Musical Memories (1935)

Musical Memories (U.S., 1935) Directors: Dave Fleischer, Seymour Kneitel. Familiar radio tunes such as “The Sidewalks of New York” and “Little Annie Rooney” inspire an older married couple to dust off their hand-held stereoscope device and bring the audience into a 3D reminiscence of their life. This is courtesy of producer/inventor Max Fleischer’s patent-pending “Stereoptical”/“Setback” process, which placed animation cels in front of a rotating miniature set. As the final two-color system short from Fleischer Studios (Disney’s exclusive rights to three-strip Technicolor expired that September), Musical Memories demonstrates an interest in formal exploration with color and beyond.—Russell Zych Preservation funded by The AFI/NEA Preservation Grants Program and Jere Guldin. Photochemically preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from the 35mm nitrate successive exposure negative and the 35mm nitrate original track negative. Laboratory services by YCM Laboratories, TODD-AO/Glen Glenn.