Yet another Tom and Jerry

[cbrubaker]

Jerry Beck writes over at Cartoon Brew (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/the-man-behind-the-first-tom-jerry.html) that, before the cat & mouse duo AND the Van Beuren series, there was yet another animated series called "Tom and Jerry". This one was done in stop-motion and starred a man and his mule.

No copies are known to exist, so there's not much to say about this particular T&J.

[Bradskey]

I believe he has mentioned this one before, possibly with a trade ad or something. At least I was made aware of it or some other very very early Tom and Jerry duo within the past couple of years.

[Ray Pointer]

Can anyone answer to the fascination of this name, "Tom and Jerry"? In know, I want to see if any of you do.

[cbrubaker]

Well, there was a story from 1821, written by Pierce Egan, called "Life in London or, the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, esq., and his elegant friend, Corinthian Tom, accompanied by Bob Logic, the Oxonian, in their rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis".

The name was eventually shortened to "Tom and Jerry, or Life in London"

And this came much, much later, but the original stage name for Simon and Garfunkel was "Tom and Jerry". That name didn't stick, thankfully.

[TheBlueHombre]

Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmastime cocktail in the United States. It was devised by sports writer Pierce Egan in the 1820s.
It is a variant of eggnog with brandy and rum added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. Another method uses egg whites, beaten stiff, with the yolks and sugar folded back in, and vanilla extract added. A few spoonfuls are added to a mug, then hot water and rum are added, and it is topped with nutmeg.

The name is related neither to the popular MGM cartoon nor to the earlier Tom and Jerry by Van Beuren Studio, nor to famous bartender "Professor" Jerry Thomas, the author of one of the first bartender's guides, How to Mix Drinks (1862). Instead, it is a reference to Egan's book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom (1821), and the subsequent stage play Tom and Jerry, or Life in London (also 1821). To publicize the book and the play, Egan introduced a variation of eggnog by adding ½ fl oz of brandy, calling it a "Tom and Jerry". The additional fortification helped popularize the drink.

The drink features prominently in Damon Runyon's short story "Dancing Dan's Christmas" beginning with the passage: "This hot Tom and Jerry is an old time drink that is once used by one and all in this country to celebrate Christmas with, and in fact it is once so popular that many people think Christmas is invented only to furnish an excuse for hot Tom and Jerry, although of course this is by no means true."

[LooneyFan]

Pretty soon we'll hear about cave drawings having the same names! :D

[oceansoul]

Pretty soon we'll hear about cave drawings having the same names! :D

Lulz, I was thinking about the same when watched the posts here. :D

[zavkram]

One other screen reference to the names occurs in a Hal Roach "Our Gang" short from the mid-1930's. I can't remember the title of this particular short, but it had one of those plots where the gang puts on a show to raise money for some worthy cause. I believe it was the very first Our Gang short to feature Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (although he doesn't go by that name here). Carl's brother was also featured and the pair were billed in the short as a singing duo named "Tom and Jerry".

[Tom Stathes]

This series was known about and referenced as early as '90 or so (if not earlier) but the films have yet to surface. I'm excited by what the animator's grandson will be publishing!

[CueBallCat79]

One other screen reference to the names occurs in a Hal Roach "Our Gang" short from the mid-1930's. I can't remember the title of this particular short, but it had one of those plots where the gang puts on a show to raise money for some worthy cause. I believe it was the very first Our Gang short to feature Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (although he doesn't go by that name here). Carl's brother was also featured and the pair were billed in the short as a singing duo named "Tom and Jerry".

That was "Beginner's Luck". In that one Spanky was actually forced to participate in a talent contest by his mother and arranges for the gang to sabotage his performance. When he decides to go against the plans in order to win the award money to buy a sweet little girl who blew her performance a dress the message doesn't reach the gang. Chaos ensues.

Great short.

[Stanislav]

One other screen reference to the names occurs in a Hal Roach "Our Gang" short from the mid-1930's. I can't remember the title of this particular short, but it had one of those plots where the gang puts on a show to raise money for some worthy cause. I believe it was the very first Our Gang short to feature Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (although he doesn't go by that name here). Carl's brother was also featured and the pair were billed in the short as a singing duo named "Tom and Jerry".

Isn't the full billing, IIRC, "Tom and Jerry - The Arizona Nightingales?"