George McManus

Although not the first feature-length animated film, as is sometimes thought, it was the first cartoon to feature a character with an appealing personality. The appearance of a true character distinguished it from earlier animated "trick films", such as those of Blackton and Cohl, and makes it the predecessor to later popular cartoons such as those by Walt Disney. The film was also the first to be created using keyframe animation.

Monogram's Bringing Up Father series, based on the popular comic strip by George McManus, hit a high point of sorts with 1950's Jiggs and Maggie Out West. Joe Yule Sr. (Mickey Rooney's father) and Rene Riano are perfectly cast as nouveau riche Jiggs and Maggie, who head thataway when Maggie inherits a goldmine. As usual, Maggie spends her time trying to climb the frontier social ladder, while down-to-earth Jiggs is more interested in finding a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

Maggi continues her forever-ever efforts to crash Manhattan's top society, while Jiggs still mingles with his old construction cronies at the bar of Dinty Moore on 10th Avenue.

Maggie is resentful of being pointed out and laughed at in public because she resembles the cartoon character in the George McManus comic strip "Bringing Up Father." She visits McManus in his studio office and tries to persuade him to stop drawing the syndicated comic-strip. He tells her he will...in 1959. Maggie, not getting any younger, retains counsel and takes McManus to court.

Cartoon figures announce, via comic strip balloons, that they will move - and move they do, in a wildly exaggerated style. Also known as "Winsor McCay, the Famous Cartoonist of the N.Y. Herald and His Moving Comics".

With Maggie laid low with sneezing fits, Jiggs spends his time listening to radio trivia contests. Maggie, an inveterate social climber, wants to join the prestigious Northchester Hunt Club, and sends them a check for the $38,000 membership fee. When Jiggs finds out, he manages--after a struggle with Maggie--to take care of the check. Consoling himself at his favorite bar, he's convinced by his drinking buddies that the way to make up with Maggie is to buy her a racehorse that is coming up for auction. He does, only to discover that a doctor has told Maggie that her sneezing fits are due to a rare allergy she has--to horses. Complications ensue.

The wealthy Jiggs is tired of being left out of the swanky parties thrown by his social-climbing wife Maggie and their daughter. He decides to teach them a "lesson" by faking his own suicide, but things don't quite turn out the way he planned.

What does 'ittle Snookums want now?

When "Snookums" started to cry, Da-da thought it was because there was no milk in the house, and so he started on a run to the nearest store.

And now our funny little friend, Snookums, has started real trouble for his poor Dada. A few of the neighbors and Dada were having a nice quiet little game when the door-bell rang and when Snookums' beautiful mother went to the door, she found the minister.

Poor little dear! This time our little Snookums is in real trouble. No, he was not ill, but, believe me, he was unhappy.

Part of Émile Cohl's Newlyweds series, based on George McManus' comic strip.

Snookums Newlywed makes acquaintance with a dog.

Part of Émile Cohl's Newlyweds series, based on George McManus' comic strip.

18th episode in the Newlyweds and Their Baby 2-reel comedy series and Snookums compile a list of toys he wants from Santa.

Dada has made arrangements to go to a fancy dress ball, and has secured a wonderful costume.

A Émile Cohl animated short in The Newlyweds series.

This time the trouble is with Snookums and the telephone, and his father has a real struggle to satisfy him.

When "Snookums" discovered this break in the pipe and the splashing water, he thought it was great fun to sit there and let the water spray over his nice clean clothes.

Watching the dial of a taxi-cab is like a fall on a slippery pavement. It is funny, only when the other fellow suffers.