Gold Rush Daze

Plot

A determined hound dog arrives at a remote gas station in the hills, equipped with mining tools and eager to strike it rich during the gold rush. The gas station attendant, another hound dog, recounts his own failed attempts at finding gold during the 1849 California Gold Rush, detailing his unsuccessful efforts at digging, mining, and panning. Just as the story concludes, a horseman gallops up announcing the discovery of gold nearby, causing the gas station hound to impulsively trade his entire business for the other dog's car and mining equipment. The film concludes with the newly-equipped hound racing off to pursue the gold, leaving the original prospector to take over the gas station duties.

Historical Background

Released in early 1939, 'Gold Rush Daze' emerged during a pivotal period in American history and cinema. The Great Depression was still affecting millions, making stories about striking it rich particularly appealing to audiences. The film also came out as tensions were rising in Europe, foreshadowing America's eventual entry into World War II. In the animation world, 1939 represented a transition year, with Disney's 'Snow White' having proven the commercial viability of feature animation the previous year, while studios like Warner Bros. continued to dominate the short subject market. The cartoon's gold rush theme also tapped into American mythology about westward expansion and the promise of wealth through hard work and luck.

Making Of

Cal Dalton, a veteran animator who had worked with Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising before joining Leon Schlesinger's studio, was transitioning into a directorial role at Warner Bros. during this period. The cartoon was created during a particularly creative era at the studio, when directors like Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, and Friz Freleng were developing the fast-paced, irreverent style that would make Warner Bros. cartoons famous. The animation team would have used the standard production process of the era: storyboards created by writers, key animation drawn by lead animators, in-between work completed by junior animators, and final painting done on celluloid sheets. The voice work was likely handled by Mel Blanc, Warner Bros.' primary voice actor, though the characters don't have extensive dialogue.

Visual Style

The cartoon utilized standard black and white animation techniques of the late 1930s, with careful attention to shading and contrast to create depth. The animation team employed squash and stretch techniques to give the characters exaggerated, comedic movements. The desert and mountain settings were rendered with simplified but effective background art, typical of the limited production schedules of theatrical shorts. The visual style featured the characteristic Warner Bros. approach of angular designs and dynamic poses, influenced by the modernist art movements of the period.

Innovations

While 'Gold Rush Daze' didn't introduce groundbreaking technical innovations, it employed the standard animation techniques that had been refined throughout the 1930s. The cartoon utilized the multiplane camera effect for certain scenes to create a sense of depth, though this was used more sparingly at Warner Bros. than at Disney. The animation team employed rotoscoping for realistic movement in some sequences, particularly for the vehicles and machinery. The sound recording used the standard optical track technology of the era, with dialogue, music, and effects combined onto a single optical soundtrack printed on the film.

Music

The musical score was likely composed by Carl Stalling, Warner Bros.' prolific musical director who was revolutionizing cartoon scoring during this era. Stalling was famous for his use of popular songs, classical music excerpts, and original compositions to enhance the comedic timing of the animation. The soundtrack would have featured sound effects created by the studio's effects department, using both traditional foley techniques and early audio manipulation. The music would have been synchronized with the animation to accentuate gags and action sequences, a technique Stalling perfected during his tenure at Warner Bros.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence showing the hound dog enthusiastically driving to the hills with his mining equipment
• The flashback sequence depicting the gas station hound's various failed attempts at finding gold during the 1849 rush
• The climactic scene where the horseman announces gold discovery, causing the frantic trade between the two dogs

What Critics Said

As a theatrical short, 'Gold Rush Daze' received limited critical attention upon release, which was typical for animated shorts of the era. Trade publications like Variety and The Film Daily would have briefly noted its release in their listings of short subjects. The cartoon was likely evaluated primarily on its entertainment value and suitability as theater programming. Modern animation historians and scholars have not extensively written about this particular short, as it's considered a minor entry in the Warner Bros. catalog compared to the more famous cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, or Porky Pig.

What Audiences Thought

Theatrical audiences in 1939 would have viewed 'Gold Rush Daze' as part of a typical movie theater program, appearing before the main feature. Audience reactions were generally positive for Warner Bros. cartoons of this era, which were known for their humor and energy. The gold rush theme would have been familiar and entertaining to contemporary viewers. Like most studio cartoons of the period, it served its purpose as enjoyable filler content that kept audiences entertained between feature presentations. The short would have been particularly appreciated by children, who were a significant portion of cartoon audiences.

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