Bright Lights: Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Disney, 1928)

This rare black-and-white archival footage presents "Bright Lights," a classic Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon from March 19, 1928, created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal Studios—nearly a century ago—offering a nostalgic laugh for early animation fans. The silent film follows Oswald, the mischievous black rabbit with expressive ears, as he sneaks into a theater to see Mlle. Zulu, a cat dancer reminiscent of Josephine Baker, after finding himself short on cash. Using clever disguises—like puffing up his chest to impersonate a performer, tying a guard to a lamppost, and hiding under a patron’s shadow—Oswald triggers slapstick chaos: a leopard and lions escape, acrobats fall, and a wild chase ensues, all set against simple, whimsical backgrounds typical of the era. A lively window into 1920s animation’s golden age, this preserved gem—marking one of Disney’s final Oswald shorts before leaving Universal—grips cartoon enthusiasts, animation historians, and nostalgic viewers, offering a timeless peek at a theater romp frozen in time.