Disney cartoon makers loved to associate Donald Duck with the unlucky number 13 whenever they could. One entire cartoon revolved around the Friday the 13th premise (Donald's Lucky Day) and and his fictional birthday was celebrated in the film The Three Caballeros on Friday the 13th as well. The short Donald's Happy Birthday identified his birthday as March 13.The "13" gag was employed twice in the cartoon Donald Gets Drafted, released on this day in 1942. Donald's draft notice cites order number 13, and he subsequently reports to Draft Board No. 13.
Also of note in the short--the draft notice reveals Donald's middle name to be Fauntleroy. And some of the sidewalk posters outside the Draft Board are significantly similar in style to designs produced by Walt Disney himself while with the Red Cross in France at the end of World War I.
Images © Walt Disney Company
I believe that 13 was also Donald's badge number in "Truant Officer Donald" (1941).
ReplyDeleteHello Jeff.
ReplyDeleteOn my blog Toons At War I picture a production drawing from my collection from the short "Donald Gets Drafted."
I framed the piece with a copy of Donald's draft notice, which ordered Donald to report for duty on April 1st (April Fool's Day).
As you stated, the notice was number 13. The notice also indicated Donald had to go to an address that was located on "Soldiers Walk and Generals Drive."
I also have an image, which I hope to post soon, that features Donald promoting gas rationing. Donald is pictured as a war plant worker wearing a badge with the number 13 printed on it.