Puttin on the Act

The theatrical run of Popeye the Sailor from 1933 to 1957 represents one of the most enduring and influential eras in American animation history. Spanning 231 shorts, this golden age of Popeye evolved across two distinct production studios: the boundary-pushing, gritty Fleischer Studios (1933–1942) and the more formulaic, brightly colored Famous Studios (1942–1957). Together, they transformed E.C. Segar’s comic strip character into a global cinematic icon, establishing formulas and animation techniques that altered the medium forever.

Gabby is a servant in a castle and is required to do a little housework.

It's just another day at the Granite Hotel.

Popeye's on a battleship, on which he's banished to the boiler room. A Japanese sub comes along. Can Popeye save his ship from the enemy?

Betty Boop runs for president in a loose storyline assembled from Fleischer cartoons redrawn by Korean animators.

More than just a landmark in superhero animation, Max Fleischer's Superman shorts were no less than the foundation for so many shows that succeeded it. Playing in theaters in 1941-42, only a few years after the Man of Steel made his debut in Action Comics, these 17 exciting films were produced by Fleischer and made famous the phrase "This looks like a job for Superman!" At 10 minutes, each film had just enough time to run the opening credits, establish the threat, let Lois Lane make a headstrong rush into peril, and allow Clark Kent to change to his alter ego and save the day. The films show a remarkably dynamic and atmospheric storytelling style that enables them to hold up for modern viewers. At first the films followed a science fiction-fantasy theme, but not unexpectedly for that time soon focused on wartime concerns.

Popeye gives Olive a parrot that he's trained. Bluto sets the bird free and then tries to kill it.

At an orphanage, the children are sad because they received used defective toys as gifts. Professor Grampy sees the children while passing by in his sled and has an idea on how to give them a merry Christmas.

Robbers target a special train carrying a billion dollars worth of gold, and the only one who can stop them is Superman!

It's time for lunch, and Spunky (the baby donkey) is expected to feed on healthy (and awful-tasting) Vitamin Hay. He resists, and wanders out of the barn to look for more interesting things to eat.

Bluto's in the Army; he tries to sneak off base, but can't. Popeye passes by, Bluto invites him in, then swaps uniforms. Popeye ends up in a tank drill.

Superman battles a criminal mastermind and his robot army.

A frozen Tyrannosaurus rex is found and put on display in a museum, but when he thaws out and revives, Superman has to stop his rampage!

Koko The Clown continually interrupts an animator, who turns his attention to trapping the clown.

Popeye takes Olive mountain climbing. Bluto sets various traps for them along the way.

After The Daily Planet receives a letter from a mad scientist threatening to wreak destruction with his Electrothanasia Ray, Lois Lane heads out in the hopes of getting more information for a news story.