The animation here is absolutely over the top brilliant, considering that the form was still not far removed from its infancy at that time (1932). And the Mills Brothers? Visionaries and vocal virtuosos of the highest order. Not only that, but a superb showcase of the original quartet with John Junior (who died in 1936). As genius as genius can get. We still are not worthy.

I LOVE this. Olden days cartoon with a singalong from the best Jazz musicians who ever lived. I wish i was alive when they were popular

This cartoon featuring the very first on-screen appearance of the Mills Brothers performing “Tiger Rag” and “I Ain’t Got Nobody”. The Mills Brothers was one of the very first vocal group ever made, and this was back when doo-wop does not exist in the 1930’s, and it was the Great Depression, but doo-wop street corner harmonies was long years ahead. Gotta love those very early vocal group sounds on this one.

John Mills Jr. died January 23 1936. He was only 25. He was the eldest brother and the leader. He played on a ukulele and a 4 string tenor guitar and sang bass like a tuba.

BEAUTIFUL TALENTED MEN.

Man o man. As if I didn’t have reason to love the Mills Brothers more. Thanks for posting!

Anybody wondering where Dean Martin got his singing style need look no further than this cartoon; Harry Mills was his chief inspiration.

I love this song, but my favorite version is when Igor in Young Frankenstein sung it because he made a pun out of it. He was pretending to be a bodyless head on display so instead of singing 'I ain't got nobody' he sang 'I ain't got no body'. I always crack up at that scene. :)

Thank you for presenting the young Mills Bros., from Piqua, OH, near Dayton. At the time of the Max Fleischer cartoon, they were one of the biggest stars on radio, with the ability to sing, play, and imitate musical instruments. No wonder they got the attention they received, and rightfully so. Of course, their star grew bigger heading into WWII and beyond, and, then, the waning years until their deaths. But, personally, I love the scat-style that they developed in their early days. Can't get enough of it.

They influenced so many others!

i,m from the netherlands but i love these usa cartoons w/ mills brothers huge faaan

@SIMPFANN There were examples of television being mentioned in some early 1930s movies like 'International House' (1933) plus cartoons like these Fleischer ones and I believe they even demonstrated television sets as an invention at the 1939 World's Fair, although it was still looked on as something right out of science fiction at this point in time.

This Was The First Time I've Seen A Cartoon Character Of A Screen Song Break The Fourth Wall And Ask Us To Join In And Sing With That Bouncing Ball at 4:46.

Wonderful print of this great cartoon!

The Mills Brothers' version of "Tiger Rag" sold one million copies in 1931. 🐯

Best sound quality! Many thanks.

More specifically: Some of these days > tiger rag > i aint got nobody

At 83 ..HAVE I PASSED & GONE TO HEAVEN??? OH ! THOSE MILLS BROTHERS!!!

wow the Mills brothers are so young in this one

Funny cartoon. It remains me times when Oswald Rabbit were aired in TV animated series. Another detail is the song. The verse "Ain't Got Nobody" I heard in the David Lee Roth's "Just A Gigolo". A date with nostalgia. Greets from Peru...

My only Mills Bros. album has them doing this, all the way through ..

@TeamRocket2010 I think Lillian Roth also does that in "Down Among the Sugar Cane" but it's been a while since I've watched it.

Was this cartoon shown on Hurray for Betty Boop?

@SIMPFANN Same thing I was thinking.

@rrgomes But Lillian Roth is not a cartoon. She's a singer.

anyone know the song they were singing from 1:48-2:43?

where's the tiger there's the. tiger

At least the Fleischer staff had the foresight to imagine a TV set that transmitted from around the world, complete with racial stereotypes.

@SIMPFANN You would have a nickel.

good lord the fleischers were so weird.

@SIMPFANN In bratislava a nickel could buy 17 top class hotels with enough left over to buy 12 houses

I hate the new youtube look!

What a beautiful, innovative cartoon/film! ...And a sad reminder of America the racist bully. I'd love to see a modern family friendly edit; white noise would be better than the racist propaganda on the other channels.