Transcript:
Mickey and Minnie are pumping water as someone rides up on a bike. Mickey says "Oh, Minnie, here comes Clarabelle Cow, the town gossip. I heard she had her tonsils removed so she could talk more freely!!!
Clarabelle reaches them and greets Minnie, saying "Oh, dearie! I’m so glad to see you! They say you are an heiress―I must tell everyone the good news―The Mortimer estate belongs to you. And they do say they were so wealthy―now you can even have a cheese-lined bathtub!!
The narration says “One hour later” as Clarabelle continues “Just think!―You can have new dresses, and you can go abroad and study music!―I love singing―Do you know singers run in my family?” Mickey mutters to himself on the upturned pail of water, “You bet singers run in her family. If they didn’t―they’d get shot!!”
Clarabelle takes her leave, saying “Well, I hope wealth don’t turn your head―remember―I’ll always be interested in you, and watch how things go!! I’m sorry I haven’t any time to really talk to you―but I’ll see you again soon!!” Mickey looks at the reader and says “Wow!! She must have been vaccinated with a phonograph needle!!!”
“Vaccinated with a phonograph needle” was also used by Groucho Marx.
I wonder who thought of it first. Looks like most of his films were after this comic was published, so I’m guessing this came first? Might’ve just been a common saying too though.
Considering Marx worked vaudeville and a lot of early animation was inspired by minstrelcy, always possible it was a common joke in that setting.
Luckily, even the kids in Gen Alpha know what a phonograph needle is, thanks to this timeless classic.
