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The Nifty Nineties is a Technicolor Mickey Mouse cartoon released in 1941. The short was directed by Riley Thomson and animated by Ward Kimball, Walt Kelly, Fred Moore, Claude Smith, David Swift, and Les Clark with effects animation by Art Fitzpatrick. The film stars Mickey and Minnie Mouse and romanticizes the decade of the 1890s.

The film features original and adapted music by Charles Wolcott. The voice cast includes Walt Disney as Mickey and Marcellite Garner as Minnie.

Plot[]

Set in the springtime, sometime in the 1890s, Mickey and Minnie Mouse happen to meet each other in a public park one day. Minnie attracts Mickey by intentionally dropping her handkerchief so Mickey will return it to her.

They attend a vaudeville show where they first see a slideshow presentation called "Father, Dear, Father", which features the song "Come Home, Father" by Henry Clay Work. In the show, a daughter attempts to get her father to leave a local tavern because he hadn't come right home from work as promised and got drunk at the tavern. In the fourth picture in the slideshow, we see the clock tower, which reads 1:00 am. With mother home watching since tea and her son very sick in her arms, there can only be hope that the father comes home. The slideshow reduces Minnie to crying. Mickey tries to comfort her, telling her "Don't take it so hard. It's only a show".

The next act is "Fred & Ward, Two Clever Boys From Illinois" which features two song and dance men. Fred and Ward are caricatures of Disney animators Fred Moore and Ward Kimball who also voiced the characters.

After the show is over, Mickey and Minnie cruise the roads of the countryside in a Brass Era car. Goofy rides by on a penny-farthing bicycle, and Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie ride on a bicycle built for five. At last, in a scene reminiscent of Plane Crazy, the car crashes with a cow. Mickey and Minnie emerge from the wreckage unhurt, but when they try to kiss each other, the cow pops her head up between them.

Characters[]

Songs[]

With the exception of one song, "The Gay Nineties" (the opening song), this short featured mostly authentic songs from the 1890s, most of which were performed by the vocal quartet The Sportsmen, which featured Thurl Ravenscroft in one of his earliest projects for Disney.

The songs include:

Trivia[]

  • The two comedians Fred and Ward are animated caricatures of Disney animators Fred Moore and Ward Kimball.
  • This is the only classic Mickey Mouse short in which Daisy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie appear.
  • The "Father, Dear Father" sequence was edited out of the short when it aired on Toon Disney, due to the father being depicted as a doofy alcoholic.
  • The advertisements on the curtain at the theater contain numerous references to members of the Disney staff, including:
    • Walter D's Hats that please-Walt Disney
    • Clark's Confectionery-animator Leslie J. Clark
    • Wilfred Jaxon Feed and Fuel-animation director Wilfred Jackson
    • Riley's Livery Stable-director of the short Riley Thomson
    • T. Hee's Shoes-writer T. Hee
    • Professor Churchill, Pianos Tuned-composer Frank Churchill
    • Sharpsteen Dentist-animator Ben Sharpsteen
    • M. Nelson, Fancy Goods-background artist Myron F. "Mique" Nelson
    • Palms Read, C. Payzant-artist Charles Payzant
    • Breezy Allan's Haberdashery-animator Paul Allan
    • C.E. Phillipi, Fishing Equipment-layout artist Charles Phillipi
    • Happy Herb, Undertaker-animator Herb Ryman
    • R.B. Martch Guns-animator Robert "Bob" Martch
    • M. Flanigan, Coffee-proprietor of the studio coffee shop Mary Flanigan
  • This cartoon was the very first thing broadcast on The Disney Channel when the channel launched on April 18, 1983, being the first cartoon to be shown on the first episode of Good Morning, Mickey!, which was the first program to air on the channel at 7:00am (EST).[1]

Releases[]

Television[]

Home video[]

VHS

CED Disc

  • Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Limited Gold Editions - Minnie

Laserdisc

  • Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Limited Gold Editions - Minnie
  • Mickey Mouse Anniversary Show
  • Mickey Mouse: A Star Is Born
  • Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Mickey Loves Minnie

VCD

  • Mickey Loves Minnie

DVD

Gallery[]

The Disney Wiki has a collection of images and media related to The Nifty Nineties.

References[]


v - e - d
1920s
Plane CrazyThe Gallopin' GauchoSteamboat WillieThe Barn DanceThe Opry HouseWhen the Cat's AwayThe Barnyard BattleThe PlowboyThe Karnival KidMickey's FolliesMickey's Choo-ChooThe Jazz FoolJungle RhythmThe Haunted HouseWild Waves
1930s
Fiddling AroundThe Barnyard ConcertThe Cactus KidThe Fire FightersThe ShindigThe Chain GangThe Gorilla MysteryThe PicnicPioneer DaysThe Birthday PartyTraffic TroublesThe CastawayThe Moose HuntThe Delivery BoyMickey Steps OutBlue RhythmFishin' AroundThe Barnyard BroadcastThe Beach PartyMickey Cuts UpMickey's OrphansThe Duck HuntThe Grocery BoyThe Mad DogBarnyard OlympicsMickey's RevueMusical FarmerMickey in ArabiaMickey's NightmareTrader MickeyThe Whoopee PartyTouchdown MickeyThe Wayward CanaryParade of the Award NomineesThe Klondike KidMickey's Good DeedBuilding a BuildingThe Mad DoctorMickey's Pal PlutoMickey's MellerdrammerYe Olden DaysThe Mail PilotMickey's Mechanical ManMickey's Gala PremierPuppy LoveThe Steeple-ChaseThe Pet StoreGiantlandShanghaiedCamping OutPlayful PlutoGulliver MickeyMickey's Steam-RollerOrphan's BenefitMickey Plays PapaThe DognapperTwo-Gun MickeyMickey's Man FridayThe Band ConcertMickey's Service StationMickey's KangarooMickey's GardenMickey's Fire BrigadePluto's Judgement DayOn IceMickey's Polo TeamOrphans' PicnicMickey's Grand OperaThru the MirrorMickey's RivalMoving DayAlpine ClimbersMickey's CircusMickey's ElephantThe Worm TurnsMagician MickeyMoose HuntersMickey's AmateursHawaiian HolidayClock CleanersLonesome GhostsBoat BuildersMickey's TrailerThe WhalersMickey's ParrotBrave Little TailorSociety Dog ShowMickey's Surprise PartyThe PointerThe Standard Parade
1940s
Tugboat MickeyPluto's Dream HouseMr. Mouse Takes a TripThe Sorcerer's ApprenticeThe Little WhirlwindThe Nifty NinetiesOrphan's BenefitA Gentleman's GentlemanCanine CaddyLend a PawAll TogetherMickey's Birthday PartySymphony HourPluto and the ArmadilloSquatter's RightsMickey and the BeanstalkMickey's Delayed DateMickey Down UnderMickey and the Seal
1950s
R'Coon DawgPluto's PartyPluto's Christmas TreeThe Simple Things
1980s-Present
Mickey's Christmas CarolThe Prince and the PauperRunaway BrainMickey and the Goat ManGet a Horse!Mickey in a Minute
See Also
The Mickey Mouse ClubThe Mouse FactoryGood Morning, MickeyMickey's Mouse TracksMickey Mouse and Friends (TV Series)Disney's The Twelve Days of ChristmasMickey's Fun SongsMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasHouse of MouseMickey Mouse WorksMickey's Magical ChristmasMickey's House of VillainsMickey's Twice Upon a ChristmasMickey Mouse ClubhouseMickey MousekersizeMickey Mouse (TV series)Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up AdventuresMickey's 90th SpectacularThe Wonderful World of Mickey MouseOnce Upon a Studio


v - e - d
1920s
Plane CrazyThe Gallopin' GauchoSteamboat WillieThe Barn DanceWhen the Cat's AwayThe PlowboyThe Karnival KidMickey's FolliesMickey's Choo-ChooWild Waves
1930s
The Cactus KidThe Fire FightersThe ShindigThe Gorilla MysteryThe PicnicPioneer DaysThe Birthday PartyTraffic TroublesThe Delivery BoyMickey Steps OutBlue RhythmThe Barnyard BroadcastThe Beach PartyMickey Cuts UpMickey's OrphansThe Grocery BoyBarnyard OlympicsMickey's RevueMusical FarmerMickey in ArabiaMickey's NightmareThe Whoopee PartyTouchdown MickeyThe Wayward CanaryThe Klondike KidBuilding a BuildingMickey's Pal PlutoMickey's MellerdrammerYe Olden DaysThe Mail PlotMickey's Mechanical ManMickey's Gala PremierPuppy LoveThe Pet StoreThe Steeple-ChaseShanghaiedCamping OutMickey's Steam-RollerTwo-Gun MickeyOn IceMickey's RivalHawaiian HolidayBrave Little TailorMickey's Surprise Party
1940s
The Little WhirlwindThe Nifty NinetiesMickey's Birthday PartyOut of the Frying Pan Into the Firing LineFirst AidersBath DayFigaro and FrankieMickey's Delayed DatePluto's Sweater
1950s-present
Pluto and the GopherMickey's Christmas CarolTotally Minnie (album)Runaway BrainMickey and the Goat ManElectric HolidayGet a Horse!Once Upon a Studio
Songs
While Strolling Through the ParkMinnie MouseDon't Go Breaking My HeartTotally Minnie (song)Our Miss MinnieMinnie's Bow-tiqueMinnie, We Love You!
Attractions
Totally MinnieMinnie's Tiara of DreamsMinnie Oh! Minnie! Minnie's Wonderful Christmastime FireworksIt’s Very Minnie!Minnie's Style StudioMinnie's Besties BashMinnie, We Love You!Minnie @ Funderland
See Also
Totally MinnieMinnie's Bow-ToonsMickey's 90th SpectacularLofi Minnie: FocusLofi Minnie: Chill
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page The Nifty Nineties. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
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