"Drooler's Delight" with Woody Woodpecker (1949)

In this 1949 cartoon from Walter Lantz, we find our feathered friend Woody lazing about on a hot summer’s day, literally roasting in the heat. The radio serves as the catalyst when Woody hears it advertising an ice cream soda, which causes him to set off in quest of a cooling delight.

Finding a bit of change in his “safe”, he heads towards the Drooler’s Delight, but first he has to pass the local pool hall and the bully who runs sway over the place. Naturally, he takes Woody’s money and with it his dreams of a thirst quenching treat.

But Woody is not your ordinary woodpecker, and so the money changes hands several times before he finally is able to walk into the Drooler’s Delight for his much coveted refreshment. But what awaits him there is none other than the pool hall bully.

After stuffing Woody in a glass and filling it with the ingredients for an actual “Drooler’s Delight”, Woody finds out that though life does sometimes suck, it’s not so bad after all.

"The Barber of Seville" with Woody Woodpecker (1944)

Released during the Second World War, this cartoon has Woody Woodpecker reporting to the barbershop for a “Victory” haircut in support of the war effort. 

When he finds that the barber is out, he decides to cut his own hair, as well as do a little “business” on the side.  Naturally, he manages to offend every ethnic group in existence with disastrous, but comic outcomes. Remember, this cartoon is from before political correctness was invented.

Released in April of 1944, this was a Walter Lantz Production distributed by Universal studios. This was the 10^th Woody Woodpecker cartoon released. 

"Pantry Panic" - Woody Woodpecker (1941)

When all the birds go south for the winter, Daffy Duck decides to stay behind, giving no thought to how he will get through the winter. Ignoring all advice to the contrary, he avails himself of the last mild days of autumn. When winter finally does come, he is at first satisfied to sit it out with his stockpiles of food. But when those stores run low, and the cat comes to town, all bets are off as the two try everything in their power to trick one another into becoming the other ones meal.

The Schlesinger-Warner cartoons are amongst my favorite. They have the same fluidity as the Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons by Max and Dave Fleischer. They may a bit violent by today’s standards; video games and most major motion pictures and television shows excluded; but they do manage to impart some of life’s more important lessons. In this case, Walter Lantz has cleverly redone the old story of the Ant and the Grasshopper, as well as reinforce the Boy Scout motto about always being prepared.