Release Date:

April 11, 1942

Main Character(s):

None

Summary:

Spot gags in the Wild West.

That’s Not All, Folks:

Due to having recently been drafted, storyman Dave Monahan is credited as “Sgt. Dave Monahan”.

This is Freleng’s last black and white cartoon.

Despite not appearing, Porky is still featured in the intro.

This is the first black and white cartoon since “The Haunted Mouse” and “Joe Glow the Firefly” to be a one-shot. This cartoon also marks the official start where the Looney Tunes no longer had to have continuing characters (though they were still in black and white for a while).

A rodeo is advertised in “Frisby County”, an obvious reference to Freleng.

What I Like About This One:

The cartoon starts off with a dotted line making a journey westward through a US map in the days when the west was young, where the heads on Mount Rushmore are shown as children.

The dotted line makes it way around the literally Painted Desert which is marked with “Wet Paint” signs.

A desperately thirsty wandering traveler drinks a whole bucket full of water at “Custer’s Last Stand” and just when it looks like he’s refreshed, he continues his thirsty trek! (animated by Cal Dalton)

A wagon train imitates a train complete with tracks on the ground.

In a western town, a cat chases a mouse with a lasso like he’s a cowboy.

A running gag of a Pony Express rider having trouble getting onto a horse when the horse starts galloping away (these scenes are accompanied by the Light Cavalry Overture).

A cowboy getting his fingers tied in knots when attempting to fold his cigarette (animated by Richard Bickenbach).

Tough cowboy Texas Pete laughs at danger and proves that gunfire only tickles him when shot by an hombre (he says “Stop it! You’re killing me!” while laughing very hard).

The rider from earlier then tries to get onto a second uncooperative horse.

At a rodeo, a cowboy becomes shorter after grabbing hold of a bull’s horns and trying to skid to a stop, a horse and his rider jump over a hurdle, another horse literally throws his rider off of him and sticks his tongue out at the narrator who had claimed that “He’ll never throw THIS boy!”, and a wild untamed horse gets stage fright and slinks away upon seeing the cheering crowd.

In the end, the rider is still trying to get onto the horse and after disappearing behind a rock, it’s revealed that the horse is riding the rider like a horse.

Where Can I Watch It?

On YouTube!

Carrot Rating:

🥕🥕🥕🥕