The James Logan Courier

First up we have Popeye the Sailor in "Taxi Turvy," in which Popeye and Bluto both run a taxi service. Bluto bullies Popeye and gets him to turn over all of his cab fares. Popeye eventually gets the better of Bluto. Animation by Tom Johnson and Frank Endres. Music by Winston Sharples. Produced in 1954 and directed by Seymour Kneitel.



Click the picture to view the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG4. For more information and format choices, click here.

Next we have Betty Boop in "Betty Boop's Big Boss," produced by Max Fleischer in 1933. According to Internet Archive reviewer Christine Hennig:
"It's the height of the Depression, so when Betty Boop sees a "Girl Wanted" sign, she comes on hard to the boss in order to get the job. After she gets hired, the boss comes on hard to her, but before you can say "sexual harassment," she's called out not only every cop in town, but the army and navy, too. This is a wonderfully weird and silly Betty, with anthropomorphic inanimate objects aplenty, and side jokes that you almost miss, such as the cops who are determined to arrest the boss for bad acting. Great fun."


Click the picture to view the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG4. For more formats an information, click here.

First we have The Big Bad Wolf, a Castle Films cartoon, in which Little Boy Blue and Scarecrow sing and dance, then Little Bo Peep and her sheep join in. Black Sheep cries "wolf", which causes problems when a real wolf shows up. Animation by U. B. Iwerks. Animation by U. B. Iwerks.

Click the picture to watch the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG4, free from the Internet Archive. Click here for more information and format choices.

Next we have Private Eye Popeye, a Seymour Kneitel cartoon from 1954. In this one, Olive Oyl is the femme fatale with a valuable, green, glowing jewel in need of protection. Popeye plays private eye and saves the day. Animation by Tom Johnson and Frank Endres. Story by I. Klein. Music by Winston Sharples


Click the picture to watch the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG4, free from the Internet Archive. For more information and format choices, click here.

First up today we have a Noveltoon, Caspar The Friendly Ghost in There's Good Boos Tonight, (1948) in which Caspar makes friends with a little fox, a friendship which comes to a sad ending. Animation by Myron Waldman, Morey Reden and Nick Tafuri. Scenics by Anto Loeb. Story by Bill Turner and Larry Reilly. Music by Winston Sharples. Narrator is Frank Gallop. Produced in 1948.


Click the picture to view the cartoon in streaming 256k MPEG4. Click here for more information and format choices from the Internet Archive.

Next we have Popeye the Sailor Man in Ancient Fistory, a Cinderella-like tale in which Olive is the princess and Popeye is the prince. Bluto is the shopowner brute who bullies Olive, only to get taught a lesson by a buff, spinach-eating Prince Popeye. Animation by Al Eugster and William B. Pattengill, story by Irving Spector, scenics by Robert Connavale, and music by Winston Sharples. Produced in 1952.



Click the picture to view the cartoon in streaming 256k MPEG4. Click here for more information and format choices from the Internet Archive.

By Steven Rea and Carrie Rickey
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)

ARMY OF SHADOWS 4 stars. Jean-Pierre Melville's taut 1969 study of the French Resistance movement during World War II — and a small band of men (and a few women) who risked to fight the Nazi occupation — is nothing short of a masterpiece. 2 hrs. 25 No MPAA rating (violence, profanity, adult themes) — Steven Rea.

First up we have the story of Gabby, who tries to put a diaper on a cranky baby. Animation by David Tendlar and William Nolan. Music by Sammy Timberg. Produced in 1941.


Click the picture to view the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG. For more information and format choices, click here. Free from the Internet Archive

Next we have the story of Hector, a messy family dog that is told by its owner that it will be thrown out in the cold, after three puppies show up on the doorstep, complicating the dog's life. The owner, thinking the dog is responsible for the mess, finally discovers the puppies and all ends well. Animation by George Germanetti and Steve Muffatti. Story by Joe Stultz and Larry Riley. Scenics by Robert Connavale. Music by Winston Sharples. Produced in 1948.


Click the picture to view the cartoon, streaming in 256k MPEG. Click here for more information and format choices. Free from the Internet Archive.

By Iona Childers, staff writer
Photos by Iona Childers

Last weekend, I went to the 2006 Gilroy Garlic Festival in the garlic capital of California and, quite possibly, the world. The 28th annual festival which always runs for the last full weekend in July, this year was held July 28-30.

I've been to this particular festival two times in the past and I'm glad that this time was less hot than other times. After a two-hour drive south from the Bay Area (mostly because the entrance to the festival grounds was backed up a couple of miles), we got to the good stuff.

Visit the Gilroy Garlic Festival's website