Jack Cosgriff

MGM Cartoon Christmas

Hugh Harman's brilliant 1939 Oscar-Nominated parable Peace On Earth, highlights MGM/UA Home Video's animated shorts Christmas Package. Also included is Hugh Harman-Rudolph Ising's Alias St. Nick, a comedic tale about a young cynical mouse who believes there "ain't no Santa Claus." The Pups' Christmas follows two adorable puppies as they tangle with cornucopia of gifts, some of which turn out to be quite menacing! The Peachy Cobbler is a heartwarming retelling of the sweet Shoemaker and the Elves, directed by Tex Avery. A sickly old shoemaker feeds his last piece of bread to some birds who then decide to do him a favor and fix all the shoes in his shop!

Millionaire Droopy

Despite what's printed on the credits, Tex Avery had nothing to do with this cartoon - it's a Cinemascope remake of 'Wags to Riches' (1949), put together by others from his original artwork and production cels. Apart from the new Cinemascope backgrounds, it's identical to the earlier film.

After the Ball

This cartoon is a bit of a bizarre experiment that asks, "What if Woody Woodpecker were the size of Tom Thumb and had to live in a bowling ball?"

Sleepy-Time Squirrel

Barney Bear is forced to give hibernation lodgings in his home to his neighbor Jimmy Squirrel, who makes it impossible to get any sleep.

Half-Pint Palomino

Barney Bear sets out to capture the world's smallest horse.

Wee-Willie Wildcat

Barney, outraged by his neighbor William Wildcat spanking his son, borrows the lad to try applying child psychology. But the boy's grasp of psychology (and explosives) is much better than Barney's.

Heir Bear

Barney inherited a map to treasure buried in his backyard, but his digging doesn't square with the plans of the gopher sleeping on the treasure.

Cobs and Robbers

In this Barney Bear animated short, Barney is plagued by crows.

Barney's Hungry Cousin

Barney Bear heads to a national park for a vacation while another bear, native to the park, notices Barney's picnic lunch and makes various attempts to steal the food.

Busybody Bear

Barney gets involved in Good Neighbor Week by helping out the local beaver - help the beaver could do without.

Caballero Droopy

Droopy is on his way to woo his lovely señorita when he is waylayed by Slick the Wolf intent on winning the fair lass. But Slick wasn't counting on Droopy's uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

The Counterfeit Cat

A cat steals the headpiece of a dog to deceive the bulldog Spike and get a chance to eat the canary Spike is guarding.

Little Rural Riding Hood

The last of Tex Avery's variations on "Red Hot Riding Hood" (1943), in which the country wolf visits his city cousin, who tries to teach him the rudiments of civilized behavior when watching girls in nightclubs - without, it has to be said, a great deal of success...

Doggone Tired

A rabbit tries all he can to keep a hunting dog awake before tomorrow's big hunt.

The House of Tomorrow

Tex Avery's narrator shows us the amazing features of the ultra-modern House of Tomorrow.

Playful Pelican

Andy Panda is swabbing the deck of his ship when he comes across a stubborn pelican who refuses to move. When Andy finally does rid himself of the pesky bird, it turns out that particular pelican was an expecting mother whose offspring has now hatched. Feeling bad, Andy does his best to care for the young hatchling.

Kiddie Koncert

Wally Walrus conducts the school band's performance of Franz von Suppé's 'Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna' overture.

Daddy Duck

For some reason, Donald adopts a baby. It turns out not to be a duck, but a kangaroo. Donald takes little Joey home and tries to make him take a bath, with the help of the friendly lady of the adoption bureau on the telephone telling him what to do. After the bath, Donald's baby is scared by the rug made of a bear.

King Midas, Junior

Midas Junior inherits the Golden Rubber touch on his birthday and is unhappy because everything he touches turns to rubber. But when he learns there is a great shortage and need for rubber, he happily goes around turning everything to rubber.

The Dumbconscious Mind

Butch's evil conscience convinces him to try and steal meat from a cute puppy.

The Gullible Canary

A hobo crow tricks a canary out of his comfortable cage with inflated promises of happiness in the outside world.

A Battle For A Bottle

A cat literally uses his nine lives to get a bottle of milk off of a porch guarded by a bulldog.

Cinderella Goes To A Party

An irreverent, animated modernization of the Cinderella story.

Dog Meets Dog

About a big bulldog who steals a cocker spaniel's dog license in order to avoid the dog catcher's wrath.

The Screwdriver

Woody Woodpecker is driving through the countryside and is, shall we say, not a stickler for the rules. He's practically asking for trouble when he confronts a traffic cop who explains he is looking for speeders. Woody reveals himself to be a speeder by driving to Alaska and back in less than a minute. The cop tries to arrest him but Woody states, "I bet ya wouldn't be so tough without that uniform." The officer undresses but Woody attacks him with a boxing glove camera. Woody also gets his goat by dressing as a farmer on horse-and-buggy and as a Chinaboy with rickshaw. Finally, the cop flips out and is sent to a mental hospital with Woody as his caretaker.

Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker spends his day singing loudly and pecking holes in trees. He infuriates the other woodland creatures - when he isn't baffling them with his bizarre behavior. Woody overhears a squirrel and a group of birds gossiping about him. Even though he just sang a song proclaiming his craziness, he denies their whispered accusations that he's nuts. But after they trick him into knocking his head on a statue, the poor bird hears voices in his head and decides the animals might be right. He decides to see a doctor.

The Little Mole

A mole lad with sensitive vision is allowed outside to play in the daylight on the condition that he stay close to home. Outdoors, he meets a traveling sales-skunk.

Papa Gets the Bird

Papa Bear attempts to give the family's pet canary a bath. An MGM Bear Family cartoon.

The Bookworm Turns

Poe's raven, not feeling well, goes in search of a doctor, and in a nearby book finds Dr. Jekyll. The doctor offers to transfer the bookworm's brain to the raven.

Peace on Earth

Two baby squirrels ask grandpa to explain what "men" are when he comes in singing "peace on earth, goodwill to men". Grandpa tells the story of man's last war. This classic animation short was an Academy Award Best Short Subject, Cartoons nominee.