Tom and Jerry (Van Beuren)
Encyclopedia
Tom and Jerry are fictional characters that starred in a series of early sound cartoons
produced by the Van Beuren Studios
, and distributed by RKO Pictures
. The series lasted from 1931 to 1933. When Official Films
purchased the Van Beuren library in the 1950s, the characters were renamed Dick and Larry to avoid confusion with Tom and Jerry
, the famous MGM cartoon series of the 40's and 50's. Today, animation historians refer to the characters as Van Beuren's Tom and Jerry. All cartoons are in public domain
because of missing copyright indication.
Joseph Barbera
began his career as an animator
and scriptwriter
on this series. In 1940, Barbera co-created with William Hanna
another duo of cartoon characters using the same names: a cat and mouse named Tom and Jerry
.
, which like Van Beuren Studios was located in New York City
. According to Markstein's Toonopedia, Fleischer staff sometimes moonlighted at Van Beuren's, which was situated just across the road (accounting for the many visual similarities between the two). Tom and Jerry's adventures were generally absurdist comedies, featuring bizarre imagery, racist themes, and more than a few (minor) sexual references. One 1932 short (Piano Tooners) introduced a "flapper" character clearly derived from Fleischer's Betty Boop
, further demonstrating the stylistic relationship between the two studios. Tom and Jerry, however, did not obtain popularity of the type Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop, and Bosko
had, and the series was cancelled in 1933.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
produced by the Van Beuren Studios
Van Beuren Studios
Van Beuren Studios was an American animation studio that produced theatrical cartoons from 1928 to 1936.Producer Amedee J. van Beuren first became involved in the animation industry in 1920, when he formed a partnership with Paul Terry and formed the "Aesop's Fables Studio" for the production of...
, and distributed by RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
. The series lasted from 1931 to 1933. When Official Films
Official Films
Official Films was a home movie distributor founded by Leslie Winik in 1939 to produce educational shorts. Soon, after buying the Keystone Chaplin library, they found themselves in the home movie business. They obtained several Van Beuren cartoons, mostly Felix the Cat cartoons. Official retitled...
purchased the Van Beuren library in the 1950s, the characters were renamed Dick and Larry to avoid confusion with Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
, the famous MGM cartoon series of the 40's and 50's. Today, animation historians refer to the characters as Van Beuren's Tom and Jerry. All cartoons are in public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
because of missing copyright indication.
Joseph Barbera
Joseph Barbera
Joseph Roland Barbera was an influential American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist, whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of fans worldwide for much of the twentieth century....
began his career as an animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
and scriptwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
on this series. In 1940, Barbera co-created with William Hanna
William Hanna
William Denby Hanna was an American animator, director, producer, and cartoon artist, whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of people for much of the 20th century. When he was a young child, Hanna's family moved frequently, but they settled in Compton, California, by...
another duo of cartoon characters using the same names: a cat and mouse named Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
.
Description
The characters were a Mutt and Jeff-like pair, one short (Jerry) and one tall (Tom). Each cartoon featured a different adventure and the plot varied from film to film. Sometimes they were lawyers, hunters, plumbers, hobos, etc. Stylistically, the cartoons were similar to those made by Fleischer StudiosFleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
, which like Van Beuren Studios was located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. According to Markstein's Toonopedia, Fleischer staff sometimes moonlighted at Van Beuren's, which was situated just across the road (accounting for the many visual similarities between the two). Tom and Jerry's adventures were generally absurdist comedies, featuring bizarre imagery, racist themes, and more than a few (minor) sexual references. One 1932 short (Piano Tooners) introduced a "flapper" character clearly derived from Fleischer's Betty Boop
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
, further demonstrating the stylistic relationship between the two studios. Tom and Jerry, however, did not obtain popularity of the type Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop, and Bosko
Bosko
Bosko is an animated cartoon character created by animators Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising. Bosko is the first recurring character in Leon Schlesinger's cartoon series, and is the star of over three dozen Looney Tunes shorts released by Warner Bros...
had, and the series was cancelled in 1933.
Filmography
| Title | Directors | First release |
|---|---|---|
| Wot a Night Wot a Night Wot a Night is a 1931 animated film. This is the first film in Van Beuren's Tom and Jerry series, later re-issued as "Dick and Larry".-Plot:... |
John Foster and George Stallings | August 1, 1931 1931 in film -Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde... |
| Polar Pals | John Foster and George Rufle | September 5, 1931 |
| Trouble | John Foster and George Stallings | October 10, 1931 |
| Jungle Jam | John Foster and George Rufle | November 14, 1931 |
| A Swiss Trick | John Foster and George Stallings | December 19, 1931 |
| Rocketeers | John Foster and George Rufle | January 30, 1932 1932 in film -Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released.... |
| Rabid Hunters | John Foster and George Stallings | February 27, 1932 |
| In the Bag | John Foster and George Ruflem | March 26, 1932 |
| Joint Wipers | John Foster and George Stallings | April 23, 1932 |
| Pots and Pans Pots and Pans (cartoon) Pots and Pans is the 10th Van Beuren Tom and Jerry cartoon, released 1932 with a running time of 6:12 minutes. The cartoon's soundtrack is done by Gene Rodemich. This cartoon is in the giant 600 cartoon collection.-Plot:... |
John Foster and George Rafle | May 14, 1932 |
| The Tuba Tooter | John Foster and George Stallings | June 4, 1932 |
| Plane Dumb Plane Dumb Plane Dumb is the 12th Van Beuren Tom and Jerry cartoon, released 4 June, 1932. The cartoon's soundtrack is done by Gene Rodemich.-Plot:Tom and Jerry are flying to Africa in a plane, which crashes. As they float on a piece of wreckage, they decide that painting their faces black will keep them safe... |
John Foster and George Rafle | June 4, 1932 |
| Redskin Blues | John Foster and George Stallings | July 23, 1932 |
| Jolly Fish | John Foster and George Stallings | August 19, 1932 |
| Barnyard Bunk | John Foster and George Rufle | September 16, 1932 |
| A Spanish Twist | John Foster and George Stallings | October 7, 1932 |
| Piano Tooners | John Foster and George Rufle | November 11, 1932 |
| Pencil Mania Pencil Mania Pencil Mania is a 1932 animated cartoon in the Van Beuren Studios Tom and Jerry series that breaks the fourth wall of theatre and film. The two main characters become animators in the film, and draw various cartoon scenarios against the blank background, and interact with them. The short was... |
John Foster and George Stallings | December 9, 1932 |
| Tight Rope Tricks | John Foster and George Rufle | January 6, 1933 1933 in film -Events:* March 2 - King Kong premieres in New York City.* June 6 - The first drive-in theater opens, in Camden, New Jersey.* British Film Institute founded.... |
| Magic Mummy | John Foster and George Stallings | February 7, 1933 |
| Happy Hoboes | George Stallings and George Rufle | March 31, 1933 |
| Puzzled Pals | George Stallings and Frank Sherman | March 31, 1933 |
| Hook and Ladder Hokum | George Stallings and Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin, born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, also known as Tish Tash or Frank Tash was an American animator, screenwriter, and film director.-Animator:... |
April 28, 1933 |
| In the Park | Frank Sherman and George Rufle | May 26, 1933 |
| A Fireman's Life | Frank Sherman and George Rufle | June 19, 1933 |
| Dough Nuts | Frank Sherman and George Rufle | July 10, 1933 |
| The Phantom Rocket | Frank Sherman and George Rufle | July 31, 1933 |
Home Video
- In 2008, episodes Barnyard Bunk, Jolly Fish, Pencil Mania, A Spanish Twist and The Tuba Tooter were released on Disc 2 of the set 200 Classic Cartoons.
- The complete series of cartoons was released by Thunderbean Animation in 2009.