JF Ptak Science Books
Windsor McKay–who for all intents and purposes invented the animated cartoon with his “Gertie the Dinosaur” in 1914 –produced this piece of homeland propaganda on the sinking of the Lusitania, which occurred on this day in 1915.
The film was released in 1918 with McKay producing the 25,000 drawings necessary for production. It caused great emotions and bitterness, considering of course that there was no footage or photographs of the sinking–McKay provided the moving impetus and the viewers’ minds filled in the rest. The RMS Lusitania, which was a Cunard Line ocean liner, was sunk by torpedoes from the German U-Boat SM U-20 eight miles off the coast of Ireland, killing 1,1989 of the 1959 people on board.
Notes:
McKay (1867-1934) is also remembered for his remarkable cartoon strips Little Nemo and The Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend.