Cartoon historian Timothy Fay talked about and played examples of classic cartoon music. This was a very fun program and I’m glad to get it archived. For me, one of the highlights was finding out the name of the big orange hairy monster who wore tennis shoes in the old Warner Bros cartoons!

Listen to the show

“I’ve been a fan of cartoons and animation for as long as I can remember, and I recently had the pleasure of helping Dig Up the Roots host Greg Carr put together a program on music from the early days of animation. You’ll hear songs from early Max Fleischer cartoons, including Popeye and Betty Boop, as well as some early jazz recordings (which the Fleischer’s used without permission from the artists – oops!). You’ll also hear songs from Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons, as well as novelty recordings featuring famous cartoon characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and some rodent named Mickey. And you can listen as Greg and I talk about the history of this music and the art of animation.”

-Tim Fay

For more information about cartoons and animation, I recommend these fine websites:

Jerry Beck’s Cartoon Research

The Cartoon Art Museum (San Francisco)

Playlist Tracks:

Don Pardo – WTV Toons Sign On
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Eddie Peabody – St Louis Blues / Some Of These Days
Album: Transcription Recording
Cab Calloway – Minnie The Moocher
Album: Transcription Recording; Label:
Mae Questel Rudy Vallee His Connecticut Yankees – Betty Boop
Album: Transcription Recording
Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra – Buffoon
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Oswald The Rabbit – Radio Rythym Soundtrack
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Bahnfahrt (Choo Choo Train Ride) – H. Schindler’s Orchestra
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Billy Costello – I’m Popeye the Sailor Man
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Floyd Buckley – Popeye
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Billy Costello – Barnacle Bill The Sailor
Album: Transcription Recording
Hoagy Carmichael His Orchestra – Barnacle Bill The Sailor
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
TV Cartoon Theme – Merrie Melodies (Merrily We Roll Along)
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits Vol 2; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Russ Morgan Manner – Looney Tunes (The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down)
Album: Television’s Greatest Hits Vol 2; Label: Tee Vee Toons
Raymond Scott Quintet – Powerhouse
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Carl Stalling Felix Mendelsson – Medley: Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals / The New Hebrides Overture
Album: Transcription Recording
Del Courtney His Orchestra – Honest John
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Harry Reser His Eskimos – Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Ben Bernie His Orchestra – What! No Mickey Mouse?
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
International Novelty Orchestra – Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte
Don Bestor His Orchestra – Mickey Mouse and Minnie’s in Town
Album: Tunes From The ‘Toons; Label: Pro Arte