Trolley Troubles
Trolley Troubles is a 1927 animated short subject film, produced by Charles Mintz and George Winkler and directed by Walt Disney.[2] The cartoon is the first appearance of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character that Disney and Ub Iwerks created for Universal Pictures and Charles B. Mintz.
Trolley Troubles
History[edit]
In the early summer of 1927, Walt Disney finished the first Oswald cartoon, entitled Poor Papa, but Universal was not very satisfied. They had expected a more Charlie Chaplin-like character and thought Oswald was too elderly and too fat. Disney agreed to make some changes and the cartoon was not released in theatres at the time. It is possible that the film was inspired by The Toonerville Trolley (1920) short film based on the Toonerville Folks newspaper cartoon.[3]
Instead, Oswald's second-produced cartoon was submitted for release: Trolley Troubles. Universal was pleased and the short was released by Universal on September 5, 1927.
The press loved the new cartoon series Walt made and Oswald became a popular character. From then on, a new cartoon was released every two weeks.
As for Poor Papa, it was released eventually in theatres, although Universal held it back until 1928. In total, nine Oswald cartoons were released in 1927.
The cartoon was reissued on November 23, 1931, after Walter Lantz Productions took over the Oswald series. This re-release was completed with music and sound effects.
The copyright for Trolley Troubles expired in 1955.[4]
Home media[edit]
The short was released on December 11, 2007, on Walt Disney Treasures: The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.[5] A restored version of the short was released on Disney+ on September 7, 2023, as part of Disney's 100th Anniversary.[6]
