Cubby Bear Compilation | 6 Aesop's Fables | Van Beuren Production

Producer Amedee J. Van Beuren bought out the Paul Terry studio in 1928, retaining Terry and renaming the business after its new owner. Van Beuren released Terry's first sound cartoon Dinner Time (1928) (a month before Disney's Steamboat Willie) through Pathé Exchange, which later became part of RKO Pictures. Terry ran the animation studio while Van Beuren focused on other parts of the business. In 1929, Terry quit to start his own Terrytoons studio and John Foster took over the animation department. Van Beuren released his films through RKO Radio Pictures. The early sound Van Beuren cartoons are almost identical to the late silent cartoons: highly visual, with little dialogue and occasional sound effects. Bandleaders Gene Rodemich and Winston Sharples supervised the music. The company's main cartoon characters were "Tom and Jerry", a tall-and-short pair, usually vagrants who attempted various occupations. They share no relation to MGM's more successful Tom and Jerry, a cat and mouse, and the older series has been renamed "Van Beuren's Tom and Jerry" and "Dick and Larry" in various future incarnations. Van Beuren was keenly aware that successful cartoons often featured animated "stars", and urged his staff to come up with new ideas for characters. Cubby Bear, a mischievous little bear, resulted. Van Bueren Studios' Cubby the Bear series comprised of just 19 cartoons made between 1933-1934. BARKING DOGS (1933) The best thing about it is the music score. It is so beautifully and cleverly orchestrated and full of lively energy that is sorely lacking elsewhere, it enhances the action. BUBBLES AND TROUBLES (1933) When pirates kidnap his girlfriend, only Cubby can save her. CROON CRAZY (1933) An Oil-can-Harry radio announcer presents Cubby Bear the Crooner as the star of his own radio program over station R-K-O and, while Cubby is crooning away, Slick also advises that Kitty Schmidt (Kate Smith), Cal Jolson (Al Jolson)and Sol Rightman (Paul Whiteman) will be Cubby's guest stars. CUBBY'S PICNIC (1933) Cubby Bear, on break from his bandleader duties, tries to find a quiet place to spoon with Honey, only to end up attacked by mosquitos. FIDDLIN' FUN (1934) Cubby the Bear participates in a roman chariot race for his girl friend. FRESH HAM (1933) Cubby Bear auditions acts for a vaudeville show.