A LAD AND HIS LAMP (1929) Animation, Comedy | Short | Free Movie

Please visit our streaming service at https://lostnfoundfilms.uscreen.io/

A Lad and His Lamp is a silent-to-sound transition-era cartoon short directed by animation pioneer Paul Terry, best known for founding Terrytoons and for his earlier work on the Aesop’s Fables cartoon series. The film is a parody of the Aladdin tale, loosely adapting the legend with slapstick gags, surreal transformations, and anthropomorphic characters typical of 1920s cartoons.

In the story, a humble animal character (likely a cat or mouse, following the series' conventions) discovers a magical lamp. Upon rubbing it, a genie appears—but instead of granting traditional wishes, chaos ensues in true Terry fashion. The cartoon features rapidly shifting scenes, musical timing, and dreamlike fantasy sequences designed to delight Depression-era audiences.

Synopsis:

n this whimsical animated short, a playful parody of the Aladdin tale unfolds through the lens of 1920s slapstick humor. The story follows a young animal character—likely a cat or mouse—who stumbles upon a mysterious old lamp in a junkyard or desert setting. When he rubs it, a bumbling and oversized genie emerges, ready to grant wishes—but with comically disastrous results.

Instead of fulfilling the hero’s dreams, each wish spins out of control in absurd and surreal ways: a palace turns into a runaway carnival ride, riches transform into chaos, and villains emerge from thin air. Through a series of fast-paced gags and visual puns, the lad must fix the genie’s mistakes and escape the escalating madness.

The short ends with a twist typical of the Aesop’s Fables series—either a visual punchline or an ironic “moral” title card that undercuts the lesson entirely.

Cast & Crew:

Director: Paul Terry
Animation Studio: Fables Pictures Inc.
Series: Aesop’s Fables (though rarely based on actual Aesop tales)
Animation Style: Early rubber-hose animation
Sound: One of the early synchronized sound entries in the series
Color: Black and white
Runtime: Approx. 7 minutes
Release Year: 1929
Country: United States
Distributor: Pathé Exchange