Disney’s seven-minute cartoon The Picnic packs as many picnic conventions as possible: a motorcar drive to the country, a stream, shady tree, a wicker basket, a gingham cloth jammed with a gourmand feast of sandwiches, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles, olives, honey, cookies, cake with icing, sugar cubes, and  some undefined soft beverage [lemonade or ice tea]—and  lovers smooching and dancing to the tune of “The Good Old Summer Time.”

Burt Gillett. Walt Disney’s The Picnic (1930).

When squirrels, ants, and birds are immune to anger, Mickey and Minnie Mouse steal their picnic spirit. They never falter, even singing in the rain as they drive home in an open motorcar with Rover’s tail serving as a windshield wiper.

Walt Disney gets credit for Mickey’s voice. Rover was soon renamed, and PlutoWalt Disney gets credit for Mickey’s voice. Rover was soon renamed, Pluto.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdpO5YHEQo

 

 

Featured Image: Burt Gillett. Walt Disney’s The Picnic (1930)

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdpO5YHEQo