Feline Follies (1919)
Our first film of the evening was this animated short which provided audiences with the first appearance of Felix the Cat. In Feline Follies, he is referred to as “Master Tom”. But by his third film, released a month later, his name would change to Felix. Today many might not recognize Felix or know his name upon seeing him, so allow me let you in on some of what I found out about Felix the Cat. Felix’s design was in part inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s character of the Tramp. Felix was the world’s first cartoon superstar. Appearing in cartoons released once a month, Felix is just about everywhere between 1919 and 1928. We are talking comic strips, songs, products of all kinds. As Yogart from the movie Spaceballs would tell us, “Merchandising! Merchandising! Where the real money from the movie is made.” Ever wonder what the first Macy’s Day parade Balloon was? Felix the Cat, of course.
In 1928, the year Felix’s main rival is created – and yes I am speaking of the infamous Mickey Mouse, Felix is associated with another first. A thirteen inch statue of Felix the Cat rotating on a small turntable is the star of the early test transmissions by General Electric for this thing called Television.
