My Pal Paul: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Lantz, 1930)

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "My Pal Paul," a landmark silent Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon from June 20, 1930, produced and directed by Walter Lantz for Universal Studios—nearly a century ago—offering a nostalgic thrill for early animation fans. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, as he stages a concert for barn animals to promote Universal’s major 1930 release, King of Jazz, mimicking music from his idol, Paul Whiteman. When the animals discover he’s lip-syncing to a record, they boo and shun him, prompting Oswald to wander off in shame and attempt to hang himself from a tree—a dark gag typical of the era. Rescued by Paul Whiteman himself, who arrives in his car, the two strike up a friendship, performing surreal music together using car parts as instruments: dancing tools, a hood ornament doing an Indian dance, and other whimsical setpieces. Voiced by Pinto Colvig, with parts of the soundtrack composed by Jack Yellen, Milton Ager, Mabel Wayne, and Billy Rose, this short—designed as a promotional tie-in for King of Jazz—captures Lantz’s surreal, slapstick style, blending humor with jazz-inspired chaos. A lively window into early 1930s animation’s golden age, this preserved gem grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a jazzy friendship frozen in time.