AFTER ITS HAVING been planned as a model of film making for a course at UCLA taught by Mr. Richard Bare; the final product showed enough promise to be released by Warner Brothers and subsidiary, Vitaphone, as part of their Hollywood VARITIES Comedy Short Subjects series. At the time, few if any of those in control had any idea that there would be such a liking developed by the movie-going public for George O'Hanlon's character of Joe McDoakes.
THIS FILM'S FUNCTION as being the Pilot episode of what would last for years had most of the ingredients that would prove to be series trademarks. The voice-over by Art Gilmore, which essentially dictated and described on-screen action; also provided a sort of verbal straight man to stooge, McDoakes. Whereas Mr. O'Hanlon's mannerisms and reactions are acted out in a style, which can only be classified as 'Ham' or even 'High Ham'; the Gilmore verbalization are most often done in a 'straight as an arrow' mode.
SO YOU WANT TO GIVE UP SMOKING, much like so many of the earlier entries to the JOE McDOAKES Series, bears a strong resemblance to the PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES, that had been going strong over at MGM for at least a decade or so. Although as time went by and more McDOAKES shorts were produced, released and welcomed by the public; O'Hanlon and the films steadily found their own identity.
AS FOR STAR, George O'Hanlon, a name little known to many today and who was a mere footnote to many others, managed a long run in comedy shorts; as well as making many appearances in mostly uncredited supporting roles in many a Feature Film. The actor would work into the 1990's, with THE JETSONS MOVIE being his last major 'appearance' (as the voice of George Jetson).*
PERHAPS AS AN acknowledgment to the series' relationship to cartoons (both animated and in the print media), this short,and those that followed, made liberal use of caricatured drawings in their opening credits. The outstanding depiction of Joe coming out from behind the old eight-ball wouldn't arrive on the scene for some installments; which further differentiated the McDOAKES Series from those "produced and narrated by a Smith named Pete."
NOTE:* Other than the Joe McDoakes character, George O'Hanlon is best known for his portrayal of George Jetson. He did it in the original series THE JETSONS (Hanna-Barbera/ABC, 1960), in several animated specials and in THE JETSONS MOVIE (1990).
He also had a recurring role run as neighbor Calvin Dudley on William Bendix's long running, THE LIFE OF RILEY(NBC, 1953-58). In 1955, Tom D'Andrea (longtime portraying Riley's pal & neighbor,Gillis)left the show to co-star with Hal March on sitcom,THE SOLDIERS (NBC, 1955). The absence if Gillis was filled in with O'Hanlon's character's taking up the slack. When THE SOLDIERS quickly folded, Dandrea returned to RILEY as if he had never left. Calvin Dudley was relegated back to occasional appearances.
THIS FILM'S FUNCTION as being the Pilot episode of what would last for years had most of the ingredients that would prove to be series trademarks. The voice-over by Art Gilmore, which essentially dictated and described on-screen action; also provided a sort of verbal straight man to stooge, McDoakes. Whereas Mr. O'Hanlon's mannerisms and reactions are acted out in a style, which can only be classified as 'Ham' or even 'High Ham'; the Gilmore verbalization are most often done in a 'straight as an arrow' mode.
SO YOU WANT TO GIVE UP SMOKING, much like so many of the earlier entries to the JOE McDOAKES Series, bears a strong resemblance to the PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES, that had been going strong over at MGM for at least a decade or so. Although as time went by and more McDOAKES shorts were produced, released and welcomed by the public; O'Hanlon and the films steadily found their own identity.
AS FOR STAR, George O'Hanlon, a name little known to many today and who was a mere footnote to many others, managed a long run in comedy shorts; as well as making many appearances in mostly uncredited supporting roles in many a Feature Film. The actor would work into the 1990's, with THE JETSONS MOVIE being his last major 'appearance' (as the voice of George Jetson).*
PERHAPS AS AN acknowledgment to the series' relationship to cartoons (both animated and in the print media), this short,and those that followed, made liberal use of caricatured drawings in their opening credits. The outstanding depiction of Joe coming out from behind the old eight-ball wouldn't arrive on the scene for some installments; which further differentiated the McDOAKES Series from those "produced and narrated by a Smith named Pete."
NOTE:* Other than the Joe McDoakes character, George O'Hanlon is best known for his portrayal of George Jetson. He did it in the original series THE JETSONS (Hanna-Barbera/ABC, 1960), in several animated specials and in THE JETSONS MOVIE (1990).
He also had a recurring role run as neighbor Calvin Dudley on William Bendix's long running, THE LIFE OF RILEY(NBC, 1953-58). In 1955, Tom D'Andrea (longtime portraying Riley's pal & neighbor,Gillis)left the show to co-star with Hal March on sitcom,THE SOLDIERS (NBC, 1955). The absence if Gillis was filled in with O'Hanlon's character's taking up the slack. When THE SOLDIERS quickly folded, Dandrea returned to RILEY as if he had never left. Calvin Dudley was relegated back to occasional appearances.
