Carl Barks made many duck stories
in which his primary characters were seen relaxing with all sorts
of hobbies: The nephews are kite flying during the summer and ice
skating during the winter, Daisy is involved in all sorts of
charities, Gyro relaxes by going fishing, the Beagle Boys play
billiards, Gladstone participates in lotteries, and Scrooge swims
in money. But Donald is by far the most active of them all, and
this page will show you a few examples of his hobby versatility.
In order not to overflow the page you are only treated to 10
examples with 3 stories in each, but you can find many more
examples, if you look for them yourself.
Notice: The terms Hobby and Sports often
contain intertwining activities. This means that you are probably
missing categories that can be placed in both activities. Some of
them - with focus on Sports - can be seen HERE.
FISHING
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WDCS076
'Catastrophic Cat' - 1947 Synopsis:
Donald wants to rise bright and early to go
fishing, but a stray cat ensures that he doesn't
get his sleep...
Comments:
Judging from the number of stories in which
Donald has been seen enjoying fishing trips, this
hobby must be his favourite, although the trips
frequently end in disaster! In this story he
tries to fish in the normal way.
Other
examples:
In WDCS066 'Expert Ice Fisher' from
1946 Donald tries his hand in the difficult and
hazardous art of ice fishing, and in WDCS153
'Gyro's Worms' from 1953 he successfully
lands multiple fish without the use of a fishing
rod...
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CAR RACING
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WDCS166
'Midget Racer' - 1954 Synopsis:
Donald gets a chance to drive a midget racer
at the racetrack. Now he will show everyone how
to drive!
Comments:
It was always Donald's greatest wish to be a
motorcar racer, and in this story he gets his
chance, although the cars are considerably
smaller than the average racecar.
Other
examples:
In U$34 Chugwagon Derby from
1961 he is a vintage car buff, who participates
in a race for old cars, and in DD138 A
Day in a Duck's Life from 1971 he drives
a hotrod car which he has built himself.
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SINGING AND DANCING
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WDCS248
The Terrible Tourist - 1961 Synopsis:
Donald is visiting Hondorica where he sees a
beautiful seņorita who he tries to court. But
her father doesn't approve...
Comments:
Donald is not exactly known - nor liked -
for his singing voice, but he loves to flaunt it
anyway. He has done so in several stories.
Other
examples:
In Fineart Silent Night from
1981 Donald walks around singing Christmas carols
in a terrible voice displeasing especially
neighbour Jones, and in WDCS225 'Volunteer
Fireman' from 1959 he gives examples of
his fine skills at dancing.
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INVENTING
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CG
Donald Duck's Atom Bomb - 1947 Synopsis:
Donald invents a bomb that goes Fut
instead of Boom. This is because it has
a very special quality...
Comments:
Donald is not usually perceived as a great
inventor, but one of his most successful hobbies
is, nevertheless, that of inventing. In this
story he even invents an atom bomb!
Other
examples:
In WDCS044 The Mad Chemist from
1944 Donald invents Duckmite which he then uses
to construct a space rocket, and in WDCS060
'The Radar Tracker' from 1945 he invents
a thoroughly groundbreaking radar many years
ahead of our time.
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POETRY READING
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WDCS079
'Poetic Picnic' - 1947 Synopsis:
Donald and Daisy go out for a picnic and the
nephews want to join them instead of going to
school. But the answer is 'No!' so they decide to
ruin the picnic instead!
Comments:
Who would have thought that the often ill-tempered
Donald is also a poet? In this story he spends
hours trying to court Daisy using his poetry.
Other
examples:
In WDCS137 'Songwriter Troubles'
from 1951 Donald has earned a tidy sum from his
song The Screaming Cowboy, and in WDCS312
The Not-so-Ancient Mariner from 1966 he
tries to earn money in a poetry competition.
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ACTING
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WDCS128
'A Knight to Remember' - 1951 Synopsis:
Daisy's drama club is putting on a
play and Donald and Gladstone both want to
be the star of the show...
Comments:
Donald's artistic vein pops up in several
stories, where he wishes to display his abilities
in different public forums. In this one he longs
to be a leading actor at the local theater.
Other
examples:
In WDCS217 'Stage-struck' from
1958 Donald is at it again; he gives examples of
his love for the performing arts, and in WDCS165
'Way to Stardom' from 1954 he tries, in
numerous ways, to be an artistic celebrity.
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KITE FLYING
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WDCS068
'The Kit Expert' - 1946 Synopsis:
Donald is stricken with megalomania and sees
himself as the world's greatest kite flyer. And
perhaps he is!
Comments:
Although Donald only takes up this hobby as
a dare, he shows remarkable skills in the subject.
For a change he actually winds up with good luck
being titled The World's Greatest Kite Maker!
Other
examples:
In WDCS042 Kite Weather from
1944 Donald's skills were not as sensational,
when he tried to outdo his nephews in the noble
art of kite flying, but in KG Donald Duck
tells about Kites from 1954 he is
sufficiently knowledgeable to be able to help the
nephews with their multiple kite building and
kite handling problems.
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PHOTOGRAPHING
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WDCS057
'The Elusive Bird' - 1945 Synopsis:
Donald can earn a thousand dollars by
photographing the elusive Iron-Billed Woodpecker.
How hard can that be? Well...
Comments:
Donald shares his interest in photography
with Barks himself, which is probably why Barks
made several stories containing that subject. It
is interesting to observe how Donald's cameras
usually follow the newest market developments of
the time.
Other
examples:
In WDCS237 Mystery of the Loch
from 1960 Donald uses an automatic-eye, super-fast,
infra-red underwater camera, and in WDCS257
Movie Mad from 1962 he is eagerly trying
out his new movie camera.
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GARDENING
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WDCS189
'Backyard Trouble' - 1956 Synopsis:
Donald decides to beautify his
backyard at springtime but there are gophers
below with different ideas...
Comments:
It has often been said that gardening is one
of the most fulfilling and relaxing hobbies a man
can have. But not in Donald's case! Despite
several gardening stories he never managed to
relax with his garden.
Other
examples:
In WDCS205 'Apple Dabble' from
1957 Donald is nursing his apple tree all summer
long in an attempt to grow perfect apples, and in
WDCS214 'Flower Power' from 1958
he tries to become a flower expert.
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COLLECTING
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WDCS050
'The Rare Dime' - 1944 Synopsis:
By mistake Donald gives his nephews a rare
coin from his coin collection. So he tries to get
it back again.
Comments:
There is something contradictory in the fact
that Donald is always portrayed as a pauper, and
still he has the funds to be a serious collector!
In this story he is an avid coin collector.
Other
examples:
In WDCS064 'New Year's Resolution'
from 1946 Donald relaxes with his stamp
collection, and in FC0422 The Gilded Man
from 1952 he travels in order to add a special
stamp to his collection.
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| http://www.cbarks.dk/THEHOBBYSTORIES.htm |
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Date 2009-12-07 |
