Popeye – Customers Wanted (1939) Popeye and Bluto compete for Wimpy’s business at their rival penny arcades, leading to a chaotic showdown. Director: Dave Fleischer, Willard Bowsky, Seymour Kneitel Screenplay by: Unknown Produced by: Fleischer Studios Starring: Jack Mercer as Popeye (voice) Pinto Colvig as Bluto (voice) Margie Hines as Olive Oyl (voice) Production Company: Fleischer Studios Distributed by: Paramount Pictures Release Date: January 27, 1939 Runtime: Approximately 7 minutes Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family ------------------------------------------------------------ Synopsis - Popeye and Bluto each run competing penny arcades at an amusement park, hoping to attract Wimpy as a customer. - Wimpy, true to his nature, is eager to play but reluctant to spend money. - Both arcades feature moving picture machines showcasing past Popeye and Bluto adventures, with each owner trying to prove their superiority. - As the rivalry escalates, Popeye and Bluto begin fighting, drawing a crowd. - Seeing an opportunity, Wimpy turns their brawl into a ticketed event, profiting from the spectacle. ------------------------------------------------------------ Key Themes & Highlights - Arcade Rivalry Popeye and Bluto’s competition leads to humorous antics and exaggerated conflict. - Wimpy’s Opportunism True to his character, Wimpy finds a way to profit from the chaos. - Public Domain Status *Customers Wanted* is widely available due to its public domain status. - Recycled Footage The cartoon includes scenes from earlier Popeye shorts, including *Let’s Get Movin’* and *The Twisker Pitcher*. ------------------------------------------------------------ Trivia - This marks the first time Pinto Colvig voices Bluto, a role he continued for nine more episodes until 1940. - Bluto had been absent from Popeye cartoons for ten consecutive shorts before returning in *Customers Wanted*. - The cartoon was later remade in 1955 by Famous Studios as *Penny Antics*. - Some public domain versions replace the original Paramount logo with the a.a.p. logo. ------------------------------------------------------------ Hashtags #PopeyeCartoon #CustomersWanted #ClassicAnimation #BlutoVsPopeye #Wimpy #PublicDomainCartoon #FleischerStudios #ParamountPictures #VintageCartoons #ArcadeRivalry