Bonzo Cartoons, Unofficial DVD compilation Options

[Dinky D. Doodle]

Dear Fellow Members,
I am glad to announce that Mr. Mark Martucci of NJ has put together a nice DVD of Bonzo cartoons. Although it is not 100% completed, I have seen a videotape copy of the current DVD in progress, as well as rough copies of the DVD case and insert booklet.
Reg Richardson of the U.K. as well as myself trusted Mark with our rare film prints, and it was well worth it!
I cannot yet discuss how copies can be obtained (if it is even possible) as this is unofficial and still in progress.
Posted below is a copy of the current DVD guide (in the booklet)typed by Mark:

BONZO CARTOONS



My only reference to these films is the Cartoon Database at http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios...N/New_Era_Films _Ltd_/Bonzo/index.html



BONZO (1924) FROM PAL. Originally Released on November 01, 1924. Concerns Bonzo, the dog, and his escapades in the kitchen attempting to steal some sausages. The cartoon Database also lists a cartoon called “BONZO” with this synopsis: Bonzo is frustrated in his attempt to eat the maid’s sausabves so he contents himself with drinking the cat’s milk. The first bonzo cartoon in the Big Cartoon Database is called “a sausage sensation”. All 3 of these seem to describe this same cartoon listed here. This is probably the 1st cartoon in the Bonzo series.


TALLY-HO! BONZO (1925) FROM PAL. Originally Released in 1925 (Estimate). Bonzo steals aniseed from a man outside a candy shop, and is caught and punished. He is then pursued by a fox, whom he, in turn, saves from a pack of hounds. This was the first cartoon on a PAL tape loaned to me by Reg… Unfortunately there is no blank space in front of the cartoon and the opening title card would not show when it played. I went back and made a freeze frame of it and then the tape got stuck in the VCR. I did mange to record some of the opening titles before this happened and the tape got damaged, so what you see is a patch job to represent the original content of the opening titles of this cartoon. My apologies to Reg for this nightmarish mishap and I hope he forgives me for crinkling up the titles of this film on his tape.




**BONZO # 16. ALADDIN BONZO AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP (1925). (16mm). Originally Released on September 07, 1925. This is from a very worn, warped and damaged film. The image goes out of frame a bit and it jumps quite a bit due to sprocket damage. All in all, we did about 5 transfers of this and the following film and I have edited the best segments together to make the finest copy I could come up with. The film itself is delightful and is probably my favorite of all the Bonzo films I have seen so far. The cartoon database only lists this as BONZO #16, but this title is the one that appears on the film itself.




**BONZO #18. SANDY MC BONZO or BONZO GOES TO SCOTLAND (1925). (16mm). Originally Released in October of 1925 (Estimate). Another severely damaged print was used in this transfer. Unfortunately, what looks like a very small bit of the ending is missing. I tacked on a closing card from another bonzo cartoon in order to give it some kind of conclusion.


BONZO THE TRAVELER (1925) (FROM PAL). Originally Released on November 02, 1925 . Due to the excessive length of this film, I am led to believe that this is actually 2 cartoons combined to make one. The second half of this is probably “POLAR BONZO” (Originally Released in September of 1925 (Estimate).




*TANKED (1925?) (8MM & 16MM). Not sure what film this actually is since the cartoon database lists no bonzo film with this title. This is probably re-titled for the home market. The title is surely one of the Bonzo #…titles that have no synopsis on the Cartoon Database. . A composite copy using both the 8 and 16mm prints. This is as complete and as nice looking as I can get it.



*DOG-GONE (1926) (100FT. 16MM) Bonzo has adventures at the zoo with a zebra, tiger, elephant and pelican. The pup is mistaken by the keeper for a "striped bonzosaurus." This is listed as the last of the 26 Bonzo films on the Cartoon Database. Originally Released on September 15, 1926. This is only y a segment of the film is a 16mm home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 16MM). A very nice print and image, but the first 3.5 minutes are missing. Home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 8MM). This print is much more complete than the 16mm copy we have, but it is very faded at times and is not easy to watch. Home version.


*ZOO-OLOGY (50 FT. 16MM) Very short version of “DOG GONE” re-named. Home version.




Thanks to Reg Richardson and Tom Stathes for the use of their valuable materials.
*=Reg's print...**=Myprint


Below is an excerpt of what Mark Fuller; who you know has been doing extensive research on this series; sent in response to Mark M.'s guide:

1) Bonzo - the one with him balancing on a pile of plates - is the

first in the series, the pilot if you like, and should be shown at around 24

fps, the rest of the films at 16fps. Depending on the video transfer, it may

seem slowed down as a result. The Trade show and Premiere were in Nov '24,

but was not released to the cinemas until Jan '25. Both #1 and #5 have

sausage incidents....#5 is a nightmare sequence. (#1 through 5 are just

called Bonzo - proper titles start with #6)

2) Tally Ho Bonzo is #19, due to have been released 19th Oct '25.

Also released as 16mm home movie in 1935.

3) Aladdin Bonzo I have not seen, it isn't in the National Film

Archive, indeed, the TITLE wasn't known to me until Tom got in touch....it

is #16 as you indicate.

4) Sandy - the NFA apparently has a copy, but I haven't seen it. #

18, oct 5th '25.

5) Bonzo the Traveller. A Pathe 16mm splice-up from 1935 - The two

films are #14, Booster Bonzo or Bonzo in Gay Paree, and #15, Polar Bonzo(

both August 1925), both trimmed down to try and make sense together. Often

appears in filmographies as part of the series proper - it aint!

6) Tanked - an American title I think, a trimmed-down part of an

otherwise missing longer adventure, military themed, title unknown. Also

have seen references to another mini-film called The Recruit, Could be the

same or another fragment of the same film.

7) Dog-Gone . Similarly, a re-titled home movie fragment of

'Bonzo's Adventure in A Zoo,' number and date unknown.


-----
I am proud to bring you this information and I'd like to give a strong personal thanks to Mark Fuller and Mark Martucci for their work and research on this series.
Thanks, Guys!

[Studio Toledo]

Dear Fellow Members,
I am glad to announce that Mr. Mark Martucci of NJ has put together a nice DVD of Bonzo cartoons. Although it is not 100% completed, I have seen a videotape copy of the current DVD in progress, as well as rough copies of the DVD case and insert booklet.
Reg Richardson of the U.K. as well as myself trusted Mark with our rare film prints, and it was well worth it!
I cannot yet discuss how copies can be obtained (if it is even possible) as this is unofficial and still in progress.
Posted below is a copy of the current DVD guide (in the booklet)typed by Mark:

BONZO CARTOONS



My only reference to these films is the Cartoon Database at http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios...N/New_Era_Films _Ltd_/Bonzo/index.html



BONZO (1924) FROM PAL. Originally Released on November 01, 1924. Concerns Bonzo, the dog, and his escapades in the kitchen attempting to steal some sausages. The cartoon Database also lists a cartoon called “BONZO” with this synopsis: Bonzo is frustrated in his attempt to eat the maid’s sausabves so he contents himself with drinking the cat’s milk. The first bonzo cartoon in the Big Cartoon Database is called “a sausage sensation”. All 3 of these seem to describe this same cartoon listed here. This is probably the 1st cartoon in the Bonzo series.


TALLY-HO! BONZO (1925) FROM PAL. Originally Released in 1925 (Estimate). Bonzo steals aniseed from a man outside a candy shop, and is caught and punished. He is then pursued by a fox, whom he, in turn, saves from a pack of hounds. This was the first cartoon on a PAL tape loaned to me by Reg… Unfortunately there is no blank space in front of the cartoon and the opening title card would not show when it played. I went back and made a freeze frame of it and then the tape got stuck in the VCR. I did mange to record some of the opening titles before this happened and the tape got damaged, so what you see is a patch job to represent the original content of the opening titles of this cartoon. My apologies to Reg for this nightmarish mishap and I hope he forgives me for crinkling up the titles of this film on his tape.




**BONZO # 16. ALADDIN BONZO AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP (1925). (16mm). Originally Released on September 07, 1925. This is from a very worn, warped and damaged film. The image goes out of frame a bit and it jumps quite a bit due to sprocket damage. All in all, we did about 5 transfers of this and the following film and I have edited the best segments together to make the finest copy I could come up with. The film itself is delightful and is probably my favorite of all the Bonzo films I have seen so far. The cartoon database only lists this as BONZO #16, but this title is the one that appears on the film itself.




**BONZO #18. SANDY MC BONZO or BONZO GOES TO SCOTLAND (1925). (16mm). Originally Released in October of 1925 (Estimate). Another severely damaged print was used in this transfer. Unfortunately, what looks like a very small bit of the ending is missing. I tacked on a closing card from another bonzo cartoon in order to give it some kind of conclusion.


BONZO THE TRAVELER (1925) (FROM PAL). Originally Released on November 02, 1925 . Due to the excessive length of this film, I am led to believe that this is actually 2 cartoons combined to make one. The second half of this is probably “POLAR BONZO” (Originally Released in September of 1925 (Estimate).




*TANKED (1925?) (8MM & 16MM). Not sure what film this actually is since the cartoon database lists no bonzo film with this title. This is probably re-titled for the home market. The title is surely one of the Bonzo #…titles that have no synopsis on the Cartoon Database. . A composite copy using both the 8 and 16mm prints. This is as complete and as nice looking as I can get it.



*DOG-GONE (1926) (100FT. 16MM) Bonzo has adventures at the zoo with a zebra, tiger, elephant and pelican. The pup is mistaken by the keeper for a "striped bonzosaurus." This is listed as the last of the 26 Bonzo films on the Cartoon Database. Originally Released on September 15, 1926. This is only y a segment of the film is a 16mm home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 16MM). A very nice print and image, but the first 3.5 minutes are missing. Home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 8MM). This print is much more complete than the 16mm copy we have, but it is very faded at times and is not easy to watch. Home version.


*ZOO-OLOGY (50 FT. 16MM) Very short version of “DOG GONE” re-named. Home version.




Thanks to Reg Richardson and Tom Stathes for the use of their valuable materials.
*=Reg's print...**=Myprint


Below is an excerpt of what Mark Fuller; who you know has been doing extensive research on this series; sent in response to Mark M.'s guide:

1) Bonzo - the one with him balancing on a pile of plates - is the

first in the series, the pilot if you like, and should be shown at around 24

fps, the rest of the films at 16fps. Depending on the video transfer, it may

seem slowed down as a result. The Trade show and Premiere were in Nov '24,

but was not released to the cinemas until Jan '25. Both #1 and #5 have

sausage incidents....#5 is a nightmare sequence. (#1 through 5 are just

called Bonzo - proper titles start with #6)

2) Tally Ho Bonzo is #19, due to have been released 19th Oct '25.

Also released as 16mm home movie in 1935.

3) Aladdin Bonzo I have not seen, it isn't in the National Film

Archive, indeed, the TITLE wasn't known to me until Tom got in touch....it

is #16 as you indicate.

4) Sandy - the NFA apparently has a copy, but I haven't seen it. #

18, oct 5th '25.

5) Bonzo the Traveller. A Pathe 16mm splice-up from 1935 - The two

films are #14, Booster Bonzo or Bonzo in Gay Paree, and #15, Polar Bonzo(

both August 1925), both trimmed down to try and make sense together. Often

appears in filmographies as part of the series proper - it aint!

6) Tanked - an American title I think, a trimmed-down part of an

otherwise missing longer adventure, military themed, title unknown. Also

have seen references to another mini-film called The Recruit, Could be the

same or another fragment of the same film.

7) Dog-Gone . Similarly, a re-titled home movie fragment of

'Bonzo's Adventure in A Zoo,' number and date unknown.


-----
I am proud to bring you this information and I'd like to give a strong personal thanks to Mark Fuller and Mark Martucci for their work and research on this series.
Thanks, Guys!

Nice to hear a few people are making a forgotten part of animation history accessible again through the DVD medium. If I was a home video distributor, I'd love to sell this item in my catalog!

[Dinky D. Doodle]

Dear Fellow Members,
I am glad to announce that Mr. Mark Martucci of NJ has put together a nice DVD of Bonzo cartoons. Although it is not 100% completed, I have seen a videotape copy of the current DVD in progress, as well as rough copies of the DVD case and insert booklet.
Reg Richardson of the U.K. as well as myself trusted Mark with our rare film prints, and it was well worth it!
I cannot yet discuss how copies can be obtained (if it is even possible) as this is unofficial and still in progress.
Posted below is a copy of the current DVD guide (in the booklet)typed by Mark:

BONZO CARTOONS



My only reference to these films is the Cartoon Database at http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios...N/New_Era_Films _Ltd_/Bonzo/index.html



BONZO (1924) FROM PAL.  Originally Released on November 01, 1924.  Concerns Bonzo, the dog, and his escapades in the kitchen attempting to steal some sausages.  The cartoon Database also lists a cartoon called “BONZO” with this synopsis: Bonzo is frustrated in his attempt to eat the maid’s sausabves so he contents himself with drinking the cat’s milk.    The first bonzo cartoon in the Big Cartoon Database is called “a sausage sensation”.  All 3 of these seem to describe this same cartoon listed here.  This is probably the 1st cartoon in the Bonzo series.


TALLY-HO! BONZO (1925) FROM PAL.  Originally Released in 1925 (Estimate).  Bonzo steals aniseed from a man outside a candy shop, and is caught and punished. He is then pursued by a fox, whom he, in turn, saves from a pack of hounds.      This was the first cartoon on a PAL tape loaned to me by Reg… Unfortunately there is no blank space in front of the cartoon and the opening title card would not show when it played.  I went back and made a freeze frame of it and then the tape got stuck in the VCR.  I did mange to record some of the opening titles before this happened and the tape got damaged, so what you see is a patch job to represent the original content of the opening titles of this cartoon.  My apologies to Reg for this nightmarish mishap and I hope he forgives me for crinkling up the titles of this film on his tape.




**BONZO # 16.  ALADDIN BONZO AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP (1925).  (16mm).  Originally Released on September 07, 1925.  This is from a very worn, warped and damaged film.  The image goes out of frame a bit and it jumps quite a bit due to sprocket damage.  All in all, we did about 5 transfers of this and the following film and I have edited the best segments together to make the finest copy I could come up with.  The film itself is delightful and is probably my favorite of all the Bonzo films I have seen so far.  The cartoon database only lists this as BONZO #16, but this title is the one that appears on the film itself.




**BONZO #18.  SANDY MC BONZO or BONZO GOES TO SCOTLAND (1925).  (16mm).  Originally Released in October of 1925 (Estimate). Another severely damaged print was used in this transfer.  Unfortunately, what looks like a very small bit of the ending is missing.  I tacked on a closing card from another bonzo cartoon in order to give it some kind of conclusion.


BONZO THE TRAVELER (1925) (FROM PAL). Originally Released on November 02, 1925 .  Due to the excessive length of this film, I am led to believe that this is actually 2 cartoons combined to make one.  The second half of this is probably “POLAR BONZO” (Originally Released in September of 1925 (Estimate).




*TANKED (1925?) (8MM & 16MM).  Not sure what film this actually is since the cartoon database lists no bonzo film with this title.  This is probably re-titled for the home market.  The title is surely one of the Bonzo #…titles that have no synopsis on the Cartoon Database.  .  A composite copy using both the 8 and 16mm prints.  This is as complete and as nice looking as I can get it.



*DOG-GONE (1926) (100FT.  16MM) Bonzo has adventures at the zoo with a zebra, tiger, elephant and pelican. The pup is mistaken by the keeper for a "striped bonzosaurus."  This is listed as the last of the 26 Bonzo films on the Cartoon Database.  Originally Released on September 15, 1926.  This is only  y a segment of the film is a 16mm home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 16MM).  A very nice print and image, but the first 3.5 minutes are missing.  Home version.


*TANKED (100FT. 8MM).  This print is much more complete than the 16mm copy we have, but it is very faded at times and is not easy to watch.  Home version.


*ZOO-OLOGY (50 FT. 16MM) Very short version of “DOG GONE” re-named.  Home version.




Thanks to Reg Richardson and Tom Stathes for the use of their valuable materials.
*=Reg's print...**=Myprint


Below is an excerpt of what Mark Fuller; who you know has been doing extensive research on this series; sent in response to Mark M.'s guide:

1) Bonzo - the one with him balancing on a pile of plates - is the

first in the series, the pilot if you like, and should be shown at around 24

fps, the rest of the films at 16fps. Depending on the video transfer, it may

seem slowed down as a result. The Trade show and Premiere were in Nov '24,

but was not released to the cinemas until Jan '25. Both #1 and #5 have

sausage incidents....#5 is a nightmare sequence. (#1 through 5 are just

called Bonzo - proper titles start with #6)

2) Tally Ho Bonzo is #19, due to have been released 19th Oct '25.

Also released as 16mm home movie in 1935.

3) Aladdin Bonzo I have not seen, it isn't in the National Film

Archive, indeed, the TITLE wasn't known to me until Tom got in touch....it

is #16 as you indicate.

4) Sandy - the NFA apparently has a copy, but I haven't seen it. #

18, oct 5th '25.

5) Bonzo the Traveller. A Pathe 16mm splice-up from 1935 - The two

films are #14, Booster Bonzo or Bonzo in Gay Paree, and #15, Polar Bonzo(

both August 1925), both trimmed down to try and make sense together. Often

appears in filmographies as part of the series proper - it aint!

6) Tanked - an American title I think, a trimmed-down part of an

otherwise missing longer adventure, military themed, title unknown. Also

have seen references to another mini-film called The Recruit, Could be the

same or another fragment of the same film.

7) Dog-Gone . Similarly, a re-titled home movie fragment of

'Bonzo's Adventure in A Zoo,' number and date unknown.


-----
I am proud to bring you this information and I'd like to give a strong personal thanks to Mark Fuller and Mark Martucci for their work and research on this series.
Thanks, Guys!

Nice to hear a few people are making a forgotten part of animation history accessible again through the DVD medium. If I was a home video distributor, I'd love to sell this item in my catalog!

Glad to know you care! Thanks for your interest.