PDA

View Full Version : March "TTTP Toon Star Of The Month"



Nelson
03-01-2002, 12:48 AM
Hi Family...
Before I get to the feautred star of the month here at Toon Forums, I would like to take a time out to honor CHUCK JONES (1912-2002) who passed away last week at the age of 89 years old and he will be sadly missed, as he brought laughter and made great animated cartoons all over the world for over seven decades.Chuck, all of us will miss you so much and will never forget the excellent cartoons (and characters) you gave us to enjoy and treasure...

Before you continue to read any further... please hold a special moment of silence for Chuck Jones.

And now for the March "TTTP STAR OF THE MONTH" right here at the Termite Terrace Trading Post and TOON FORUMS.

Originally "Flip The Frog" was supposed to be this month's featured star, but "Flip" will be given the special treatment at a later month.But I felt that it was important to honor and pay tribute to Chuck and one of his lesser known series that he created at Warners and is my March "TTTP Star Of The Month".....

THE THREE BEARS

Everyone has a personal favortie CJ series from Warners, some love Pepe Le Pew, Road Runner & Coyote, Sniffles, etc, etc, but my all time Chuck Jones animated series is the Three Bearsand for very good reasons.The Three Bears shorts aren't as popular as the other great series Jones created during his years at Warners but these cartoons (IMO) are some of the funniest colllection of shorts the studio has ever produced in the history of the Warner Bros. cartoon studio.

The idea of the Three Bears started back in early 1944 when Jones wanted to feature a new cast of villains for Bugs Bunnyand it was based on the classic children's story, The Three Bears.The Three Bears made their screen debut in the 1944 Bugs Bunny one reeler, "Bugs Bunny And The Three Bears", the short which focused on the fable, which the Three bears, Mama Bear, Henrey Bear and Junior an oversized dimwitted big bear lures Bugs into their house with carrot soup for they can feast on rabbit.One mishap after another, Bugs keeps outwitting each of the bears, until Bugs makes some comments to Mama Bear, by saying how truly beautiful she is and this catches het attention very quickly.As Henrey and Junior catches Bugs, Mama comes to his rescue and there goes the dinner, she starts to make a move on Bugs by saying., "Tell me more about my eyes" and dressing in sexy looking outfits which drives Bugs right out of the house and straight into his rabbit hole only to find out the Mama is down with him and kisses the daylights out of Bugs only to see Bugs run scared right out of his rabbit hole with lipstick all over his face.


This cartoon was a smash hit with moviegoers and four years later, Jones decided to give them their very own cartoon series starting with the 1948 release, "What's Brewin Bruin". In the short, we find the bears ready to hibernate for the winter, but one problem leads in to another problem for Henery Bear.One scene has a drip of water running throughout the entire house keeping Henrey awake and then Junior can't seem to fall alseep and his baby crib breaks.Mama keeps opening the window, while Henery shuts it with bricks, only to see Mama open it again with the cold snow smacking Henrey all over until Junior wakes up and sees a snowman laying right next to him only that it's his father under all that snow until Henrey shakes off the snow and smacks the living daylights out of Junior.Once spring arrives all the flowers, streams, birds and a very loud moose we see Henrey finally go to sleep only to hear all that noise, opens up the window and yells "QUUIIIEEEEET" with all of the animals and everything surrounding the bears goes right back into a cold dark snowy winter as Henrey has a smile on his face and goes back to sleep.

This series was the only shorts that Mel Blanc did not provide the voices for, but instead was voiced by other legendary voice artists.Bea Benaderet was the voice of Mama Bear, Stan Freberg was Junior Bear and Henrey Bear was voiced by the very talented Billy Bletcher.Bletcher is famous for many other cartoon voices and his voice was heard for the very first time in MGM'S "Dogville Comedies" which was produced between 1929 to 1931.But Bletcher is best remembered for being the voices for Disney's Peg Leg Pete, Big Bad Wolf, and Iwerks most memorable villian, The Pincushon Man in the 1935 Comic Color cartoon, "Balloonland".So Bletcher was the perfect choice for the rough gruffled voice of Henrey Bear for the next three years.

In 1949, two more 3 Bears cartoons were released to theaters, starting with the April release "The Bee Deviled Bruin" which has Henrey trying (with the help of Junior) to get honey from a hornest nest, while Mama tries to tell Henrey that there's a full cabnet of Honey but he doesn't listen to het at all.I this short Henrey takes a violent beating from Junior and the nasty bees.In one scene Henrey gets the shock of his life when he tries crossing a cable wire while Junior plays with with the eletric switch and almost fries his poppa to a crisp which Junior uses Henrey as a lighted lamp.Another scene has Henrey on a pole while a bee lands right on his nose, then Henrey starts to sing the bee to sleep (a la rock-a-bye baby) then he ask for Junior's help to get rid of the sleeping bee, so Junior says "Oh I will mas him" and takes a shovel and smashes it right in Henrey's face leaving the bear's facial dent in the shovel with Henrey waiting to get payback by putting the dead bee on his son's noise and swinging the shovel( like a baseball bat) in a very graphic scene breaks the shovel into Junior's face.

"Bear Feat" was the second cartoon released at the end of that year, which had the Three Bears trying vaudville acts for the circus with very bad disapointments for Henrey Bear.This series was the most violent cartoons out of any other series that Warners ever produced and sometimes very shocking to see when viewing a 3 Bears cartoon.The Three Bears was the animated verison of "All In The Family" in which Henrey was always the fall guy in the shorts while his son was always trying to do best, but letting Henrey get the best of it in very bad results.The final short came in 1951 and perhaps the best cartoon out of the entire series, "A Bear For Punishment" for which Henrey's family honors him for Father's Day.One mishap after another Henrey can stomach the holiday, after almost getting his throat slashed by Junior( trying to give him a shave) then filling his poppa's pipe with gun powder then lighting it with the powder exploding Henrey right into stove with a cigarette lit in his mouth, to the grand finale with a muscial salute to Father's Day with Henrey being dressed as the Staute Of Liberty.

Sadly, this was the last produced cartoon in this series which one has to wonder just what it would be like of more Three Bears cartoons were produced.This is my favorite series created and directed by Chuck Jones ever made.

My 3 Top Three Bears Picks:

"BEAR FEAT" (1949)When Henrey see an ad in the paper for a circus that's looking for talented bears, he see the oppertunity to start a bear act.But as the short moves along Junior messes everything up, from jumping on a sesaw sending Henrey clear into the sky while Mama & Junior goes home as it gets dark.Then in the morning they come(Mama holding the chair) then out of nowhere Henrey comes a crashing down to the earth.At the ending of the film Henrey(covered in bandages) see the ad was for 1929, then he tells his family ."Well, there's still one way out" and tries to commit suicide and jumps of a cliff by shouting, "I'm Free, I'm Free" then Junior comes with the barrell of water and saves his poppa only to have Henrey punch his son right in the face.

"THE BEE DEVILED BRUIN" (1949) This cartoon is like watching a 1920s Mack Sennett slapstick comedy two reeler.A very voilent cartoon in where Henrey fails attempt after attempt to try tog et honey from a bee's nest, with Henrey freaking out a the end of the picture when he discovers that his cabnet has hundreds of jars of honey.

"A BEAR FOR PUNISHMENT" (1951) My personal favorite 3 Bears short.Mama & Junior celebrates Father's Day with Henrey.The nightmare starts off with a whole bunch of alarm clocks all going off at the same time, only to wake Henrey (with alarm clocks for eyes) trying to shut them off, unitl Junior says "ssssshhhhh" then the clocks are quiet, then Henrey (in a fit of anger) smashes the clock right in Junior's face knocking him down only to get up with an alarm clock for a face.This short is very well animated and a well writed script by Michael Maltesse as this was Jones own verison of hisFather's Day with his two daughters trying to do everything for him. A very touching cartoon.

Keep checking here all month long for more facts about Warner Bros famous series...THE THREE BEARS!

PorkyandDaffy
03-01-2002, 01:02 AM
Very good choice. The Three Bears are one of my favorite WB characters. Great analysis you did on them.

Jack
03-01-2002, 01:12 AM
That's a great article, I'm sure everyone will enjoy it as much as i did. Also, I have been told Mel Blanc did provide the voice of Papa Bear in the first cartoon, "Bugs Bunny and The Three Bears," and would occasionally dub lines for the later cartoons if Bletcher was unnavailable at the moment. Not sure if it's true, though.


Jack :D

chuckamuck43
03-01-2002, 01:51 AM
That's what Blanc says in his book, Jack. Chuck wanted a "different sound" for the 3 Bears cartoons and that's why they used Bletcher.

The Three Bears are my favorite Jones- created characters (after Wile E.) and A BEAR FOR PUNISHMENT is IMHO their best cartoon.

And while I know we can never really lose Chuck Jones because his works will live on, I still feel a little :( - but that avatar
made me :) - a rare occurance since last Friday!

Thanx for doing the Bears, Nelson!

Nelson
03-01-2002, 02:42 AM
Thanks for all the wonderful respones gang :) It means a lot to me from the bottom of my heart.This was one project that I rushed really fast and I thought it could have been done a nit better, but when Chuck passed away last week, I just thought it was the right time (sorry Flip) that I felt not only to pay my respect to a legend in the fields of animation, but to also honor Chuck with his best creations and my all time favorite Jones characters, "The Three Bears".It was clearly one of the best series to come out of the WB cartoon dept during it's heyday.

Thanks for all the great comments my toon brothers and sisters!
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I'm glad you loved my stars of the month!

DR. BELCH
03-01-2002, 02:46 AM
The Bear Family also appeared in a couple of Tiny Toons shorts, but the only original voice actor available was Freberg (Junyer). Frank Welker didn't seem to quite have Papa down, imho--his take was too drawn through the nose. I always wondered why Jim Cummings wasn't used, as he gives a good Bletcheresque sound....

Nelson
03-01-2002, 03:32 AM
And I wan't to give a special thanks to Jon for giving me the excellent 3 Bears avatar.I feel like Henrey right in the middle about Chuck's passing :(

Thad Komorowski
03-01-2002, 08:45 AM
Great write-up on the 3 Bears, Nelson. I like the short-lived series a lot too. Also, Nelson, check your private messages... ;)


-Thad

Emmanuel Cruz
03-01-2002, 08:45 PM
That's a great article on Three 3 Bears, Nelson. Chuck Jones must be very proud to see something like this.

-Emmanuel :bosko:

Daffyfan2002
03-02-2002, 02:44 PM
I loved those three bears cartoons, especially that song in "A Bear for Punishment."

The Dork Knight
03-04-2002, 04:08 PM
Great job Nelson! Even greater job on the Chuck Jones tribute!

- Foley Is Good


BTW - 1400th post!

Nelson
03-05-2002, 03:41 AM
Begining April 1st, will be a very "special editon" star....A long lost forgotten cartoon series that is truly worth looking at.I promise it will be a good one and for cartoon fans to discover for the first time, this execellent but neglected theatircal cartoon series.

Jason Furness
03-08-2002, 06:11 AM
Ah, them t'ree bears.. their cartoons were some of the most emotional cartoons ever to come out of the studio. Henry, the "proud" Papa, seemed like he was the meanest and most tortured-inside LT character ever. Hot-headed characters like Yosemitie Sam would shout a lot and shoot guns at wild animals they didn't know, but Henry was often shown punching his own son in the face! Towards the end of "The Bee-Deviled Bruin" I can actually feel his rage and frustration, and for once, Junyer actually acts terrified at the beating he sees coming.

On the tortured-inside note, Henry would often break down crying, asking what he did to deserve such a family. In "Bear Feat", he even attempts suicide. And not just the simple "Now I've seen everything" bit, no - he leaps off a cliff, and during his fall he's smiling, reveling in the "freedom" he's about to recieve.

Boy, that Bear family has issues! And that's why I like those cartoons. Yep, I'm sadistic that way... ^^;

On a lighter note, Junyer has provided two lines I just find hilarious:

"OK, Paw, make like this (makes "shaving" face), and I will shave you!"

and

"Oh, that dirty bee! I will mash him!!"

And just to further make myself sound like I'm a veteran on this board, I believe that in "Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears" Junyer is not voiced by Stan Freberg, but by... someone else (duh.) Probably the guy who did the voice for Beaky Buzzard.

OK, I done for real now...

Daffyfan2002
03-08-2002, 06:51 AM
Just a few comments. I'd like them to play "Bear Feat" on CN. I've only seen it on the WB, and on that network. Papa Bear's suicide attempt was cut out. I also don't recall seeing the part in "A Bear for Punishment," when Junior says
"G-U-N-P-O-W-D-E-R. Duuuh! Tobacco." (Yep. I've been reading the censored cartoons page!) Also, I have a hunch that Stan Freberg did do Junyer Bears voice even in "Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears," because in Chuck Jones' autobiography "Chuck Reducks," he states that he had no voice for Junyer Bear until Freberg walked in.

Nelson
03-12-2002, 07:46 PM
"Bear Feat" has aired on CN on several occasions and it's shown complete with Henery trying to commit suicide left entact on CN.And have any of you guys ever noticed on how beautifully animated this series really is? Compared to all other's of Jones work and clearly the animation is a standout over any other Jones/LT Characters animation wise.

Steve Carras
03-18-2002, 12:50 AM
Yeah, I agree with Nelson. BTW I wonder if those shorts would be controversial (esp.Henery's persona) if shown in theatres TODAY!!! :D

BTW Mel Blanc did POa and Bugs Bunny in their first, Bea Benadaret was the only one to do her voice, Ma, in all shorts, and Kent Rogers (not Stan Freberg) dsid the voic eof Junyer in that first one, and mel did fill in later as Pa.

Daffyfan2002
03-18-2002, 06:54 AM
But if Kent Rogers did Junyer Bear's voice originally, why didn't Chuck Jones give him credit in his autobiography? That's another thing that sort of confuses me.

Jon Cooke
03-18-2002, 09:03 AM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
But if Kent Rogers did Junyer Bear's voice originally, why didn't Chuck Jones give him credit in his autobiography? That's another thing that sort of confuses me.

Maybe Chuck simply forgot.

Heck, I didn't even know Kent Rogers was Junior in that first Three Bears cartoon.


-Jon

Nelson
03-20-2002, 08:50 PM
Here are the complete release dates for the Warner Bros. series, The Three Bears...

Color by Technicolor
A Warner Bros. Release

Merrie Melodies

Bugs Bunny And The Three Bears (1944) Feb.26th

The Bee-Deviled Bruin (1949) May 14th

A Bear For Punishment (1951) Oct.20th

Looney Tunes

What's Brewin' Bruin? (1948) Feb.28th

Bear Feat (1949) Dec.10th

Daffyfan2002
03-24-2002, 09:59 AM
Oh, another question. Why does "A Bear For Punishment" have a "Looney Tunes," "That's All Folks" card if it's a "Merrie Melodie?"

Steve Carras
03-25-2002, 10:57 AM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Oh, another question. Why does "A Bear For Punishment" have a "Looney Tunes," "That's All Folks" card if it's a "Merrie Melodie?"
Well, actually it IS a Looney Tune. The cartoon REALLY, as a reissued post-48 Warner Bros. cartoon reissued around 1959-1963* SHOULD have the MERRIE MELODIES title card** but someone screwed up. Incidentally, "A Bone for a Bone" (1951) also had the same card but has the corrrect Looney Tunes(tm) music (all the cartoons had the same audio at the end as was originally thre vase except the 1935 entries, which, presumably due to the sole use of a certain court jester yelling "THat's All Folks", had the 1940s-50s MM theme used instead).


<li>Notes</li>
*You can tell if it's a 1959-63 reissue by the brown color of the rings and the blue hole and crossfade into the BLUE RIBBON title card.Also, if it has the VITAPHONE CORP. listed as is the case herre, then it is from '59-early 60 but otherwise it is COPYRIGHT WARNER BROS.PICTURES INC.
**THe open was the later 50s LT music. Also, this is a LT, but had MM theme music with the late 50s LT card at the end.

Nelson
03-25-2002, 06:10 PM
GET READY.......

THE FABLES ARE COMING 4/01/2002

Nelson
03-27-2002, 10:43 PM
For all you toon heads that love rare cartoons starting next monday for the entire month of April, will be the first in a "special editons of the TTTP "Star Of The Month" which will focus on lesser known theatrical series.Next month's featured star was a very tuff project that I just finished and everyone here at Toon Forums will be the very first ones to see my latest completed (which took me two years to complete) project of a great historical cartoon series.......

And I'm very glad everyone loved my salute to the "Three Bears" and making it a success! :)

Thanks!

joealaskey
03-30-2002, 08:25 PM
Grrr-reat characters!!
Grrr-eat choice and homework, Nelson!! (& everybody else!!)
The 3B series has always been amongst my faves too, and I've spent many happy hours over the years watching the same handful of classic appearances -- and practicing all 3 voices just in case...!! (I do tons of unnecessary homework, a rarity amongst VAs these days. I know that sounds egotistical, but it's also true.)

Heck, I even wrote a 3B short once to submit to Chuck!! -- but this was at a time when his last unit was just shutting down. So he never got to read & pass judgment on it.
Steve Fossati, his director (we're doing "TimberWolf" together now), told me as I was preparing the first draft & storyboard that WB was concerned about intra-family violence, so I wrote around that, punishing Papa with accidental mishaps before he loses his temper with Junyer, but still as a direct result of his anger...

:o Why am I going on about this??
'Cause I'm proud of my brief associations with CJ (Anybody ever see "Father of the Bird"??) :D
And to keep the forum on grrr-reat cartoons alive, of course!! :D
And... to introduce myself, I guess, as a new TZ member. :p
Anyway, long live 3B!!

Matthew Hunter
03-30-2002, 08:33 PM
No, I have NOT seen "Father of the Bird". I wish I could, but for some reason it was never fully released. I do, however, really like "TimberWolf". Since Chuck's recent passing, will the Timber series continue? I hope so!
-Matthew

Daffyfan2002
03-31-2002, 07:42 AM
Yeah, I'd like to see "Father of the Bird" too or "Little Go Beep." I heard that that one was really good. I hope they'll someday play them on CN. Oh, by the way Joealaskey, are you the real Joe Alaskey (the current voice of Daffy, Sylvester, Tweety and other characters), or is that just your screen name?

joealaskey
03-31-2002, 08:53 AM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Yeah, I'd like to see "Father of the Bird" too or "Little Go Beep." I heard that that one was really good. I hope they'll someday play them on CN. Oh, by the way Joealaskey, are you the real Joe Alaskey (the current voice of Daffy, Sylvester, Tweety and other characters), or is that just your screen name?

Well, D.F. & Matthew, the DVD/video release of "FOTB" is something I'd really like to have happen. Let's hope it does!! ;)
As for "Little Go Beep" -- :confused: That's one I never saw.
Yep, "Joe Alaskey" is really me all righty, and without the little space in between is really my online handle.
Right, Matthew? BTW, Steve Fossati of "TimberWolf" does not think the series will continue -- for business reasons :mad: , not because of CJ's passing :( .
Nelson: Again, what a great thread this has been!! Please write a book someday!! (This guy does the homework I've been yakkin' about, folks!!) :D :D :D

Daffyfan2002
03-31-2002, 10:58 AM
You're kidding? I've always wanted to meet a voice over artist. I even have tapes and CDs that use your voice. You must make a lot of money for your work.

joealaskey
04-01-2002, 12:56 AM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
You're kidding? I've always wanted to meet a voice over artist. I even have tapes and CDs that use your voice. You must make a lot of money for your work.

Well, pleased to meetcha, Kenny!!
I make money in this biz. And I make friends. And the latter is much more valuable to me. :)
But did you pay for those tapes and CDs?! I get a piece of everything, ya know!! ;)

Daffyfan2002
04-01-2002, 07:18 AM
Well, I payed for the "Kwazy Christmas" CD and my mom bought me "Have Yourself a Looney Tuney Christmas." I just think that's neat. Voice over work is a career I've always wanted to get into. What advice to you have about that?

joealaskey
04-01-2002, 11:14 AM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Voice over work is a career I've always wanted to get into. What advice to you have about that?

Yikes!! I've been waitin' for this FAQ!!
Most common sage advice: Do something unique -- and they will want to put you to work.
Not too tall an order, eh?? But it's true. When I came along, classic voices needed replacing. My background as an impressionist put me in the unique category. Since then, I've been known & used as a specialist in this field -- though I'm always on the lookout to use original voices, and have eventually been rewarded that way too. (Plucky was a half-'n'-half, I guess, as the TTA creators urged me to concentrate on the differences between him and Daffy. A teenaged DD per se wouldn't sound exactly like Plucky now either.)
As for how to get work -- You need an agent, and to get one, the same rule applies. If you have what it takes, they'll want to sign you on & try like mad to get you working.
Best way to attract an agent's attention? Send 'em a tape or CD no longer than 2 minutes with clips of work you've done, or simply find or write dialogue suitable to your voicework. But -- it had better be great or you'll get lost in the shuffle. Hundreds of actors wanna get into animation; hundreds are available already, and many of them aren't working!! So chances are slim, but it can be done.
That's it in a nutshell. Which reminds me -- it helps to be a little nuts. Like me.

"Jutht a thecond!! I rethemble that remark!!"

We certainly do, Daf. Hoo-HOO!! ;)

Daffyfan2002
04-02-2002, 06:58 AM
Thanks for the advice, Joe. I have been well known for my sense of humor. Maybe if I find somebody looking for voice over work. I'll give that a try. Oh, by the way, I was interested in what you said about the differences in Daffy's and Plucky's voice. I've been sort of wondering about that. How do you differentiate between the two of them. I know Sylvester's voice is the same as Daffy's only not speeded up. But do you make Plucky sound like a younger version of Daffy? What's the story there?

joealaskey
04-02-2002, 12:24 PM
Originally posted by Daffyfan2002
Thanks for the advice, Joe. I have been well known for my sense of humor. Maybe if I find somebody looking for voice over work. I'll give that a try. Oh, by the way, I was interested in what you said about the differences in Daffy's and Plucky's voice. I've been sort of wondering about that. How do you differentiate between the two of them. I know Sylvester's voice is the same as Daffy's only not speeded up. But do you make Plucky sound like a younger version of Daffy? What's the story there?

Let me give that some thought, LuckyBob, and I'll start a new thread either here or in TTA's forum -- maybe by the weekend -- to explain how I learned to do what I do with the lisping characters & maybe some other vocal pointh of interetht.

"Whoopth. 'Thcuthe HIM...!!" :p

Hey. Jutht a thlip o' the tongue!! :rolleyes: