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And thanks for mentioning Segar, whose original Thimble Theater and Popeye strips are works of genius. Fantagraphics has begun publishing >a href="http://www.amazon.com/Popeye-Vol-I-Yam-What/dp/1560977795/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4044537-8731106?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185798494&sr=1-1">the complete Popeye and I encourage fans to read them.
BTW, it's my understanding that the backgrounds in these Fleischer cartoons often were, in fact, "real" three dimensional settings. They were rotated on a turntable to create the illusion of movement while the animation cels - depicting, say, Popeye walking - were propped up before the background on glass.
The early Popeye's have no peer in my book and I was excited to see they were coming out on DVD. When Popeye stopped muttering, he lost his character.
I agree about the Depression era black and white, but I do remember a couple of early color cartoons (one with a Sinbad theme) that were pretty fantastic as well.
I also enjoyed (as did my kids) Altman's Popeye and it puzzles me why it is usually marked among his worst. It was done very much in the spirit of the early Popeyes.
I'm old enough to have watched these on afternoon after-school TV (Sally Starr's cowgirl show in Philly), and I loved this stuff. Now I just need a Curly-era Three Stooges box set.
You and me both, Dan. Those cartoons are amazing and hilarious. Much better than the new ones they made in the (I think) 50s were Bluto became Brutus
Your daughter may enjoy the Out of the Inkwell cartoons, too.