Cartoon - Woody Woodpecker Jokes Program - 1960s

Original Yugoslav theatrical cinema poster for ŠALJIVI PROGRAM PERE DJETLIĆA
(Woody Woodpecker Jokes Program),
a classic animated cartoon comedy short compilation featuring Woody Woodpecker (Pera Djetlić), one of the most iconic characters of American theatrical animation.

This is the original Yugoslav cinema issue, produced specifically for theatrical exhibition in Yugoslavia and presented by Kinematografi Zagreb, the main cinema exhibition network in Zagreb during the post-war decades.
Yugoslav posters for American animated shorts were printed in very limited quantities, used briefly, and almost never preserved, making surviving examples considerably scarcer than their U.S. or Western European counterparts.

Artwork & Design

The poster features a vivid hand-painted illustration of Woody Woodpecker in a classic slapstick pose, rendered with expressive brushwork and bright, playful colors.
The cartoon speech bubble and humorous signage reinforce the anarchic, mischievous spirit of the character, closely aligned with the tone of the original theatrical shorts.

The graphic style—bold lettering, painterly backgrounds, and simplified composition—is characteristic of late 1950s / early 1960s Yugoslav children’s cinema posters, which favored illustration over photographic or standardized studio artwork.

Unlike U.S. posters of the same period, which were often conservative and repetitive, Yugoslav designs embraced visual humor and exaggeration, resulting in posters that are now especially attractive to collectors of international animation art.

Film & Compilation Context

Šaljivi Program Pere Djetlića clearly denotes a theatrical compilation of Woody Woodpecker cartoons, rather than a single feature or fixed program.
As with many animated cinema programs of the era, it remains uncertain whether this poster advertised a specific, fixed set of shorts or functioned as a generic compilation title, allowing cinemas to rotate different Woody Woodpecker cartoons under the same banner.

There is no confirmed evidence that this compilation was released in other countries under the same title, suggesting that it may have been exclusive to Yugoslavia or at least uniquely localized for the Yugoslav market.

Dating & Origin

Country: Yugoslavia
Estimated date: circa late 1950s – early 1960s

Dating is based on:

Typography and hand-painted illustration style

Printing technique and coarse offset raster

Paper stock typical of early Yugoslav theatrical posters

Credit line “Kinematografi – Zagreb”, commonly used during this period

These characteristics place the poster firmly in the early golden era of Yugoslav animated film exhibition.

Format

Original theatrical cinema poster

Approx. 70 × 50 cm (27.5 × 19.5 in)

Intended exclusively for cinema display

Never commercially sold, contributing significantly to its rarity today

Condition

Very good vintage condition for its age.
Original fold lines from cinema distribution are present.
Bright colors, clean image area, no major tears or paper loss.
Minor handling and age-related wear consistent with authentic theatrical use.

(Please review photos carefully for exact condition.)

Collector’s Importance

Yugoslav posters for classic American animated characters are increasingly sought after, particularly those featuring:

Woody Woodpecker

Golden Age theatrical cartoons

Yugoslav & Eastern European cinema posters

Hand-painted international animation art

Children’s and family film ephemera

Due to small print runs, ephemeral use, and low survival rates, authentic Yugoslav animation posters from this period are now considered serious collector pieces, not secondary alternatives to U.S. issues.