Author Archive: Retro

The American Petroleum Institute presents “Destination Earth”… The cartoon begins by establishing the planet Mars, ruled by a dictator named Ogg. The Martians are small green guys with big noses and space helmets. The poor guys are herded by soldiers into a space-age coliseum where Ogg forces them to applaud as they hear his criticisms of problems with martian ground transportation – no good fuel and too much friction. A single Martian is sent to Earth to find a solution. The intrepid Martian crashes his saucer into a farm, sets forth into the city, learns about the glorious benefits of petroleum AND capitalist competition, steals a few library books, and heads back to Mars. He excitedly reveals the truths he’s learned to the crowd in the coliseum. The crowd is fueled by the spirit of capitalism and the dictatorship breaks down instantly, to be replaced by the Oil Pioneers, the Oil Explorers, and new management. [...]

Cold War-era cartoon aimed at convincing workers that increased productivity brings about greater purchasing power.

Awkward nebbish scholar Buster Keaton fails to make the grade at school with the jocks and the ladies — until circumstances climactically push him to prove his athletic prowess and win the girl of his dreams. One of Buster’s lesser — but still classic — silent features.

An investigator from the War Crimes Commission travels to Connecticut to find an infamous Nazi.

The misadventures of Buster in three separate historical periods.

Two spoiled rich people find themselves trapped on an empty passenger ship.

A young golfer is mugged by an escaped convict and finds himself in a prison where he foils a jailbreak.

A man returns to his Appalachian homestead. On the trip, he falls for a young woman. The only problem is her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.