This vintage poster that recently came into our possession offers a amusing look into a unique part of lighthouse history.
The Walt Disney six-minute cartoon, which was released on September 20, 1956, features Donald Duck as a somewhat bored lighthouse keeper, who decides to have some fun with a sleeping pelican by shining the beam from the light on him to wake him up. When that happens, the pelican moves to a different spot to sleep, but each time he does, Donald Duck readjusts the light to shine on him once again. The angry bird finally gets fed up and invades the lighthouse, putting out the light. Donald and the pelican then proceed to engage in a fast-paced duel for the rest of the night, turning the light on and off on numerous times, even continuing their battle after sunrise.
One of the neat things about the cartoon is that the lens in the tower is a reflector-type light, rather than the more modern Fresnel lens. The cartoon, in its entirety can be viewed on YouTube. Have fun watching!
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