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Old Doc Yak
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel
Directed by Sidney Smith
Cast: Sidney Smith [the artist]
The Selig Polyscope Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by William N. Selig and Sidney Smith. Scenario by Sidney Smith, from a comic strip by Sidney Smith. Animation by Sidney Smith. / Released 8 July 1913; in a split-reel with A Jolt for the Janitor (1913). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The first film in the animated “Seligettes” series.
Comedy: Cartoon.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Sidney Smith, the artist, incurs the displeasure of the Sunday Editor by his oft-repeated failure to report at the art room on time. A moving picture producer one morning applies for, and obtains, permission from the newspaper to reproduce in animated form their comic supplement character, “Old Doc Yak.” The producer’s requirements call for one thousand separate, carefully prepared original drawings from the pen of Artist Smith before noon of that day. The Sunday Editor rushes to the art room, but Smith has not shown up that morning. Along about noon the artist comes sauntering in very leisurely. The Sunday Editor, peeved at Smith’s seeming indifference to newspaper office discipline, tells him of the work before him and that one thousand drawings must be absolutely finished inside of an hour. Smith offers to bet $50 that he can accomplish the task. The Editor bets him that he can’t and the stakes are placed in the hands of another artist. Then we see a close-up view of Smith’s hand as it rapidly draws and inks in a face of the ever laughable goat. This face then comes to life and its contortions are wonderfully amusing, Next he draws a scene showing “Doc” standing in a room looking intently at a bee. The drawing suddenly comes to life and the antics of the pair are truly funny. Another scene shows an enlarged view of “Doc’s” face after it has been stung by the bee. This and many other amusing and novel scenes are climaxed by the unique illusion which is secured in the finis piece. Needless to say, Smith wins his bet and the art room takes a vacation for the afternoon, while the money is spent.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Animation [paper]
Listing updated: 22 May 2024.
References: Lahue-Selig p. 154 : Website-IMDb.
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