"Food Around the Corner" song question

James Langdell

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Feb 26, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/26/97

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I have a question about a song that sprang into my mind the
other day. I was driving to a restaurant. As I neared the
destination, I started singing the chorus "Food around the
corner / Food around the corner..."

I recall this song turning up in an old cartoon. I think it
was sung by a flea preparing to feast on a dog. The voice
was memorably annoying.

Does anyone remember such a cartoon?

And, does anyone know of a previous source of that song,
"Food Around the Corner"? Is it an actual depression-era
song?

--James Langdell jam...@eng.sun.com
Sun Microsystems Menlo Park, Calif.

NT Rant

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Feb 26, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/26/97

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>I have a question about a song that sprang into my mind the
>other day. I was driving to a restaurant. As I neared the
>destination, I started singing the chorus "Food around the
>corner / Food around the corner..."

>I recall this song turning up in an old cartoon. I think it
>was sung by a flea preparing to feast on a dog. The voice
>was memorably annoying.

Yeah, this is from an old Warner Bros cartoon. Funny I should read this
since I was singing it about a week ago. My wife thought that I had made
it up. I don't think she believed that I got it from a cartoon. I'll have
to print this up and show it to her.

Great, now the stupid song is in my head again. Thanks.

Later.

Frank Emsley.

Kimba w l

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Feb 26, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/26/97

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You may want to ask your question in alt.animation.warner-bros.

I remember the cartoon; it involved Porky Pig and his dog. The flea
sounded like Mel Blanc sped up and I would guess it was directed by
Bob Clampett. Can't tell you the name of the cartoon or the origin of
the song.

Kimba
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CatrDohtem

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Feb 26, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/26/97

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<< Does anyone remember such a cartoon?

That's from the 1943 Bob Clampett classic "An Itch in Time," starring
Elmer Fudd and a flea who starts to irritate Elmer's dog.

For anyone looking for that song/cartoon, the cartoon is widely available,
but mainly on those cheap $1.99 video tapes that are just labeled "Elmer
Fudd" or "Elmer Fudd and Friends" (these usually turn up in places like
supermarkets, etc.). While it's a cheap and easy way to get the cartoon,
the prints that are usually shown on these videos are in terrible
condition.

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Frank M. Bland

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Feb 26, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/26/97

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catrd...@aol.com (CatrDohtem) wrote:

><< Does anyone remember such a cartoon?

>That's from the 1943 Bob Clampett classic "An Itch in Time," starring
>Elmer Fudd and a flea who starts to irritate Elmer's dog.

An interesting side-note is that there's a line in that cartoon that
was put in simply for the amusement of the crew (something done
frequently at the WB cartoon mill) -- it was never intended to be
included in the final release -- but somehow it managed to get by the
censors. The line occured when Elmer's dog was madly trying to scratch
the itch by dragging his butt across the floor at high speed. He
suddenly stops, turns to the camera, and says, "Say...I'd better watch
out...I'm beginning to like this."

At least this is the story I read in one of the many books on Warner
cartoons...can't remember which one.

F.

Reply To: coo...@pipeline.com
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Frank M. Bland
Jamaica 11432
coo...@pipeline.com
marx.b...@pipeline.com
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Chris Sullivan

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Feb 27, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/27/97

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: For anyone looking for that song/cartoon, the cartoon is widely available,

: but mainly on those cheap $1.99 video tapes that are just labeled "Elmer
: Fudd" or "Elmer Fudd and Friends" (these usually turn up in places like
: supermarkets, etc.). While it's a cheap and easy way to get the cartoon,
: the prints that are usually shown on these videos are in terrible
: condition.

There is an "Elmer Fudd Classics" MPEG CD-ROM that also contains the
cartoon. The print isn't bad, but the audio leaves a little to be
desired, and it isn't a very good MPEG job.

I picked up the CD at Fry's Electronics, a big chain here in California.
I've also seen the CD at computer swapmeets and at a couple of CD-ROM
only stores here in Orange County.

If there's enough interest, I can get the CD-ROM (it's at my work) and
post more details (manufacturer info, etc.)

James Langdell

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Mar 4, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/4/97

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I [jam...@Eng.Sun.COM (James Langdell)] originally wrote to ask:

>I have a question about a song that sprang into my mind the
>other day. I was driving to a restaurant. As I neared the
>destination, I started singing the chorus "Food around the
>corner / Food around the corner..."
>
>I recall this song turning up in an old cartoon. I think it
>was sung by a flea preparing to feast on a dog. The voice
>was memorably annoying.
>

>Does anyone remember such a cartoon?
>

>And, does anyone know of a previous source of that song,
>"Food Around the Corner"? Is it an actual depression-era
>song?

Thanks to all of you who identified the cartoon and some places
to get a copy of it. I'll have to track it down. As detailed
by catrd...@aol.com (CatrDohtem):

>That's from the 1943 Bob Clampett classic "An Itch in Time," starring
>Elmer Fudd and a flea who starts to irritate Elmer's dog.

Now that this part of the question is answered, does anyone know more
about a pre-cartoon origin of the "Food Around the Corner" Song"?