Greetings, Boils & Ghouls...
... and welcome to 'Day Seven' of "Abnor Mal's Guide To Creepy Cartoon Classics on Roku" where I aim to bring you another creepy cartoon classic from the plethora of spooky animated short films that have been released throughout the course of animation history - any of which can be streamed on TV via the magic of Roku media players - so let's dim down the lights, for some more fun & frights! :-O
If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published one week ago today, you'll know I plan to post a Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, featuring one vintage cartoon classic with spooky overtones each and every day. With recommendations for thirty-one of the most spook-tacular shorts I can find, by the end of the month, this means you'll have plenty of great choices for your creepy cartoon viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring lots of laughs & screams come October 31st! :-D
Likewise... if you read my post from 'Day Six' of this month-long blogathon, you might recall that it featured a still frame image of a spider dangling from it's cobweb. Now, the one thing missing from that cobweb was a fly... but that's not a problem for the spider in charge of an establishment which is set-up to provide overnight accommodation "For Flies Only", such as "The Cobweb Hotel" that just so happens to be the subject for today's creepy cartoon classic - so, come into my parlour, please do!
Produced by Max Fleischer - or, perhaps, that should be Fly-scher?! - and directed by Dave Fleischer, it was originally released on 15th May 1936 as part of the "Color Classics" series. Animation duties were handled by David Tendlar and William Sturm, while the music used for the soundtrack to this animated short came courtesy of Sammy Timberg and Bob Royhberg with sound by Western Electric.
The cartoon opens with a raspy-voiced spider singing about the swell service and other great reasons to "Spend the night at the Cobweb Hotel"... which is part of a miniature world, believed to have been created around one of the Fleischers' actual desks, in which the setting is an open writing desk where the individual cubby holes provide the "rooms" and everyday furnishings like a phone, fountain pen, typewriter, paper clips, and even aspirin, are all made use-of in ways that they wouldn't be under most normal circumstances. The entire operation is geared towards attracting flies to stay at the "hotel", so that the spider has a constant supply of food with which to fill his belly. By the time the song is over, a couple of newlywed flies have flown into the lobby and decide to stay there. Here's what happened:-
Of course, in addition to watching this embedded version of the cartoon right here on this blog, you can also choose to stream it on your big screen television by using the "cast" function built-in to the 'YouTube' app(s) for mobile devices on both the iOS (Apple) plus Android platforms. For those who may have missed my special hallowe'en blogathon preview posted seven days ago, to "cast" the video to your Roku player and/or NowTV device(s), you will first need to have the Roku channel (app) for 'YouTube' installed to act as a receiver for the stream you are casting. If you're not sure how to go about casting from your mobile device to your Roku there's a help article from 'Roku Support', which can be found on the official Roku website, that can walk you through the process step-by-step! ;-) :-D
YOUTUBE..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
Whichever platform you decide to view this video on, watch-out for the chilling moment when the spider, laughing sadistically, clips the fly's wings and renders him helpless. Luckily (for the fly) he just happens to be an (ahem) "Flyweight" champion boxer and can handle himself pretty well... but, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it's his new bride who must come to the rescue. The overall tone of this animated short is very dark, and there's a lot of "fighting" near the end where an atomizer becomes a "machine gun" and an improvised bow and arrow are put together using a safety pin with the nib of a pen. The whole sequence echoes a battle... but, overall, the cartoon is very inventive and (somehow) it evokes a similar sort of feeling (in places) to the old dark house films of yesteryear. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any posters for this animated short... but I have managed to cobble together a few still frame images, plus some captions to add a little colour, which can be seen below:-
Aside from the great animation... one of the highlights for me, in this creepy cartoon classic, is the song which the spider sings at the very start because, given the dark intent behind the whole facade, the wording, along with the tune used to carry them, make "The Cobweb Hotel" sound very inviting! Here's a transcription of the lyrics, so you can see for yourselves what I mean:-
Do bear in mind that the words (as I've shown them) may not be absolutely spot-on... but I only had the 'YouTube' soundtrack to go by when attempting to decipher them. Not easy, when the spider has a "singing voice" as rough as this - don't get me wrong, I love it... and it definitely adds to the magic of this cartoon but, boy, did I have to listen closely to get what I did! :-) Even so, if anyone finds an error in my transcription, please feel free to leave a comment with any corrections you think are needed! ;-)
If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published one week ago today, you'll know I plan to post a Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, featuring one vintage cartoon classic with spooky overtones each and every day. With recommendations for thirty-one of the most spook-tacular shorts I can find, by the end of the month, this means you'll have plenty of great choices for your creepy cartoon viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring lots of laughs & screams come October 31st! :-D
Likewise... if you read my post from 'Day Six' of this month-long blogathon, you might recall that it featured a still frame image of a spider dangling from it's cobweb. Now, the one thing missing from that cobweb was a fly... but that's not a problem for the spider in charge of an establishment which is set-up to provide overnight accommodation "For Flies Only", such as "The Cobweb Hotel" that just so happens to be the subject for today's creepy cartoon classic - so, come into my parlour, please do!
Produced by Max Fleischer - or, perhaps, that should be Fly-scher?! - and directed by Dave Fleischer, it was originally released on 15th May 1936 as part of the "Color Classics" series. Animation duties were handled by David Tendlar and William Sturm, while the music used for the soundtrack to this animated short came courtesy of Sammy Timberg and Bob Royhberg with sound by Western Electric.
The cartoon opens with a raspy-voiced spider singing about the swell service and other great reasons to "Spend the night at the Cobweb Hotel"... which is part of a miniature world, believed to have been created around one of the Fleischers' actual desks, in which the setting is an open writing desk where the individual cubby holes provide the "rooms" and everyday furnishings like a phone, fountain pen, typewriter, paper clips, and even aspirin, are all made use-of in ways that they wouldn't be under most normal circumstances. The entire operation is geared towards attracting flies to stay at the "hotel", so that the spider has a constant supply of food with which to fill his belly. By the time the song is over, a couple of newlywed flies have flown into the lobby and decide to stay there. Here's what happened:-
Of course, in addition to watching this embedded version of the cartoon right here on this blog, you can also choose to stream it on your big screen television by using the "cast" function built-in to the 'YouTube' app(s) for mobile devices on both the iOS (Apple) plus Android platforms. For those who may have missed my special hallowe'en blogathon preview posted seven days ago, to "cast" the video to your Roku player and/or NowTV device(s), you will first need to have the Roku channel (app) for 'YouTube' installed to act as a receiver for the stream you are casting. If you're not sure how to go about casting from your mobile device to your Roku there's a help article from 'Roku Support', which can be found on the official Roku website, that can walk you through the process step-by-step! ;-) :-D
YOUTUBE..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
Whichever platform you decide to view this video on, watch-out for the chilling moment when the spider, laughing sadistically, clips the fly's wings and renders him helpless. Luckily (for the fly) he just happens to be an (ahem) "Flyweight" champion boxer and can handle himself pretty well... but, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it's his new bride who must come to the rescue. The overall tone of this animated short is very dark, and there's a lot of "fighting" near the end where an atomizer becomes a "machine gun" and an improvised bow and arrow are put together using a safety pin with the nib of a pen. The whole sequence echoes a battle... but, overall, the cartoon is very inventive and (somehow) it evokes a similar sort of feeling (in places) to the old dark house films of yesteryear. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any posters for this animated short... but I have managed to cobble together a few still frame images, plus some captions to add a little colour, which can be seen below:-
"Spend The Night At The Cobweb Hotel... You'll Find That The Service Is Swell!"
"Come Into My Parlour... Said The Spider To The (Newlywed) Flies!"
Hmmm... Room '13' - Unlucky For Some - Don't Say I Didn't Warn You!
Most Flies Tend To Stick Around "The Cobweb Hotel" For Longer Than They Anticipated!
Aside from the great animation... one of the highlights for me, in this creepy cartoon classic, is the song which the spider sings at the very start because, given the dark intent behind the whole facade, the wording, along with the tune used to carry them, make "The Cobweb Hotel" sound very inviting! Here's a transcription of the lyrics, so you can see for yourselves what I mean:-
Spend the night at the Cobweb Hotel.
You'll find that the service is swell.
Now you needn't be shy.
I won't harm a fly.
Spend the night at the Cobweb Hotel.
Come into my parlor, please do.
In a while, all your cares will be through.
There'll be no rent to pay.
'Cause you'll be here to stay.
Spend the night at the Cobweb Hotel.
Do bear in mind that the words (as I've shown them) may not be absolutely spot-on... but I only had the 'YouTube' soundtrack to go by when attempting to decipher them. Not easy, when the spider has a "singing voice" as rough as this - don't get me wrong, I love it... and it definitely adds to the magic of this cartoon but, boy, did I have to listen closely to get what I did! :-) Even so, if anyone finds an error in my transcription, please feel free to leave a comment with any corrections you think are needed! ;-)
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Anyhow, that's all I've got time for today... but do remember to come back again tomorrow, for my next creepy cartoon recommendation from the archives of animated film history, when I will suggest another spooky short for 'Day Eight' of "Abnor Mal's Guide To Creepy Cartoon Classics on Roku" you can stream right here on this blog - as well as through the equivalent channel on your Roku player(s). Meanwhile... please be sure to visit the "Countdown To Hallowe'en" website & show your support for this annual online Hallowe'en extravaganza PLUS don't forget to use the links you find there and check out all the other 'Cryptkeepers' taking part this year. I know they'll appreciate it, if you visit their blogs and share your thoughts on the contribution(s) they've made.
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ONE LAST THING, BEFORE I GO: Don't forget that, aside from the Hallowe'en / Horror-themed ghastliness going on around these parts for the next month, you can also keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) by checking-out my regular 'Weekly RoundUp' posts each weekend where you will find up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related is posted on a weekly basis (well, almost).
Until the next time, then...
That's all folks !!
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