Fourth Estate

New Book About Working With Donald awn.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.

Angry Donald Strikes Back broadcastingcable.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.

Swedish 'Donald Duck' Comic Fetches Thousands thelocal.se Take a look at an interesting article we found.

Yesterday's Discussion

It's 208 miles from Garden City, N.Y., to Foxboro, Mass., but it took Bob Stevenson and a carload of his high-school lacrosse buddies about 35 years to get here.

 

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Even though you’ve just turned 74, you don’t look a day older than you did when you made your debut in the silly Symphony cartoon, “The Little Wise Hen” on this date, in 1934.

OK, let’s face it, Donald. You can be insufferable at times. You have a short fuse and an amazing (if impenetrable) command of language. Your squawks with your neighbor J. Jones and Gladstone Gander are still talked about in Duckburg.

Thankfully, you met Daisy, and she was there to soothe your fevered brow when you went ballistic; she got you to admit that there’s a better way. If only you could figure out what it was.

It was tough going with you and Mickey for a while, especially when you interrupted him repeatedly in “Band Concert," and then topped the little mouse at the box office, appearing in a amazing 128 cartoons at one time.

(I hear you have a good relationship now.)

With all this swell success, I couldn’t blame you for getting a swelled head. (And you did.) But underneath it all, you always had good intentions (well, to be honest, it’s your second and third intentions that are the best ones). And it doesn’t matter how much humiliation the world dishes out, you’ll take it and come back for more.

If that’s not a role model, what is?

But it wasn’t all fun and games.

There were human beings out there doing some pretty awful things, and you must have thought, "What can a mere duck do?"

But then you were never a mere duck, were you?

You got drafted, just like so many others, and we learned your nickname was “Fauntleroy,” difficult, as it was for you to admit.

Your “terrifying” face was plastered on a lot of P-51’s, and if that didn’t scare the enemy, it at least distracted them. And you got right in “Der Fuehrer’s Face,” when you dreamed you were a worker in an artillery factory in “Nutzi Land.”

Never underestimate your influence, Donald. You helped raise this country’s spirit in some pretty dark days.

The last thing you needed, after the war, was being harassed by your aggravating nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, and new pesty characters like Chip n’ Dale.

Fortunately, you still had that scrappy temper.

It’s no wonder Oregon University made you the only cartoon figure ever to be a mascot for a major university – “The Fighting Ducks.” (And congratulations, I also heard you got an honorary degree.)

In what was probably your proudest moment, you received your very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with your pals, Mickey, Bugs, Daffy, Woody, Goofy and Snow White.

Today, you’re El Pato Donald in Spain, Paolino Paperino in Italy, Aku Ankka in Finland, among dozens of others. Your unique voice has been translated in storybooks and comic strips all over the world (although I doubt they understand you any better).

You’re universally loved. Maybe it’s because you make us feel better about our own shortcomings. And, sometimes, I hear you can even laugh at your own.

That’s why you’ll never grow old, Donald.

Not in my Eye.

J. Peterman

 

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18 Members’ Opinions
June 09, 2008 12:44 AM
724 Capt Neptune said...

OK, now we are finally speaking of truly important matters. Not rising fuel or bottled water cost, not the useless war against the wrong enemy, not the election, not about global humidity (thats right, it's not the heat, it's the humidity), but about what is truly American...Donald Duck! He is the greatest. First and foremost, he is a Sailor. (nice jacket, surely a J. Peterman classic)Secondly, but not less important, he, like most sailors, NEVER wears pants! What a visionary. We should all follow his example. "The Donald Duck suit....no pants required".

June 09, 2008 12:48 AM
83 ExPat said...

The voice of Donald Duck was performed by Clarence "Ducky" Nash from 1934 to 1983. From 1983 till today, the voice is performed by Tony Anselmo, personally trained by Nash.

Anselmo first did the voice of Donald in the movie Roger Rabbit.

Walt Disney authorized the Donald's image for use on B29 Flying Fortresses in WW2 and later authorized it's use on Coast Guard Cutters.

Even though the movie "The Mighty Ducks" and the subsequent NHL team of the same name were Disney creations, the Mighty Ducks are not based on Donald.

The cartoon "Donald" looks a lot better than the other "Donald" given the age difference. At least he doesn't have the comb-over, or whatever that thing is on Trump's head. Perhaps DreadPirateRoberts knows what's on the other "Donald's" head.

June 09, 2008 12:57 AM
83 ExPat said...

To: Capt Neptune,

I was in the Marines.....the "no pants" rule for sailors would have been interesting.
It would have given a new twist to the "don't ask don't tell" regulation. "No pants" would certainly save money, and they could use the windfall to give a pay raise to the sailors.

June 09, 2008 3:15 AM
110 Heiress said...

Who's got the sweetest disposition?
One guess, guess who
Who'd never ever start an argument
Who never shows a better temperment?

Who's never wrong, but always right?
Who'd never dream of starting a fight?
Gets stuck with all the bad luck
No one, but Donald Duck!

June 09, 2008 8:20 AM
277 La Donna said...

``Aw, phooey!''... ``Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!''... ``Nothing to it!''

June 09, 2008 9:35 AM
83 ExPat said...

To: Heiress,

........and he does it all without wearing any pants!

June 09, 2008 10:45 AM
724 Capt Neptune said...

Its a hot, sunny day here on the coast of NC today. Winds SE at 10/15. I'm going to take my boat out this afternoon. Since its "Donald Duck" day, I think I'll dress accordingly. Yep, thats right......(don't forget the sunscreen}

June 09, 2008 11:05 AM
277 La Donna said...

To: Capt Neptune,

"Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!"...

June 09, 2008 11:46 AM
739 Lovey said...

Last summer my friend and I bought multiple blank VHS tapes from a pawn shop, hoping for a surprise. [my friend actually still owns a VCR, it opens up your range of entertainment] We brought them home, popped the first one in and discovered a black and white Donald Duck, fightin' the Nazis. Donald is truly versatile, setting his temper aside to talk to preschoolers [ever flip through Disney channel in the afternoon? Our pants-less friend shrinks down and gains an even more annoying baby voice to help Mickey and pals teach you about colors.]

Capt Neptune: You're in North Carolina too? Small world.

June 09, 2008 12:09 PM
JillyBean said...

Thanks for not forgetting Huey, Dewey and Louie! Duck Tales, though it enjoyed only a short 3-year run, was one of my favorite cartoons.

I'd also like to give a shout out to Daffy and Howard- characters as wacky and volatile as Donald, and who have also shaped the world's perception of ducks, for better or worse.

"Ducktales! Woo-ooh!"

June 09, 2008 12:11 PM
110 Heiress said...

Do we all (semi-secretly) like Donald better than Mickey...

Or is it just me?

more on the honor roll
June 09, 2008 12:32 PM
Dutchman said...

Mickey is a whining wimp who never said anything remotely funny. Now Bugs, that wascally wabbit, is another story. Although I must say, thanks to JP and this forum, Donald is moving up in my estimation.

Supposedly, we don't eat much rabbit in this country because of Bugs...
Not so, though, with Duck.

June 09, 2008 1:58 PM
83 ExPat said...

To: La Donna,

La Donna! Sailors with no pants! What will you think of next? Former marines with no pants?

June 09, 2008 3:19 PM
519 DreadPirateRoberts said...

Dutchman:

I adore a good roast duck. My limited experience with rabbit has also been delicious but there has been much more limited availability. That's pretty ironic when you consider the rabbit population.

My favorite cartoon character is that romantic French skunk with the smooth moves, Messieur Pepe le Pew. I wish he had been an option on the poll (I voted "Other").

ExPat:

Sorry, I can be of no assistance regarding the Donald's coiff. But, if you're ever in the Big Apple, look me up and I'll show you the differences and similarities between the various towers he owns. They're a lot of fun.

June 09, 2008 4:10 PM
Spinner said...

We go to LA next Monday and we have been informed that our 4yo grandchild insists that we go to Disneyland on Tuesday. So I will be able to say "Hi!" from all of you in person. I will be wearing pants, however. Remember, the old lady wrinkles. We would clear the park.

I am old enough to remember the neighborhood Saturday movies. They had a full hour of cartoons before the feature started, usually something like a Hopalong Cassidy or Roy Rogers movie. I would time the length of the cartoons to make sure we got our hour's worth.

We own an 8mm copy of Steamboat Willie, but I don't remember any old DD movies in the box. Should check that out.

This is fun.

June 09, 2008 7:31 PM
wino said...

For those of us late to mainstream media, we always thought "The Donald" was indeed a reference to everybody's favorite stubborn, highly agitated, misunderstood duck with the feathery coiff - not this Trump character. Imagine our surprise when they turned out to be one in the same.

June 09, 2008 7:59 PM
zackchange said...

Hey, great of you to acknowledge Donald Duck. Walt was a genius.

June 09, 2008 11:18 PM
Spinner said...

One final thought. With today's protective attitude, we are bound to hear someone complain about something in the media that is a bad influence on the children. Well, now we can answer, "What about Donald Duck? He wore no pants." And that is the final coment from the morals and standards committee.

Prime Web

Driving Miss Daisy Somewhat Crazy disney.go.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.

The Life And Times Of Duckburg pettho.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.

Donald Duck Gets Star findarticles.com Take a look at an interesting article we found.

Honor Roll


Do we all (semi-secretly) like Donald better than Mickey...

Or is it just me?

-Heiress

Jun. 09, 2008 12:11 PM

read full opinion


Poll

Who's your favorite classic cartoon character?

  • Daffy Duck Daffy Duck 12%
  • Tom and Jerry (They count as one) Tom and Jerry (They count as one) 0%
  • Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny 35%
  • Donald Duck Donald Duck 6%
  • Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse 12%
  • Wile E Coyote Wile E Coyote 29%
  • Other Other 6%

 

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