Classic cartoon show is post-holiday gift

The Alex Film Society is tipping its hat to animation with the inaugural showing of “The Greatest Cartoons Ever!” — the crème de la crème of cartoons from the movies’ Golden Age — in two screenings on Sunday at the Alex Theatre.

It’s the baby of film society board member Frank Gladstone, who’s been working in the animation industry for 40 years.

The lineup includes “Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor” 1936, Paramount; “Snow White” starring Betty Boop, 1933, Paramount; “Three Little Pigs” 1933, Disney; “The Rabbit of Seville” featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, 1950, Warner Bros.; and “Superman”, a rare 35mm print.

An interesting fact about the Popeye cartoon is that some say it was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”, Gladstone said.

Fleischer Studios, which produced cartoons for Paramount Studios, released two Popeyes that had a 3-D feel to them, he said.

“Popeye was so popular, Walt was worried that Mickey was losing ground,” Gladstone said. “Walt wanted to do something special with ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,’ which was a short. They decided to make it part of ‘Fantasia’.”

Also on the program is the 1950 Warner Bros. cartoon “The Rabbit of Seville,” featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

“It’s a send up of the opera, and in it, Bug Bunny gives a haircut to Elmer Fudd to the music of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville.’ ”

Gladstone and special guest Jerry Beck, animation historian and author, will be on stage and host a series of clips as an added attraction, Gladstone said.

If the show draws enough people, the film society will build this event like it did for the Three Stooges Big Screen event held every Thanksgiving weekend, he added.

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Infobox:

What: The Alex Film Society presents “The Greatest Cartoons Ever!”

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale

Admission: $15; $12.50 seniors/students/kids; $10 Alex Film Society members (join at the box office with cash or check and save immediately on admission). Information: https://www.alexfilmsociety.org