This is a list of short subject film series released by Hollywood studios.
Columbia
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences - one special (1949) Alan Mowbray (1941–1942) - 2 two-reelers Andy Clyde (1935–1956) - 73 comedy two-reelers Animal Cavalcade (1952–1953) - 4 one-reel comedies, much footage recycled from earlier shorts Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups (1929–1932) - 18 one-reelers with Eddie Buzzell Ben K. Blake Film Novelty specials: Yoo-Hoo General (1942), My Wife's An Angel (1943) & A Voice Is Born (1947) Bert Wheeler (1950–1951) - 2 two-reelers Billie Burke (1948) - 2 two-reelers Billy Gilbert (1943–1944) - 3 two-reelers Broadway Follies (1937–1938) - 5 musical one-reelers directed by Ben K. Blake Buster Keaton (1939–1941) - 10 two-reelers Candid Microphone (1948–1954) featuring Allen Funt and produced by Ben K. Blake Cavalcade of Broadway (1949–1952) - 12 New York nightlife shorts Charley Chase (1937–1940) - 20 two-reelers Cinescope (1939–1941) - 17 one-reel documentaries including a few travelogues by André de la Varre Columbia Star Comedies (those headlining one two-reeler each; these didn’t become long-term series like the Three Stooges or Andy Clyde): Charlie Murray (1935), Franklin Pangborn (1935), Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (1936), Herman Bing (1937), Danny Webb (Special, 1939), Wally Brown & Tim Ryan (together, 1949), Harry Mimo (1953), The Mischief Makers (1954, 1 two-reeler of an Our Gang type series), Girlie Whirls (starring Muriel Landers, 1957) Columbia Musical Novelties (1933–1934) - 8 comedy/musical two-reelers, often with dialogue entirely in rhyme. Columbia Specials (1936–1944)- about 9, including a Cosmocolor short Fashion Takes a Holiday (1940) Columbia Topnotchers (1953–1954) - set of 4 one-reel documentaries Columbia Tour (1936–1944) - 32 one-reel travelogues Community Sing (1937–1949) - 124 musical sing-a-long shorts, produced by Ben K. Blake after '40 Court of Human Relations (1936–1937) - 4 dramatic one-reelers produced by TruPictures. Eddie Foy Jr. (1945–1951) - 3 two-reelers El Brendel (1936–1945) - 19 two-reelers, 2 costarring Harry Langdon and 1 costarring Shemp Howard Film Vodvil (1943–1946) - produced by Ben K. Blake Fools Who Made History (1939) - pair of dramatic two-reelers Football Thrills (1931) - 6 sports-reels George Givot and Cliff Nazarro (1943) - 2 two-reelers George Sidney and Charles Murray (1934) - 6 comedy two-reelers The Glove Slingers (1939–1943) - 12 two-reelers, with Noah Beery, Jr., David Durand, and Bill Henry alternating leads Gus Schilling and Richard Lane (1945–1950) - 11 two-reelers H. A. Ripley's Minute Mysteries (1933–1934) - 10 one-reelers produced by John Randolph Bray Hall Room Boys Photoplays (pre-Columbia: 1919–1923) - before Columbia started, Harry Cohn worked on this series Harry Langdon (1934–1945) - 22 comedy two-reelers Harry Von Zell (1946–1950) - 8 two-reelers Hugh Herbert (1943–1952) - 23 two-reelers Joe Besser (1938, 1949–1956) – 1 two-reeler in ’38, followed by 11 more later Joe DeRita (1946–1948) - 4 two-reelers Laughing with Medbury (1931–1935) - John P. Medbury hosted travelogues (27 total) Johnny Downs (1942) - 2 two-reelers Johnny Walker International Forum (1941) – 3 two-reelers Lambs Club (1933) - 8 comedies showcasing members Leon Errol (1933–1934) - 5 comedy two-reelers Life's Last Laughs (1934–1935) - 6 one-reel spoofs on epitaphs Max Baer and Maxie Rosenbloom (1950–1952) - 4 two-reelers Monkeyshines (1931) - 5 comedies with an ape cast Monty Collins and Tom Kennedy (1935–1938) - 10 two-reelers, plus one with Monty solo (1936). Tom also co-starred with Johnny Arthur in one 1938 two-reeler. Music Hall Vanities (1939) - trio of shorts Music to Remember (1950) - 6 classical musical performances Musical Travelark (1954–1967) - 34 travelogues initially in CinemaScope and all in color. Harry Foster directed several. New York Parade (film series) (1940) - pair of documentaries (1940) Panoramics (1940–1945) - 14 one-reel documentaries Polly Moran (1936–1937) - 2 two-reelers Quiz Reel (film series) (1941–1942) - 5 one-reelers The Radio Rogues (1935) - 3 two-reelers Rambling Reporter travelogue (1930–1931) - 13 one-reelers Roscoe Karns (1941) - 2 two-reelers Screen Snapshots (C-B-C company: 1920–1924; Columbia: 1924–1958) - series of shorts that looked at the lives of various Hollywood stars Shemp Howard (1944–1947) - 9 two-reelers Slim Summerville (1943–1944) - 2 two-reelers Smith and Dale (1938–1939) - 2 two-reelers Special Happy Hour (1937–1939) - 7 one-reelers Spice of Life - Literary Digest Jokes (1934–1935) - 7 one-reelers Stars of Tomorrow (1935) - 6 one-reelers Sterling Holloway (1946–1948) - 6 two-reelers Strange as It Seems (1936–1937) - 8 drama/documentary two-reelers produced by the Screen Classics Studio Take It or Leave It (1940–1941) - produced by Ben K. Blake The Three Stooges (1934–1959) - 190 two-reelers Thrills of Music (1946–1949) - 23 big band musicals Una Merkel (1943–1944) - 2 two-reelers Vera Vague (1943–1952) - 16 two-reelers Victor Gems (1929–1930) - 31 short musicals Victory Shorts (1942–1944), some by the Office of War Information Voice of Experience (1935–1936) - 10 one-reel advice shorts produced by Rex Film and Ben K. Blake Wally Vernon and Eddie Quillan (1948–1956) - 16 two-reelers Walter Catlett (1934–1940) - 6 comedy two-reelers produced sporadically Walter Futter Curiosities (1930–1932) - 28 one-reel documentaries The Washington Parade (1938–1941) - 12 one-reelers profiling the capital World in Color travelogues (1937–1938) - 5 made in Cinecolor World of Sports (1932–1967) – 263+ one-reelers produced by John Randolph Bray in the early years and directed by Jack Kofoed until 1939, when Harry Foster took over. Most were in black and white prior to the sixties. Columbia also distributed many independent productions, including many imports from the National Film Board of Canada and the award-winning People Soup and Norman Rockwell's World... An American Dream. The Learning Corporation of America was mostly owned by Columbia between 1968 and 1975 (although the company continued through the early '90s), being responsible for many short educational films for schools (often 16mm), along with TV specials and theatrical shorts like the award-winning Angel and Big Joe (1975).
Educational Pictures
(Distributed through Fox Film and 20th Century Fox, 1932–1938) Al Christie Comedies (many two-reelers from 1922–1927)- Paramount took over distribution in 1927 Andy Clyde Comedies (1932–1934) As A Dog Thinks (1933) – canine novelties by Robert C. Bruce Baby Burlesks (1932–1933) – juvenile comedies featuring Shirley Temple Battle for Life (1932–1934) – nature documentaries made by Horace & Stacy Woodard, including award winning City of Wax Bill Cunningham Sports Review (1931–1932) Cameo Comedies (1922–1932) – one-reelers with Jimmie Adams, Virginia Vance, Cliff Bowes, Eddie Barry, Sidney Smith, Phil Dunman, George Davis, Monte Collins, Jack Lloyd, Wallace Lupino, Gene Stone, William Dale and others. Sound added 1929. Campbell Comedies (1921–1922) – two-reelers Cannibals of the Deep (1931–1932) - Mack Sennett produced fishing reels Charles Bowers Comedies (1927–1928) – trick comedies (some with stop-motion animation) C. L. Chester “Chester-Outings” and “Chester Screenics” (1919–1921) – travelogues, also comedies with a chimpanzee Snooky Clyde Cook Comedies (1924) – two-reel Col. Stoopnagle’s Cavalcade Of Stuff (1938) – pair of spoof documentaries with Stoopnagle and Budd Coronet Comedies (1929–1936) – assorted two-reelers, earliest with Edward Everett Horton, later with Charles Judels, Buster West, Tom Howard, Tom Patricola, Vince Barnett & Billy Gilbert. Produced in last years by Al Christie. Dorothy Devore Comedies (1927–1929) – two-reelers Educational Musical Comedies (1934–1938) – two-reelers featuring Niela Goodelle, Harry Gribbon and early appearances by Bob Hope, The Ritz Brothers, Imogene Coca, Danny Kaye and June Allyson. Al Christie produced many of these. Frolics of Youth (1933–1935) – two-reel comedies with Frank Coghlin Jr. and others Gags & Gals (1936–1938) – two-reel cartoonist comedies produced by Al Christie with Jefferson Machamer Gayety Comedies (1930–1931) with Johnny Hines and Ford Sterling. Produced by Al Christie. Harry Langdon Comedies (1932–1933) – two-reelers Helena Smith Dayton (1917) – made a claymation short, co-produced by the SS Film Company Hodge Podge (film series) (1922–1933, sound added after 1929) – part-live-action travelogue, part animated cartoon (including claymation), initially utilizing footage collected by Lyman H. Howe Hollywood Girls Comedies (1930–1932) – two-reelers, some directed by Fatty Arbuckle Hollywood on Parade (1934) – pair of Louis Lewyn produced documentaries. Paramount also produced these. Hope Hampton Technicolor Specials (1925–1927) - fashion reels Ideal Comedies (1927–1929, with sound: 1930–1932) – two reelers with Clem Beauchamp, Al St. John & others Jack White Talking Comedies (1929–1930, 1933) – two-reelers. Milton Berle appeared in one of the last. James A. Fitzpatrick Sing-alongs (1926) - with Peggy Shaw Joe Rock Special: Krakatoa (1933) Johnny Walker Novelties (1932) – one-reel series “Great Hokum Mystery” and “Do You Remember?” Juvenile Comedies (1922–1929) – two-reelers with Malcolm Sebastian appearing in later ones dubbed Big Boy-Juvenile Larry Semon Comedies co-produced by Chadwick (1924–1927) Leon Britol Special: War In China (1932) Living Book of Nature (1917) – animal reels Lloyd Hamilton Comedies (1923-1929, with sound 1929–1931) – two-reelers Lupino Lane Comedies (1925–1929, sound added to last batch) – two-reelers Mack Sennett Sound Comedies (1928–1932) with Andy Clyde, Johnny Burke, Marjorie Beebe, Daphne Pollard, Billy Bevan, Harry Gribbon, Dorothy Granger, and Bing Crosby Musicals (1931–1932). A few in Naturalcolor Marriage Wows (1934) – two-reelers produced by Al Christie Mermaid Comedies (1920–1929; sound: 1929–1934) – two-reelers with Lloyd Hamilton (before starting his own series), Jimmie Adams, Lige Conley, Louise Fazenda, Sidney Smith, Virginia Vance, Al St. John, George Davis, Clem Beauchamp, Phil Dunham and Monte Collins. Sound comedies featured Franklin Pangborn, Eddie Lambert, Tom Howard, and Harry Langdon. Mirthquake Comedies (1935–1937) – two-reelers with Tom Howard, Tim Ryan & Irene Ryan Produced by Al Christie Moran and Mack Comedies (1933) – two-reelers Operalogue (1932–1933) – two-reel musicals “Our World Today” Kinograms (1928–1929) Pat Dowling’s “Camera Adventures” (1932–1933) – nature reels Robert C. Bruce Series (documentary shorts): Scenics (1920–1922, 1926–1927), Wilderness Tales (1922–1924) & Outdoor Sketches (1927–1928) Romance Productions (1926) – in color Romantic Journey (1931–1934) - Howard Brown and Curtis Nagel produced travelogues in Multicolor Screen Star Comedies / Star Personality Comedies / Top-Notch Comedies (1933–1937) were “umbrella” titles for two reelers featuring Bert Lahr, Buster Keaton, Joe Cook, Buster West, Charles Kemper, Tim Herbert, Pat Rooney Jr., Willie Howard and Ernest Truex. Many produced by Al Christie Sisters of the Skillet (1936–1937) - two-reelers produced by Al Christie Song & Comedy Hits (1935–1938) – one-reel musicals produced by Al Christie Song Hit Story (1932–1935) – one-reel musicals Spirit of the Campus (1932–1933) – one-reel musicals produced by Larry Kent Stereoscopiks (3D films, 1922–1925) - produced by Frederic Eugene Ives & Jacob Leventhal Tom Howard Comedies (1932–1933) – two-reel Toonerville Trolley (1921–1922) - live-action comedies. (Not to be confused with the animated version produced later by Amadee J. Van Beuren.) Torchy Series (1921–1922, 1931–1933) – silent comedies with Johnny Hines and two-reel comedies with sound with Ray Cook, Edmund Breese, Franklin Pangborn and others.