As the world's fascination with time continues unabated, it has been incorporated with its love of cartoons. Perhaps inspired by the Mad Hatter in Alice In Wonderland, cartoon clocks have become a target for many cartoon characters throughout the past several years. Everything from Mickey Mouse to Cowboy Bob and Howdy Doody have been pictured on cartoon clocks setting in bedroom of children and in offices of some collectors.

When Howdy Doody became the first children's television show to air five days a week in 1947, the phrase "It's Howdy Doody Time" became a staple on most of the 20,000 television sets in use in the country during that time. Since that time many characters have been featured on cartoon clocks, with possibly the most overexposed are Walt Disney characters.

However, cartoon clocks have also been featured in animated films as well as those including hybrid performances by cartoon characters and real people, such as in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." However, many cartoon clocks have found prominent homes on the desks of children and are credited for helping generations of kids learn how to tell time. Their interest often peaked by relating to a character they recognize from their favorite television shows or movies.

Many Clocks Not Limited To Famous Cartoons

While Charlie Brown and the gang from Peanuts have been featured in a variety of cartoon clocks formats, some animal clocks also invite attention. For example, one of the first such item was a plastic cat hanging on the wall with a clock part of its stomach. As the clock ticked, the cat's tail would sing like a pendulum.

Over time clocks have been developed in every conceivable size and shape, some more readily acceptable than others, but the idea is help people remember what time of the day it is, regardless of how the clock appeared. When cartoon clocks began appearing in the shape of cuckoo clocks with cartoon cats catching cartoon bids on the hour, interest in cartoon clocks gained even more momentum.

Some of the biggest selling movie memorabilia is in the form of cartoon clocks, especially from children's movies such as Transformers, Cars and Kermit the Frog from Sesame Street. Most parents happily supply their children with clock representing their favorite characters, especially if it helps them understand how to tell time. Many children, of all ages, never seem to outgrow their cartoon clocks and often turn into adult collectors.