Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas
Encyclopedia
Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas was a cartoon in the Merrie Melodies
series directed by Tex Avery
and written by Rich Hogan, and released by Warner Bros.
on October 22, 1938. It stars Egghead as Johnny Smith, a caricature of the colonist Captain John Smith, who arrives on the Mayflower
to be met by some sarcastic Native Americans
as he makes his escape with Poker-Huntas, a caricature of Pocahontas
, and makes off to England
with her to raise a family.
In reality, the cartoon contains many historical goofs apart from the anachronisms normally expected in such a deliberate farce. The real Captain Smith, who arrived in present-day Virginia
in 1607, was totally unconnected with the Mayflower, which disembarked at Massachusetts Bay
in 1620. No actual romance ever existed between him and Pocahontas, who married John Rolfe
. But it is unclear whether the cartoon depiction displayed confusion on Hogan's part or whether it was a deliberate distortion of history.
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
series directed by Tex Avery
Tex Avery
Frederick Bean "Fred/Tex" Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor and director, famous for producing animated cartoons during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He did his most significant work for the Warner Bros...
and written by Rich Hogan, and released by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
on October 22, 1938. It stars Egghead as Johnny Smith, a caricature of the colonist Captain John Smith, who arrives on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
to be met by some sarcastic Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
as he makes his escape with Poker-Huntas, a caricature of Pocahontas
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
, and makes off to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with her to raise a family.
In reality, the cartoon contains many historical goofs apart from the anachronisms normally expected in such a deliberate farce. The real Captain Smith, who arrived in present-day Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1607, was totally unconnected with the Mayflower, which disembarked at Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
in 1620. No actual romance ever existed between him and Pocahontas, who married John Rolfe
John Rolfe
John Rolfe was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia and is known as the husband of Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.In 1961, the Jamestown...
. But it is unclear whether the cartoon depiction displayed confusion on Hogan's part or whether it was a deliberate distortion of history.
External links
- Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas at the Big Cartoon DatabaseBig Cartoon DataBaseThe Big Cartoon DataBase is an online database of information about animated cartoons, animated feature films, animated television shows and cartoon shorts....