The Low Roads, Chapter 2 (comic: M [Ms]/F[Fs] - belly; various; foot).

[cosquillero1]

I remember some old cartoons (done in 50's years, but retransmitted over until 70's), where did appear those skeletons (some Merry Melodys cartoons), where had themes of witched houses, tombs and ghosts.

 

[Low_Roads]

Okay, I see you can download footage there as well as find lists. I'll have to try that out when I've got lots of time to burn. Which scenes are you going after, Kal? Theatrical or TV stuff?

Do you remember any titles, cosquillero? Merry Melodies would mean Warner Brothers... I don't remember them dealing specifically with skeletons, but all the studios were producing pretty much the same sort of thing in the early '30s. It can actually be a bit difficult to tell them apart (early Silly Symphonies look a lot like early Ub Iwerks, which look a lot like early Merry Melodies, which etc. ... primarliy because artists tended to "float" between studios). And haunted house themes were very popular at the time.

 

[Kalamos]

Well... I recall a scene from an oldie toon, with a mischievous girl, with brown locks, a red dress and a matching basque hat.

They used to produce and least two different seasons, one older, maybe '50s vintage, with richer colours and slapstick humour, and a later, '60? '70? lower quality series, with a full cast of side characters and toned down stories.

Can't remember her name right now, but my cogs are working.

...

And the first season used to portray a remote-tickling scene with a sawn-in-half woman.
It would be a good finding.

 

[Low_Roads]

And the first season used to portray a remote-tickling scene with a sawn-in-half woman. It would be a good finding.

That wasn't Little Lulu, by any chance? A theatrical cartoon from Famous Studios? Man, I can just barely remember such a scene, and I'm sure it was Little Lulu! I haven't seen it in about 45 years!

 

[cosquillero1]

...Do you remember any titles, cosquillero? Merry Melodies would mean Warner Brothers... I don't remember them dealing specifically with skeletons, but all the studios were producing pretty much the same sort of thing in the early '30s. It can actually be a bit difficult to tell them apart (early Silly Symphonies look a lot like early Ub Iwerks, which look a lot like early Merry Melodies, which etc. ... primarliy because artists tended to "float" between studios). And haunted house themes were very popular at the time.

I remember to have seen those episodes when i was a little child, but honestly i can't to remember the name of those episodes. I believe that Merry Melodies was developed by WB, but i'm not really sure. Maybe Boomerang Channel have them.

 

[Kalamos]

That wasn't Little Lulu, by any chance? A theatrical cartoon from Famous Studios? Man, I can just barely remember such a scene, and I'm sure it was Little Lulu! I haven't seen it in about 45 years!

Yes! It was her! The name rang a bell and Google confirmed it.

...

Well... apparently I have 45 years old memories, and it's quite a feat considering my actual age of XX!

😀

...

Good one, LBH: considering the revival these toons have been experiencing, it might be possible to locate that scene, now.

🙂

 

[Low_Roads]

Hey! That's great news! I hope you can find the thing! I'd love to see it again (talk about a nostaliga blast!

Well... apparently I have 45 years old memories, and it's quite a feat considering my actual age of XX!

Gotta be careful about topics like this... they can be mighty revealing!😉

 

[Kalamos]

Not to sound obdurate but... you put your own birthday under your profile, haven't you?

...

March 25, 19XX...

 

[Low_Roads]

Oh yeah, I don't mind people knowing my age. The elderly always receive special consideration!

 

[Kalamos]

But you mentioned the risk of revealing too much...

...

Why do I seek logic in others' deeds, when mine are completely devoid thereof?

...

😀 😀 😀

...

Hey... I deserve respect too! My hair is getting grey!
They better respect my elderly mane, or they'll get to respect my .44 slug thrower!

...

😉

 

[Low_Roads]

Man, this was a nice, peaceful thread I had once. Now folks are pulling out firearms! Take it easy, Kal... they're just kids!

 

[Kalamos]

* Eyes those "kids" ravenously... *

...

Right, right. Lead ruins the flavour.

...

* Snarl *

 

[Low_Roads]

There! Doesn't that feel better! No mass-produced result can match the satisfaction of a job done carefully and lovingly by hand!

 

[scavenger]

I just read this second part of your comic. Astoundingly great work, Littlebighead! 😀
I can only repeat that I enormously like the Pat Sullivan/Fleisher Brothers style.
I'm familiar with those (especially their 1930's cartoons), as I have studied Animation at the Academy of Fine arts, but I've never heard of the Van Beuren studios... I should look that up sometime.
I also like the way you have fleshed out your world, Like in the previous part we learned how the low roads came to be (with the big dam) and in this part we see even more geographic details (like the view over the village where Mercy Mew lives).
Also the "abandoned Button-factory" was a funny and original detail.

Thanks for sharing! 😀

 

[Low_Roads]

That's very kind of you, scavenger! Thank you! It's very satisfying to me that my attempts to broaden Tabor County a bit have proved pleasing... I'm also most delighted that the "button factory" gag went over well! I meant that as a throw-away detail, so it's very nice to have it recognized!

If you enjoyed Pat Sullivan's "Felix" cartoons, I believe you'll find Van Beuren's output simliar in tone... not as deliciously mean-spirited, perhaps, but just as trippy and elastic. That Image 2-disc collection was released some time ago, but it may still be available for purchase. For anyone interested in vintage animation, it's well worth the money.

 

[Yet_One_More_Idiot]

I may only be a kid at 23, but I deserve respect too; anyone got a cure for baldness?

(You know you're going bald when you're DAD mentions it... :wooha: :weird: )

 

[Kalamos]

My barber mentioned it.

...

Changed barber.

 

[Low_Roads]

I've heard of a sure-fire Amazonian baldness cure, but it shrinks the head to the same degree that it grows hair. I'm not sure the trade-off is worth it. Hair is overrated, anyway. I understand that the roots can sink into the skull and affect cognitive function.

Man, I'm loving this subscription to the Weekly World News!

 

[Kalamos]

Besides, I can't grow hair over scars anyway.

 

[Yet_One_More_Idiot]

Sadly for me, hair loss at a young age runs in both parents' families. Ah well...I absolutely refuse to do a comb-over! 🙂

 

[Kalamos]

You could shave.
Being bald has some distinctive advantages.

 

[Low_Roads]

Sadly for me, hair loss at a young age runs in both parents' families. Ah well...I absolutely refuse to do a comb-over! 🙂

Good for you, koopacooper! That's never an attractive look!

I have just the opposite problem... hair that's too full and thick. Not hirsute level, but close. Result: it's quite hard to control and I rarely ever look tidy. I image many people find a bit of thinning hair far easier to look at!

 

[Spud_Mobile]

Fantastic stuff... I still say you're channeling the undead spirit of a young R. Crumb. Keep on Truckin', Littlebighead! And hey, any chance of a male ticklee in the future? 😉

 

[Low_Roads]

Thanks again for the Crumb comparison, Spud_Mobile! He's a unique talent, but I'm happy I can approach his style sufficiently to remind you of him! And he certainly did touch on funny animals in his Fritz universe. Wish he was doing more work today.

I had no initial plans for any male tickling (I just don't find it very interesting personally), but I'd be lying if I said the possibility hadn't occured to me. It just seems less and less credible that only the ladies take part; it's limiting. This and the nylon tickling requests are good suggestions that would keep the premise from becoming stale. I'll certainly try to work in at least one instance, perhaps as soon as chapter 6 (I see a good opportunity there).

 

[Yet_One_More_Idiot]

I could shave, but I won't - too lazy. 😛 So I have a thick beard, and long hair at the back and sides, but nothing on top or in front. 🙂