Cartoon Alley is an American television program that aired on Turner Classic Movies every Saturday Morning at 11:30 AM ET.
Hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, the series featured three classic animated shorts from the 1930-1950's per episode. Most shorts were from The Golden Age of American animation. Each of the three shorts focused on a common theme. Most shorts came from Warner Bros., MGM, and Paramount, but during the show's first season Cartoon Alley featured shorts from the Gaumont Film Company. Many recognizable characters have been featured in at least one episode such as Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Porky Pig, Tom and Jerry, and others not so famous such as Goopy Geer and The Captain and the Kids. The shorts often appeared uncut and uncensored, and the more controversial cartoons were often introduced with a brief warning by Mankiewicz about the ethnic stereotypes being portrayed. The network's logo was only featured for a brief time, usually during the last short featured.
From November 2004 to September 2005 the series was featured just once a month but after popular demand the series became a weekly feature. This series never aired in February because of TCM's 31 Days of Oscars programming. The series was canceled in autumn of 2007.
Episodes
Cast
Season 1
1. Clark Gable
30min
5th Nov 2004
Featured Cartoons:
The CooCoo Nut Grove (1938)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Music: Carl W. Stalling
Malibu Beach Party (1940)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Written by Jack Miller Music: Carl W. Stalling
Hollywood Steps Out (1941)(WB} Directed by Tex Avery Music: Carl W. Stalling
* The theme for this month is Clark Gable
2. Christmas
30min
4th Dec 2004
Featured Cartoons:
The Pups' Christmas (1936)(MGM) Directed by Rudolph Ising Music: Scott Bradley
Peace On Earth (1939)(MGM) Directed by Hugh Harman Music: Scott Bradley
The Night Before Christmas (1941)(MGM) Directed by William Hanna & Joseph Barbera Music: Scott Bradley
* The theme for this month is Christmas.
3. Oscar Nominated Shorts
30min
1st Jan 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt (1941)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Story by Michael Maltese Music: Carl W. Stalling
Blitz Wolf (1942)(MGM) Directed by Tex Avery Story by Rich Hogan Music: Scott Bradley
Life With Feathers (1945)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Written by Tedd Pierce Music: Carl W. Stalling
* This months theme: Oscars nominated shorts
4. Tom & Jerry
30min
5th Mar 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Professor Tom (1948)(MGM) Directed by William Hanna & Joesph Barbera Music: Scott Bradley
Old Rockin' Chair Tom (1948)(MGM) Directed by William Hanna & Joesph Barbera Music: Scott Bradley
The Cat Concerto (1946)(MGM) Directed by William Hanna & Joesph Barbera Music: Scott Bradley
* This months theme Tom & Jerry
5. Tex Avery
30min
2nd Apr 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Red Hot Riding Hood (1943)(MGM) Directed by Tex Avery
Batty Baseball (1944)(MGM) Directed by Tex Avery Music: Scott Bradley
Swingshift Cinderella (1945)(MGM) Directed by Tex Avery Music: Scott Bradley
*This months theme Tex Avery
6. The Early Days of Warner Brothers Cartoons
30min
7th May 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Honeymoon Hotel (1934)(WB) Directed by Earl Duvall Music: Norman Spencer
Beauty and the Beast (1934)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Music: Norman Spencer
I Haven't Got a Hat (1935)(WB) Directed by Friz Freleng Music: Bernard Brown
* This months theme The early days of Warner Brothers cartoons
7. The Captain and the Kids
30min
4th Jun 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Cleaning House (1938)(MGM) Directed by: Robert Allen Written by: Rudolph Dirks Music: Scott Bradley, Paul Kerby and Bert Lewis
Petunia National Park (1939)(MGM) Directed by: Written by: Rudolph Dirks Music: Scott Bradley and Bert Lewis
Mama's New Hat (1939)(MGM) Directed by: Friz Freleng Written by: Rudolph Dirks Music: Scott Bradley and Bert Lewis
* This months theme: The Captain and the Kids
8. Popeye
30min
2nd Jul 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Adventures of Popeye (1935)(Paramount) Directed by: Dave Fleischer Produced by: Max Fleischer
The Anvil Chorus Girl (1944)(Paramount) Directed by: Izzy Sparber Written by: Bill Turner & Jack Warner Music: Winston Sharples
Abusement Park (1947)(Paramount) Directed by: Izzy Sparber Written by: Joe Stultz & Carl Meyer Music: Winston Sharples
* This months theme: Popeye
9. Animaland Series (1)
30min
3rd Sep 2005
Featured Cartoons:
The Australian Platypus (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
The Cuckoo (1948) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
The Lion (1948) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
* This weeks theme: Animaland Series All shorts are Brittish Gaumont Animation
10. Animaland Series (2)
30min
10th Sep 2005
Featured Cartoons:
The Ostrich (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
It's a Lovely Day (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
The House Cat (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
* This weeks theme: Animaland series All shorts are Gaumont British Animation
All produced by David Hand
11. Animaland Series (3)
30min
17th Sep 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Ginger Nutt's Bee-Bother (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
Ginger Nutt's Christmas Circus (1949) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
Ginger Nutt's Forest Dragon (1950) Directed by: Bert Felstead Music: Henry Reed
* This weeks theme: Animaland series All shorts are Gaumont British Animation
All produced by David Hand
12. Barney Bear
30min
24th Sep 2005
Featured Cartoons: The Bear That Couldn't Sleep (1939) Directed by Rudolph Ising Music: Scott Bradley
The Fishing Bear (1940) Directed by Rudolph Ising Music: Scott Bradley
Heir Bear (1953) Directed by Dick Lundy Written by Heck Allen & Jack Cosgriffy Music: Scott Bradley * This weeks theme - Barney Bear All shorts are MGM cartoons
13. Sniffles the Mouse
30min
1st Oct 2005
Featured Cartoons: Naughty But Mice (1939) Little Brother Rat (1939) Sniffles and the Bookworm (1939) * This weeks theme: Sniffles the Mouse All shorts are Warner Brothers On all shorts Director: Chuck Jones Writer: Rich Hogan Music: Carl W Stalling
14. Droopy
30min
8th Oct 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Dumb Hounded (1943)
Shooting of Dan McGoo (1945) Writer: Heck Allen Wild
Woolfy (1945) Writer: Heck Allen
* The theme for this month is Droopy All shorts are Directed by: Tex Avery Music by: Scott Bradley and are MGM cartoons
15. Tweety Bird
30min
15th Oct 2005
Featured Cartoons
A Tale of Two Kitties (1942) Directed by: Robert Clampett Writer: Warren Foster Music: Carl W Stalling
Birdy and the Beast (1944) Directed by: Robert Clampett Writer: Warren Foster Music: Carl W Stalling
A Gruesome Twosome (1945) Directed by: Robert Clampett Writer: Warren Foster Music: Carl W Stalling
* This weeks theme: Tweety Bird All shorts are Warner Bros
16. Cinemascope Cartoons
30min
Featured Cartoons:
Millionaire Droopy (1956) Directed by: Tex Avery Writers: Jack Cosgriff & Rich Hogan Music: Scott Bradley
Cat's Meow (1957) Directed by: Tex Avery Music: Scott Bradley
Tops With Pops (1957) Directed by: Joseph Barbera & William Hanna Music: Scott Bradley
* This weeks theme: Cinemascope Cartoons All shorts are MGM
17. Peter Lorry Caricatures
30min
29th Oct 2005
Featured Cartoons:
Horton Hatches the Egg (1942) Directed by: Robert Clampett Writer: Michael Maltese Music: Carl W Stalling
Hare-Raising Hare (1946)) Directed by: Chuck Jones Writer: Tedd Pierce Music: Carl W Stalling
Birth of a Notion (1947) Directed by: Robert McKimson Writer: Warren Foster Music: Carl W Stalling
* This weeks theme: Peter Lorre Caricature All shorts are Warner Bros