Lunedi Lunacy

Napoleon the Pig - Animal Farm
Halas & Batchelor (1954)

Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films was founded in 1940 by husband and wife team John Halas and Joy Batchelor; over the next 58 years they were to be one of the premiere animation studios in Western Europe.  Their output include 70 propaganda films during the Second World War, children's shows, full length cartoons (the first was Animal Farm in 1954 - unwittingly a propaganda film clandestinely funded by the CIA), musical shorts, educational cartoons and a series based on the popular books of Gerald Hoffnung - he of the Interplanetary Music Festival.

In 1961 they introduced Hamilton the Musical Elephant in two charming little shorts with soundtracks by British jazz great Johnny Dankworth (it was only later that he became the more formal John). 

You have to wonder why the little guy only appeared it two cartoons though perhaps the creators wisely thought there were only so many plot lines you could create for a trumpet playing forgetful elephant.

April 6 -1327: The poet Petrarch first sees his idealized love, Laura, in the church of Saint Clare in Avignon.

Lunedi Lunacy

Wumo, the cartoonists formerly known as Wulffmorgenthaler,  have been taking the mickey out of life in general, and the Internet in particular, for the past 13 years.  My friend Vicki sent along a few that hit both my funny bone and, in one or two cases, a bit close to home.

I'm reminded of my first visit to a bar in Roma when I blithely ordered a "latte" - and was presented with a large glass of hot milk.

Our solution - a shower cap over the detectors while we're cooking - it's bad air circulation!  OK?

These guys have obviously driven in Ottawa - a city in which I have almost been killed three times as a pedestrian with the "right of way".

Not just white bread - anything with wheat in it!

And the next two are offered without comment:

More of the wit and wisdom of Wumo can be found by a left click on their signature block:

October 26 -1936: Mrs Wallis Simpson files for divorce which would allow her to marry Edward VIII. thus forcing his abdication.

Lunedi Lunacy

Been there!  Done that!  Have the souvenir coffee mug but the decal came off in the dishwasher.

Thanks to Yannis for this one.

October 13 -1843: In New York City, Henry Jones and 11 others found B'nai B'rith (the oldest Jewish service organization in the world).

Lunedi Lunacy

Well they do say the classics should be updated and made relevant to today!

July 14 - 1976: Capital punishment is abolished in Canada.

Lunedi Lunacy

Cirque du Soleil meets Beaujolais!

Thanks to Maureen for sharing this one!

May 19 - 1780: New England's Dark Day: A combination of thick smoke and heavy cloud cover causes complete darkness to fall on Eastern Canada and the New England at 10:30 A.M

Mercoledi (on Venerdì) Musicale

I know I'm a little late but I've just been so caught up in the Italian elections, the Pope doing his peek-a-boo thing, Canadian Senate scandals and another "Storm of the Century" that my music listening has been greatly curtailed.

However I will now make up for it by listening to - and hopefully you will join me in this - a potpourri of music in this witty Spanish (yes I know Spanish???? but music is an international language) cartoon retrospective of The History of Western Music.  (And no Jackiesue I'm sorry that doesn't mean Willie Nelson!)

Though Paolo Morales de Los Rios should more rightly have called it Historia de la Música Occidental, it really is a great piece of animatin.

Many thanks to John, my good buddy from Roman Days - honestly I saw more of him in Rome than I do here in Ottawa. Definitely my bad!

01 March - 1457: The Unitas Fratrum is established in the village of Kunvald, on the Bohemian-Moravian borderland. It is to date the second oldest Protestant denomination.

Does She Know Me Or What?*

My friend Vicki suggested that Chris Browne the creator of Hägar the Horrible some how or other knew exactly what I was thinking as I waited at the #14 bus stop in -28c (-18f) this morning. And I can't say she - or he - was far wrong.

* She should she's known me for 50 57 years.....

January 21 -1976: Commercial service of Concorde begins with the London-Bahrain and Paris-Rio routes.

Lunedi Lunacy

A delightful piece of animation but do watch the whole thing - right through to the end of the credits!

Many thanks to my friend Larry for posting this on FB a few days ago.

14 January - 1514: Pope Leo X issues a papal bull against slavery.