Release Date:

June 4, 1938

Main Character(s):

Porky Pig

Summary:

Porky Pig and his crew of firefighters try to put out a fire at Mrs. Twerp’s Theatrical Boarding House.

That’s Not All, Folks:

At one point, a sign labeled “Millars” can be seen. This is a reference to storyman Melvin Millar (who incidentally wrote this cartoon).

The cartoon features a gag that would obviously not be acceptable today: a panicking white man jumps out of the building, lands in a smoke cloud, and upon coming out, becomes a black-faced caricature talking slowly. In another scene, Porky dumps smoke into a fishbowl, causing the fish to become black-faced.

What I Like About This One:

The music that plays over the title card.

One of the firemen opening the door for the fire truck to go out, but they go out through the side of the building.

The firemen stopping to let a group of cats cross the street.

When the firemen start spraying the burning building, the smoke spells out “Thanks boys”.

Any scene with Porky’s hard of hearing dog assistant (he also uses the same theme as the dynamite-blasting dog from “Porky’s Building”). It’s a wonder how that guy got a job in the firefighting industry as he just slowly walks up to Porky and asks “What did you say?” in an uninterested tone.

Porky shooing some dogs away from a fire hydrant.

A flame grabbing Porky’s water bucket and dousing him with it.

A woman whose suitcase reads “Mabel the Fat Lady” demanding the dog assistant to put her on the street. He picks her up and drops her.

Porky trying to save an old man but he jumps out himself and uses his beard as a parachute (“Don’t worry about me; go save Grandpa!”)

A flame taunting the hose when it misses but gets doused when the hose catches it off-guard.

Porky attaching the hose to the hydrant but water keeps gushing out from another end (one the hose is not attached to). It’s revealed that the dog assistant was controlling it by using a squirting water bottle.

A group of acrobats landing in such a way that they form the Warner Bros. shield.

When the building finally burns to the ground, the last flame grabs the hose and sprays the fireman! The flame then does a Tarzan yell.

Where Can I Watch It?

At archive.org!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕 ½