Mini-Matinee #7-Salute To The Bouncing Ball

In our previous post, we shared some of the history of animation’s famous “bouncing ball.” This week’s Bijou Mini-Matinee presents a salute to this fascinating aspect of movie history. We thank Ron Hall, Jerry Beck and Ray Pointer for helping us out with this special subject and we get the ball rolling with --

THE GOLDEN STATE (1947)
Here is an enjoyable sample from the colorful 1940s Paramount Screen Song series. The cartoon starts out with a series of gags, all leading up to the inevitable invitation to “follow the bouncing ball” – only in this case it’s a “bouncing orange.” Some witty Hollywood satire leads to the song "California Here I Come."

IN MY MERRY OLDSMOBILE (1931)
This risqué pre-code gem looks like one of the most typical Song Cartoons directed by Dave Fleischer, except it’s not! As the title indicates, it’s a rare advertising film made for Olds Motor Works. Yet it was enjoyed by movie audiences as a regular sing-along. Pretty sneaky! Our hero rescues his lady fair from a villain, then takes her for a spin in his new car. Guess which?


The real fun of this and many Screen Songs begins when the Ball’s job of highlighting words is taken over by cartoon characters. At the same time the words morph into pictures after they are sung. As the hero hops across “In my merry Oldsmobile” the words transform into the car behind him. For the line “To the church we’ll swiftly steal,” he’s a burglar. For “Down the road of life we’ll fly” the hero is suddenly an angel plucking the words. The animators’ imaginations flew as well, spawning bizarre and wildly surreal sight gags in many Fleischer Screen Songs.

I FEEL LIKE A FEATHER IN THE BREEZE (1936)
This “Famous Bouncing Ball” cartoon typifies the many Max Fleischer Screen Songs produced between 1929 and 1937. The formula is now familiar; cartoon gags abound at the swanky Roof Garden Night Club, setting the stage for the big number - but in this delightful variation, animated characters watch live-action performers take over once the song begins. In this case Jack Denny and His Orchestra lead the bouncing ball in an infectious song called “I Feel like A Feather in the Breeze.”

SHOWTIME PRESENTS JOY HODGES (1944)
The Army-Navy Screen Magazine series was a bi-weekly collection of short subjects produced for servicemen during WWII. A recurring segment called SHOWTIME would present popular performers of the day in often provocative musical numbers. This one features sexy and alluring Joy Hodges, accompanied by the ubiquitous bouncing ball, singing “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

STARRING BING CROSBY (1943)
In another segment from the Army-Navy Screen Magazine series, Bing Crosby croons two great songs. “Accentuate The Positive” (without the bouncing ball) is followed by a comedy routine with comic Ukie Sharin, after which Bing sings “Don’t Fence Me In” accompanied by the bouncing ball

LET’S SING WITH POPEYE (1934)
A reprise of a bouncing ball cartoon from our very first Bijou Mini-Matinee #1.

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As always, Bijou Mini-Matinees change on Wednesdays. Meanwhile, you can enjoy previous Mini-Matinees by clicking on the links under the marquee.