Aesop's Fables (film series)

Aesop's Fables (previously titled Aesop's Film Fables and Aesop's Sound Fables) is a series of animated short subjects, created by American cartoonist Paul Terry. Produced from 1921 to 1934, the series includes The Window Washers (1925), Scrambled Eggs (1926), Small Town Sheriff (1927), Dinner Time (1928), and Gypped in Egypt (1930). Dinner Time is the first cartoon with a synchronized soundtrack ever released to the public.

History

Farmer Al Falfa in Amateur Night on the Ark (1923)

Terry was inspired to make the series by young actor-turned-writer Howard Estabrook, who suggested making a series of cartoons based on Aesop's Fables. Although Terry later claimed he had never heard of Aesop, he said that Estabrook's idea was worthwhile. Terry immediately began to set up a new studio called Fables Studios, Inc. and received backing from the Keith-Albee Theatre circuit.

The series launched on June 19, 1921, with The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs. On that same day, Van Beuren announced that the pictures would be distributed exclusively by Pathe. Only the earliest films are loose adaptations of the actual fables and later entries usually revolve around cats, mice, and the disgruntled Farmer Al Falfa. Terry had developed Farmer Al in the previous decade, and this series would be his most prolific appearance.

Each short concludes with a moral that usually has nothing to do with the actual cartoon itself. Terry staffer Mannie Davis once remarked that the morals were even "funnier than the whole picture itself" and Terry said "the fact that they're ambiguous is the thing that made 'em funny". Morals include "Go around with a chip on your shoulder and someone will knock your block off" or "Marriage is a good institution, but who wants to live in an institution?"

The series proved to be enormously popular with the public during the 1920s. Walt Disney admitted that his earliest ambition was to produce cartoons of comparable quality to Paul Terry. With the popularity of Al Jolson's part-talkie The Jazz Singer in 1927, as well as the huge success of the first all-talkie Lights of New York in 1928, producer Amadee J. Van Beuren realized the potential of sound films and bought Fables Studios to produce sound animation films. Van Beuren, now owner of the newly-named Van Beuren Studios, urged Terry to add the innovation to his films. Terry argued that adding sound would only complicate the production process, but ended up doing so anyway, and the series would now be renamed Aesop's Sound Fables.

Released in October 1928, Dinner Time is the first cartoon with a synchronized soundtrack ever released to the public, but the film was overshadowed by the release of Disney's Steamboat Willie on November 18 of the same year. Fables Studios did not cease production of silent cartoons until the release of Presto-Chango on April 14, 1929. The series also includes The Window Washers (1925), Scrambled Eggs (1926), Small Town Sheriff (1927), A Close Call (1929), The Iron Man (1930), Good Old Schooldays (1930), Dixie Days (1930), Western Whoopee (1930), Laundry Blues (1930), Circus Capers (1930), Gypped in Egypt (1930), College Capers (1931), Cinderella Blues (1931), The Wild Goose Chase (1932), and Silvery Moon (1933).

In 1929 Terry quit, starting his own TerryToons Studios, and John Foster took over the series under the Van Beuren Corporation, formerly Fable Studios, Inc. The series finally came to a close in 1933. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) lists 447 titles from 1920 to 1929 under the production company name of Aesop Fables Studio, and 198 titles under Van Beuren Studios from 1928 to 1934.

Filmography

1921

• The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg
• Mice In Council
• The Rooster And The Eagle
• The Ants and the Grasshopper
• Cats at Law
• The Lioness And The Bugs
• The Country Mouse And City Mouse
• The Cat And The Canary
• The Fox And The Crow
• The Donkey In Lion's Skin
• Mice at War
• Fish Without Water
• The Hare And Frogs
• The Fashionable Fox
• The Hermit And The Bear
• The Hare And The Tortoise
• The Wolf And The Crane
• The Fox and the Goat
• Venus And The Cat
• The Frog And The Ox
• The Dog And The Bone
• The Cat And The Monkey
• The Owl And The Grasshopper
• The Woman And The Hen
• The Fly And The Ant
• The Frogs That Wanted A King
• The Egret and the Vulture
• The Conceited Donkey
• The Wolf And The Kid
• The Wayward Dog
• The Cat And The Mice

1922

• The Dog And The Flea
• The Bear And The Bees
• The Miller And His Donkey
• The Fox And The Grapes
• The Villain In Disguise
• The Dog And The Thief
• The Tiger And The Donkey
• The Cat And The Swordfish
• The Spendthrift
• The Farmer And The Ostrich
• The Dissatisfied Cobbler
• The Lion And The Mouse
• The Rich Cat And The Poor Cat
• The Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
• The Wicked Cat
• The Boy and His Dog
• The Eternal Triangle
• The Model Diary
• Love at First Sight
• The Hunter And His Dog
• The Dog And The Wolves
• The Maid And The Millionaire
• Audrey's Ram
• The Farmer And His Cat
• The Cat And The Pig
• Crime In A Big City
• The Brewing Trouble
• The Dog And The Fish
• The Mischievous Cat
• The Worm That Turned
• The Boastful Cat
• The Country Mouse And City Cat
• The Farmer And The Mice
• The Fearless Fido
• The Mechanical Horse
• The Boy and the Bear
• Chemistry Lesson
• The Two Explorers
• The Two Slick Traders
• The Two Of A Trade
• The Big Flood
• The Romantic Mouse
• The Henpecked Hen
• The Hated Rivals
• The Elephant's Trunk
• The Enchanted Fiddle
• The Rolling Stone
• Friday The Thirteenth
• The Fortune Hunters
• The Man Who Laughs
• Henry's Busted Romance
• Two Trappers
• The Dog's Paradise
• The Frog And The Catfish

1923

• Cheating the Cheaters
• A Stone Age Romeo
• A Fisherman's Jinx
• A Raisin and a Cake of Yeast
• Hangry Rudy
• The Gliders
• Troubles On The Ark
• The Mysterious Hat
• The Traveling Salesman
• The Spider And The Fly
• The Sheik
• The Alley Cat
• Farmer Al Falfa's Bride
• Day By Day in Every Way
• One Hard Pull
• Henry's Pantree
• The Gamblers
• The Jolly Rounders
• Pharaoh's Tomb
• The Mouse Catcher
• A Fishy Story
• Seagull Splat
• Smart Salesman
• Spooks
• Amateur Night On The Ark
• The Stork's Mistake
• Springtime
• The Burglar Alarm
• The Beauty Parlor
• The Covered Pushcart
• Pace That Kills
• Mysteries Of The Seas
• The Marathon Dancers
• The Pearl Divers
• The Bad Bandit
• The Great Explorers
• The Nine Of Spades
• The Cat That Failed
• The Walrus Hunters
• The Cat's Revenge
• Love In A Cottage
• Derby Day
• The Cat's Whiskers
• Aged In The Wood
• The High Flyers
• The Circus
• A Barnyard Rodeo
• Do Women Pay?
• Farmer Al Falfa's Pet Cat
• Happy Go Luckies
• The Five Fifteen
• The Best Man Wins
• A Dark Horse
• The Cat That Came Back
• The Morning After

1924

• Five Orphans Of The Storm
• The Good Old Days
• The Animals' Fair
• The Black Sheep
• Good Old College Days
• The Rat's Revenge
• Sadie Finds Scissors
• The Wild West
• A Rural Romance
• The African Huntsman
• Captain Kidder
• Herman The Great Mouse
• Lydia's Plea
• All Star Cast
• Why Mice Leave Home
• From Rags to Riches and Back Again
• The Champion
• Runnin' Wild
• If Noah Lived Today
• A Trip to the Pole
• The Eclipse Of Who
• An Ideal Farm
• Homeless Pups
• When the Winter Comes
• The Jealous Fisherman
• The Jolly Jail Bird
• One Good Turn
• The Flying Carpet
• The Organ Grinder
• That Old Can Of Mine
• Home Talent
• The Body In The Bag
• Desert Sheiks
• A Woman's Honor
• The Sport of Kings
• Flying Fever
• Amelia Comes Back
• House Cleaning
• Barnyard Olympics
• A Message From the Sea
• In The Good Old Summer Time
• The Mouse That Turned
• A Lighthouse By the Sea
• Hawks Of The Sea
• Noah's Outing
• Black Magic
• The Cat And The Magnet
• Monkey Business
• She Knew Her Man
• Good Old Circus Days
• Lumber Jacks
• Noah's Athletic Club
• Mysteries Of Old Chinatown
• Down On The Farm
• On The Ice
• Sharp Shooters
• She's In Again
• One Game Pup
• African Huntsman
• Hold That Thought

1925

• Biting The Dust
• A Transatlantic Flight
• Bigger And Better Jails
• Fisherman's Luck
• Clean Up Week
• In Dutch
• Jungle Bike Riders
• The Pie Man
• At The Zoo
• The Housing Shortage
• S.O.S.
• The Adventures Of Adenoid
• Permanent Waves
• Deep Stuff
• Darkest Africa
• A Fast Worker
• Echoes From the Alps
• Strut Rooster Has Cancer
• Hot Times in Iceland
• The Runt
• The End of the World
• Runaway Balloon
• Wine, Women And Song
• When Men Were Men
• Bugville Field Day
• Office Help
• Over The Plate
• A Yawn About Yarn
• Bubbles
• Picnic
• Soap
• For the Love of a Gal
• The Window Washers
• Barnyard Pollies
• The Ugly Duckling
• Hungry Hounds
• Nuts And Squirrels
• The Lion And The Monkey
• The Hero Wins
• Air-Cooled
• Closer Than A Brother
• Wild Cats Of Paris
• The Honor System
• Runaway Rabbit
• The Great Open Spaces
• More Mice Than Brains
• A Day's Outing
• The Bonehead Age
• The Haunted House

1926

• The English Channel Swim
• Noah Had His Troubles
• Though Thick and Thin
• The Gold Push
• Three Blind Mice
• Lighter Than Air
• Little Brown Jug
• The June Bride
• The Wind Jammers
• The Wicked City
• China Doll
• Hunting In 1950
• The Mail Coach
• Spanish Love
• The Fire Fighters
• Fly Time
• Up in the Air
• The Merry Blacksmith
• The Big Hearted Fish
• The Shootin' Fool
• Farm Hands
• Rough And Ready Romeo
• An Alpine Flapper
• Liquid Dynamite
• A Bumper Crop
• The Big Retreat
• The Land Boom
• Plumber's Life
• Chop Suey and Noodles
• Jungle Sports
• Red Hot Sands
• Pirates Bold
• Venus of Venice
• Her Ben
• The Crazy Fox
• The Dough Boys
• The Little Parade
• The Last Ha Ha
• Scrambled Eggs
• A Knight Out
• A Buggy Ride
• Pests
• Watered Stock
• The Charleston Queen
• Why Argue
• The Road House
• Gun Shy
• The Annual Meeting
• Home Sweet Home
• The Phoney Express
• Thru Thick and Thin
• In Vaudeville
• Buck Fever
• Radio Controlled
• Hitting The Rails
• Sink or Swim
• Bars And Stripes
• School Days
• The Musical Parrot
• Where Friendship Ceases

1927

• The Plow Boy's Revenge
• Chasing Rainbows
• In The Rough
• Tit For Tat
• The Mail Pilot
• Cracked Ice
• Taking The Air
• All For A Bride
• Stars of the Circus
• The Magician
• The Crawl Stroke Kid
• The Medicine Man
• Keep Off the Grass
• Anti-Fat
• The Honor Man
• Pie-Eyed Piper
• Short Vacation
• Bubbling Over
• The Fair Exchange
• When the Snow Flies
• A Dog's Day
• Horses, Horses, Horses
• Hard Cider
• Digging For Gold
• Died In The Wool
• A One Man Dog
• The Big Reward
• Riding High
• The Love Nest
• The Bully
• Sealed
• Subway Sally
• Ant Life as It Isn't
• The Baby Show
• A Hole in One
• Hook, Line and Sinker
• Small Town Sheriff
• Cutting A Melon
• Human Fly
• River Of Doubt
• In Again, Out Again
• All Bull and a Yard Wide
• The Big Tent
• Lindy's Cat
• A Brave Heart
• Signs of Spring
• The Fox Hunt
• Flying Fishers
• Carnival Week
• Rats In His Garret
• The Junkman
• High Stakes

1928

• The Home Agent
• A Horse's Tale
• The Wandering Minstrel
• The Mouse's Bride
• The Good Ship Nellie
• Everybody's Flying
• The Spider's Lair
• A Blaze of Glory
• The County Fair
• The Sea Shower
• Jungle Days
• Scaling the Alps
• A Battling Duet
• Barnyard Artists
• A Jungle Triangle
• Koast To Koast
• The War Bride
• The Flying Age
• The Flight That Failed
• Happy Days
• Puppy Love
• City Slickers
• The Huntsman
• The Early Bird
• Our Little Nell
• Outnumbered
• Sunny Italy
• A Cross Country Run
• Static
• Sunday on the Farm
• Short Circut
• Milton's Billion$
• Alaska Or Bust
• High Seas
• The Magnetic Bat
• Cure or Kill
• Monkey Love
• The Big Game
• Gridiron Demons
• The Laundry Man
• On The Links
• A Day Off
• Barnyard Politics
• Flying Hoofs
• Dinner Time
• A White Elephant

1929

• Land o' Cotton
• The Break of the Day
• Snapping the Whip
• Wooden Money
• Sweet Adeline
• The Queen Bee
• The Water Cure
• In the Bag
• Grandma's House
• Back To The Soil
• The Black Duck
• A Lad and His Lamp
• The Big Burg
• The Under Dog
• The Cop's Bride
• The Big Shot
• The Fight Game
• Homeless Cats
• The Little Game Hunter
• The Ball Park
• Concentrate
• The Faithful Pup
• The Family Album
• The Jail Breakers
• Fish Day
• Custard Pies
• Wood Choppers
• Presto Chango
• The Polo Match
• Snow Birds
• Skating Hounds
• Stage Struck
• Bughouse College Days
• Kidnapped
• April Showers
• The Farmer's Goat
• The Cold Steel
• In His Cups
• By Land and Air
• The Enchanted Flute
• Wash Day
• The Cabaret
• House Cleaning Time
• A Stone Age Romance
• Three Games Guys
• The Big Scare
• The Fruitful Farm
• The Jungle Fool
• The Fly's Bride
• Summertime
• The Mill Pond
• The Barnyard Melody
• Tuning In
• The Night Club
• A Close Call
• A Midsummer's Day

1930

• The Iron Man
• Ship Ahoy
• Singing Saps
• Sky Skippers
• Good Old Schooldays
• Dixie Days
• Western Whoopee
• The Haunted Shop
• Oom Pah Pah
• Noah Knew His Ark
• A Romeo Robin
• Jungle Jazz
• Snow Time
• Hot Tamale
• Laundry Blues
• Frozen Frolics
• Farm Foolery
• Circus Capers
• Midnight
• Big Cheese
• Gypped in Egypt
• The Office Boy
• Stone Age Stunts
• The King of Bugs

1931

• A Toytown Tale
• Red Riding Hood
• The Animal Fair
• Cowboy Blues
• Radio Racket
• College Capers
• The Old Hokum Bucket
• Cinderella Blues
• Mad Melody
• The Fly Guy
• Play Ball
• Fisherman's Luck
• Pale Face Pup
• Makin' 'Em Move
• Fun on the Ice
• The Big Game
• Love in a Pond
• Fly Hi
• The Family Shoe
• Fairyland Follies
• Horse Cops
• Cowboy Cabaret
• The Last Dance

1932

• Toy Time
• A Romeo Monk
• Fly Frolic
• The Cat's Canary
• Magic Art
• Happy Polo
• Spring Antics
• The Farmerette
• Circus Romance
• Stone Age Error
• Chinese Jinks
• The Ball Game
• The Wild Goose Chase
• Down in Dixie
• Nursery Scandal
• Bring 'Em Back Half Shot
• A Cat-Fish Romance
• Feathered Follies
• Venice Vamp
• Hokum Hotel
• Piccaninny Blues
• A Yarn of Wool
• Bugs and Books
• Golden Goose

1933

• Silvery Moon
• Tumble Down Town
• Opening Night (first cartoon that features Cubby Bear)
• Panicky Pup
• Love's Labor Won
• The Last Mail
• Runaway Blackie
• Bubbles and Troubles
• A Dizzy Day
• Barking Dogs
• The Bully's End
• Indian Whoopee
• Fresh Ham
• Rough on Rats
• A.M. to P.M.
• The Nut Factory
• Cubby's World Flight
• Cubby's Picnic
• The Gay Gaucho
• Galloping Fanny
• Croon Crazy

1934

• Sinister Stuff
• Three Little Kittens
• Goode Knight
• How's Crops?
• Cubby's Stratosphere Flight
• Mild Cargo
• Fiddlin' Fun

Legacy

Aesop's Fables provided inspiration to Walt Disney to found the Laugh-O-Gram Studio in Kansas City, Missouri, where he and Ub Iwerks co-created the Laugh-O-Grams and the Alice Comedies. Even into 1930, Disney wanted his cartoons to be funny as the series.

See also

• Animation in the United States during the silent era

References

Bibliography

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External links

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