Bobby Bumps Starts for School (silent, 1917)

This whimsical 1910s animated short blends humor and mischief with a playful depiction of school life. Beginning with a ringing school bell and a lively morning routine, a boy’s antics escalate when his dog and a sneaky cat join the fun. Towel pranks turn into slapstick comedy, culminating in a classroom daydream where the boy imagines a baseball game on his desk.

As chaos ensues, the boy and his dog climb to the bell tower, only to create a ruckus that leaves the school bell destroyed and the teacher hilariously injured. The film concludes with children celebrating their unexpected freedom, and the injured teacher humorously lamenting his “ringing” ears in a hospital bed. Witty intertitles and vibrant animation bring this slice of 1920s humor to life, ending with a cheeky nod to animator Earl Hurd.

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