Harry Bailey

The Fly's Bride was produced in 1929, one year following Van Beuren's edict that all cartoons would be produced in sound. The RCA Photophone System is the credited process, and Carl Edouarde is credited with "synchronization." The film continues the long-running silent series of Aesop's Fables ("sugar coated pills of wisdom" as the end titles remarked) that the studio turned out. This entry displays the lively brand of "rubber hose" animation that was common in the early sound era. The story opens as a swarm of white shoe-clad flies cavort in a kitchen (gags include a soft-shoe number danced over spilled salt and a cop fly directing traffic around a piece of flypaper). The story shifts outside as a fly calls his gal on the phone. Here some rare lip-synch is attempted during the dialogue; Van Beuren usually avoided dialogue in the years to come in favor of songs to help the story along.

Farmer Alfa goes hunting big game.

Silent cartoon.

An Aesop’s Film Fables cartoon.

A day in the life of a sentinel, with some modernistic musical accompaniment.

Silent cartoon.

Barnyard dog gets spooked by his imagination.

Oscar the mouse invites his girl friend to the toy store where they have to outwit a cat.

RKO cartoon about a feline flapper who helps a farmer get his place up and running.

Some "jazz tonic" restores Grandma's youth. When the Big Bad Wolf pays a visit, he and Grandma decide to marry on the spot; but Little Red Riding Hood finds a way to stop the wedding.

Waffles the Cat and Don the Dog explore a sunken ship where they meet drunk turtles singing "Sweet Adeline" and a skeletal Davy Jones.

An Aesop's Fables cartoon about a musical fly.

An animated short subject created by Paul Terry and actor-turned-writer Howard Estabrook.

The film begins with Milton riding his horse comically around the West until he hears a wanted criminal roaming the West. Upon hearing this, Milton's mouse agrees to comically change to be the width of a twig, as a way of disguise. The criminal, who remains nameless throughout the entire short film, rides in front of a tree; and sees a Wanted sign with himself on it.

An animated short subject created by Paul Terry and actor-turned-writer Howard Estabrook.

The animated short starts with the circus parade, then goes to the circus master, who blows his whistle and points to a horse rider who looks a lot like Minnie Mouse.

Silent cartoon.

Aesops Fables characters goes airborne.

Silent cartoon.

A Van Beuren Aesop's Fable cartoon.