Arbor, with a cool breeze blowing through the air as I step inside to put together the Thunderbean Thursday post. It was a really good day here; we got out the last of the big batch of 10 special discs we were sending together, and started planning the batch of things we’re getting out the door with the now replicated Mid Century Modern 3. This batch has been a heck of a thing to get all dubbed and sent- but it’s been such a great opportunity to scan so many things — and in turn present some of them here on Thunderbean Thursday. I’m so grateful we’ve had the chance to scan all these films all these years for so many special sets. It’s really the fans that have made these things able to even happen, so I’m eternally grateful we’ve found a way to collectively get so many things scanned and available. Thanks all.

Over these next busy weeks, we’re cracking on getting the Technicolor Rainbow Parades out the door for the Blu-ray release. Having additional computer and restoration software power is helping a lot. The Lou Bunin Alice set is in progress all the time too along with a few other things, including work on the Comi-Color shorts. So far the summer is packed daily, but I’m loving the results. I’m actually looking forward to being buried in technical things over the next week to see just how much we can get done. Dave and Becky Grauman, Becca and other freelancers are going to be jumping on the group effort, along with our very own Devon Baxter, who is doing a bang-up job on Felix in Bold King Cole, the only Rainbow Parade that exists in it’s complete original camera neg.

I’m looking forward to going out to Los Angeles soon, and I have a feeling I’ll be overwhelmed with the smell of Vinegar Syndrome when I do. A hazard of the job I guess!

Ok, ok.. on with today’s cartoon!

I have to wonder if Dave Tendlar’s personal drawing style is on display in this particular film— what’s on screen is other pretty far from the Famous Studio style present in their non-Screen Song films.

Just as it had been at the Fleischers, the director listed *isn’t* the real director of the film, but rather the person listed as lead animator. With Tendlar at the helm here, the overall direction is professional and timed decently — but, as in a lot of the other Screen Songs, it’s pretty standard stuff. There are a few moments that are kind of fun — especially the one below, where we see what have to be caricatures of Famous Studios animators. It looks like Tendlar himself is near the end of this line — maybe that’s Izzy Sparber on the right – can you identify any of the others?

This background, from the sing-a-long part, *also* must be someone’s family. They must have gotten a kick out of these when seeing them in the theatre….

This is a nifty old Kodachrome print that I honestly don’t remember where I got — maybe last year’s Columbus Moving Picture show? It’s missing the ending, sadly— but it just finishes up the last gag (for the special disc I put it on I used a video source for the last second or so that’s missing…)

I do wish they were more fun, but I know some of you really love these. Tell me your thoughts on this cartoon, and especially what you see that you think is interesting in design in the animation and backgrounds. I really like hearing your opinions.

Have a good week all — and if you got to Florida don’t drink the water, especially if you’re a parrot!