Rainbow Parade


Rainbow Parade was a series of 26 animated shorts produced by Van Beuren Studios and distributed to theaters by RKO between 1934 and 1936. This was the all-color series and final series produced by Van Beuren.

History

Many of the Rainbow Parade cartoons were one-shot stories with no recurring characters, but several of the films featured Parrotville Parrots, Molly Moo-Cow, Toonerville Folks, and Felix the Cat. This series was purchased by Commonwealth Pictures in 1941 and was later syndicated for television. The 1935 short The Merry Kittens was used in an episode of The Wubbcast. Thunderbean Animation released a collection of the early Rainbow Parade cartoons on DVD in 2009. The second half of the series is available from the original negatives released by Image DVD/Blackhawk Films/Film Preservation Associates.

Filmography

The first 13 cartoons in the series were all produced in two-strip Cinecolor. Starting with 'Molly Moo and the Butterflies', the remainder of the series was produced in three-strip Technicolor.
TitleCharactersOriginal release dateDirectorNotes
Pastry Town WeddingBride, Groom, Pastry ChefsJuly 27, 1934Burt Gillett
Ted Eshbaugh
  • First Rainbow Parade series short.
  • First short in two-strip Cinecolor.
  • First short co-directed by Burt Gillett and Ted Eshbaugh.
  • Later reissued as a promotional film for a bakery by the name of Cushman's Sons, Inc. This reissue adds an extra animated scene advertising the bakery, along with special title cards.
The Parrotville Fire DepartmentThe Flasher, FirefightersSeptember 14, 1934Burt Gillett
Steve Muffatti
  • Only short co-directed by Steve Muffatti.
  • The first of three "Parrotville" cartoons in the Rainbow Parade series.
    • The Sunshine MakersGnomes, GoblinsJanuary 11, 1935Burt Gillett
    Ted Eshbaugh
  • Re-issued in 1940 as a promotional film for Borden's Milk, with the "Borden" script on the title card. The original 1935 Rainbow Parade titles have been found.
  • Runner-up on The 50 Greatest Cartoons list.
    • Parrotville Old FolksMatron Birdkins, Captain, Friend, Old FolksJanuary 25, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • First short co-directed by Tom Palmer.
  • The second of three "Parrotville" cartoons in the Rainbow Parade series.
    • Japanese LanternsJapanese Children, Father, StorkMarch 8, 1935Burt Gillett
    Ted Eshbaugh
  • aka Chinese Lanterns
  • Final short co-directed by Ted Eshbaugh.
    • Spinning MiceWizard/Rabbit, Lizards/Doves, Toad/Squirrel, Throwback Mice/Devils, Girl, Boy, MiceApril 5, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • Contains a live-action prologue and epilogue sequences.
    • A Picnic Panic
    		Molly Moo-Cow, Teapots, Flashback Teapots, TeacupsMay 3, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • First appearance of Molly Moo-Cow.
  • Contains a live-action prologue and epilogue with animated wraparounds.
    • The Merry KittensThree Kittens, TerrierMay 31, 1935Burt Gillett
    Shamus Culhane
  • Only short co-directed by Shamus Culhane.
    • Parrotville Post-OfficeThe Captain, Black Parrot, Mrs. Perkins, Mr. Perkins' ChildrenJune 28, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • The last of three "Parrotville" cartoons in the Rainbow Parade series.
    • Rag DogThree Kittens, Two TerriersJuly 19, 1935Burt Gillett
  • First short solely directed by Burt Gillett.
    • The Hunting SeasonMolly Moo-Cow, Ducks, HuntersAugust 19, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • First appearance of Molly Moo Cow out of the flashback sequence.
    • Scotty Finds a HomeScotty, Family, BullyAugust 23, 1935Burt Gillett
    Bird ScoutsBirds, CatSeptember 20, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • Final short in two-strip Cinecolor.
    • Molly Moo-Cow and the ButterfliesMolly Moo-Cow, Collector, ButterfliesNovember 15, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • First short in three-strip Technicolor.
    • Molly Moo-Cow and the IndiansMolly Moo-Cow, Indian Squaw, Papoose, Indian Brave, Two DucksNovember 15, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
    Molly Moo-Cow and Rip Van WinkleMolly Moo-Cow, Rip Van Winkle, Little MenDecember 17, 1935Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
    Toonerville TrolleyToonerville Trolley, Skipper, Katrinka, Molly Moo-Cow, BullJanuary 17, 1936Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • The first of three Rainbow Parade cartoons based on the Toonerville Trolley comic strip.
  • Cameo by Molly Moo-Cow
  • Only Toonerville short co-directed by Tom Palmer.
    • Felix the Cat in "The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg"Felix the Cat, Goldie, Captain Kidd, PiratesFebruary 7, 1936Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • First Felix the Cat cartoon in the Rainbow Parade series. Also the first three-strip Technicolor appearance of Felix the Cat.
    • Molly Moo-Cow and Robinson CrusoeMolly Moo-Cow, Robinson Crusoe, CannibalsFebruary 28, 1936Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • Molly Moo-Cow's final appearance.
    • Neptune NonsenseFelix the Cat, King Neptune, Annabelle, Octopus, Electric Eel, MermaidMarch 20, 1936Burt Gillett
    Tom Palmer
  • Final short co-directed by Burt Gillett and Tom Palmer.
    • Bold King ColeFelix the Cat, Old King Cole, GhostsMay 29, 1936Burt Gillett
  • Final Felix the Cat cartoon in the Rainbow Parade series. Also final and third three-strip Technicolor appearance of Felix the Cat.
  • Only Felix short solely directed by Burt Gillett.
    • A Waif's WelcomeOrphan, Mother, Father, SonJune 19, 1936Tom Palmer
  • First of two shorts solely directed by Tom Palmer.
    • Trolley AhoyToonerville Trolley, Skipper, Mr. Bang, KatrinkaJuly 3, 1936Burt Gillett
  • The second of three Rainbow Parade cartoons based on the Toonerville Trolley comic strip.
    • Cupid Gets His ManDan Cupid, Edna May Oliver, W.C. FieldsJuly 24, 1936Tom Palmer
  • One source suggests that the spinster actually is a dead ringer for Margaret Hamilton.
  • Second and final of two shorts solely directed by Tom Palmer.
  • Only short where the characters were solely designed by Dan Gordon.
    • It's a Greek LifeCentaur, Mercury, Two DucksAugust 2, 1936Dan Gordon
  • Only a day in the limelight short in the Rainbow Parade series.
  • Only short solely directed by Dan Gordon.
    • Toonerville PicnicToonerville Trolley, Skipper, Mr. Bang, Katrinka, Dog, OctopusOctober 2, 1936Burt Gillett
  • Final Rainbow Parade series short.
  • The last of three Rainbow Parade cartoons based on the Toonerville Trolley comic strip.
  • Final short solely directed by Burt Gillett.