Magic on Broadway

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.

Ko-Ko and Fitz emerge from an inkwell into the sultan's harem.

It's just another day at the Granite Hotel.

Olive gets a phone call that she has won first prize in a sweepstake. After a frantic search, she locates her ticket, only to have it blow out the window. Help, Popeye!

Olive has a map that shows the location of her secret gold mine, but while she's showing it to Popeye, claim jumper Bluto photographs it and gets there first.

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.

Olive Oyl's screenplay for an Aladdin movie comes to life and Popeye battles for control of a genie in this, the last of the three Popeye color films.

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.

Ko-Ko the Clown thinks being a hero is easy, but his animator tries to prove him otherwise

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!

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.

Betty Boop, auditioning bandleaders for a college swing dance, "discovers" a cleaning woman who resembles Betty Grable

After wrecking Popeye's ship and stealing away Olive Oyl, hero of Arabic legend Sindbad decides to test him and his ever-resilient new rival's strength in order to prove their supremacy as the "most remarkable, extraordinary fella" of Sindbad's menagerie island.

Popeye wants to get Olive a fur coat, but after a run-in with dishonest furrier Geezil decides the best way is to go hunting for a bear himself.

Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpy are shipwrecked on an island of hostile Indians

When things go wrong at the circus, it's up to Superman to stop the escaped animals.