1949 Cartoon Features Swallows Return to Mission Capistrano

When Jan Siegel and I were discussing her discovery of an old black-and-white film that featured Mission San Juan Capistrano, she mentioned a Looney Tunes cartoon about the swallows returning to the Mission.

Called "Swallow the Leader," the cartoon is a cute depiction of Mission San Juan Capistrano and the swallows. It was released in October, 1949.

Here's a snyopsis (caution, it gives away the ending!) from www.imdb.com:

Migrating swallows are making their annual spring return to San Juan Capistrano, and a hungry cat awaits them with a radar scope and with his mouth and head disguised as a bird's nest. The clever advance scout for the flock of swallows tricks the cat into ingesting a metallic statue of a swallow, then uses a magnet to pull the cat through pipes and the prongs of a ladder. Hundreds of swallows then dive-bomb the cat with light bulbs and thumb tacks. Written by Kevin McCorry <[email protected]>

And here's the link:

http://www.slashcontrol.com/free-tv-shows/looney-tunes/3342257076-swallow-the-leader

I say we get the new Regency theater in town to screen it next year in March ... or maybe the Chamber can incorporate it in it's annual farewell to the swallows in October?

Comments

[Jeanne Exworthy]

Great, Jonathan. It truly was historical and funny.
One exception I found, though, is the nests. Straw and no mud.
Hope the City can use that cartoon over and over again. It's not too long in length either. About 7 Minutes.

[mimi]

Jonathan, San Juan is so lucky to have you and Jan keeping tabs on the serious and the silly in town. What a great idea to incorporate with the farewell to the swallows in October. This can't wait for spring! Chris Kramer