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Balloon Cars
March brings the addition of a new theme of railcars to CARNIVALE'S lineup. Fellow club member Janene Powell gave me a vintage toy awhile back, knowing I could put it to use. This was the second piece she has given, the first resulting in 11 railcars to date and were featured in the August, 2024 article NATIVE AMERICANS. Even before this one was in my hand, or a thank you given, I knew what it would become and then inspired those to follow. It was a 1970's promotional Bob's Big Boy Restaurant toy bank. For many years various versions of this hard rubber bank were offered creating 'must have' collectibles........There it was........a giant helium filled balloon as in........ Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons........never gave the idea a thought! The toy was a perfect size to mount directly on (now called) a balloon car. Staying with the cartoon character theme, I will be replicating the various characters from the 1940's thru the 1960's Saturday morning TV cartoon shows. And the CARNIVALE 'version' might influence the making of some of these cartoon characters!
THE FIRST THREE CARS:
BALLOON CAR #501......BOB’S BIG BOY
This toy, as mentioned, was the perfect subject and size to be the first Balloon car and the parade's Grand Marshall.
BALLOON CAR #502......HECKLE & JECKLE
Created and produced by Paul Terry in his Terrytoons Studio, he produced 52 episodes from 1946-1966. Production passed through 20th Century Fox, CBS and NBC over the years. Comic book production took place between 1951 and 1977.
They were a pair of identical magpies with Heckle a tough talking New York type while Jeckle was mild-mannered with a British accent. They were always participating in bazaar antics and causing trouble for both themselves and others.
FOGHORN-LEGHORN:
Robert McKinnon created and produced 29 episodes from 1946 to 1964 in his Merrie Melodies studio and was marketed by Warner Bros. Looneytoons division. This rather large rooster was inspired by an early 30's radio show character with a similar voice of a then well-known Texas rancher.
FOGHORN referred to his loudness, and LEGHORN to his seemingly Italian breed. Like a typical cartoon character, he was pushy and a loud troublemaker. Always humming Camptown Races, and claiming to live at old McDonald's Farm in Cucamonga and graduating from Chicken Tech University, would often say 'pay attention son'.....'look at me while I'm talking to you boy'......and 'ahhh-shuttt-uppp'.
He even had two catch phrases (I like catch phrases)......'Id' say'......and 'that's a joke son'
