I Haven't Got a Hat
The cartoon introduced several new characters in the hopes that some would catch on and become stars of the flagging Looney Tunes series of cartoons (which featured Buddy). The cartoon resembles a Hal Roach Our Gang comedy, as the new characters are students at a grade school talent show.
This short introduces the following characters:
- Beans the Cat
- Little Kitty
- Porky Pig
- Oliver Owl
- Ham & Ex
Though the gags in this short are still fairly indicative of early thirties cartoons, this short is significant for launching the career of Porky Pig and it bears the faintest hint of the changes that were to come in the Warner Brothers cartoons (Porky's and Kitty's recitals). For more on these changes see Tex Avery and Bob Clampett.
Plot summary
The school talent show first features Porky Pig reciting The Ride of Paul Revere, but due to his excessive stutter, the children of the class whistle and cat-call which causes several stray dogs to burst into the schoolhouse and chase poor Porky out.
Next up, Little Kitty attempts to recite "Mary Had a Little Lamb". She is so nervous that she forgets a couple lines and then proceeds with the rhyme but gradually speeds up her voice to a high pitch as she makes a hasty exit.
Third, Ham and Ex (twin puppies) recite the song "I Haven't Got a Hat".
Meanwhile, Oliver Owl (who sits in front of Beans) refuses to share some candy with Beans. When Oliver goes up for his piano recital, Beans decides it is time for payback and coerces two stray dogs to jump into the piano. This causes a great deal of commotion and eventually both Oliver and Beans end up covered in wet paint from some open paint cans. The two decide to make up and shake hands.
