During the second half of his comic book career, Carl Barks would sometimes create new stories based on plotlines and scenarios that he had used before (see more HERE). There were several reasons for such deliberate decisions; Barks found it increasingly more difficult to dream up new stories, a recycling would mean fairly easy money, and - most importantly - his employer, Western Publishing, had in fact encouraged Barks to 'repeat' the stories as they felt sure that a new generation of readers would read the new stories with no knowledge of the old ones, anyway!
But one story was recycled in 1961 for another reason: It had never been published before! Barks had turned in a story in 1945 that Western found too violent, thus causing it to be refused. So, 16 years later Barks made a new story partly built on the rejected one, and it was published as a seemingly completely new story!
The first story was initially planned as a normal 10-pager for WDCS064 and it has later become commonly referred to as 'Silent Night' (Barks himself booked it as 'Carol Singing'), and the second story was published in WDCS248 as The Terrible Tourist. Below you are presented to a few titbits and comparisons from both stories.

 

 

 

SYNOPSES

(WDCS064) 'Silent Night' - 1945*

It is nearing Christmas in Duckburg, and Donald suddenly decides to be a do-gooder. He makes his nephews go caroling with him to put people in the proper seasonal spirit. Unfortunately, their singing is not that good, so they are quickly chased away.
But when they reach neighbour Jones' house Donald puts his foot down: 'He is just the sort that needs cheering up', Donald exclaims - and starts singing. Jones is of another opinion, and soon the two neighbours are involved in a bitter fight that spans from mental to physical abuses.
In the end Jones forces Donald (using an electric cattle prod as a persuasion gadget) to sing to his heart's content - to a deaf friend...
WDCS248 The Terrible Tourist - 1961

Donald and his nephews are on a vacation to Poco Pausa, Hondorica. Unfortunately, Donald only has one thing on his mind, namely getting a souvenir, but his ways to reach his goal is highly deplorable.
At one point he starts serenading a beautiful seņorita on a balcony in order to get the rose in her hair for a precious souvenir. But the man of the house disapproves of Donald's deafening and persistent serenading and soon they are both furiously fighting.
In the end the man gives up, and Donald is presented to the seņorita - that turns out to be a wax dummy. Even worse, the man turns out to be Duckburg's consul in Hondorica, and Donald is, literally, kicked out of town...

* The story was finally published in 1981, i.e. 36 years later, in
The Fine Art of Walt Disney's Donald Duck by Carl Barks.

 

SIMILAR PANELS

In the Duckburg story Western refused Barks' work because the story was too violent especially considering it was indeed a Christmas story. And the fact of the matter is that several scenes still today may come across as being excessively and unnecessarily violent. So when Barks decided to have another go at the basic plot he also decided to mellow the action.
Below is a selection of  action panels divided into two main categories. Some of them are almost identical, while others have been mellowed, and you can easily see, how Barks worked to make sure that his Hondorica story would pass Western's Argus-eyed inspection.
'Silent Night' The Terrible Tourist

 

 

EXTRA

It has often been assumed that Barks was not paid for the Duckburg story, but this is by no means correct! In fact, he not only received full payment of 225 dollars on August 31, 1945, but he also received the story back meaning that he in some way got paid double! Below is the original payslip from Western that also mentions another story, namely the Firestone giveaway that was later published as FG1945 Donald's Best Christmas.

 

 

http://www.cbarks.dk/THERECYCLEDSTORY.htm

   Date 2013-02-01