Historic Pelham Blog Archive
September 19, 2006

350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BOOK:  "THOMAS PELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE PELL TREATY OAK" -- $11.95 (PROCEEDS AFTER PRINTING COSTS WILL GO TO BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM).  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY! LEARN MORE.

Trolley tracks once criss-crossed lower Westchester County carrying clattering streetcars throughout the region. By 1899, travelers could journey between the Battery and any of New Rochelle, Pelham, Mount Vernon or Yonkers for a single fare of eight cents.

Early last century, one of those trolley lines in Pelham inspired the creative genius of a man named Fontaine Talbot Fox (1884-1964). He created one of the most popular comics in the United States – “Toonerville Folks”.

The cartoon centered around the quirky inhabitants of a town called “Toonerville” and its rickety and unpredictable trolley. The operator of the trolley was “The Skipper.”

Fontaine Fox, as he stated a number of times in published interviews, based the comic on his experience during a trolley ride on a visit to Pelham on August 8, 1909. “Toonerville Folks” ran in hundreds of newspapers from about 1913 to 1955 and brought national attention to Pelham.

The cover article that will appear in the next issue of Westchester Historian, the quarterly magazine published by the Westchester County Historical Society, will be an extensive story about Pelham and the Toonerville Trolley. Moreover, I previously have written about the Toonerville Trolley and have published a number of postings to the Historic Pelham Blog about it. See:

Bell, Blake A., Pelham and the Toonerville Trolley, The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 11, Mar. 12, 2004, p. 10, col. 1.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005: Pelham Manor Residents Fight Construction of the Toonerville Trolley Line

Friday, June 17, 2005: "Skipper Louie" of Pelham Manor's Toonerville Trolley

Tuesday, September 20, 2005: Pelham's "Toonerville Trolley" Goes to War

Tuesday, October 11, 2005: The Toonerville Trolley Pays Its Bills -- Late!

Wenesday, August 9, 2006: The Saddest Day in the History of Pelham Manor's "Toonerville Trolley"

As the popularity of the comic created by Fontaine Fox grew, even animated cartoons were created to trade on its popularity. For example, at least three Toonerville Trolley animated shorts were released theatrically in 1936. Each of the three remains available today in VHS and DVD formats. The three cartoons, all released by Van Beuren Studios, are:

“Toonerville Trolley” featuring the Toonerville Trolley, The Skipper and Molly Moo Cow; released on January 17, 1936 in TechniColor and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.

“Trolley Ahoy” featuring the Toonerville Trolley, The Skipper, Mr. Bang! And Powerful Katrinka; released on July 3, 1936 in TechniColor and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.

“Toonerville Picnic” featuring the Toonerville Trolley, The Skipper and Powerful Katrinka; released on October 2, 1936 in TechniColor and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.

Two of these three animated shorts are now available for free viewing online: "Toonerville Trolley" and "Toonerville Picnic". Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting provides information on how to access and view these wonderful examples of the work of Fontaine Fox.

RealPlayer for Windows Media Viewer

To view these two cartoons, you will need the free version of the RealPlayer for Windows Media Viewer. (Your computer likely already has the viewer on it.) If you do not have the viewer on your computer, downloading it is simple. It may be downloaded by clicking here and following the instructions.

The cartoons are offered by LikeTelevision.com. To view them, you first will have to view very, very brief advertisements that last a few seconds. (This Blog has no affiliation with LikeTelevision.com.)

Burt Gillette's Rainbow Parade Cartoon Featuring Fontaine Fox's "Toonerville Trolley"

If you have the RealPlayer for Windows Media Viewer installed on your computer, you may view the first cartoon, "Toonerville Trolley", by clicking here.

The animated short begins "RKO-Radio Pictures Presents Burt Gillette's Rainbow Parade Cartoon Featuring Fontaine Fox's "Toonerville Trolley'". It features the "Toonerville Trolley", Skipper, Powerful Katrinka and Molly Moo Cow. Released in 1936, the short is in color and is eight minutes long.

"Toonerville Picnic"

If you have the RealPlayer for Windows Media Viewer installed on your computer, you may view the first cartoon, "Toonerville Trolley", by clicking here.

The animated short begins "Commonwealth Pictures Corp. Presents 'Toonerville Picnic'". It features the Terrible Tempered Mr. Bang, the "Toonerville Trolley", Skipper and Powerful Katrinka. Also released in 1936, this short is in color and is seven minutes long.

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 5:01 AM Comment

Click Here To View the Actual Blog Posting for September 19, 2006.

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