The Hot Air Salesman
Encyclopedia
The Hot Air Salesman is a 1937 Fleischer Studios
animated short film starring Betty Boop
and featuring Wiffle Piffle.
Betty Boop is the first to listen to his sales pitch, where he promises such wonders as a "woolen hammer and rubber nails", a "sieve that never leaks" and some "brand new antiques". Betty politely tells him "Nothing today, kind sir". Apparently, this is the most favorable response he has gotten, so he goes around to the side door to try again. Betty is somewhat more insistent in telling him "Nothing today, kind sir".
He tries again at the back door and this time Betty Boop agrees to let him show his wares. These include:
The gag of an overly powerful vacuum had been used before, and the surprise in this cartoon occurs when it is switched to reverse. Wiffle Piffle loses control of the vacuum cleaner and its powerful exhaust wreaks havoc, knocking over the furniture and finally blasts a piano through the wall.
Betty learns that she was better off to say "Nothing today, kind sir" and sends the salesman on his way. The unflappable Wiffle Piffle gathers his hat and sample case and continues on his way.
Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
animated short film starring Betty Boop
Betty Boop
Betty Boop is an animated cartoon character created by Max Fleischer, with help from animators including Grim Natwick. She originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She has also been featured in...
and featuring Wiffle Piffle.
Synopsis
Wiffle Piffle is an annoying door to door salesman, selling a variety of useless gadgets. As he cheerfully walks from house to house, both arms are continuously moving as if flapping in the breeze. As he stops at house after house, he is immediately turned away.Betty Boop is the first to listen to his sales pitch, where he promises such wonders as a "woolen hammer and rubber nails", a "sieve that never leaks" and some "brand new antiques". Betty politely tells him "Nothing today, kind sir". Apparently, this is the most favorable response he has gotten, so he goes around to the side door to try again. Betty is somewhat more insistent in telling him "Nothing today, kind sir".
He tries again at the back door and this time Betty Boop agrees to let him show his wares. These include:
- A mouse trap shaped like a wedge of cheese contains a mechanical cat that slugs the mouse with a blackjack.
- A smaller home version of the "spot remover" first seen in Betty Boop's Crazy InventionsBetty Boop's Crazy InventionsBetty Boop's Crazy Inventions is a 1933 Fleischer Studios animated short film, featuring Betty Boop.-Plot:At the inventor's show, Betty, Bimbo, and Koko the Clown demonstrate a variety of gadgets, including:...
(1933). - A rocket that does the laundry, first spinning the clothes around in the sink and then rocketing out the window to hang them out to dry.
- A "superheterodyne vacuum cleaner" that is so powerful, that it pulls the whiskers off a portrait.
The gag of an overly powerful vacuum had been used before, and the surprise in this cartoon occurs when it is switched to reverse. Wiffle Piffle loses control of the vacuum cleaner and its powerful exhaust wreaks havoc, knocking over the furniture and finally blasts a piano through the wall.
Betty learns that she was better off to say "Nothing today, kind sir" and sends the salesman on his way. The unflappable Wiffle Piffle gathers his hat and sample case and continues on his way.