The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep

Mr. Bojangles?

Howard the Duck?

Red Skelton (who created the classic character 'Klemp KladiddleFuehrer' in the 1942 film 'I Remember Himmler')

Actually, Boxjam, I think that was not Red Skelton but the Red Skull. (It was in the same issue where the Sub-Mariner challenged him to a lindy-hop showdown).

Another hint: Billy Barty was a close associate, and also appeared (playing himself) in the 1994 film mentioned above.

"For the Boys," the story of Better Midler's real life as a man.

I don't suppose "The Jackie Robinson Story" was made in 1942 or 1994. I don't remember Billy Barty in it anyway.

Why do you torture me!? I have work to do and I can't think about this!

Another hint -- the 1942 propaganda piece in question was a Walt Disney film.

Well, since it's not Darth Vader, it must be one of two:
Tucker, who, I believe, was a car builder who had something to do with vacuum cleaners. And:

Two, Indiana Jones (I'm assuming there was an Indiana Jones 3 or something) and his special skill was Whipping It.

But Boxjam is right, Tipper, Confound You! And your "answers".

For the rekkid, Mr. Bonjangles was Hackly's guess, but he was too lazy to log in this morning.

OK: the biggest, fattest clue I can give: He was a musician and composer, with many hit records -- the song from the 1942 film went to No. 2.

Hmm...Walt Disney film.

That makes me think he's white. I think Disney'd've hired a white actor for Uncle Remus if he could've.

Nah, I'll go "Fats" Waller.

You'd be right to think he was white. He is not generally known as a jazzman.

Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Interesting guess, Boxjam. But unlike Ford, he was as much a composer/leader as a performer.

Artie Shaw

Hey Bill, you know that show 24? Where Jack Bauer says to the bad guy: "Who are you working for? WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR????"

So then, "Why would we know this?"

I need me some motherfudgin' Bob Hope now.

Irving "Berlin."

The chef in the railroad car taught him to compose in F#.

Walt Disney, Billy Barty, George Burns...who completes this unholy square?

Burl Ives?

Is Burl a real name anyway?

Funnily enough, I think Burl is an oblique homage to the musician's manliness... "I'm a giant neoplasm of wood!"

Mickey Rooney?

Here's 50 bucks that says the Wombat's wasted on Similac-itos. Minty, limey, rummy Similac.

The answer is Lindley Armstrong "Spike" Jones, bandleader, composer, comedian, and the spiritual godfather of a thousand novelty acts.

The No. 2 hit mentioned in the clue-age was "Der Fuehrer's Face" (as in "We'll Heil --pthpt!, Heil -- pthpt!, right in der Fuehrer's face!), from "Donald Duck in Nutzi Land." Boxjam, you were close enough with your Red Skelton joke to get an honorable mention there...

The 1994 film, penned by Lucas and featuring George Burns (on whose radio show Jones often appeared) and Billy Barty (who did some time in Jones's act), was Radioland Murders.

Also, Bootsy, I think the classic Similac cocktail would have to involve Kahlua. Call it the Baby White Russian, or maybe the "Li'l Dude," in homage to The Big Lebowski.

So what the hell was the skill that the railroad chef taught him?

The use of a variety of kitchen implements as ersatz musical instruments; using weird objects as instruments (or, in a similar vein, substituting notes in a well-known piece of classical music with "non-musical" sounds -- which were in fact painstakingly made to be in tune) -- became a Spike Jones trademark.

Oh.

I like that.