Hold 'Em Ozzie!: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Winkler, 1929) – Silent

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "Hold 'Em Ozzie!," a classic silent Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon from March 18, 1929, produced by George Winkler’s Winkler Pictures for Universal Studios—nearly a century ago—offering a nostalgic laugh for early animation fans. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, as he hosts a poker game with a group of animal buddies, including Peg-Leg Pete, a dog, and a cat, leading to slapstick chaos when the stakes escalate: Oswald’s ears are wagered, and a wild brawl ensues as cards fly, players cheat, and furniture crashes. The cartoon ends with Oswald emerging victorious but comically disheveled, his ears intact after a final bluff. Rediscovered on November 19, 2016, by Tommy José Stathes in Cartoon Carnival #50: Rarities Galore, this short—featuring animation by Ben Clopton, Isadore Freleng, R.C. Hamilton, Hugh Harman, Rudolf Ising, and Carman Maxwell—marks a lively moment in the Winkler era, capturing the rough, energetic style of late 1920s animation. A vibrant window into the golden age of silent cartoons, this preserved gem grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a poker party frozen in time.