{"id":1224,"date":"2018-02-17T22:37:08","date_gmt":"2018-02-18T06:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/harrymccracken.com\/blog\/?page_id=1224"},"modified":"2018-02-17T22:37:08","modified_gmt":"2018-02-18T06:37:08","slug":"bix-animation-conference-inkwell","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/harrymccracken.com\/blog\/bix-animation-conference-inkwell\/","title":{"rendered":"BIX Animation Conference: inkwell"},"content":{"rendered":"

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #201, from jimomura, 930 chars, Tue May 22 09:37:43 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: TSpeeding Tickets
\n As best as i can remember, I think I’ve only gotten 3 speeding
\ntickets in my life. Yesterday was one of them. It was for 92 kph
\nin an 70 kph zone. I think that’s about 55 in a 45 zone. Well
\nactually a bit more. The speed conversion is about 6:10. In fact,
\nit was just after a highway termination (400 to Blackcreek Drive
\nif you live in Toronto) and they had 4 black and whites and were
\ncatching almost every car (yes, it looked like well over 50%
\nof the cars driving on that stretch was stopped and ticketted!)
\nout that morning. The street was not busy. In other words, they
\ndid not likely prevent any accidents. Mostly, we were driving
\n“reasonably”, since just about *everybody* was going the same
\nspeed. And it’s going to cost us a bundle. Speeding tickets
\nfor 15 mph. over used to be about $20.00 (Cdn). My ticket?
\n$86.25 Cdn. And I’ll have a point penalty too. Utterly rediculous.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #202, from davemackey, 318 chars, Tue May 22 17:55:51 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 201.
\nThere are additional comments to message 201.
\n————————–
\nI’ve gotten only one speeding ticket, for going 62 in a 50 zone on a
\ncounty highway here in New Jersey. It’s a good thing that the b***h
\nthat was riding my tail and forcing me to go 62 (I couldn’t pull over
\nto let her pass because there was little or no shoulder) got a
\nticket too.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #203, from hmccracken, 627 chars, Tue May 22 18:15:11 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 201.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 201.
\n————————–
\nI haven’t gotten any speeding tickets as of yet, though I was once stopped for
\ndtiving too *slow*, and once got a warning. (BTW, I attribute some of my
\ngood luck with avoiding trouble on the occasions I have been stopped by
\nthe police to the fact that the guy who owned my car was a lawyer for the
\npolice union who put a large sticker for the union in the car window. When
\nI replace my car, I’ll have to see about getting a window transplant from
\nmy beloved (135k+) Jetta.)<\/p>\n

I do have a friend who got her first speeding ticket a week ago and her second
\nlast Saturday. She’s $250 poorer and really crabby lately.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #204, from jimomura, 299 chars, Tue May 22 20:05:41 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 203.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n Do you guys get point penalties? Do the reflect on your insurance
\nrate? She could be a *lot* crabbier after she pays her next premium.
\nMine really shouldn’t go up. My record has been spotless for years now
\nand I would be very surprised if they upped it substantially for the
\none infraction.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #205, from hmccracken, 135 chars, Tue May 22 20:09:44 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 204.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m sure Karen will be even grumpier after her next premium — in fact she’s
\npredicted that she will be herself. \ud83d\ude09 \/ \ud83d\ude41
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #206, from tom.white, 1020 chars, Tue May 22 21:04:37 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 205.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCincinnati Microwave, 1-800-543-1608.
\n Escort, $295
\n Solo, $345
\n MC\/V\/AE\/Disc<\/p>\n

I mention this because after scoring TWO tickets in Mass in one weekend in
\nApril 1988, back when the tickets were $50 a pop, I bought a Passport
\nfrom the CM people that week (Passport has since been discontinued, replaced
\nby the above models). At $295, six escaped traps paid for it. At today’s
\nMass rates, two tickets at 75 mph will justify the expense. You can buy
\na cheaper radar detector at the local K-mart, but you cannot buy a better
\none, and CM only sells from their factory. And your name does not get sold
\nto mailing lists, notably insurance companies.<\/p>\n

Since then, I’ve gotten one ticket, last week, my own durn fault — and I
\ndidn’t have the Passport with me anyway since I was driving around town.
\nBut Texas has a first-time escape route, taking an 8-hour Defensive
\nDriving course that is, from all reports, a crashing bore. Still better
\nthan a penalty and higher insurance.<\/p>\n

What is this doing in Animation anyway?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #207, from elfhive, 92 chars, Tue May 22 23:21:19 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 206.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 206.
\n————————–
\nPerhaps it is a reference to the Claymation work in Michael Jackson’s
\nvideo ”
\nSpeed Demon?”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #208, from jimomura, 203 chars, Tue May 22 23:25:27 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 206.
\nThere are additional comments to message 206.
\n————————–
\n Didn’t I mention it? Guess not. I thought about doing a short
\nanimated commercial about safe driving. It had nothing to do with
\nspeed limits. Driving safely has nothing to do with speed limits.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #209, from switch, 157 chars, Wed May 23 02:01:01 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 201.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSo far, so good; no tickets of any kind on my end. OTOH, there _was_ that
\ntime I was matching speeds with a police car and he told me to slow down…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #210, from switch, 78 chars, Wed May 23 02:02:27 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 206.
\n————————–
\nBesides, this is the \/inkwell. We get to chat about _anything_ here…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #211, from tom.white, 44 chars, Wed May 23 16:27:04 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 207.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNever heard of “Speed Demon” — is it new?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #212, from elfhive, 315 chars, Wed May 23 22:58:09 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 211.
\n————————–
\nOne of the tracks from Michael Jackson’s “Bad” album, transferred to
\nmusic video and available as part of the Moonwalker release which
\nhas a lot of nice animation effects ranging from pictillation to
\nstate-of-the-art computer animation. I have to admit that I like
\nQuincy Jones’ production values in music as well.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #213, from richard.pini, 76 chars, Sat May 26 08:50:00 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 209.
\n————————–
\nWith traffic cops, as with so many others, it’s “Do as I say, not as I do.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #214, from hmccracken, 1896 chars, Tue Jun 5 17:30:45 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What color is Bugs Bunny, anyway?
\n“Grey” was always a sufficient answer to this question for me until
\nI recently had to be a bit more specific when working on the colors
\nfor the next cover of my mag _Animato_, which features a picture
\nof Bugs. I flipped through Joe Adamosn’s _Bugs Bunny: Fifty
\nYears and Only One Grey Hare_ to find out just what shade Bugs
\nis, and darned if he isn’t a different color in practically every
\nillustration…ranging from a bright blue to a very murky, blackish
\ngrey. I finally gave up and took my copy of the book with me to
\nthe color seperation place, and told them to match as well as they
\nTITLE: What color is Bugs Bunny, anyway?
\n“Grey” was always a sufficient answer to this question for me until
\nI recently had to be a bit more specific when working on the colors
\nfor the next cover of my mag _Animato_, which features a picture
\nof Bugs. I flipped through Joe Adamosn’s _Bugs Bunny: Fifty
\nYears and Only One Grey Hare_ to find out just what shade Bugs
\nis, and darned if he isn’t a different color in practically every
\nillustration…ranging from a bright blue to a very murky, blackish
\ngrey. I finally gave up and took my copy of the book with me to
\nthe color seperation place, and told them to match as well as they
\nTITLE: What color is Bugs Bunny, anyway?
\n“Grey” was always a sufficient answer to this question for me until
\nI recently had to be a bit more specific when working on the colors
\nfor the next cover of my mag _Animato_, which features a picture
\nof Bugs. I flipped through Joe Adamosn’s _Bugs Bunny: Fifty
\nYears and Only One Grey Hare_ to find out just what shade Bugs
\nis, and darned if he isn’t a different color in practically every
\nillustration…ranging from a bright blue to a very murky, blackish
\ngrey. I finally gave up and took my copy of the book with me to
\nthe color seperation place, and told them to match as well as they<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #215, from davemackey, 410 chars, Tue Jun 5 18:04:49 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 214.
\nThere are additional comments to message 214.
\n————————–
\nHe looks to me like he’s five parts white and four parts black with just
\na tinge of blue. The reason he looks so many different colors is because
\nover time, the dyes used in color film fade, so there’s lots of
\ndifferential between, say, a frame of reddened film (in Adamson’s
\nbook, the frames from “Baseball Bugs” looked like they were from a
\nfaded print) and a newly-painted cel.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #216, from ewhac, 23 chars, Wed Jun 6 02:22:11 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 214.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\tYour needle is stuck.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #217, from hmccracken, 124 chars, Wed Jun 6 21:51:29 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 216.
\n————————–
\nEeek? Strange…I have no idea how that happened, especially
\nsince I composed that message on-line…
\n — Confused Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #218, from richard.pini, 296 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #264 of Sat May 26 08:52:22 1990
\nSaw the dubbed version in San Deigo last year and it was great! Made me
\ngo out and spend some ungodly sum on the original Japanese video, just to be
\nable to see the visuals as clearly as available. If you haven’t seen it,
\ndo!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #219, from switch, 365 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 218.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #265 of Sat May 26 12:38:01 1990
\nI think I’ve watched the film about 25 times so far; that just _might_ beat
\nmy record for most viewings of a film within a certain time frame. It’s
\nincredible on a laserdisc on a large screen with loud, clear speakers —
\nseeing it on the screen will probably be a religious experience \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #220, from rfranzen, 317 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 219.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #266 of Sat May 26 22:11:15 1990
\n Wow, Emru! It must have been good!
\n My record of most-watches in least time pales in comparison. I watched
\n_The_Never-Ending_Story_ 5 times in seven days. I still can’t understand
\nwhy it didn’t catch on like a modern _Wizard_of_Oz_.
\n\tRich<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #221, from tom.white, 406 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 220.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 220.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #267 of Sat May 26 22:41:54 1990
\nFor one thing, the story isn’t so simplistic as Wizard.<\/p>\n

One thing about NeverEnding Story that always bothered me is when
\nthe reader-kid calls out the name for the empress, with all the background
\nnoise, I could never tell what name he chose. Anyone know? If it’s
\nin the book I could never find it whilst browsing in Waldenbooks. :\/<\/p>\n

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\nanimation\/inkwell #222, from rfranzen, 350 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 221.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #268 of Sun May 27 01:17:16 1990
\n Not hearing the empress’ new name bothered me slightly, also. Then I
\ndecided that we weren’t supposed to hear it. Being an actual part of the
\nNeverEnding story (“You were with him when he left a message on bix.” :),
\nnaming the empress is as much our job as Bastion’s.
\n\tRich<\/p>\n

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\nanimation\/inkwell #223, from switch, 187 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 220.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #278 of Tue May 29 19:50:55 1990
\nMy record for seeing a film the most times is _Tron_, 73 times. I still know
\nmost of the dialogue by heart…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #224, from hmccracken, 678 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 223.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 223.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #282 of Tue May 29 21:27:49 1990
\nI don’t know what film I’ve seen most often, but it’s probably a Warner Bros.
\ncartoon short — perhaps One Froggy Evening, which I’ve seen fifty times,
\neasy. There are very few films I’ve seen more than once or twice in a
\ntheater; Albert Brooks’s _Real Life_, which I’ve seen maybe six or seven
\ntimes, is one. Then there are the early Disney features which I’ve seen several
\ntimes in the theater, but always seven years apart. If I go to see _The
\nJungle Book_ when it’s rereleased this Summer, I’ll have seen it around four
\ntimes or so — the first time being back in 1967 when it came out.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

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\nanimation\/inkwell #225, from switch, 639 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 224.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 224.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #287 of Tue May 29 22:59:42 1990
\nWith _Tron_ I had the benefit of video tape. I only saw it in the cinema
\nfour or five times.<\/p>\n

If you were counting animated shorts on TV, then I’ve probably seen Duck
\nAmuck, One Froggy Evening, and Rabbit Fire more than anything else.
\nLessee: 52 weeks a year x 13 years of consistent watching (at least on the
\ntube – video helped a _lot_) = 676 viewings of at least an hour of Warner
\nshorts. I’m sure I’ve seen those more than 73 times somewhere in there
\n(oh, and I shouldn’t forget the afternoon shows I used to watch during most
\nof my high school career…)<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #226, from jshook, 271 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 224.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 224.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #288 of Wed May 30 01:12:02 1990
\nWhen I went to see _Real Life_, I was the only person in the entire
\ntheatre. That was an odd experience. Almost as odd as when I
\nwas the only passenger on an airplane flight from New York to
\nBoston.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #227, from switch, 110 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 226.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #289 of Wed May 30 11:12:30 1990
\nUm, are you sure it’s not you? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #228, from davemackey, 576 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 225.
\nThere are additional comments to message 225.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #290 of Wed May 30 17:53:12 1990
\nIt’s strange, but the Warner cartoon I’ve seen more than any is probably
\neither “Hare Do” or “Water, Water Every Hare.” When Channel 5 in New York
\nused to have ’em, they’d run em twice a day for a half hour each, and
\nthen on Sundays as part of “Wonderama.” TNT and TBS make it possible for
\nany cartoon fan to overdose, with hours upon hours per day of stuff. And
\nNickelodeon just renewed its commitment to the shorts. Then add the theatrical
\nplay, and those shorts are in grave danger of (gasp!) Burnout!?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #229, from hmccracken, 359 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 224.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #291 of Wed May 30 18:37:07 1990
\nDid you see _Real Life_ in Boston? If so, you must have been the other person
\nin the theater! (Seriously, there are few experiences odder than seeing a movie
\nin a virtually-empty theater. Especially when you’re enjoying the film. This
\nhas happened to me a number of times.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #230, from jshook, 134 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 229.
\nThere are additional comments to message 229.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #292 of Wed May 30 23:13:57 1990
\nYes…I saw it the first show the day it opened at the Charles.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #231, from richard.pini, 480 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 223.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #295 of Sun Jun 10 00:35:38 1990
\nI am embarrassed to admit that, without knowing the exact number of times,
\nthe film I’ve seen most is “killers From Space” – yes, the excruciatingly bad
\nfilm with Peter Graves and big insects and google-eyed aliens. Have no idea
\nwhy, but watched it every single time it came on Million Dollar Movie (15
\ntimes in a given week…) ever since I was a little sprout. The total prolly
\ngoes well into 3 digits. Gah.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #232, from richard.pini, 391 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 229.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #296 of Sun Jun 10 00:38:26 1990
\nWhat might be even more weird is going into the theater, seeing that there are
\na few other viewers, then staying through all the credits as I will do, and
\n*then* getting up to leave to see a totally empty theatre. And suspecting
\nthat maybe there’s no one up in the projection booth either. Or in the rest
\nof the world…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #233, from jshook, 99 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 231.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #297 of Sun Jun 10 00:52:44 1990
\nYou’ve made me feel very sad<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #234, from richard.pini, 134 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 233.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #298 of Sun Jun 10 01:36:23 1990
\nUm…I think I understand that…but just for the halibut, why?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #235, from davemackey, 475 chars, Sun Jun 10 10:42:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 232.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #299 of Sun Jun 10 06:48:34 1990
\nI don’t know what the projectionists’ union stipulates, but there’s probably
\nnobody in the booth these days. My suspicion is that the features are now
\nspliced together onto large platters and all the guy has to do is start
\neach one on time and not be responsible for changing projectors at various
\ntimes. Ergo, only one projectionist could run a 12-screen multiplex.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #236, from bsoron, 303 chars, Sun Jun 10 15:24:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 225.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I’ve seen 2001: A Space Odyssey some 40 times in theaters alone, and
\nperhaps an equal number of times here at home. I used to have a
\ntradition of watching it on New Year’s Night, but having gotten into the
\nhabit of going away for that week more recently, I just watch it whenever
\nthe urge strikes.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #237, from switch, 963 chars, Thu Jun 14 11:15:59 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Went on…
\n… a shopping spree yesterday, and blew far too much. It started with a
\nsimple, 95-cent Bugs Bunny pin. Then came the two issues of Cheval Noir.
\nFive bucks each. No problem. Then down to Chinatown to pick up my manga from
\nthe last five weeks. Okay, so that’s $12.50 for five issues. Then a short
\njump to Nebula — the Comics Journal, with a Chester Brown interview, Who
\nCensored Roger Rabbit?, Outlanders #18, Crying Freeman #7 — $17.50. Ambling
\nthrough Bonaventure — YOW! Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, regularly
\n$50-$60, on sale for $14.99! I almost had a heart attack.<\/p>\n

After trying to lift all that home (especially the Disney book), I almost
\ndid have a heart attack. Oh, well. At least I’ve got some good reading
\nfor the rest of the week…<\/p>\n

(The only downer was when I went to my library and, after a year of waiting,
\nthey finally had the Fantasia CD on the shelf – and I discovered my card
\nexpired. Grrrr.)<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #238, from steven_edwards, 263 chars, Thu Jun 14 13:29:31 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 237.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\tI saw that Disney Animation book on sale for $39.95; it’s the one
\nwith lots of big pages that weighs about 10 pounds, right? It looked neat,
\nbut I don’t think it was very up-to-date as far as including references from
\nthe more recent Disney efforts.<\/p>\n

\t— Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #239, from hmccracken, 219 chars, Thu Jun 14 18:56:59 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 238.
\nThere are additional comments to message 238.
\n————————–
\nWell, no, it doesn’t cover the past nine or so years, but in every
\nother respect it is (I think) the best single Disney book out there.
\nCertainly no better all-around volume on the studio has come out
\nsince.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #240, from switch, 152 chars, Thu Jun 14 19:56:51 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 238.
\n————————–
\nThat’s the one. It isn’t all that up-to-date; I first read it
\nsomething like three years ago, and I think it had been around
\nlonger than that…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #241, from jimomura, 1906 chars, Sun Jun 17 22:14:04 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Korean Food
\n I’m thinking about cooking stories. We don’t have them at all in
\nNorth America. Back in the Fifties and Sixties there were stories about
\nordinary working people. I remember one called “Cannonball” that was
\nabout a truck driver. This was a show I watched quite a bit. Actually
\nit was about two drivers. They were driving partners working for a
\ntrucking company. They drove around together, stopping at restaurants,
\ndoing good deeds. Little of it was spectacular, but it entertained.<\/p>\n

Tonight we celebrated Father’s Day by taking my dad out to a Korean
\nRestaurant that serves some Japanese dishes. The food was good and
\nwith very large servings. I couldn’t finish my dinner. It was a
\nwhole small broiled fish, teriyaki style beef and a huge bowl of
\ntofu soup. They make tofu soup heavily spiced and every spoonful
\nburned! Very interesting dinner for about $15.00 Cdn. for my dish
\nless drinks. Overall it was an excellent bargain for a meal in such
\na nice clean restaurant. You’d think that this was one of the most
\npopular restaurants around with that description. Well, we ate dinner
\nat about 5:30 PM and we were the *only* clients. I hear that this
\nrestaurant isn’t really doing that badly though. They have a Kareoka
\nsetup and that’s starting to become a popular pastime in Toronto.
\nHeck, it’s gotta be better than Rap Music. Is there anything more
\nboring than Rap Music? Doubt it.<\/p>\n

So, back to our main topic. Oh, yes, animation and comics.
\nWell, in Japan, there have long been stories about day to day type
\nthings and restaurant cooking is definitely represented. Is it
\na dramatic or adventurous topic? Well, if you have to make a living
\nat it and survive the public whims the way this Korean restaurant
\nis, yeah, I guess it’s a drama all right.<\/p>\n

A bit of trivia: What was the name of the diner run by the three
\nsisters in “Cat’s Eye”?
\n\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #242, from jimomura, 170 chars, Sun Jun 17 22:15:42 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 241.
\nThere are additional comments to message 241.
\n————————–
\n Oh, the restaurant was “The Five Cranes” a little north of
\nEglinton Ave. West on Weston Road. If you’re ever in Toronto and
\nwant Korean meal, you might look it up.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #243, from switch, 88 chars, Mon Jun 18 07:47:38 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 241.
\n————————–
\nAdded bonus: what’s the name of the diner frequented by Ryo in “City
\nHunter”? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #244, from hmccracken, 407 chars, Sun Jul 1 22:50:23 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Maybe this stuff only interests me, but…
\nI just had a chance to see the 1930s Ub Iwerks Flip the Frog cartoon
\n_Funny Face_, and one of the characters looks for all the world like
\nBetty Boop as a little girl. (In some shots she looks like Betty, period.)
\nI think Grim Natwick was at the Iwerks studio at the time the cartoon
\nwas made; wonder if he had anything to do with the character?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #245, from davemackey, 267 chars, Mon Jul 2 19:31:45 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 244.
\n————————–
\nNo, I’m interested, too, but I’ve never seen the cartoon in question. So
\nI can’t really answer. But since the early-30’s were such an experimental
\ntime in which animators could still add some of their personality, you
\nmay be right.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #246, from jimomura, 756 chars, Tue Jul 10 08:41:13 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Days of Thunder”
\n I brought this movie up in ‘autos\/racing’. There’ve been some
\nracing anime in the past. There was Mach Go Go Go which came to
\nNorth America as Speed Racer. In Jay Ward’s George of the Jungle
\nseries they had a race story series, but I can’t remember the
\nname of it. Recently there’s been some really nice work on rally
\nstyle competition in Japan.<\/p>\n

I really enjoyed “Days of Thunder”. Stock car racing is nothing
\nlike most other forms of auto racing. On the smaller tracks it can
\nstart to look like bumper-car racing. Though the gamesmanship bit
\nwas exaggerated in the movie (nobody goes around wrecking cars on
\npurpose, especially the bit about sandwiching cars against a retainer
\nwall), it was actually very real.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #247, from jtrindle, 114 chars, Tue Jul 10 08:44:52 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 246.
\nThere are additional comments to message 246.
\n————————–
\nThe race series in “George of the Jungle” was Tom Swift. His car was
\nthe “Thunderbolt GreaseSlapper”. ….John<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #248, from jtrindle, 119 chars, Tue Jul 10 08:45:40 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 246.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOOOPS! Make that “Tom SLICK”. Tom Swift was the other fellow, with
\n“the amazing hyperbolic gyrowhatsis” or whatever.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #249, from jimomura, 243 chars, Tue Jul 10 09:08:27 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 248.
\n————————–
\n Yeah, that’s right! Tom Slick! Actually, I think Tom Slick
\nwas probably more a parody of Tom Swift than of racing stories anyway.
\nHe seemed to be able to convert the Thunderbolt Greaseslapper into
\njust about any kind of racing vehicle.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #250, from hmccracken, 392 chars, Sat Jul 21 00:29:29 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Any BIXen out there planning to attend the San Diego Comics
\nCon at the start of August? I’m going to be going for the second time,
\nas part of a West-coast jaunt. Animation and\/or comics fans who live
\nanywhere near S.D. who aren’t planning to go are cheating themselves:
\nthe event is terrific and probably offers more to the animation fan
\nthan any other comics convention.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #251, from switch, 72 chars, Sat Jul 21 00:56:18 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 250.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 250.
\n————————–
\n*snif* Missing this one for the (n+1)th time running. Oh, well.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #252, from switch, 46 chars, Sat Jul 21 00:56:33 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 250.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 250.
\n————————–
\nBy the way, who are this year’s guests?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #253, from bcapps, 184 chars, Sat Jul 21 01:09:09 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 250.
\nThere are additional comments to message 250.
\n————————–
\nMy wife and were planning to go earlier. However, a “few” significant car
\nrepairs and a forthcoming purchase have sidelined those plans until next
\nyear. \ud83d\ude41
\nHope it goes well.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #254, from hmccracken, 466 chars, Sat Jul 21 02:00:50 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 252.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt’s easier to list who *isn’t* attending: Winsor McCay, Milton
\nCaniff, and Chester Gould all sent their regrets. And Walt
\nDisney had a previous engagement, too.<\/p>\n

Seriously, just about eveybody who’s anybody in U.S. comics attends,
\nwith large smatterings of foreign, animation, and comic strip talent.
\nWhen I attended in 1988 I found that many of the most interesting
\nguests were the unannounced ones. (The list of announced guests
\nruns several pages.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #255, from hmccracken, 173 chars, Sat Jul 21 02:02:24 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 251.
\n————————–
\nDon’t worry Emru…Being a few years older than you, I probably
\nspent as many years looking forward to going as you will. When
\nyou get out there you’ll love it.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #256, from switch, 24 chars, Sat Jul 21 20:33:54 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 254.
\n————————–
\n<\/p>\n

Next year…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #257, from richard.pini, 440 chars, Sun Jul 22 21:40:22 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 250.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWill be there – haven’t missed one in more years than I care to remember
\n(or can remember, having hit the ahem big 40 last Thursday…I hope memory
\nis the *first* thing to go…) but won’t be exhibiting in the publisher
\narea for the first time in a few years. Just going to hang out, see people
\nI don’t get to see all year, and drool copiously in the dealer’s room over
\nanimation stuff. Will be staying at the Kingston, so leave a message!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #258, from bcapps, 188 chars, Sun Jul 22 23:49:47 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 257.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 257.
\n————————–
\nWell, Happy Belated Birthday, Richard! Shame you didn’t tell us though.
\nWe coulda had a hunt along with a feast or two. And maybe a couple days
\nof carousing about and such. <\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #259, from hmccracken, 253 chars, Mon Jul 23 18:44:30 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 257.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 257.
\n————————–
\nI’ll be the guy drooling over the animation stuff standing next to
\nyou… Seriously, I should be recognizable for at least part of the
\ntime I’ll be at the con by my snappy _Animato_ T-shirt. Any particular
\nreason why WaRP isn’t exhibiting?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #260, from hmccracken, 215 chars, Mon Jul 23 21:11:36 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 257.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBy the way, there will be a two-hour program of rare animation on
\nThursday night at 7:00 during the Con. Not sure just where it
\nwill be, but it should be worth investigating (I’ll certainly be
\nthere)…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #261, from richard.pini, 441 chars, Thu Jul 26 09:42:01 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 258.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSorry about that…on the day itself, I was dragging the carcass along the
\nstreets of Ann Arbor taking in their annual monster street Art Fair(s).
\nAnd did not bring along the laptop for trying to hook into the hotel phone.
\nBesides, if this is the long downhill slide (as everyone says and I completely
\ndisbelieve) then a few days makes no difference at all! Carousing is a
\n“no expiration date” activity as far as this camper is concerned…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #262, from richard.pini, 554 chars, Thu Jul 26 09:44:47 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 259.
\n————————–
\nNo good reason to, IMO. I spent so much energy and so many $$ last year
\nexhibiting at every trade show I could get to, and probably hit 25% of the
\npeople I wanted to. This year I decided to advertise in the distributor
\ncatalogs (thus assuring 100% exposure) instead, for about 1\/5 the cost! And
\nthis way I get to float around the con instead of being tied to the booth.
\n(Since Wendy rarely attends these things, I either sit at the booth all day
\nor get some fans to booth-sit for a bit – but that’s dicey if someone
\nImportant comes up while I’m away…)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #263, from richard.pini, 39 chars, Thu Jul 26 09:45:10 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 260.
\n————————–
\nThanks for the tip – I’ll look for it.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #264, from bcapps, 354 chars, Fri Jul 27 00:25:06 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 261.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n_THE ANN ARBOR ART FAIR_? Waaah! What was the topic of this year’s poster?
\nI really miss those, even though I only went to a few while living in MI (
\njust moved to VA last year). Didja stop by Dave’s Comics on State St.?<\/p>\n

(whatta place for a comic shop – right in the middle of a college town? Who
\nin college ever has time to read comics? ;-D )<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #265, from hmccracken, 296 chars, Thu Aug 2 00:04:03 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I’m off on vacation from tomorrow until a week from Friday…
\nalthough I will be attempting to log in in at least a limited
\nfashion. If everything goes well I’ll try to provide some
\non-site reporting from the San Diego Comics Con and maybe even
\nan L.A. animation studio or two.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #266, from jenn, 190 chars, Thu Aug 2 01:51:20 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 265.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 265.
\n————————–
\nI’m off on vacatioon from tomorrow until late monday night.
\nI’ll be in exciting Omaha for a convention. I also get
\nto see my foster-parents! Yay!<\/p>\n

Now you folks behave yourselves….;-)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #267, from tshim, 437 chars, Wed Aug 8 23:53:20 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 266.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNot a moderator, but …<\/p>\n

I too will be off to Portsmouth\/Norfolk\/Newport News until the 15th (next
\nWednesday), to swim in the warm waters of Virginia Beach, take in the sights
\n(most of which are >on< the beach ), and partake in the pleasures
\nof Steve Schneider’s exhibition in the Portsmouth Museum before it takes off
\nelsewhere after the 12th.<\/p>\n

Take care, and I expect lots of comments when I get back. Surf’s up,
\ny’all!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #268, from davemackey, 142 chars, Thu Aug 9 23:14:54 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 267.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHave a nice time, you thing from another state, you. I think the next
\nstop for Steve’s traveling road show is somewhere in the Plains states.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #269, from hmccracken, 427 chars, Fri Aug 10 19:09:11 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 265.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 265.
\n————————–
\nWell, I’m back from California. Had a great time. Enjoyed the Comics
\nCon greatly, sold a lot of _Animatos_, and made pilgrimages to
\nthe Dudly Do-Right Emporium, the newly-opened Nixon Library, the
\nincredible McDonald’s in Downey, and the Universal Studios Tour,
\namong other places.<\/p>\n

I learned much of interest concerning animation and comics, which
\nI’ll probably bring up as I get to it in the appropriate topics.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #270, from rgswartz, 195 chars, Fri Aug 10 20:13:25 1990
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Disney stock
\nFor those who give a hoot for whateverr reason. Disney stock continues
\nto slide. Down 3 points on the Dow Jones today which brings it to a total
\nof -130+ in the last month.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #271, from davemackey, 456 chars, Fri Aug 10 21:12:00 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 269.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 269.
\n————————–
\nOn my first California trip eons ago, I stayed in Downey, and was shocked
\nto see that 1953 McDonalds. Nice to know it’s still there. I thought I
\nhad heard somewhere that they had applied for inclusion in the National
\nRegister of Historic Places.
\n Nice to see you back on the boards and glad you enjoyed your trip.
\nMe, I’ve spent the last week getting to know my 13-month-old niece and
\nshe is just the sweetest thing.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #272, from hmccracken, 1096 chars, Fri Aug 10 22:14:09 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 271.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFor the past year or so I have been quite interested in the
\narchitecture of early fast-food restaurants. (There are a
\ncouple of books on the topic.) My interest sprung, in part,
\nfrom having happened to be in Scranton, Pennsylvania on
\nthe very day that one of the last few original McDonalds
\nwas being demolished. I was down there with my parents,
\nand we rushed to the scene of the crime — we have similarly
\njunky interests in many ways — only to find that we had
\narrived too late. The place was already about halfway torn
\ndown, and we rescued a few red-and-white tiles and left.<\/p>\n

After that experience, you can imagine how pleased I was to
\nbe able to visit a vintage 1953 McDonalds that is alive and
\nwell and proud of its status. (The place is so old that it
\npredates Ray Kroc’s involvement in the chain, explaining its
\nodd, non-standard menu among other things.) LA in general has
\nto be the center of the universe as far as the junky type of
\narchitecture I’m interested in is concerned, and I delightedly
\nscouted out locations and snapped photos of any number of
\nsuch places.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #273, from tom.white, 38 chars, Sat Aug 11 10:35:46 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 269.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nwhat’s so special about a McDonald’s?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #274, from hmccracken, 296 chars, Sat Aug 11 14:58:26 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 273.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSee message #272. The McDonald’s in Downey is virtualy unchanged
\nsince 1953: it’s a stand (no interior seating), its exterior is red
\nand white tile with large neon arches, it has a huge neon sign
\nwith McDonalds’ original mascot “Speedy” and a boast of “We have
\nsold 500 million,” etc.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #275, from random.a, 19 chars, Sat Aug 11 17:49:59 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 274.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhat was “Speedy”?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #276, from hmccracken, 164 chars, Sat Aug 11 19:40:49 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 275.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nA little chef with a hamburger for a head. No relation to
\nSpeedy Alka-Seltzer, though the closeness in names may have
\nspeeded (pun intended) his demise.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #277, from davemackey, 354 chars, Sat Aug 11 22:14:47 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 272.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 272.
\n————————–
\nI found a book not long ago you might be interested in called
\n“Orange Roofs, Golden Arches” or some similar verbiage. It’s
\nall about the architecture of the big chains like Howard
\nJohnson, McDonald’s, etc. and how it grew from such establishments
\nas Fred Harvey hotel\/restaurants. Do you know of this book already?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #278, from davemackey, 284 chars, Sat Aug 11 22:17:16 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 276.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n)After you ate Speedy’s hamburgers, you may need Speedy’s Alka-Seltzer!<\/p>\n

q<\/p>\n

(Unrelated trivial fact: the voice of Speedy Alka-Seltzer and countless
\nother cartoon characters throughout the years is a man named Dick Beals
\nwho is only 4′ 6″ tall.)*
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #279, from richard.pini, 317 chars, Sat Aug 11 22:30:24 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 264.
\n————————–
\n“What was the topic…?” Gah, there were so many posters! And T-shirts!
\nI’m afraid the only design I recall was on a bootleg Bart Simpson T-shirt
\nthat had to do with the Ann Arbor (B)Art Fair, with the underachieving one
\nsaying “I’m an artist! Who the hell are you?” Of *course* I didn’t buy one
\nfor Wendy… (TINAC)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #280, from richard.pini, 77 chars, Sat Aug 11 22:32:05 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 265.
\n————————–
\nSo where were you, guy? I went, I saw, I drooled. I bought one cel. Hee hee.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #281, from hmccracken, 227 chars, Sun Aug 12 02:06:39 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 277.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI have the book and it’s excellent. Another work on the
\nsubject is _Googie_, the author of which I forget. (“Googie”
\nis a term for 1950s coffee-shop architecture, named after
\na particular coffee shop by that name.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #282, from hmccracken, 287 chars, Sun Aug 12 02:09:07 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 281.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSorry we didn’t see each other! Actually you and one other person
\n(an _Animato_ contributor) were the two folks I wanted to see but
\ndidn’t. While I can understand the Con’s decision to prohibit personal
\npagings, it makes it tough to find people.
\n (And what cel did you get?)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #283, from jenn, 517 chars, Sun Aug 12 12:24:04 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 282.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 282.
\n————————–
\nHarry, Harry, Harry….did the con do professional type pages?
\nAhem. Show them your card for your magazine. Say, you need
\nto page for Richard Pini cause he was supposed to have his article
\nfor you at the con or somesuch…..
\n\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Speaking of being back…I’ve been back now since monday evening…and
\nhaven’t really had a chance to catch up with things! It’s nice to
\nbe back. If anyone here ever decides to go to any con in Omaha, go.
\nThe people were friendly, the con wasn’t half bad, and it was a lot
\nof fun. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #284, from hmccracken, 366 chars, Sun Aug 12 17:44:01 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 278.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIncidentally, I was moved by this discussion to pull out
\nmy copy of _Orange Roofs, Golden Arches_, which revealed
\nthat I have been spelling the McDonalds mascot in question’s
\nname wrong: he was “Speedee.” Future fast-food historians
\nwho rely on BIX as a source, take note. (The book also
\nnotes that the Downey location was the chain’s third
\nrestaurant.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #285, from richard.pini, 1393 chars, Sun Aug 12 17:57:44 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 282.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI ended up cruising the dealer’s room a number of times (since I deliberately
\nstayed off the con’s programming list, I had more time to do what I wanted
\nthan I usually do – felt wonderful, except for the non-con pulls on it…)
\nand made an effort to check out the several dealers in animation stuff, looking
\nfor any wayward Animato T-shirts, but no luck. Ah well, one of these lifetimes.
\n The cel. Ah yes, American Express is gonna love me for the next several
\nmonths. I was looking through a stack of decent stuff (I believe the company
\ncalls itself “Mice, Ducks and Wabbits” – I’ve got the card around here
\nsomewhere) and made the mistake of asking if they had anything from the
\nFleischer studio. I saw a couple of nice, but not great, animation drawings
\nfrom the first Superman cartoon, and then the fellow said, “I think I have
\nsome cels from “Gulliver” around…” I should have left then. But noooooooo…
\nHe had 3 of them, one of Gulliver fending off all the little arrows (but his
\narm was completely in front of his face, so naah), one of him pulling the
\nanchor ropes of the little ships (but his back is to us, so naah), and one
\nof him just pulling on his new boots, and he’s got that wonderful half-
\nsmiling, half-straining expression on his face, and it’s about our favorite
\nscene in the movie (which is itself one of our favorite films). Can we say
\n“set the hook and reel him in”?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #286, from richard.pini, 224 chars, Sun Aug 12 17:59:48 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 283.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nActually, they were pretty snorky about even pro pages – all the ones I heard
\nwere concomm business. I asked a couple of times myself for what I thought
\nwere pro business reasons, but… ah well. Maybe if I were Jack Kirby.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #287, from hmccracken, 172 chars, Sun Aug 12 19:23:16 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 285.
\n————————–
\nAh, yes — Mice, Ducks, and Wabbits. Leslie Brooks.
\nAn excellent and varied selection of stuff, indeed.
\n — Harry
\n(Who has never bought from them, just browsed enviously)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #288, from jenn, 32 chars, Sun Aug 12 19:28:28 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 286.
\n————————–
\nReally? Jeez. What a shame. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #289, from tshim, 74 chars, Wed Aug 15 00:45:56 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 268.
\n————————–
\nI find it hard to believe he couldn’t find booking in the tri-state area.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #290, from dyarbrough, 387 chars, Sun Aug 19 09:59:32 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 284.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 284.
\n————————–
\nHarry,
\n Perhaps you could date a McDonalds for me. Its been several years since
\nI have seen it, but the first time I saw I am pretty sure it had no interior
\nseating. I distinctly remembered that it had an arch on each side of the
\nbuilding, that is what attracted me to it in the first place. In later
\nyears they expanded to add indoor seating, but the arches were still there.
\nDavid<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #291, from davemackey, 194 chars, Sun Aug 19 18:57:59 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 284.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIncidentally, I mentioned the date of the Downey McDonald’s as 1953, which
\nfor all I know may be correct. But why are we now celebrating the
\nanniversary of the first McD’s which opened in 1955?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #292, from hmccracken, 181 chars, Sun Aug 19 23:18:58 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 290.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSounds pre-1960 to me. Any McDonalds with actual golden arches
\nand\/or red-and-white tile exterior predates the late 1960s.
\nThere are only a handful left. Where was it?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #293, from hmccracken, 421 chars, Sun Aug 19 23:21:54 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 291.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBecause McDonalds, rather questionably, dates the chain’s founding
\nfrom the time that Ray Kroc got involved, which was in 1955
\nwith a Des Plains, IL franchise. I believe that bad blood between
\nKroc and the McDonald brothers, who actually opened the first
\nMcDonalds sometime in the 11940s, has something to do with this.
\n — Harry
\n(There were around five McDonalds, in two states, before Kroc got
\ninvolved, by the way.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #294, from tom.white, 86 chars, Mon Aug 20 01:23:25 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 293.
\nThere are additional comments to message 293.
\n————————–
\nKrok was a milk-shake machine salesman when he bought into the
\ntiny McDonald’s chain.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #295, from dyarbrough, 282 chars, Mon Aug 20 22:13:20 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 292.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt was in Jacksonville, FL. Perhaps I will have my parents cruise over
\nthat part of town and see if it is still standing in some form. It
\nprobably isn’t. The thinking in FL is that anything over 10 years old
\nis ancient and needs to be torn down and replaced with something newer.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #296, from erethakbe, 43 chars, Mon Aug 20 22:24:19 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 295.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI am in Jacksonville. Whereabouts is this?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #297, from dyarbrough, 70 chars, Tue Aug 21 21:13:30 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 296.
\n————————–
\nIt was (is) over near JU on University if I remember correctly.
\nDavid<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #298, from davemackey, 137 chars, Tue Aug 21 21:41:48 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 293.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThanks, Harry — checked my copy of “ORGA” to confirm it for myself.
\nIf Bugs Bunny can have many different anniversaries, why not McD’s?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #299, from bcapps, 460 chars, Wed Aug 22 21:55:13 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 298.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere was a McDonald’s in Madison Heights, MI that had the old neon Arches
\nthat was eventually rehauled and the arches wound up in the Henry Ford
\nmuseum in an exhibit about the American roadway.
\nAlso in Detroit, (er, Southfield actually) there is a flashy McDonalds
\nthat’s filled with all sorts of kitsch from the 50’s and such and is in the
\nstyle of the old diners. There’s a reference to it at the airport in the
\nlo-o-o-ong hallway between terminals.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #300, from tshim, 305 chars, Wed Aug 22 23:18:03 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 299.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWay on the other end, here in Manhattan, there is a fancy
\nrestaurant-type McDonald’s in the Wall Street\/financial area
\n(southern tip of the island for you not in the know) that has
\nchandeliers, mirrors, carpeting, tablecloths, and (gasp) a
\nlive piano player and night music. All to go with your Big Mac.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #301, from kevinf, 434 chars, Sat Sep 1 20:28:34 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 300.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAnother interesting McDonalds…
\nis the one near L.A., in the City of Industry, where they film most of their
\ncommercials. It’s located in a light industrial area, and is surrounded by
\na chain-link fence in order to keep people from driving up and ordering
\na Big Mac. From what I’ve read, it has extra high ceilings (for television
\nlighting) and has an additional facade at the back, so that two crews can
\nbe shooting simultaneously.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #302, from hmccracken, 205 chars, Sat Sep 1 22:53:49 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 301.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 301.
\n————————–
\nI always wondered how they do that. I did once see them filming
\nwhat seemed to be a commercial outside a local McDonald’s;
\npresumably it was some sort of Massachusetts or New England-based
\nad.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #303, from davemackey, 31 chars, Sun Sep 2 00:35:29 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 301.
\n————————–
\nFood, folks, and fabrications.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #304, from davemackey, 220 chars, Sun Sep 2 00:37:04 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 302.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nMcDonalds has a really complex network of regional ad agencies in
\naddition to its national agency, so the commercial which was
\nfilmed up your way was probably aimed at the New England zone.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #305, from tshim, 201 chars, Mon Sep 3 13:08:45 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 304.
\n————————–
\nWhere was the McDonald’s ad spoofing those Citibank Card “real-life”
\ncommercials aimed at? I saw it on a commercial awards program, and
\nnever saw it on television, so it must have been non-NYC local.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #306, from hmccracken, 751 chars, Thu Sep 6 21:45:55 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: My family doesn’t have many violent fights, but…
\nthe other day my father and I had a dispute concerning _Who Framed
\nRoger Rabbit_, specifically the Tex Avery-esque character “Lena
\nHyena.” My father says that this is simply an animated version of
\nthe Al Capp-created, Basil Wolverton-drawn character from _Li’l
\nAbner_ (the ugliest woman alive). I point out that that character
\nwas called Lena *the* Hyena, that she looked little or nothing
\nlike the character in the film, and that there’s no particular
\nreason why she’d appear in the movie. I figure the similiarity
\nin names is either a coincidence, a subconscious plagiarism, or
\nsome sort of homage.<\/p>\n

Any opinions? Does anybody else even remember the Wolverton\/Capp
\ncharacter?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #307, from hkenner, 109 chars, Thu Sep 6 23:51:56 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 306.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 306.
\n————————–
\n>>Capp-created, Wolverton-drawn …
\nAre you telling me Capp didn’t draw his own stuff? Ah, say it ain’t so.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #308, from dave.f, 370 chars, Fri Sep 7 01:06:58 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 306.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’d bet it’s an homage, in a round about way. The Capp\/Wolverton
\ncharacter has become a sort of archtype. No doubt Spielberg and
\nZemekis were into that sort of thing in their younger years, as
\nwere many of us in this forum, and just wanted to something similar.
\nOf course, the unconscious plagiarism angle has some merit, as
\nwell. Or is it an unconscious homage?<\/p>\n

D=<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #309, from davemackey, 228 chars, Fri Sep 7 06:47:59 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 308.
\n————————–
\nI’m inclined to think that the character was inspired by the ugly
\ncousins of the Girls in those great Avery cartoons, and nothing more.
\nI never gave the Wolverton thing a second thought.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #310, from richard.pini, 352 chars, Fri Sep 7 13:29:03 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 307.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCapp did have ghosts do some of his work (not the faces, though) – the most
\nnotable of whom was Frank Frazetta. If memory serves, Lena was never *in*
\nLil Abner (somebody correct me here if I’m wrong) as anything more than a
\nhinted-at character. Wolverton took it the final step to a drawing, but
\nWolverton’s interpretation never appeared in the strip.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #311, from hmccracken, 769 chars, Fri Sep 7 18:24:34 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 310.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRight. Lena was an off-panel character, and Wolverton won a much-
\npublicized contest to draw her. His drawing appeared in _Life_
\nmagazine, but I’m not sure if it ever ran in the strip. Capp employed
\nnumerous assistants over the years, including Harvey Curtin and
\nAndy Amato (I *think* I have those names right), who were with him
\nfor virtually the entire run of the strip, and Stan Drake, who did
\nmuch of the art in the strip’s last years. And as you say, Frazetta
\nworked on the strip sometime in the 1950s — the value of _Li’l
\nAbner_ original art is much higher for strips done during Frazetta’s
\ntenure.<\/p>\n

I don’t think Capp ever employed ghosts in the strict sense, though;
\nhe always dominated the writing and had at least a good hand in the
\ndrawing.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #312, from davemackey, 145 chars, Fri Sep 7 21:02:38 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 311.
\n————————–
\nSpeaking of Stan Drake, yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the
\nfirst “Blondie” strip, which Drake now draws.
\n –D.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #313, from hmccracken, 962 chars, Mon Sep 24 22:25:12 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The good news is that my VCR’s timer isn’t broken, and I
\ndon’t fail *quite* as often as I thought I did in setting it.
\nThe bad news is that the symptons that led me to think that such
\nwas the case — a seemingly missed episode of _Tiny Toons_ and one
\nthat I caught only the middle part of — were due to weird technical
\nproblems on channel 56, the Boston station that carries the show.
\nA cartoon-watching friend explained to me today that 56 showed the
\nsame episode on Monday and Tuesday — which led me to think that
\nmy VCR hadn’t gone off, since the tape seemed to be at the same
\nplace it had been before. Then on Thurdday, they accidentally
\nshowed about eight minutes of _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_,
\nnotice their mistake, and then showed the excellent “Babs in
\nWackyland” episode of _Tiny Toons_ in its entirety. My VCR was
\nset to shut off at the time that show was *supposed* to end, so
\nI missed the last few minutes. Very confusing!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #314, from switch, 570 chars, Fri Oct 5 14:08:11 1990
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Where’s Emru been?
\nNew job (in Concordia’s audiovisual department with twelve Amigas — drool),
\nfive animation assignments due next week, an SF con next Saturday, Quark #4
\ndue for the con, Montreal Animation Fan Network meeting the 21st and I’m
\nheading off for the international animated film festival in Ottawa in a few
\nminutes. Haven’t even had time to post my thoughts on the last Mike & Spike
\nAnimation Festival. Sigh…<\/p>\n

Maybe when I get back. Until then, I’ll have a Coke for the road. See ya
\nall Monday and _try_ not to mess up the furniture OK?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #315, from hmccracken, 297 chars, Sun Oct 7 20:11:22 1990
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Check out this week’s _New Yorker_ — not a magazine
\nknown for its animation coverage — for a nifty brief interview
\nwith Sol Schoenbach in the “Talk of the Town” section. Who is
\nSol Schoenbach? None other than the principal basoonist we hear
\non the soundtrack to _Fantasia_.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #316, from hmccracken, 448 chars, Sun Oct 7 20:25:02 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: BIXen meet in person
\nFour BIXen — Dave Mackey (davemackey), Mike and Pam Scoville (mscoville),
\nand myself had a very nice time this weekend venturing down to
\nPhiladelphia for the early Disney art show\/panel discussion\/book signing\/
\nauction that took place at the Philadelphia Art Alliance. It was a
\ngreat event — and it was great to meet Dave, Pam, and Mike. I’ll be
\nreporting on everything that went on at the event shortly.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #317, from davemackey, 129 chars, Mon Oct 8 01:38:42 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 316.
\n————————–
\nWe would have told you ourselves about it by this time but we’re still
\nrecovering. (grin)
\n –Davezzzzzz<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #318, from hmccracken, 669 chars, Sun Oct 21 22:10:19 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Birthday to Us All!
\nIf you want to get technical about it, this conference had its first
\nbirthday day-before-yesterday, since it was created on October 19th
\nof last year. But since the first messages weren’t posted until a
\nfew days after that in most cases, I think we can say that the
\nbirth was a protracted one and that the conference is celebrating
\nits first birthday all this week.<\/p>\n

On behalf of my fellow moderators and BIX, I’d like to thank everybody
\nwho has made the conference such an interesting place to be over the
\npast year. May our next ten or twenty years (nothing like planning
\nahead) be at least as enjoyable and educational!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #319, from davemackey, 80 chars, Mon Oct 22 18:24:08 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 318.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI raise my glass in tribute! Onward…..
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #320, from switch, 33 chars, Tue Oct 23 00:37:29 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 319.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCheers!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #321, from mscoville, 242 chars, Tue Oct 23 23:57:20 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 320.
\nThere are additional comments to message 320.
\n————————–
\nA glass should be raised and a salute to the moderators who make this
\nconference what it is. Also, a second salute to all who participate. Happy
\nAnniversary or is it a birthday? The best for the next year and the many
\nto follow.
\nmscoville
\nh<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #322, from jenn, 67 chars, Wed Oct 24 22:51:43 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 320.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYes, congrats\/happy b-day!<\/p>\n

I’m buying….what’ll you folks have?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #323, from bcapps, 86 chars, Thu Oct 25 23:08:17 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 322.
\n————————–
\nAdd my glass to those here! May she (default gender) long electronically
\nstand!<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #324, from davemackey, 254 chars, Sat Oct 27 18:32:03 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 313.
\n————————–
\nAs you, Harry, cannot disguise your fondness for the episode of TTA you
\ncall “Babs In Wackyland,” let me warn you that the episode, whose real
\ntitle is “Her Wacky Highness,” is airing this weekend on “Prime Toons.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #325, from davemackey, 605 chars, Fri Nov 16 07:29:30 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: That darn cat
\nThis has nothing to do with animation but it’s a cute story nonetheless, which
\nis why it’s in \/inkwell. In a suburb of Trenton, there was this cat who got
\nchased up a tree. Stayed up there 11 days. No food, no drink. Hung out during
\n60-mph wind gusts and rain. Tree surgeons were finally dispatched. When one
\nsuch tree-jack got within reaching distance, the cat made a jump for it.
\nForty five feet. To the ground. A few cuts and a slight concussion, but
\ntabby lived. In the words of an animal hospital worker, “Well, there goes
\none of his lives.”
\n Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #326, from elfhive, 79 chars, Fri Nov 16 19:32:00 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 325.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHave you seen the Canadian animated short _The Cat Came Back_ It’s hysterical.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #327, from switch, 35 chars, Sat Nov 17 00:14:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 326.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI second that. It’s a riot.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #328, from dave.f, 212 chars, Mon Nov 19 19:08:24 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 327.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 327.
\n————————–
\nI third it. Nick was playing it to pad between shows. Never got the chance
\nto record it but would love to have that one in my personal collection.
\nFirst time I saw it I was literally on the floor laughing.<\/p>\n

D=<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #329, from elfhive, 188 chars, Mon Nov 19 22:20:38 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 328.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI believe I saw it on a video collection of Canadian shorts advertised as
\na flyer and now on the inside front cover of the new Winter Whole Toon
\nCatalogue. Intend to get it for Christmas.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #330, from switch, 62 chars, Mon Nov 19 22:47:14 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 329.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIs that the flyer that says, “Stop Shaking Your Eyes!”?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #331, from elfhive, 391 chars, Mon Nov 19 23:12:25 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 330.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe flyer is gone. The inside front cover of the Winter Whole Toon
\nCatalog doesn’t say that and it looks like an unedited reprint.<\/p>\n

_The Cat Came Back_ is on *Incredible Manitoba Animation* (WTA 101) for
\n$29.95. There is another title called _The Cat Strikes Back_ which I
\nhave not seen. I originally saw _Cat_ as part of the International
\nTournee of Animation (forget which roman numeral).<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #332, from switch, 141 chars, Mon Nov 19 23:46:58 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 331.
\nThere are additional comments to message 331.
\n————————–
\nYeah, the flyer I was thinking of is for that tape. I might get
\nthat as this year’s present to myself (if not the Looney Tunes mugs).<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #333, from hkenner, 112 chars, Tue Nov 20 00:38:08 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 331.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWHERE is the Winter Whole Toon Catalogue? I’ve traded with ’em several
\nties and I’m still Way Back There.
\n=
\nHK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #334, from elfhive, 145 chars, Tue Nov 20 14:26:25 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 333.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe new catalogue arrived about ten days ago. Perhaps recent purchases
\nmoved me to the top of their mailing list? I’d like to see that software!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #335, from hmccracken, 304 chars, Tue Nov 20 20:09:12 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 334.
\n————————–
\nI got mine a week ago.<\/p>\n

BTW, and this is a small point, the little cover illustrations for
\n_Animato_ (my magazine) are mixed up the new _Whole Toon_: #17
\nand #18 are switched. This is only of concern to folks who have
\none issue and are ordering the other from the catalog based on the
\ncover.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #336, from hmccracken, 2145 chars, Wed Nov 21 21:19:58 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Did anybody else catch the Jim Henson special tonight? It was
\na tricky subject, handled fairly well. There were the expected
\nMuppet clips, but enough of the show was devoted to Henson himself
\nthat you got a feel for who the guy was. He was described only in
\nthe most glowing of terms, of course, but that’s to be expected in
\nsuch a show.<\/p>\n

The heart of the show, though, is the end, when Kermit (who has been
\nmysteriously away for the first 57 or so minutes) arrives. For the
\nfirst time, he is voiced and performed by someone other than
\nHenson (more or less; I believe the new season of Sesame Street has
\naired some non-Henson Kermit spots). Kermit’s voice is only a fairly
\ngood facsimile of Henson’s — furthermore, he *moves* in a distinctively
\ndifferent way. It took seeing this to make clear to me what should
\nhave been an obvious fact — that Kermit was in a fundamental way much
\nmore an extension of Henson than Mickey Mouse ever was of Walt
\nDisney. Mickey was drawn by hundreds of people, none of them Disney
\nhimself, but Kermit was simply a piece of cloth draped over Jim
\nHenson’s hand.<\/p>\n

As I say, the new Kermit is quite obviously performed by someone else.
\nI have no doubt that Jeff Bergman, or someone like him, could do a
\nmore accurate imitation of the timbre and tone of Henson’s voice.
\nBut you know what? I like the way they’ve handled it better than I’d
\nlike that, and I think maybe Henson would, too. A lot of heart is
\nclearly going into keeping Kermit alive, and this special carried off
\nthe deeply sad moment of Kermit’s reintroduction brilliantly.<\/p>\n

It really was emblematic of the whole character of the Muppets somehow.
\nIf the three principal universes of twentieth-century American childrens’
\npopular culture have been those of Disney, Charles Schulz’s characters, and
\nthe Muppets, it seems to me that the Disney universe is basically positive
\nand optimistic, the Schulz one is ultimately negative and defeatist, and
\nHenson’s world was an interesting blend of the two. Admitting that
\nKermit will never be the same, and yet picking up and going on anyhow,
\nis a very Muppet way to handle the issue.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #337, from richard.pini, 6 chars, Wed Nov 21 21:27:36 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 336.
\nThere are additional comments to message 336.
\n————————–
\nAmen.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #338, from elfhive, 571 chars, Wed Nov 21 23:54:16 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 336.
\nThere are additional comments to message 336.
\n————————–
\nshadow and I nearly gave it a miss. personally I wasn’t sure I wanted to
\ndeal with Jim Henson’s death through the Muppets but I’m glad I watched
\nit now. Given what you said in the last paragraph it will be interesting
\nto see how Disney studios “colors” future Muppet productions. I think that
\nJim’s creative force will be sorely missed.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, in the segment narrated by Spielberg, they showed some
\nclips of Henson’s darker side that I have never seen before. Can someone
\nenlighten me if those creatures (other than _Dark Crystal_ were from a
\ntv series or films?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #339, from grekel, 535 chars, Thu Nov 22 22:53:54 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 336.
\nThere are additional comments to message 336.
\n————————–
\nHarry, I watched the Henson tribute and found myself profoundly misty
\nwhen the Muppets were reading letters from fans. I thought the whole
\nthing was VERY well handled, and didn’t smack of Disney meddling
\nexcept for a quick shot of Mickey & Kermit — to be expected, of course.<\/p>\n

And you’re so right about the New Kermit’s look-and-feel. Even in the
\nfilm clip where Kermit wrestled with his conscience, you could tell which
\none was Henson easily.<\/p>\n

I have even more respect for that troupe now, and look forward to
\nfuture projects.<\/p>\n

greg<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #340, from davemackey, 487 chars, Fri Nov 23 19:28:57 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 336.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI did see it, and the end part with the various Muppet characters
\nreading the tribute letters — some from very small children —
\nwas quite arresting.
\n I believe the Muppeteer behind Kermit is now Kevin Clash,
\nwho’s done characters of similar temperament for “Sesame Street”
\nand a kids show of a decade ago called “The Great Space Coaster.”
\nBut nobody is ever going to instill the same lifeblood into the
\ncharacter than the master himself.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #341, from hmccracken, 1133 chars, Fri Nov 23 19:39:32 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 340.
\n————————–
\nNo, Kermit will never be quite the same, but I feel strongly now that
\nit’s a good thing that he’ll outlive his creator. I don’t remember
\nseeing anything about Jim Henson’s explicit wishes on the subject,
\nbut presumably selling the Muppets to Disney was in general an expression
\nof a desire for the Muppets to go on after his death (although he
\nprobably did not expect the matter to come up nearly as quickly as it
\ndid).<\/p>\n

To compare this again to Disney and the Peanuts gang, Mickey Mouse is going
\nstrong almost twenty-five years after Disney’s death; on the other hand,
\nCharles Schulz is said to have written into his contract a proviso that
\n_Peanuts_ (as a comic strip, at least) will end with his death. While
\nthere’s much to be said for Schulz’s way of thinking — the comic strips
\nthat have been continued successfully (artistically) after the creator’s
\ndeath can probably be counted without using up all of one’s fingers —
\nI really wonder whether Charlie Brown & Co. will be more than dimly-
\nremembered curiosities from another era a few decades from now. Sort
\nof like Kewpies or Palmer Cox’s Brownies are today.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #342, from hmccracken, 728 chars, Sat Nov 24 02:14:32 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: R.I.P.
\nRoald Dahl has died; while he will be best remembered for his nastily-
\ntinged books for adults and children, and for one of the greatest
\nscreenplays ever written for a children’s film — _Willy Wonka and
\ntbe Chocolate Factory_ — he did have a connection to the world of
\nanimation. One of his first literary ventures was work at the
\nDisney studios on a proposed film about Gremlins, the mythical,
\nplane-sabotaging little creatures who were popular folk demons during
\nWorld War II. While the film was dropped due to other gremlin cartoons
\nin the works by other animation studios (notably Warner’s _Falling Hare_),
\na book based on Dahl’s story was published. I imagine it was his first
\npublished work.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #343, from davemackey, 495 chars, Sat Nov 24 06:29:47 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 342.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWould you believe that one of the big TV stations in New York
\ncredited Mr. Dahl with not only writing “Charlie And The
\nChocolate Factory,” but also “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”? Last I
\nlooked, it was Ian Fleming who wrote “CCBB,” though it is an easy
\npoint of confusion, since both books were turned into quite
\nfanciful motion pictures.
\n Mr. Dahl was also married to Patricia Neal and stuck with her
\nthrough good times and bad (her health problems).
\n Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #344, from sharonfisher, 80 chars, Sat Nov 24 10:39:30 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 343.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 343.
\n————————–
\nIronic that he dies after all the years that she had cancer…What’d he
\ndie of?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #345, from hmccracken, 331 chars, Sat Nov 24 10:56:06 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 343.
\n————————–
\nDahl *did* write the screenplay to the *film* of _Chitty Chitty Bang
\nBang_, although he once wrote that about one word of his screenplay
\nmade it to the screen. By the way, Dahl & Neal were divorced some
\nyears ago; after nursing her back to health, Dahl had an affair with
\nher best friend which terminated the marriage.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #346, from hmccracken, 201 chars, Sat Nov 24 10:57:15 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 344.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDid she have cancer, too, or just the massive stroke that Dahl nursed
\nher back to heal from? I’m not sure what Dahl died of, but he was
\n74 — a bit older than I thought he would have been.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #347, from hmccracken, 536 chars, Sat Nov 24 15:49:19 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 346.
\nThere are additional comments to message 346.
\n————————–
\nBy the way, Roald Dahl was also responsible for the children’s book that
\nthe almost-current film _The Witches_ was based on. This nifty little
\nfilm also has the distinction of having been executive-produced by Jim
\nHenson — one of his final projects, if not his very last one. Like all
\nof Dahl’s stories, it’s a wonderfully unsentimental, unpatronizing children’s
\nstory with a very hard edge. One of Dahl’s obituaries quoted him to the
\neffect that to write for children, you must learn to join a conspiracy against
\nadults.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #348, from sharonfisher, 48 chars, Sun Nov 25 14:07:04 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 346.
\n————————–
\nI was incorrect. She did indeed have a stroke.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #349, from dopheim, 22 chars, Sun Dec 2 00:14:53 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 327.
\n————————–
\nThird! It was a riot!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #350, from switch, 141 chars, Thu Dec 6 10:33:28 1990
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I’m off…
\n…until Tuesday, taking a break from animation assignments and
\nthe like. Try to keep things from exploding, OK? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #351, from hmccracken, 375 chars, Fri Dec 7 00:49:56 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: A Friend Writes (apologies to the _New Yorker_) that he has
\nrecently returned from a trip to the Soviet Union, where his host
\nwas a man with a video recorder and a large collection of American
\nfilms on tape. All dubbed or subtitled, of course, except for
\na tape of Warner Bros. cartoons, which the Russian movie fan says
\nneed no translation. I like that.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #352, from davemackey, 132 chars, Fri Dec 7 05:56:48 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 351.
\n————————–
\n“Da! I tawt I taw Kapitalist putty tat!”<\/p>\n

Nice story, though. Humor is truly international.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #353, from davemackey, 220 chars, Tue Dec 11 17:55:01 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Festival of Lights
\nSince tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, may I take this
\nopportunity to wish our Jewish members of the animation forum a
\nvery joyous holiday season.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #354, from hmccracken, 81 chars, Tue Dec 11 18:09:35 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 353.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThank you, Dave! Now give us a list of Hanukkah cartoons to watch…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #355, from addman, 180 chars, Tue Dec 11 22:35:11 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 354.
\nThere are additional comments to message 354.
\n————————–
\nThere was a goodone called “Lights” on the Disney Channel tonight at 7:30 but,
\nI came into it too late to record it. I checked and it’s not going to be
\nrepeated…too bad….sigh<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #356, from davemackey, 308 chars, Wed Dec 12 18:29:45 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 354.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSince I couldn’t think of any Hanukkah cartoons other than the
\n“Lights” special, here’s a few in honor of today, which is Frank
\nSinatra’s 75th birthday: “Swooner Crooner,” “Little ‘Tinker,”
\n“Catch As Cats Can,” and “Quentin Quail” (he looks just like
\nFrankie Sonata).
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #357, from bsoron, 161 chars, Wed Dec 12 22:14:02 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 356.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I don’t remember which of the three WB shows available here in the
\nafternoon ran “Quentin Quail,” but some program manager somewhere *did*
\nagree with you…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #358, from hmccracken, 321 chars, Fri Dec 21 16:05:49 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Season’s Greetings
\nI will probably be away from BIX from tomorrow until Wednesday (off in
\nIowa, where I have fewer computers but more grandmothers). I’ll be on
\nthe system once or twice before then, but I’ll take this opportunity to
\nhope that everyone here who celebrates Christmas has a most merry one.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #359, from jenn, 85 chars, Fri Dec 21 17:26:11 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 358.
\nThere are additional comments to message 358.
\n————————–
\nHave a great trip, Harry! May the stockings be full and the
\negg nogg plentiful. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #360, from davemackey, 76 chars, Fri Dec 21 23:06:51 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 358.
\n————————–
\nSame to you, Harry, and more of it!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #361, from davemackey, 417 chars, Tue Dec 25 05:19:41 1990
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Thought for the day
\n“Christmas comes but once a year
\nNow it’s here, now it’s here
\nBringing lots of Joy and Cheer
\nFa la la la la.”
\n –Sammy Timberg
\n Tot Seymour
\n Bob Rothberg<\/p>\n

Just what I always wanted for Christmas.
\nCases of Procter and Gamble detergents.<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope yours is
\nas Cheerful and Joyful.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #362, from hmccracken, 1092 chars, Thu Dec 27 23:10:18 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: My 1982 Volkswagen Jetta, which recently passed its 143,000th
\nbirthday (if each mile is a birthday — you get the idea), is clearly
\non its deathbed. So I’ve been out looking at new cars (this *does*
\nrelate to animation, as you’ll see presently).<\/p>\n

While there are a lot of minor agonies to be dealt with in this process —
\nlike the time I just spent in a very small room with three car salesmen
\nwho *so* wanted me to buy an Eagle Summit right there and then — one
\nof the most wrenching things about all this is that my VW has bumper
\nstickers from Disneyland (1) and Disney World (2), and my new car won’t
\nat least at first. I *knew* I should have bought duplicates when I was
\nat the parks and salted them away for just this moment. (At least I’ll
\nbe able, eventually, to restore the Disney stickers. My rear window
\nhas a police union sticker in it that I’ve always credited with the
\nfact that while I’ve been pulled over a few times in the Jetta, I’ve
\nnever gotten a ticket.)
\n — Harry
\n(The police union sticker belonged to the chap who owned the car before me,
\na union lawyer.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #363, from davemackey, 452 chars, Mon Dec 31 19:54:42 1990
\nThis is a comment to message 357.
\n————————–
\nToday marked the 47th anniversary of Sinatra’s performance at The
\nParamount Theatre. He almost incited a riot with his crooning,
\nand perhaps it was the bobby-soxers’ behavior that inspired Frank
\nTashlin, Tex Avery et.al. in their cartoons on the subject.
\n To the list of cartoons about Frank you can add “A Peep In
\nThe Deep.” Popeye finds a picture of Sinatra in the treasure
\nchest for the film’s punchline.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #364, from hmccracken, 143 chars, Mon Dec 31 23:31:16 1990
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy New Year, everyone! May every member of this conference have
\na 19971 that’s filled with good times and good animation.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #365, from elfhive, 139 chars, Tue Jan 1 13:37:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 364.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat must be an upcoming message number, not a year that you are referring
\nto? I’m not so sure I’d wish everyone here that long a life \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #366, from hmccracken, 112 chars, Tue Jan 1 15:24:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 365.
\n————————–
\nYow! That’s what I get for BIXing when A) I’m hurrying to get it
\ndone by midnight, and B) I’m sick.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #367, from steven_edwards, 808 chars, Fri Jan 11 13:37:47 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Cover Art for the Laserdisc Version of _The Little Mermaid_<\/p>\n

\tHaving little faith in the longevity of video cassettes, I have
\ndecided to go to optical laserdisc storage for further animation collecting.
\nSo, the other day I purchased the CAV version laserdisc of _The Little
\nMermaid_.
\n\tGuess what? While most people probably didn’t know about the
\nalternative interpretation of a certain feature in the sea castle in the
\ncover art of the VHS version (and I wouldn’t have known either if it weren’t
\nthe community of astute BIX observers), apparently this interpretation also
\ncame to Disney’s attention. And so there was a slight modification performed.
\nI for one am glad to know that a lack of early circumspection does not
\npreclude a later circumcision. Or, in this case, turretification. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #368, from richard.pini, 87 chars, Fri Jan 11 18:43:43 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 367.
\nThere are additional comments to message 367.
\n————————–
\nThey also remodeled it on the poster.<\/p>\n

Would this be renovation or corrective surgery?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #369, from davemackey, 184 chars, Sat Jan 12 16:32:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 367.
\n————————–
\nAha, a rather circumspect circumcision, if done properly. Or they
\ncould have taken a cue from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and put a
\nsock over it.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #370, from davemackey, 887 chars, Tue Jan 15 00:23:02 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Two grails
\nYou ever have one of those days where everything just seems to
\nclick?
\n First of all, and not animation-related at all, I was poking
\naround in a health food store and there in front of me was a bag
\nof Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. I first heard of this delicacy
\nthrough Mickey Mantle, who serves them in his restaurant in New
\nYork City. A little pricey when compared to ordinary tortilla
\nchips, but I bought them and they’re not too bad. George Carlin
\nis wrong. There is blue food.
\n And second, I came across a list from a guy who had cartoon
\nvideos for sale, and one of his offerings was a two-hour tape of
\n“Batfink” cartoons. A fool and his money… you know the rest.
\n As I wasn’t particularly out to find either blue corn nachos
\nor Batfink episodes on Sunday, both discoveries turned out to be
\nrather happy accidents.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #371, from hmccracken, 233 chars, Tue Jan 15 18:12:08 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 370.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 370.
\n————————–
\nBlue corn chips are *delicious*! Especially if they’re unsalted.
\nOne of my favorite snacks is the roughest, least-processed,
\nmost unsalted tortilla chips I can find. Little Bearito and
\nEl Galindo are my favorite brands.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #372, from hmccracken, 446 chars, Tue Jan 15 18:41:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 362.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFor the sake of future animation historians who may draw on BIX as
\na source, I will note as a follow-up to my car-shopping message
\nthat I ended up with a former-rental 1990 Mitsubishi Galant.
\nSo far I’m very happy with it. I also have a friend who’s visiting
\nDisney World shortly, so if I choose I should be able to slap
\na Disney bumper sticker or two on it. I’m also giving some thought
\nto Yosemite Sam (“Back Off, Jack!”) mudflaps.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #373, from davemackey, 219 chars, Tue Jan 15 23:57:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 371.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe brand of blue corn chips I got was called Garden Of Eatin’
\nBlue Chips. I plan on buying a few bags and having a little bit
\nof a victory pig-out when the Batfink tape arrives.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #374, from davemackey, 468 chars, Tue Jan 15 23:58:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 372.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI don’t believe there’s been a cartoon (including “Tiny Toon
\nAdventures”) with Sam saying “Back Off.”
\n I do have a Yosemite Sam truck-sized windshield visor (as my
\nChevrolet Celebrity has a rather large windshield, it fits quite
\nnicely) and just recently got a matching Yosemite Sam car
\ndeodorizer. As I remember it, I didn’t see any Y.S. mudflaps on
\nFriz’s car when I saw him a few years ago in L.A. driving behind
\nmy car.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #375, from davemackey, 319 chars, Tue Jan 15 23:58:19 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Deadline day
\nIt’s 10 minutes to midnight. That’s enough time to put Hussein in
\nfront of a television and show him “Peace On Earth.” (Now
\nwouldn’t that be a hoot if Bush and de Cuellar couldn’t sway him,
\nbut Hugh Harman did?)
\n Peace,
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #376, from bsoron, 62 chars, Wed Jan 16 01:31:05 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 374.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

A wild west gunfighter deodorizer? The mind boggles… \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #377, from jenn, 539 chars, Thu Jan 17 20:59:56 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 370.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 370.
\n————————–
\nDave, there is a store in the (actually chain)Los Angeles area
\ncalled ‘trader joe’s’… They sell blue corn tortilla chips like
\nit’s coming out of style. Maybe you need to get yourself a
\ncontact in L.A. that is willing to smuggle them out for ya…:-)
\nSecond, if you are ever in L.A., go to the Crocodile Cafe, on
\nMelrose Blvd. right off of Fairfax. It’s small, maybe has
\n5 tables, and two areas for ‘counter style’ seating. LONG
\nwaiting list, but worth it. Anyway, they make the most
\nAWESOME nachos with blue corn tortilla chips….<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #378, from jenn, 202 chars, Thu Jan 17 21:10:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 377.
\n————————–
\nWhoops! Major mistake! The Crocodile Cafe is in Pasadena and
\ndoesn’t have blue corn tortilla nachos…<\/p>\n

Course, I can’t remember the name of the place I’m thinking
\nabout…just WHERE it is. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #379, from mwillmoth, 17 chars, Fri Jan 18 00:09:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 370.
\n————————–
\nSerendipity!!!!!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #380, from hmccracken, 478 chars, Tue Jan 22 18:11:20 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Interesting tidbit
\nGrim Natwick, who died last year age 100, was survived by a brother
\nand a sister. Probably pretty unusual for a hundred-year-old.
\nI think we can assume that they were *younger* siblings —
\nand since five siblings predeceased Grim, they might be quite a
\nbit younger than he was.<\/p>\n

Another Natwick fact: although he created Betty Boop, he only worked
\non her first two films, both of which featured quite primitive
\nversions of the character.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #381, from davemackey, 1445 chars, Fri Jan 25 21:04:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 373.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI couldn’t wait to get blue nachos (but that box of Cap’n
\nCrunch’s Peanut Butter Cereal did the job). The “Batfink” tape
\ncame today and I got a big kick out of seeing the old Bat again,
\nfor the first time in over six years.
\n Some of the animation is a little rough and off-model, but
\nit’s okay considering these men’s capabilities in the 60’s. A
\nstrong animator (like an I. Klein or a Jim Tyer) could enhance
\nthese cartoons with visual ideas of his own, a throwback to the
\nlaissez-faire days of the 20’s. But very influenced by Batman,
\nwith all the sound effects in big letters on the screen and all
\nthe Batmanesque trappings.
\n Biggest surprise — though not credited onscreen, the ASCAP
\nCatalogue of Performed Compositions (1981) credits the
\nstock music used in “Batfink” (some of which is quite good) to
\nWinston Sharples Jr. and Sr., Herschel Burke Gilbert and a whole
\nslew of Italian composers. One musical selection, which I think
\nwas from the Italians, is actually the old Carl Stalling\/Raymond
\nScott chestnut “Powerhouse.” The “assembly-line” section sounded
\npretty good but the “space” section didn’t have the proper oomph.
\nHearing that sort of music in the context of a Batfink cartoon
\n(“Crime College” in fact) was a shock to the system.
\n It’s every animation fan’s hope to be reunited with lost
\ncharacters from his\/her past. I feel extraordinarily blessed.
\n THIS IS NOT A REVIEW
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #382, from hmccracken, 213 chars, Fri Jan 25 22:16:34 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 381.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere was a Winston Sharples, Jr.? Interesting! Thanks for the
\nnon-review, Dave. I can’t say I share your enthusiasm for _Batfink_
\nbut I do remember watching it as a kid on my Grandmother’s color
\nTV.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #383, from davemackey, 200 chars, Sat Jan 26 08:42:31 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 382.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWinston Sharples Jr. also did the music for the “Hercules”
\ncartoon series in the 60’s, and he later became a film critic and
\nanalyst for a number of magazines.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #384, from hmccracken, 143 chars, Sat Jan 26 10:05:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 383.
\n————————–
\nGee! I think I telescoped father and son into one guy. The
\n_Hercules_ music certainly sounded not unlike the work of
\nSharples Sr.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #385, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Sat Jan 26 13:54:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 380.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCorrection: Grim Natwick worked on at least the first *six* Betty
\nBoops, according to Mark Kausler (who knows as much about the
\nhistory of animation as anybody on God’s green earth). The last
\nof the six, _Bum Bandit_, was seen by Walt Disney, who was
\nimpressed enough to invite Grim out to California to work at
\nDisney, although Grim actually ended up working for the Iwerks
\nstudio for a while before joining Disney.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #386, from davemackey, 132 chars, Sun Jan 27 17:49:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 385.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDoes anyone have a comprehensive list of screen credits for early
\nsound Fleischer cartoons?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #387, from sharonfisher, 142 chars, Sun Jan 27 18:13:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 386.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nComprehensive, no, but I have a book called The Encyclopedia of Animated
\nCartoon Series that may have some of them. What’d you have in mind?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #388, from davemackey, 504 chars, Sun Jan 27 22:18:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 387.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 387.
\n————————–
\nAll Fleischer cartoons have Dave Fleischer listed as director,
\nand either one or two animators; story men were listed later
\nand musicians sporadically. I own the same book you mention but
\ncredits can be notoriously wrong (Lenburg has had a reputation
\nfor being a little less than reliable in many of his reference
\nbooks), and I know that animators etc. are not listed. I am
\nlooking towards something a little more independent-research
\noriented. But thanks anyway!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #389, from hmccracken, 299 chars, Mon Jan 28 00:59:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 388.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAs Shamus Culhane will tell you, Dave Fleischer didn’t direct
\n*any* cartoons in the normal sense of the term. The folks
\ncredited as head animators were really directors. I don’t know
\nif anyone has complete credits for these films; Mike Dobbs,
\nthe authorized Fleischer biographer, might.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #390, from hmccracken, 266 chars, Mon Jan 28 01:00:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 387.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLenburg’s book is a great idea, and does have a certain amount of
\nuseful information, but it’s full of major and minor mistakes. If
\nyou don’t know whether something he says is true in the first
\nplace, it’s hard to place much confidence in what you read.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #391, from davemackey, 597 chars, Tue Jan 29 00:40:00 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 390.
\n————————–
\nI was looking through some old issues of the late, lamented
\n“Comic Reader,” and they had a rather major review\/error
\ndebunking session when Lenburg’s book came out in hardcover. Mark
\nEvanier sent in a raft of corrections, mainly regarding
\nHanna-Barbera, and these were incorporated into the softcover
\nversion.
\n I completely ignore the theatrical cartoon listings and use
\nhis book solely as a reference (not sole reference) on cartoon
\nseries that have been made for television. I put a little more
\nreliance in George Woolery’s books and my own research.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #392, from davemackey, 949 chars, Tue Jan 29 00:41:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 389.
\n————————–
\nThat is correct. Fleischer took a less-active role in production
\nas the 30’s wore on; his mind was obviously more occupied with
\ntrying to outdo Disney than timing this week’s Betty Boop
\nepisode.
\n The fact remains that he is still credited as director on
\nall of the studio’s releases. And I’m fairly certain that this
\ncontinued through the Famous and Paramount studios, right up
\nuntil the end. One wonders how much input Shamus Culhane had on
\n“The Trip,” which was really a one-man show for Howard Beckerman,
\nwho took story, animation and design credit (Gil Miret helped
\nout on design). Or “The Enchanted Square,” similarly a two-man
\neffort by Orestes Calpini and Shane Miller: both men wrote,
\nCalpini animated with Al Eugster and Miller did scenics — but
\nSeymour Kneitel got director credit despite having little
\ninfluence on the final product, quite unlike anything
\nelse Paramount did in the late 40’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #393, from kermitwoodall, 483 chars, Wed Jan 30 19:27:33 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Voices
\nI’ve often wondered who did the voices in the Warner Bros cartoons OTHER than
\nMel Blanc. I’ve noticed that June Foray must have done much of the true
\nfemale voices, but there are others that I have no idea who they could be.<\/p>\n

I particular there was an “announcer” voice used for travelogue parodies and
\nother voice of authority uses. I also understand Elmer Fudd was actually done
\nby a radio comedian of the day. (ain’t TNT specials wunnerful? ;-> )<\/p>\n

Kermit Woodall<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #394, from hmccracken, 1258 chars, Wed Jan 30 20:13:32 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 393.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 393.
\n————————–
\nWhile Mel Blanc did the overwhelming majority of Warner’s voices
\nafter the late 1930s or so, an awful lot of other talented people did
\ndo voicework for the studio. Arthur Q. Bryan, the irreplacable voice
\nof Elmer Fudd from the character’s creation until his death (Arthur’s,
\nI mean; Elmer is immortal) is the outstanding example. Stan Freberg
\nprobably did more voices than anyone other than Blanc — not too
\nmany famous ones, but he did do some continuing characters, including
\nJunyor Bear and one of the Goofy Gophers. I think he also did some
\nof the celebrity impressions heard in later Warner’s cartoons; Mel
\nwasn’t keen on doing them.<\/p>\n

Most of the female voices in Warner’s cartoons were done by folks
\nother than Blanc — Sara Berner and Bernice Hansen (the latter
\nspecializing in cute voices, male or female) at first, then Bea
\nBernaderet (whose last name I think I’ve mangled — she later
\nstarred in _Petticoat Junction_), then June Foray. Daws Butler can
\nbe heard in a few Warner’s cartoons, as can Pinto Colvig, better
\nknown as the voice of Disney’s Goofy. I am drawing a blanc —
\ner, blank — on who that narrator you refer to was. Dave Mackey
\nwill undoubtedly tell us, as well as mention some other non-Blanc
\nvoices I’ve forgotten.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #395, from davemackey, 228 chars, Wed Jan 30 21:00:54 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Thought for the day
\n “…. I just remembered today’s my birthday.”
\n I was thirty. Before me stretched the portentious, menacing
\nroad of a new decade.
\n —F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #396, from sharonfisher, 28 chars, Wed Jan 30 21:15:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 394.
\nThere are additional comments to message 394.
\n————————–
\nJim Backus did the genie…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #397, from davemackey, 1970 chars, Wed Jan 30 21:27:01 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 394.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 394.
\n————————–
\n You’re right about Elmer being “immortal,” but until
\nrecently they couldn’t find a good voice for him to save their
\nlives.
\n The “narrator” voice was Robert C. Bruce, who did voices for
\nWarner Bros. cartoons from the late 1930’s until the middle
\n1950’s, even doing some character roles — in one of the
\nPussyfoot\/Claude Cat cartoons he plays their owner.
\n If you want to go all the way back to Bosko and Honey, their
\nvoices were Max Maxwell (who was a Harman-Ising animator) and
\nRochelle Hudson. When Buddy took over, his voice was done by Jack
\nCarr, another WB animator. Billy Bletcher did the voice of Papa
\nBear and many other characters for almost twenty year’s worth of
\ncartoons from about 1931 to 1951 — a husky, deep sepulchral
\nvoice which emanated from a man not more than five feet tall!
\nIt’s been claimed that the Road Runner’s “beep beep” is that of
\nPaul Julian, who was a background artist. Michael Maltese and
\nTedd Pierce did various voices in the 1940’s too, and even Tex
\nAvery got into the act, even returning to WB three years after he
\nwas fired to do the voice of the spider in “Meatless Flyday.”
\n Daws Butler was VERY prolific in WB cartoons of the 50’s to
\nabout 1960, when Hanna-Barbera occupied most of his attention
\n— but he only got screen credit once, on one of the military
\ncommissioned films (and again in the 60’s as Merlin The Magic
\nMouse).
\n The possibility exists that Noel Blanc filled in for dad
\nduring his convalescence (his accident was 30 years ago last
\nweek), but since I haven’t read Mel Blanc’s book I’m hard pressed
\nto tell you.
\n Other voice talent (credited or otherwise) that Warner Bros.
\nused included Julie Bennett, Ed Prentiss, Gloria Wood, Ralph
\nJames, Leslie Barringer, Hal Smith, Roger Green, Ben Frommer,
\nRichard Peel, Tom Holland, Victor Moore, and even Jack Benny,
\nwhose whole TV show gang did a special cartoon in 1959 called
\n“The Mouse That Jack Built.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #398, from hmccracken, 264 chars, Thu Jan 31 00:08:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 397.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWow! I’d be interested in knowing some WB cartoons to listen to
\nfor Daws Butler’s voice, Dave, if you can think of any titles off
\nthe top of your head.<\/p>\n

Another WB voiceman was Larry Storch, who did a lot of work when
\nMel Blanc was at MGM in the 1960s.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #399, from hmccracken, 145 chars, Thu Jan 31 00:09:34 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 395.
\nThere are additional comments to message 395.
\n————————–
\nHappy belated birthday, Dave! (If that’s what the quote means.)
\nAnd *thank you* for being such a valuable member of this
\nconference.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #400, from morganfox, 103 chars, Thu Jan 31 10:18:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 395.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt was your birthday? Wow, let us know soon, so we can bake a cake next time!
\nHope it was a happy one!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #401, from switch, 84 chars, Thu Jan 31 12:18:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 393.
\n————————–
\nJim Bacghus (Mr. Magoo & Mr. Howell) played the genie in “A Lad In
\nHis Lamp”.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #402, from kermitwoodall, 142 chars, Thu Jan 31 19:38:34 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 398.
\nThere are additional comments to message 398.
\n————————–
\nI remember hearing rumors that Roddy McDowell did some voices at one time. I
\nthink youse guys mentioned everyone else. <\/p>\n

Kermit Woodall<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #403, from davemackey, 856 chars, Fri Feb 1 03:23:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 398.
\n————————–
\nIn the car, I also remembered three others who could all be heard
\non the soundtrack to “The Adventures Of The Road Runner”: Dick
\nBeals (who was also the voice of Davey of “…and Goliath” fame),
\nNancy Wible, and veteran announcer Dick Tufeld.
\n As for Daws Butler at Warner Bros…try these titles on for
\nsize: “90 Day Wondering,” “Stupor Duck,” “Barbary Coast Bunny,”
\n“Rocket Bye Baby,” “Half Fare Hare,” “Raw Raw Rooster,” “Yankee
\nDood It,” “Wideo Wabbit,” “The Honey-Mousers,” “Drafty, Isn’t
\nIt?”, “Go Fly A Kit,” “Boyhood Daze,” “Cheese It, The Cat,” “A
\nWaggily Tale,” “A Mutt In A Rut,” “Backwoods Bunny,” “People Are
\nBunny,” “Wild Wild World, “Mouse And Garden,” “Mice Follies,”
\n“The Dixie Fryer” and “Merlin The Magic Mouse.” There may be
\nothers, but these are the ones I’ve confirmed Butler with work
\non.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #404, from davemackey, 551 chars, Fri Feb 1 03:23:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 400.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat was certainly the intent of the message But can you
\nimagine me standing in the middle of Waldenbooks thumbing
\nfeverishly through “Gatsby” because I couldn’t remember the
\nquote and I didn’t know where my annotated edition from high
\nschool days was! I had a splendid 30th birthday, capped off with
\nthat free meal at Denny’s. (Of course, the day after wasn’t so
\ngreat, since I lost a contact lens during my morning ritual, but
\neventually found it. Hope it still works.)
\n Thanks for the kind words, Harry!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #405, from hmccracken, 205 chars, Fri Feb 1 20:01:56 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 404.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGood to hear that you turned thirty with the proper panache.
\n(Thinking toward my birthday, and my much-disdained-by-friends
\naffection for Denny’s — do you get whatever meal you want
\nfor free?)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #406, from davemackey, 491 chars, Fri Feb 1 21:14:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 394.
\n————————–
\nOh, I did forget about Bea. Once and for all, the correct
\nspelling (and this is for the benefit of all animation scholars)
\nis Bea Benaderet. She was also the voice of Betty Rubble for the
\nfirst five years of “The Flintstones,” until Gerry Johnson took
\nover in the fall of 1965. (My guide to figuring out which
\ncartoons Bea did as she was phased out in favor of June Foray is
\nthat if it sounds the least little bit like Betty Rubble, it’s
\nBenaderet.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #407, from davemackey, 424 chars, Sat Feb 2 04:11:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 405.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCertainly, it’s anything on the menu — but be sure to bring
\nsomething that proves it’s your birthday — they won’t just take
\nyour word for it.
\n My brother, who also celebrated his birthday on Wednesday,
\nhas a photo drivers license which lists his birthdate, 1-30-61.
\nBut mine, which is a non-photo license, has the date listed as
\n1-00-61. So I had to bring my birth certificate!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #408, from hmccracken, 407 chars, Sun Feb 3 00:42:13 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 407.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, there are not many Dennyses (?) in Massachusetts…One of the
\nfew *is* near where I work, but I will have to work hard to find
\nanyone there willing to go with me. I must admit that I have never
\nhad a good meal at a Massachusetts Denny’s, in sharp contrast to my
\nfond memories of eating at west coast ones as a kid. Of course, my
\ntastes have changed — maybe even improved — since then…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #409, from aturn, 510 chars, Sun Feb 3 01:14:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 408.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 408.
\n————————–
\n\tA while back, a bunch of us got hungry late. This can be a real
\nproblem in the Boston area. Then someone remembered there was a Denny’s
\nin Lexington. We convoyed up and drove over…only to find out that
\nthey closed at 11! Drove away muttering, “What’s the *point* of a Denny’s
\nthat isn’t open 24 hours?” Turned out (as I found out when I phoned the
\nnext day to ask) that local ordinace forbade them staying open past 11PM
\nor opening before 7AM.
\n\tLexington, Massachusetts, Cradle of American Liberty…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #410, from random.a, 255 chars, Sun Feb 3 02:17:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 409.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 409.
\n————————–
\nAbout the only food you can get in the Boston area after 2AM is at
\nthe Tasty (in Harvard Square) or, at a couple Pizza places near where
\nMass Ave and Comm Ave intersect. Other than that, there are a couple
\n*really* bad Chinese food places in Somerville.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #411, from hmccracken, 408 chars, Sun Feb 3 15:06:36 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 409.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe Denny’s in Stoneham has a large sign at the entrance explaining that
\nthey have the same problem: they can’t stay open all night because it
\nisn’t legal in Stoneham. Most Denny’s, of course, are open all
\nnight; when they closed a couple of years ago on Christmas, for
\nthe first time ever, many locations needed to have locks installed
\nso they could close up. They had never needed them before.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #412, from steven_edwards, 1130 chars, Sun Feb 3 16:46:25 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 411.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\tThere is a Denny’s Restaurant in Nashua, NH open all night off of
\nExit 6 from Route 3. Years ago, it was the only place within twenty miles
\nto get a reasonable meal after 02:00. I stopped going there when they changed
\ntheir policy for evening customers — even long time ones like myself — by
\nrequiring prepayment in full for service. Apparently they had had a number
\nof walk-outs, something known in the trade as “chew n’ screw” customers.
\n\tToo bad. While I don’t deny that the management certainly has the
\nlegal right to demand payment before service, it seems to me that a very
\nstrong and longstanding tradition is being broken for no good reason. If
\nwalk-out customers are a problem then the management should handle them by
\nmore careful survelilance and police follow-up where appropriate. Clearly
\nthe menu prices were no cheaper than other places, so I would guess that
\nthere was enough to pay the employees to keep watch.
\n\tDisclaimer: This happened some ten years ago, and I was so irritated
\nthat I haven’t gone back since, so things may have changed. Maybe some day
\nI’ll cool down enough to try again. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #413, from bsoron, 344 chars, Sun Feb 3 17:52:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 408.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

The current issue of the Journal of Irreproducible Results has an
\narticle on distribution of Denny’s throughout America. I’ve loaned
\nit to a friend, but I do remember two states have none at all, and
\nMassachusetts was in the bottom half of the list. Locally, you can
\nget it at the Out-of-Town, in the rack with the other science magazines.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #414, from bsoron, 133 chars, Sun Feb 3 17:53:59 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 410.
\nThere are additional comments to message 410.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

There’s also Hi-Fi pizza in Central Sq., Cambridge, and on weekend
\nnights, Nick’s Donuts in Watertown is open from 11 pm – 3 am.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #415, from hmccracken, 478 chars, Sun Feb 3 20:08:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 413.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nMassachusetts’ lack of Denny’s, K Marts, Wendy’s, Pizza Huts, and
\nother bits and pieces of American Life as We Know It has always
\nmystified me. It’s probably a sign of good taste, I suppose,
\nalthough the lack of things like Icees, Karmelkorn, and Dairy Queen
\nMr. Mistees is frustrating (albeit slimming). I often annoy an d
\nbewilder people, including family members, when on a trip to another
\ncity I insist on going out of my way for a Pronto Pup or a Dilly
\nBar…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #416, from random.a, 284 chars, Sun Feb 3 21:43:05 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 412.
\n————————–
\nHaving worked as a waiter for a couple years, I’ve got to say that no
\nmatter how careful you are, it often gets to hectic to observe every
\ntable you have.. And, it isn’t really effective for other waiters to
\nwatch your tables since, it’s hard for them to tell what the situation
\nis.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #417, from random.a, 32 chars, Sun Feb 3 21:43:59 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 415.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 415.
\n————————–
\nUmmm.. *What* is a Pronto Pup?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #418, from hmccracken, 179 chars, Sun Feb 3 22:24:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 417.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nA wonderful corn dog on a stick that I loved as a kid. A Portland, Oregon
\ntradition — if the Pronto Pup has gone the way of the carrier pigeon,
\nplease don’t tell me!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #419, from aturn, 509 chars, Sun Feb 3 23:24:39 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 415.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\t\u0014There’s a Wendy’s on Route 9 westbound somewhere between Newton and
\nFramingham (I forget which town).
\n\tHere in Arlington, Mass, the local Domino’s Pizza advertises that
\nthey deliver “late”. Inquiries revealed that, “late” in the context of
\nArlington, Mass (a dry town, and one where the Chairman of the Board of
\nSelectmen has twice in the last year railed in print about how he would
\nnever allow pinball machines in town) means until 10:30 PM.
\n\tMaybe we ought to move this to the new.england conference?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #420, from richard.pini, 186 chars, Sun Feb 3 23:41:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 410.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nKen’s on Boylston Street is gone???? Damn. We went there about 4 am one
\nnight\/morning…saw the entire backup cast from Fellini’s Satyricon in there.
\nSic transit gloria gastro-whatever.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #421, from hmccracken, 105 chars, Mon Feb 4 00:04:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 419.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWe’re not entirely devoid of Wendy’s and K Mart’s; they’re just rare,
\nrather than omnipresent.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #422, from random.a, 75 chars, Mon Feb 4 15:53:55 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 421.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere’s a Wendy’s and a KMart near downtown crossing. (On the Orange line)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #423, from hkenner, 28 chars, Mon Feb 4 17:19:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 420.
\n————————–
\nSic transit gloria sundae? <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #424, from hmccracken, 224 chars, Mon Feb 4 19:06:34 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 422.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI knew about the Wendy’s, but a K Mart, too? Wow.<\/p>\n

Actually, I know of lots of Wendy’s in Massachusetts — we just have
\nfewer than normal people do. (And none of them are too convenient to
\nwhere I live or work.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #425, from davemackey, 752 chars, Mon Feb 4 21:23:13 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 424.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFunny how the discussion always turns to FOOD, no matter which
\nconference it is, animation, Elfquest, etc….
\n What you describe is sort of like New Jersey, a state with
\nan absolute dearth of Taco Bells. There are Burger Kings and
\nMcDonalds’ on every streetcorner, but I’ve only found TB’s in
\nSouth Plainfield, Delran, Hammonton, Summit, Parsippany and one
\nor two others I’ve forgotten where they are. But definitely none
\nin my two main areas of operation, Monmouth and Ocean counties.
\n We do have our share of Dairy Queens. And Wendy’s. And BK’s,
\nand Denny’s, and McD’s, even a few White Castles and Arby’s. But
\nnot nearly enough all-night diners any more… and more and more
\nNutri\/system’s every day!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #427, from hmccracken, 179 chars, Mon Feb 4 22:33:39 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 425.
\nThere are additional comments to message 425.
\n————————–
\nHold out, Dave: there may be hope. Until a couple of years ago,
\nthere was nary a Taco Bell to be found in the Commonwealth in
\nwhich I live. Now we have scads of them.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #428, from morganfox, 148 chars, Tue Feb 5 11:33:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 425.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBut NJ does have Stewart’s Root Beer, one of the few, if not only places
\nthat still makes draft root beer. I know of at least one in Ocean county.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #429, from davemackey, 474 chars, Tue Feb 5 19:28:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 428.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat’s the one at the intersection of State Highway 37 and County
\nHighway 549 Spur. That’s a pretty good one.
\n The one in Holmdel, on Route 35, was torn down just recently
\nto make way for a gas station. Ugh.
\n There used to be one in Oakhurst, where I live, but that’s
\nbeen gone almost 20 years — my first exposure to the root beer
\nand burgers.
\n There are many others around the state, many still offering
\ncarhop service.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #430, from morganfox, 223 chars, Tue Feb 5 19:43:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 429.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nMy parents owned a Stewart’s Root Beer for over 20 years. The first in East
\nBrunswick NJ and the second in Manahawkin, NJ. I grew up in the business.
\nAnd yes, we had Carhops, in the late 50’s and into the 60’s, the heyday!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #431, from richard.pini, 82 chars, Tue Feb 5 20:23:00 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 430.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 430.
\n————————–
\nSo you were a carhop before a centerfold…I don’t recall that from the
\nbio… \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #432, from morganfox, 48 chars, Tue Feb 5 20:40:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 431.
\n————————–
\nRichard, you know those Bio’s are made up! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #433, from aturn, 203 chars, Tue Feb 5 22:35:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 430.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 430.
\n————————–
\n\tYour parents owned the Stewart’s Root Beer in East Brunswick?
\n\tHoly Sh*t! We used to go there all the time! (My family lived
\nin Highland Park, just down the road a ways, for 12 years)
\n\tSmall world…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #434, from hmccracken, 130 chars, Tue Feb 5 22:42:25 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 430.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 430.
\n————————–
\nI’ve never heard of Stewart’s. Are they akin to A&W (which is a
\nvanishing breed, but there are still at least a few)?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #435, from switch, 77 chars, Tue Feb 5 22:50:47 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 434.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 434.
\n————————–
\nThat’s funny. A&Ws have been popping up here over the last few years.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #436, from hmccracken, 52 chars, Tue Feb 5 22:56:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 435.
\n————————–
\nAh, so that’s where they moved to. \ud83d\ude09
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #437, from morganfox, 28 chars, Wed Feb 6 11:05:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 433.
\n————————–
\nThat is pretty amazing. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #438, from morganfox, 423 chars, Wed Feb 6 11:10:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 434.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAkin, not quite, but yes. Stewarts and A&W started out a long time ago as
\none business. Partners separated and became Stewart’s and A&W. From what I
\nunderstand, Stewart’s remained the original and A&W changed the root beer
\nformula. The franchising was different also. With Stewart’s you were independant.
\nYou used the beverage formulas and kept a quality standard, whereas A&W was\/is
\nmuch closer to the McDonald’s concept.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #439, from davemackey, 544 chars, Wed Feb 6 19:14:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 430.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat sounds fascinating; did you carhop (here we go turning nouns
\ninto verbs again) at Stewart’s?
\n Most of the people waiting on cars at Stewart’s these days
\nare guys. That’s what I’ve found to be the case at the ones in
\nToms River and Atlantic Highlands. (It may be different
\nelsewhere.)
\n I don’t think the two Stewarts your parents owned are still
\naround any more (I checked area phone books). Nearest ones to E.
\nBrunswick and Manahawkin appear to be in Old Bridge and
\nTuckerton, respectively.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #440, from morganfox, 549 chars, Wed Feb 6 19:22:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 439.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOh, I know both are no longer in existence. My parents live less than a 1\/2
\nmile from the Manahawkin one, and the location of the E. Brunswick one (our
\nhouse was next door) is now a mall or something.
\nYes, I was a carhop. In truth, I more or less hated it. It was fun at times,
\nbut things like standing in the pouring rain waiting for someone to make
\nup their minds, was the pits.
\nI do still have my carhop’s apron from the Manahawkin place.
\nWhere is the Toms River one? I frequently am in Ocean county visiting family,
\nbut I don’t recall that one.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #441, from davemackey, 188 chars, Wed Feb 6 21:11:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 440.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 440.
\n————————–
\nLike I said, intersection of Rt. 37 and 549 Spur (Fisher Blvd.),
\njust before you get to the Tunney\/Mathis Bridge. It is not open
\nthis time of year.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #442, from hmccracken, 193 chars, Wed Feb 6 21:40:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 438.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe Massachusetts A&Ws seemed to be independent…They were your
\nbasic fried seafood stands, each with their own menu and style.
\nThey just all sold A&W root beer and had an A&W sign.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #443, from morganfox, 38 chars, Wed Feb 6 22:02:50 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 441.
\n————————–
\nOK, got cha. I recall it now. Thanks!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #444, from morganfox, 130 chars, Wed Feb 6 22:06:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 442.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAh, maybe they have changed. For a while they did have standarized menus.
\nCertainly they used to be hamburger and Hot Dog places.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #445, from hmccracken, 292 chars, Wed Feb 6 22:19:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 444.
\nThere are additional comments to message 444.
\n————————–
\nYup, the ones I remember from my youth were pseudo-McDonaldses
\nwith a menu of Babyburgers, Mamaburgers, and Papaburgers. I
\nwas surprised to find the New England ones were different.<\/p>\n

‘Scuse me for a minute whilst I go and create an animation\/fast.food
\ntopic…<\/p>\n

(Just kidding…)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #447, from davemackey, 255 chars, Thu Feb 7 19:03:07 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 444.
\n————————–
\nThe upshot is that if I’m on the road and I’m hungry and see
\nsomething orange, nine times out of ten I’ll pull into there as
\nopposed to a Burger King or McDonald’s.
\n I’ve always been an ardent fan of Stewart’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #448, from hmccracken, 1186 chars, Thu Feb 7 20:53:49 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Idle Speculation Department
\nAs much as I revere Jay Ward for Bullwinkle and all the other
\nterrific TV cartoons he was involved with, I’ve always thought
\nthat most of the artwork on Bullwinkle merchandise of the past
\nten years or so has been very shoddy. Neither Rocky nor Bullwinkle
\never looked quite right, and the most annoying thing was that
\nBullwinkle’s antlers were always colored yellow and were distinct
\nappendages from his head — more, in other words, like a real
\nmoose’s antlers than Bullwinkle’s (whose antlers in the cartoon
\nwere the same color as his head.) <\/p>\n

I always thought this antler thing was due to sloppiness or maybe
\neven to careless artists confusing Bullwinkle’s looks
\nwith those of Captain Kangaroo’s Mr. Moose (whose antlers
\ndid look like that). But the cut-out display for the
\nnew Bullwinkle tapes, which is wonderful and well-drawn,
\nhas the antlers the same way. It’s clearly intentional.
\nI didn’t notice whether another odd bit of revisionist
\ngraphics that recent Bullwinkle merchandise art has
\nfeatured — Bullwinkle wearing a green sweater with a
\nlarge “W” (presumably for “Wossamotta U”) is being
\ncontinued in the tape ads.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #449, from drtoon, 900 chars, Thu Feb 7 21:21:44 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Bob’s Big Boy
\nI can’t believe how you all do go on about Denny’s! I realize this is
\nextremely important information being exchanged, but not much to do with
\nanimation. In an attempt to draw you folks back to the
\nsupposed topic of this conference, try out this little bit of ultra-trivia.
\nBob’s Big Boy, corporate symbol of the restaurant chain for over 50
\nyears, sprang from the pen of Ben Washam. Ben was an animator with Looney
\nTunes who dropped by Bob’s Pantry in Burbank one evening in 1937 and sketched the infamous Big Boy while he ate.
\nThis little bit of Americana was unearthed at the American Advertising
\nMuseum in Portland, OR on a recent visit. I recommend this museum to
\nanyone traveling in the great northwest. It has been home in the past to a
\nretrospective of Will Vinton’s Raisin characters, featuring a room full of
\noriginal sets and clay models.
\nBon appetit.
\n–Doug Ranney.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #450, from hmccracken, 37 chars, Thu Feb 7 22:01:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 449.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 449.
\n————————–
\nWow! Great fact, Doug.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #451, from switch, 237 chars, Fri Feb 8 13:49:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 449.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 449.
\n————————–
\nFunny thing is, I’ve been travelling to the States all my life with my
\nfamily but didn’t even know what Big Boy’s was until my last trip down
\nin December. How can I miss such a big chunk of Americana (with great
\nchocolate cakes)?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #452, from hmccracken, 240 chars, Fri Feb 8 18:11:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 451.
\nThere are additional comments to message 451.
\n————————–
\n‘Big Boys are a regional thing, to some degree…Heavy in California
\nand scattered elsewhere. They are of note here also for a long-
\nstanding (though now defunct) custom of distributing a free comic
\nbook starring their namesake.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #453, from richard.pini, 167 chars, Fri Feb 8 18:46:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 450.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThis could even spill over into \/comics, since there was (and probably still
\nis) a Big Boy comic book. The first issue was done by Bill Everett, of
\n“SubMariner” fame.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #454, from hmccracken, 163 chars, Fri Feb 8 19:44:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 453.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI believe the _Big Boy_ comic was discontinued some time ago, Richard.
\nBig Boys do, however, still offer nifty Big Boy plastic banks at a
\nnominal price.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #455, from mscoville, 300 chars, Fri Feb 8 20:52:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 454.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTrivia Time:
\nSince everyone is on the Denny, Big Boy kick; here’
\ns a trivia quiz for Big Boy. Can you name the different franchises for
\nBig Boy. Here’s the start: the home or California Big Boy was Bob’s, can
\nany one name the rest of the state franchises. Good Luck, I can only
\nremember 2. mscoville<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #456, from sje, 98 chars, Fri Feb 8 22:10:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 455.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\tIn Michigan in the 1960s, the Big Boy restaurants were also known
\nas “Elias Brothers”. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #457, from pdriver, 54 chars, Sat Feb 9 08:46:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 418.
\n————————–
\nthere is a pronto pub in San Francisco, so don’t fret<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #458, from switch, 17 chars, Sat Feb 9 12:18:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 456.
\n————————–
\nStill are.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #459, from davemackey, 734 chars, Sun Feb 10 01:03:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 449.
\n————————–
\nWe talk about all sorts of things in \/inkwell that don’t have
\nanything to do with animation, because that’s precisely what the
\ntopic is for.
\n I remember reading something about Ben “Sour Persimmons”
\nWasham designing the Big Boy guy; it was probably mentioned in is
\nobituary a few years ago. (I think Washam was just an assistant
\nat the time, since he didn’t get screen credit until 1942 for
\n“Conrad The Sailor” — the beginning of a long association with
\nChuck Jones.)
\n A lot of the talk in this topic, as well as over in
\nelfquest\/dreamberries, gravitates to food. There are lots of
\nepicures on here. Tastykakes, blue nacho chips, Cheez Waffies,
\nChili Fritos… you name it, we eat it.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #460, from dave.f, 58 chars, Thu Feb 14 12:27:31 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 451.
\n————————–
\nHere, in central Massachusetts, it’s Abdow’s Big Boy.<\/p>\n

D=<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #461, from sharonfisher, 141 chars, Fri Feb 15 11:50:34 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Bullwinkle
\nI am now the proud possesser of a six-tape set of Rocky & Bullwinkle for
\nknowing Nell’s last name… radio station promo.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #462, from morganfox, 16 chars, Fri Feb 15 12:19:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 461.
\nThere are additional comments to message 461.
\n————————–
\nHey! Congrats! <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #463, from hmccracken, 148 chars, Fri Feb 15 17:47:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 461.
\nThere are additional comments to message 461.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations! And people say that grown-ups who are interested
\nin animation are just cluttering up their mind with useless trivia…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #464, from davemackey, 150 chars, Fri Feb 15 19:25:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 461.
\n————————–
\nGee, wow, I had to pay for mine! Maybe next time. But congrats to
\nyou, and remember… RADIO. Not television.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #465, from hmccracken, 274 chars, Sat Feb 16 14:52:06 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Winsor McCay, Father of Multimedia?
\nSo says a cute sidebar in a recent issue of MacUser, which calls
\nMcCay’s _Gertie the Dinosaur_ vaudeville show, in which McCay
\nappeared onstage and interacted with animation of Gertie, the
\nfirst multimedia presentation.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #466, from hmccracken, 247 chars, Sat Feb 16 14:53:13 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The current issue of _Comics Scene_ magazine is worth
\nbuying for a fascinating article on _Destino_, an unfinished film
\nthat was a collaboration between Salvador Dali and Disney.
\nHeck, the illustrations alone are worth the price.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #467, from bsoron, 48 chars, Sat Feb 16 17:51:08 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 465.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Sounds more like virtual reality to me! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #468, from davemackey, 435 chars, Sat Feb 16 22:40:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 466.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat might be interesting reading. Disney was always interested
\nin broadening the artistic scope of his films; he brought in guys
\nlike Oskar Fischinger to make their independent projects on the
\nlot and tickle the artists’ muses. I would imagine this Dali
\nproject (was this in the 30’s as well?) to be with the same
\nintent. From your description it sounds like it’s a pity it was
\nnever finished.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #469, from hmccracken, 156 chars, Sun Feb 17 09:17:39 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 468.
\n————————–
\n‘The Dali project was from the 1940s. Disney also had Aldous
\nHuxley come in to work on the story for _Alice in Wonderland_;
\nit didn’t work out.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #470, from davemackey, 383 chars, Sun Feb 24 09:57:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 375.
\n————————–
\nWell, I hope Saddam was watching TNT at about 8:30 this morning,
\nbecause there it was — “Peace On Earth” — a Christmas cartoon
\nat the end of February. (But something to think about
\nnevertheless.)
\n On the other hand, there just may be a bug in TNT’s cartoon
\ncomputer — the Christmas-oriented “Bedtime For Sniffles” also
\nshowed up today.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #471, from davemackey, 477 chars, Wed Mar 6 21:31:32 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Eat em up
\nSince there are probably lots of people here who have some
\nworking knowledge of the marvelous “Our Gang” comedies of Hal
\nRoach, it bears mentioning that Republic Pictures Home Video will
\nsoon be releasing six new low-priced volumes of “The Little
\nRascals,” and among the shorts that will be released to video for
\nthe first time is “The Kid From Borneo,” one of those you just
\ndon’t see on TV anymore. Yum yum eat em up!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #472, from hmccracken, 152 chars, Thu Mar 7 00:10:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 471.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI would guess that people who like cartoons are more than likely
\nto also enjoy _Our Gang_. At least I’ve been a Gangster for a
\nlong time…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #473, from davemackey, 556 chars, Thu Mar 7 21:21:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 472.
\n————————–
\nI feel sorry for today’s little boys, falling for Darla and then
\nfinding out she’s no longer among the living. But that’s part of
\nthe magic of those films.
\n Of course, the influence of “Our Gang” in the animation
\nworld is well known: ordered by producer Leon Schlesinger to come
\nup with a cartoon equivalent, Friz Freleng came up with the
\ncartoon that gave birth to Porky Pig. If you look at the history
\nof “Our Gang,” this is where all of the great shorts with Spanky
\nand Alfalfa were just starting to be made.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #474, from hmccracken, 1206 chars, Wed Mar 13 22:12:27 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Has anybody seen a new movie called _The Spirit of 76_ that
\nwas dumped into one Boston theater with no promotion this week?
\n(It’s live action, but if you don’t tell the moderators, I won’t.)
\nThe plot concerns a trio of people from the future who mistakenly
\ntravel back in time to 1976 instead of 1776, and if you grew up in
\nthe 1970s the movie is a must. It’s jammed with hilarious 70s
\nreferences, half of them about things you had forgotten about —
\nAMC Pacers, the public service message with the Indian crying over
\npollution, “Spider”-style bicycles with banana seats, etc. The
\nthing stars David Cassidy (!) and Leif Garrett (!!) and was written and
\ndirected by Lucas Reiner (son of Carl, brother of Rob — they both
\nappear) and produced by him and Roman Coppola (son
\ndesigned the costumes). The eclectic cast also includes
\nBarbara Bain, Julie Brown, and Devo. Very funny for people
\nof a certain age, indecipherable for folks older or younger,
\nwhich is probably why it’s not getting a real release so far
\nas I can tell. (The fact that it seems to have been made on
\na tiny budget probably didn’t help, either.) I predict it
\nwill become a cult classic when it gets to videotape…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #475, from davemackey, 372 chars, Thu Mar 14 19:06:57 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 474.
\n————————–
\nHow could anyone forget old Iron Eyes Cody? He still marches in
\nthe Hollywood Christmas Parade every year. And he could still
\nlend his support to today’s environmental causes.
\n Every decade has its nostalgia, and it seems the 70’s are
\nbeing remembered for mostly ridiculous reasons: pet rocks, mood
\nrings, disco, and wide ties.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #476, from grekel, 553 chars, Tue Mar 26 00:05:56 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Transparency in cel animation
\nI’ve never really heard or read an explanation of how a character or
\nobject appears transparent in a cel animation. Are there two exposures
\nfor each cel? One with and one without the transparent thing?
\nAnd while I’m at it… newer cartoons have an effect I haven’t seen in
\nthe old ones — very vibrant glows and halos around laser beams, explosions,
\netc. — effects that don’t appear to be painted. Are these also done as
\na separate exposure with a backlighting technique?
\nI’d appreciate some illumination here \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #477, from hmccracken, 191 chars, Tue Mar 26 00:23:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 476.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 476.
\n————————–
\nWell, I’m sure more than one technique has been used to create the
\neffect, but I know that in the old Casper cartoons they did the
\njob by painting Casper with a transluscent paint.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #478, from richard.pini, 174 chars, Tue Mar 26 11:16:58 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 476.
\nThere are additional comments to message 476.
\n————————–
\nFrom what I know of such things, and without reference to any books, you are
\nright about the haloing effects; the same goes for starbursts and other
\npurely luminous effects.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #479, from davemackey, 326 chars, Tue Mar 26 19:06:36 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 476.
\n————————–
\nAh yes, the old Casper the Friendly Ghost type deal. I believe
\nit’s done through camera trickery, some sort of double exposure.
\nThe regular elements of the scene were shot first, and Casper was
\nshot afterward, making it appear that the objects could still be
\nseen underneath the ghost.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #480, from davemackey, 134 chars, Tue Mar 26 19:39:05 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 477.
\n————————–
\nWhoops, forgot those were Paramount cartoons, not exactly known
\nfor lavish production values.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #481, from davemackey, 810 chars, Mon Apr 1 00:13:49 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: So long, Comedy Channel
\nIn preparation for tomorrow’s launch of Comedy TV, the new merger
\nof the two previous comedy cable channels, The Comedy Channel has
\njust signed off the air for good moments ago — rather
\nunceremoniously, I might add. Their last program was a Wil
\nShriner special, and their final “you’re watching the Comedy
\nChannel” ID was done by those masters of high comedy, Flo &
\nEddie.
\n The Comedy Channel is going to be fondly remembered as a
\nprogrammer of funky old animation, particularly on its “Higgins
\nBoys And Gruber” show, which included “Supercar,” “Clutch Cargo”
\nand various old cartoons shown by the ever-intoxicated Captain
\nLucky.
\n Comedy TV launches at 4 p.m. tomorrow, wherever The Comedy
\nChannel or HA! were on your cable dial.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #482, from adunkin, 289 chars, Mon Apr 1 21:26:50 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 481.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou forgot the hidden humor classic . . Mystery Science Theatre 3000 . .
\nfeatured in both Time and Entertainment Tonight.<\/p>\n

That show was great . . it got pulled [probably for new season] a few monthes
\nago . . <\/p>\n

Which do you think was better, Ha! or the Comedy Channel?<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #483, from davemackey, 512 chars, Mon Apr 1 23:17:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 482.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFirst of all, MST3000 will be back on CTV, with new episodes.
\n I can’t really pass judgment on which is better since my
\nsystem had The Comedy Channel and not HA! (In fact, tonight I saw
\n“Clash” for the first time.) But I would rather have had HA! than
\nCC, possibly because of the 80’s SNL and some of the other
\nseries it offered. Now I have the best of both worlds.
\n Incidentally, who did the first CTV ID? No less than those
\nbombastic magicians, Penn and Teller.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #484, from hmccracken, 194 chars, Tue Apr 2 07:30:01 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 483.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 483.
\n————————–
\nYou’re fortunate you don’t live here in Newton, where the cable PTB
\ndon’t find us deserving of any cable channels — but do provide us
\nwith an amazing array of shopping channels, etc.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #485, from bsoron, 182 chars, Tue Apr 2 19:39:31 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 484.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Watertown doesn’t even have its own feed — the Newton signals are
\nsimply passed through to us. A recent newsletter promised us more
\nchannels if we renew their license. Weasels.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #486, from adunkin, 140 chars, Tue Apr 2 20:59:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 483.
\n————————–
\nI really did watch Ha!, so I couldn’t give you my opinion of my own question.
\nAh well, I think I’ll watch some tonight ..<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #487, from hmccracken, 530 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:03:29 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Why doesn’t Warner Bros…
\nrelease at least some of the earliest _Bugs Bunny Show_ episodes as
\nnifty, short (24 minutes or so) videotapes for ten bucks or so?
\nThese were the episodes that featured lots of very good new footage
\nby Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng to link the cartoons. They’re the
\nonly place where you’ll find teamups like Yosemite Sam and Pepe
\nLe Pew. Almost none of this material has been seen in decades —
\nthey could bill them as “The Bugs Bunny Show Lost Episodes” and
\nget lots of publicity…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #488, from hmccracken, 554 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:06:13 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I just saw something odd and animation-related…
\nAn early episode of _Rocky and His Friends_ that’s a special Christmas
\nepisode. The holiday theme is created by excising the non-Bullwinkle
\ncartoons in favor of some live-action footage of Santa Claus, played
\nby an unpadded William Conrad (!), who speaks to an unseen Rocky and
\nBullwinkle on the telephone and then introduces an apparently non-
\nJay Ward produced live-action\/stop-motion Christmas film about a
\nlittle girl whose doll comes to life and dances on a piano. Very strange.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #489, from hmccracken, 339 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:08:00 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Another oddity, seen while watching an 1960s TV cartoon show
\ncomplete with original commercials (_Mighty Mouse Playhouse_): a
\ncommercial for a doll named Suzy Cute featuring, as celebrity
\nendorser, Louis Armstrong! Wonder how they decided that ol’
\nSatchmo was a good spokesman for a product aimed at prepubescent
\ngirls?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #490, from davemackey, 598 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:44:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 487.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI have seen some boots of the original “Bugs Bunny Show” at sale
\nat various conventions; 16mm copies are frequently on the market
\nas well. Despite all that, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen one of
\nthese.
\n But that’s a pretty good idea, one that I never thought of.
\nThe “BBS” footage was being used to pad out the old “Bugs Bunny
\nRoad Runner” Show in the 1970’s and the early 80’s, back when the
\nshows were a mere six cartoons long.
\n How were the cartoons originally presented on the original
\nABC prime-time show? Did they carry credits and\/or titles?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #491, from davemackey, 192 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:44:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 489.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, what else would you expect from the man who knocked the
\nBeatles out of the number one spot on the music charts with a
\nsong called “Hello, Dolly”?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #492, from hmccracken, 445 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:52:41 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 490.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOnly a very little of the new footage was included in the fairly-
\nrecent _Bugs Bunny\/Road Runner_ shows. The episodes I’ve seen vary —
\nsome include titles (but not full credits) and some try to edit
\nthe cartoons into a fairly seamless half-hour. For instance, one
\nI’ve seen moves from typical Bugs-in-straw-hat-before-stage new footage,
\nto new footage of Elmer backstage, to the opening of _Rabbit of Seville_.
\nIt works quite well.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #493, from hmccracken, 62 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:54:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 491.
\n————————–
\nI think this ad came before that, but I’m not sure.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #494, from hmccracken, 527 chars, Sat Apr 6 20:59:11 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Watch this space
\nSince there doesn’t seem to be any place else on BIX to discuss
\ngeneral-interest live-action movies (SF\/media is a good place
\nto discuss SF and fantasy ones), I’m going to be posting comments
\non them here. (I usually see a movie each week, but it’s often
\na $2.50 special at the local theater — for example, I just got
\naround to seeing _Reversal of Fortune_ last Wednesday.) I’ll
\nbegin this with whatever I see this week, and others are invited
\nto comment on live-action films here as well.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #495, from davemackey, 277 chars, Mon Apr 8 21:11:04 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 494.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m a little surprised that this hasn’t been mentioned around
\nhere, but did you know that the new Alec Baldwin\/Kim Basinger
\nfilm “The Marrying Man” was directed by Jerry Rees, whose past
\ncredits have included “The Brave Little Toaster”?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #496, from davemackey, 513 chars, Mon Apr 8 21:11:21 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dave’s Incommunicado Advisory
\nYes, Dave’s going into hiding soon.
\n The weekend of 4\/12-4\/14, Dave will be in Albany for the
\nsemi-annual convention of the Motor Bus Society. And from
\n4\/20-4\/28, Dave will be in Sunny Florida visiting his sister and
\nthe Disney\/MGM Studios. Why Dave’s going to Florida when it’s 89
\ndegrees in New Jersey in April, he doesn’t know.
\n So in the words of Richie Cunningham, “Have a good time….
\nbut not TOO good a time, bucko!” \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #497, from davemackey, 476 chars, Mon Apr 8 21:11:59 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 492.
\n————————–
\nIn addition to Jones and Freleng’s much-noted involvement
\nwith the show, Bob McKimson put some of the “Bugs Bunny Show”
\nepisodes together, including one episode (prod. 1632) which
\nincludes two of McKimson’s archetypal early-50’s one-shots: “Wild
\nWife” and “There Auto Be A Law.”
\n If anything, the “Bugs Bunny Show” definitely laid the
\ngroundwork for the format of most succeeding Warner Bros.
\ntelevision specials and feature films.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #498, from switch, 79 chars, Mon Apr 8 22:50:40 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 495.
\n————————–
\nSo that’s where I saw the name before. My memory’s slipping with age \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #499, from jenn, 201 chars, Tue Apr 9 19:35:59 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Sounds like it’s time for a celebration…
\nBarkeep, please get me your most expensive champagne!
\nHarry just landed a wonderful job…which I’m sure he will
\ntell us all about.
\nCongrats, Harry!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #500, from hmccracken, 854 chars, Tue Apr 9 19:43:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 499.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGosh, news spreads quickly in these parts…<\/p>\n

As of two weeks from now or so, I will be technical editor of
\n_Computer Buying World_, a brand-new IDG magazine whose editor
\nin chief is George Bond, the founder of BIX. It looks to be
\na wonderful job in every way.E I will be leaving my current
\njob as senior editor at CorpTech, a small publisher of directories
\nof information on high-tech companies where I’ve labored for three
\nand a half years (it was my first and until now only full-time job
\nout of college). Not working for CorpTech will be a very, very
\nstrange thing to deal with — the notion that the company will
\ngo on existing without me is startling (I don’t mean that in an
\negotistical way at all). Sort of like the feeling you get when
\nyou leave high school, I guess — the feeling *I* got when i]I
\nleft high school, anyway…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #501, from sharonfisher, 17 chars, Tue Apr 9 20:16:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 500.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 500.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #502, from hmccracken, 19 chars, Tue Apr 9 20:21:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 501.
\n————————–
\nThanks!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #503, from morganfox, 144 chars, Tue Apr 9 20:35:56 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 500.
\nThere are additional comments to message 500.
\n————————–
\nThat is double wonderful news! Congrats on your new job! And I am so glad to
\nhear about George Bond too! Just great! All the best to you both!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #504, from bsoron, 86 chars, Wed Apr 10 01:02:24 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 500.
\nThere are additional comments to message 500.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Harry! If you’re up for some networking, see your
\nBixmail… \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #505, from davemackey, 99 chars, Wed Apr 10 19:05:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 500.
\nThere are additional comments to message 500.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations! Not only on the new job, but message 500!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #506, from richard.pini, 54 chars, Wed Apr 10 23:38:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 500.
\n————————–
\nCongranulations! (And a hotsy-totsy msg # to boot! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #507, from hmccracken, 60 chars, Thu Apr 11 00:17:24 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Thanks to all…
\nfor the congratulations!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #508, from hmccracken, 2147 chars, Thu Apr 11 00:33:16 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Live-action movie comments: _Defending Your Life_
\nI should explain from the start that based on his first three movies
\n(_Real Life_, _Modern Romance_, and _Lost in America_), I consider
\nAlbert Brooks to be a genuine comic genius. I’m using the term in
\nits very strictest sense — Brooks is maybe the *only* filmmaker
\ncurrently working who I’d attach that label to. He has an ear
\nfor dialogue that is really unmatched, and I was pleased to see
\nhis abilities as a comic actor rewarded with the Oscar nomination
\nhe got for _Broadcast News_.<\/p>\n

Given that, I was a little disappointed by his new movie, _Defending
\nYour Life_, mainly because it has so very little in common with
\nhis earlier work. (If you had told me it was written and directed
\nby someone else and merely starred Brooks, my mind would have been
\nclear and I might have enjoyed it a lot more.) Brooks’s earlier
\nfilms were incredibly sharp and unsentimental things without an
\nounce of flab or a phony moment. _Defending Your Life_, which is
\nset in an afterlife that resembles nothing so much as Epcot
\nCenter, is soft-edged and sentimental, with a conclusion that’s
\nalmost Spielbergian. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just surprising
\nfrom Brooks.<\/p>\n

Taken on its own terms, there is much to like in the film. Conceptually,
\nBrooks’s view of the afterlife — called “Judgement City” — is extremely
\nclever, as is the trial he goes through to determine whether he gets
\nbumped back to earth or promoted to the next world. (It’s tough, but
\nI won’t reval any of the hilarious conceits Brooks establishes.)
\nThe supporting cast — Brooks’s films are always brilliantly cast —
\nincludes Rip Torn, Lee Grant, and Buck Henry, and all are extremely
\ngood. Meryl Streep, as Brooks’s dream girl whom he meets in
\nJudgement City, is fine, although you kind of wonder what she saw
\nin such a shallow part. Brooks himself seems disoriented and disconnected
\nfrom his surroundings, which may be intentional but is sure a change
\nfrom every other role he’s ever had.<\/p>\n

I would be interested to hear what someone who isn’t familiar with
\nBrooks’s earlier films has to say about this one.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #509, from hmccracken, 416 chars, Sat Apr 13 12:42:18 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Boston-area BIXen…
\nmay be interested to know that the Lexington Flick, a nifty little
\nindependent movie theater in Lexington Centre, will be showing
\ncartoons continuously from 9am to 3pm on Patriot’s Day (that’s
\nMonday). All seats are 25 cents, and I have no idea what type
\nof cartoons they’ll be. I don’t get Monday off, but may drop by
\nat lunchtime since I work fairly close to the theater.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #510, from hmccracken, 886 chars, Mon Apr 15 21:28:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 509.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI snuck into the Lexington Flick’s 25-cent cartoon festival for about
\nforty-five minutes during lunch today. The selection was an odd one:
\n_Ben and Me_, the 1950s Disney cartoon about a mouse giving Ben Franklin
\nall his best ideas; _Snow Excuse_, a lousy 1960s DePatie-Freleng
\nDaffy-Duck\/Speedy Gonzales cartoon; _Now Hare This_, a pretty mediocre
\nRobert McKimson Bugs Bunny cartoon; a DePatie-Freleng Road Runner whose
\ntitle I didn’t catch, but which featured the little-seen 1960s Warner
\nopening credits _Family Dog_, Steven Spielberg’s animated short; and
\n_The Mysterious Package_, a 1960 Mighty Mouse cartoon that was really
\nrather charming. When my friends and I left the theater was starting
\nto show _Ben and Me_ again, and I’m not sure whether that was by mistake
\nor if they showed the selection of cartoons we saw over and over to fill
\nup the festival’s five hours.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #511, from davemackey, 258 chars, Tue Apr 16 20:10:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 510.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, that’s one Boston Marathon anyone can win. You guys up
\nthere must be so lucky on Patriot’s Day. You get a Red Sox game
\nstarting at 10:30 in the morning, parades, the Marathon, and
\ncartoon festivals. Such a life.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #512, from hmccracken, 259 chars, Tue Apr 16 20:38:25 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Not animation-related but…
\nI did want to mark here the passing of Sir David Lean, director of
\n_Lawrence of Arabia_, _Zhivago_, _Brief Encounter_, _Ryan’s Daughter_,
\nand (my favorite) _Great Expectations_. We will not see his like
\nagain.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #513, from rcrook, 87 chars, Tue Apr 16 23:24:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 511.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n>… a Red Sox game …
\n13 innings worth, no less! Sox lost, tho, 1-0 \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #514, from random.a, 89 chars, Wed Apr 17 11:24:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 513.
\n————————–
\nThey won yesterday tho – 5-2. ;] 3 Home runs, 1 out of the field.
\nIt was great! ;]<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #515, from bsoron, 320 chars, Wed Apr 17 22:33:14 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Oops<\/p>\n

Sorry I missed the cbix last night… all week long, I’ve been
\nconvinced that every day has been some other day (tonight, in fact,
\nI turned on Fox to watch the Simpsons… the ironic part is that
\nthis is the first time I remembered to watch in many weeks). To
\nparaphrase Bill Ward, next time for sure…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #516, from hmccracken, 1587 chars, Thu Apr 18 20:00:15 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I don’t have to feel ashamed about mentioning Woody Allen’s
\n_Alice_ here in the animation conference: it is probably the
\nonly recent live-action film that features two of Disney’s Nine
\nOld Men — Ward Kimball and Frank Thomas — playing music on the
\n(very good) soundtrack, along with the rest of the Firehouse Five,
\nthe dixieland band Kimball organized at the Disney studio. This
\nfact was revealed to me through careful reading of the end credits.<\/p>\n

I’m not that much of a Woody Allen fan — he’s an excellent director,
\na so-so screenwriter, and a very, very limited actor. Woody isn’t
\nin this film, so the last point isn’t an issue, although Mia Farrow,
\nwho plays Alice (a prim and repressed New York society wife) seems
\nto be doing a Woody impression for much of the film. The plot is
\nan easy blend of quite interesting, fairly serious material about
\nAlice hesitantly having an affair with a series of scenes in which
\nshe turns invisible, flies, etc., as the result of herbal medicine
\nprescribed by a mystic Chinese doctor played by the late Keye Luke.
\nThe fantasy doesn’t seem particularly well worked out, and not even
\nvery interesting except for the first such scene (in which the
\nmedicine makes Alice incredibly flirtatious with a stranger) and
\nthe last one (in which it makes an entire Christmas party of men
\nfall in love with Alice). <\/p>\n

Farrow is quite good, as is William Hurt as her husband. Like a lot
\nof Allen films this one also features a lot of interesting but
\nmiscast actors, including Cybill Shepherd, Bernadette Peters, and
\nAlec Baldwin.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #517, from hmccracken, 452 chars, Thu Apr 18 20:38:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 515.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI will be glad to edit and upload the session to the listings
\n(after failing with my attempt to do so with the first session),
\nalthough this particular CBIX session was more of a chatty,
\nhumorous discussion on a lot of topics, not all of them directly
\nrelated to animation, then was the first one. It was an awful
\nlot of fun, but I’m not sure how absorbing a transcript of it all
\nwould be.<\/p>\n

Moral: never miss an animation conference CBIX.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #518, from bsoron, 179 chars, Thu Apr 18 21:23:58 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 517.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 517.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Of course, the saga continued tonight when, for the second evening
\nin a row, I remembered to watch the Simpsons… and it was the *one*
\nepisode I’ve already seen this season!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #519, from bsoron, 113 chars, Thu Apr 18 21:24:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 517.
\nThere are additional comments to message 517.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

P.S. — Harry, don’t worry about uploading the transcript. I’ll keep
\na better eye on the calendar next week.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #520, from davemackey, 86 chars, Thu Apr 18 21:45:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 517.
\n————————–
\nThe old bromide applies: You Had To Be There.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #521, from rcrook, 262 chars, Fri Apr 19 23:07:07 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 518.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLast nites Simpsons rerun… At least it’s a timely choice… the
\nepisode was the one where Homer has an illegal cable-tv hook-up
\nto see a big boxing match … and tonite is the much hyped
\nHolyfield\/Foreman fight shown live on pay-per-view cable…<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #522, from davemackey, 227 chars, Sat Apr 20 06:27:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 521.
\n————————–
\nAnd let’s give Mr. George Foreman a real big hand for having the
\nstick-to-itive-ness to stay in the ring 12 rounds with the champ,
\nat an age where most fighters are well into retirement.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #523, from davemackey, 134 chars, Sat Apr 20 11:59:29 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: He’s gone
\nNow you guys stay here while I go to Florida. Now promise me you
\nwon’t move.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #524, from switch, 31 chars, Sat Apr 20 12:32:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 523.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 523.
\n————————–
\nQuick, change the locks!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #525, from switch, 165 chars, Sat Apr 20 12:32:51 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Say, did anyone see…
\n…_Metropolitan_? Went to see it just last week — an interesting film, I
\nguess, but I wonder what other people think of it…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #526, from switch, 449 chars, Sat Apr 20 12:37:30 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: At last!
\nI’ve finally found somewhere that sells cartoon boxer shorts! The ideal
\ngift for the discriminating cartoon addict… I noticed them as I was
\nwalking down St-Laurent on my way to get some food. They were quite nice —
\ndefinitely Shorts To Be Seen In (aka “Amusing Incidents With Your Girlfriend”)
\nand probably pricy. There were four or five different kinds: Bugs Bunny, Tex
\nAvery, Droopy, and Wolfie are the ones I recall.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #527, from hkenner, 33 chars, Sat Apr 20 13:00:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 523.
\nThere are additional comments to message 523.
\n————————–
\nOkay, we’re all in freeze-frame.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #528, from hmccracken, 303 chars, Sat Apr 20 16:42:24 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 526.
\n————————–
\nThey sound like a French product; I’ve heard (maybe here?) that
\nTex Avery is lionized enough there that ordinary folks talk about
\n“Tex Avery cartoons.” The _Whole Toon Catalog_’s selection of
\nFrench Avery books and merchandise is another sign of the high
\nregard that Tex is held in there.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #529, from hmccracken, 155 chars, Sat Apr 20 16:43:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 525.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ve seen the coming attractions trailer a million times, but not the
\nfilm. As I recall, my sister (a severe critic) saw and detested the
\nfilm.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #530, from hmccracken, 46 chars, Sat Apr 20 16:43:38 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 523.
\nThere are additional comments to message 523.
\n————————–
\nHave fun, Dave, and come back soon.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #531, from dquick, 32 chars, Sat Apr 20 17:51:32 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 524.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDo I have to?<\/p>\n

Dave Quick \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #532, from rcrook, 20 chars, Sun Apr 21 16:38:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 531.
\n————————–
\nROFL!!<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #533, from switch, 173 chars, Mon Apr 22 17:12:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 529.
\n————————–
\nMartin Siberok of the Montreal Mirror panned it too. Some of the
\ner symbolic bits were a bit heavy-handed, but it had some interesting
\nthings underneath the surface.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #534, from switch, 608 chars, Wed Apr 24 14:01:01 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Yikes…
\nI completely forgot about the animation CBIX last night! Mind you,
\nI happened to be at a screening of the English _Akira_ at the Cinema
\nde Paris last night… The owner of the Paris is starting to get
\ninterested in showing more animation, and was apparently piqued
\nby a clip of _Robot Carnival_ he saw. _Akira_’s also been showing
\nto packed houses, and creaming some of the live-action shows in
\nterms of sales. So I show my support towards more animation by
\ngoing to these shows and getting as many people to come with me as
\npossible.<\/p>\n

Anyway, next Tuesday I’ll be there. Promise.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #535, from hmccracken, 402 chars, Wed Apr 24 21:58:50 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 534.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou missed a good one, Emru, although it was a fairly quiet night.
\nFor a long stretch adunkin and I were the only participants; we
\nmixed conversation about animation and baseball. Later, Rjenks
\njoined us and the discussion focused on Japanese animation.
\nStill later, drtoon (Doug Ranney of the Whole Toon Catalog)
\ndropped by, and we talked about videotapes, books, and cartoon
\nmerchandise.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #536, from adunkin, 124 chars, Wed Apr 24 23:11:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 535.
\nThere are additional comments to message 535.
\n————————–
\nYeah, that was fun! We should do it again next time. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

BTW Harry, Texas won again over the Brew, 8-2.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #537, from switch, 11 chars, Fri Apr 26 10:00:00 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 535.
\n————————–
\nFoo.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #538, from hmccracken, 906 chars, Sat Apr 27 10:18:14 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Henson Associates’ _Dinosaurs_
\nDid anyone else see this Friday night on ABC? It sort of answers
\nthe question “What if the people who made _Godzilla_ decided to
\nrevive _The Flintstones_? The costumes were very, very well designed,
\nbut rather expressionless; not unlike the Henson shop’s work for
\n_Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_. (Oh, they have *some* expression,
\nand nobody does this still better than Henson’s people. But I
\nquestion whether it’s worth the effort and money, and Kermit, Ernie,
\nand other Muppets with expressions formed by somebody’s hand rather
\nthan remote-control electronics always were a lot more personable.)<\/p>\n

The script was OK, although if it was an episode of _The Flintstones_,
\n_The Honeymooners_, or _Life of Riley_, it would have seemed pretty
\nweak. I’ll be interested to see how future episodes (this is an
\nongoing show, isn’t it) compare to this first one.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #539, from elfhive, 935 chars, Sat Apr 27 22:25:04 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 538.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nActually I thought they managed expressions quite well. It is difficult
\nto get beyond a sort of rubbery expression but they do really well with
\nthe eyes and certain facial motions. I didn’t have any trouble relating
\nto the reactions that the characters were portraying in every case, but
\nof course the depth of the emotions isn’t going to be very sophisticated
\nin something like this.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed the show. It was visually different enough to overcome the
\ninanity, which was no different than 95% of US television fare. I
\nwish they would bring some of the writers from British comedy to work
\non stuff like this. Can you imagine what John Cleese would do with
\nthis kind of idea? Feeling generous, I would say that the _Dinosaurs_
\nplot was closer a _Simpsons_ storyline than the older shows you
\nmention.<\/p>\n

I don’t know if this is an ongoing show (forgot to look in TV Guide
\nbefore logging on :-), but I too will give it a further chance.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #540, from hmccracken, 780 chars, Sun Apr 28 17:19:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 539.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 539.
\n————————–
\nThe eyes work pretty well, but they can’t seem to give the characters
\nmouths that do anything except form a sort of goofy grin. (The
\nT.M.N.Turtles share this sort of silly-looking expression, even
\nwhen they’re engaged in battle.) The thing that I find asafd aboutr
\nthe whole situation is that these incredibly expensive, complex
\npuppets just shout “robot,” while Henson’s old hand puppets
\nwere *people* (well, frogs, pigs, and dogs — but you get the
\nidea).<\/p>\n

I’m sure that _Dinosaurs_ got underway because of _The Simpsons_’
\nsuccess, but it really reminded me of _The Life of Riley_ as
\nmuch as any other show. Earl and his wife are very close to
\nthe Rileys in characterization. Just goes to show how little
\nthis type of show has changed over the last forty years.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #541, from elfhive, 1045 chars, Sun Apr 28 17:30:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 540.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 540.
\n————————–
\nHarry, I tried to decipher what you meant by asafd, but I’m stumped \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

I haven’t seen _Life of Riley_, ever, so I can’t comment on how
\nclosely _Dinosaurs_ parallels that storyline, but I can readily
\nagree that the situation comedy television artform probably peaked
\nearly (in the fifties) and there hasn’t been much innovation since.
\nIt appears to have become actor dependent rather than writer dependent,
\nperhaps this is why _Simpsons_ seems like a breath of fresh air. It
\nmay also be that the animation in _Simpsons_ lets the writers get away
\nwith a *lot* more as far as plot goes.<\/p>\n

Clearly the hand puppets allow for a much greater and simpler control
\nover facial expressions (although the eyes then tend to be static).
\nIt looks like the creators are deliberately going for greater eye
\ncontact, if you will, to convey emotion. But now that you have defined
\nthe “goofy grin” expression, it will be hard for me to shake that
\nimage. I’m trying to recall if _Dark Crystal_ had better expressions,
\nit seemed to me that the humanoid heroes did.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #542, from hmccracken, 987 chars, Sun Apr 28 18:40:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 541.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 541.
\n————————–
\nasafd=Awfully Strange and Fairly Droll…You couldn’t figure
\n*that* out? (Actually, it was one of those typos that looks
\ncorrected on your screen but not to BIX…Read “sad” for
\n“asafd.”<\/p>\n

I guess I feel that all of the high-tech gizmos they use to
\nanimate the faces in _Dinosaurs_ do as much to point out
\nhow artificial the puppets are as to bring them to life.
\nThis is actually a lot like what happened with some of
\nDisney’s early attempts at realism…The Prince in _Snow
\nWhite_, for example, wasn’t nearly as real a character as
\nMickey Mouse was at the same time, despite being much
\nmore realistic in design and animation. With Henson’s
\ncreations, Kermit’s eyes, despite being immobile, are
\nactually more expressive than the _Dinsosaurs_ bunch’s
\neyes, because you very quickly accept the stylization
\nof the early Muppets, and because there’s a well-rounded
\n*character* there. The _Dinosaurs_ characters’s *surfaces*
\nare much better defined than their personalities are.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #543, from richard.pini, 378 chars, Sun Apr 28 21:02:55 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 541.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 541.
\n————————–
\nThey didn’t. At least IMO. Same stiffness of expression. What continues to
\namaze me is the people who still write in and suggest that (whenever, ifever
\nit gets made) an Elfquest movie use Muppet technology for the elves. Do these
\nfolks *really* think that it’s any kind of adequate for expression, let alone
\ngreat? I sincerely do not understand peoples’ perceptions any more…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #544, from hmccracken, 130 chars, Sun Apr 28 21:47:41 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 543.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDo you think, Richard, that anything other than drawn animation
\nwould be up to the job of creating an _Elfquest_ movie?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #545, from grekel, 427 chars, Sun Apr 28 22:26:32 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 539.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nyou mentioned “_Simpsons_ storylines”…
\nI just watched the “Lisa falls for her substitute teacher” and the “Homer
\nDiets” episodes and was just FLOORED by the amount of STUFF (good stuff)
\nthey cram in a half hour! Never mind the cameo voices by Dustin Hoffman
\n(credited as “Sam Etic”) and Ringo Starr, the plots are interweaved and
\njust plain fun. I hope the show’s as funny in syndication after the
\nBart-craze has died out…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #546, from grekel, 494 chars, Sun Apr 28 22:31:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 542.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 542.
\n————————–
\ndidn’t Henson have a theory about the triangle formed by two eyes and a
\nnose or mouth? It had to do with the proper placement, angles, etc., that
\nseems to give life to the puppet\/muppet.
\nCredits on _Dinosaurs_ for the main characters seemed to follow the pattern
\nof “facial motions by”, “body performed by” and “voice supplied by”.
\nSherman Hemsley was great as the boss, and I keep seeing Pons Marr’s name
\ncreep up in SF\/Fantasy films and series — probably because of the odd
\nname itself. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #547, from davemackey, 51 chars, Mon Apr 29 19:12:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 523.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou moved.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #548, from richard.pini, 259 chars, Mon Apr 29 19:30:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 544.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere has been an interesting ongoing discussion as to whether, given the
\nconsiderable things that special fx can do, a live action version would fly.
\nI begin to think it could, but my first, second, and third choices would
\n*still* be for good ol’ animation.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #549, from richard.pini, 120 chars, Mon Apr 29 19:31:49 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 546.
\n————————–
\nThe triangle theory is as old as art, and yes, has to do with the eyes
\nbeing able to “see” as opposed to being “blind.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #550, from hmccracken, 54 chars, Mon Apr 29 20:27:08 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 547.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWelcome back from Florida, Dave…Nice tan!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #551, from hmccracken, 580 chars, Mon Apr 29 22:56:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 548.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLive action with real people playing the elves? I have to admit
\nthat I can’t quite see it. I don’t know if anybody else does,
\nRichard, but you probably remember a painting of the characters
\nfrom _Wizards_ that Wendy did eons ago for the _RBCC_ (the
\npublication alone indicates that it was ages ago). Somehow
\nI’ve always imagined an _Elfquest_ animated feature looking sort
\nof like that painting in terms of color styling and contrast
\nbetween the characters and the backgrounds. I wonder if
\nRichard Williams’s schedule is free after he finishes his current
\nfeature?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #552, from richard.pini, 561 chars, Mon Apr 29 23:48:19 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 551.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ll give him a call… \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Yeah, I would probably give a few of this ‘n’ that to get an animated film
\nthat had that look to it. I think the best idea concerning live action that
\nI heard was something to the effect that there *are* some very good-looking
\nsmall people out there in central casting – not dwarves or midgets, but
\nathletic and\/or sexy people who are about 5 feet tall. Playing with the
\nspecial effects to get them to look 4 feet tall would be less fuss than
\ntrying to make, oh, Rick Overton look like a sprite. Not painless, but
\npossible, I think.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #553, from davemackey, 200 chars, Tue Apr 30 00:17:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 550.
\n————————–
\nGee, Harry, how did you guess? Must have been laying out by my
\nsister’s pool in Pompano Beach that did it. Thanks for the
\nwelcome back. But you still moved. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #554, from jenn, 542 chars, Tue Apr 30 09:51:15 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 540.
\n————————–
\nI don’t know about anyone else here, but I don’t find
\nthis type of stereotype of family interesting. I have
\na hard time getting into any show that portrays a family\\
\nlike the 50’s stereotype TODAY. Matter of fact, that is
\nprobably the only thing about the show that grated on
\nmeand I truly disliked. The plot coulda been better…but
\nit was okay. I found the facial movement to be superb.
\n(Well, maybe not superb, but pretty darn good.)<\/p>\n

However, if I compared it to Henson’s old hand puppets, I’ll
\ngo along with what Harry is saying. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #555, from jenn, 97 chars, Tue Apr 30 09:52:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 541.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nInteresting. I’ve only seen one Simpson show and I have never
\nhad the desire to watch it again.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #556, from elfhive, 159 chars, Tue Apr 30 17:04:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 542.
\n————————–
\nI’ll go along with surface characterization but will reserve
\njudgement until I get a chance to see where the writers
\n(and producers) are going with this show.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #557, from elfhive, 426 chars, Tue Apr 30 17:09:15 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 545.
\n————————–
\nBoth visually and in the soundtrack, the _Simpsons_ shows greater
\ndepth and irony than 99.5% of all other television sitcoms. They also
\ndeal with complex topical issues in a very sophisticated way and
\ntend to send a positive, constructive message. Even a confirmed
\nsupporter of nuclear energy like myself finds the “handling” of
\nnuclear fuel (or is the green stuff “waste?” \ud83d\ude42 to be treated
\nhumorously rather than as a dig.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #558, from elfhive, 490 chars, Tue Apr 30 17:14:15 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 552.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 552.
\n————————–
\nI’d vote for live action as a first preference. The potential for disaster
\nis equally great in both live action and animation as we have seen many
\ntimes. I remember rumors about a live action version of The Hobbit and
\nLord of the Rings and then two unsatisfactory (and, in the case of
\nBakshi’s version, abortive) animation features came out. That was very
\ndisappointing. I expect you harbor similar reservations.<\/p>\n

BTW, who were the animators that did The Hobbit, I’ve completely forgotten.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #559, from elfhive, 625 chars, Tue Apr 30 17:19:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 555.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, I’m not saying that the Simpsons is for everyone. I can see where
\nstylistically the animation might be a turn off, for example. The
\nsocial commentary may also be exacerbating in the way that _Married
\nWith Children_ humor doesn’t sit well with a lot of people. Nevertheless,
\nI am more drawn to the topics treated by _The Simpsons_ and to the way
\nthe writers really try to deal with them intelligently. As I said
\nearlier, even the stereotypical characters (like the rich and uncaring
\nboss) are somehow more than three-dimensional, like coming to see the
\nbig fight with the regular guys on Homer’s pilfered cable hook-up.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #560, from hmccracken, 192 chars, Tue Apr 30 20:28:55 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 558.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 558.
\n————————–
\nThe Hobbit TV specials were done by Rankin-Bass. Ralph Bakshi
\ndid the awful theatrical _Lord of the Rings_ film (which was
\nsupposed to be the first half of a two-part adaptation).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #561, from sharonfisher, 32 chars, Tue Apr 30 21:32:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 560.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhy did you think it was awful?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #562, from davemackey, 78 chars, Tue Apr 30 23:18:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 558.
\n————————–
\nWasn’t the Hobbit out of Rankin-Bass?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #563, from hmccracken, 245 chars, Tue Apr 30 23:21:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 561.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBecause it was a wretched adaptation of Tolkein (*totally*
\nfailed to capture the flavor of the books, to my mind), and
\nbecause it wasn’t really an animated film. Bakshi made a live-
\naction film and then traced it through rotoscoping.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #564, from hkenner, 34 chars, Wed May 1 00:29:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 563.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRight, the rotoscopery was gross.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #565, from sharonfisher, 146 chars, Wed May 1 01:16:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 564.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGee, I liked it.
\n\tBut I take issue with the statement that roto isn’t “really”
\nanimation. Heck, it’s been good enough for animators for decades.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #566, from hmccracken, 410 chars, Wed May 1 09:53:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 565.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 565.
\n————————–
\nI think there’s a big difference between what Disney and a few other
\nfolks have done — using Rotoscoping as a very general guide, and
\nputting a lot of artistic talent and imagination into the process —
\nand what Bakshi did, which was to hire a bunch of art-school recruits
\nto trace the live-action *exactly*. The latter approach is almost
\nmore of a camera trick than an art, to my way of thinking.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #567, from elfhive, 140 chars, Wed May 1 11:04:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 566.
\n————————–
\nIt was also a very “flat” film, visually and on soundtrack. It didn’t
\nlive and certainly didn’t measure up to the material it was based on.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #568, from davemackey, 524 chars, Wed May 1 22:00:51 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Why you should not miss the weekly CBIX
\nThis gag is too good to let slip through the ozone… this was
\nfrom last night’s CBIX session.
\n Steve Edwards (sje) remarked that Nancy Cartwright, voice of
\nBart Simpson, is a Scientologist, as noted in this week’s issue
\nof Time.
\n In obvious homage to Bart, Harry replied, “Hey, want a free
\npersonality test, man?”
\n There was also a joke in there about McDonald’s getting rid
\nof its McLean Burger after 13 weeks on the menu.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #569, from davemackey, 538 chars, Wed May 1 22:01:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 559.
\n————————–
\nThe Fox Network has traditionally had more lenient content
\nstandards. Yet the precedents set by “Married… With Children”
\nenabled “The Simpsons” to be quite a bit more irreverent than
\npast primetime cartoon shows, but still below the level of raunch
\nthe Bundys.
\n But I think “Simpsons” is more grounded in reality. I’ve
\nalways been under the impression that “Married…” is more of a
\nfarce than a real depiction of family life. The Simpsons are
\ncapable of tenderness, which the Bundys aren’t.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #570, from elfhive, 85 chars, Wed May 1 22:52:43 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 568.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 568.
\n————————–
\nWhy anyone would want to name a Burger after a town in Northern
\nVirginia escapes me?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #571, from morganfox, 74 chars, Wed May 1 23:18:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 570.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n]Why anyone shoud want to pay more for a burger that has less escapes me!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #572, from hmccracken, 115 chars, Thu May 2 00:56:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 568.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 568.
\n————————–
\n…Just two more of H&R McCracken’s 99 reasons not to miss
\nthe CBIX! Bob Soron, especially, take note!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #573, from switch, 535 chars, Thu May 2 10:42:39 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 565.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIMHO, rotoscoping when used _creatively_ is wonderful. Bakshi’s
\nuse of rotoscoping in _Wizards_ and _Lord of the Rings_ wasn’t
\nall that hot. I mean, the Balrog _looked_ like a man in a suit!
\nBut there are quite a few gems in the world of rotoscoping, where
\nthe live-action is used as a *basis* and the animator plays from
\nthere. Two examples that come to mind are Koko the Clown dancing
\nto Cab Calloway’s singing in _Snow White_ (the Betty Boop version),
\nand the “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” segment of _Yellow Submarine_.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #574, from hmccracken, 206 chars, Thu May 2 11:42:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 573.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGood examples of decent rotoscoping. The Fleischers (who of course
\ninvented the technique) did some good work with it — the Old Man
\nof the Mountain (again with Cab Calloway) is another example.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #575, from bsoron, 98 chars, Thu May 2 17:58:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 572.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Hey, at least I was logged on that day! Just not at the same time!
\nBut I’m getting closer. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #576, from hmccracken, 150 chars, Thu May 2 18:14:41 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 575.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDon’t worry about it, Bob — although if the animation CBIX is ever
\nadapted into a play, _Waiting for Bsoron_ might be a good title… \ud83d\ude09
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #577, from davemackey, 663 chars, Fri May 3 00:10:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 574.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRotoscope, however magical it may sound, is just live reference
\nfootage. To whatever literal degree it’s followed is up to the
\ndirectors and stylists. (Also how many frames of it are used: I
\nremember Shamus Culhane discussing he just used two extreme
\n‘scope frames and freehanded all the inbetweens when animating
\nSnow White.)
\n But when you think about it, animation doesn’t lend itself
\nwell to rendering human characters without the aid of live
\nfootage. They’ve almost got to be caricatures (exaggerated
\nfeatures). The human form is difficult enough to draw as it is,
\nnever mind having to draw it over and over again.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #578, from hmccracken, 417 chars, Fri May 3 14:50:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 577.
\nThere are additional comments to message 577.
\n————————–
\nThat’s right — animation isn’t really well-suited to very realistic
\ndrawing, of humans or anything else. But then, there’s no real reason
\nwhy it should be. One of the problems with Bakshi-like rotoscoping
\nis that it’s copying very realistic movement (by tracing the live-
\naction slavishly). In good animation, the movement, like the drawing
\nitself, is stylized and interpreted through an artist’s eye.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #579, from davemackey, 442 chars, Fri May 3 23:43:08 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: End of Dallas? (Possible Spoiler)
\nI don’t think this is a spoiler, but just in case here’s some
\ncautionary cr’s…<\/p>\n

I saw the last 15 minutes of the final episode of “Dallas,”
\nand I sort of knew that they’d leave the door just a little open
\nfor the series’ afterlife.
\n Proof that nothing ever really ends in TV land — it just
\ntakes a little hiatus and comes back as 2-hour movies.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #580, from hmccracken, 222 chars, Sat May 4 23:30:56 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 568.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBTW, Dave, I and my mother were helping my sister move today, and
\nI told your McLean joke. They didn’t get it. My sister finally
\ndid after laborious hints on my part. I tstill think it’s a
\ngreat one, though.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #581, from davemackey, 234 chars, Sat May 4 23:41:17 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Pointer
\nIf, besides your BIX account, you maintain a subscription to
\nProdigy, you might want to read either tojerry\/long.messages #502
\nor jlblink\/main #1783. What you read may shock you.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #582, from random.a, 44 chars, Sun May 5 00:17:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 581.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 581.
\n————————–
\nAlso read #503 before you get too outraged.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #583, from davemackey, 472 chars, Sun May 5 01:28:17 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 582.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDon’t bother me none… I have never had need to have Prodigy.
\nWhen it first came out, I was spending up the wazoo on CI$. I
\njust harbored an unnatural dislike for the product and the way it
\nwas marketed. Now with Bix, I spend on telecommunications over
\nthe course of a year the equivalent of one month or less of CI$
\nfor me. And that is why I am on Bix and not CI$. By the way, I
\nassume you mean #503 in tojerry\/long.messages, no?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #584, from random.a, 7 chars, Sun May 5 18:40:21 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 583.
\n————————–
\nYeah..<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #585, from davemackey, 224 chars, Sun May 5 23:37:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 581.
\n————————–
\nThe jlblink conference version of the message has now been
\ndeleted, and for all I know the tojerry version may be gone too.
\n(I almost got lost in the sea of subtopics in Chaos Manor.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #586, from davemackey, 425 chars, Sun May 5 23:37:32 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 580.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, when’s the last time McLean Stevenson did a TV series,
\nanyway? Didn’t he have one just a few years ago that got canned
\nrather quickly?
\n I think leaving M*A*S*H was the worst possible career move
\nfor Mac. Even today, “Hello Larry” is known as a shining example
\nof television at its worst, and quite typical of the sitcom style
\nof the old Tandem\/TAT (Norman Lear) Productions.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #587, from davemackey, 385 chars, Sun May 5 23:37:45 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Cinco De Mayo…
\nWell, just about any Speedy Gonzales cartoon is appropriate for
\nviewing today, since it’s Cinco De Mayo, literally translating
\ninto Fifth of May.
\n But to me, though, it’s Mom’s Birthday. Mom merely tolerates
\nmy cartoon habit with one exception — she loves Tweety. So I’d
\nlike to publicly say Happy Birthday, Mother!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #588, from hmccracken, 341 chars, Mon May 6 12:35:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 587.
\n————————–
\nHappy belated birthday, Mrs. Mackey!<\/p>\n

I’m fortunate in that I come from a cartoon and comics-loving
\nfamily. I’m certainly the most ardent about the whole thing,
\nbut it’s not unusual to find us sitting around a dinner table
\ndebating the merits of _Rose is Rose_ or analyzing the
\nstoryline of _Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs_.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #589, from bsoron, 257 chars, Mon May 6 15:38:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 586.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Worst part of “Hello, Larry” is that its creative staff — I use
\nthe term with more irony than you know — was Dick Chevillat and
\nJay Sommers, who did such a great job with “Green Acres” (my all-
\ntime favorite TV series, said without any irony at all).<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #590, from davemackey, 715 chars, Wed May 8 22:10:29 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Well, I’ll be a Son Of… The Desert!
\nSince Harry has mentioned that he’s involved with the Boston “Brats” tent of
\nThe Sons Of The Desert, he may be interested in a special that’s running on
\nThe Discovery Channel entitled “Revenge Of The Sons Of The Desert.” It’s a
\nshort (half-hour) documentary about the official Laurel and Hardy fan
\nassociation, founded in the 1960’s by a core group that included the late Al
\nKilgore, John McCabe, Orson Bean and Chuck McCann (I think Harry can tell me
\nthe fifth founding member — I lost my research notes on this).
\n The special will air this coming Saturday at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time,
\nand possibly elsewhen during the month.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #591, from davemackey, 331 chars, Wed May 8 22:10:40 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 577.
\n————————–
\nCorrection to 577: I do remember Shamus discussing the animation of Snow
\nWhite using just the first and last scope frame and freehanding the rest.
\nUnfortunately, I forgot one key fact: the animator in question was not Shamus
\nhimself, but the late Grim Natwick. What’s for dinner? Humble pie.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #592, from hmccracken, 228 chars, Wed May 8 23:13:38 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 590.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThanks for the tip, Dave. The Brats screened the special several
\nyears ago, and indeed had its producer (a fellow Son) as a guest.
\nI don’t recall offhand who the fifth founding Son was, but I
\ncan certainly find out.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #593, from davemackey, 152 chars, Thu May 9 19:05:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 589.
\n————————–
\nAnd the late Woody Kling was a story editor on the show — having come to
\nwrite for sitcoms by way of cartoons.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #594, from hmccracken, 637 chars, Sat May 18 14:10:26 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Swipes
\nEvery once in a while when shopping in a discount house, I
\nrun across a product whose manufacturer has swiped cartoon-
\nrelated artwork to illustrate his product’s box with. Very
\noften, this artwork has been swiped from one of Preston
\nBlair’s animation books. Today at Caldor’s, however, I came
\nacross a display of power mulchers whose boxes were emblazoned
\nin several places with drawings of the relatively-obscure
\ncomic book character Hot Stuff, the L’il Devil. There were
\nno mentions of the character’s name or copyright messages, and
\nHot Stuff was colored green rather than red. but it was him
\nall right…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #595, from davemackey, 302 chars, Sat May 18 16:09:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 594.
\nThere are additional comments to message 594.
\n————————–
\nYou know, Harry, every time I see something like that, I immediately want to
\ncall the attorneys in to see it. Could even start a new occupation.
\n “They’re out on the seamy streets, searching for infringement, wherever
\nit may strike! They’re Trademark Cops!”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #596, from sje, 800 chars, Sat May 18 20:42:55 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 594.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n\tI have seen more than a few well known animation characters show up
\nas demo pictures for color monitors for computers. At the local Sears store,
\nthere is a loop demo running on a VGA monitor with characters from both Warner
\nBrothers (Bugs Bunny) and Disney (Chip ‘N’ Dale) in the same sequence. The
\nirritating thing is that there is no credit given to the owners in what is
\nobviously a commercial environment.<\/p>\n

\tI don’t know about Warner, but Disney files an average of eight
\ncopyright infringement suits every week; it may be just a matter of time
\nbefore they get around to the lesser infractions. I suspect that Disney’s
\nmotivation is not so much about uncollected royalties, but rather the fear
\nthat unprosectuted violations may cause the characters to fall into the public
\ndomain. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #597, from davemackey, 61 chars, Sat May 18 20:56:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 576.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWe’re still waiting.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #598, from bsoron, 313 chars, Sun May 19 00:20:19 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 597.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

As I told Harry in bixmail not long ago, I’m getting closer, to
\nthe point where I’m actually logging on here on the correct night,
\njust too late. Part of the problem is that I log on in the morning,
\nsee the system news bulletin, and then completely forget in the next
\n12 or so hours. But one of these days…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #599, from hmccracken, 123 chars, Sun May 19 01:26:04 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 598.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRemember, Bob, that the animation CBIX usually lasts for an hour
\nand a half or more, and latecomers are welcome.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #600, from richard.pini, 59 chars, Sun May 19 09:08:46 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Oh heck
\nI got back, I was reading, it was there. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #601, from richard.pini, 38 chars, Sun May 19 09:10:55 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 571.
\n————————–
\nSame reason as for unleaded gasoline?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #602, from davemackey, 188 chars, Sun May 19 09:40:12 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 596.
\n————————–
\nAnd since Disney is active in the field of computer software, I wonder how
\nthey would react to this. (Maybe Leo Schwab can lend some insight here.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #603, from bsoron, 36 chars, Sun May 19 12:31:13 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 599.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Ooooh, the peer pressure… \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #604, from bsoron, 331 chars, Wed May 22 00:27:42 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Getting closer
\n The first command I typed in after I logged on here was
\nj animation\/cbix
\nbut it was 12:16 and apparently I’m the only night owl around here. \ud83d\ude42
\nWent carousing with a friend (another of the regulars on your father’s
\nBBS, Harry) and got back long after it closed down, apparently. Well,
\none of these weeks..<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #605, from hmccracken, 276 chars, Wed May 22 10:45:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 604.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBob, wondering where you are has quickly become a Tuesday night ritual
\nin the animation CBIX. When you do show up, I’m not sure we’ll know
\nwhat to do with ourselves…Sort of like how Linus would take the
\nGreat Pumpkin actually appearing one Halloween night… \ud83d\ude09
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #606, from switch, 91 chars, Wed May 22 21:49:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 605.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 605.
\n————————–
\nSo how was CBIX last night? I was sleeping like rock from 9pm
\nuntil this morning…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #607, from hmccracken, 168 chars, Wed May 22 23:08:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 606.
\n————————–
\nWe had a nice turnout of old and new participants and ended
\nup discussing the Rocketeer movie, behind-the-scenes secrets
\nof Disney World, and other stuff.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #608, from bsoron, 223 chars, Thu May 23 01:00:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 605.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Ha! I guess I’ll have to invent wilder stories each week. “Well, the
\nrhino got one leg, but fortunately I clung to the biplane’s landing
\ngear with my teeth long enough to get back home *just* in time to
\nmiss it again.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #609, from hmccracken, 352 chars, Thu May 23 21:43:03 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _Home Alone_
\nThis is the third most popular movie of all time? (I just saw it
\ntonight.) It’s worth mentioning here for the facts that it
\nincludes a snippet of Chuck Jones’s _How The Grinch Stole
\nChristmas_, and that the climactic fight between the little
\nkid and the robbers was full of cartoon-style gags of the
\nRoad Runner sort.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #610, from davemackey, 391 chars, Mon May 27 23:57:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 592.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOnce and for all… the founders of the Sons Of The Desert were: the late Al
\nKilgore, John McCabe, Chuck McCann, John Municino, and Orson Bean. (My
\nbrother had the elusive information notebook.)
\n Besides his involvement with the Sons, Kilgore was also a talented
\nartist whose work included the cover to the original “Tex Avery: King Of
\nCartoons.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #611, from hmccracken, 548 chars, Tue May 28 09:17:36 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 610.
\n————————–
\nKilgore also drew the little-seen _Bullwinkle_ newspaper comic
\nstrip, which was excellent. As has been noted, the Jay Ward
\ncharacters looked better there than they ever did in a Jay
\nWard cartoon. He (Kilgore) was also a very serious animation
\nfan and scholar who wrote an early (1960s) article on obscure
\nanimation studios titled “What, No Mickey Mouse?” and an
\nexcellent negative review of Richard Schickel’s _The Disney
\nVersion_. The latter was written for Leonard Maltin’s _Film
\nFan Monthly_, and the former may have been as well.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #612, from davemackey, 427 chars, Wed Jun 5 00:32:08 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: So what happened?
\n“BIX will be down for system maintenance until 22:00 EST. We apologize for
\nthe inconvenience.”
\n I didn’t get onto BIX until midnight! No lie. By that time everyone else
\nprobably gave up. So I guess our weekly session went down the toilet. I’m
\njust wondering how many others went through the same “inconvenience,” and
\nwhen they decided to throw in the towel.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #613, from hmccracken, 309 chars, Wed Jun 5 09:12:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 612.
\nThere are additional comments to message 612.
\n————————–
\nYep, BIX was down for almost the entire day yesterday. I gave up trying
\nto get on for the CBIX a little after 11. BIXen Mscoville and I had a
\nvery nice phone discussion from around 10 til 10:30 (he called to see what
\nwas up), but unfortunately it was just a two-way conversation, unlike the
\nCBIX.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #614, from bferg, 99 chars, Wed Jun 5 10:22:19 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 612.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 612.
\n————————–
\nThat is the longest I have ever seen Bix down since I have had
\nan acct, been a year, now.<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #615, from hmccracken, 167 chars, Wed Jun 5 10:49:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 614.
\nThere are additional comments to message 614.
\n————————–
\nTo compensate for the lost CBIX, I’ll drop into the animation CBIX area
\ntonight at 10 or so for an even less formal CBIX than usual. Everybody’s
\ninvited…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #616, from switch, 121 chars, Wed Jun 5 15:12:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 612.
\n————————–
\nI gave up at 10:30, and regretted not going to the British Animation
\nInvasion. Oh, well.<\/p>\n

Did anyone make it on?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #617, from bsoron, 209 chars, Thu Jun 6 01:55:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 614.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I didn’t even get the “down for system maintenance until 2200” message
\nuntil 11:30 p.m., or 2330. Not happy about it. Bix seems to be down a
\nlot more these last few months than in the two years preceding.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #618, from hmccracken, 231 chars, Thu Jun 6 11:30:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 617.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWe had a small but pleasant make-up CBIX yesterday night. Next
\nweek’s CBIX will be interesting and a little out of the
\nordinary, so I particularly hope that there are no
\ntechnical problems. Details shortly.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #619, from davemackey, 447 chars, Thu Jun 6 19:56:43 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 618.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWas there anyone else there besides myself and Mike and Pam? Sorry for
\ncutting out early, but Bob rolled in from work with some new Trivial Pursuit
\ncards tucked under his arm.
\n In case anyone wants to throw in their two cents worth about the recent
\nBIX downtimes, Tony Lockwood is hosting a special section in General CBIX
\ntomorrow evening at 10 p.m. Est (in case you haven’t seen the system
\nbulletin).
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #620, from hmccracken, 62 chars, Fri Jun 7 00:26:52 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 619.
\nThere are additional comments to message 619.
\n————————–
\nNo, Dave, the CBIX broke up shortly after you left.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #621, from davemackey, 335 chars, Mon Jun 10 20:22:23 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: A thought.
\nBetween the big parade held in New York City to welcome back our troops, the
\nfinal episode of “Twin Peaks,” and the James Brown pay per view concert
\ntonight, I hope there’s some videotape left in the stores tomorrow! This
\ncould well be one of the biggest VCR taping days ever!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #622, from davemackey, 973 chars, Mon Jun 10 20:22:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 619.
\n————————–
\nAbout those “Trivial Pursuit” cards… I wonder just how well researched they
\nreally are.
\n The card set is the new Television edition, which is only available as a
\nMaster Game (with board and playing pieces). In the Classics category there’s
\na question about “what fine feathered friends had voices by Frank Welker?”
\nThe answer is Heckle and Jeckle, but the question is at best vague, since I
\nam more inclined to associate Dayton Allen with H&J. (Roy Halee, later
\nproducer of most of Paul Simon’s records with and without Garfunkel, took
\nover in the 60’s, but Frank Welker did in fact do the magpies in 1979.)
\n I’ve found so many more little discrepancies and questions that could
\nhave more than one answer, that I’m considering writing in with corrections
\n(gee, Dave, where have we heard THAT one before?). I guess I’m just so
\nspoiled by the quality of the facts presented on “Jeopardy!” whose viewers
\ncan be a picky bunch.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #623, from hmccracken, 901 chars, Sun Jun 16 12:29:40 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _FLAKE_ is billed as “Scott Bruce’s Cereal Box Collecting
\nMagazine,” which describes this odd little periodical well.
\n(Bruce is also an expert on lunchbox collecting and has published
\na couple of books on that subject.) _FLAKE_, which comes out
\nquarterly, is full of great illustrations of old cereal boxes
\nand articles on topics like Jay Ward’s animated cereal commercials
\nand the twenty-five greatest cereal boxes of all time. There’s
\nalso aa series of editorials relating to some strange feud that
\nBruce is having with a fellow cereal box collector.<\/p>\n

I wish there was more hardcore information in the magazine and
\nfewer self-promoting pieces by the editor, but even so this
\nis material you’re not going to find anywhere else. If you’re
\nas into weird old forgotten popular culture as I am, you’ll
\nlove it. Subscriptions are $20\/year from FLAKE, PO Box 481
\nCambridge, MA 02140.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #624, from davemackey, 331 chars, Sun Jun 16 21:43:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 623.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 623.
\n————————–
\nWe were discussing this today, given the fact that a number of the lots at
\nChristie’s auction this week will be cel set-ups from Jay Ward commercials,
\nincluding the Cap’n Crunch family, Quisp and Quake.
\n Tell me, Harry, are there cereal box collectors who collect old boxes
\nwith cereal?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #625, from hmccracken, 358 chars, Sun Jun 16 22:01:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 624.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI was just wondering about that. From what I can tell from
\n_FLAKE_, emptying out the boxes and flattening them for
\nstorage seems to be common. I have an unopened box of
\nLucky Charms which I bought and saved circa 1985 for some
\nreason. (I must have been going through a food-storing
\nphase — I also bought a case of old Coke which I still
\nhave.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #626, from bsoron, 432 chars, Sun Jun 16 23:59:04 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 625.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 625.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Lucky Charms Classic?<\/p>\n

I think I remember reading an interview with the Flake publisher, whose
\nname has scrolled out of my buffer, in which he said he started collecting
\nlunch boxes for the single purpose of establishing that one person could
\nstart a collecting industry. This explains his self-promotion; now, any
\nactivity in the “hobby” can be traced back to him. It wouldn’t surprise
\nme if Flake were for the same purpose.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #627, from hmccracken, 397 chars, Mon Jun 17 00:31:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 626.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI think it is — Bruce even dubs himself “Mr. Cereal Box” in the
\nmagazine’s pages. But if you’re like me, it’s worth dealing
\nwith that to get through to the solid information and great
\nillustrations in the magazine. This is virgin territory —
\nhow many fictional characters have been around so long and
\nare as familiar as, say, the Trix Rabbit, without being written
\nabout *anywhere*?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #628, from bsoron, 413 chars, Mon Jun 17 10:36:47 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 627.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Forgive my cynicism, but gee, how much is there to say? Aside from
\nexploring the animators who did the commercials, most of whom are likely
\nto be already well known to us, what makes the Trix Rabbit any more
\ninteresting than Madge (“You’re soaking in it!”) or Mr. Whipple?<\/p>\n

(To some extent, I’m playing devil’s advocate here… I have to admit
\nI’d rather read about the Trix Rabbit than about Mr. Whipple.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #630, from davemackey, 138 chars, Mon Jun 17 19:47:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 625.
\nThere are additional comments to message 625.
\n————————–
\nThat was probably when they decided that New Coke was going to be the wave of
\nthe future. Uh-huh.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #631, from rcrook, 189 chars, Mon Jun 17 22:50:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 623.
\n————————–
\nCereal box collecting?!? I’ve heard of collecting some
\nstrange\/unusual things, but cereal boxes??? (Reminds me of the
\nbox-top bit on the 5th Rocky & Bullwinkle videotape…)<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #632, from hmccracken, 1268 chars, Mon Jun 17 23:34:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 628.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBob, I have no illusions about this — the Trix Rabbit is not
\neven a character so much as a one-dimensional conceit created
\nto sell pre-sweetened cereal to youngsters. He ain’t Shake-
\nspeare; more to the point, he ain’t Disney, Chuck Jones, or
\nTex Avery.<\/p>\n

I’m still interested, though, and I guess it has as much to
\ndo with nostalgia (when *weren’t* characters like the Trix
\nRabbit part of my life?) as well as a continuing interest
\nin stuff that’s pervasive in American society but never
\ngets written about. Cereal characters aren’t art, but they
\nare a significant bit of advertising history, too…Gee, it
\nsounds like I’m as interested in Madge and Mr. Whipple as
\ncereal characters, which I am, sort of., except that the
\nfact that cereal characters are animated makes them more
\ninteresting to me.<\/p>\n

It’s late and I’m rambling here. I guess my interest in stuff
\nlike cereal characters is not so far removed from whatever it
\nis that makes grown men build toy train layouts or sixty-year-old
\nmen (or women, for that matter) try to date people young enough
\nto be their grandchildren. We devote a lot of time here in
\nAmerica to trying to recapture our childhoods — come to think
\nof it, that’s probably why animation art collecting has become
\nso popular…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #633, from richard.pini, 835 chars, Wed Jun 19 18:34:04 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 625.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, this may qualify, albeit peripherally – but I tend to put away an
\nunopened box or can or bag of any foodstuff that hits the shelves, that
\nhas a space theme. Got them Ronzoni macaroni moon boggies from *years*
\nago, as well as various other things. I suspect that anything in a can I
\nprobably never want to open, after a year or two. (Agh, this just brought
\nto mind an experience with a can of stew that we cooked in Germany. Smelled
\nfunny…like liver. I knew enough German at that point to read the ingredients
\nand discover that there was no liver in it. *Then* I noticed the expiration
\ndate of September 1989 on the label…) Pasta will probably last forever.
\nBut I really ought to seal some of this stuff up better…a couple of
\nspace shuttle lollipops “evaporated” over 3-4 years, whether to the air or
\nto bugs I don’t know.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #634, from richard.pini, 115 chars, Wed Jun 19 18:35:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 633.
\n————————–
\nUh, that’s “Macaroni moon BUGGIES.” Boggies, if memory serves, lived in
\nHarvard Lampoon’s “Bored of the Rings.” \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #635, from davemackey, 1012 chars, Wed Jun 19 19:06:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 632.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere’s not much time for character development in a 30 second spot in which
\nyou have to show the product so many times and still leave room for the line
\n“part of this nutritious breakfast.” This is easy for us to say now, as
\nthirtysomething scholars of animation.
\n When we were stupid kids, we probably laughed as hard at the continuing
\nfailures of the Trix Rabbit as we did the eternal triumphs of Bugs Bunny. We
\nplayed pirates with Cap’n Crunch and his gang of kids; we went on space
\nadventures with Quisp. The cereal characters were a breed apart from the
\nusual cartoon stars who appeared in the programs that were interrupted by
\nthem.
\n This is no longer true. In many cases, the stars of the shows and the
\ncommercials are one and the same. There’s no distinction between a half-hour
\nepisode of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures” and Bill and Ted’s Excellent
\nAdvertisement for their cereal. And that is wherein the magic of the lost
\ncereal characters lies.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #636, from hmccracken, 89 chars, Wed Jun 19 23:33:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 635.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 635.
\n————————–
\nDo you have any Space Food Sticks or whatever they were called
\nhanging around?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #637, from bferg, 56 chars, Thu Jun 20 08:46:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 635.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n“Can’t get enough of Super Sugar Crisp…”<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #638, from davemackey, 188 chars, Thu Jun 20 20:20:49 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 636.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWow, that was going to be my next comment. No, I don’t, and I don’t know if
\nRichard does, either… they were those soft, long pink candies, right?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #639, from davemackey, 264 chars, Thu Jun 20 20:20:58 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 637.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYes, but now it’s called Super Golden Crisp and the point of Sugar Bear’s
\nimpression of Bing Crosby is now lost on a generation. I don’t even think
\ntoday’s kids know he’s really singing “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho”…
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #640, from switch, 186 chars, Thu Jun 20 21:54:44 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Now be good, kids…
\n…I’ll be gone until next Wednesday, though I may drop in if
\nI’m near a computer armed with a modem. Try not to get popcorn
\nall over the place, okay?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #641, from bferg, 264 chars, Thu Jun 20 23:52:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 639.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYeah, Dave, I realize, but for some reason, when I think of
\ncereal commercials, that little tune *pops* into my head, next
\nbeing the famous, “Snap, Crackle, Pop, Rice Chrispies.” I probably
\nwill remember those little “catch” phrases for a long time.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #642, from richard.pini, 126 chars, Fri Jun 21 17:19:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 638.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNope, those don’t jog the ol’ memory. AStronaut Ice Cream, et all…but
\nno Space Sticks. Gad, not another bizarro quest… \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #643, from richard.pini, 69 chars, Fri Jun 21 17:19:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 641.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou are exactly what Madison Avenue wants you to be, Barbara… \ud83d\ude09
\n,<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #644, from sharonfisher, 106 chars, Fri Jun 21 17:42:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 642.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOh, I remember Space Food Sticks. Loved them, too. Basically a kind of
\nlong flavored toffee-like thing.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #645, from bferg, 121 chars, Fri Jun 21 19:10:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 643.
\nThere are additional comments to message 643.
\n————————–
\nYeah, I know, I am not sure if that is fortunate or unfortuneate.
\nSeems always a tune in my head, always. <\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #646, from bferg, 193 chars, Fri Jun 21 19:13:58 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 643.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHum, thinking, it seems to me I have more storage space in
\nmy head than you do on your shelf for the “collectable” cereal
\nboxes and I do not have pests to come and chew things up.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #647, from bsoron, 87 chars, Fri Jun 21 20:41:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 644.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I remember Space Food Sticks too — something like a softer Tootsie
\nRoll, I think.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #648, from richard.pini, 40 chars, Sun Jun 23 15:47:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 646.
\n————————–
\nI’m letting it be a challenge to me.
\n\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #649, from switch, 58 chars, Thu Jun 27 18:34:55 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hey!
\nI’m back! Are the chairs still intact?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #650, from davemackey, 329 chars, Sun Jun 30 10:37:06 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: That voodoo that Disney does so well
\nThe new Disney World resort Dixie Landing, scheduled to open next year, plans
\nto serve its patrons Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager Beer — a beer that has
\nbeen banned from the state of Texas due to its mystic name and label design.
\n Go figure.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #651, from adunkin, 58 chars, Sun Jun 30 21:18:12 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 650.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 650.
\n————————–
\nDixie Landing is going to be in Texas?<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #652, from hmccracken, 82 chars, Sun Jun 30 23:45:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 651.
\nThere are additional comments to message 651.
\n————————–
\nDisney World is awfully big, but I don’t think it extends
\ninto Texas…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #653, from davemackey, 185 chars, Sun Jun 30 23:59:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 651.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNo, the Dixie Landing is in the Disney World resort in Orlando. It seems a
\nlittle odd that Disney would lend credence to a beer banned in Texas.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #654, from adunkin, 104 chars, Mon Jul 1 20:34:13 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 653.
\n————————–
\nOh, darn. I thought there would be one in Texas, instead of going to either
\ncoast \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #655, from hmccracken, 156 chars, Wed Jul 10 09:19:12 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Henson bio
\nRon Powers, former TV critic for CBS’s _This Morning_, is working
\non a biography of the late father of the Muppets, Jim Henson.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #656, from davemackey, 191 chars, Wed Jul 10 21:30:01 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 650.
\n————————–
\nAccording to adunkin in a message in elfquest\/dreamberries, the state of
\nTexas has legalized Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager Beer. So that mootifys that.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #657, from davemackey, 274 chars, Thu Jul 11 19:05:57 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What’s going on here?
\nDemi Moore, very nude and very pregnant, on the cover of “Vanity Fair”?<\/p>\n

A woman who suffers epileptic seizures when she hears Mary Hart’s voice?<\/p>\n

Geez, you’d think there was an eclipse or something… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #658, from adunkin, 173 chars, Thu Jul 11 21:22:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 657.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFrom what I hear all of it is true, including the eclipse … by two
\no’clock local Dallas news said there were 140 retina burn cases from the
\nelcipse .. <\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #659, from bferg, 101 chars, Fri Jul 12 19:09:36 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 658.
\n————————–
\nAnd, Alan, folks are warned and warned…just seems they will
\nnot take heed to the danger.<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #660, from sje, 270 chars, Tue Jul 16 23:35:09 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: CBIX 1991.07.16, TYMNET Strikes Out (Again)
\n\tEven now, over an hour and a half since the animation cbix was
\nscheduled, I still cannot get anything out of Tymnet other than that
\nwonderous “host shut”. (I am dialing direct to post this.)<\/p>\n

\tI am miffed. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #661, from hmccracken, 340 chars, Wed Jul 17 09:30:37 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 660.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 660.
\n————————–
\nUnfortunately, yesterday night’s animation CBIX was the
\nsecond one to get zapped by BIX technical problems. I
\ncan’t make it tonight, but how about a make-up session
\ntomorrow at 10:00pm EDT? I really wanted to discuss all
\nthe _Fantasia_ news — supposedly a sequel called
\n_Fantasia Revisited_ or somesuch is in the works for 1997.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #662, from sje, 115 chars, Wed Jul 17 18:19:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 661.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 661.
\n————————–
\n\tThanks, but I’d rather wait til next week. Could we rescedule the
\ncbix at an earlier time, like 19:00? — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #663, from adunkin, 132 chars, Wed Jul 17 20:23:39 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 660.
\nThere are additional comments to message 660.
\n————————–
\nIt’s because they were doing maintenence … all of us got warnings around
\n7:30 central to get off in five mins.<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #664, from davemackey, 322 chars, Wed Jul 17 21:11:05 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 660.
\n————————–
\nYou aren’t alone in your frustration, Steve. I tried for a half hour, gave
\nup, and logged in sometime around 11:15 to find the CBIX over, or never
\nhappening.
\n I had never gotten “host shut” with such rapidity before, I think there
\nwas something seriously wrong with the system.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #665, from hmccracken, 158 chars, Thu Jul 18 00:04:42 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 662.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ll open the floor to comments
\non this. Would more folks be able
\nto attend if we started holding
\nthe CBIXes earlier or on another
\nday of the week?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #666, from hmccracken, 284 chars, Thu Jul 18 00:09:50 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Funny, nasty commentary on
\nthe Disney company has become a
\nregular part of _Spy_ magazine that
\nI look forward to. This month’s
\nissue has a page devoted to Disney-
\nbashing, the highlight of which is
\nthe description of their negotiating
\nstyle as “Bad cop, Antichrist.”
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #667, from sje, 147 chars, Thu Jul 18 00:33:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 665.
\n————————–
\n\tYes for earlier; possible yes if same time on Saturday. — Steve
\n(I am up late because I need an all-nighter occasionally to catch up on stuff.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #668, from sje, 123 chars, Thu Jul 18 00:34:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 666.
\nThere are additional comments to message 666.
\n————————–
\n\tMaybe they’ve learned the finer points of said behavior by observing
\nit in those who’ve been suing them lately. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #669, from davemackey, 139 chars, Fri Jul 19 00:34:15 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 661.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGee, Harry, that sounds like a great idea! Now if only the system could have
\nbeen up at that time!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #670, from hmccracken, 177 chars, Fri Jul 19 09:26:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 669.
\n————————–
\nYep, another animation event zapped by technical problems. Since
\nwe’re halfway to the next CBIX anyway, perhaps we ought to just
\ncancel this week’s session…*sniff*
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #671, from grekel, 128 chars, Sat Jul 20 00:40:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 666.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nooooooo! Harry!
\ncheck the message number in which you mentioned “the Antichrist”!<\/p>\n

some things are just too scary to imagine…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #672, from hmccracken, 206 chars, Mon Jul 22 09:09:43 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 671.
\n————————–
\nI noticed that as I posteed the message, and almost decided to add
\nanother message mentioning it…I decided not to, and to see if
\nany observant conference member would catch it. Congratulations!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #674, from davemackey, 185 chars, Sun Jul 28 09:34:45 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: No comment
\nPaul “Pee-wee Herman” Reubens was arrested on Friday in Sarasota, Florida, on
\ncharges of exposing himself in an adult theatre.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #675, from sje, 979 chars, Sun Jul 28 14:14:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 674.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 674.
\n————————–
\n\tI heard a report on CNN that Mr. Reubens was, ah, “enjoying himself”
\nexcessively while watching a pornographic film in the theater. I feel a bit
\nsorry for Mr. Reubens; perhaps he has just fallen on hard times with the
\ndemise of his TV series.<\/p>\n

\tWhat is more interesting is the changing in reporting standards from
\nyears ago. The recently released _A Question of Character_ (a well documented
\nbiography of John Kennedy) tells of a remarkably similar tale occuring back
\nin 1960. It seems that on the evening of the West Virginia presidential
\nprimary, the “clean family man” candidate JFK was also “enjoying himself”
\nin a Washington, DC pornographic movie house. This item was well known among
\nsome of the big media powers, but was kept quiet because of the infamous
\n“Kennedy Pull”, an echo of which exists to this day and can be seen in Florida
\namong other places. Maybe if Pee Wee’s last name was Kennedy instead of
\nReubens, he might not be having these problems. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #676, from kermitwoodall, 218 chars, Sun Jul 28 15:55:15 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 675.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 675.
\n————————–
\n>was kept quiet because of the infamous
\n>”Kennedy Pull”, an echo of which exists to this day and can be seen
\n>in Florida among other places.<\/p>\n

I don’t think it was a “Kennedy Pull” in action down in Florida…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #677, from hmccracken, 435 chars, Sun Jul 28 19:50:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 674.
\n————————–
\nAlas poor Pee Wee. I’ve been meaning to mention that the Star Tours
\nride at Disney World, unlike the original Disneyland one, has
\nsomeone other than Reubens doing the voice of the robot who runs
\nthe spaceship you ride about in. This was presumably done because
\nPee Wee’s voice got too familiar; does anyone know if the Disneyland
\nride replaced Pee Wee’s voice, too, or does the robot have different
\nvoices at the two parks?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #678, from davemackey, 613 chars, Mon Jul 29 00:30:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 675.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 675.
\n————————–
\nLet’s remember, though, that the decision to discontinue “Pee-wee’s
\nPlayhouse” was entirely that of Reubens himself and not CBS, so I doubt that
\nhis actions were the result over falling on hard times. I’m sure CBS would
\nhave liked to have Pee-wee on its schedule for another couple of years,
\ndespite the production troubles he had with the show.
\n I don’t think the charge was all that major (would something like
\nthis be classified a misdemeanor?) — Reubens posted bail of $200 and change
\n— but it’s because the man is a kid-associated celebrity, it’s page two
\nnews.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #679, from hmccracken, 279 chars, Mon Jul 29 09:21:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 678.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 678.
\n————————–
\nYes, the news reports I’ve heard have quite incorrectly reported
\nthat “Reubens’ show had already been canceled by CBS,” as if his
\nnew problem was the last straw. Unfortunately, it is true that
\napparently CBS may now drop the reruns immediately as a result of
\nall this.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #680, from rcrook, 92 chars, Mon Jul 29 19:35:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 675.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, that’ll kill any chance he might of had of resurrecting the
\nTV series…<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #681, from rcrook, 160 chars, Mon Jul 29 19:36:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 676.
\n————————–
\nRe Kennedy pull:
\nWilliam Kennedy Smith to his date “Do what I want, or I’ll have
\nmy Uncle drive you home!”<\/p>\n

(Joke heard on the radio a while back)<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #682, from davemackey, 249 chars, Mon Jul 29 21:19:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 679.
\n————————–
\nAnd were the radio bad boys in New York having a field day with this! Both
\nDon Imus and Howard Stern made it the focus of bits, erroneously commenting
\nthat “CBS shouldn’t have canceled his show” or some such.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #683, from bsoron, 317 chars, Mon Jul 29 21:51:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 680.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Not necessarily — remember the great scene in Kyle Baker’s immortal
\n“The Cowboy Wally Story” when the network decided that since kids weren’t
\nwatching CW’s show, they’d make it even more gross and lewd and put it on
\nduring prime time, and the ratings skyrocketed? (Of course, this was in
\nthe first few pages…)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #684, from mscoville, 146 chars, Mon Jul 29 22:51:24 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Alex Lovey ?
\nDoes anyone know the whereabouts of Alex Lovey? Is he still alive? Last heard
\nthat he was working at Hanna Barbera. mscoville<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #685, from mscoville, 328 chars, Mon Jul 29 22:53:58 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hanna Barbera
\nThe rumors are flying in the trade papers about the “for Sale” sign on the
\nHanna Barbera company. It seems that the company that bought them has a high
\ndebt problem and that they need the money to continue their other operations.
\nThe publicity department response to this has been “No Comment.” mscoville<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #686, from hmccracken, 142 chars, Tue Jul 30 09:50:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 684.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLovy was working at Hanna-Barbera about ten years ago; don’t know what
\nhe’s up to now. I’m pretty sure he’s still among the living.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #687, from hmccracken, 226 chars, Tue Jul 30 13:50:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 678.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt should also be noted that a TV network that employd Richard Pryor
\nas the host of a kids show (a show that was in some respects similar
\nto _Pee Wee’s Playhouse_) probably shouldn’t be too quick to
\ncondemn Reubens.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #688, from davemackey, 508 chars, Tue Jul 30 19:30:50 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 683.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt worked in reverse for Pee-wee, though: he took what was essentially an
\nadult parody of a kids’ show and turned it into an honest-to-God kids’ show.
\nIf you don’t believe me, the tape of his original cable special “The Pee-wee
\nHerman Show” should be sought out. It includes some of the cast members who
\neventually went on to “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” such as Phil “Cap’n Carl” Hartman
\nand Lynne “Miss Yvonne” Stewart. “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” was a diluted version
\nthereof.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #689, from davemackey, 360 chars, Tue Jul 30 19:31:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 686.
\n————————–
\nStill there and still working for them as of the 1990-1991 season, primarily
\nas story director. Alex Lovy has been with Hanna-Barbera since the beginning
\nand hasn’t strayed (except for when he moonlighted as a Warner Bros.
\ndirector). Having come up with Lantz in the 30’s, he’s one of the more
\ndurable men of animation.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #690, from davemackey, 357 chars, Tue Jul 30 19:31:13 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 687.
\n————————–
\nI think “Pryor’s Place” had a bit more heart. I think this show had happened
\nafter he had mellowed out some (after that horrible freebasing fire
\nincident). It is nice to see him back on the big screen (in “Another You”
\nwith Gene Wilder) in light of some recent health problems that had many
\npeople extremely worried.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #691, from bferg, 204 chars, Wed Jul 31 10:46:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 688.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nPee Wee started out as mainly adult entertainment, later
\nstemming to childrens circle of entertainment. The first
\ntime *I* ever saw Pee Wee was on HBO, and it was definitely
\nNOT for children! <\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #692, from hmccracken, 344 chars, Fri Aug 2 10:48:10 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Pee Wee Implosion Continues
\nThe Philadelphia Zoo, which had shown a film in which Pee Wee Herman
\nexplains how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, has discontinued
\nshowings of the film in light of Mr. Herman’s present troubles.
\nLikewise, a Japanese brokerage house which used Pee Wee as its
\nTV spokesman (!) has let him go.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #693, from davemackey, 787 chars, Sat Aug 3 03:06:59 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 691.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLest anyone think that all Reubens is is Pee-wee, a few reminders: there were
\nseveral movies he did early on in which he played different characters; such
\nas “Meatballs” and “Cheech And Chong’s Nice Dreams.” The latter of which he
\nwas the guy from the HAMMMMMBURGERS. Reubens’ first TV appearance as Pee-wee
\nmay have been a late-70’s episode of “The Dating Game” where he was one of
\nthree bachelors. Concurrently, he also made several appearances on “The Gong
\nShow” as Indian lounge singer Jay Long Toe (with his sidekick Whitey Walker
\non the talking tom-toms), even winning the $516.32 on the daytime version.
\n I think he got his start as a member of the Groundlings, which was
\nprobably where he beta-tested the earliest versions of Pee-wee.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #694, from hmccracken, 110 chars, Sat Aug 3 11:43:49 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 693.
\nThere are additional comments to message 693.
\n————————–
\nMore Pee Wee info: Bill Cosby, Cyndi Lauper, and Joan Rivers
\nhave all come out in defense of Mr. H.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #695, from sorourke, 73 chars, Sat Aug 3 13:10:34 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 693.
\nThere are additional comments to message 693.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Paul Reubens also had a bit part as a waiter in “The Blues
\nBrothers.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #696, from bsoron, 128 chars, Sun Aug 4 11:18:47 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 693.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Hm. I’ll have to drag out my Gong Show tapes and see if I can find him.
\nGot a little over a hundred of the daytime shows…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #697, from hmccracken, 302 chars, Sun Aug 4 17:36:07 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Pick up today’s _New York Times_ for a dandy article
\nin the Business section on Pixar and its plans to make a
\ncomputer-animated film for Disney, to be directed by John
\n(_Tin Toy_, _Luxo Jr._) Lasseter. Good stuff whether you’re
\nan animation fan, a computer industry follower, or both.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #698, from grekel, 438 chars, Mon Aug 5 08:32:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 697.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOkay, Harry — what gems were in this article? At SIGGRAPH rumors were
\nflying that Pixar was going to have to hire a fuge staff of animators
\nand the release date for the film would be in about 4 years…<\/p>\n

BTW, Pixar and Lasseter debuted a couple of new “Luxo Jr.” shorts at
\nthe Electronic Theatre. They were designed for Sesame Street, and the
\nbest of the pair was called “Light and Heavy”, featuring a beach ball and
\na bowling ball. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #699, from hmccracken, 501 chars, Mon Aug 5 09:28:24 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 698.
\n————————–
\nWell, Lasseter will be directing a feature computer-animated film
\nfor Disney, which may be the first of several that Disney and
\nPixar will do together. Since the article said that recent layoffs
\nput Pixar at something like 40 employees (I don’t remember the
\nexact figure), I would imagine the staff will need to be beefed
\nup for the feature. Besides discussing Pixar’s cartoons and Lasseter’s
\ncareer, the article talked about the company’s origins, RenderMan,
\nSteve Jobs’s involvement, etc.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #700, from bsoron, 379 chars, Wed Aug 14 23:08:11 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: See y’all in a while<\/p>\n

Having just rejoined the workforce after seven months of unemployment,
\nthe financial picture isn’t rosy enough yet to keep me on Bix during the
\nearly part of the Bixnet switchover… I reckon I’ll be back around the
\nend of this year or early next once I have a bank account again, but
\n’til then, it’s been a blast. See you as soon as I can…<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #701, from hmccracken, 89 chars, Thu Aug 15 00:43:49 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 700.
\nThere are additional comments to message 700.
\n————————–
\nIf you happen to read this, Bob — we’ll miss you and hope you
\ncome back soon!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #702, from switch, 56 chars, Thu Aug 15 09:23:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 700.
\n————————–
\nSorry to hear that Bob. Hope you return soonest!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #703, from snowbear, 89 chars, Sat Aug 17 23:26:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 552.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAnd, of course, you’d have the advantage, in a live action movie, of playing
\nAdar… \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #704, from richard.pini, 60 chars, Sun Aug 18 19:03:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 703.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou *always* go back 4 months for questions to answer..? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #705, from davemackey, 347 chars, Tue Aug 20 19:23:25 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The opposite of Dalmatian
\nThe opposite of Dalmatian is Accordion. These are the two words that are
\nspelled rather interchangeably with particular respect to the penultimate
\nletter in each word. If you need to remember how each word is spelled, I
\noffer the simple mnemonic “A dalmatiAn On accordiOn.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #706, from snowbear, 36 chars, Sun Aug 25 21:05:31 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 704.
\n————————–
\nNo, sometimes I do it in a week! :p<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #707, from davemackey, 331 chars, Wed Aug 28 19:29:27 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: We are not alone
\nDid anybody else read today’s William F. Buckley column in which he not only
\nmentions BIX by name but reprints several messages from the tojerry\/russia
\ntopic chronicling recent events there? A good plug for electronic
\ncommunications in general and BIX in particular.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #708, from hkenner, 45 chars, Wed Aug 28 22:10:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 707.
\nThere are additional comments to message 707.
\n————————–
\nYup, I read it before it was published.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #709, from sje, 124 chars, Wed Aug 28 22:29:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 707.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 707.
\n————————–
\n\tI missed it. Which messages were reprinted? If it included any of
\nmine, I’d like to get a copy of the article. — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #710, from hmccracken, 109 chars, Thu Aug 29 09:25:33 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 707.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe column was great, but I can’t understand why he didn’t quote the
\nanimation conference at all!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #711, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Thu Aug 29 14:22:36 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Merchandise for Films That Never Were
\nWhile browsing in a store that specializes in odd bargains yesterday,
\nI came across a selection of plastic toys inspired by the Filmation
\nanimated feature _Happily After After_. This was odd, because the
\nfilm was never released! Whoever manufactured the toys must have
\ntaken quite a bath (or do you get your licensing fees back if the
\nmovie never gets released, I wonder?).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #712, from davemackey, 119 chars, Thu Aug 29 19:30:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 710.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ll have to make sure my posts from here on out are “politically correct”!
\n\ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #713, from hkenner, 111 chars, Thu Aug 29 19:54:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 712.
\nThere are additional comments to message 712.
\n————————–
\nNo, Dave, that’s not the problem. The problem is that the HRooshians are
\njust beginning to get animated.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #714, from hmccracken, 282 chars, Thu Aug 29 21:38:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 712.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAs far as I know, Bill Buckley isn’t interested in animation,
\nunfortunately. Hkenner would be in a better position than
\nI to know; so would my father (look up “McCracken, Samuel”
\nin the index of Buckley’s _Overdrive_ for information
\non the great Buckley-McCracken linke).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #715, from hkenner, 155 chars, Thu Aug 29 22:22:19 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 714.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAlas, animation is one of the topics WFB hasn’t sufficient patience to
\ntake an interest in. Let us be grateful for what he *does* pay attention
\nto.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #716, from hmccracken, 285 chars, Fri Aug 30 09:19:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 715.
\n————————–
\nAgreed. (Although seeing Chuck Jones on _Firing Line_ *would* be
\nnifty.)<\/p>\n

It should also be noted, as a related matter, that the _National Review_
\nhas a fine selection of political cartoons, which I take as evidence
\nof at least a slight interest in cartooning on WFB’s part.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #717, from davemackey, 162 chars, Sat Aug 31 16:57:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 709.
\n————————–
\nSteve, I am sorry for not answering this earlier. The messages in the column
\nwere tojerry\/russia #1135, #1168, and #1188.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #718, from morganfox, 59 chars, Mon Sep 2 18:36:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 711.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nA store with odd bargains? What? Where? Is a Building 19?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #719, from hmccracken, 234 chars, Mon Sep 2 21:14:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 718.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNope. This is a place in the Billerica Mall called “All For
\na Dollar,” or something very close to that. Full of stuff
\nthat people didn’t want at higher prices (as the name
\nsuggests, everything in the store is $1.00 apiece).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #720, from davemackey, 512 chars, Tue Sep 3 19:41:42 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Last Picture Show come to life
\nNew Jersey’s last drive-in theatre, the Route 35 Drive In in Hazlet, is
\nclosing tomorrow night with the 50’s double bill of “The Fly” (the original
\nversion) and “The Girl Can’t Help It” (directed by everyone’s favorite
\ncartoon director turned live action director, Frank Tashlin). $10 a carload,
\nand it benefits the Raritan High School Booster Club. After tomorrow night,
\nthe night of the “ozoner” is no more in the Garden State.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #721, from richard.pini, 576 chars, Wed Sep 4 07:33:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 719.
\nThere are additional comments to message 719.
\n————————–
\nWe have one of those here, in fact. I was in there yesterday and saw a bunch
\nof plastic-wrapped little Warner Bros figures that apparently were given
\naway at Shell service stations. I was ready to buy a few – they were made
\nmy Applause, which makes some nice little figurines – when I noticed that
\nthe quality was not so hot. Then I recalled that I had already bought a couple
\nof them at a greeting cards store. The difference was that the $1 ones must
\nhave failed the Q\/A cut, as the paint jobs were not nearly as tight as the
\nones that sold for $2.50 or more. Recycling…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #722, from bferg, 615 chars, Wed Sep 4 11:27:12 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 719.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 719.
\n————————–
\nSince Doug is a collector of sorts of little figurines, I usually
\nfind the ones he shows interest in at places I do not expect, like
\nairport gift shops, filling stations along the road (there I found
\nsome Bugs Bunny drinking glasses for the anniversary), at Six Flags
\nOver Texas souvenir shops, etc. After reading Richard’s post on
\nthe quality, I am very picky about the quality of the figurines, I
\nlook them over real good, look at the detail, making sure that I get
\nthe best. NOW, if you can find figurines for a $1 that show good
\nquality, then that is a rare find. <\/p>\n

Always with my eyes open…<\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #723, from hmccracken, 920 chars, Wed Sep 4 11:43:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 722.
\n————————–
\nYes, cartoon character figuirines vary a lot in quality — both
\nin the quality of the painting and in the fidelity of the designs
\nto the original characters. If you go into a Disney Store and
\ncheck out the gigantic supply of figurines they have, you’ll
\nfind both some very nice-looking stuff and some weird looking
\nlittle critters who bear only a slightly, vaguely dyspeptic
\nresemblance to Mickey, Donald, and Minnie.<\/p>\n

Six or seven years ago, I collected cartoon character figures
\nquite seriously, but I found a lot of the fun went out of
\nthe hobby when such figures became as common as they have been
\nin recent years. I still try to collect at least one character
\nfrom each Disney film, and it’s always fun to get an oddball
\ncharacter whom you wouldn’t expect would appear in such a form.
\n(I have figures of Jack Kirby’s Darkseid and of Carl Barks’s
\nSecond Richest Duck, whose name escapes me at the moment.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #724, from davemackey, 545 chars, Wed Sep 4 22:00:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 720.
\n————————–
\nAn unqualified success: the drive-in was packed full two hours before the
\nshow, which began an hour early since darkness fell a little early due to
\nlack of sunshine. It made all the major news broadcasts in the area, and the
\nRHS Booster Club made lots of money.
\n Forgive the nostalgia, but I miss the Eatontown Drive-In and the Shore
\nDrive-In more. And I have a soft spot in my heart for the Laurelton Circle
\nDrive-In a few miles to the south of me, since that was where I saw “Bugs
\nBunny Superstar.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #725, from davemackey, 291 chars, Wed Sep 4 22:00:40 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Miffed at CBS
\nThat CBS, I’m telling you. First they promise six episodes of “Bullwinkle”
\nand only give us three. Then they promise six episodes of “Police Squad!” and
\nonly give us five. Hoo boy. What yard apes they have for program executives.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #726, from davemackey, 143 chars, Wed Sep 4 22:00:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 719.
\n————————–
\nI must live in the high-rent district: one of the local malls has a store
\ncalled “The $1.29 Store.” \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #727, from hmccracken, 486 chars, Thu Sep 5 09:49:16 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Fun Fact
\nDid you know that Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Jay Ward’s time-travelling
\ncharacters from _The Bullwinkle Show_, were created by Ted Key,
\nbest known for being the writer and artist of the _Hazel_ newspaper
\ncomic feature? I wouldn’t have known either, but Key is presently
\nsuing the Ward studios for unpaid royalties relating to the
\ncharacters (as is Alex Anderson, Ward’s original partner, who
\nwas instrumental in the creation of Rocky and Bullwinkle themselves).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #728, from hmccracken, 361 chars, Thu Sep 5 09:51:07 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Fun Fact #2
\nDid you know that in France, Disney’s _TaleSpin_ cartoon is known
\nby the name _Super Baloo_? I think I like that title better.
\n(Actually, I’m not sure if the _TaleSpin_ TV series airs in
\nFrance; I gleaned this information from a _Super Baloo_ story
\nin a copy of _Le Journal de Mickey_ that a friend brought back
\nfrom a Paris trip.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #729, from sje, 1388 chars, Thu Sep 5 14:58:10 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Final Farewell<\/p>\n

\tDue to problems on the part of Byte and McGraw-Hill giving out my name
\nand address after being told not to do so, I am now permanently resigning from
\nBIX. I feel that a complete severence of all connections between me and Byte\/
\nMcGraw-Hill is the only way to clear up these problems. If any of you readers
\nare current subscribers to the magazine, I can only state that you have my
\nsympathies if you have asked to have your name\/address held in confidence —
\nbecause they have not been able to comply. Regrettably, these types of
\nproblems have been going on for months, and I have little faith that they
\ncan be corrected soon. I have wasted enough of my time on this matter and must
\nreturn to other tasks.<\/p>\n

\tThis is really a shame as I have been a Byte reader since the early
\ndays (I have issue #1 Sep\/1975). I have just run out of patience with the
\npoor management of McGraw-Hill.<\/p>\n

\tI feel bad about leaving the animation conference as I know it was
\nthe best part of my BIX experience. I thank all of you for the helpful
\ninformation you’ve provided; I hope that my comments have been worth reading.
\nFor those with Internet access, I can still be reached as:
\n“sj*@xy***.c<\/span>om<\/span>“.<\/p>\n

\tMay your cartoons never suffer post-production edits, and may the
\nfortunes of all the great animation producers increase.<\/p>\n

\tThh–hhhh-aaaa-ttttttt’s All, Folks! — Steve<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #730, from davemackey, 246 chars, Thu Sep 5 19:37:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 729.
\nThere are additional comments to message 729.
\n————————–
\nYou are certainly going to be missed around here. I don’t know of any more
\nfervent Disney fan on this network, and your contributions were never short
\nof interesting. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #731, from switch, 107 chars, Thu Sep 5 22:38:46 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 729.
\nThere are additional comments to message 729.
\n————————–
\nI’m truly sorry to hear you’re leaving, Steve. I hope to run into
\nyou on the Net one of these days.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #732, from adunkin, 131 chars, Thu Sep 5 22:50:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 729.
\nThere are additional comments to message 729.
\n————————–
\nManomanoman …. we are going to miss you! Will try to send you some
\nmail over Internet when I get the chance.<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #733, from adunkin, 165 chars, Thu Sep 5 22:51:16 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: hey… didn’t I just see…
\nLaunchpad McQuack on a commercial for Darkwing Duck on ABC? Is it my
\nimagination or is that really Launchpad?<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #734, from hmccracken, 82 chars, Fri Sep 6 00:22:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 733.
\nThere are additional comments to message 733.
\n————————–
\nLaunchpad is one of the supporting characters on _Darkwing_,
\nI believe.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #735, from hmccracken, 298 chars, Fri Sep 6 00:35:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 729.
\nThere are additional comments to message 729.
\n————————–
\nSteve! You must do what you must do, but you will be missed
\nhere enormously. I can only hope that you return someday,
\nsomehow, and that you at least sign on one last time
\nto read the messages here of regret at your leaving.
\nA thousand thanks for all you’ve contributed to the
\nconference.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #736, from paulr, 112 chars, Fri Sep 6 13:42:38 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 733.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt’s really Launchpad. \ud83d\ude09 They have been showing DarkWing duck
\non the Disney Channel for some time now.
\n-Paul<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #737, from davemackey, 559 chars, Fri Sep 6 22:58:15 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: MTV VMA Gossip
\nThe latest chapter in the Pee-wee Herman saga was his surprise appearance at
\nthe MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles last night. “Heard any good jokes
\nlately?” he asked an appreciative crowd.
\n I didn’t see too much of the VMA (chalk it up to my indifference toward
\na lot of the music being produced today), but Paula Abdul’s musical selection
\nwas called to my attention, merely because she seems to have put on a more
\nthan a few pounds! Has she been putting away the cheeseburgers, or what?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #738, from adunkin, 95 chars, Sat Sep 7 23:38:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 736.
\n————————–
\nWell, I don’t have Disney, so what would I know?<\/p>\n

This is a scarey thought.<\/p>\n

— Alan Dunkin<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #739, from hmccracken, 156 chars, Sun Sep 8 20:37:06 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Projector Plea
\nIf anyone out there has an 8mm\/Super 8 silent projector they’re
\nwilling to sell, please drop me a note via BIXmail. Thanks!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #740, from davemackey, 338 chars, Thu Sep 12 00:02:59 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Sorry, Tennessee
\nWouldn’t it be funny if in the middle of that Dreyfus Chalk Talk commercial,
\nwhen the guy says the fund is “free of state and local taxes in 49 states…
\nsorry Tennessee!” they dubbed in a clip of Chumley saying those last two
\nwords clipped from a Tennessee Tuxedo cartoon?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #741, from rcrook, 291 chars, Fri Sep 13 22:51:24 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 737.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n>… putting away the cheeseburgers …
\nYeah, I noticed. I saw only about 5 minutes of the VMA (Video
\nMusic Awards for those of you that don’t\/can’t watch MTV), most
\nof which was ‘portly’ Paula’s performance. I guess she doesn’t
\ndrink Diet Coke, just does ad’s for it! Sigh!<\/p>\n

= Argosy =<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #742, from sharonfisher, 83 chars, Sat Sep 14 12:32:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 741.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYes, but how well did she sing and dance? <\/p>\n

That is why she was on tv, wasn’t it?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #743, from dcolton, 6 chars, Sun Sep 15 22:15:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 742.
\n————————–
\nNope.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #744, from hmccracken, 210 chars, Sat Sep 21 16:58:06 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Animation Celebration
\nDoes anyone out there happen to know when the Los Angeles
\nAnimation Celebration is scheduled for this year? I think it’s
\nsometime at the end of October, but I’m not sure.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #746, from davemackey, 870 chars, Tue Sep 24 21:07:30 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Toy Shop”
\nI know this belongs better in either tie.ins or sources, but I’ve noticed
\nlots of talk about cartoon collectibles in this topic. So I must pass along
\nword of “Toy Shop,” a monthly indexed adzine (no editorial whatsoever) jam
\npacked with ads from dealers and collectors of all sorts of toys: dolls, box
\ngames, cartoon character tie-ins and model\/diecast cars. It’s the best place
\nto gauge what’s available in the way of toy tie-ins for your favorite
\ncharacters. If you’re interested in subscribing ($18.95\/yr) or a sample
\nissue, the address is 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990. If the address
\nsounds familiar, it’s because “Toy Shop” is published by the same folks who
\nput out “Comics Buyers Guide,” Krause Publications, and adheres to the same
\nrigid advertising standards all Krause publications are noted for.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #747, from hmccracken, 888 chars, Tue Oct 1 09:27:05 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Keith Robertson RIP
\nWith the discussion here of the passings of Dr. Seuss and Miles
\nDavis, it is not too out-of-place to mention the recent death
\nof Keith Robertson, author of the “Henry Reed” series of childrens’
\nbooks, including _Henry Reed, Inc._, _Henry Reed’s Big Show_, and
\nseveral others. I read and loved all these books in my youth —
\nthey have to be some of the least patronizing books for children
\never written. I was astonished earlier this year to discover that
\na new book in the series had been published fairly recently;
\nthe previous one appeared in 1970.<\/p>\n

Since the books are still in print and haven’t aged much, Henry,
\nMidge, and the other characters will probably go on entertaining
\nchildren for quite a while. Any other Henry Reed fans out there?
\n — Harry
\n(Oh, and to tie this into this conference’s theme: in _Henry
\nReed’s Journey_, Henry visits Disneyland.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #748, from davemackey, 220 chars, Wed Oct 2 07:15:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 747.
\n————————–
\nI vaguely remember Keith Robertson and his Henry Reed books; they aren’t as
\nfondly remembered as the many other books I fed my brain as a youth, but I
\nwas certainly aware of them.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #749, from davemackey, 1719 chars, Wed Oct 2 07:16:18 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Where is Carmen? On PBS
\nAs we don’t really have a place to discuss other kids’ programming in the
\nAnimation conference, here is where I must note the fact that PBS has
\npremiered a series based on the computer game “Where In The World Is Carmen
\nSandiego?” It airs daily at 5 p.m. in many cities; check your listings.
\n It has the look and feel of one of those post-slime Nickelodeon game
\nshows like “Make The Grade” or “Get The Picture,” shows with a little more
\nrespect for their youthful contestants. The contestants here are quizzed on
\ntheir knowledge of geography, the questions cleverly wrapped around a caper
\nperpetrated by one of Carmen’s gang of thieves.
\n To win the game you have to answer enough questions to get to the next
\nround, then find the loot, the arrest warrant and the thief (in that order)
\non a “Concentration” type game board. And in the bonus round you have to
\ncatch Carmen herself by identifying countries on one of the world’s
\ncontinents on a floor map. Watching several episodes of this show has
\nconvinced me that I need to brush up on my geography.
\n Since I’m one of the few people who’s never played a Carmen game, I
\ndon’t know how faithful this is to the original Broderbund software version,
\nbut I found it very entertaining. The ex-host of “Total Panic,” Greg Lee, is
\nin charge here, with Lynne Thigpen as chief of Acme Crimenet. The doo-wop
\nmusic by Rockapella is a welcome change from the heavily synthesized scores
\ntypical of these shows. And there’s even computer animation of Carmen and her
\ngang that reminds one of the character’s silicon origins.
\n In summary, a remarkable show. (Tinar)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #750, from paulr, 82 chars, Wed Oct 2 17:05:45 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 749.
\n————————–
\nMy kids (and if the truth be told, Karen and I also) love the at show. \ud83d\ude42
\n-Paul<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #751, from davemackey, 938 chars, Sat Oct 12 01:21:30 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Redd Foxx
\nIt might have gotten lost in the news coverage given to the Clarence Thomas
\nhearings today, but Redd Foxx has died of a heart attack at the age of 69.
\n This is particularly sad, since in recent years Mr. Foxx had fallen on
\nfinancial hard times, and at one point had a large amount of his holdings
\nauctioned off to pay debts to the IRS. This season, he returned to television
\nfor CBS in a new show called “The Royal Family.” It’s a shame that death took
\nhim when he was just getting back on his feet and be able to enjoy life once
\nmore.
\n Though he spent years on the black nightclub circuit and released
\nseemingly hundreds of “dirty” comedy albums, he’ll be best remembered for
\n“Sanford & Son,” as irascible junkman Fred Sanford, and ironically, it was in
\nthis role where he would often feign a heart attack and yell “This is the big
\none, Elizabeth, I’m coming to join ya!”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #752, from bcapps, 162 chars, Sat Oct 12 01:37:14 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 751.
\nThere are additional comments to message 751.
\n————————–
\nNow his troubles are truly over. May he rest peacefully. <\/p>\n

Seems CBS is not having a good year, either. First, Michael Landon and now
\nRedd Foxx. <\/p>\n

Bob
\n{‘.`}<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #753, from bferg, 188 chars, Sat Oct 12 06:57:44 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 751.
\nThere are additional comments to message 751.
\n————————–
\nIt was just the day before yesterday I watched an episode of
\n“Sanford and Son,” not a usual for me. He was very funny in
\nthat role, he will be a loss to the humor of this world.<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #754, from davemackey, 192 chars, Sat Oct 12 07:44:16 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dave AFK
\nI’ll be incommunicado from BIX from October 24 through 27, due to a weekend
\ntrip to Chicago to participate in this year’s Pinball Expo.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #755, from hmccracken, 255 chars, Sat Oct 12 13:34:43 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 751.
\n————————–
\nMay Redd Foxx (nee John Sanford) R.I.P. He was a very funny man.
\nIf he had to go, it’s kind of nice that he did so after sorting
\nout his financial problems to some degree and returning to TV,
\nrather than directly on the heels of his money woes.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #756, from hmccracken, 400 chars, Sat Oct 12 13:39:46 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: BIXen gets railroaded
\nI’ve learned that animation conference member Dave Mackey has
\nrecently contributed some photographic work to two train\/bus
\npublications. Congratulations, Dave, and why don’t you tell us
\na little bit about your work? (I’m pleased to point out that
\nDave’s nice photograph of Maurice Noble was published earlier
\nthis year in _Animato_ #21, edited by yours truly.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #757, from davemackey, 775 chars, Sat Oct 12 19:16:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 756.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOkay, you’ve nudged the truth out of me. I have a photograph in the “Railroad
\nNews Photos” section of the November “Trains” magazine (the nation’s
\nhighest circulation train magazine) of a couple of restored E-8 first
\ngeneration diesel locomotives that recently pulled the Racetrack Special into
\nMonmouth Park on its biggest race day of the season. I also will have a
\npicture in the Winter 1991-1992 “Bus World” of one of the New Jersey Transit
\nEagle buses that was turned over to Suburban Trails and painted in
\norange-and-white Suburban colors. This is the first time my color photo work
\nhas appeared in national magazines, and though I’m quite proud of my work,
\nI’m still modest enough to wait to be cajoled into telling you this. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #758, from bferg, 57 chars, Sat Oct 12 22:15:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 757.
\n————————–
\nCongrats, Dave, I feel I know a celebrity! <\/p>\n

\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #759, from hmccracken, 347 chars, Mon Oct 14 22:40:47 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 754.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThis is as good a place as any to mention that I’ll be heading
\nwest for a trip to COMDEX and brief vacation from October
\n20th to 28th; I plan to be equipped with notebook computer
\nand modem, so I shouldn’t be absent from this conference.
\nIf I do disappear, either my computer or modem failed me
\n(which is what happened on my last trip).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #760, from hmccracken, 2587 chars, Sat Oct 19 15:41:25 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: My Luncheon With Chuck E.
\nToday I finally accomplished one of my few remaining goals in life:
\nI dined at Chuck E. Cheese’s. For those not in the know, Chuck E.’s
\nis a chain of pizza restaurants aimed wholeheartedly at the kid
\nmarket. The places are filled with video games, skee ball alleys,
\nhuge robotic animal characters who sing to pre-recorded soundtracks,
\nand the like. Actually, the food is probably the least important
\naspect of the entire place. (As an interesting sidelight, the chain
\nwas founded back in the mid-to-late 1970s by Nolan Bushnell, better
\nknown as the founder of Atari. Like Atari, Chuck E.’s suffered
\nfinancial problems; it was eventually purchased by Show Biz Pizza,
\na competing chain of very similar restaurants.)<\/p>\n

Anyhow, there aren’t all that many Chuck E. Cheese’ses, at least
\naround here. I’ve seen them advertised on TV from time to time,
\nand once came across one in Hyannis that had shut its doors a
\nweek before I found it. But it was only recently that I discovered
\nthat the chain had a location about ten minutes from where I work,
\nin a tacky shopping plaza that also includes a K-Mart, a liquor
\nstore, a donut shop, and several other cheesey (pun unintended)
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n

I made my visit today with one of my few friends crazy enough to
\ngo to such a kid-oriented place without any youngsters in tow;
\nwe were the only such adults in the place, and the only ones
\nwho didn’t look bored out of their minds. Chuck E.’s is a
\npopular birthday-party location, and maybe a third of the kids
\nthere seemed to be birthday partiers. We ordered our food (I
\nhad a small onion pizza and some salad; she had a salad and
\nsome breadsticks) and entered the theatre area of the restaurant,
\nwhere the aforementioned robots sang Beach Boys songs, tunes
\nabout manners and traffic safety, and childhood standards like
\n“This Old Man.” When you order food, you’re given tokens which
\ncan be used in the various entertainment devices located in
\nthe place; these devices dispense tickets which can be redeemed
\nfor prizes. We both chose yoyos.<\/p>\n

Chuck E.’s has a definite 1970s feel about it; I imagine
\nit hasn’t changed much since its founding. I’m glad I
\nfinally had an opportunity to visit the place, even if
\nI was probably close to five times as old as the average
\nvisitor. (This point struck home when the singing
\nrobots announced that they were going to do a medley
\nof nostalgic songs, then broke out into several hit
\ntunes from 1983. When your patrons tend to be five,
\nsix, and seven years old, that’s like playing
\n“Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” and “Swanee.”)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #761, from morganfox, 104 chars, Sat Oct 19 21:41:51 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 760.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 760.
\n————————–
\nGreat! Sounds like you had fun. I guess there is hope for me. I also
\nwould love to go to a Chuck E’s!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #762, from hmccracken, 69 chars, Sun Oct 20 08:33:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 761.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThese kinds of things are important to admit to ourselves.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #763, from davemackey, 164 chars, Mon Oct 21 08:23:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 762.
\n————————–
\nOf course, we all know that the song from about a decade ago, “Chuck E.’s In
\nLove,” really was about Chuck E. Cheese…. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #764, from dave.f, 270 chars, Tue Oct 22 09:30:06 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 760.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 760.
\n————————–
\nre: Didn’t the chain begin life as “Pizza
\nTime Theater” with the premise being showing movies and\/or cartoons? I
\ncould have sworn that Steve Wozniac had some sort of connection with the
\noutfit, as well, but that could be memory fade.<\/p>\n

D=<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #765, from bcapps, 164 chars, Tue Oct 22 19:57:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 760.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 760.
\n————————–
\nI just saw a place where a new Chuck E’s is going up in Herndon, VA in a
\nnew shopping center. Can’t be doing too poorly if they’re still opening
\nnew units.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #766, from dferg, 399 chars, Tue Oct 22 22:40:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 765.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTo add to that, the local Showbiz Pizza Place outlet (in a revived shopping
\ncenter with a K-Mart, grocery store, sporting goods store and post office
\n…drug store, and family owned single-outlets) converted, oddly enough
\nto a Chuck E. Cheese unit.<\/p>\n

Variety, my instincts tell me, was needed to pull the kid trade back after
\nit had become bored with Billy Bob. I’ll let you know if it survives…<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #767, from davemackey, 198 chars, Wed Oct 23 19:05:50 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 759.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat probably also explained the absence of the CBIX on Tuesday night. I
\nwould have arrived forty minutes late anyway due to circumstances beyond my
\ncontrol.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #768, from hmccracken, 216 chars, Wed Oct 23 22:40:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 764.
\n————————–
\nThat’s right — it was Pizza Time Theater originally. I hand’t
\nheard of Steve Wozniak being involved with the chain, although
\nof course he and Steve Jobs worked for Atari in the mid-1970s.
\n — Harry (from Las Vegas)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #769, from hmccracken, 270 chars, Wed Oct 23 22:42:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 766.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhile I hand’t been to Chuck E.’s, I have visited the
\nShowbiz location in Des Moines. Personally, I think I
\nprefer Billy Bob to Chuck E. (How much work does it take
\nto convert a Show Biz to a Chuck E.’s? It can’t be much
\nmore than changing the robots, right?)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #770, from hmccracken, 468 chars, Wed Oct 23 22:44:40 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 767.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 767.
\n————————–
\nRight, while I have a notebook computer and modem here with
\nme in Vegas, I wasn’t free at the time the CBIX would have
\nbeen held. If truth be told, I {was at a chili cook-off
\nparty\/charity benefit sponsored by Micrografx. It was fun,
\nbut I discovered that Spanky McFarland — one of my all-time
\nidols — had been at the party but left before I got there.
\n*sniff!* I did, however, spot Rich Little strolling through
\nour hotel (the Mirage) earlier this week.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #771, from switch, 74 chars, Wed Oct 23 22:54:23 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 767.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYikes! I thought Harry would be gone *next* week! Sorry, folks…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #772, from davemackey, 89 chars, Wed Oct 23 23:26:12 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 770.
\n————————–
\nChili Cookoff Party? Hey, bring me back some! \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #773, from dferg, 218 chars, Thu Oct 24 03:09:17 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 769.
\n————————–
\nHeh…right! Though, they did convert the facade decor and re-sign the
\nwhole mess with new hardware…<\/p>\n

…as I haven’t been inside (does that make me an outsider?), I cannot
\ncomment on what happened to the decor. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #774, from grekel, 544 chars, Fri Oct 25 00:41:58 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 760.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI remember when OKC’s first Showbiz Pizza opened — I actually toured the
\nplace and saw what ran the robots (multi-track audio tape). Now, almost
\nten years later, I have two girls who adore the place. The location about
\nthree blocks from my house was recently changed to a Chuck E. shop.
\nThey put new skins on the robots and changed the backdrops, but not
\nmuch has changed, as you observed, since that first tour.<\/p>\n

Kids don’t care.<\/p>\n

The pizza has not improved, either. They once featured a pizza
\ntopped with, among other things, corn.<\/p>\n

ackpth.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #775, from olson, 1409 chars, Sat Oct 26 03:21:10 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What Thinkest Thou<\/p>\n

I’m not an animator, although I have written animation scripts,
\nnor an I a programmer, although I have designed (not yet sold)
\neducational programs, so I wonder of any of you in hyperspace
\ncan assist me with this idea.<\/p>\n

In writing animation, I was asked not to have more than two
\nmain focuses of action going on simultaneously because it was
\njust too expensive. I watch quite a bit of beautiful old
\nanimation, so much of it labeled “PD”. It occurred to me
\nthat a program could be designed to “lift” animation cell
\nloops off these old cartoons and store them, similar to
\nlayering images in an editing bay. Let’s say you wanted
\na scene like the opening to Savage Steve’s “Better Off Dead”,
\nwith lots and lots of happyu, happy creatures, flowers,
\ntrees, birdies, all dancing under a smiling sun etc.<\/p>\n

It seems like it might be a novel and memorable animation
\nstyle for a show to integrate various loops in the
\nbg or fg of various scenes, loops that have been lifted
\nfrom old cartoons with different styles. The program woukldld
\nallow the loops to expand or contarct to the allotted
\nspace desired in the frame, speed up or slow down the
\naction (dancing in a circle, for example), and allow
\nvirtually as many different motion foci in one scene as
\nthe animator\/director desired.<\/p>\n

Does this sound feasible and has it been done in one
\nway or another? Or if it is not feasible, why?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #776, from switch, 629 chars, Sat Oct 26 10:14:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 775.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ve done that a few times with an Amiga and a FrameGrabber, for various
\npurposes. Simply, I digitize one frame, then the next, then the next, then
\nthe next. I got through said frames one at a time after and extract the
\npart I want, and make an ANIM brush (simply put, a localized animated “sprite”)
\nout of that segment. However, this is fairly time-consuming as I have to
\nextract the element I want and delete the rest of the picture from the
\nbackground, one frame at a time. It’s a little easier with cartoons than
\nlive-action because you have solid delineations between objects, but it’s
\nstill a lengthy process.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #777, from hmccracken, 177 chars, Tue Oct 29 15:25:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 771.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, I’m back (as of an hour ago), and I’ll be in the CBIX
\narea tonight with what should be a reasonably interesting
\nreport on my Los Angeles animation activities…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #778, from hmccracken, 169 chars, Tue Oct 29 17:40:38 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 774.
\nThere are additional comments to message 774.
\n————————–
\nI don’t think folks go to Check E.’s for the food — the menu
\nis limited and features only kid-oriented grub. Which makes
\nsense given their market, of course.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #779, from davemackey, 200 chars, Wed Oct 30 19:20:00 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Plea-wee
\nPee-wee Herman is expected to plead no contest to his indecent exposure
\ncharge, which would entail the penalty of a fine and community service.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #780, from davemackey, 170 chars, Wed Oct 30 19:20:09 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 774.
\n————————–
\nNever, ever eat pizza with corn on it. The only thing worse than that is when
\nthey put corn in the taco meat at the local Sizzler.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #781, from morganfox, 280 chars, Wed Oct 30 20:03:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 779.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI read about this today. Seems he was offered the chance to enter a no
\ncontest plea, pay a fine and do 50 hours of community service (to be done
\nlocally) in exchange for a non-recording of charges. he will have a clean
\nrecord, legal wise. He is being advised to accept the deal.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #782, from davemackey, 1090 chars, Thu Oct 31 19:42:20 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 777.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m sure those of you not in CBIX (and where were you?) would like to hear of
\nyour trip to Las Vegas, but first, about my trip to Chicago….
\n I tag along with my brother when he goes to the annual Pinball Expo in
\nChicago. This is a show for everyone interested in pinball, from industry
\nprofessionals to arcade owners to players to collectors. Last year the big
\nnews was the “Simpsons” machine by Data East. Again this year Data East was
\nthe talk of the convention with its new “Star Trek 25th Anniversary” machine.
\n The exhibit hall opened on Friday with over 100 new and classic
\nmachines on display and for unlimited play by attendees. The Saturday session
\nafter the dinner banquet lasted all through the night, until 6 a.m. (not
\ntaking into consideration the time change that took place at 2 a.m.). And
\nSunday’s session featured an auction at which several hundred more games, old
\nand new, were on the auction block; my brother picked up two machines at the
\nauction, a Bally “Dolly Parton” and “Viking” both from the early electronic
\nera.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #783, from bcapps, 353 chars, Fri Nov 1 01:03:36 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 782.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 782.
\n————————–
\nNow, I’ve seen a Simpsons video, but not a Simpsons pinball unit. Where is
\nthis or has it yet to be released? Also, there’s a ST 25th machine? Honest
\nto God pinball Trek? (Current fav machine in OK right now is T2, with The
\nMachine: Bride of Pinbot running second [somewhat distant]) A good Trek
\nmachine would receive many quarters from me! <\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #784, from hmccracken, 648 chars, Fri Nov 1 09:43:29 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 782.
\n————————–
\nMy trip to COMDEX and Las Vegas was extremely busy and quite
\nproductive, despite the fact that I covered maybe 5% of the
\nCOMDEX territory that I would have liked to have seen.
\nWhile I am not under normal circumstances a gambler, I
\nvisited the casinos and ended up the trip down a bit, although
\nI got pretty good at blackjack. Nothing at all animation-related
\nhappened on the Las Vegas leg of my trip (I’ve covered the
\nCalifornia section in other messages), although I did visit
\nthe Excalibur, a new casino housed in a building with a facade
\nthat looks so much like the Disneyland castle that I’m surprised
\nDisney hasn’t sued the owners.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #785, from hmccracken, 675 chars, Fri Nov 1 17:04:13 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: ASIFA Cel Sale
\nAnother thing I did while in Los Angeles was to attend a cel
\nsale put on by the Hollywood branch of ASIFA, the international
\nanimation society. ASIFA holds these sales quite frequently
\n(this one was at the Hollywood Studio Museum, across the street
\nfrom the Hollywood Bowl), and they seem to be a great opportunity
\nto pick up nice animation artwork at reasonable prices. Most of
\nthe cels offered for sale were from TV commercials of fairly
\nrecent vintage, and the prices were almost all in the $15-$40
\nrange. I picked up a marvelous cel and animation drawing of
\nElsie the Cow, which I will give my mother as a Christmas
\npresent (don’t tell!).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #786, from davemackey, 177 chars, Sat Nov 2 01:42:28 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 783.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe Simpsons machine has been out for about a year. There had also been a
\n“Star Trek” machine released back in the late 1970’s by Bally.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #787, from bcapps, 136 chars, Sat Nov 2 15:49:41 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 786.
\n————————–
\nI remember the earlier Trek machine. Hmm. Have to go hunt around for the
\nSimpsons pinball. Ah, nothing like a search mission…<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #788, from davemackey, 559 chars, Sat Nov 2 23:06:05 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 781.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOn a lighter note, there is a brief blurb in the current Playboy stating that
\nthey got a hold of one of the films Mr. Reubens was watching, “Nurse Nancy,”
\nand that you’d be better off watching an episode of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
\n As a side trivia note, Channel 11 last night aired “Pee-wee’s Big
\nAdventure” and it had totally escaped me that Pee’s love interest was played
\nby Elizabeth Daily. Now known as E.G. Daily, among her many credits is the
\nvoice of Tommy, the leader of the “Rugrats.” Small world or what?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #789, from davemackey, 384 chars, Fri Nov 8 07:36:10 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 788.
\n————————–
\nAnd though it may seem like they were capitalizing on Mr. Reubens’ current
\ninfame, Comedy Central’s airing Tuesday of a 1985 “Saturday Night Live”
\nepisode hosted by Pee-wee was within the show’s normal rotation and is merely
\na coincidence. (There was one scene with Pee-wee in jail with Jon Lovitz’s
\nliar character which was downright spooky.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #790, from davemackey, 207 chars, Sat Nov 16 03:42:48 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: You know you’re getting old when…
\n…you go back to your old school for a football game and your former
\nteachers insist they call you by their first name. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #791, from hmccracken, 99 chars, Sat Nov 16 14:52:16 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 790.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCome again, Dave? Did Old Mrs. Weatherbottom keep calling you
\n“Helga” instead of “Dave?”
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #792, from davemackey, 297 chars, Sat Nov 16 23:58:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 791.
\n————————–
\nNo, I think I may have worded the message badly. Actually it was my old high
\nschool band director. He just went on sabbatical this year, and when I saw
\nhim at last night’s game, he insisted on being called “Phillip” rather than
\n“Mr. Moore.” (So I obliged.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #793, from hmccracken, 223 chars, Wed Nov 27 17:41:53 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nJust a quick note to wish everybody a happy and safe
\nThanksgiving. If you don’t hear from me here for a
\nfew days, you’ll know that the place I’m going for the
\nholidays had modem-unfriendly telephone connections.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #794, from davemackey, 155 chars, Wed Nov 27 19:23:53 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 793.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSame to you, sir. And I hope where you’re going is connected to TNT for those
\nfourteen straight hours of cartoons!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #795, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Fri Nov 29 14:29:18 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 794.
\n————————–
\nOddly enough, this place (Mohonk House in New Paltz, NY) has cable…
\nbut not TV! It’s an old-fashioned sort of resort where they’d really
\nrather you were out mountain climbing instead of holed up in your
\nroom staring at the tube. But if you bring your own television\\
\nset (I didn’t), you can hook it up to a cable input in your room.
\nThe good news is that it’s easy to BIX here, which it isn’t always
\nin a hotel room.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #796, from olson, 330 chars, Mon Dec 2 04:45:54 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 776.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAny ideas on designing a program which would group these separate actions
\ninto one program command? Seems like you could make some money by
\ndesigning a demo and then bringing it to a producer and showing him
\nhow an entirely new “look” can be made for a particular series,
\nusing “loops” from various pd cartoons. Sound feasible?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #797, from switch, 147 chars, Mon Dec 2 08:56:22 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 796.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNot that I can see. The problem is automating the isolation process
\n— how will a computer recognize Bugs Bunny from one frame to
\nanother?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #798, from ianl, 461 chars, Mon Dec 2 14:08:30 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 797.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

It depends on the individual animation sequence. If Bugs Bunny was drawn in
\ndifferent colors than the rest of the frame throughout the sequence, then
\nAni Pro’s OverTime processing feature could automatically extract him from
\neach frame{, creating a new flic that had just Bugs without all the background.
\nHowever, if some of Bugs’ colors also showed up in other characters, or in
\nthe backgrounds, you’d have some manual cleanup to do after the extraction.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #799, from olson, 762 chars, Thu Dec 5 05:08:02 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 798.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nre: shape recognition from frame to frame><\/p>\n

How does the shape recognition program work in the “smart” bombs?
\nI remembering reading the basic approach of the program in Scientific
\nAmerican, and thinking that if the program can recognize targets from
\nsatellite photos, then it can read letters from a book for the blind,
\nfind weapons efficiently in airport security x-ray screens, and lots
\nof interesting applications. Have “pop” versions of the military
\nshape recognition programs hit the market yet? Wouldn’t this
\nbe one way to design a program to “lift” b.g. animation loops from
\npd cartoons?
\nYou set the parameters for the shape you want to track from frame
\nto frame within certain areas, which you can mark off on a series of
\nframes, and so on. Comments?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #800, from rcook, 159 chars, Fri Dec 6 02:33:48 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 799.
\n————————–
\n\tA combination of contrast and processing power.
\n\tIn some ways the problem is more difficult when you’re trying
\nto pluck a shape out of an animated film.
\n–RC<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #801, from hmccracken, 354 chars, Sat Dec 7 23:09:40 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Interesting Tidbit
\nDid you know that Johnny Williams, the father of composer\/
\nBoston Pops conductor John Williams, was the drummer in
\nthe Raymond Scott Quintet? Scott is the offbeat musician
\nwhose works were often incorporated into Carl Stalling’s
\nWarner Bros. cartoons. Two different record labels will
\nbe releasing Scott CDs shortly.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #802, from bcapps, 68 chars, Sun Dec 8 02:08:26 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 801.
\n————————–
\nOooh! You mean the original Powerhouse is forthcoming?<\/p>\n

Drool!
\nBob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #803, from davemackey, 906 chars, Thu Dec 12 00:05:49 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Empathy with Popeye…
\nFor all the victories that Popeye the Sailor Man has had over Bluto and other
\nformidable opponents, I find it fascinating that on two occasions he’s been
\nabsolutely stymied by common houseflies (“Flies Ain’t Human,” 1940; “The
\nFly’s Last Flight,” 1949).
\n I am reminded of this because I have spent the last hour and a half
\nchasing a fly around my room. We aren’t supposed to have flies in New Jersey
\nin December, but somehow I got one, and I can’t seem to send him to his final
\nresting place. He’s even alit on my computer screen yet I still couldn’t get
\nrid of him. Hopefully he’ll be ant food before too long, or else I’ll just
\nget a rifle and start blasting the place — like Popeye did.
\n Just heard that the fly as died of natural causes. I guess he was
\nreading this over my shoulder and wanted to take the easy way out. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #804, from hmccracken, 59 chars, Thu Dec 12 00:33:56 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 803.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nJust as long as it wasn’t Fearless Fly, Dave….
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #805, from hmccracken, 541 chars, Thu Dec 12 00:44:58 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Idle Thought Dept.
\nI think I’ve mentioned before that every once in a while I try to
\ncast live-action performers as all of the classic Warner Bros.
\ncartoon characters (in my mind, I mean; I’m not on the phone offering
\nJack Nicholson big bucks to play Henery Hawk).<\/p>\n

Anyhow, I just got back from seeing _The Fisher King_, and the
\nmost redeeming part of the whole experience is that I can add
\nanother performer to my imaginary cast. Amanda Plummer, who plays
\nLydia in the film, was definitely born to play Sniffles the Mouse.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #806, from davemackey, 268 chars, Thu Dec 12 18:52:35 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 805.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAmanda Plummer as the “gee whillikers” Sniffles of the 30’s or the “are you
\nreeeeeeeally Robin Hood” Sniffles of the 40’s? or both?
\n Good actress from good lines (Christopher Plummer and Tammy Grimes).
\nScary chick, though. –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #807, from davemackey, 640 chars, Thu Dec 12 18:53:24 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Last Prom”
\nHere’s something truly scary: there is now a newsletter about driver’s
\neducation films. You probably remember seeing one or more of these in
\ndriver’s ed class or traffic school, films that graphically display the
\nconsequences of bad driving.
\n “The Last Prom” covers such genre classics as “Red Asphalt”
\nand “The Last Date”, and such driver’s ed auteurs as Kemp Milton and Earl J.
\nDeems Jr. — “the true fathers of shock cinema” according to an ad in “the
\nBig Reel.”
\n Available for $1 + 39c postage from The Last Prom, 137 S. San Fernando
\nBlvd., Box 243, Burbank, CA 91502.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #808, from hmccracken, 70 chars, Thu Dec 12 21:06:38 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 806.
\n————————–
\nShe’s versatile enough that I could see her in either role.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #809, from davemackey, 310 chars, Sat Dec 14 00:06:32 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 804.
\n————————–
\nNaah, I don’t think this Fly was very Fearless. He lived in fear of me,
\nbecause if he stood still for at least five seconds, he knew his little fly
\nbutt was MINE. \ud83d\ude09
\n I should have known I was setting myself up for a reply with a Hal
\nSeeger reference included… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #810, from hmccracken, 309 chars, Mon Dec 16 21:35:31 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Fun Fact
\nIn 1952, _Newsweek_ published a story on the Disney studio that
\nreported two potential sources for the story of the next Disney
\nanimated feature after _Peter Pan_. The two story ideas were
\n_Pogo_ (I wonder what a Disney Pogo film would hae been like?) —
\nand _Beauty and the Beast_.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #811, from davemackey, 218 chars, Tue Dec 17 02:47:27 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 810.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI don’t think a Disney Pogo film would be out of the question, since Walt
\nKelly had worked at Disney’s in the 30’s and 40’s… but was Kelly involved
\nwith the strike in any way?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #812, from hmccracken, 594 chars, Tue Dec 17 09:42:11 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 811.
\n————————–
\nAs I understand it, Kelly left during the strike, but primarily
\nbecause he had tired of animation and California, and wished to
\nreturn to the East. In fact, he crossed the picket line to ask
\nfor Walt’s help in getting work for Dell Comics, the publishers
\nof Disney comic books at the time. <\/p>\n

I think that Disney could have done a wonderful job with Pogo
\nin some ways — Kelly’s style is really quite close to early
\n1940s Disney, and the Pogo characters cry out for full
\nanimation. But somehow I think that Disney would have decided
\nto “improve” on Kelly’s work in one way or another.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #814, from davemackey, 342 chars, Mon Dec 23 19:05:50 1991
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Merry Christmas
\nFor those of us who will be too busy to BIX on Christmas Eve (including that
\nlittle-known BIXen username ‘kkringle’), let me take a several-days-early
\nopportunity to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!
\n What’ll I be doing on Christmas Eve? Watching the toons on TNT! \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #815, from hmccracken, 60 chars, Wed Dec 25 01:26:03 1991
\nThis is a comment to message 814.
\n————————–
\nMerry Christmas, Dave! Merry Christmas, everyone!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #816, from davemackey, 722 chars, Thu Dec 26 21:22:17 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Pop goes the culture
\nAnyone with any interest whatsoever in any area of popular culture is urged
\nto pick up a copy of “The Whole Pop Catalog” compiled by the Berkeley Pop
\nCulture Project and published by Avon Books ($20.00).
\n Besides information and sources for many areas of pop culture, from toys
\nto TV to fast food to consumer products, there are several sections on
\nanimation and animated characters including Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny, Disney
\nand Rocky & Bullwinkle. The section on Animation itself includes plugs for
\nsuch well-known enterprises as Whole Toon Catalogue, Animato! and Animation
\nMagazines, the Animation Art Guild, and ASIFA. (TINAR)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #817, from switch, 159 chars, Sun Dec 29 17:29:42 1991
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Vacation
\nI’m going to be gone from tomorrow until the 4th, so everyone have
\na happy new year and please leave the furniture in here intact,
\nokay?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #818, from davemackey, 902 chars, Tue Jan 7 05:27:26 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Career shift
\nFive weeks ago I was let go from my job as traffic manager for a New Jersey
\nradio station. As sometimes happens, these things turn out to be blessings
\nin disguise. That weekend I sent out a number of resumes, one of which went
\nto Riverview Cablevision Associates in Hoboken, New Jersey, which was looking
\nfor a traffic coordinator.
\n I started work on Monday and I couldn’t be happier about the job. The
\nmoney and opportunity are both far better than that which I got from radio,
\nand with unemployment and severance I came out a little ahead than I would
\nhave otherwise.
\n BIX kept me sane the last five weeks, and I’ll always be grateful to
\nmy friends from here for the support and assistance that they gave me during
\nmy brief period of unemployment.
\n To borrow a phrase from Bugs Bunny… “Hoboken? Ooooh, I’m LIVIN’
\nagain!”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #819, from hmccracken, 300 chars, Tue Jan 7 09:38:38 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 818.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 818.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations, Dave! Tell us a little bit more about what you’re
\ngoing to be doing…And while I think you told me you won’t be
\nanywhere near vast cable-tv libraries of animated cartoons, I can’t
\nhelp but wonder if you can’t *somehow* get involved with TV cartoon
\nshowings in this job…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #820, from bferg, 70 chars, Tue Jan 7 11:58:00 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 818.
\nThere are additional comments to message 818.
\n————————–
\nDave, I am pleased that you have landed a job you like..Hugs<\/p>\n

Barbara<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #821, from paulr, 75 chars, Tue Jan 7 11:59:32 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 818.
\nThere are additional comments to message 818.
\n————————–
\nHey! COngradulations there Dave!! COuldn’t happen to a nice guy! \ud83d\ude42
\n-Paul<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #822, from davemackey, 672 chars, Tue Jan 7 23:39:40 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 819.
\n————————–
\nSure I’ll be involved with TV cartoon showings… the first thing I’m gonna
\ndo when I get to work each day is watch “Pink Panther Parade” on TNT! \ud83d\ude09
\n(first job I ever had where I could watch TV!)
\n Actually the job entails coordination of the local insertions on a
\nnumber of different cable channels. These are the commercials for, say, Bob’s
\nDry Cleaners in your home town that sometimes show up on CNN or ESPN, for
\nexample.
\n As part of my job, I will have advance notice on interesting events that
\nwill be taking place on the channels we carry. So the things I report here
\nregarding Cable TV will be that much more timely.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #823, from bcapps, 73 chars, Wed Jan 8 00:08:59 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 818.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNothin’ like finding the right person for the job! Congrats, Dave!<\/p>\n

Bob<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #824, from davemackey, 91 chars, Wed Jan 8 21:05:11 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 823.
\n————————–
\nThanks, Bob, and everyone else for the kind words.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #825, from davemackey, 387 chars, Tue Jan 14 19:32:04 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy birthday…
\nI’m sure Harry will post a more detailed tribute message, but let me be the
\nfirst animation member to publicly wish a happy 100TH birthday to one of the
\npioneers of Live-Action Film Comedy, Hal Roach!
\n While we’re celebrating birthdays, happy 40th to “The Today Show.” I
\ngrew up watchin’ Hugh and Barbara in the 60’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #826, from hmccracken, 505 chars, Wed Jan 15 00:42:03 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 825.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHappy birthday indeed to Mr. Roach, who was instrumental in
\nthe careers of Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Our Gang,
\nHarry Langdon, Charley Chase, and other great silent comedy
\nstars — and who was Charlie Chaplin’s roommate before Charlie
\nbecame famous! He never had anything to do with animation, but
\nhe was responsible for as much laughter as Disney, Chuck Jones,
\nor Tex Avery.
\n — Harry
\n(In case you didn’t know, Hal is alive and very well, and
\ntravels frequently to film festivals and other events.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #827, from dferg, 109 chars, Wed Jan 15 02:55:53 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 826.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 826.
\n————————–
\nGoodness! Wouldn’t it be interesting to get Hal Roach on BIX!
\n…but I suppose that’s asking too much!
\n \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #828, from davemackey, 622 chars, Wed Jan 15 06:13:47 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 826.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat is true… if he were dead I’d have said it was the 100th anniversary of
\nthe birth of Hal Roach… Willard Scott even wished him a happy 100th
\nbirthday!
\n I wonder if any of the Sons Of The Desert tents had special observances.
\nIf so this probably explains your absence from animation\/cbix last night! \ud83d\ude09
\n About the only animation connection I can think of for Hal Roach is that
\nin the 1930’s he had a young gag writer on staff named Frank Tashlin. (That,
\nplus the peripheral fact that Warner Bros. wanted to make a cartoon animal
\nseries based on Our Gang in the 30’s.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #829, from hmccracken, 107 chars, Wed Jan 15 09:41:08 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 827.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGetting Hal on BIX might not be possible, but he *will* be on the
\nLarry King radio show tonight.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #830, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Wed Jan 15 09:44:20 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 828.
\n————————–
\nSorry to have missed the CBIX last night (and curious about what I
\nmissed). I had a late dinner with my sister, who flew into town last night.
\nI thought I’d just miss the first part of the CBIX, but her plane was
\nlate.<\/p>\n

Our local chapter of the Sons of the Desert — the Boston Brats —
\ndid have a meeting earlier this month, which marked the 100th
\nbirthdays of Mr. Roach and Oliver Hardy (also born in January, 1892).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #831, from mscoville, 864 chars, Wed Jan 15 23:58:09 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Claude Coats
\nIt is with regret that I report the death of Claude Coats. He died on January
\n9th of the year after a brief illness. It is sad in the just a few months ago
\nhe had received the Disney Legends Award from Michael Eisner and Roy Disney.
\nBefore retiring, he held the record as the longest employee at the company.
\nAfter graduating from college he attended art school and then went to work at
\nDisney doing the marvelous backgrounds which he became known for . In the 50’s
\nhe went to work for WED now know as Imagineering. He worked on the Pirates of
\nThe Caribbean as well as other parts of the park. He worked on Walt Disney
\nWorld and Epcot. I believe he retired in the mid 80’s. Though he will be missed,
\nhis legacy will last with each release of the films that he worked on. He was
\na very special and unique. A true gentleperson…..
\nmscoville<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #832, from hmccracken, 510 chars, Tue Jan 21 21:32:28 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _FPS_
\nJust got the first issue of our own Emru (Switch) Townsend’s _FPS_ in
\nthe mail, and it’s am extremely nicely-done animation fanzine with
\ncontributions by several BIXen including Dave Mackey, Hugh Kenner,
\nKermit Woodall, and myself. Since Emru is both too polite and too
\nabiding of BIX rules to go about huckstering his zine without
\nprompting, I’ll formally ask him here to post information on how
\nto get what is really a fine little magazine…and take a bow
\nwhile you’re at it, Emru!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #833, from switch, 172 chars, Wed Jan 22 11:20:20 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 832.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAw, shucks. Actually, you can find said information in \/sources
\n#159.<\/p>\n

Thanks for the kudos — the second issue should be better than
\nthe first \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #834, from hmccracken, 153 chars, Wed Jan 22 16:43:44 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 833.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, the first issue is very nice as is. How did you do those
\nscanned frames from cartoons? Were they taken off video or from
\nstill pictures?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #835, from switch, 465 chars, Thu Jan 23 21:40:54 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 834.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 834.
\n————————–
\nAll the images accompanying Dave’s article plus the shot from
\n“Duck! Rabbit, Duck!” accompanying Hugh’s article were grabbed from
\na Progressive Peripherals FrameGrabber at MITE AVISTA, Concordia
\nUniversity’s multimedia lab. They were scanned on the fly from
\ncommercial tapes. Next issue’s framegrabbed images will mostly
\ncome via the Video Toaster setup at AVISTA. They’re perceptibly
\nsharper onscreen — how they translate to print should be interesting.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #836, from davemackey, 341 chars, Fri Jan 24 05:59:12 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 834.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThey look like they’re scanned to me… many of the natural color gradations
\nare reduced to uniform areas of greyscale.
\n I am very impressed with the first issue, but Emru… you cut Hugh
\nKenner off in mid-sentence at the end of his article… could you or Hugh
\npost the last part of the article?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #837, from hmccracken, 61 chars, Fri Jan 24 09:34:37 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 835.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAnd was the output done on a 300dpi laser printer?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #838, from switch, 502 chars, Fri Jan 24 22:14:03 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 836.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYes — the FrameGrabber is limited to sixteen shades of grey.
\nWith the Toaster I can get more, but I do have a limit on memory.<\/p>\n

And my apologies to the Professor on cutting him off — I forgot
\nto change the text bounding-box underneath to “transparent”, and
\nit obscured the last few bits. The sentence (from memory) should
\nread:<\/p>\n

“Chuck would back me up” because Chuck held that a director
\n who attempted his own designs, like the lawyer who pled his
\n own case, had a fool for a client.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #839, from switch, 152 chars, Fri Jan 24 22:14:45 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 837.
\n————————–
\nYup. And just two weeks later, a friend told me he’d had access
\nto a 1200 dpi laser, for free. “Got anything you want at 1200
\ndpi?” Aaaaaargh!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #840, from hkenner, 32 chars, Fri Jan 24 23:18:20 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 838.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 838.
\n————————–
\nYour memory is good, Emru.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #841, from switch, 179 chars, Sat Jan 25 01:01:56 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 840.
\n————————–
\nYour contribution was most memorable. The example of the amount
\nof work that goes into generating a comma on a computer screen
\nserves quite well in my classes, by the way.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #842, from davemackey, 386 chars, Sat Jan 25 03:30:49 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 838.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe best writing I’ve ever read on Jones (besides Jones’ own words) has been
\nthat of Hugh Kenner… only another person with the same intellectual bent
\ncan capture that which defines Jones in the written word. I will be first in
\nline to buy a copy of this book when it is completed, and thank you Emru and
\nHugh for sharing this work in progress.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #843, from hmccracken, 134 chars, Sat Jan 25 20:11:14 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 842.
\n————————–
\nHere, here! It’s great to get previews of the book here on BIX and
\nin _fps_, but I’m looking forward to the completed work.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #844, from davemackey, 1640 chars, Thu Feb 6 04:50:20 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The adventures of DAVE, Computer Techie
\nAlmost five years ago, I purchased my first “real” computer, a Commodore
\nPC-10. The best computer $1400 could buy back then. Lots of memory, 640K, a
\nspacious 20MB hard disk and a state of the art 8088 microprocessor.
\n A few weeks ago, considering how far I stretched this investment, and
\nhaving heard too many “my hard disk is bigger than yours” stories in CBIX, I
\ndecided it was time for new iron. Having seen prices of PC componentry go
\ndown drastically in the past several years, I decided it would be fun to put
\ntogether my own system. (After all, I had to install the hard disk on my old
\nCommodore PC myself… what a trial by fire that was! I since learned more
\nthan enough about the insides of a computer.)
\n The Commodore was deemed “not upgradeable” due to several factors
\nincluding non-standard motherboard layout, so I had to literally rebuild from
\nthe ground up, maybe using some parts from the old machine if I could get
\naway with it.
\n After two and a half weeks of picking up bits and pieces at area
\ncomputer fairs (with only one defective item in the whole bunch), and a few
\nnights of panic over hard drive compatibility (follow the trail of tears to
\nibm.drives\/install for the story), I finally completed a sporty new 386SX-16
\ncomputer, with 2MB of memory, and a 1.44MB Teac floppy, and was using this
\nsystem in last night’s animation\/cbix. It is not entirely necessary for me to
\nhave Windows or a VGA monitor or more spacious hard disk yet, so those items
\nwill come in time. Total cash outlay for this system was about $400.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #845, from hmccracken, 140 chars, Thu Feb 6 09:16:57 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 844.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations, Dave! May your new system serve you so well that
\nby the time you retire it, you do so in favor of a ‘786 system!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #846, from hmccracken, 323 chars, Fri Feb 21 21:37:37 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _Beauty and the Beast_ fever hits _The McLaughlin Group_
\nOn this week’s episode of that public-TV shouting match _The
\nMcLaughlin Group_ (which, I must admit, I never miss), moderator
\nJohn McLaughlin’s prediction at the end of the show was that
\n_Beauty and the Beast_ would take the Oscar for Best Picture!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #847, from davemackey, 219 chars, Thu Feb 27 19:42:56 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 829.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUpdate on Hal Roach… Jami Bernard reported in the New York Post today that
\nhe received an honorary award at the Berlin Film Festival, but was “too weak”
\nto attend the ceremony.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #848, from hmccracken, 362 chars, Fri Feb 28 09:35:43 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Elizabeth Taylor Has Good Taste
\nYou’ve probably heard reports of this everywhere already, but for her
\nsixtieth birthday, Elizabeth Taylor did what every Disney fan would
\nlike to be able to do — she rented Disneyland for the night to hold
\na huge party! Presumably, her friend Michael Jackson — a Disney fan
\nof gigantic proportions — attended.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #849, from davemackey, 197 chars, Sun Mar 1 17:07:38 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 848.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI doubt it. I didn’t see him in the news footage I saw of the event (and
\nfor all I know, he might be overseas right now). Her hubby Larry was there,
\nthough.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #850, from hmccracken, 441 chars, Sun Mar 1 18:22:37 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: He’ll Be Painting the Heavenly Gates Now
\nEarl Scheib, cheap car-painting king, has passed away in Beverly Hills.
\nHe was 85. Since this is the animation conference and not the car-
\npainting conference, I’ll refrain from a full obituary and simply
\nwoner if Earl was any relation to Phil Scheib, the long-time composer
\nat the Terry-Toons studio who might be said to have been to music
\nwhat Earl was to automotive decoration…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #851, from davemackey, 231 chars, Sun Mar 1 20:57:04 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 850.
\n————————–
\nMost animation fans probably remember Earl Scheib in this context: “Ready to
\nrumble, Sherwin-Williams?” “Er, Bunga-Kowa, Earl Scheib!” (from the
\n“Slugfest” episode of “Tiny Toon Adventures”)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #852, from davemackey, 632 chars, Thu Mar 5 19:27:10 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Syracuse-bound
\nThis is the weekend of Syracuse Cinefest, so after tonight don’t look for me
\naround BIX anywhere until next week sometime. (Unless Harry, who’s also
\ngoing, manages to bring a computer with him…)
\n The Cinefest is one of the largest memorabilia\/film shows in the
\ncountry, and in fact it has already started as of this evening; it runs
\nthrough Sunday at the Quality Inn north of Syracuse where I-81 and I-90 meet.
\nAn enterprising animation buff can pick up some nice reels for his collection
\nif he’s so inclined (and I’ll let you know if I found any more treasures).
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #853, from hmccracken, 780 chars, Sun Mar 8 21:15:00 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 852.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, Dave and I are back from the Cinefest safe and sound. Dave
\nfound some nice reels for his 16mm collection (I’ll let him give
\neveryone a full report); I found some nice ones for my collection,
\nthen suddenly realized that I didn’t *have* a 16mm collection or
\nprojector. Fortunately, I was able to pick up a 16mm projector at
\na good price, and then a bunch more interesting cartoons at dirt-
\ncheap price. I’ll probably report on them in later messages.<\/p>\n

Friday and Saturday nights, we had cartoon parties, joined by
\nformer BIXen Tom Shim. I showed some videos informally on Friday
\nnight, and on Saturday Dave showed some terrific films from
\nhis 16mm collection. <\/p>\n

A good time was definitely had by all — maybe next year, even more
\nBIXen can get together at the show!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #854, from davemackey, 2154 chars, Mon Mar 9 06:28:25 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 853.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n First, I picked up about a half dozen “Batfink” cartoons (some of
\nwhich had really nice color — good prints of “Batfink” cartoons aren’t
\neasy to find), and half as many “Out Of The Inkwell” cartoons from the 60’s
\nwhich were also produced by Hal Seeger. These look and sound an awful
\nlot like 1960’s Paramount cartoons, due to the fact they used many of the
\nsame artists — one episode credited Myron Waldman with animation direction
\n— and music by Winston Sharples.
\n We also stumbled upon an episode of an obscure 1959 cartoon series
\ncalled “Bucky And Pepito” which was produced by Sam Singer’s Trans-Artists
\nProductions, the same outfit that did “Courageous Cat.” These cheapie
\ncartoons included the animation talents of Reuben Timmins (ex-Fleischer) and
\nGeorge Kriesl (ex-Disney). Seems like the best thing about those
\nTrans-Artists cartoon series is their theme songs, and “B&P” certainly had
\none of those.. “Buckyyyyyyyyyyy.. and Pepito… such a funny funny pair!”
\n I also picked up a beautiful print of “Snow-White” (the Betty Boop
\ncartoon, not the Disney feature unfortunately), a few Warner Bros. cartoons
\n(including a really nice copy of “Dog Daze”), some Lantz cartoons, some of
\nthe Hanna-Barbera Laurel & Hardy cartoons, a great episode of “The Fantastic
\nFour” entitled “It Started On Yancy Street,” a terrible print of a great
\nGeorge Pal Puppetoon called “The Little Broadcast,” and a Flintstones
\nepisode, “Superstone.”
\n My only concession to live action: a print of a little-known Our Gang
\ncomedy from 1929 called “Moan And Groan, Inc.” This one is where they’re in
\nthe haunted house (more dirty than scary) with this lunatic who makes himself
\nhowl by pulling hairs out of his beard. Edgar Kennedy is in this one, and he
\nhas quite a bit of business not directly related to the main plot.
\n I also picked up a Bell and Howell Filmosound 385 projector. What’s so
\ngreat about this projector? Back in 1966, when I was in first grade, this was
\nthe first projector I ever learned how to operate. And this was back before
\nautoload projectors! It took me 26 years but I finally own one.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #855, from hmccracken, 1118 chars, Mon Mar 9 12:04:25 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 854.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m still sorting through my purchases, but among them are two more episodes
\nof Bucky and Pepito, a pilot for a series called “Billy Cartoon and his
\nMagic Storybook Land” (which was created by Bob Kane of Batman fame), two
\nepisodes of the Flintstones in great color, a episode of Bullwinkle in
\nless-berautiful shape, and an Underdog episode I haven’t screened yet.
\nI also picked up a whole passel of Lantz cartoons including black-and-
\nwhite prints of several Oswald the Rabbit and Andy Panda cartoons and
\nthe little-seen _Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company C_ (or is it Company B?),
\nand a few late Famous Studios and UPA cartoons. Also a couple of Warner
\nBros. shorts and a Paul Terry “Puddy the Pup” cartoon, and a few live-
\naction shorts about animals that I actually bought thinking they were cartoons.<\/p>\n

The great thing is that most of what I bought was so oddball and obscure
\nthat it was available at dirt-cheap prices. A good print of a classic
\nWarner Bros. cartoon can run you ninety dollars, but much of what I
\npicked up was in the form of large reels of five or six cartoons at
\nfive dollars a reel.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #856, from davemackey, 678 chars, Mon Mar 9 19:33:55 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 855.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhen I do this sort of film buying I immediately go for the more obscure
\nstuff, which can be found side by side for the same price as the more common
\nitems of the same series. If I stumble upon something that’s almost
\nimpossible to find otherwise, nine times out of ten I’ll grab it.
\n It should be noted that Syracuse Cinefest is primarily a festival of old
\nfilms, and the dealer’s room seems to be an afterthought — the place was
\npractically barren on Sunday, most of the dealers having either packed up or
\nin the process of, due to the fact that Sunday’s film programs were held in
\nRochester, by my reckoning a good 70 miles away.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #857, from hmccracken, 316 chars, Mon Mar 9 21:14:36 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 849.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCheck out the current issue of _Entertainment Weekly_ for a spread
\nof photos from Liz Taylor’s Disneyland birthday bash. There are
\nsome meetings of film greats you’re unlikely to ever see again,
\nlike Goofy with Geena Davis and Winnie-the-Pooh with Dennis Hopper
\n(A.A. Milne must be spinning in his grave).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #858, from davemackey, 259 chars, Tue Mar 10 06:30:07 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 857.
\n————————–
\nForgot to mention that Michael Jackson was not at the Liz Taylor birthday
\nextravaganza. Cindy Adams in the NY Post reported that he spent that day in
\n(of all places) Paramus, NJ, at an amusement park called Sportsland.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #859, from hmccracken, 250 chars, Tue Mar 10 10:02:53 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 856.
\n————————–
\nWell, in this day and age, one of the main reasons to collect stuff
\non 16mm is to pick up obscure films that aren’t available elsewhere.
\nVideotapes and discs are just so much easier to deal with, and a lot
\nless expensive for the most part.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #860, from davemackey, 535 chars, Wed Apr 1 04:58:14 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 847.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUpdate (again) on Hal Roach.
\n Mr. Roach was at the Academy Awards last night, and Billy Crystal had a
\nlittle surprise for him: a doctored copy of the dance number from “Way Out
\nWest” in which Crystal danced along with Laurel and Hardy!
\n As “Way Out West” is one of my favorite L&H features, I thought it was a
\nhilarious and fitting tribute. But I really would rather have seen Billy’s
\neyes bug out and roll as Petey’s did after he saw the skunk at the end of
\n“Readin’ And Writin'”… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #861, from davemackey, 254 chars, Fri Apr 3 19:11:44 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Birthday Toast
\n“Happy Birthday To My Pal
\n To My Pal
\n To My Pal
\n Happy Birthday To My Pal
\n My Pal-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa….<\/p>\n

HARRY!”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #862, from hmccracken, 667 chars, Fri Apr 3 22:52:20 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 861.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGee! Thank you! As I have already told Dave, I marked my birthday
\n(which was actually yesterday) with a visit to Denny’s for my
\nfree birthday lunch. As my friend and I were waiting to settle
\nthe bill, we wondered out loud whether one could travel from
\nDenny’s to Denny’s on one’s birthday scarfing free food, and if
\nso, how far one would have to travel to do so (Massachusetts
\nhas only a few Denny’s). “Lawrence,” piped up a voice from behind
\nus, “and then you’d have to go all the way to Fitchburg.” The voice
\nturned out to be that of a *real* die-hard Denny’s fan, also there
\nfor his birthday meal, having been born on April 2nd a few years
\nbefore I was.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #863, from ianl, 146 chars, Fri Apr 3 23:20:44 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 862.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 862.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Your birthday is April 2nd? Interesting…so’s mine.<\/p>\n

Denny’s — Gee, here in Denver you could hit about 50 of them on a single
\ntank of gas.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #864, from bcapps, 47 chars, Sat Apr 4 01:24:46 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 862.
\nThere are additional comments to message 862.
\n————————–
\nHappy Happy Boithday Boithday, Harry!<\/p>\n

Bob 8-D<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #865, from switch, 29 chars, Sat Apr 4 15:15:42 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 862.
\n————————–
\nHappy birthday, Harry!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #866, from switch, 35 chars, Sat Apr 4 15:16:27 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 863.
\nThere are additional comments to message 863.
\n————————–
\nAnd a happy birthday to you!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #867, from hmccracken, 121 chars, Sat Apr 4 19:25:57 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 863.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 863.
\n————————–
\nWell, happy belated birthday, Ian! I seem to know more people who
\nwere born within a few days of me each year.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #868, from olson, 414 chars, Sat Apr 4 21:50:51 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 860.
\nThere are additional comments to message 860.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I’m glad you posted this; it turned me around a bit. I was actually
\nticked off at Crystal’s “jam” with The Boys (also my fav. L&H scene),
\nbut didn’t really articulate to myself why. After reading yr post
\nI realized it was a great tribute and was great of Crystal to take the
\ntime to learn those hilarious steps. I dislike Crystal personally so
\nit blurred my otherwise impeccable judgement. thnx dave -olson<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #869, from olson, 46 chars, Sat Apr 4 21:52:03 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 863.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

interesting. my b-day’s April 2nd as well.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #870, from hmccracken, 57 chars, Sun Apr 5 00:34:48 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 869.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWe should have all gotten together at Denny’s!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #871, from davemackey, 48 chars, Sun Apr 5 03:15:33 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 870.
\nThere are additional comments to message 870.
\n————————–
\nLenny’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #872, from ianl, 167 chars, Sun Apr 5 03:59:55 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 870.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

> all gotten together at Denny’s<\/p>\n

Man, that would screw them up, huh? About a dozen folks show up with proof
\nthat it really is birthday for *all* of them. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #873, from hkenner, 97 chars, Thu Apr 9 00:10:42 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 860.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere’s a verbatim snatch of dialog from *Way Out West* quoted in
\nBeckett’s *Waiting for Godot*.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #874, from olson, 46 chars, Sun Apr 12 00:31:34 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 873.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

That floors me! What dialogue did he lift?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #875, from mscoville, 141 chars, Sun Apr 12 21:55:09 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 867.
\n————————–
\nHappy Belated Birthday to both Ian and Harry. May you not have suffered
\nfrom the gastronomical surprises at Denny’s. The Best..Pam & Mike. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #876, from hmccracken, 393 chars, Wed Apr 29 12:26:53 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: We’re Back
\nThe big BIX move from Lexington to Cambridge seems to have gone well, but
\nunfortunately it pre-empted the weekly Tuesday Animation CBIX session.
\nFor those folks who can’t let a week go by without our weekly get-
\ntogether, I’ll be opening up the animation CBIX area tomorrow
\n(Thursday) at 10pm EDT. Perhaps some folks who can’t make it on Tuesdays
\ncan join us, too!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #877, from switch, 75 chars, Thu May 7 22:42:40 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: YES!!!!!!!
\nPeanut butter M&Ms have finally made it to Quebec!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #878, from davemackey, 148 chars, Sat May 9 14:29:02 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 877.
\n————————–
\nGood deal, Emru… and I regret not bringing you some when I visited Montreal
\nlast summer. Congratulations!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #879, from davemackey, 1216 chars, Sat May 9 14:29:27 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The littlest toon fan
\nParents of any almost-three-year-old will tell you the best way to keep a kid
\nquiet is to set him\/her down in front of cartoons.
\n Having just recently concluded an eight-day visit, my almost-three niece
\nBrittany seems to have developed quite a taste for cartoons. She brought her
\nvery own copy of “101 Dalmatians” to watch on our VCR, and also watched “The
\nLittle Mermaid” during her stay.
\n There is a giant rack of cartoon videos in my living room, and she would
\npick out tapes at random and I would play them for her. She seemed
\nparticularly fascinated by an old public-domain videocassette of Little Lulu
\ncartoons from the 1940’s. I checked with her Uncle Bobby, who also showed her
\ncartoons when she was here, and he too testifies that it was the older
\nnon-Disney stuff that she seems to have a curiosity about.
\n Home video has been a boon to toon fans. The kids of the generation yet
\nto come will have a keen awareness of the animated film with access to the
\nright material. It is an opportunity I didn’t quite have to study genres,
\nstudios, characters, at will and at random, and it makes me wish I had been
\nborn 20 years hence.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #880, from hmccracken, 326 chars, Sat May 9 18:48:16 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 879.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI may have some more information on little kids liking older animation
\nshortly: I recently lent a baby-sitting friend videos of Max
\nFleischer’s _Gulliver’s Travels_ and _Hoppity Goes to Town_, and
\nsome Famous Studios Raggedy Ann cartoons, for showing to a couple
\nof toddlers who have been weaned on Disney features.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #881, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Thu May 14 17:56:01 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: From All Walks of Life
\nOn May 31st, I will be participating in From All Walks of Life,
\nthe annual 10-kilometer pledge walk in Boston that benfits
\nAIDS prevention and care. <\/p>\n

If any of you are interesting in donating to this most worthy
\ncause, I would be delighted to give you details — just drop me
\na BIXmail note. My company will match all my pledges, so it’s
\nan easy way to double the power of your donation.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #882, from hmccracken, 352 chars, Thu May 14 18:09:00 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 880.
\n————————–
\nHere’s the promised update on little kids and older, more obscure animation:
\nthe test subjects, who were a boy and girl of roughly four and three
\nyears of age respectively, enjoyed Max Fleischer’s _Hoppity Goes to
\nTown_ very much, and liked the early parts of _The Three Caballeros_ a
\nlot more than the later, stranger sections of that film.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #883, from eofn, 979 chars, Mon May 25 20:51:30 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: CNBC Smart Money feature on Animation Art<\/p>\n

I just finished watching a feature on CNBC’s _Smart Money_ program on
\nAnimation Art. It discussed collecting and investing in animation art
\nincluding pencil sketches, background art and cels with guest collector,
\nPeter Merolo. They showed photos of some of his collection including a
\nMickey Mouse background and cell combo from the _Band Leader_ cartoon
\nappraised at over $1,000,000.00, a black and white background and 2 cel
\ncombo featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse valued at $500,000.00 as well as
\nmany other beautiful pieces from _Snow White_, _Pinochio_, _Fantasia_,
\n_Sleeping Beauty_, _Peter Pan_, come to think of it – I think they were
\nall from Disney.<\/p>\n

They mentioned that part of Peter Merolo’s animation art collection
\nwill be on exhibit at The Staten Island Art Institute [New York City area]
\nin June. Maybe someone here has more details for those who might be
\ninterested.<\/p>\n

-Eofn-<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #884, from hmccracken, 840 chars, Mon May 25 21:30:16 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Toy Trains
\nThe Summer 1992 edition of Wireless, a catalog of videos, sweatshirts
\nand other miscellaneous stuff, offers “Great Toy Train Layouts of America,”
\na series of three videotapes about toy train collectors and their
\ncollections. Why is this worth mentioning in the animation conference?
\nBecause volume one features the collection of Ward Kimball, the great
\nDisney animator (and one of Walt’s “Nine Old Men”) who is also a
\nlegendary toy train collector. Kimball not only collects toy trains,
\nbut real ones as well — and has a track layout at his California
\nhome with actual running steam engines on it. Model train collecting
\nwas very popular at the Disney studio; Walt himself was a very serious
\nbuilder of model railroad equipment. (The fad even inspired a Disney
\ncartoon in which Donald Duck takes up the hobby!)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #885, from hmccracken, 1023 chars, Thu May 28 23:31:29 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _Together Again_
\nThis isn’t animation releated at all, but I just got back from seeing
\nSid Caesar and Imogene Coca in _Together Again_, a wonderful stage
\nshow made up of some of their classic skits. If you live in Boston,
\nit’s a must-see (it’s playing at the Charles Playhouse); if not,
\nkeep an eye out in case it comes to your city.<\/p>\n

Sid and Imogene have aged wonderfully and are just as capable of
\nbroad, physical comedy as they ever were. In fact — tying this
\ninto animation — the Imogene Coca of today is far closer to the
\nclassic Imogene Coca of the 1950s than the Bugs Bunny and Mickey
\nMouse of recent times are to their classic selves. And Imogene
\nis almost twenty years older than Mickey and more than thirty years
\nolder than Bugs!<\/p>\n

One other tip for any Bostonians out there who happen to go: if you
\nwait outside, you’ll find both Sid and Imogene most willing to sign
\nautographs and chat after the show. In fact, Sid exits through the
\ntheatre lobby immediately after the show in order to do so!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #886, from mscoville, 502 chars, Sat May 30 00:10:25 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 883.
\n————————–
\nThe exhibit is at the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, 75 Stuyvescent Place, Staten Island. Their phone nu
\nmber is 718-727-1135. It will be on
\ndisplay through June 7th, 1992. As to the appraised value, well it is the value
\nthat Mr. Merolo would like to sell them at, not what the present market
\nwould buy them at. He has a large publicity campaign which is trying to suggest
\nthat this may happen in the future, but at the present the market is not in the
\nmillion dollar range. mscoville<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #887, from davemackey, 558 chars, Mon Jun 1 23:15:11 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 884.
\n————————–
\nOne of my favorite railroading cartoons of all time is the Fleischer cartoon
\n“Play Safe”, with animation by Dave Tendlar and crew. The turntable
\nbackgrounds are used at one point with an actual model train.
\n The video sounds like an extension of the “Great Model Railroad Layouts”
\nseries produced by Allen Keller Productions. Besides Wireless, you should be
\nable to order the video through Kalmbach Books, publisher of “Model
\nRailroader” and “Trains” magazines, at (800) 533-6644, and have your credit
\ncard ready.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #888, from eofn, 529 chars, Mon Jun 8 00:03:43 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #614 of Sun Jun 7 22:20:21 1992<\/p>\n

\tI am the farthest thing from a UN*X guru, but a friend of mine
\nsuggested I use gnuemacs to read news. Try this:<\/p>\n

– Start up gnuemacs. [ I think in most cases, just type: emacs ]
\n – From inside emacs, type:
\n – esc-x gnus
\n – From inside gnus, type:
\n – ctrl-h ctrl-h m [ to get gnus mode specific help ]
\n – follow help instructions and you are in business.<\/p>\n

\tGood luck. Now you know more about UN*X than I do.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t-Eofn-<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #889, from sharonfisher, 123 chars, Mon Jun 8 00:03:43 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 888.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n*** Moved from animation\/coming.soon #615 of Sun Jun 7 23:34:07 1992
\nOr use nn.<\/p>\n

What sort of ‘hassles’ is rn giving you?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #890, from switch, 754 chars, Mon Jun 8 19:03:29 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 889.
\n————————–
\nI wonder if we have nn… what are the differences?<\/p>\n

With rn, I was getting an error – “too many lines in .newsrc”.
\nI looked at the file and discovered it was peppered with control
\ncodes. I edited them out, and deleted any duplicate newsgroup
\nentries. In some cases I eliminated any entry that was too mangled
\nby control characters to read (in truth, there were a few hundred
\nsuch entries).<\/p>\n

Fine. I went and did my usual ‘rn -g rec.arts.anime’, and rn
\ntold me it was checking for new newsgroups, and I went through
\nthe routine of saying “no” to a bunch of “new” newsgroups. At
\na certain point – fj.rec.something or other – everything just
\nstops dead. I left it for half an hour and the cursor didn’t
\nbudge. So now the question is: now what?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #891, from hmccracken, 237 chars, Mon Jun 8 22:54:15 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Lost Chaplin Film
\nTonight’s CNN news had a report on a lost Chaplin film that will
\nbe restored and released soon that was just long enough to be
\ntantalizing. Anyone heard anything about this?<\/p>\n

(I’m a *big* Chaplin fan.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #892, from elfhive, 281 chars, Mon Jun 8 23:32:32 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 891.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSaw the same thing on Prime News (CNN). The film was never previously
\nreleased because of scenes depicting priests victimizing the homeless.
\nI believe it is coming out under the title “Chaplin’s Puzzle,” though
\nI might have heard that wrong. I don’t know how it is being released.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #893, from hmccracken, 403 chars, Tue Jun 9 00:38:21 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 892.
\n————————–
\nI thought they said “Chaplin’s Puzzle,” too. I found some of the
\nreport vague on details. For instance, they said it was a 40-minute
\nfilm made in 1915, and offhand I don’t think Chaplin was making
\nfilms that long that early. Also, lots of Chaplin films have
\npotent social commentary; I’m a little dubious that the religious
\nmaterial alone would have been enough to prevent the film’s release.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #894, from hmccracken, 271 chars, Mon Jun 15 22:30:31 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: In the great tradition of _101 Dalmations_ (sic)
\n…It’s worth noting here that Disney’s recent TV ad campaign for
\nthe Disney Channel had the name of a significant Disney character
\nspelled wrong. Donald’s nephew is “Dewey,” not “Duey,” as the ad
\nhad it.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #896, from hmccracken, 766 chars, Wed Jun 17 15:20:09 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Here’s a message from Delphi…
\nfrom a guy who’s trying to sell some comics. It’s posted here in case
\nanyone’s interested…
\n — Harry
\nI have approximately 300-400 MArvel comics from the 60’s and 70’s I would like
\nto sell. I DO have quite a few key issues, as well as some run-o-the-mill 04-
\n107, 180, 181, 161, Daredevil #6, Avengers 29, Spectacular Spiderman #1 (2
\ncopies near mint +), Thor, Spiderman, Defnders, Doc Savage (Black and Whites
\ntoo), Iron Man & SubMariner #1, and lots more. Sorry ALL my issues of the XMEN
\n$old for TOP DOLLAR !! (I had 94-112)and they went fast. NO DC or any others.
\nMArvel Only !!!. I live in southern California, so if you are in the area and
\nare interested, call and leave a message. Ask for Tony (818-837-7135) Thankx. <\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #897, from hmccracken, 462 chars, Wed Jun 17 23:20:33 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Boston BIXbash
\nBoston-area BIXen should know that over in new england\/massachusetts,
\nwe’re planning an early July BIX get-together centered around an
\nanimation festival at the Coolidge Corner Theater. It should be a
\ngreat opportunity to meet fellow BIXfolk and watch cartoons at the
\nsame time — a rare and rewarding event! I’ll post more details here
\nwhen they’re finalized, but you can get in on the planning stages by
\ndropping in over there.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #898, from hmccracken, 547 chars, Sat Jun 20 23:49:41 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Weird new commercials
\nFor the first time in quite awhile, I watched Saturday morning
\nTV, and was especially struck by two weird commercials:
\nin one, Ronald McDonald sings the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do
\nYou Believe in Magic?” (but without the line “…in a young
\ngirl’s heart”), giving the effect that he’s an aging hippie.
\nThe other ad that made an impact was a Rice Krispies ad
\nin which Snap, Crackle and Pop gleefully torture a live-
\naction, middle-aged man; the malicious expressions on their
\nfaces are remarkably out of character.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #899, from davemackey, 1384 chars, Sun Jun 21 02:45:54 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 898.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI have two big problems with the use of “Do You Believe In Magic” as the new
\ntag tune for McDonald’s youth campaign. (1) I have long been opposed to this
\npractice, since it ruins perfectly good songs by turning them into vehicles
\nto sell french fries — which is probably not what John Sebastian et.al. had
\nin mind when they wrote and performed the song in the 1960’s. and (2) it sets
\nup kids with the false hope that a belief in magic will be enough to carry
\nthem through life, when that is simply not the case. Magic don’t pay for no
\nBig Macs.
\n As for the Rice Krispies commercial, I have noticed S, C & P’s
\nout-of-character performance. Didn’t Don Messick used to voice one or more of
\nthose guys? (SNL a few years ago did a very funny sketch in which the Rice
\nKrispies boys, played by Brad Hall, Christopher Guest and I think Harry
\nShearer, were playing the small-club circuit and were mercilessly heckled by
\nJim Belushi. Now THAT was out of character. \ud83d\ude09
\n And now I have a weird commercial for you too: in the current Northwest
\nAirlines campaign, in which Aaron Neville sings “Some People Just Know How To
\nFly” and various celebrities comment on it, one such celebrity is Astro, with
\nfootage that seems to be from a 60’s episode of “The Jetsons.” The voice
\nsounds strangely different. Didn’t Don Messick used to do his voice, too?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #900, from hmccracken, 180 chars, Sun Jun 21 04:00:08 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 899.
\n————————–
\nDon Messick was (and is?) the voice of Astro, but Paul Frees was
\nthe long-running voice of all three Rice Krispies elves. He
\nhas proven hard to replace in all his roles.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #901, from davemackey, 640 chars, Sun Jun 28 19:44:16 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: For those leaving us…
\nIf what I hear about a mass exodus come Wednesday is true, then we will lose
\nthe presence of many of our friends here on BIX. Should some of you animation
\nparticipants still care to contact me, my address is
\n Dave Mackey
\n 180 Whalepond Road
\n Oakhurst, NJ 07755-1352<\/p>\n

By the end of the year I should finally have moved out of here, and from that
\npoint onward you can try me at
\n Dave Mackey
\n c\/o Riverview Cablevision Associates
\n 360 First Street, Second Floor
\n Hoboken, NJ 07030<\/p>\n

Hope to hear from those of you who will no longer be with us.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #902, from dcolton, 95 chars, Mon Jun 29 01:18:41 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 901.
\n————————–
\nDave, how bad is the attrition going to be?
\nI have heard some scary percetnages thrown around.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #903, from hmccracken, 640 chars, Tue Jul 21 21:03:57 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Perot\/Crusader Rabbit: Separated at birth?
\nThis week’s _New Republic_ (August 3rd, 1992 issue) has a letter from
\na reader that compares H. Ross Perot to Crusader Rabbit, the cartoon
\ncharacter invented by Jay Ward who starred in the first made-for-TV
\ncartoon series. The letter writer (actually writers: Daniel Moloney
\nand Joseph Hochschild) say that Crusader was “a do-gooder with
\nauthoritarian tendencies;” a do-gooder he was, but I don’t remember
\nhim being an authoritarian. The letter writers don’t mention another
\nCrusader\/Perot similarity: there is a certain physical resemblance.
\nBoth are short with oversized ears.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #904, from hmccracken, 518 chars, Tue Jul 21 21:06:02 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: More Perot\/Cartoon News
\nTwo newspaper comic strips — _Kudzu_ and _Zippy the Pinhead_ —
\nare currently running stories that lampoon the candidacy of H.
\nRoss Perot. Obviously, the stories were written and drawn long
\nbefore Perot dropped out of the race last Thursday; newspaper
\ncomics are generally done several weeks before publication. The
\none strip that has a very short lead time is _Doonesbury_, but
\nI think Trudeau is still on vacation, and probably won’t be able to
\ndeal with Perot’s departure.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #905, from peabo, 153 chars, Wed Jul 22 01:59:35 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 904.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nToday’s editorial page cartoon in the Boston Globe also has a Perot theme …
\nthat of Ross hawking his new book about chickening out of the race.<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #906, from dcolton, 125 chars, Mon Jul 27 22:56:03 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 905.
\n————————–
\nHeh. An item on the news today said that bookstores are shipping back
\nPerot books to the publishers en masses.
\ner, en masse.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #907, from mrs.doughboy, 677 chars, Tue Jul 28 01:08:00 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dunno if I should ask here or not. \ud83d\ude42
\nSo shoot me if I’m in the wrong place. I’m interested in learning the name
\nof a television show that ran in the early to mid seventies. It was *not*
\nanimated, but I thought I’d ask here anyway.
\nBasically what I can remember of it was that the main character (male) fell
\ninto a magicians hat and was transported elsewhere and was forever trying
\nto return. The magician that the hat belonged to was also trying to retrieve
\nthe hat. It was musical.
\nI’m afraid that’s about all I can remember about it.. I was just a kid at the
\ntime. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Thanks much, and if there’s a better place for this, point me in the right
\ndirection. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

susan<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #908, from dnagamine, 486 chars, Tue Jul 28 03:25:03 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 907.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n>television show about magician’s hat
\nI think the name of the show was “Liddsville”, but I’m not sure since it’s
\nbeen years since I last saw it. I believe the evil magician was played
\nby Charles Nelson Reilly and that he wore some green colored makeup. The
\nteenager who starred in the show may have been Butch Patrick who had
\npreviously appeared on another show with a green character — “The Munsters”.<\/p>\n

I also remember that it was in the Sid and Marty Krofft vein.<\/p>\n

Daryl Nagamine<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #909, from davemackey, 314 chars, Tue Jul 28 19:04:13 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 908.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 908.
\n————————–
\nWell, it should have been in the Sid and Marty Krofft vein, because they were
\nthe producers of “Liddsville.”
\n As I’ve said before, I was pretty cool to all those S&MK shows, with the
\nexeception of “The Bugaloos,” which was funny (and they had that cute girl
\nbug too) \ud83d\ude42
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #910, from dcolton, 220 chars, Tue Jul 28 23:13:25 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 909.
\n————————–
\nAcck! Eeek! S&MK — a foul memory to be sure. Maybe some kind of
\nspoiler alert might be in order for thsi discussion — my mood
\nfor the evening has been damaged :=) Next, H.R. Puffenberg or whatever . . .
\naaaahhhhgg.
\n\/<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #911, from mrs.doughboy, 167 chars, Wed Jul 29 01:57:26 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 908.
\n————————–
\nThanks! That’s it! My family just looked at me funny when I brought it up
\nand my oldest brother said it sounded like I dabbled in drugs a little young.
\n;-> <\/p>\n

Susan<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #912, from davemackey, 526 chars, Fri Aug 7 19:20:37 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Drink Fris
\nAfter years of seeing billboards in Warner Bros. cartoons advertising
\nsomething called “Friz” (usually in Freleng-toons with Paul Julian as
\nbackground painter), I would think we’ve come as close as we can to actually
\nhaving a product called “Friz” being advertised.
\n There is a new brand of vodka from Scandanavia called Fris that is
\ncurrently being advertised on outdoor billboards. They show a bottle of Fris
\nand have the words “Vodka Scandia” as the only copy.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #913, from davemackey, 496 chars, Wed Aug 12 19:04:12 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Whither Paul Tripp?
\nDoes anyone know whatever became of Paul Tripp? This gentleman, a children’s
\nentertainer not unlike the late Danny Kaye, was known for television, film
\nand children’s stories. He wrote the story for “Tubby The Tuba” (adapted for
\na George Pal Puppetoon in 1946), hosted the television programs “Mr. I.
\nMagination” and a local New York show called “Birthday House,” and starred in
\nthe 1970 film “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #914, from davemackey, 112 chars, Wed Aug 12 23:58:54 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 913.
\nThere are additional comments to message 913.
\n————————–
\nI can already tell you I erred.. “The Christmas” etc. came out in 1966.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #915, from peabo, 179 chars, Thu Aug 13 02:12:42 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 913.
\n————————–
\nI dunno what has happened to him, but those titles sent me right back
\nto my childhood (I had records of “Tubby” and “Mr. I-Magination” which
\nI played for hours and hours).<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #916, from davemackey, 814 chars, Fri Sep 4 19:25:51 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Landmark anniversary
\nThough it was quietly celebrated (since the show is in repeats until
\nmid-September), today was the 20th anniversary of the premiere of the current
\nversion of “The Price Is Right,” which premiered on CBS at 10:30 a.m. on
\nMonday, September 4, 1972 (two other shows premiered that day, “The Joker’s
\nWild” and “Gambit”). It is the longest-continuously running game show ever,
\nday or night.
\n I remember what I was doing that day: I was playing pool, getting ready
\nfor the horrors of the sixth grade, when Mother called me and my brother in
\nto the living room to see these phenomenal new game shows that had replaced
\nthree old sitcom repeats on CBS’ morning schedule. All three shows became
\ninstant hits and ushered game shows into the modern era.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #917, from hmccracken, 338 chars, Wed Sep 30 00:04:23 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Original Art for Sale
\nA friend of mine is offering a number of pieces of original art
\nfor sale, including work by Otto Messmer, Milt Caniff, Grim
\nNatwick, C.C. Beck, Frazetta, Gahan Wilson, and a Walt Disney
\nautograph. Prices range from $200-$1000. If you’re interested,
\nlet me know via BIXmail and I’ll forward details.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #918, from davemackey, 596 chars, Sat Oct 31 10:05:30 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Something to remember…
\n…next time your favorite cable service cuts one of your favorite shows.
\n(This is good to remember if, say, TNT ever dumps “Captain Planet”,
\nf’rinstance. ::grin::)
\n The Lifetime channel recently cut the long-running exercise program “It
\nFigures” from its schedule and replaced it with an extra half-hour of
\ninfomercials. Lifetime was inundated with telephone calls and letters from
\nangry exercise freaks who missed their daily workout with Charlene.
\n End result: “It Figures” is back on the schedule effective immediately.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #919, from hmccracken, 219 chars, Sat Oct 31 19:39:11 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 918.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDoes that mean I can hold out hope that Lifetime will reinstate _It’s Garry
\nShandling’s Show_, which they bumped off the schedule at the same time as
\nthey did _It Figures_? I miss my daily workout with Garry!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #920, from davemackey, 187 chars, Sun Nov 1 08:11:11 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 919.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nPossibly, Harry. However, you might want to get one of your female friends to
\ncast your vote for you. After all, Lifetime Television is targeted to women.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #921, from hmccracken, 54 chars, Sun Nov 1 12:24:57 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 920.
\n————————–
\nYou don’t know about my twin sister Harriet?
\n – Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #922, from davemackey, 168 chars, Tue Nov 3 09:05:29 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: In case you haven’t heard
\nHal Roach died yesterday of cardiac arrest complicated by pneumonia at the
\nage of 100.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #923, from hmccracken, 719 chars, Tue Nov 3 09:57:10 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 922.
\n————————–
\nIt’s sad to see Hal go. His was the least premature of passings, but
\nhis death really does mark the end of an era (considering that Laurel
\nand Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase, Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts,
\nHarry Langdon and others who worked at the Roach Studios died anywhere
\nfrom three to five decades ago, for the most part).<\/p>\n

It’s nice to know that Hal’s death was not a lingering one, or the
\nresult of some nagging condition — as recently as last August, he
\nattended the convention of the Sons of the Desert (the Laurel and
\nHardy appreciation society) in Las Vegas, where he attended convention
\nevents all day, gambled and made merry all night, and left immediately
\nafterwards for a European vacation!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #924, from davemackey, 163 chars, Wed Nov 11 22:26:14 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dave AFK
\nI will be away until Monday, and will not be on BIX at all. (Once again, it’s
\nthe annual Pinball Expo in Chicago!)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #925, from davemackey, 429 chars, Thu Nov 19 00:40:13 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Oh-oh, Chongo!
\nHey, does anyone remember the “Danger Island” segment of “The Banana Splits
\nAdventure Hour”? Particularly that guy Chongo? That wild jungle man?
\n Well, Chongo is still around, but a little older, grayer and paunchier.
\nKim Kahana, who played Chongo, runs the Florida-based Kahana Stunt School and
\nis still visible on television as stunt coordinator on “Nickelodeon Guts.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #926, from hmccracken, 143 chars, Thu Nov 19 14:32:54 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 925.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 925.
\n————————–
\n…And didn’t Dick Donner, who later directed The Omen, Superman, the Leathel
\nWeapon movies, etc. direct the Danger Island segments?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #927, from doughboy, 151 chars, Fri Nov 20 03:34:09 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 925.
\n————————–
\nOh my gosh!
\nI remember.
\nI remember Bannana splits.
\nI remember Danger Island.<\/p>\n

Why can’t I remember my drivers license number?<\/p>\n

Kevin Doughboy Kissman<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #928, from davemackey, 95 chars, Fri Nov 20 06:29:52 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 926.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAbsolutely correct!! You gotta learn to direct somewhere… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #929, from hmccracken, 666 chars, Mon Nov 23 22:23:21 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Someone Up There Knows I’m An Animation Fan…
\nAfter attending COMDEX in Las Vegas last week, I took a sidetrip to
\nArizona to visit the Grand Canyon. On the way back from that trip,
\nwhile driving through the Arizona desert at night, I saw something
\nstreak over the highway past my car. Turning my highbeams on,
\nI found that the streak seemed to be a coyote.<\/p>\n

Now, I can’t say for certain that it wasn’t really a wolf or some
\nother similar animal…and I didn’t see just what it was that he was
\nchasing, if anything…but as far as I’m concerned, I saw Wile E.
\nhimself! I only wish I had stopped long enough to look for empty
\nAcme packing crates!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #930, from hmccracken, 518 chars, Mon Nov 23 22:26:05 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: More Grand Canyon News
\nOn my way *to* the Grand Canyon, I came across Bedrock City, a small
\namusement park based on a Flintstones theme. The place seems to have
\nbeen around since at least 1972 (which is the copyright date on some
\nsigns), and is pretty weather-beaten; it looks like it’s seen better
\ndays. I didn’t have time to go in, but I did investigate the
\ngift shop,and peered over a fence into the park, where I saw
\nsome Hanna Barbera-esque dinosaurs. Has anyone actually visited
\nthe place?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #931, from hmccracken, 863 chars, Mon Nov 23 22:30:17 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: News From COMDEX
\nSamtron, a manufacturer of computer monitors, has been using Mr. Magoo
\nas its spokesman for some months. Whether or not Mr. Magoo is an
\nappropriate fellow to advise on computer display purchases is an issue
\nI’ll leave for others to ponder, but I should mention here that
\nSamtron went whole hog at COMDEX with the Mr. Magoo theme. Probably
\nthe majority of Las Vegas bus stops sported Magoo ads (which were rather
\njarringly juxtaposed with ads for topless bars, etc.). At Samtron’s
\nbooth at the show, a huge gigantic Magoo floated above the area,
\nand most of the many monitors on display featured computer-generated
\nMagoo animations. Add to that the Mr. Magoo bags which were given
\naway, and the many Magoo banners around the show, and it’s fair to
\nsay that the guy was more visible at COMDEX than Bill Gates or Philippe
\nKahn!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #932, from ianl, 294 chars, Mon Nov 23 22:49:33 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 929.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I think it was probably a coyote; I don’t think there are many wolves
\nas far south as Arizona. If you saw it running, there’s an easy clue:
\nwolves run with their tails up, coyotes with their tails down.<\/p>\n

Of course, Acme detritus would have been the best clue, if you had
\nspotted any. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #933, from hmccracken, 195 chars, Tue Nov 24 10:28:20 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 932.
\n————————–
\nIt was dark, so I couldn’t tell if his tail was up or down. He was
\nwearing aviator goggles and roller skates, and had a gigantic firecracker
\nstrapped to his back — is that any help?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #934, from hmccracken, 1766 chars, Sat Nov 28 21:17:42 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Million Year Picnic Down, Not Out
\nThe Million Year Picnic, the Boston area’s oldest and best comic store,
\nwas the victim of a fire last week. The fire, which was caused by
\na space heater in another store, gutted the small Harvard Square
\nbuilding which held the Picnic and several other stores. The damage
\nto the Picnic — apparently virtually the entire stock was destroyed —
\nwas caused more by water damage than fire (the store was located in
\nthe building’s basement).<\/p>\n

The Picnic, which has been around for at least sixteen years, since I
\nstarted shopping there in early 1976, has always been Boston’s best-
\nstocked, most eclectic comics shop (even though the store as it stood
\nbefore the fire had only about half the floor space it did at its peak).
\nThere are a lot of places you can go to get the current issue of
\n_Superman_ or _Spider-Man_, but the Picnic always had the bound volumes
\nof _Pogo_, _Li’l Abner_, and lesser-known but worthwhile classic strips,
\nas well as a good selection of imported publications. And the Picnic’s
\nsecond-hand and out-of-print offerings — which, sadly, are irreplacable —
\nwere outstanding. You could find everything from a long run of 1960s
\nissues of the British humor magazine _Private Eye_, to a record album of
\nspeeches by Al Capp, to fanzines published twenty or more years ago.<\/p>\n

The good news is that the Picnic was properly insured, and plans to
\nopen up shop again at its 99 Mount Auburn home as soon as the building
\nis repaired. Until then, the store is making a temporary home at the
\nGalleria mall in Harbard Square, which is only a block away. The temporary
\nstore lacks the breadth of selection that the Picnic has traditionally had,
\nbut carries a good selection of new and recent publications.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #935, from davemackey, 269 chars, Tue Dec 1 12:17:26 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Times” article
\nNice article in today’s New York Times about computer services. William Grimes
\nneeds to be taken out to the woodshed and be taught what BIX is because ther
\nis absolutely NO mention of BIX in his article!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #936, from davemackey, 727 chars, Sun Dec 13 05:00:49 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Where have I been?
\nWell, perhaps you’ve been wondering where the hell I’ve been the last couple
\nof days. The fact of the matter is, I’ve been a victim of these severe storms
\nthat have been hitting the Jersey Shore. (Some are calling it “Noreaster ’92”
\nand others are calling it “the storm with no name”).
\n The power has been off in this house since 10 a.m. Friday, and it has
\njust now come back, at about 10 minutes until 5 a.m. on Sunday. The bad
\nweather also made my work day a real trial, with buses the only really
\nreliable mode of transportation (the Hoboken Terminal turned into the Hoboken
\nNatatorium, and the Path trains totally stopped running due to flooding in
\nthe tubes).
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #937, from hmccracken, 269 chars, Sun Dec 13 15:29:16 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 936.
\nThere are additional comments to message 936.
\n————————–
\nYikes! Hope no lasting problems resulted from the bad weather, Dave.
\nWe’re suffering from it down here, too — the foundation of my parents’
\nhouse suffered serious damage as a result of the storm (although granted,
\nsaid foundation dates to 1850 or before).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #938, from switch, 154 chars, Sun Dec 13 16:54:34 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 936.
\n————————–
\nToronto and Ottawa had severe storms on Friday and Saturday as well.
\nI though we’d be in for the same thing, but it was actually quite
\nbalmy today.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #939, from davemackey, 123 chars, Tue Dec 15 19:16:10 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 928.
\n————————–
\nAnd Richard Donner also directed something called “Philbert.” (The live
\nportions, anyway.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #940, from davemackey, 441 chars, Tue Dec 15 21:42:56 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Letterman may need a new announcer
\nSomething people are overlooking when considering David Letterman’s impending
\nmove to CBS: his announcer, Bill Wendell, is an NBC staff announcer (has been
\nfor almost 40 years) and may not be able to come with him.
\n Just a thought. Letterman without Wendell? Hard to imagine, since the
\ntwo have worked together since Letterman’s daytime show in the early 1980’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #941, from ianl, 188 chars, Tue Dec 15 22:53:18 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 940.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I was wondering the other day whether Paul would move to CBS with Dave.
\nPersonally, I think Paul is dull, dull, dull; it would prolly be a benefit
\nif Dave were to lose him in the move.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #942, from davemackey, 127 chars, Thu Dec 17 19:27:09 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 941.
\n————————–
\nI cannot imagine Dave without the Shaf Man, either. Hell, I remember when
\nShaffer had hair. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #943, from davemackey, 55 chars, Fri Dec 25 08:03:41 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Merry Christmas
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #944, from switch, 68 chars, Sun Dec 27 14:08:55 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 943.
\n————————–
\n…and a belated Merry Christmas to the animation conference!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #945, from davemackey, 343 chars, Mon Dec 28 20:19:19 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 931.
\n————————–
\nI saw an ad for Samtron with Magoo in the premiere issue of Windows Sources,
\nand he’s got his dog McBarker with him (who only appeared in the “What’s New,
\nMr. Magoo” series of 1977 vintage).
\n Wonder if Samtron is thinking of doing television commercials. Of
\ncourse, they’d have to find a new Magoo voice…
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #946, from davemackey, 369 chars, Mon Dec 28 20:35:00 1992
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Little Rosey” voice actress in an Amy film
\nIt’s nice to see former “Little Rosey” voice Kathleen Laskey working again…
\nshe is featured in tonight’s NBC tv-movie about Amy Fisher, in the role of
\nthe shooting victim, Mary Jo Buttafuoco. (It’s cheaper and quicker to film
\nthese things in Canada, hence the casting of Ms. Laskey.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #947, from davemackey, 212 chars, Thu Dec 31 03:14:17 1992
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Here’s to ’93…
\nTo all who frequent the BIX animation.conference… heartiest wishes for a
\n1993 filled with peace, prosperity, and lots o’ toons…
\n See you next year!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #948, from mscoville, 192 chars, Thu Dec 31 21:26:14 1992
\nThis is a comment to message 947.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHere…Here…
\nLet’s raise the glasses high and wish good cheer to all. It is hoped that 1993
\nwill bring each of you good health, happiness, peace and prosperity. The best
\nalways…Pam & Mike<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #949, from hmccracken, 86 chars, Fri Jan 1 22:47:23 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 948.
\n————————–
\nHappy new year’s, everyone@ Here’s to happiness and good cartoons
\nin 1993!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #950, from davemackey, 816 chars, Fri Jan 8 20:16:35 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: ELVIS KARMA IS THE DEATH OF ME
\nThe Postal Service is too busy selling Elvis stamps to get my mail through. I
\nhaven’t gotten my Christmas card from my girlfriend yet, and TV Guide has
\nthreatened to put me in cement shoes because they didn’t receive my check for
\n$37.88 that I know I mailed on December 24.
\n When the Postal Service was soliciting opinion on this stamp, my mail
\nwas screwed up back then too. One friend never received a Nurse’s Day Card I
\nmailed her.
\n While you’re waiting for that important mail, rack up these Elvis-toons:
\n “Pink-A-Rella” (in which the young lady wins a date with Pelvis
\nParsley thanks to) the intervention of The Pink Panther)
\n “Dog Tales” and “Hare-Abian Nights” have brief Elvis homages
\n And, of course, “Rock-A-Doodle.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #951, from davemackey, 230 chars, Mon Jan 18 21:05:26 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 950.
\n————————–
\nUpdate: Still no Christmas card from my girlfriend, but TV Guide has received
\nboth checks.
\n I mailed some checks out with Elvis stamps, and some of them have even
\narrived at their destinations!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #952, from switch, 767 chars, Sat Jan 23 01:50:01 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Emru finds something to do
\nLast night I got to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time —
\nI helped narrate a Dr. Seuss book. Angela, a friend of mine, had
\nto work on a sound project involving the reading of Seuss’ Green
\nEggs and Ham. From 10:30 PM to 2:00 AM, Angela, her actor friend
\nSteve, and I fretted in a sound studio, as I (Sam) convinved Steve
\n(Alex) of the merits of green eggs and ham.<\/p>\n

After all that, my roommate played the Moxy Fruvous version of
\nGreen Eggs and Ham this morning, which can only be described as
\nside-splitting. (Moxy Fruvous — umlauts over the first ‘u’ — ‘ can
\nbe considered Canada’s answer to They Might Be Giants, but with
\nbetter voices and music. Their Green Eggs and Ham is quite musical,
\nand quite wacky.)<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #953, from ianl, 192 chars, Sat Jan 23 14:06:34 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 952.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

> Their Green Eggs and Ham is quite musical<\/p>\n

If you think about, the original Dr. Seuss is quite musical — the Dr.
\nwas doing rap way before there ever was an Ice T or Public Enemy. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #954, from switch, 136 chars, Sat Jan 23 22:07:19 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 953.
\n————————–
\nI agree. When we were warming up, Steve and I did a few different
\nmusical version of Green Eggs and Ham. It flowed very easily.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #955, from davemackey, 388 chars, Tue Feb 16 20:23:57 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Here’s another one you may or may not remember.
\nFrom the graveyard of lost kiddie shows, I offer you this one to try and
\nremember. Anyone else remember a show that was on ABC in the early 70’s
\ncalled “The Double Deckers”? It seemed to be about a gang of urchin kids who
\nlived in London, sort of a Brit version of Our Gang. And, yes, they had a
\ndog.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #956, from hmccracken, 563 chars, Tue Feb 16 21:52:36 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 955.
\n————————–
\nI remember the show, the theme song (“fun and laughter\/are what we’re
\nafter\/on a London something double decker bus”) and even, if I’m not
\nmistaken, that Peter Firth — later to be fairly successful as a grown-
\nup actor — was on the show. <\/p>\n

In a somewhat related vein, kiddie show scholars should seek out the current
\nissue of _Film Threat_ magazine for an article on the TV programs of
\nSid and Mary (_H.R. Pufnstuf_, _Lidsville_) Krofft. It’s hardly the
\ndefinitive article on the topic that someone will someday write, but it’s
\nstill worth reading.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #957, from davemackey, 412 chars, Fri Feb 19 19:05:24 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy anniversary.
\nTwenty-five years ago, on February 19, 1967, NET broadcast the first national
\nepisode of a Pittsburgh-based children’s series called “Misterogers.”
\n Today, what was NET is now known as PBS, the series is now known as
\n“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and Fred Rogers is an internationally known
\ntelevision personality. Happy anniversary, Mister Rogers!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #958, from davemackey, 105 chars, Fri Feb 19 19:16:12 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 957.
\n————————–
\nOoops. That should have been 1968. Keep forgetting what year it is… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #959, from hmccracken, 1058 chars, Sun Mar 21 22:44:13 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 272.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAs a follow up to our discussion, nearly three years ago, of the
\nDowney, California original McDonald’s — do a search mcdonald
\nfor more information if you don’t recall it — it is my painful
\nbut necessary duty to report that I just heard on CNN that
\nthis McDonald’s — a gloriously unremodeled, red-and-white tile
\nlocation with no inside seating — will soon be torn down.
\nAccording to CNN, the location is the last remaining McDonald’s
\nlocation of its type. <\/p>\n

CNN did not specify when the Downey location will be
\ndemolished, so I cannot say how much time it has left.
\nI can only hope that it’s still standing in August,
\nwhen I plan to be in southern California, so I can
\nmake a final pilgrimage. Or if it’s been knocked —
\n*sob* — to the ground by then, perhaps I can stop
\nby to pick up a red-or-white tile shard or two.
\n(I cannot remember if I chronicled here my trip to
\nan original McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, where I
\narrived several hours after it was demolished, but in’
\ntime to preserve some of the remains for my personal
\ncollection.)<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #960, from davemackey, 583 chars, Mon Mar 29 22:17:17 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Yet another kids show memory filtering back
\nSeeing Peter Bonerz on a repeat of “The $25,000 Pyramid” (which recently
\ncelebrated its 20th anniversary on television) reminded me of a show he used
\nto be part of called “Story Theatre.” This show involved a troupe of actors
\nwho performed little playlets aimed at a youth audience.
\n Apart from “Electric Company” regular Judy Graubart and Mr. Bonerz, I
\ncan’t quite recall who else was in the troupe. Anyone have access to the
\nWoolery guide to live-action children’s programming and can tell me?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #961, from hmccracken, 206 chars, Mon Mar 29 22:32:23 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 960.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAccording to Woolery, the cast included Alan Alda, Bonerz, Hamilton
\nCamp, Melinda Dillon, Bob Dishy, Graubart, Richard Libertini,
\nPaul Sand, Avery Schreiber, and several others I hadn’t heard of.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #962, from davemackey, 269 chars, Thu Apr 1 20:37:57 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 961.
\n————————–
\nThanks! I remember some of those other people from shows they’ve been on.
\nPaul Sand had a halfway decent show on about 20 years ago called “Paul Sand
\nIn Friends And Lovers” in which he played a cellist for (I think) the Boston
\nSymphony.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #963, from davemackey, 137 chars, Thu Apr 1 20:38:03 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: You say it’s your birthday
\nOkay, gang. Tomorrow’s Harry’s birthday, so let’s give it to him good.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #964, from ianl, 77 chars, Thu Apr 1 21:08:22 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 963.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

Tomorrow is Harry’s birthday? The 2nd? How odd, that’s my birthday too!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #965, from hmccracken, 166 chars, Thu Apr 1 22:28:26 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 964.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, happy birthday, Ian! Aren’t you glad we weren’t born a day
\nearlier? (oddly, I know a ton of people who were born within
\ntwo days of me either way.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #966, from switch, 127 chars, Thu Apr 1 23:10:27 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 965.
\nThere are additional comments to message 965.
\n————————–
\nThat’s too bad — I’ve always wanted to be born on April 1st.
\nMuch more appropriate, I thought.<\/p>\n

Happy b-day to ya both!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #967, from ianl, 162 chars, Fri Apr 2 02:33:49 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 965.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

> born a day earlier<\/p>\n

I just missed being an April Fool. I was born on the 2nd, but it was
\nfour seconds after midnight, according to the birth certificate.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #968, from davemackey, 207 chars, Tue Apr 6 11:27:35 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Another kids show veteran says goodbye, kids
\nPinky Lee has died at the age of 85. His NBC show was second only to Howdy
\nDoody in popularity during the 1950’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #969, from davemackey, 444 chars, Mon Apr 19 19:05:59 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Whatever happened to…
\nLook for former “Punky Brewster” (which included an animated version) star
\nSoleil Moon Frye on the cover of this week’s People. The former child star,
\nnow 15, has had a number of cosmetic surgeries, including a nose job, thigh
\nreduction and breast reduction.
\n Ms. Frye has more recently appeared in selected episodes of “Tiny Toon
\nAdventures” as Elmyra’s older sister, Amanda.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #970, from davemackey, 168 chars, Tue Apr 20 21:17:31 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Vacation
\nI will be AFB (Away From Bix) from Tuesday, May 4, through Saturday, May 8.
\nLittle business trip to Beautiful Colorado!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #971, from davemackey, 643 chars, Wed Apr 21 20:39:51 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: R.I.P., Cantinflas
\nThe Spanish-speaking film world has lost one of its giants with the death
\nlast night of Mario Moreno, better known as Cantinflas. His effect on film
\ncomedy among Latin audiences is equal to that of, say, Jerry Lewis or Bob
\nHope to American audiences.
\n Though he worked mainly in Spanish-language films, two American films
\nwhich Cantinflas appeared in were “Pepe” (starring opposite Shirley Jones),
\nand “Around The World In 80 Days.”
\n The Spanish-language television news network ECO (equivalent to CNN)
\ngave extensive coverage today to the film actor, who died in Mexico City.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #972, from switch, 88 chars, Wed Apr 21 23:30:57 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 970.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nEnjoy the trip, Dave! Tell us what ‘toons are on the available
\nhotel channels \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #973, from ianl, 133 chars, Thu Apr 22 01:08:41 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 972.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

The best bet for toons you don’t see all the time will probably be
\nchannels 2 & 20 here. They’re the local independant stations.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #974, from hmccracken, 91 chars, Thu Apr 22 09:12:31 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 971.
\n————————–
\n…And wasn’t there a series of animated Cantinflas TV films made at some
\npoint?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #975, from hmccracken, 133 chars, Sun Apr 25 22:03:27 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 969.
\n————————–
\nUnless my eyes deceived me, the former Punky was also credited in
\nSaturday’s new episode of _Ren and Stimpy_ for voicework.
\n – Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #976, from davemackey, 356 chars, Mon Apr 26 19:48:55 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Familiar voice on stage
\nGeorge S. Irving, who’s perhaps best known as many voices on “Underdog” and
\n“Go Go Gophers,” has been found treading the boards at the Paper Mill
\nPlayhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. He is bringing down the house as Eliza’s
\nfather in a wonderful production of Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #977, from davemackey, 677 chars, Sun May 9 01:04:39 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Wonder” no more
\nThis coming Wednesday, ABC will air the series finale of “The Wonder Years,”
\na series I watched on and off during the five seasons it was on the air.
\nMore off than on of late. I will watch the finale because we’re finally
\nsupposed to find out what has happened with the characters, particularly the
\nromance of Kevin and Winnie that has fueled most of the series’ plotlines.
\n What I don’t want to see is a fakeout ending! Remember, “Newhart” was a
\ndream that Bob Hartley had, and “St. Elsewhere” existed only in the mind of
\nan autistic child. Could “The Wonder Years” be merely the delusion of the
\nadult Kevin Arnold?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #978, from davemackey, 448 chars, Sun May 9 01:04:50 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I need to vent.
\nEmru, Harry, will you allow me to use the \/inkwell to vent my spleen? While I
\nawait your answer, I’ll go ahead and do so…<\/p>\n

To the three television networks: ENOUGH ALREADY of the fact-based TV
\nnetworks and their “true story” follow ups for your affiliates’ local news
\nuse, which all exist only to manipulate your viewers and hype your ratings.
\n It’s called “fiction.” Look into it.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #979, from srider, 1094 chars, Sun May 9 03:37:46 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 978.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 978.
\n————————–
\n The kind of TV journalism I liked best (read, at all) went away in the
\n1960s. Walter Kronkite, at a desk, reading the fact-sheets. If they would
\ntoday just return to reciting the facts of news matters, the world would be
\nmuch better off.<\/p>\n

The problem is this: network news groups used to provide a public service
\nin an efficient, factual manner. Then, it was discovered that when treated
\nas a profit venture, $$$ came piling in. Take tonight: I wanted to know
\nthe score of the Pirates vs. Expos game, so I turned on the TV to ESPN, which
\nputs up the line scores every 15 minutes or so for every game played that
\nday. It took 40 minutes for anyone (I tried other channels, too) to
\nstate the score. I saw the end of a good hockey game, saw the local
\nweather forecast four times, etc., etc….the point is that a channel
\ndedicated to sports is so rigged with the delivering of information in
\nsuch a way that we must needs watch the commericials first is intolerable.<\/p>\n

This is of course a small, not even important, example. Sad fact is much
\nmore important stuff is treated same way.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #980, from switch, 99 chars, Sun May 9 13:42:09 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 977.
\n————————–
\nYeah, that kind of cop-out is really horrible. I’ll have to remember
\nto catch the finale…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #981, from switch, 234 chars, Sun May 9 13:44:13 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 979.
\n————————–
\n\u0014Yup; television’s been declining steadily. That’s why I pretty
\nmuch stopped watching it altogether for a few years. My best
\nsource for news has to be our two weekly free newspapers, combined
\nwith the daily news on CBC radio.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #982, from ianl, 210 chars, Sun May 9 14:03:43 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 978.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I like what Leno said about it a few days ago. He mentioned the upcoming
\nNBC true-story movies about Waco and the Trade Center bombing, then said
\n“NBC, where the movies are true and the news is fictional.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #983, from switch, 147 chars, Mon May 10 22:17:22 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Birthdays…
\nEntertainment Tonight declared that today is Homer Simpson’s 38th
\nbirthday, making him exactly 14 years older than me. <\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #984, from davemackey, 63 chars, Mon May 10 22:35:51 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 983.
\nThere are additional comments to message 983.
\n————————–
\nWell, Happy Birthday, Emru! \ud83d\ude42
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #985, from hmccracken, 42 chars, Mon May 10 22:53:19 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 983.
\n————————–
\nHappy birthday, Emru and Homer!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #986, from hmccracken, 1217 chars, Sun May 16 15:15:41 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Return of Goofy Grape
\nOther folks spot Elvis hiding out at the local Burger King. Leave it
\nto me to find a long-dead junk food product unexpectedly lurking
\nnear the produce section at Foodmaster.<\/p>\n

The product in question is Funny Face, which probably needs no
\nre-introduction to anyone roughly my age. A pre-sweetened,
\npowedered softdrink (originally loaded with Cyclamates),
\nFunny Face was a soft of Pepsi to Kool-Aid’s Coke in the late
\n1960s, up until the mid-1970s when it disappeared from grocery
\nshelves.<\/p>\n

Well, it’s back — at least at my local supermarket. I’d
\nactually heard rumors that the product has been manufactured
\nall along, by a small company which purchased the rights after
\nPillsbury, the original manufacturer discontinued it.
\nI discounted the rumors, but they seem to be true — the
\nmanufacturer listed on the packet of Lefty Lemonade I bought
\nis Brady Enterprises, located in South Weymouth, Mass.<\/p>\n

Except for the change in source, the packets and cans of
\nthe powdered stuff look unchanged from early-1970s vintage
\nFunny Face — down to the offer on the back for plastic
\nFunny Face mugs. Speaking of which, can anyone out there
\nname all the Funny Face characters for me?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #987, from peabo, 71 chars, Mon May 17 12:36:46 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 986.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDid you check the expiration date on the Funny Face packets ;-?<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #988, from hmccracken, 115 chars, Mon May 17 21:33:32 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 987.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nFunny Face doesn’t have an expiration date, silly — the stuff
\nhas a half-life you wouldn’t believe. \ud83d\ude09
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #989, from peabo, 67 chars, Tue May 18 12:18:21 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 988.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, nothing beats a grape Fizzy, right out of the packet!<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #990, from hmccracken, 32 chars, Tue May 18 15:09:10 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 989.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhat’s a grape Fizzy?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #991, from hmccracken, 497 chars, Tue May 18 15:33:22 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Kenneth, What is the Frequency?
\nDan Rather being joined by Connie Chung as co-anchor of the CBS Evening
\nNews doesn’t have much to do with animation, of course. But as a diehard
\nRather fan — rarely has a public figure so often been able to do the
\ncompletely unexpected — I was reminded of a convention broadcast
\n(I think), during which Dan inexplicably referred to one of his
\ncolleagues as “Deputy Dawg.” Let’s see Connie make references to
\nobscure Terrytoons out of the blue!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #992, from peabo, 525 chars, Tue May 18 16:14:49 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 990.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt’s a purple disk about an inch in diameter and an eighth of an inch thick
\nwhich comes in a foil wrapper. You’re S’POSED to unwrap it and drop it into
\na glass of water to produce a drink similar to Kool Aid or Funny Face, except
\ncarbonated (hence the name Fizzy). However, the preferred method of ingestion
\nis to unwrap it and pop it right in your mouth, where it fizzes like crazy
\nand turns your mouth purple and frothy.<\/p>\n

(I don’t know if you can still buy Fizzies, since I haven’t looked for them
\nin many years.)<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #993, from hmccracken, 148 chars, Tue May 18 17:06:17 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 992.
\nThere are additional comments to message 992.
\n————————–
\nThat sounds almost as frightening as a favorite snack (not of mine)
\nof my high school days: eating a box of instant pudding mix straight.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #994, from davemackey, 476 chars, Tue May 18 19:26:29 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 991.
\n————————–
\nRather was once interviewed by Don Imus on his radio program in New York, and
\nat the conclusion of the interview Rather said something that vaguely sounded
\nlike “Tamp up the solid.” Imus and crew had fun with that one for days. And
\nthey never DID find out what the hell he said!
\n Rather is fun because he does things Uncle Walter would never get away
\nwith. (Ditto Peter Jennings, for his alleged extramarital dalliance with
\nSheena Easton.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #995, from switch, 90 chars, Tue May 18 20:54:34 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 992.
\n————————–
\nHey, I remember those – they disappeared from stores here about
\n15 years ago or so.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #996, from tshim, 83 chars, Tue May 18 23:39:12 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWhat was apparently the reason for Dan being forced to share airtime with Connie?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #997, from davemackey, 206 chars, Fri May 21 02:54:30 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 996.
\n————————–
\nWell, I wouldn’t call it “forcing” Dan to share his seat. Apparently he
\nwelcomes the opportunity to get out into the field more. Once a reporter,
\nalways a reporter, I guess.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #998, from davemackey, 342 chars, Fri May 21 02:54:39 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Gilda
\nYesterday (Thursday) was the fourth anniversary of the death of that funny
\nlady, Gilda Radner. Most remember her for “Saturday Night Live” and her
\nmovies with hubby Gene Wilder in the 1980’s, but animation fans could hear
\nher give voice to such projects as “Witch’s Night Out” and “Animalympics”.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #999, from hmccracken, 247 chars, Sun May 23 15:09:59 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Off to Atlanta
\nI’ll be in Atlanta for Spring Comdex from tomorrow through Thursday —
\nso if I’m scare around here, that’s why. (I do plan to check in, though.)
\nThe Tuesday night CBIX should go on as usual, presided over by Emru.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1000, from davemackey, 122 chars, Sun May 23 21:43:14 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 999.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHave a nice trip, Harry, and do tell us if you get to visit the Turner
\ncartoon vaults! \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1001, from hmccracken, 140 chars, Sun May 23 23:31:38 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1000.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, the convention center is across the street from CNN Center, I’m
\ntold — I wonder how far it is from Cartoon Network Center?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1002, from hmccracken, 331 chars, Mon May 24 21:19:37 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1001.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUpdate from Atlanta: CNN Center has a Turner Gift Shop which has
\na few Cartoon Network-related products and quite a few Hanna-
\nBarbera ones (mostly Flintstones-themed). You can take a tour
\nof the CNN facilities; wonder if you can do the same for the ‘Toon
\nNetwork (in fact, is the network headquartered at CNN Center)>
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1003, from davemackey, 265 chars, Tue May 25 20:16:49 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: MST3K w\/o Joel?
\nA report in the cable trade press this week notes that Joel Hodgson will no
\nlonger host “Mystery Science Theater 3000” on Comedy Central. Mr. Hodgson
\nwill turn the reins over to one of the writers next season.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1004, from ianl, 461 chars, Tue May 25 20:20:55 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1003.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1003.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I had heard a rumor to that effect too. Supposedly Joel will still be
\nvery involved with the show in a creative sense, but just won’t be doing
\non-camera work anymore. <\/p>\n

Actually, if true, that suits me just fine. The man may be a comic
\ngenius, but he’s not much of a performer. He constantly blows his lines,
\nstumbles over unfamiliar words (which others have apparently written for
\nhim), and he can’t sing worth a damn yet he’s always trying to anyway.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1005, from srider, 258 chars, Tue May 25 22:01:52 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1003.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n The gossip I’ve heard says Mike Nelson, head writer, will take Joel’s
\ntheatre seat and live skits while Joel apparently wants to do more
\nbehind the camera work. I personally don’t mind this as Crow and
\nServo are yards better than Joel in wisecracking. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1006, from davemackey, 1993 chars, Thu May 27 22:25:19 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: More thoughts on the Daytime Emmys
\nThough it was distressing to be privy to Susan Lucci’s 14th loss in the
\nOutstanding Actress category, it was heartening to see her “All My Children”
\nco-star David Canary win for Outstanding Actor. Mr. Canary, who old-time TV
\nfans may remember as Ponderosa cook Candy on “Bonanza”, plays twin brothers
\nAdam and Stuart Chandler on the soap. As a twin it’s interesting to see
\nCanary give nuance to each of the two brothers — Adam, who’s rich, powerful,
\nand one who always gets what he wants no matter who gets hurt in the process,
\nand Stuart, who’s not quite so well off but extremely gentle and
\ngood-hearted.
\n One wonders if the game show categories really belong in the Daytime
\nEmmys, since they’re more of a prime access phenomenon (or, in the case of a
\nstinker like “You Bet Your Life” with Bill Cosby, more of a wee-hours one).
\nIn fact, the only nominated host present was Ray Combs of “Family Feud.” (He
\ndidn’t win; Pat Sajak did, while “Jeopardy!” won for best show.)
\n But generally, game programming got short shrift: the same awards
\nceremony that honored the achievements of the late soap writer Douglas
\nMarland with a lengthy tribute made absolutely no reference to Mark Goodson,
\nwho also passed away since the last Daytime Emmy ceremony and whose company
\nhas probably been responsible for more hours of daytime television
\nthan any of the soap producers.
\n It was also good to see “Reading Rainbow” take home the prize for
\noutstanding children’s series, and special went to something called “Shades
\nOf A Single Pigment” which featured kids talking about why racism is such a
\nstupid idea. The biggest cheers of the night seemed to go to the big purple
\ndinosaur Barney, who got up on stage and joked around with co-host Walt
\nWilley before presenting his award.
\n The only question that begs to be asked, all things considered, is where
\ncan I get a red bow tie and cummerbund like Tom Ruegger’s? \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1007, from switch, 166 chars, Thu May 27 22:40:18 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1006.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNo, the real question that begs to be asked is “Why Barney?”<\/p>\n

I keep wanting to write letters to the show reminded them that
\ndinosaurs died out. Agonizingly.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1008, from peabo, 68 chars, Fri May 28 03:54:02 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1007.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nNot only that, there were never any bright purple dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1009, from switch, 172 chars, Fri May 28 09:23:23 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1008.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1008.
\n————————–
\nMaybe there were for a short while, but their bright purple skin
\n(and inability to use their teeth for anything other than grinning)
\nhad them thinned out in no time.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1010, from hmccracken, 898 chars, Sat May 29 17:31:27 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1002.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, it turns out that Atlanta, despite being a nice city and home
\nof the Cartoon Network, doesn’t offer all that much of interest<\/p>\n

Studio Store, and I was startled to find the Jimmy Carter Presidential
\nLibrary using videos of 1970s Schoolhouse Rock segments to explain
\nhow a bill is passed, but that was about it.<\/p>\n

The city does, however, boast one of the neatest pop culture landmarks
\nI’ve ever seen: The World of Coca-Cola. This is a enormous, three-
\nstory museum devoted to the Real Thing (which was invented and is
\nheadquartered in Atlanta), and it’s wonderfully well done. At the
\nend of the tour, you enter a Willy Wonka-like room in which you can
\ndrink all the Coke products you like — not only every domestic brand,
\nbut many foreign ones, too. It’s probably the only place on the
\ncontinent where you can sample “Cappy,” a sour cherry-flavored drink
\nfrom Japan, for instance.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1011, from switch, 221 chars, Sat May 29 23:23:20 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1010.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWow! I wonder how Cappy tastes in comparison to Pocari Sweat
\n(a slightly sour drink that sports a Coke-like can, and tastes
\nlike very watered down Gatorade.)<\/p>\n

I think I’d happily rot my teeth in a place like that.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1012, from hmccracken, 239 chars, Sun May 30 10:47:47 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1011.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1011.
\n————————–
\nI left the place after having downed about fifteen tiny cups of
\ndifferent flavors, feeling full and slightly wired. The only
\nbeverage I tried that I didn’t like was something from Italy
\nthat was described as a “bitter apertif.”
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1013, from hmccracken, 259 chars, Sun May 30 13:23:16 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1011.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI also forgot to mention that Coke is using Gumby in billboard ads, at
\nleast in Atlanta — a big picture of ol’ Gumbo with the slogan, ”
\n“Always Flexible\/Always Coca-Cola.” I’m not sure what it means,
\nbut it’s nice to see Gumby getting work again.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1014, from davemackey, 162 chars, Mon May 31 23:07:46 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1013.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt’s a play on the current Coke slogan, “Always Coca-Cola.” Its common usage
\nis “Always (fill in the blank)… Always Coca-Cola.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1015, from hmccracken, 169 chars, Mon May 31 23:11:01 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1014.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYup, I know. Incidentally, speaking of that campaign, there’s been
\ntalk of giving the computer-animated polar bears who appear in one
\nad their own TV series.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1016, from jodle, 669 chars, Fri Jun 4 11:47:38 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1005.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI know this is a belated comment but I just got around to joining this conf-
\nerence.<\/p>\n

I received my “Satellite of Love” newsletter 2 days ago and can report that
\nit is now official. MST3K will not feature Joel Hodgeson in front of the
\ncamera. The transition will take place between shows #512 and #513. With
\nthe new season premiering July 17th, that means we’ll see the changeover maybe
\nsometime in… November?<\/p>\n

As a side note, Gypsy’s column in the recent newletter attributes a film role
\nto Richard Basehart in a 1981 film named “Bix.” That’s good for a chuckle.<\/p>\n

Well, I’m off to pack my official MST3K lunchbox with Joel on the front in a
\nvacuum-sealed vault.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1017, from jodle, 126 chars, Fri Jun 4 11:49:45 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1015.
\n————————–
\nHmmm… maybe the computer-animated polar bears could appear on telivision
\nfor 22 1\/2 minutes a week watching “The Simpsons.”<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1018, from hmccracken, 439 chars, Sun Jun 6 19:16:24 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1016.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWelcome to the conference, Jerry! Feel free to introduce yourself over
\nin the \/characters topic.<\/p>\n

As I’ve mentioned here before, Arlington, Mass., where I live, is a
\nsplendid town except for one nightmarish defect — the cable company
\ndoesn’t carry Comedy Central, which means I can’t get Mystery Science
\nTheater 3000. My few exposures to the show (which I love) have come
\nin the form of care package-videotapes from a friend.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1019, from number6, 248 chars, Sun Jun 13 19:34:12 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1008.
\n————————–
\nActually, nobody know WHAT color the dinosaurs were. Skin doesn’t
\nfossilize at all. They might have been punk pink with purple crests,
\nfor all we know. Just because alligators are grey-green doesn’t mean
\nthe rest of the saurians were so boring.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1020, from number6, 48 chars, Sun Jun 13 19:35:37 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1009.
\n————————–
\nEither that, or saurian HIV. Ooooh, scarrr-ry.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1021, from hmccracken, 381 chars, Sun Jun 13 20:35:28 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The King of Pop is a Disney Fan
\nThe June issue of _Life_ has a photographic tour of Michael Jackson’s estate
\nthat’s pretty incredible. (Jackson owns his own at-home theme park.) What
\nmakes the feature worth mentioning here is that it says Jackson has seen
\n_Aladdin_ six times — a reminder that he is a very serious fan of Disney
\nfilms and animation in general.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1022, from hmccracken, 928 chars, Sun Jun 13 22:09:14 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 959.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI don’t know if anyone else here except me is a devotee of vintage
\nfast-food architecture, but just in case, here’s an update on the
\nDowney, Calif. McDonald’s that the chain is trying to tear down.
\nI was heartened by a CNN report tonight that showed the location,
\nstill standing and the site of a 100-person protest lead by a
\nDowney politician. We can only hope that there’s still time to
\nsave this cultural landmark (the third McDonald’s ever, and perhaps
\nthe last standing original red-and-white tile McDonald’s).<\/p>\n

Curiously, even as they try to knock down the real thing, McDonald’s
\n seems to be constructing some faux 1950s locations. The Washington
\nD.C. train station has a McD.’s, inside the station, that has a
\nstylized red-and-white tile facade and golden arches. And when in
\nAtlanta recently, I visited what was either a very well-maintained
\nearly McDonald’s or (I suspect) a retro one of recent vintage.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1023, from davemackey, 1178 chars, Sun Jul 4 16:10:23 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Last of the Stooges passes on…
\nThe sole surviving member of the Three Stooges, Joe DeRita, passed away
\nyesterday. He was to have turned 84 on July 12.
\n A burlesque performer since the age of 7, Mr. DeRita performed in the
\ngroup under the name “Curly Joe” and was recruited after the team had retired
\nfrom making short subjects in the late 1950’s. (A previous attempt by Stooge
\nleader Moe Howard to bring DeRita to the group after the death of his brother
\nShemp in 1955 failed since DeRita couldn’t get out of his contract with
\nHarold Minsky. Joe Besser joined the team instead.)
\n Curly Joe appeared with his cohorts Moe and Larry in a series of 156
\ncolor cartoons produced by the late Dick Brown’s Cambria studio in 1965.
\nThese films, still in distribution, had the added appeal of live-action
\nwraparounds of the Stooges; longtime Stooge foil Emil Sitka also participated
\nin this revival.
\n Of the other Stooges, Curly Howard died in 1952, six years after
\nsuffering a crippling stroke that forced him to leave the team. Shemp Howard
\npassed away in 1955, Larry Fine in 1974, Moe Howard in 1975, and Joe Besser a
\nfew years ago.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1024, from hmccracken, 172 chars, Sun Jul 4 23:35:50 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1023.
\n————————–
\n…And we should have mentioned here that Spanky McFarland of the Our Gang
\nshorts passed away recently as well, one of the last of the best-known
\nLittle Rascals.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1025, from davemackey, 239 chars, Mon Jul 5 21:08:27 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1018.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt will interest you to know that MST3K is going to soon be on every
\nweeknight at midnight on Comedy Central.
\n Have you read the newsgroup on the Usenet (which I think is
\nalt.tv.mst3k or alt.fan.mst3k)?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1026, from jodle, 436 chars, Tue Jul 6 15:42:27 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1025.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ve lost track of the MST3k newsgroup but my last MST3k newsletter said that
\nthe “new season” (there really is no such thing as they tape all year round
\nand start new episodes with fits and starts every few months) starts
\nJuly 10\/11\/something. I guess that’s this Saturday.<\/p>\n

The weeknight showings are Midnight Eastern. I guarantee I won’t be seeing
\nmany of them, but it might be a good opportunity to fill out that tape library.
\n\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1027, from srider, 193 chars, Tue Jul 6 21:05:17 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1026.
\n————————–
\n They begin this season on the 17th. I’ve got a big post from usenet
\naround here somewhere that has the movie list from the previous seasons,
\nplus a bunch of other neat stuff. %grep mst3k<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1028, from hmccracken, 746 chars, Sat Jul 10 06:22:25 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Celebs Online
\nThursday’s _Boston Globe_ had an entertaining article on famous people who
\nhave accounts on the Internet and other electronic discussion-places
\n(unfortunately, there was no mention of BIX). While the emphasis was on
\nfolks like Demi Moore (who may or may not hang out on America Online) and
\nJerry Seinfeld, one cartoon-related celeb and one semi-cartoon-related one
\nwere mentioned.<\/p>\n

The cartoon-related one is Scott Adams, author of the _Dilbert_ comic strip,
\nwhose E-mail address is sa****@ao*.c<\/span>om<\/span>. The other one is Bob West — the
\nvoice of the ever-loving Barney the Dinosaur — whom the article notes
\nspent years as a computer consultant before becoming Barney. No mail
\naddress is given for him, unfortunately.
\n – Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1029, from switch, 51 chars, Sat Jul 10 21:43:26 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1028.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1028.
\n————————–
\nUnfortunately? You mean, “lucky for him” \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1030, from switch, 70 chars, Sat Jul 10 21:43:54 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: On this day…
\n…four years ago, Mel Blanc passed away.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1031, from davemackey, 150 chars, Sun Jul 11 00:20:42 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1028.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWonder if Bob West has ever stumbled upon alt.sex.bestiality.barney late one
\nevening poking around the Internet… \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1032, from switch, 97 chars, Sun Jul 11 13:00:56 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1031.
\n————————–
\nHe’s probably an active participant in the “We are Barney – you
\nwill be assimilated” wave.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1033, from davemackey, 472 chars, Thu Jul 15 16:13:15 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Obituary: Ruth Krauss
\nRuth Krauss, two-time winner of the Caldecott Medal for children’s
\nliterature, died on Saturday in Westport, CT, age 91. Ms. Krauss was
\nthe author of “A Hole Is To Dig”, the first of eight books she
\ncollaborated with Maurice Sendak. Another illustrator she worked with
\nwas her husband, David Johnson Leisk — better known as Crockett
\nJohnson, who was also the creator of “Barnaby.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1034, from hmccracken, 303 chars, Thu Jul 15 16:58:54 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1033.
\n————————–
\nKrauss and Johonson did a book, about a little boy who goes fishing,
\nthat was one of the first books (or maybe *the* first book) that
\nI ever read myself. I can’t recall the name of the book, but I can
\nenvision the cover — and the little boy looked just like Barnaby.<\/p>\n

Any Barnaby fans here?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1035, from davemackey, 459 chars, Mon Jul 19 11:01:35 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Noisiest Laser Printer Ever…
\n…is on display in the current Tom Cruise film “The Firm.” At one point
\nin the movie, Cruise requests printouts of some financial data, and we can
\nclearly see on the computer’s screen that the destination printer is a
\nApple LaserWriter. When he clicks OK, you can hear the clatter characteristic
\nof a dot-matrix printer! Perhaps Sydney Pollack needs a computer literacy
\ncourse… \ud83d\ude09 –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1036, from switch, 72 chars, Mon Jul 19 20:59:31 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1035.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat must have been when I was dozing. I missed that completely.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1037, from davemackey, 234 chars, Tue Jul 20 21:13:00 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1036.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI don’t blame you for dozing! That film is about 2-1\/2 hours long, and at one
\npoint, I turned to Rhonda and said, “How many days have we been watching this
\nfilm?” (Despite its length it was very good.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1038, from switch, 64 chars, Tue Jul 20 22:19:12 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1037.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGood? I hated it. I thought it wasted some good actors.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1039, from hmccracken, 131 chars, Tue Jul 20 22:50:30 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1038.
\n————————–
\nI fell asleep for what seemed to be a crucial five minute stretch — then
\nwas utterly consufed by the rest of the movie.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1040, from jodle, 549 chars, Thu Jul 22 11:20:46 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: MST3K Article in TV Guide
\nFor anybody that’s interested (is anybody interested or am I just bothering
\ny’all? I’m not touching you, does this bother you? I’m still not touching
\nyou…) there is an article in July 24-30 TV Guide about Mystery Science
\nTheater 3000 that has the usual fluff about how it’s the miracle cult hit.
\nIt also has some info on the Joel Hodgeson -> Jim Mallon changeover.
\nApparently Gypsy will mastermind some plot that gets him off the satellite.<\/p>\n

Are puppets fabricated from garage-sale mulch really “animation?” \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1041, from number6, 176 chars, Thu Jul 22 18:41:23 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1040.
\n————————–
\nWell, they’re animated. How about Claymation? Puppetry or animation?
\nHow about Thai shadow puppets? You see an animated image of the puppets
\nbut not the puppets themselves.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1042, from davemackey, 588 chars, Tue Aug 3 20:37:48 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Bear with me
\nYou’ve heard of the man without a country? How about the man without a
\ncomputer?
\n Since I moved about five weeks ago, I have been more or less
\ncomputerless. This is because due to my brother’s business records being
\non this computer, it can’t go with me yet. So until either of us gets another
\ncomputer, I will try to say hi whenever I can but I won’t be around too much.
\n Fortunately, animation\/cbix coincides with my roommate’s Tuesday night
\ncommittment serving Ice Cream to young and old, so I’ll always be here for
\nthat. \ud83d\ude42
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1043, from davemackey, 199 chars, Thu Aug 5 22:21:53 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1042.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nProblem solved: just went out and got a Compaq ProLinea 486-DX33, with
\na great big hard drive, and an NEC MultiSync monitor. Probably the last
\ncomputer I’ll ever buy. –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1044, from hmccracken, 260 chars, Fri Aug 6 00:03:12 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1043.
\n————————–
\nCongrats, Dave! But I doubt that your Compaq (or any current PC) will
\nrun the nifty software you’ll want to be running five or ten years down
\nthe road. (OTOH, my mother is still happily using the Radio Shack
\nModel 200 she got nearly a decade ago.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1045, from hmccracken, 1038 chars, Thu Aug 12 19:03:33 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: My Theory of Life
\nI’ve long had a pet peeve which, I’ve only recently realized, is actually
\nbased on some fundamental beliefs I hold. I’ve come to the conclusion
\nthat the world can be divided into two groups of people: those who
\ncan tell Daffy Duck from Donald Duck, and those who can’t.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m not going to make any value judgements about these two groups
\nof folks. (It wouldn’t be polite — and I assume everyone who reads
\nthis conference falls into the “can” group, anyhow.) But I will say
\nthat since I recently started wearing a Daffy Duck wristwatch, I’ve
\nlearned a lot about lots of people I know or meet. (Everybody compliments
\nme on it, but some people call it my “Donald Duck watch” — or at least
\nhem and haw before coming up with the name “Daffy.”<\/p>\n

Anyhow, with all the talk of cultural literacy tests these days, it might
\nbe fun to come up with a cartoon\/comics cultural literacy test.
\nKnowing Donald from Daffy would certainly be a pretty basic question
\nfor such a test. Any thoughts on others?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1046, from jodle, 55 chars, Thu Aug 12 19:20:42 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1045.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1045.
\n————————–
\nDaffy or Donald really is a matter of black and white.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1047, from switch, 176 chars, Fri Aug 13 07:37:38 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1045.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nSure. How about the ability to recognize different anime characters on a
\npolice lineup? <\/p>\n

Hmmmn. Maybe a visual\/written “who does not belong in this group” test.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1048, from hmccracken, 212 chars, Sat Aug 14 11:13:42 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1047.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, since I’m not very well versed in anime characters, I’d probably be
\nopposed to including them in a cartoon literacy test. If you’re talking
\nabout Astro Boy, Speed Racer, Kimba, or Lum, that’s OK.
\n – Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1049, from switch, 198 chars, Sat Aug 14 22:05:12 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1048.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nActually, I was just making a jab at the folks who say that “all anime
\ncharacters look the same.” Seriously, though, a group association quiz
\nwith different cartoon characters could be fun.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1050, from hmccracken, 1175 chars, Sun Aug 15 00:58:39 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hamburgers…
\nhave nothing at all to do with cartoons (except that they’re Wimpy’s favorite
\nfood), but long-time members of this conference may remember my interest in
\nthe history and folklore of America’s favorite sandwich. It was with pleasure,
\nthen. that I picked up a new book: _Hamburger Heaven_, by Jeffrey
\nTennyson (kin to Lord Alfred?), a beautiful art book that chronicles the
\nworld of the burger, from its lowly origins to its omnipresent presence today.
\nThere are tons of great color illustrations of fast-food outlets and an
\ninformative text — the only problem with the book is that the text is typeseytr
\nin a weird san-serif boldface typeface that’s tough to read.<\/p>\n

To give this message at least some relevance to the world of comics and
\ncartoons, the book is published by Hyperion, the publishing arm of the
\nWalt Disney Company. Hyperion specializes in well-done books on popular
\nculture, including ones on the Disney studio itself. The company’s latest
\neffort in that area is the paperback edition of John Culhane’s _Aladdin:
\nThe Making of an Animated Film_, a nicely-done book on the production of
\nDisney’s most recent animated feature.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1051, from elfhive, 90 chars, Sun Aug 15 13:19:31 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1050.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1050.
\n————————–
\n> well-done books on popular culture<\/p>\n

Like good hamburgers, I prefer mine medium-rare \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1052, from hmccracken, 453 chars, Sun Aug 15 19:59:01 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1049.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nOn _60 Minutes_, Andy Rooney just did a schtick about comic strips that
\nsuggsted to me that he’d have to do a lot of brushing up before taking
\na comics literacy test. He said he rarely reads the comics and doesn’t
\nget the point of about half those he does read. He also called _Mother
\nGoose and Grimm_ a “new strip” (it’s been around since around 1984)
\nand wondered when _Little Orphan Annie_ changed its name to _Annie_
\n(in 1979, I think).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1053, from switch, 274 chars, Sun Aug 15 22:19:16 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1052.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1052.
\n————————–
\nWell, that’s two strikes for the Roon. Three if you consider the fact that
\nhe rarely reads the comics.<\/p>\n

Tsk. This is where our society is going wrong.<\/p>\n

Musicians, on the other hand, seem to be more comic\/cartoon aware — this
\nbrings me to my question over on \/main.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1054, from hmccracken, 158 chars, Sun Aug 15 22:34:03 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1053.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n‘Dja ever notice how people who don’t read the comics regularly get
\nunusually cranky and drone on about all the things in life that
\nirritate them?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1055, from switch, 63 chars, Mon Aug 16 06:46:41 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1054.
\n————————–
\nYup. And they don’t live as long because of the stress.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1056, from davemackey, 362 chars, Tue Aug 17 05:05:21 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1052.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe strip became known as “Annie” when the Chicago Tribune-New York News
\nSyndicate (now Tribune Media Services) resurrected the strip due to
\nthe success of the Broadway musical “Annie.” They later decided to can the
\nHarold Gray reprints and go with all new strips done by Leonard Starr, and
\nthat is when the name change occurred.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1057, from hmccracken, 149 chars, Tue Aug 17 09:01:07 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1056.
\n————————–
\nGee, since “Annie Warbucks” (a sequel to the Broadway play) is now
\nplaying in New York, does that mean the strip’s name will change
\nagain?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1058, from hmccracken, 1571 chars, Sat Sep 4 21:45:17 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Changes and Reflections
\nAs many of you have been reading elsewhere on BIX, General Videotex is
\nbeing purchased by a company headed by Rupert Murdoch. What changes does
\nthis promise for the animation conference? None whatsoever. But in the
\nspirit of this conference, it’s fun to remember that Murdoch once controlled
\nthe News America syndicate and thus was in the business of bringing Andy
\nCapp, Dennis the Menace. B.C. and many other comic strips into millions
\nof homes. His ownership of the syndicate, combined with his ownership of
\nthe Boston Herald, led to what remains for me a great moment in comics
\nhistory: in the mid-1980s, News America pulled all its comics from the
\npages of the Boston Globe and placed them in the Herald, meaning that
\nthe Herald suddenly had a vastly better comics section and the Globe
\nunexpectedly introduced scads of new strips to replace the ones it lost.<\/p>\n

It was a golden moment for comics readers, as the event made Boston a far
\nbetter comics city and put the event, as a news story, on the front pages
\nof both papers. Both the Globe and the Herald announced plans to add
\n*even more* strips to their pages. Unfortonately, the excitement died down
\nand eventually, the Herald shed some of the strips it had gained. But it
\nwas wonderful to watch — particularly because it forced the Globe, which
\ngenerally seems to treat its comics section as an embarassing kiddie feature
\nit can’t quite bring itself to drop — to admit that the comics pages are
\nsomne of the best-read, best-loved ones in the newspaper.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1059, from switch, 197 chars, Sat Sep 4 22:14:05 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1058.
\n————————–
\nI remember reading the Globe during my stat in Boston in the mid-80s — it
\nwas a wonderful time, indeed. But then, most metropolitain US papers have
\nbetter comics than the Montreal Gazette.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1060, from hmccracken, 1408 chars, Sun Sep 5 11:53:07 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Unexpected Inheritances
\nAs I have had reason to mention here before, I have the ability to discover
\nanimation-related stuff in the darndest places, at the darndest times.
\nThe most recent example came yesterday.<\/p>\n

My grandmother passed away recently; it happened very unexpectedly, at the
\nage of 90, one month after a huge birthday party that all her friends and
\nfamily attended — and if you’ve got to go, that’s about the best way to
\ndo it that I can imagine. Yesterday, the family gathered in her apartment
\nto read the will and determine what to do with everything that wasn’t
\nmentioned in it, and as part of the job I went to her storage area in the
\nbasement of the building to see what occupied it. <\/p>\n

The first thing I picked up was a book, which turned out to be a 1954
\nvolume of square-dance calls that had belonged to a late great-aunt.
\nLooking more closely, I discovered that the introduction to the book
\nwas by Chuck Jones! I was aware that Jones was a square-dancing
\nenthusiast that \u001cand had contributed cartoons to square-dancing magazines, but
\nI hadn’t known he had *written* about the past-time.<\/p>\n

Oddly, the introduction is credited to “Chuck Jones, Hollywood, U.S.A.”
\nbut makes no mention of his involvement with animated cartoons. Perhaps<\/p>\n

Jones was such a well-known individual in the square-dancing community
\nthat his cartooning career was considered somewhar secondary.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1061, from davemackey, 117 chars, Sun Sep 5 15:52:36 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1060.
\n————————–
\nI am sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing. But what an interesting
\ndiscovery!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1062, from switch, 664 chars, Sun Sep 5 21:55:41 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: J. Lyle
\nToday at the Montreal World Film Festival was the world premiere of Bill
\nPlympton’s second feature film, _J. Lyle_. Plympton and the two main stars
\nwere on hand for the event, as well (not surprising — th Fest is a good place
\nto shmooze if you want to get into the biz but can’t afford air fare to
\nHollywood.)<\/p>\n

Anyway, the film is a live-action offering, but it has more than a few
\ncartoony moments. Plympton’s offbeat humour is present throughout the film,
\nbut _J. Lyle_ suffers from the same problem as _The Tune_: not-so-hot pacing,
\nand dwelling too long on gags and odd little tangents. It’s better than _The
\nTune_, but not by much…<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1063, from hmccracken, 145 chars, Sun Sep 5 22:31:05 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1062.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou didn’t like _The Tune_? I loved it — it might have been my favorite
\nanimated film of 1992, in fact. Either that or _Aladdin_…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1064, from switch, 131 chars, Mon Sep 6 09:15:43 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1063.
\n————————–
\nIt was funny, yes, but it didn’t work as a feature-length film. It *felt*
\nlike a bunch of disparate shorts strung together.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1065, from hmccracken, 571 chars, Mon Sep 27 00:11:46 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Ralph’s Brother?
\nBeing a cartoon fanatic can have strange side-effects. I just saw the
\n1960s Peter Sellers film _The Party_ — quite funny, by the way — and
\nspent the whole film pondering the fact that Sellers’ character (a native
\nof India) is named Bakshi. The only other instance of that name I’ve
\nheard is Ralph Bakshi, the legendary animation director, and I wonder if
\nthe folks who wrote the film (Blake Edwards and a couple of others) knew
\nof Ralph. And, for that matter, if Ralph is of Indian extraction — maybe
\nBakshi is a common Indian name?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1066, from hmccracken, 219 chars, Tue Oct 19 18:18:23 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Birthday!
\nThis conference was created on October 19th, 1989, which makes today
\nour fourth birthday. Happy birthday, everyone, and many thanks
\nfor all the interesting information and conversation!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1067, from hmccracken, 265 chars, Thu Oct 28 23:15:35 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Iwerks Entertainment…
\nis the name of a company, involved in theme-park development, that gets
\nmentioned a lot on TV financial shows as a hot investment. Anyone know
\nif it’s really related somehow to the great Ub Iwerks, Mickey Mouse’s
\nother dad?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1068, from elfhive, 378 chars, Thu Oct 28 23:24:51 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1067.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1067.
\n————————–
\nThere was a long article about it in the Wall Street Journal relating
\nto the new Pyramid hotel in Vegas. It is a very hot investment with
\nshares selling at up to eight times the original offering price on
\nthe day they are issued. The article did state that the partners had
\nrelations to Disney animators but did not specify who or Ub Iwerks
\nby name. I’m nearly 100% sure it is.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1069, from hmccracken, 287 chars, Thu Oct 28 23:56:54 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1068.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1068.
\n————————–
\nYup. The virtual-reality rides at Luxor sound neat — I’m definitely
\ngoing to check them out when I’m in Las Vegas for Comdex next month.
\nIt would be neat to think that such high-tech entertainment had
\na relation to Ub (whose son, Dave, also worked at Disney for many
\nyears).
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1070, from hmccracken, 910 chars, Sun Nov 7 11:10:05 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: A Mystery
\nA few times lately, I’ve seen TV ads for Kellogg’s Apple Jacks cereal based
\naround the fact that it doesn’t taste like apples, and how kids find this
\nto be very hip but adults don’t just get it. I found this odd, since (although
\nI haven’t had any for maybe fifteen years) Apple Jacks used to be my
\nfavorite breakfast food, and I distinctly remembered that it *did* taste
\nlike apples. And I checked out a box in the grocery store the other day,
\nand the packaging describes it as an “apple and cinnamon flavor cereal.”
\nSo what’s the deal?<\/p>\n

(Oh, and I realize that this isn’t strictly animation-related, but I’ve
\nalways felt that breakfast cereal, toys, and any other product that’s
\nheavily advertised on Saturday-morning TV is fair game for this
\nconference. If it wasn’t for such products, there might not *be*
\nany Saturday-morning TV — not that that would be a bad thing, mind you.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1071, from davemackey, 540 chars, Fri Nov 12 19:02:37 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 976.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nProving that I can’t get away from Mr. George S. Irving, no matter how I try:
\nI was at a performance of “Cinderella” mounted by the New York City Opera
\nlast night; who do you think played the King to the hilt?
\n Other notables in the cast included Sally Ann Howes as the Fairy
\nGodmother and Nancy Marchand — best known as Mrs. Pynchon from “Lou Grant”
\n— as Cinderella’s stepmother. The show was based on the original by Rodgers
\nand Hammerstein, but the book has been punched up somewhat by Steve Allen.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1072, from hmccracken, 119 chars, Fri Nov 12 21:56:25 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1071.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRodgers and Hammerstein “punched up by Steve Allen?” I am an Allen fan,
\nbut that sounds ominous. How was it?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1073, from hmccracken, 619 chars, Sat Nov 13 21:19:38 1993
\n————————–
\nTITLE: How to torture a little kid…
\nWhile up early this morning, I watched _Captain Bob_, a kids’ show that
\nteaches views to draw animals. It’s been on Boston TV (channel 5) for
\numpteen years. At the end of each show, Captain Bob shows off drawings
\nsent in by viewers, lavishes praise on them, and urges the viewer to send
\nin his or her drawings for use on future epsidoes. All of which is fine,
\nexcept that the show hasn’t had a new episode in nineteen years! Those
\nare 1974-era drawings that Bob showcases, and I wonder how many of today’s
\nkids send in their drawings and wait for Bob to show them on TV.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1074, from davemackey, 142 chars, Sun Nov 14 22:40:20 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1072.
\n————————–
\nWeird, in that Steve Allen sort of way. I almost expected the Prince to say
\n“Schmock! Schmock!” at one point.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1075, from davemackey, 143 chars, Wed Nov 17 22:11:32 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1070.
\n————————–
\nHow about a new topic, then? animation\/kidvid? Dealing with any other issues
\nrelated to children’s television.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1076, from hmccracken, 1392 chars, Sat Nov 20 22:23:18 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1068.
\n————————–
\nI went to the Luxor hotel while in Vegas, and experienced the three
\nattractions that Iwerks Entertainment had a hand in. The first thing
\nthat comes to mind to describe them is that they’re very, very
\nunusual — technically quite incredible, but very idiosyncratic
\nas entertainment. (This sets them apart from the Disney park attractions,
\nwhich do such an expert job at pushing an audience’s buttons.)
\nThe attractions include a Star Tours-like outerspace simulator
\n(a lot of fun — the first and best attraction), a simulated live
\ntalk show that’s really on film (which really does look about 98% like]
\nit’s really happening), and an Omnimax-like big-screen movie (the
\nlast and least interesting of the three). All of this is tied together
\nby a sometimes incomprehensible plotline involving space (or was it
\ntime travel?),a pyramid, clairvoyancy, a stereotyped hero and heroine
\nwho reminded me of Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, and a G. Gordon Liddy\/
\nOllie North-style villain.<\/p>\n

Oh, there’s also a nifty three-dimensional animated sequence as part of
\nthe talk show. The whole thing is definitely worth doing if you’re in
\nVegas (total cost is $14, which also includes a boat tour of the hotel),
\nbut don’t expect to be enthralled by the storytelling. It’s a lot like
\na 1970s Jack Kirby comic book — spectacular and imaginative, but marching
\nto its own offbeat drummer in a lot of ways.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1077, from davemackey, 575 chars, Mon Nov 22 19:03:44 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Bill Bixby
\nIn case you haven’t heard, Bill Bixby passed away yesterday, losing his long
\nbattle with cancer.
\n Besides his long running television series (which included “My Favorite
\nMartian” and an animated adaptation thereof in the 70’s which he may or may
\nnot have been involved with — I can’t remember at this point), it’s worthy
\nof mention in the animation conference, because Bixby shortly before his
\ndeath married the widow of cat cartoonist Bernard Kliban.
\n Most recently, Bixby was the director of the series “Blossom.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1078, from hmccracken, 179 chars, Mon Nov 22 19:18:46 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1077.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1077.
\n————————–
\nBixby was also, of course, the alter-ego of the Incredible Hulk in what must
\nhave been one of the four or five most successful prime-time TV series
\nbased on the comics.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1079, from peabo, 179 chars, Tue Nov 23 02:03:53 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1077.
\n————————–
\nHe also was the star of a detective series “The Magician” in which he always
\nsolved the case, or defeated the bad guys, by some sort of misdirection, and
\nnever used a gun.<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1080, from hmccracken, 336 chars, Tue Nov 23 23:51:13 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Time for a CBIX change?
\nParticipation levels in our Tuesday night CBIXes have dropped off lately.
\nMaybe it’s time to change to another night and\/or time — anyone have
\nany nominations? Should we make them monthly rather than weekly? Your
\nfeedback would be very helpful. And look for our next Trivia Night,
\ncoming soon!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1081, from elfhive, 213 chars, Wed Nov 24 00:04:47 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1080.
\n————————–
\nMonthly might be a good idea, apparently I can’t make it every week and
\nhaving it just once a month would be a stronger incentive. Actually,
\nTuesday is as good as any other weeknight for me, in fact, I prefer it.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1082, from linkster, 114 chars, Mon Dec 20 00:26:18 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: It’s official
\nI’m now an official letterhack. My first published letter is in DHP #80.<\/p>\n

LInk<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1083, from hmccracken, 46 chars, Mon Dec 20 09:12:52 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1082.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations! What was it about?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1084, from linkster, 663 chars, Mon Dec 20 20:39:08 1993
\nThis is a comment to message 1083.
\n————————–
\nIt was general comments about the issue, especially the art. Charles Vess
\nhad the cover story(Jane Yolen had adapted a renaissance ballad).
\nI commented that the other stories were almost overpowered by
\nVess’ art. Eddie Campbell’s are “suffered” the most in comparison.
\nRandy Stradley replied that they were different and one was not
\nnecessarily better than the other. I agree with his point, but I
\n_prefer_ Vess’ artwork to Campbell’s art. (His _Eyeball_Kid_ and
\n_Deadface_ books are on my backissue to buy list.)<\/p>\n

I’d prefer it if people would just read the letter. (Had to
\nget a plug in for one of my favorite comics \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n

LInk<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1085, from hmccracken, 1299 chars, Thu Dec 30 22:34:43 1993
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: X-Ray Specs Revisited
\nI finally found (at a reasonable price, I mean) something I’ve wanted for
\nyears — an original Johnson Smith catalog. If you’ve ever read a comic
\nbook, you know J-M as the folks behind those ads crammed with novelty
\nitems like whoopie cushions, x-ray specs, hot gum, disappearing ink,
\njoy buzzers, and the like. It’s safe to say that the company (which is,
\nlast time I checked, still in business) has been responsible for more
\nbad jokes being pulled on more people than any other organization in
\nhistory.<\/p>\n

My copy of the catalog is the 1950 edition, which must have been right
\nin the middle of J-M’s heyday. It is a hardcover (!) volume that runs
\napproximately 500 pages, and which is overflowing with stuff I wish
\nI could place an order for, like:<\/p>\n

* Rhesus monkeys, delivered to your door for $50 a piece
\n* A book on building and flying your own airplane in ten easy steps
\n* A toy .45 caliber pistol which the catalog touts with the words
\n“BOYS…we call it the SCARE’UM GUN because it fools most people…
\nMay even frighten burglars away.”
\n* Imitation bed bugs
\n* A whole section of bugs on free masonry
\nThe magic nose flute<\/p>\n

… and about 6,995 other items, most of which run no more than fifty
\ncents. Whatever happened to old fashioned American ingenuity?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1086, from davemackey, 258 chars, Sat Jan 1 09:07:14 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1085.
\n————————–
\nThe spirit of the old Johnson Smith catalogues is alive and well in a company
\ncalled Archie McPhee. I don’t have their address handy, but they offer much
\nthe same caliber and quality of merchandise that J-S did in its heyday.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1087, from davemackey, 319 chars, Sun Jan 2 23:52:18 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: He’s here
\nSome of you may have noted my frequent references to my brother, Bob.
\nWell, he’s here. As of today, he is a member of BIX under username
\n‘robairmackey’. Drop him some E-mail and invite him to the animation
\nconference, someone! I’m too dang busy to do it myself! \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1088, from hmccracken, 83 chars, Mon Jan 3 00:00:48 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1087.
\n————————–
\nWelcome, Bob, if you’ve found your way here yet! If so, please say “Hi!”
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1089, from davemackey, 148 chars, Fri Jan 7 19:08:06 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 729.
\n————————–
\nWonder if Steve knows that BIX is no longer under McGraw Hill control. If so,
\ncome home, Steve, all is forgiven! \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1090, from kipw, 497 chars, Sat Jan 8 20:20:39 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1050.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUntil recently, there was a family-owned burger joint called
\n“Wimpy’s.” I was fond of their clam platters. Once they were
\ngone (replaced by Rally’s), I bitterly cursed the fact I had
\nno memento of their existence. Then, my good pal Gecko (who
\nintroduced me to the place) presented me with a Wimpy’s t-shirt,
\nbattered (though not fried) but serviceable. Apparently, King
\nFeatures Syndicate didn’t ever sue them or anything–unlike Disney,
\nKFS seems to have a lower size limit on such things.
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1091, from kipw, 42 chars, Sat Jan 8 20:21:44 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1065.
\n————————–
\nI think Bakshi is an Armenian name.
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1092, from kipw, 622 chars, Sat Jan 8 20:25:58 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1067.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nA recent “Nova” concerning roller coasters talked about Iwerks
\nEntertainment. A director’s chair with a picture of Mickey Mouse
\nis prominent in several shots. I left with the impression that the
\nboss there is “Son of Ub,” but without dragging it out and watching
\nit again, I can’t be sure if there’s any reason for this belief. (In
\nfact, I’m not sure I kept the recording. I was somewhat disappointed
\nthat they found it better to show about two seconds of point-of-view
\ncoaster action, then cut away to show idiots screaming in the cars.
\nAs if it’s a thrill to look at the outside of a car on a track or
\nsomething.)
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1093, from hmccracken, 427 chars, Mon Jan 10 19:56:51 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Last night, we held our third Trivia Night…
\nand a grand time was had by all, I think. Nine of us played
\n(counting your obedient servant, who presided over the event).
\nAfter all twenty-five questions had been asked and answered,
\nthe final tally showed Kip Williams (kipw) on top, Bob Mackey
\n(robairmackey) in second place, and Dave Mackey in third.
\nCongratulations, guys, and thanks to everyone who attended!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1094, from davemackey, 278 chars, Mon Jan 10 20:47:17 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1090.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWait a minim! I know you! Why don’t you introduce yourself to us, Kip? And
\nif not, I’ll have to do the honors… \ud83d\ude09 (The place to do that is in the
\n\/characters subtopic.)
\n I didn’t make the connection until you mentioned “my good pal Gecko”.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1095, from linkster, 403 chars, Mon Jan 10 21:16:39 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Overwhelmed….
\nI’m just a bit overwhelmed by the response I got from a single letter to a
\ncomics creator. I got *2* signed comics, one of which is the one I wrote the
\nletter about, one comic from the creators’ partner, a signed promo sheet, and a
\nhandwritten letter. Brian Michael Bendis is quite generous. Oh, the name of
\nthe book I wrote about is Fire Book One.<\/p>\n

LInk<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1096, from hmccracken, 482 chars, Mon Jan 10 21:25:30 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1095.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGee, it’s nice that they care! You must have had high praise indeed in your
\nletter.<\/p>\n

It’s tough being a comics fan these days, I think. When I was a lad attending
\ncomics cons (*adapting cranky old man voice*), artists cheerfully cranked out
\nsketch after sketch for fans, always for free. You got the feeling that
\nthe cartoonists felt honored that anyone cared enough about their work
\nto *want* a sketch. These days, don’t you have to pay an arm and a leg to
\nget a sketch?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1097, from linkster, 197 chars, Tue Jan 11 21:45:18 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1096.
\n————————–
\nI trie to be positive and not mention the bad except in a positive light so
\nthat they can improve. I don’t feel that my letter was especially high praise.
\nBut appaently he did.<\/p>\n

LInk.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1098, from kipw, 597 chars, Tue Jan 11 23:42:15 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1094.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nDave, I’ve been deftly floundering here for a few dollars… I mean
\nminutes… and can’t access the fershlugginer \/characters subtopic. Now
\nI wish I’d learned to read. Anyway, I had lots of fun Sunday, and it was
\nnice to meet Bob. You’ll be glad to know I’ve got my logo ready for the
\nnext APATOONS. Why, the rest should practically write itself (the only
\nhitch being that I’m at war with WordPerfect 6.0).
\nFor anyone’s info, I’m 37 (but I look 35), like to draw and play piano,
\nwatch TV and similar antisocial stuff. More detailed bio when I find
\nthe aforementioned subtopic.
\n–Kip (Williams)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1099, from elfhive, 164 chars, Thu Jan 13 00:00:43 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1098.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nGood luck on your battles with WP 6.0, I’m hopin the Windows version
\nwill fix it. In the meantime, may I suggest you use something from
\nthe Acme Supply Company \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1100, from hmccracken, 119 chars, Thu Jan 13 00:19:53 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1099.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUnsolicited (and non-animation-related) plug: Microsoft Word
\nfor Windows 6.0 is wonderful. Despite the bugs.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1101, from elfhive, 51 chars, Thu Jan 13 00:22:13 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1100.
\n————————–
\nWell, Harry, it was related. You did mention Bugs!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1102, from linkster, 147 chars, Thu Jan 13 20:57:32 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Two months i a row….
\nI’ve had a letter in _Dark Horse Presents_. Does this mean I’ve arrived? Or is
\nit justa fluke?<\/p>\n

LInk<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1103, from hmccracken, 445 chars, Mon Jan 17 19:23:35 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1092.
\n————————–
\nDon Iwerks, the head of Iwerks Entertainment, is indeed Ub’s son, as
\nwell as a long-time Disney employee himself, according to a stock report
\non the company I got in the mail today. I think that Ub, who was responsible
\nnot only for Mickey Mouse’s design but also many technological advancements
\nin animation, would be delighted that his offspring is venturing forth
\ninto new worlds of entertainment technology under the Iwerks banner.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1104, from davemackey, 1169 chars, Thu Jan 20 21:43:28 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Finally
\nWithin a few weeks, I will finally have Cartoon Network on my cable at home.
\nWhen I finally moved out of my family’s house last summer, I did not realize
\nthat Cartoon Network would be added to the local cable (Monmouth Cablevision,
\na system recently purchased by Cablevision) that fall. Had I known that I
\nwould have stayed. The place where I moved to and lived for about two and a
\nhalf months did not offer it on its cable system, which was Storer Cable.
\n When I moved in with Nancy in mid-September, I walked into a 36-channel
\nAdelphia system that did not offer Cartoon. (There also wasn’t room for
\nLifetime on this pathetically small system.) But there was hope: Adelphia was
\nrebuilding its Toms River, NJ system into a 66-channel behemoth on which
\nCartoon had the honor of being Channel 66.
\n They strung up the fiber optic cable in our neighborhood last week, and
\nNancy and I got the official notice of the changeover today. Scenes like last
\nnight, where I could find absolutely nothing to watch on the cable, will
\nlikely never be repeated again, with the imminent arrival of Cartoon Network
\nin our household.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1105, from robairmackey, 446 chars, Fri Jan 21 21:15:11 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1104.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWelcome to Vegetable land.
\nI use the Cartoon Network in much the same way a six-year-old uses a
\nnight light.
\n BTW, I had my hair cut last night and the stylist says to me, “That
\nCartoon Network? I’m a little ashamed to say this, but my husband and I
\nhave gotten hooked on the Banana Splits!”
\n –Bob
\nP.S. The Splits haven’t been the same since Drooper married that
\nperformance artist.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1106, from hmccracken, 393 chars, Tue Feb 1 20:36:18 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Time Takes Note of Toons
\n_Time_ magazine has grown frivolous since its recent redesign, but
\nthis is crazy. This week’s issue features “Milestoons,” a parody
\nof its own “Milestones” section, except that all the news is about
\ncomic-strip characters. Dick Tracy’s divorce is covered, along with
\nnews about Batman, the X-Men, and Green Lantern. I assume this is
\na one-time thing.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1107, from davemackey, 228 chars, Sun Feb 6 11:00:38 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1105.
\n————————–
\nThe Cartoon Network is in da house. It was wired up a few days ago, and I
\nnow have it. But Nancy is making me get my own converter box, since the TV
\nthat’s hooked up to my VCR doesn’t have a box.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1108, from davemackey, 411 chars, Tue Feb 8 11:17:10 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Power Boy” loses his Power
\nDue to changes requested by Fox Children’s Network head Margaret Loesch over
\nsimilarities to the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”, DIC is changing the name
\nof its live-action ripoff of “MMPR” from “Power Boy” to “Superhuman Samurai
\nSyber-Squad!” They are also changing the name of the lead character, Zack
\nJason, because those are the first names of two Power Rangers. –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1109, from davemackey, 546 chars, Wed Feb 16 09:05:50 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: TBS salutes the late Hal Smith…
\n…with a special episode of “The Andy Griffith” show this Friday. In the
\nepisode, Smith’s character Otis rides out a bender at the Taylor house and
\nis nursed back to relative sobriety by Aunt Bee. It was said to be one of
\nSmith’s favorite episodes of the series.
\n Smith, who died a few weeks ago at the age of 76, was also a prolific
\nanimation voice who can be heard frequently on episodes of “The Flintstones”
\n(also on TBS) doing supporting characters.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1110, from hmccracken, 112 chars, Wed Feb 16 09:44:51 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1109.
\n————————–
\n…But his greatest role in animation was, of course, that of
\nGoliath in the Davey and Goliath films.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1111, from davemackey, 159 chars, Thu Feb 17 22:10:35 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1108.
\n————————–
\nTrade ads this week in the broadcast industry journals note that the retitled
\nshow has been “Samurai-zed for your protection.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1112, from hmccracken, 735 chars, Wed Feb 23 18:28:08 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Farwell, Spy
\nNo, I’m not talking about any news involving Washington D.C. or Moscow.
\n_Spy_ magazine has ceased publication, and I think I’m going to miss
\nit (although it had been going downhill for years, ever since it stopped
\ncalling itself “The New York Monthly”). <\/p>\n

_Spy_ wasn’t a comic, but it published some nice cartoon illustrations
\nby Drew Friedman, among others. And at its best, it was the funniest
\nAmerican magazine around.<\/p>\n

Curiously, I got an envelope in the mail yesterday from them,
\nwith a picture of some broken eyeglasses and the question
\n“Have you seen your last Spy?” It turned out to be a plea for
\nme to renew my subscription, mailed, presumably, before the
\ndecision was made to stop publishing.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1113, from davemackey, 581 chars, Thu Feb 24 19:04:10 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1112.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI was about to post my own farewell to Spy, but you beat me to it. I guess
\nWalter Monheit (TM), Separated At Birth? and Naked City will all have to find
\na new home.
\n Spy was also notorious for frequent and brutal Disney-bashing. I agree
\nwith you that it used to be a very funny and interesting magazine, and it was
\noff its game by the time I let my subscription run out. It’s the last of a
\nbreed of magazines that hit its peak in the early 1970’s with National
\nLampoon, which published a liberal selection of comic strips and panels in
\nits day.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1114, from hmccracken, 529 chars, Thu Feb 24 19:39:05 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1113.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI had decided to let my subscription lapse, too. As it turns out,
\n_Spy_ will owe me two issues’ worth past the final issue.
\n(Wonder what I’ll get?)<\/p>\n

_Spy_ did indeed have some similarities to the _Lampoon_, but
\noddly enough, as it added _Lampoon_ veterans to its staff
\nduring the last year (publisher Gerald Taylor and editor
\nTony Hendra among them), it seemed to lose its focus very
\nquickly. Too much of what it published lately, like the
\nextended comic book-format parodies, seemed like warmed-
\nover _Lampoon_ stuff.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1115, from hmccracken, 901 chars, Sun Feb 27 15:12:05 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Talk About Weird Subliminal Messages
\nSega’s ads for its various videogames are getting more and more creepy.
\nFor awhile, all the ads have had two strange components: the words
\n“Welcome to the Next Level,” arranged in a square, are flashed very
\nbriefly at some point in each commercial, so you can see that
\n*something* has just appeared — but it’s tough to tell what.
\nAlso, each ad ends with someone shreiking “Sega!” in an agonized
\nvoice. <\/p>\n

Now, they have an ad for a new Sonic the Hedgehog game that’s really
\nperverse: it shows a man and boy flying a bomber plane and dropping
\nSonic cartridges on a suburban neighborhood, where they explode
\ninto a mushroom cloud and destroy everything, leaving a family
\nlooking disheveled but happy.<\/p>\n

This metaphor would give me the willies under any circumstances, but
\nconsidering that Sega is a Japanese company, it’s ten times more
\ndisturbing.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1116, from elfhive, 277 chars, Sun Feb 27 16:49:51 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1115.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1115.
\n————————–
\nHarry, it makes sense to me. For the past twenty years or so, Japanese
\nanimators (as well as monsters in rubber costumes) have been devastating
\nTokyo and other major Japanese cities in countless numbers of ways.
\nThey must figure it’s time to give us a taste of their medicine.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1117, from ollie, 232 chars, Sun Feb 27 18:58:32 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1116.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1116.
\n————————–
\nConsider also that Sega was orignally an American comapny,
\nfounded in 1954 by David Rosen (who is still active at Sega).
\nTry to pick up the December ’93 issue of Wired magazine for a
\ngood article on the electronic giant…<\/p>\n

-Oliver<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1118, from hmccracken, 140 chars, Sun Feb 27 19:36:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1117.
\n————————–
\nTrue! The book _Game Over_, which is mostly about the rise of
\nNintendo, also tells the interesting story of the founding
\nof Sega.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1119, from jodle, 1396 chars, Mon Feb 28 16:10:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1116.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere is no question that the A-bomb deeply scarred the national psyche of
\nJapan. Consider that they enjoyed centuries of virtual isolation as an
\nisland nation (much like Great Brittain) and marauding empire for
\ncenturies. Even to the end of World War II they were able to maintain at
\nleast a semblance of isolation. The U.S. air raids were damaging, to be
\nsure, but it at least seamed feasible that a defense could put in place.
\nTwo atomic bombs changed the world forever, but left the deepest physical
\nand mental scars in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. <\/p>\n

The way the bomb changed the U.S. is more subtle. We were the guardians
\nof the peace and all that. But having the ultimate power to destroy the
\nplanet didn’t help us a whit in Korea and Viet Nam and dozens of smaller
\nconflicts. The more elaborate the preparations and ambitious the plan,
\nthe more disastrous the failure. Watch any Roadrunner cartoon to
\ndetermine if that affected the way we look at other facets of reality.
\nThe coyote approaches the problem of capturing the roadrunner with a
\nconstantly spiraling escalation of technology and effort, only to be
\nfoiled anew at every turn. Worse, he was foiled not by the roadrunner,
\nbut by the very machinery he employed toward the demise of his opponent.
\nThe coyote was merely a metaphor for the military industrial complex and
\nits failure to bring peace or drive back the red menace.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1120, from hmccracken, 859 chars, Mon Feb 28 22:10:14 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Deprived of _The Simpsons_?
\nI just got my cable TV bill, and there’s a curt notice at the bottom
\ninforming me that as of mid-April, they will no longer be able to
\ncarry Boston’s Channel 25. (There’s a new law going into effect
\nthat forbids cable companies to carry any broadcast channel
\nwithout getting the permission of the channel.)<\/p>\n

Channel 25 is our FOX station, and in the case of about 95% of
\nFOX’s programs, it’s almost a public service for the cable
\ncompany not to transmit them. But this means I won’t have easy
\naccess to _The Simpsons_ — the only prime-time series I make
\na point to watch each week. I guess I’ll have to dig out some
\nrabbit-ears and figure out a way to switch between cable
\nand antenna reception.<\/p>\n

Any of you out there with cable might want to investigate if
\nyou’ll be losing any of your broadcast stations, too.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1121, from switch, 146 chars, Tue Mar 1 07:22:28 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1115.
\n————————–
\nTo be honest, what went through my mind when I first saw that ad was DR.
\nSTRANGELOVE. I expected the kid to ride the riding the, ah, bomb.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1122, from davemackey, 365 chars, Tue Mar 1 10:40:15 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1120.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1120.
\n————————–
\nYou may not be without the “Simpsons” for long, Harry. It’s going
\ninto syndication this fall, but in the cases of the Fox owned-and-
\noperated stations, they’ll be on those same stations. In markets
\nwhere your Fox station is not owned by Fox (such as in Philadelphia,
\nwhich will soon be changing its affiliation anyway), it won’t
\nnecessarily be on the same station.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1123, from jodle, 1391 chars, Tue Mar 1 10:58:59 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1122.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1122.
\n————————–
\nDon’t give up -any- hope yet. Our local cable company was making the same
\nkinds of noises about the 1993 Cable act and sent out these massive mailers
\nthat said, in effect “[BOLD PRINT] BECAUSE OF THE 1993 CABLE ACT WE ARE
\nFORCED TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES. We will no longer carry channels 13,
\n11, 2 and 20 [all over-the-air broadcast channels]. The [BOLD AGAIN] 1993
\nCABLE ACT requires us to obtain permission from these stations to carry
\ntheir signal. Each of these stations has refused to grant permission without
\nfinancial reimbursement. In order to keep your cable costs low, we will
\nbe dropping these stations on [I forget the date].”<\/p>\n

The mailer went on to insinuate that the 1993 CABLE ACT was forcing them to
\nadd 2 more pay-per-view stations, an additional pey-per-view preview channel,
\nanother home shopping channel and drop CSPAN, Comedy Central and VH-1. It’s
\ninteresting to note that about 4 months have elapsed since the first
\ndeadline. Since that time, TCI received a number of letters and phonecalls
\n(some of which were from mayors of cities they serve in this area), sent
\nout a survey, kept the OTA broadcast channels, CSPAN, VH-1 and CC, added one
\nPPV channel and in effect just rearranged all the channels.<\/p>\n

Our cable provider is TCI. I shed no tears when I heard their merger with
\nBell Atlantic fell apart. I hold them in the same regard as barber’s
\nleeches.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1124, from robairmackey, 688 chars, Tue Mar 1 18:28:44 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1120.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nActually, there was a small change in our cable broadcast lineup here
\nat Monmouth Cablevision, regarding the Philadelphia independents:
\nWTXF (29), also a Fox affiliate, was scrapped in favor of WPHL (17).
\nWhich stunk because 29 carried Phillies baseball.
\n Which was great because PHL carries 76ers games.
\nWhich stunk because if there was a local preemption
\non, say, BTAS, you could always watch it on 29.
\n Which was great because after Animaniacs, Simps,
\n BTAS and Married…With Children, what else is there
\n on Fox?
\nI’d call it an even trade…
\n –Robair<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1125, from kipw, 706 chars, Wed Mar 2 21:37:16 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1119.
\n————————–
\nThat’s one way of looking at it–makes sense. I would just add that the
\nCoyote cartoons (well, he was the star) were also part of the wave of
\nanti-intellectualism that found its voice in popular culture at that
\ntime. Where the brainy character is evil, and the lovable dumb ox is
\nthe hero (like Li’l Abner). I think the purest manifestation of this
\nwas the musical “Damn Yankees.” The biggest schemer was Applegate
\n(aka Satan); the biggest musical number was “Heart,” which said “oh,
\nit’s fine to be a genius, of course, but keep that old horse before
\nthe cart … first you’ve gotta have Heart.” Note that true wisdom
\nis contained in old bromides, rather than original thought.
\nBut I digress…
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1126, from kipw, 147 chars, Wed Mar 2 21:42:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1124.
\n————————–
\nBTAS? Que? I find Fox indispensable for Simps, Star Trek:TNG, and the
\nbest Saturday Morning show of the last couple decades, “Eek! the Cat.”
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1127, from hmccracken, 2292 chars, Mon Mar 14 17:42:57 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: San Francisco: A Cartoon Fan’s Tour
\nI just got back from a brief trip to San Francisco, and as I always do when
\ntaking a journey, I was on the outlook for cartoon-related stuff.<\/p>\n

I didn’t have too much success this time out, though. My big plans were to
\nvisit the Cartoon Art Museum, which was located a few blocks down Third
\nAvenue from my hotel. Getting there was easy, but when I arrived I found
\nthat it was closed. More specifically, no exhibits were going on; I later
\ndiscovered that the gift shop, located on another floor, had been open.
\nMoral: call the museum before visiting. I think the lack of any exhibits
\nis temporary, but I’m not positive.<\/p>\n

Later, I made another ill-fated attempt to visit a museum — the Discovery
\nMuseum, which was holding a show devoted to the art of the Muppets. I
\nfound out about it from a large banner at a pier from which ferry boats to
\nSausalito left Fisherman’s Wharf; the banner said that the museum was in
\nSausalito, and its location seemed to suggest that taking a ferry was an
\neasy way to get to the museum. When I got to Sausalito, though, I
\ndiscovered that the museum was actually nearby but not in Sausalito
\nproper, and nowhere near the pier. So while I had a good time visting the
\ncity (which is not only a Nuclear-Free Zone but claims to be a
\nCholesterol-Free Zone as well), I ended up missing the Muppet show.<\/p>\n

I did, however, get to the Warner Bros. Studio Store in Union Square.
\n(Bought myself a spiffy Bugs Bunny jacket, too.) The store is very much
\nalong the lines of the others in the chain, except larger than the ones
\nI’ve visited — it had two floors of stuff, and was about 50% bigger than
\nthe other half-dozen locations I’ve seen.<\/p>\n

On the plan coming home, I got a final cartoon-related treat: the movie
\nwas _Mrs. Doubtfire_, a truly terrible film except for about three minutes
\nof Chuck Jones-produced animation at the start, which is the best-looking
\nstuff Jones has been involved with in many years. (Robin Williams plays a
\nvoice artist who gets in trouble for ad-libbing dialogue while recording a
\nscript for a cartoon; the scene shows him performing his script *after*
\nthe animation has been produced — something that is practically never
\ndone, and hasn’t been since the very early days of sound cartoons.)<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1128, from hmccracken, 666 chars, Mon Mar 28 20:16:37 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Is Don Bluth Hooked on Phonics?
\nDon Bluth’s _Thumbelina_, his long-delayed animated feature, is finally
\nreaching theatres this Friday. One of the marketing tie-ins is something
\nI don’t think Disney would ever consider: current TV ads for Hooked on
\nPhonics, the weird kit that’s supposed to let anyone from six months
\nto eighty in age learn to read instantly, feature a little girl
\nreading from a _Thumbelina_ storybook, accompanied by scenes from
\nthe Bluth movie. What’s next — a tie-in with the Club or Garlique?<\/p>\n

Bluth was also spotted recently promoting the film during a personal
\nappearance at the Warner Bros. Studio Store in downtown Boston.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1129, from hmccracken, 610 chars, Mon Mar 28 20:19:16 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Welcome Back Grampy
\nGarfield promotes Embassy Suites hotels. The Peanuts gang touts
\nMet Life insurance and Chex cereals. Mickey Mouse has been known
\nto plug Oreo cookies.<\/p>\n

Grampy — Betty Boop’s beloved grandfather, last seen nearly
\nsixty years ago in his own series of Fleischer Studio cartoons —
\ncan now be spotted in a guest appearance in a TV ad for Care
\nFree chewing gum. Grampy is visible only briefly, in a clip from
\nan old cartoon that may have been colorized. No one other than
\na cartoon nut would recognize him — but it’s nice to see he’s
\nstill alive and working in show business.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1130, from hmccracken, 736 chars, Mon Mar 28 20:22:12 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _Wild Cartoon Kingdom_…
\nthe offbeat animation magazine and sister publication to _Film
\nThreat_, is out with its third issue. The cover story is an
\ninterview of Mike (_Beavis and Butthead_) Judge by John
\n(_Ren and Stimpy_) Kricsalusi, and there’s also an interesting
\narticle on the history of puppet animation.<\/p>\n

Much the most enjoyable feature as far as I’m concerned, though,
\nis a lengthy and definitive piece on Schoolhouse Rock — those
\neducational cartoon shorts that ran on ABC, which has recently
\nrevived them. Anyone child of the 1970s who finds themselves
\nbreaking out in song whenever someone mentions nouns, conjunctions,
\nor adverbs will find the magazine worth the $3.95 cover price for
\nthis article alone.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1131, from switch, 162 chars, Mon Mar 28 22:14:04 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1130.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou know, I like WCK’s information content, but I really really really dislike
\nthe tone. It almost makes me want to stop getting it whenever I look at it.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1132, from hmccracken, 146 chars, Mon Mar 28 22:29:05 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1131.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYeah, me too. It’s superficial and smarmy — and intentionally so.
\nBut would would you expect from a magazine published by Larry
\nFlynt?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1133, from switch, 125 chars, Mon Mar 28 22:42:51 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1132.
\n————————–
\nYeah. And Chris Gore’s Speilberg-is-evil-Kricfalusi-is-God routine wore thin
\nafter the first five minutes. Ah, well.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1134, from davemackey, 550 chars, Tue Mar 29 22:19:08 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1127.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m going to be seeing “Mrs. Doubtfire” sometime this week, since it’s
\ngetting to my local $2.00 theatre now. I will make sure I get there in plenty
\nof time to see the Chuck Jones animation.
\n I think the illustration of “post-synched” animation, although not very
\naccurate, is better looking on film to get a grasp of what it is that
\nWilliams’ character does. I don’t think him talking into a mike to a bunch of
\nvoice directors and engineers on the other side of the glass makes for a very
\ninteresting film scene.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1135, from davemackey, 270 chars, Tue Mar 29 22:19:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1022.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nJust read not long ago that the Downey McDonald’s closed in late January,
\nowing to earthquake damage. The Golden Arches and big neon sign will possibly
\nbe used in other McDonald’s retro-projects like the ones referred to in
\nmessage 1022.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1136, from davemackey, 268 chars, Tue Mar 29 22:20:55 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1122.
\n————————–
\nHold off on that Fox affiliation change in Philadelphia: they have cancelled
\ntheir proposed purchase of WGBS-TV, Channel 57, which would have become the
\nFox affiliate in that city. For now Fox’ outlet there remains WTXF-TV,
\nChannel 29.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1137, from hmccracken, 224 chars, Tue Mar 29 22:26:44 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1134.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1134.
\n————————–
\n_Mrs. Doubtfire_ only includes bits and pieces of the Chuck Jones-
\ndirected cartoon — but I’m told he produced an entire, six-minute
\nshort for the purpose. Maybe they’ll include the entire thing on
\nthe videotape.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1138, from hmccracken, 639 chars, Tue Mar 29 22:31:12 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1135.
\n————————–
\nRight, I meant to mention the closing of the Downey’s McDonald’s.<\/p>\n

This is pathetic. It’s apparently clear that the place suffered little,
\nif any, damage in the quake. (Downey is nowhere near where the
\nepicenter was.) McDonald’s seems to have latched onto the disaster
\nas a tidy excuse for closing down the location, which they’ve been
\nlooking to do for many years. I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned
\nhere that the company tells Big Lies about its history that
\nStalin would admire: they claim the chain was started in a different
\ndecade, in a different state, by a different person, than the true
\ncircumstances of its origin.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1139, from davemackey, 351 chars, Thu Mar 31 00:07:30 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1134.
\n————————–
\nThe Chuck stuff in “Mrs. Doubtfire” looked great. Chuck’s daughter, Linda
\nJones Clough, co-produced the piece, and two of the animators were very
\nfamiliar names: Bill Littlejohn, the veteran MGM animator, who’s been in the
\nbusiness God knows how many years, and Tom Ray, one of Jones’ WB colleagues
\nback in the 1960’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1140, from davemackey, 294 chars, Fri Apr 1 18:14:48 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1128.
\n————————–
\nI saw the commercial. Even more impressive than the Thumbelina clips: the
\ncarpeting in the library. The hopscotch-pattern rug is instantly recognizable
\nto game show cognoscenti as Jorges “Games People Play” carpeting, a popular
\nprize on shows of the early 70’s.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1141, from davemackey, 1103 chars, Fri Apr 1 18:15:32 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: We haven’t discussed food lately
\nOne of the healthier benefits of my current relationship is that my
\ngirlfriend insists on eating healthy, using reduced fat or fat-free foods.
\nBut lots of the foods we like don’t have low-fat versions. We also try to
\nrestrict our intakes of sodium and caffeine — about a month ago, I stopped
\ndrinking dark colas and coffee with caffeine, and I find myself quite more
\nenergetic and able to relax as a result.
\n We received some heartening news this week. Two of the big cookie makers
\n— Nabisco and Sunshine — are going to roll out reduced fat versions of
\ntheir most popular cookies over the next two months. Can you imagine low fat
\nOreos or Cheez-Its? They’re coming. (Think about this concept: low fat
\nunsalted Cheez-Its. Yum.)
\n Nabisco, of course, already markets a whole line of healthy cookies and
\ncrackers called Snackwells, and there are always boxes of them on hand. We
\nespecially like the Devils Food Cookie when we can get them, which has been
\nmore frequently of late, and the Fudge Cookies and Cheddar Crackers.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1142, from switch, 276 chars, Fri Apr 1 18:18:01 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1141.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1141.
\n————————–
\nI hate to admit it, but I’ve been gradually reducing my junk food intake as
\nwell. My family has a history of diabetes, so I’ve cut down on my sugar
\nintake; and low-fat foods and veggies are finding their way to my plate more
\noften.<\/p>\n

Sigh. What’s the world coming to?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1143, from sharonfisher, 245 chars, Sat Apr 2 11:01:54 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1141.
\n————————–
\nI’d heard so much about the Devil’s Food Snackwells that I was very happy
\nto find a box in the store, hiding behind some other things. But I was distressed to learn
\nthat they have *marshmallow* in them! Yuck!<\/p>\n

I much prefer the double fudge.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1144, from davemackey, 123 chars, Sat Apr 2 15:04:37 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Gee, I almost forgot
\nToday is Harry McCracken’s Birthday. So here’s to a happy one!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1145, from hmccracken, 21 chars, Sun Apr 3 00:03:59 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1144.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1144.
\n————————–
\nThank you!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1146, from switch, 77 chars, Sun Apr 3 00:31:06 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1144.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIt’s not anymore, but I think I can squeak in. Happy birthday, Harry!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1147, from robairmackey, 51 chars, Sun Apr 3 11:40:33 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1146.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’m as late as anyone…buy happy birthday, Harry.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1148, from hmccracken, 23 chars, Sun Apr 3 13:22:46 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1147.
\n————————–
\nThanks, all!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1149, from davemackey, 389 chars, Sat Apr 9 19:09:32 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hal Roach remembered
\nIf you have the Disney Channel, there’s a pretty interesting retrospective on
\nthe work of Hal Roach running. It premiered a few nights ago. Narrated by
\nPenn Jillette, it’s an overview of his life’s work, with emphasis on Harold
\nLloyd, Laurel And Hardy and Our Gang. Former Our Gang kid Dorothy DeBorba is
\namong the interviewees.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1150, from davemackey, 390 chars, Sat Apr 9 23:50:29 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1129.
\n————————–
\nI’m too close to the situation to make a big deal about this — after all,
\nour cable system has to run 500 spots for them a week — but this year’s
\ncreative for Six Flags theme parks prominently feature Marvin The Martian.
\nTheir new tagline is “A world of fun — and not a world away.” (Continuing
\nthe positioning that their parks are closer than Disney’s.)
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1151, from hmccracken, 310 chars, Fri Apr 15 09:34:50 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Nice work if you can get it…
\nEuro Disney may be losing a lot of money, but don’t feel bad for
\nDisney Chairman Michael Eisner; according to a BBC broadcast, he
\nreceived a salary of $203 million last year — breaking a record
\nwhich, I believed, he had established himself in an earlier year.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1152, from hmccracken, 119 chars, Mon Apr 18 16:52:18 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Our Next Animationc CBIX Event…
\n…will be this Sunday, April 24th, at 9pm. Stay tuned for
\ndetails!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1153, from hmccracken, 190 chars, Sun May 1 20:40:32 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1114.
\n————————–
\nUpdate on the _Spy_ magazine situation: the publisher of
\n_Psychology Today_ and _Mother Earth News_ is said to be
\nnegotiating to acquire the magazine and begin publication
\nagain.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1154, from hmccracken, 477 chars, Wed May 4 22:55:55 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: And Starring Sam Neill as Chuck Jones
\nI saw the movie _Sirens_ tonight, which — being live-action —
\nwouldn’t normally warrant mention here. But as an animation
\nfan, I was struck how much Sam Neill, who plays an artist
\nin the film, looked like the young Chuck Jones — right down
\nto favoring a bow tie. If they ever make a movie based on
\nthe golden age of the Warner cartoon studio (and weren’t
\nthey going to at one point?), Neill would make a perfect
\nJones.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1155, from switch, 111 chars, Fri May 6 16:46:10 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1154.
\n————————–
\nHarry, you beat me to it. I was looking at a promo for _Sirens_ today, and
\nwas thinking the same thing.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1156, from hmccracken, 340 chars, Mon May 16 20:27:52 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Is Willard a Caveman?
\nA current TV ad for the Days Inn motel chain has Willard Scott opening
\nhis medicine cabinet and finding Fred Flintstone on the other side,
\na la the famous 1960s commercial (what was it for, again?). <\/p>\n

This leads me to wonder: what are Fred and Willard doing in the same
\nera, let alone the same motel?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1157, from robairmackey, 222 chars, Tue May 17 18:37:21 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1156.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1156.
\n————————–
\nThe original ad was for Right Guard Anti-perspirant and featured Son of the
\nDesert Chuck McCann. (Willard could pass for McCann iff he dresses up like
\nOllie.)
\n –Robair<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1158, from hmccracken, 184 chars, Tue May 17 21:09:05 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1157.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRight! McCann is also known to cartoon fans as the voice of Sonny,
\nthe Cocoa Puffs Cuckoo Bird. (I’m not sure if he does it any more,
\nbut I believe he originated the voice.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1159, from davemackey, 230 chars, Wed May 18 18:25:56 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1156.
\n————————–
\nI believe those common medicine cabinet commercials were for Right Guard
\ndeodorant. “One shot and I’m good for the whole day.” The more portly
\nmedicine cabinet patron in those ads was Chuck McCann.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1160, from davemackey, 196 chars, Thu May 19 20:06:32 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1158.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere is also an animation film editor named Chuck McCann, who’s worked at
\nDePatie-Freleng and Bill Melendez Productions. I don’t think it’s the same
\nguy, however.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1161, from hmccracken, 241 chars, Thu May 19 21:36:38 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1160.
\n————————–
\nNope, it isn’t. One of the Charlie Brown features — A Boy Named
\nCharlie Brown_, I think — shows pictures of the filmmakers
\nas their names roll by in the credits. Chuck McCann the film
\neditor doesn’t look anything like the actor.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1162, from davemackey, 564 chars, Sun Jun 5 08:35:44 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: That Rita voice!
\nLast evening I saw a wonderful performance by one of the sweetest singing
\nvoices around, Bernadette Peters. (Some may know her as the voice of Rita the
\ncat on “Animaniacs.”)
\n She didn’t sing any songs from the show, however. Backed by a full
\norchestra under the direction of Marvin Laird, Bernadette mostly sang
\nBroadway show tunes, and ballads. Between numbers she joked with the audience
\nin her little-girl voice. “I love Atlantic City. It’s so healthy. Except for
\nthe gambling, drinking and smoking.”
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1163, from davemackey, 324 chars, Sat Jun 11 00:12:52 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Social announcement
\nSeldom do I ever blow my own horn around here, but allow me this
\nindulgence but once.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, I proposed to my girlfriend of nine months, and she
\naccepted.We haven’t set a date yet, but I’m deliriously happy.
\nWe’ll let you know when the wedding is.<\/p>\n

Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1164, from hmccracken, 71 chars, Sat Jun 11 10:03:05 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1163.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1163.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations, Dave! That’s great news for you and Nancy.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1165, from switch, 54 chars, Sat Jun 11 14:23:43 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1163.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1163.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations, Dave! Can I be the worst man?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1166, from davemackey, 251 chars, Sat Jun 11 20:12:32 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1165.
\n————————–
\nYou certainly are the worst man, Emru. No, in fact, in case you
\nare wondering, I have already asked my brother to be best man,
\nand he has accepted. We are planning an extremely small ceremony
\nfor family only.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1167, from kipw, 104 chars, Mon Jun 20 20:41:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1163.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1163.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations, pal! Good luck! Marriage is swell: I’ve had no
\nproblems in thirteen years of it.
\n–Kip<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1168, from davemackey, 164 chars, Sun Jul 3 09:10:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1163.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThe date has been set, and it’s really quite logical: October 15, 1994. Nancy
\nand I will be will be in Las Vegas for our honeymoon.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1169, from robairmackey, 135 chars, Sun Jul 3 23:43:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1168.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n Sir, please, as the best man, may I ask how October 15, 1994 is a
\nlogical date to get married? Is this numberology at work again?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1170, from davemackey, 210 chars, Mon Jul 4 18:06:08 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1169.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWe had already planned a Lo$$ Vega$ vacation to begin the week of the 17th,
\nso it’s now becoming our honeymoon. Naturally, I plan to lose Nancy in a
\npoker game to James Caan. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1171, from peabo, 85 chars, Tue Jul 5 03:30:47 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1170.
\n————————–
\nNo, Nancy plans for you to lose that game. Hawaii is terrific in October \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1172, from hmccracken, 638 chars, Mon Jul 11 22:25:24 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Notable Quote
\nJackie Gleason on _The Flintstones_, quoted in _Playboy_, August, 1986:<\/p>\n

“We thought of suing them. But I said, ‘Oh, s—, let’s not go through
\nwith that.’ We’ve never done anything about it. It’s a good show.
\nIn fact, that guy who did Fred’s voice dubbed in things for me in
\nmotion pictures, whenever they were looping and I couldn’t make the
\nsession. I forget what the hell his name was. Nice guy.”<\/p>\n

(No, I haven’t been reading old issues of _Playboy_ — I’ve been using
\nthe new _Playboy Interviews_ CD-ROM, which includes the text of several
\nhundred interviews from the magazine — thirty years’ worth.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1173, from hmccracken, 669 chars, Thu Jul 14 18:31:36 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: OK, OK
\nCoca-Cola has introduced a new soft drink called OK that’s meant
\nto appeal to Generation X type folks in their twenties. The packaging
\nis covered with elaborate, intentionally blase artwork and copy
\n(which screams of having been created by middle-aged advertising men,
\nnot twenty-somethings, although that’s neither here nor there).
\nSeveral can designs are available, and one features a large drawing of a
\nbored young man that looks like it was drawn by new-wave cartoonist Dan
\nClowes (_Eightball_) — hence this report.<\/p>\n

Coke, by the way, has started up an 800 number, and encourages calls to it
\nto report OK happenings. It’s 1-800-I-FEEL-OK.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1174, from ianl, 137 chars, Thu Jul 14 21:48:43 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1173.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I like the TV ads for OK cola. Wouldn’t ever drink the stuff though, anymore
\nthan I’d drink any other sugar-water marketing concept.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1175, from ianl, 1163 chars, Thu Jul 14 21:57:42 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Not directly animation-related, but…<\/p>\n

Since I know we have folks here who grok the TV\/cableTV industry, I have a
\nquestion. A few months ago, Comedy Central and VH-1 went from being a pair
\nof 24-hour channels to being a single channel that splits the day 12\/12 here.
\n(It’s a TCI-owned system.) I could have sworn I read at the time that TCI
\nwas freeing up channels to accomodate new things (the new fox channel, Starz,
\nand some other worthless thing). Recently I talked to a TCI customer service
\nrep (I complain a lot!) and I mentioned that I was still PO’d about them
\ncutting Comedy Central to half time. She said “Oh, that wasn’t our decision,
\nComedy Central decided to do that. You see, they buy space on our network,
\nand they decided to start buying only 12 hours a day instead of 24.”<\/p>\n

Could that possibly be true? I thought cable systems paid programming
\nproviders, not the other way around. (CourtTV is always mentioning things
\nlike “Brought to you, in part, by fees paid by your local cable operator.”
\nCourtTV also got cut to half-time when CC did, but within 2 weeks it was
\nback to full-time, probably due to complaints I suspect.)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1176, from hmccracken, 200 chars, Thu Jul 14 23:58:01 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1174.
\n————————–
\nI haven’t seen OK’s TV ads.<\/p>\n

As far as the taste of the stuff — well, the product is aptly
\nnamed. It’s OK — sort of like a tarter Mountain Dew or a
\nsweeter Fresca. A generic citrus taste.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1177, from dondumitru, 1415 chars, Fri Jul 15 02:41:55 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1175.
\n————————–
\n>I thought cable systems paid programming providers, not the
\n>other way around.<\/p>\n

I’m not anything like an “industry insider”, but it seems to me
\nthat this is too much of a blanket statement. Let’s consider
\n“Comedy Central”: This channel wouldn’t exist except for cable,
\nsince Comedy Central is not a broadcast station. If not for
\ncable, nobody could watch it. Comedy Central is also a channel
\nthat makes their money by advertising.<\/p>\n

Now, it’s clear that no advertiser is going to pay bucks to run
\nan ad on a channel that nobody gets. So, maybe Comedy Central
\nhas to “prime the pump” – maybe they initially have to pay cable
\ncompanies in order to carry the channel. (There’s probably a lot
\nof competition for the limited amount of space in the average
\ncable line-up.) Then, if things go right, Comedy Central will be
\na big hit with the viewers, and subscribers will *demand* that
\nthe cable companies include the channel – at which point, Comedy
\nCentral can get away with paying less money to the cable
\ncompanies in order to get space. And, maybe (in Comedy Central’s
\ndreams? ), someday, cable companies will actually pay Comedy
\nCentral for the *privelege* of being able to carry it.<\/p>\n

As I said, I really don’t know anything about how this actually
\nworks. But it seems reasonable to me that a channel that is
\nexclusively carried on cable might need to pay cable providers in
\norder to get carried.<\/p>\n

–Don<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1178, from davemackey, 1142 chars, Sat Jul 16 07:42:04 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Rascals are back
\nNot Felix Cavalieri and the Young Rascals. Spanky, Alfalfa,
\nBuckwheat, Darla, and the rest. And they have never looked
\nso good.
\n Cabin Fever Entertainment has just released a 12-volume
\nset of “The Little Rascals.” Each tape includes three 2-reel
\nand one 1-reel episode, culled from those produced by Hal
\nRoach between 1929 and 1937. There’s a brief introduction
\non each tape by Leonard Maltin, co-author of “The Little
\nRascals: The Life And Times Of Our Gang” (shamelessly plugged
\nat the end of the tape).
\n The best news of all, for those of us who have had
\nto suffer through the severely edited King World prints
\ncirculating on television until recently: RHI Entertainment,
\nwhich now holds the rights to the shorts, has gone back and
\nrestored every one of the Our Gang comedies to its original
\ncondition, with original MGM main titles and credits, and
\nabsolutely nothing has been cut out of any short.
\n Cabin Fever, in my mind, has done a great service to
\nLittle Rascals fans everywhere, and therefore I must give
\nthis series of tapes my highest recommendation.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1179, from hmccracken, 325 chars, Sun Jul 17 09:19:53 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1178.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1178.
\n————————–
\nIn a similar vein, the American Movie Classics is holding a Laurel and
\nHardy marathon right now. (It goes until about 6am tomorrow.) The
\nprints I’ve seen are from RHI, and they’re clean and crisp. I’m going
\nto tape at least half the marathon; it’ll be great to have that
\nmuch classic Laurel and Hardy in one place.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1180, from hmccracken, 215 chars, Tue Aug 9 19:40:13 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: New Job for an Old Friend
\nCongratulations are due to Dave Mackey, who recently accepted a new
\nposition in his real-life career in the cable TV field. Care to tell
\nus a bit about your new gig, Dave?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1181, from davemackey, 1111 chars, Tue Aug 9 23:30:48 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1180.
\n————————–
\nYes, Harry. And thank you for spilling the proverbial beans. I am going to
\nbe working for Comcast, trafficking five cable TV systems serving Northern
\nand Central New Jersey. Most attractive aspect of this new job is that it’s
\nonly a half hour from where I am now living. The commute to Hoboken just
\nkilled me, especially when I moved to Toms River. With my marriage now just
\ntwo short months away, it’s important that I be able to eat dinner at a
\ndecent time and spend quality time with my wife-to-be in the early evenings.
\n I enjoyed my two and a half years working for Riverview Cablevision
\nand I wish them well in the future: as of today, they’re now part of Chuck
\nDolan’s wide-ranging cable empire (as is the Framingham Cablevision system
\nnot far from where you live, and Comcast’s chief competitor for cable ad
\ndollars in Monmouth County, Monmouth Cablevision).
\n Not forty days ago, I discussed Comcast’s offer to purchase QVC
\nelsewhere on this board. Never did I dream that I would be going to work for
\nthem someday. But that’s how quickly things happen sometimes.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1182, from hmccracken, 128 chars, Tue Aug 16 22:19:01 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hello out there!
\nBoy, this conference has been quiet the last few days. Have we all
\nstopped watching cartoons?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1183, from switch, 22 chars, Tue Aug 16 23:57:39 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1182.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1182.
\n————————–
\nNope — moving!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1184, from davemackey, 219 chars, Thu Aug 18 20:26:42 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1182.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1182.
\n————————–
\nNo, I have been busy making various wedding arrangements, running APATOONS
\nand getting ready for my new job. Beginning on October 15, if I’m lucky, my
\nwife will let me watch cartoons. \ud83d\ude42
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1185, from davemackey, 949 chars, Sun Aug 21 23:28:54 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1178.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI feel compelled to respond to my earlier message about the “Little Rascals”
\nvideos, vis a vis the current feature film now running.
\n Mind you, I have yet to see the new film, but from what I have heard, I
\nprobably won’t be too happy about it. Hiring dead ringers who look, dress,
\nand even smell like Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, and the rest, and
\nputting them into the 1990’s? I hope the heirs of these original children are
\ngetting some compense for the use of their images.
\n And if you’re going to resurrect these 30’s kids, why not resurrect the
\n30’s? Some may suggest building sets that look like those charming real-life
\nlocations Hal Roach bussed his kids to and let them loose. But you couldn’t
\nbuild sets that authentic if you tried.
\n So we’ve got kids that look like they have stepped right out of a Roach
\ntwo reeler and into a slick big-budget Hollywood production. Worth spending
\n$8 on?
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1186, from hmccracken, 1335 chars, Sun Aug 28 13:23:02 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Nifty ASCII Art
\nMaybe this should go in best.of.net — it’s something I ran across
\nwhile net-surfing just now. The message had nothing to do with
\ncomics or cartoons, so I’m just preserving the signature:<\/p>\n

Ken
\n—
\n (#########) Pretty cool!
\n (#########) \/
\n (#########) \/
\n (#########) \/
\n __&__ (#########))
\n \/ \\ (#########) |\\\/\\\/\\\/| \/\\ \/\\ \/\\ \/
\n | | (#########) | | | V \\\/ \\—. .—-\/ \\—-.
\n | (o)(o) (o)(o)(##) | | \\_ \/ \\ \/
\n C .—_) ,_C (##) | (o)(o) (o)(o) <__. .--\\ (o)(o) \/__.\n | |.___| \/____, (##) C _) _C \/ \\ () \/\n | \\__\/ \\ (#) | ,___| \/____, ) \\ > (C_) <\n \/_____\\ | | | \/ \\ \/----' \/___\\____\/___\n \/_____\/ \\ OOOOOO \/____\\ ooooo \/| |\n \/ \\ \/ \\ \/ \\ \/ \\ | |\nKen Ursic <KU****@UO******.<\/span>CA<\/span>>
\nCliff Ecology Research Group
\nDept. of Botany, University of Guelph
\nGuelph, Ontario, CANADA
\n________________________________________________________
\nPretty cute, eh?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1187, from ianl, 262 chars, Sun Sep 4 00:23:56 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1182.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

> have we all stopped watching cartoons?<\/p>\n

Not me. I still watch Bullwinkle and Animaniacs daily, Beavis and Butthead
\nand Tiny Toons occasionally. The problem, I have so little free time these
\ndays I spend more of it watching cartoons than I do on bix. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1188, from davemackey, 193 chars, Wed Sep 7 23:29:19 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Why October 15 is a good date to get married
\nOctober 15 is exactly six months away from April 15. Therefore you are as far
\nfrom Tax Day as you can be. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1189, from hmccracken, 106 chars, Wed Sep 7 23:40:47 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1188.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nUnless you’re self-employed (like me), in which case you get to celebrate
\nfour Tax Days a year!
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1190, from davemackey, 195 chars, Fri Sep 9 23:48:42 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1189.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nIf October 15 is one of your tax days, then you may have to bring some
\npaperwork with you to the wedding. Worry not though: you can use our
\ncomputers if you like.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1191, from hmccracken, 406 chars, Fri Sep 9 23:57:41 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: If Walt Were Alive…
\nHe’d be rolling over in his grave at “Movie News” a series of ads for
\nDisney (and Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures) movies that poses as
\na thirty-second news programs. (In Boston, it’s even shown during the
\nnews.) The current episode somehow manages to use footage of the
\nO.J. Simpson police chase to promote _Quiz Show_, a movie about the
\n1950s game show scandals.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1192, from hmccracken, 149 chars, Sat Sep 10 21:36:46 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1190.
\n————————–
\nDave —
\nFortunately, I don’t have to file an estimated tax payment on October
\n15th.<\/p>\n

(Unfortunately, I do have to file one next Thursday.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1193, from davemackey, 1930 chars, Sun Sep 11 09:41:47 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1191.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1191.
\n————————–
\nI don’t endorse the promotional techniques that Disney uses, but I will be
\ndefinitely seeing “Quiz Show”, which is directed by Robert Redford (his last
\nmovie as director was a little something called “Indecent Proposal”, though
\nRedford himself doesn’t appear in “Quiz Show”).
\n It’s bascially the story of Charles Van Doren, the handsome contestant
\nwho became an overnight celebrity after his appearances on “Twenty-One”.
\nLittle did the public know that Van Doren was being supplied with answers in
\nadvance by producers Dan Enright and Jack Barry. Van Doren and others were
\ntold how to react to each question, right down to how many times they were
\nsupposed to pat their sweaty brow with a handkerchief as they stood in the
\npoorly-ventilated isolation booth.
\n John Turturro plays Herb Stempel, whom Van Doren defeated to become
\nchampion of “Twenty-One” and also the man who blew the whistle on Barry and
\nEnright when he found out that a similar program called “Dotto”, a
\nconnect-the-dots game show hosted by Jack Narz, was under investigation by
\nthe New York City district attorney for possible improprieties.
\n Anyone who’s ever read any sort of television history knows the fallout
\nof these scandals (in a nutshell, it drove big-money quizzes off the air
\nand put Barry and Enright out of business for a long time, though they did
\nsuccessfully re-emerge in the 1970’s), but I think the film’s main drawing
\ncard will be Redford’s painstaking recreation of the era. The movie
\npainstakingly recreates the set of “Twenty-One” right down to the GERITOL
\nsign in front of host Jack Barry’s podium.
\n Perhaps Redford, who’s also the film’s producer, waited for most of the
\nantagonists in this drama — the game show producers — to pass on before
\neven thinking about this project. Jack Barry died in 1985 of a heart attack
\nwhile jogging, and Dan Enright died about a year and a half ago.<\/p>\n

–Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1194, from hmccracken, 239 chars, Sun Sep 11 18:41:49 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1193.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1193.
\n————————–
\nI’m planning to see _Quiz Show_ too, but Redford didn’t direct
\n_Indecent Proposal_ — Adrian Lyne did. Redford’s most
\nrecent directorial project was _A River Runs Through It_.
\n(This information confirmed courtesy of _Cinemania_.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1195, from davemackey, 329 chars, Sun Sep 11 19:08:17 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1194.
\n————————–
\nYou are correct. I was just reading a piece on Redford, and it said that
\nhe had only directed four films. His first, of course, was “Ordinary
\nPeople” back in 1980.<\/p>\n

BTW, Hank Azaria, voice of Barney on “The Simpsons”, is in “Quiz Show”
\n— I’m not sure, but I think he plays Jack Barry.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1196, from davemackey, 1169 chars, Tue Sep 13 22:42:51 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Adventures Of Trombone Man
\nBack in 1991, I mentioned my bemusement and chagrin when my former band
\ndirector in high school insisted I call him by his first name. It was the
\nfirst time a former teacher looked me as a peer rather than a student, which
\nwas the point I was trying to make way back in message 790 of this topic.
\n It’s three years later, and I decide to pick up the trombone and try to
\njoin up with a civic or community band. Not long ago I learned my local
\ncollege concert band was under the direction of Dr. Phillip Moore (since our
\n1991 meeting, he’s earned his doctorate). I learned of the open call for
\nmembers not long ago, and I just got back from my first rehearsal.
\n It’s kind of wierd playing in a band again after a layoff of more than
\nten years, but it’s just the kind of once-a-week hobby a man needs sometime.
\nAnd I had no trouble falling back into the routine of being a band person.
\nThe other trombonists praised my playing, so I think I’ve still got the
\nchops. The other players think very highly of Dr. Moore — er, Phil — as a
\nleader of musicians. I’m looking forward to the experience.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1197, from davemackey, 350 chars, Tue Sep 13 23:17:48 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Hank Azaria and “Quiz Show”
\n“Simpsons” voice Hank Azaria is indeed moonlighting in the film
\n“Quiz Show.” But he does not play Jack Barry. Instead, he plays
\nan associate to the show’s producer, Dan Enright, who is played
\nby David Paymer. Jack Barry is played by Christopher McDonald.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1198, from switch, 255 chars, Tue Sep 13 23:56:55 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1196.
\n————————–
\nGad, a band.<\/p>\n

I never really played in a band, unless you count by elementary school
\nexperiences. The one time I started getting really interested in music
\nclass in high school, the class was switched over into the then-new
\ncomputer science class.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1199, from switch, 418 chars, Tue Sep 13 23:59:28 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: CD-ROM titles
\nAfter reading all the talk on CD-ROMs here and elsewhere, I decided yesterday
\nthat I need one of the beasties. But how? I haven’t the spare cash.<\/p>\n

Cut to this morning — the editors at the weekly newspaper I occasionally
\nwrite for want a big article on CD-ROMs, and a bunch of reviews — and it
\nlooks like they’ll effectively be buying me a drive. Sigh. There goes more
\nof my free time.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1200, from hmccracken, 762 chars, Wed Sep 14 22:11:24 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Kids’ Letters to Scooby Doo
\nThe Cartoon Network recently initiated a campaign to encourage its viewers
\nto write letters to their favorite cartoon characters, c\/o the network.
\nThe results? The Flintstones, who have received 1,891 letters, appear
\nto be the most popular characters among ‘Toon Network viewers. In second
\nplace is Space Ghost, who has gotten 1,067 missives. Other recipients
\ninclude the Jetsons (486 letters), Bugs Bunny (259), and Secret Squirrel (255).<\/p>\n

Apparently, sending a letter to your favorite character will eventually get
\nyou a response. If you’re itching to pen a mash letter to Elmer Fudd
\n(or whomever), try sending it to the following address:<\/p>\n

The Cartoon Network
\n 1050 Techwood Dr. NW
\n Atlanta, GA 30318
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1201, from robairmackey, 437 chars, Thu Sep 15 00:15:48 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1191.
\n————————–
\n I didn;t read the replies here, so I may be echoing…you have nonsense
\nlike the O.J. chase on TV largely because of the quiz show scandals. It’s
\nexploitation of the famous for network\/sponsor self-aggrandizement. If it
\nhad been Sammy Baugh in 1957, someone would have figured out a way to put
\n“GERITOL” on the getaway car and hook up Jack Barry for a live remote.
\n –Robair<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1202, from dgh, 94 chars, Fri Sep 16 03:25:24 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1199.
\n————————–
\nHeh, heh!<\/p>\n

Be sure to get the upcoming _The Mask_ CD-ROM game to review.<\/p>\n

\t ,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1203, from hmccracken, 698 chars, Sun Sep 25 19:18:05 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: It Runs in the Family
\nDid you know that John Williams — the esteemed film composer and former
\nBoston Pops maestro — is the son of Johnny Williams, a long-time member
\nof the Raymond Scott Quintet? It’s nice to think that Scott — the
\nrecently-rediscovered musician whose quirky compositions added much to
\nmany a Warner Bros. cartoon — may have had some influence on the
\nyoung Williams. <\/p>\n

This trivia tidbit is courtesy of a local radio station that’s playing
\nsome Scott music as I write; the DJ gave a nice introduction that
\ndiscussed Scott’s career but didn’t mention his cartoon connection.
\n(That’s not a criticism, but a sign of how diverse and interesting
\nScott’s work was.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1204, from switch, 189 chars, Tue Sep 27 13:02:17 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Ottawa ’94
\nIn a few hours, I’ll be off to this year’s Ottawa International Animation
\nFestival. I’ll still be in touch with BIX, though, and I’ll try to post daily
\nhighlights.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1205, from switch, 620 chars, Thu Sep 29 16:27:59 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1204.
\n————————–
\nMy first report will be brief, as I’m typing from a Dvorak keyboard.<\/p>\n

Opening night: Disney Feature Animation has set up a display with preproduction
\nartwork from their titles that are in various stages of development. SoftImage
\nhas set up a demonstration of Creative Toons, their 2-D animation software. Ran
\ninto Linda Simensky, Gabor Csupo, Abby Terkuhle, Jerry Beck, Chris Hinton, Wendy
\nTilby. From a distance: Paul Driessen. Great party at the Blue Cactus thrown by
\nCinar last night; I think tonight’s party is by Warner Feature Animation.<\/p>\n

More later (like after I get used to this razznfrackn keyboard.)<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1206, from switch, 3277 chars, Fri Sep 30 00:46:21 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Day Two
\nJust got in from day two of the festival, and boy are my arms tired.
\nLet’s see: we started off with a presentation of African animation.
\nThe person responsible for the film selection — I think his name was
\nBruce Edera — apologized for the lack of time to show everything he
\nliked, but we got nice program books that discussed African animation
\nin greater detail.<\/p>\n

There was a panel on women animators, but the first half hour was mostly
\ntalking about life as an independent animator in general — little if
\nany gender issues. I stepped out to drop off some _fps_ fliers and talk
\nto a few people, then came back in towards the end (which, according to
\nmy friend who stayed, is just when it got interesting.)<\/p>\n

We skipped a few things, and went to an art gallery to see a display\/sale
\nof work from women animators. Very good wine and hors d’oeuvres, and the
\nartwork was varied and interesting. I wish there had been more there.<\/p>\n

We skipped the Gerald Potterton retrospective, because we met an
\nexperimental animator, born in Vancouver but living in Los Angeles the
\nlast eight years, as she toils at CalArts in the experimental animation
\nprogram. Her first film, _The Janitor_, comes up tomorrow morning.
\nIt’s already won two awards, one in the US and one in Edinburgh, Scotland.
\nShe’s a very energetic and charming person; we’ll be spending most of the
\nnext two days together.<\/p>\n

After a lovely crepe dinner, it was off to the second competition
\nscreening. Lots of good stuff in there, I’ll mention it when I give my
\noverview of the films themselves once I’m back home.<\/p>\n

Other stuff: Disney is working on an adaptation of _Tarzan_ — I think
\nit’s for the small screen — and the _Legend of Fa Mulan_ feature, an
\nadaptation of a Chinese folk tale, is set to be the first feature
\ncompletely done at the Florida studio. Amblimation’s _Cats_ should be
\ndue in early ’95, about the same time as they start production on
\n_Bolto_, a feature based on a true story about a dog sled team in Nome.
\nHey, get this — _Bolto_ will have =no songs=. The people I talked to
\ndon’t figure they’ll be doing many musicals. I asked about other genres,
\nand they said that Spielberg is interested in doing an animated action
\nmovie. SoftImage’s Creative Toonz 2-D animation software (which I had
\nthe opportunity to beta-test last year, but alas could not) is being used
\nby Amblimation for their features. Or rather, Creative Toonz is the base,
\nand they’ll be modifying it for their needs. Toonz is also being used for
\nthe production of _Asterix in America_, currently being produced in
\nGermany, due for North American release early next year.<\/p>\n

Oh, yeah — Jerry Beck, in case I didn’t mention it last night, is now
\nVP in charge of animation — feature, that is — at Nickelodeon. I’ll
\nhope to catch up with him before Sunday.<\/p>\n

Cute anecdote: during the attempted screenings of _The Dangwoods_, the
\nvideo had no accompanying sound, but the people in the booth didn’t
\nrealize it. The audience spontaneously started filling in the sound
\neffects, screaming, crowing, and making tooth-brushing noises where
\nappropriate. We all had a good time.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow and Saturday there’ll be no time for breaks — everything is
\nhappening back to back. We’ll see how reports go.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1207, from hmccracken, 329 chars, Sun Oct 2 19:07:01 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Anniversary Month!
\nOctober, 1995 marks the fifth anniversary of BIX’s animation conference!
\nWe’ll shortly be announcing the date of a big CBIX Trivia Night — with
\nlots of prizes — to commemorate the event. (It will be late in the month,
\naround October 19th — the precise day the conference was formed.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1208, from davemackey, 170 chars, Sun Oct 2 21:29:12 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1207.
\n————————–
\nOf course, if you have it October 19th, your chances of winning
\nwill be much greater because I will be on my honeymoon then! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

–Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1209, from hmccracken, 515 chars, Tue Oct 4 22:39:58 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1193.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n_Quiz Show_ is a very good movie — more for the 1950s TV atmosphere than
\nthe narrative, which is a bit stereotyped and one-dimensional. I also
\ntook a perverse pleasure in something Mark Van Doren (Charles’s dad,
\nplayed by Paul Scofield) says at one point: “Cheating on a game show
\nwould be like plagiarizing a comic strip!”<\/p>\n

_The Simpsons_’ Hank Azaria is terrific in his role as producer Albert
\nFreedman, by the way. One of the nice things about the _Simpsons_
\ncast is that its actors can really *act*.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1210, from davemackey, 489 chars, Tue Oct 4 23:25:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1209.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI didn’t think Azaria had much to do as Freedman — for most of his
\nscenes he just stood next to Dan Enright and nodded — but he was
\nvery good doing it.
\n Let us also remember that Dan Enright and his accomplice Jack
\nBarry also succeeded in corrupting the youth of our country by
\nencouraging them to draw pictures on television screens. If they
\ndidn’t have the “Winky Dink” magic screen set, that was the kids’
\nproblem, I guess. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

da********@bi*.c<\/span>om<\/span> \/ Dave Mackey<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1211, from hmccracken, 197 chars, Tue Oct 4 23:30:08 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1210.
\n————————–
\nThat can be Redford’s next directorial effort: _Kids’ Show_, an expose
\nof _Winky Dink_! the only question is, who will play Spinner and
\nPaddlefoot (or am I thinking of a different show)?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1212, from davemackey, 1161 chars, Sat Oct 8 04:32:19 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Getting married should be real easy now…
\nAs most of you know, one week from today I will be getting married. I should
\nnow have no reason to be nervous about walking down the aisle, because I used
\nup all my nervousness yesterday when I had to face the dentist’s drill for
\nthe first time in my life.
\n When we were kids, our parents didn’t put any great emphasis on our
\ndental health, so we felt no need to do so in our adult lives. But, things
\nhappen. And this particular thing was a Jordan almond. An unfortunate
\nmeeting between said Jordan almond and the second molar on the bottom right
\nleft the molar with a major gash taken out of it. After moments of panic (and
\nthe welcome reinstatement of dental insurance from my previous employer), I
\nwalked into the dentist’s office.
\n Two shots of novocain, what seemed like interminable drilling and
\nscraping, and 45 minutes later, the gash has been replaced by a nicely
\nsculpted silver filling. There’s a little residual pain, but I attribute
\nthat to holding my jaw open for the dental work. Hopefully, it should go
\naway by next Saturday. And that should be a snap.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1213, from davemackey, 1697 chars, Sat Oct 8 04:32:43 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: SNL: the book
\nSince our conference co-moderator, Harry McCracken and I are frequent
\ncontributors to the Usenet newsgroup alt.tv.snl, I’d like to say a few words
\nabout the just-published “Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years”,
\nedited by Michael Cader and published by Houghton Mifflin.
\n Those few words are GET THIS BOOK. If you’ve ever had any appreciation
\nfor SNL in any of its incarnations, the Chevy Chase years, the Eddie Murphy
\nera, or the just-ended Phil Hartman regime, you are sure to be satisfied.
\n It’s lavishly illlustrated with over 500 photographs, mostly by SNL’s
\nlongtime resident photographer, Edie Baskin. As a reference book, it’s
\nunparalleled. The staff of Broadway Video has opened up the archives and
\nprovided complete lists of shows with hosts, musical guests AND the numbers
\nthey performed, something that’s eluded most of the contributors to the SNL
\nnewsgroup. Most of the major recurring sketches, like “The Nerds”, “Mr.
\nBill”, “Gumby”, “Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood,” “Nick The Lounge Singer”,
\n“The Sweeney Sisters,” “Wayne’s World” and “Coffee Talk” (to name just a very
\nfew) have synopses of every installment.
\n There’s also a section which takes viewers behind the scenes of a
\ntypical week of SNL production, spotlighting a show from last season hosted
\nby Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. We see the Tuesday and Wednesday writers
\nmeetings, the later week blocking and rehearsals, and the frantic Saturday
\nscramble to get the show ready for its 11:30 airtime.
\n A book like this certainly helps take the sting out of the fact that the
\nfirst couple of SNL shows this season haven’t been all that great, IMHO.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1214, from davemackey, 271 chars, Wed Oct 12 18:35:43 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dave Disappears… for good reason
\nAs most of you may already know by now, on Saturday I am going to
\nbe getting married. I will not be on BIX from sometime on Friday
\nevening until the following Sunday, October 23.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1215, from davemackey, 1484 chars, Sat Oct 22 20:18:50 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Bet on Betty in Vegas!
\nWho’d have thought that pure, sweet Betty Boop would wind up being
\nspokesperson for a major hotel\/casino in Las Vegas?
\n At the MGM Grand, one of the newest on the Strip (opened December 1993)
\nand the largest hotel in the world (5015 rooms), Betty is featured
\nprominently in the merchandise shops and casino promotion. She even stars in
\nthe casino’s Keno brochure that explains the mysteries of multi-race and way
\ntickets, and even offers the Betty Boop Keno Special: 20 spots for $5 with a
\npotential aggregate payoff of $100,000 for picking from 17-20 numbers. (Nancy
\nand I had a small victory amidst many small defeats the first morning we were
\nthere: we won $100 playing Keno at the breakfast table.)
\n Betty is also featured in a “Streetmosphere” type show (to borrow a
\nphrase from Disney\/MGM Studios) at the theme park on the MGM premises, which
\nis less expensive than Disney (you can get in for free to look around, shop
\nor eat) and just as much fun. Betty is played by a pretty petite singer, not
\nmore than five feet tall and with a voice similar to the original.
\n We note that the copyrights on Betty indicate King Features Syndicate
\nand Fleischer Studios, Inc. Is this still a viable corporate entity?
\n My wedding ceremony and reception were fabulous. The rest of my
\nhoneymoon\/vacation was enjoyable, except somewhere between Monday and
\nWednesday I caught a cold which remains with me at this time.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1216, from hmccracken, 698 chars, Sat Oct 22 20:24:10 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1215.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1215.
\n————————–
\nCongratulations on getting hitched, Dave, and it’s good to have you back.<\/p>\n

Thanks for the report on Betty Boop’s employment as a casion spokesperson.
\nSomehow, it seems appropriate (and note that the idea of a Disney character
\ntouting gambling is unthinkable). But wouldn’t it make more sense if
\nshe endorsed the Paramount Grand, not the MGM Grand?<\/p>\n

King Features and Fleischer co-own the Boop copyrights. I don’t think the
\nFleischer Studios (which I think are more of a revival than a continuation
\nof the classic studio) do anything much except license Betty products.
\nThey also have an archives, which lent material to the Museum of Cartoon
\nArt for its Fleischer exhibit some years ago.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1217, from davemackey, 343 chars, Mon Oct 24 22:34:15 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Internet Junk Mail
\nBeware of tm*****@ao*.c<\/span>om<\/span>, who is flooding cybermailboxes everywhere
\nwith ‘important’ information on how to get your trademark registered.
\nI have received three messages from this entity within the last 24 hours
\nand have just sent him a reply to knock it off.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1218, from ianl, 391 chars, Mon Oct 24 22:48:34 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1217.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I keep hearing more and more about internet junk mail and usenet advertising.
\nI’m wondering why I don’t hear more about formal boycotts. It’s sooo easy…
\neveryone just agrees publically to shun any company that sends out cyberjunk.
\nThose companies that don’t take the hint get shunned, everyone else quickly
\nlearns that sending cyberjunk is a fast route to zero income, problem solved.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1219, from hmccracken, 319 chars, Tue Oct 25 21:07:03 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1218.
\n————————–
\nI just got a message from the trademark guy, too. Wonder where he’s getting
\nnames from?<\/p>\n

(I sent him back a polite message telling him that it was obvious that he
\nwas an Internet newcomer, and informing him that he’ll find that people
\nconsider it incredibly rude to send unsolicited sales pitches by e-mail.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1220, from hmccracken, 880 chars, Fri Nov 18 23:20:51 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1215.
\n————————–
\nJust got back from my annual Las Vegas trip for COMDEX, where I stayed
\nat the MGM Grand and saw all the Betty Boop stuff you mention. Besides
\nBetty, the casion also features the Popeye characters and Tom K. Ryan’s
\nTumbleweeds, plus King Looey, a cartoon lion who seems to have been
\ncreated strictly to promote the place. There’s a great Warner Bros.
\nStudio Store-style gift shop with large statues of Betty and Popeye,
\nplus some excellent merchanside featuring characters like Bimbo,
\nKoko the Clown, and Eugene the Jeep.<\/p>\n

I can’t agree with you about the theme park though; I found it a
\nbig disappointment, with very little imagination or showmanship.
\n(The street performer who plays Betty does a great job of imitating
\nMae Questel’s voice, however.) I was also disappointed that a touted
\nattraction involving explaining how animation is created wasn’t
\nactually there.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1221, from hmccracken, 318 chars, Wed Nov 23 22:11:42 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!
\nJust a quick note to wish every member of this conference the happiest of
\nThanksgivings. (I realize that tomorrow is a U.S.-only holiday, but I’m
\nthankful for the participation of each and every member, so I’m certainly
\nnot going to leave anyone out of my good wishes!)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1222, from hmccracken, 611 chars, Sun Nov 27 11:43:24 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Well, it seemed like a good idea…
\nSome of you may have seen news reports about a man in Somerville, Massachusetts
\n(one town over from my home) who recently undertook a hunger strike to force
\nhis local cable TV company to carry, for free, a Portugese-language station he
\nwanted to watch. (The cable company offered to carry the station as a premium
\nchannel, but that wasn’t good enough.)<\/p>\n

I’ve just heard that this fellow has called off his protest, and that it
\nwas unsuccessful. <\/p>\n

Darn it! I was considering doing the same thing to convince
\n*my* cable company to carry the Cartoon Network…
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1223, from hmccracken, 670 chars, Mon Dec 5 13:36:15 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Popeye’s Boston Home
\nIf you’re in the Boston area and happen to be doing some Christmas
\nshopping downtown, stop by Filene’s. Two of the store’s windows are
\ndevoted to a display of gingerbread houses decorated by famous
\npeople; you can bid on any house, with the proceeds going to charity.<\/p>\n

Among the noted decorators are F. Lee Bailey, Joan Rivers, Julia
\nChild, Wesley Snipes, Mr. Rogers — and George Wildman, a cartoonist
\nwho has done many _Popeye_ comic books. His house, naturally, has a
\nPopeye theme. (The identification card calls him “George Wildman,
\nCreator of Popeye” — but he’s only one of many artists who have
\ndrawn E.C. Segar’s creation.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1224, from davemackey, 721 chars, Fri Dec 16 18:24:56 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Christmas Movie We’re Sick Of — 1994 Edition
\nNow that Republic Pictures has taken the crafty step of restoring copyright
\nstatus to “It’s A Wonderful Life”, meaning an end to the seemingly endless
\npublic domain showings thereof on most every broadcast and cable TV outlet,
\nthe mantle of Most Overexposed Christmas Movie has passed to… (drumroll)…
\n“A Christmas Story.” This tale of a young boy who wants a BB gun for
\nChristmas, based on the writings of humorist Jean Shepherd, has been run into
\nthe ground this season courtesy of Turner Entertainment. It’s been played
\nquite a bit on all of his cable channels (or most of them, anyway — I
\nhaven’t seen it on Headline News yet).
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1225, from hmccracken, 474 chars, Fri Dec 16 20:26:42 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1224.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI’ve only seen _A Christmas Story_ once this year — but I don’t think
\nit’s a movie I’d easily get sick of seeing. It’s one of my favorites,
\nand Shepherd is one of my favorite American humorists. (Seeing him
\nperform in person was an experience I’ll never forget.)<\/p>\n

A sequel to _A Christmas Story_ was supposed to come out last Summer —
\n_It Runs in the Family_, starring Charles Grodin and a youg Culkin
\n(not Macauley). It never appeared; I wonder happened to it?
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1226, from davemackey, 148 chars, Sat Dec 17 20:44:18 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1225.
\n————————–
\nI’m wondering that, too: it was supposed to have a new Pink Panther
\ntheatrical cartoon attached to the front of it.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1227, from davemackey, 168 chars, Sun Dec 25 21:26:52 1994
\n————————–
\nTITLE: On December Five And Twenty, Fum Fum Fum
\nIt’s Christmas Day, so Merry Christmas to one and all here in the Animation
\nConference!
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1228, from hmccracken, 886 chars, Thu Dec 29 17:58:42 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What Would Walt Say?
\nNow that magazines and newspapers are publishing top-ten movie lists for 1994,
\n_Pulp Fiction_ looks like it might be the most highly-praised film of the year.
\nOddly enough, the film — which blends chic violence, bad language, and black
\nhumor into a startling experience — is a Walt Disney movie. To be more
\nspecific, it was released by Miramax, which is a division of Disney these
\ndays.<\/p>\n

I’m still not sure what my feelings are about the movie, but I’m sure that
\nUncle Walt would be revolted by the thought of his company releasing it;
\nit’s about the least Disneyesque film I’ve ever seen from a major motion
\npicture studio. (It does, however, have a few cartoon references —
\nincluding a scene with a clip of the _Q.T. Hush_ TV show (in Synchro-Vox)
\nand the fact that co-star Samuel Jackson wears a Krazy Kat T-shirt through
\nmuch of the film.)
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1229, from hmccracken, 559 chars, Thu Dec 29 18:01:14 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Will _The Lion King_ Get the Nod?
\nThe Las Vegas bookmakers are laying odds on the Oscar nominations for 1994,
\nand according to Bally’s, Disney’s _The Lion King_ stands a 2:1 chance of
\ngetting a nomination as Best Picture. (The studio’s _Beauty and the Beast_
\nwas the first and only animated film to get that honor.)<\/p>\n

Whether or not _Lion_ gets a Best Picture nomination, it’s a pretty safe
\nbet that it will get one or more nominations in the musical categories.
\nDisney cartoons have nearly monopolized the Best Song category in recent
\nyears.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1230, from switch, 84 chars, Thu Dec 29 21:48:33 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1229.
\n————————–
\nGad, I hope not. The songs seemed particularly unmemorable this time around.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1231, from hkenner, 75 chars, Thu Dec 29 23:27:09 1994
\nThis is a comment to message 1228.
\n————————–
\nI know what *I* felt about *Pulp Fiction*. I disliked it end to end.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1232, from hmccracken, 378 chars, Sat Dec 31 22:32:40 1994
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy 1995!
\nJust a quick note to wish everyone here a hapy and healthful 1995.
\nThe return of _Calvin and Hobbes_ is the first piece of good
\ncartoon-related news for the year; lets hope that lots more follow. Since
\n1995 is the hundredth anniversary of the American comic strip, it would be
\nfitting if it was an unusually good year for comics and animation fans.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1233, from mikester, 169 chars, Sun Jan 1 15:33:51 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1232.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRe: Happy 1995!
\n>The return of _Calvin and Hobbes_ is the first piece of good
\n>cartoon-related news for the year<\/p>\n

When????<\/p>\n

—Mike (A more than satisfied Galahad user)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1234, from hmccracken, 261 chars, Sun Jan 1 18:42:59 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1233.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nToday. But as you might expect given Watterson’s conservative
\nattitude towards his strip and characters, there’s no indication
\nthat this is the first new _Calvin_ episode in ages. It’s merely
\na funny and superbly drawn, typical Watterson Sunday page.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1235, from switch, 90 chars, Sun Jan 1 23:04:28 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1234.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYesterday, for us. That’s probably the only good thing about the Montreal
\nGazette.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1236, from robairmackey, 238 chars, Sun Jan 1 23:27:13 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1235.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nAnd we can’t let it pass without honoring the very last installment of “The
\nFar Side”. The Asbury Park Press will redesign its weekday comic page to
\nmake the crossword puzzle bigger; on the weekends “Dilbert” will replace
\n“The Far Side”.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1237, from davemackey, 411 chars, Fri Jan 13 19:00:36 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1236.
\n————————–
\nAnd of course, with every new year, a new round of curses for comics
\nsyndicates that do not properly date the first few comics of the new year —
\nthat is, they do not change the copyright date in the indicia to correspond
\nto the year of publication. The Bill Blackbeards of the future are never
\nhappy when this happens, because it then becomes a bitch to try to date the
\nstrips.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1238, from hmccracken, 280 chars, Mon Jan 30 09:38:59 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!
\nUnless I’m mistaken, today is the birthday of Dave Mackey — which I
\ndeduce to mean that it’s also the birthday of Robair Mackey.<\/p>\n

Happy birthday, guys, and a million thanks for all your contributions to
\nthe animation conference!<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1239, from davemackey, 155 chars, Mon Jan 30 21:48:24 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1238.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nA humble thank you from this corner. Nancy and I just got back from a couple
\nof days in Atlantic City. We’re not rich yet.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1240, from hmccracken, 434 chars, Tue Jan 31 14:12:17 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1239.
\n————————–
\nDave —<\/p>\n

I haven’t been to Atlantic City lately (actually, I’ve only been there
\nonce, and I came away $75 richer). But I have been to both Las Vegas
\nand Disney World in recent weeks, and I much prefer the latter.
\nWDW has as many gift shops as Vegas has casinos, and while I left Orlando
\na poorer man, I at least had a snazzy new Mickey Mouse wristwatch and
\nsome other goodies. And my slot machine-pulling arm wasn’t sore.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1242, from davemackey, 215 chars, Wed Feb 22 23:34:35 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Mercedes Benz
\nWell, now we know there is no segment of pop music that is immune from
\nadvertising agencies. Mercedes Benz has appropriated the old Janis
\nJoplin tune “Mercedes Benz” for use in its commercials.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1243, from peabo, 73 chars, Thu Feb 23 01:32:30 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1242.
\n————————–
\nAppropriated, or licensed from the estate of the late Ms. Joplin?<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1244, from davemackey, 1657 chars, Fri Feb 24 18:36:00 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1185.
\n————————–
\nWorth spending $8 on? Maybe not. But the other night, Robair, my wife and
\nmyself went to a special screening of “The Little Rascals” to celebrate the
\nopening of the new Sony 15-plex near where Robair lives. It only cost us 50
\ncents to see the film, plus another 50c each for popcorn and soda.
\n And do you know what? “The Little Rascals” turned out to be a rather
\ncharming recreation of the 1930’s shorts. It’s obvious that director Penelope
\nSpheeris watched lots of the old two-reelers to get the direction style of
\nGus Meins, Robert McGowan, and the other “Our Gang” directors.
\n The kids were as funny, if not funnier, than their black-and-white
\nforebears, and they were given material to work with that was at times
\nderivative of particular “Our Gang” episodes (such as “Hook And Ladder” and
\n“Rushin’ Ballet”), and at other times venturing into new territory such as
\ndouble-entendre and toilet jokes (Pete The Pup helps put out the clubhouse
\nfire by peeing on it). There were enough big-star cameos to keep things
\ninteresting, such as John Goodman as a lumberyard owner, or Reba McEntire as
\nthe soapbox derby emcee, or Daryl Hannah as Miss Crabtree (!), or the Olsen
\nTwins (gag) as two of Darla’s little friends.
\n But the best surprise of all was that the film did not have all that
\nmuch to do with the 1990’s. We didn’t see the kids watching television or
\nplaying Nintendo. They were being kids, just like in the old days. They built
\ntheir clubhouses, racing cars, and other gadgets out of other people’s
\ncastoffs. Perhaps the only concession to modern times: Waldo has a cellular
\nphone in his soap box racer.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1245, from hmccracken, 535 chars, Sat Mar 4 21:09:18 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: An Animated Outrage
\nWhen I watch CNN’s _Capitol Gang_ (a _McLaughlin Group_ knockoff),
\nI expect to hear about Clinton, Dole, and Gingrich, not cartoons.
\nBut on tonight’s “Outrage of the Week” segment, panelist Mona
\nCharren’s outrage was the new _Lion King_ video, which (as
\nhas been noted here) has five commercials for other Disney products
\nbefore the film itself gets underway.<\/p>\n

Charren advises purchasers of the tape to fast-forward nine minutes
\nand thirty-two seconds into the tape to bypass the promotional
\nstuff.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1246, from hmccracken, 697 chars, Sat Mar 4 21:19:46 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: I don’t think I’ll make the trip, but thanks anyway…
\nIf you go to the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado later
\nthis month, you can attend an event in which Mike Judge — creator
\nof Beavis and Butthead — presents his favorite animated films.
\n(I’d be curious to know what they are, mainly so I can be sure and stay
\naway from them — and boy, do I ever hope that Judge and I don’t share any
\nfavorite cartoons.)<\/p>\n

The Comedy Arts Festival actually has some other sessions that sound very
\nappealing — most notably, a salute to the films of Albert Brooks that
\nwill feature Brooks himself. I’d almost be tempted to go for that alone,
\nif it wasn’t quite so far from Boston.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1247, from davemackey, 303 chars, Sun Mar 5 23:03:55 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1245.
\n————————–
\nWonder if Mona Charren is any relation to You-Know-Who. Better still, open up
\nthe videocassette and physically remove the offending sections of tape.
\nBetter yet, tape over it with an old Bucky And Pepito cartoon so the kids can
\nbe entertained for those several minutes.<\/p>\n

–Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1248, from hmccracken, 659 chars, Sun Mar 12 21:20:13 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Off to England, Possibly Off BIX
\nOn Tuesday, I’ll be leaving on a trip to England — my first visit
\nthere since 1973, when I lived there. I’m looking forward to it, and
\nhope to bring back comics- and animation-related news. But I’m not
\nsure if I’ll be able to tap into BIX from London or not.<\/p>\n

So if you don’t hear from me for awhile, that’s why. ,. (I’m hoping
\nthat one of the benefits of spending a bit of time outside of
\nthe U.S. will be that it will be a vacation from 24-hour O.J.
\nSimpson coverage…Even if the TV is as O.J.-heavy in England
\nas it is here, I may not have access to a TV in the London flat
\nI’m borrowing (if I’m lucky!).
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1249, from switch, 65 chars, Sun Mar 12 21:43:46 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1248.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nLet us know if _Beano_ is =still= running the same comics!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1250, from hmccracken, 426 chars, Fri Mar 24 10:25:11 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1249.
\n————————–
\nYup, _The Beano_ is *still* running the same basic lineup of comics,
\nincluding _Dennis the Menace_ (the British version, unrelated to
\nHank Ketcham’s creation) and _Korky the Cat_ (who has appeared in
\nevery issue since the first, in 1937 — something like 2500 strips,
\nwhich may be a record). <\/p>\n

I’ll be posting more British comics news in the days to come —
\nor come to our CBIX session on Sunday night for a report.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1251, from hmccracken, 732 chars, Fri Mar 24 20:36:48 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Reviewing Yourself
\nIf you read movie ads closely, you’ve probably noticed that in recent
\nyears, the glowing quotes they feature tend more and more to come
\nfrom little-known critics — many of whom appear to believe that
\nevery movie that comes out is an instant classic that deserves to
\nbe showered with Oscars.<\/p>\n

The ad campaign for Disney’s new live-action film _Tall Tale_ takes
\nthis a step further. Along with quotes from a few obscure critics,
\nthe commercials for the film feature a rave review from _Disney
\nAdventures Magazine_ which — you guessed it — is published by
\nDisney itself.<\/p>\n

What a great idea! Why sit around and hope that reviewers like your
\nmovie when you can come up with your own boffo quotes.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1252, from hmccracken, 473 chars, Sat Mar 25 13:23:37 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Disney-Inspired Terror
\nDagobert has been sentenced to almost eight years in a Berlin jail. The
\nterrorist has become a folk hero after carrying out a series of Disney-
\ninspired crimes involving department store bombings and an attempt
\nto extort more than 300,000 marks.<\/p>\n

That’s all I know about Dagobert — except that I believe the name
\n“Dagobert” is the one given to Uncle Scrooge in Germany. I’d love
\nto know just how his crimes were inspired by Disney.
\n — Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1253, from switch, 155 chars, Sat Mar 25 21:09:26 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1252.
\n————————–
\nI have two articles on Dagobert here somewhere — I don’t remember any mention
\nthat his crimes were Disney-inspired, save perhaps their flamboyance.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1254, from davemackey, 820 chars, Mon Mar 27 23:46:11 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: “Now it’s time to say goodbye…”
\nSometime in the middle of April 1995, I will be leaving BIX. I want to assure
\neveryone here in this conference that it was nothing any of you said or
\ndid…
\n I have nothing but fond memories of this conference. We had some great
\nCBIX sessions, some marvelous trivia contests, and I think all of us learned
\njust a little bit more about animation by just our being here. And before the
\ngreat Implosion of 1992, BIX was humming every night with conversations
\neverywhere in General CBIX. After that July, BIX was never the same.
\n For the time being, if you have any urgent E-mail correspondence, please
\ndeposit it at my alternate address, 71*******@co********.c<\/span>om<\/span>. Pretty soon, I
\nwill advise everyone of a new primary Internet address.
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1255, from hmccracken, 180 chars, Tue Mar 28 20:29:06 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1254.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1254.
\n————————–
\nExtremely sorry to see you go, Dave, and thanks for your incredibly large
\ncontributions to the conference over the past five years.<\/p>\n

Let’s have a CBIX bash before you go!
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1256, from hmccracken, 626 chars, Tue Mar 28 20:37:17 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Farewell, Opus
\nBerkeley Breathed’s _Outland_ ended last Sunday — and with it, the Bloom
\nCounty characters have left the nation’s comics pages for the second time.
\n_Outland_ never lived up to the great moments of the original _Bloom
\nCounty_ in the 1980s, but I’ll miss Opus, Binkley, and the rest of
\nthe gang.<\/p>\n

Breathed seems to have lost interest in newspaper cartooning, so we
\nprobably won’t see his creations return to the funny pages anytime
\nsoon. But he’s active in animation, multimedia, and children’s book
\npublishing, and it’s a safe bet that Opus and company will continue
\nto visit us in those media.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1257, from hmccracken, 2910 chars, Tue Mar 28 20:51:40 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: London Report
\nI had a great time during my recent vacation in London. In the space
\nof seven days, we did four plays, the Tower of London, several museums,
\nHarrods, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, a bunch of interesting
\nrestaurants, Portobello Road, Picadilly Circus, and the incomprable
\nMadame Tussauds.<\/p>\n

I also did my best to partake of animation and comics-related activities,
\nbut London really isn’t a big cartoon town. The UK’s fascination with
\nthings American extends to its cartoon culture, and I saw a lot more
\nsigns of U.S. cartoon characters than English ones during my travels.<\/p>\n

The Disney characters are everywhere in London (oddly enough, _The
\nAristocats_ is already available there on home video, though _The
\nLion King_ isn’t), and the Warner gang is nearly as omnipresent.
\nThe British comics industry has evolved strikingly from its state
\nwhen I used to live in London — there are a lot of comics, but
\nmost of them are American-style ones that star American characters.
\n(Even Calvin and Hobbes appear in a weekly comic book over there.)<\/p>\n

I thought I might get a real taste of British comics by visiting
\nForbidden Planet, London’s biggest comics shop, but no such luck.
\nThe place is huge, but it devotes no more space to home-grown,
\nEnglish comics that you’d find in a U.S. comics store — maybe less,
\nas a matter of fact. It’s full of American comic books, Star
\nTrek merchandise, and videos of Hollywood films.<\/p>\n

I did discover one place that was truly devoted to British cartooning —
\nthe National Museum of Cartoon Art. Despite the grandiose name, this
\nturned out to be a smallish gallery; they’re working on funding to
\nbuild a more ambitious museum. Still, it housed an excellent exhibit
\nof WWII cartoons by the wonderful newspaper cartoonist Giles, and
\nI happened to visit on a day when a meeting was going on of cartoonists
\nand others interested in reviving _Punch_ magazine, which ceased
\npublication a couple of years ago after 150 years. Cartoonist Bill
\nTidy presided, and explained that seven or eight media companies
\nhave turned down his proposals for jump-starting _Punch_. He’s still
\nworking on the project, and if any wealthy BIXen want to invest
\na few million pounds in the idea, he’d love to hear from them.<\/p>\n

The museum’s bookshop featured a decent number of volumes, but nearly
\nall of them were either by or about Giles; he seems to be the one
\nBritish cartoonist that the British take seriously. It’s a little like
\nthe old days in the U.S., when there were lots of books on Disney and
\nalmost none on any other sort of animation.<\/p>\n

Come to think of it, the British just aren’t very serious about
\nappreciating their own pop culture. The fact that the Beatles are
\nrecording some new songs, which was announced while I was there,
\nmerited only minor newspaper coverage, but Elvis Presley is everywhere
\nyou turn in London. <\/p>\n

Even so, I can’t wait to go back again!
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1258, from elfhive, 417 chars, Tue Mar 28 22:22:38 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1257.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nWell, Wallace and Gromit are pretty popular in the UK. I think you’ll
\nalso find more animation in their television ads. There is another
\nanimated series I wish would become available in the US, that’s
\nTerry Pratchett’s _Truckers_.<\/p>\n

Did you catch the PBS special of Nick Parks’ _The Wrong Trousers_ along
\nwith _Inside The Wrong Trousers_. That’s finally available on VHS here.
\nNow if only they would make a laserdisc!<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1259, from hmccracken, 506 chars, Wed Mar 29 07:20:50 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1258.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat’s right — I should have mentioned that there was a lot of Wallace and
\nGromi-related merchandise around, including videos, books, and T-shirts.
\n(Also a lot of interesting Tintin stuff, by the way.) I didn’t watch
\ntoo much TV, but the ads I did catch were an assortment of brilliant
\nanimated ones and fake American-style ones (including one for
\n“American-style chocolate-chip cookies” in which a typical youngster
\nwho’s allegedly from Vermont bits into a cookie and exclaims,
\n“Thanks, mum!”).
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1260, from elfhive, 319 chars, Wed Mar 29 10:46:27 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1259.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nYou, uh, didn’t bring back a box full of Wallace and Gromit stuff? Not even
\nthe wonderful “Have yo
\nu seen this Chicken?” wanted poster on a t-shirt!
\nI forgot to do that when I was in London over New Year’s. I should see
\nsome of that at Intersection, the World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow
\nthis August, though.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1261, from hmccracken, 193 chars, Wed Mar 29 11:10:11 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1260.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI did bring back a Gromit T-shirt for a friend. But if I had brought
\nback everything I was tempted to purchase, my descendants would
\nbe paying off my debts for the next hundred years!
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1262, from elfhive, 77 chars, Wed Mar 29 21:12:32 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1261.
\n————————–
\nGuess you haven’t heard about deficit spending then? It’s all the vogue!
\n\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1263, from switch, 87 chars, Wed Mar 29 21:20:30 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1254.
\n————————–
\nSad goodbyes from here, Dave. Your contributions to ‘animation’ will be
\nmissed.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1264, from switch, 18 chars, Wed Mar 29 21:20:41 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1255.
\n————————–
\nGreat idea!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1265, from davemackey, 262 chars, Sat Apr 1 07:03:10 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1256.
\n————————–
\nOpus is better off shooting flying toasters. I agree with you that “Outland”
\nwas never as good as Bloom County. Moral: if it’s signed “B. Breathed”, don’t
\nread it. If it’s signed “BREATHED” written backwards, it’s ok to do so. \ud83d\ude09
\n –Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1266, from davemackey, 2231 chars, Mon Apr 10 06:38:24 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Closing Thoughts
\nAs I prepare to pack up and leave BIX, I marvel at how my life and my
\nanimated tastes have changed since I posted my first message, way back on
\nNovember 14, 1989. I said at the time, “If I can be of some help, so be it.”
\n I hope I helped someone here. I don’t know the exact count, but I figure
\nthat of the 14,994 messages posted to the animation conference in the last
\n5-1\/2 years, I think I authored about 11,000 of them. It has been my pleasure
\nand my privilege to be able to impart my knowledge of animation to others.
\n Back in November of 1989, I was still working in radio, living at home
\nwith my family, still single. Now, I work in Cable TV, I’m out on my own now,
\nand I’m married now. But I still have that cartoon bug. In the time since
\njoining BIX, I have built up a resume of published animated criticism and
\njoined — and eventually became central mailer of — APATOONS. I’ve also
\nwatched my tastes in animation change from being a follower of the
\nfad-of-the-moment animated series of the time to more of an expert in several
\nspecialized areas. These will be the focus of a series of pages I am
\ncurrently developing for use on the World Wide Web.
\n The man I have to thank for any success I’ve ever had in animation
\nfandom is Harry McCracken. It was Harry who suggested I join BIX in the first
\nplace, and also encouraged me to try my hand at contributions for “Animato!”,
\nwhich he was editing at the time. When he decided he didn’t want to run
\nAPATOONS anymore, he felt confident enough in my skills to hand it off to me.
\nI feel honored and privileged to know Harry. He has a knack of bringing any
\nenterprise he’s associated with into that much classier an operation; witness
\n“Animato!”‘s peak years when he was editing it.
\n It’s been a hell of a five and a half years, and I hate to see it end.
\nBut in the words of Arsenio Hall, “it’s time.”
\n Whenever the game-show emcee Bob Eubanks closed down a show, he would
\ninvariably say during the last moments of the final episode, “There are no
\ngoodbyes in this business. Just ‘until next time”s.” Those are my sentiments
\nexactly. Stay animated, everyone… and see you next time on the Internet.<\/p>\n

–Dave<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1267, from hmccracken, 319 chars, Mon Apr 10 16:39:25 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1266.
\n————————–
\nDave — Thanks for the kind words, and many more thanks for all you’ve
\ncontributed to this conference. Please let us know when and how we’ll
\nbe able to visit your web pages, too.<\/p>\n

We masy be losing Dave, but we won’t be entirely Mackey-less, since
\nRobair (also an excellent contributor to the group) wil still be here.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1268, from hmccracken, 671 chars, Sat Apr 15 11:38:53 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Coyote Joins the NBA
\nI’ve mentioned McDonald’s current promotional campaign which
\nfeatures the Looney Tunes characters, and which includes some
\nnicely-done live-action\/animation commercials.<\/p>\n

The campaign also involves keepsake drinking cups that show
\nthe Warner characters playing basketball against NBA stars,
\nand one of the cups features Wile E. Coyote going one-on-one
\nwith Larry Johnson. As a purist, I object to this cup —
\none of Chuck Jones’s rules about Road Runner cartoons is
\nthat they should include only the Road Runner and the Coyote.
\nIt just doesn’t seem right to show Wile E. with another
\ncharacter, let alone a real live human being.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1269, from mikester, 423 chars, Sat Apr 15 21:16:53 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1268.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRe: The Coyote Joins the NBA
\n>one of Chuck Jones’s rules about Road Runner cartoons is
\n>that they should include only the Road Runner and the Coyote.
\n>It just doesn’t seem right to show Wile E. with another
\n>character, let alone a real live human being.<\/p>\n

But Wile E. _has_ done cartoons with Bugs. He’s also doubled as “Ralph the
\nWolf” in the wolf vs sheepdog co-worker cartoons.<\/p>\n

—Mike (Running Galahad and Windows 95)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1270, from hmccracken, 220 chars, Sun Apr 16 01:43:57 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1269.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI know — Jones has broken his own rules. But except for _Operation
\nRabbit_, it never worked that well. (I think the wolf in the
\nsheepdog cartoons is a different fellow. His personality certainly
\nis different.)
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1271, from ddsnell, 165 chars, Tue Apr 18 01:53:15 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1270.
\n————————–
\n[hmccracken on 16-Apr-1995]<\/p>\n

Nahh. It just shows that Wile E. has a greater acting range than
\nhe ever gets to show in those Road Runner cartoons. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

–dds<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1272, from hmccracken, 836 chars, Mon Apr 24 02:05:58 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Wondercon 9
\nThis afternoon, I went to Wondercon 9 here in San Francisco
\n(or actually next door in Oakland, to be more specific).
\nIt was a nice, medium-sized comic book convention (which
\nI would have mentioned here earlier, except I just found
\nout about it).<\/p>\n

Among the events I attended were an interesting panel discussion
\non humor in comics, with Sergio Aragones, Donna Barr, and
\nDon Rosa, and a Summer movie preview that included the trailer\\
\nfor _Casper_ and short movies about _Pocahontas_ and _Batman Forever_.
\n_Casper_ looks like it will have great special effects — it’s in
\nlive action, except for the ghosts, who are done with 3-d computer
\nanimation. _Batman Forever_ didn’t look too promisig, though.
\n(You might be more interested in the film than I am if you can
\nstand Jim Carrey, who plays _The Riddler_.)
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1273, from hmccracken, 550 chars, Mon May 1 22:24:10 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Updike on Cartooning
\nThe third issue of _Hogan’s Alley_ magazine will feature some
\ncartoons that John Updike drew as a Harvard student in the 1950s,
\nplus Updike’s thoughts on his life-long interest in cartooning.
\nThe distinguished novelist and essayist reports that he can
\nstill draw “a serviceable Mickey Mouse,” and says that it wasn’t
\nuntil he was well through college that he became fairly sure that
\nhe wanted to be a writer rather than a cartoonist. Writing, Updike
\nsays, “required fewer ideas, and I seemed to be better at it.”
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1274, from hmccracken, 1156 chars, Sun May 21 14:10:23 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Los Angeles Trip
\nI made a very short trip to Los Angeles yesterday, and have the
\nfollowing animation-related items to report:<\/p>\n

* I had been wondering here in the conference recently whether
\nthe Dudley Do-Right Emporium, the store devoted entirely to
\nBullwinkle merchandise, was still open. I happened to drive
\npast it when it was open (it has very limited operating hours),
\nand stopped in, so I can confirm that it’s still alive and well.
\nThe store is operated by Jay Ward’s widow, and has a very
\neccentric collection of offering, some of which seem to have
\nbeen lingering on the shelves for twenty or more years.<\/p>\n

Two doors down, in front of the building that once housed the
\nJay Ward Studios (it’s now a fortune teller’s shop) is the
\nBullwinkle statue, a marvelous monument that I always try to
\nvisit when in LA. It’s as wonderful as ever, but looks like
\nit could use some repair — the moose is suffering a rather
\nlarge hole in his ankle.<\/p>\n

* Not too long ago, we were discussing which cartoon characters
\nand cartoonists have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I
\ncame across one yesterday whom I don’t think we mentioned —
\nSnow White.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1275, from robairmackey, 110 chars, Fri May 26 21:30:26 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Friz Freleng is Dead
\nFriday, May 26, 1995.
\n Friz Freleng passed away this morning.
\n He was 88.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1276, from hmccracken, 297 chars, Mon May 29 01:28:43 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: From Walt to Kato
\nNow in bookstores is a volume purportedly based on a series of taped
\ninterviews with O.J. Simpson’s buddy Kato Kaelin. The author,
\nMarc Eliot, is the same guy who wrote _Walt Disney: Hollywood’s
\nDark Prince_, which accused Disney of being a drug-abusing FBI
\nspy.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1277, from hmccracken, 456 chars, Tue May 30 01:40:07 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Fast Food Fistfights
\nIn a current McDonalds’ TV ad, Spiderman and several of his arch enemies
\nare seen at a McDonalds; in a similar one for Hardee’s, the X-Men
\nare shown slugging it out with some super villains on the premises of
\na Hardee’s.<\/p>\n

Of course, the ads are meant to promote toys aimed at kids. But I find
\nthem a little creepy — I have these visions of innocent, hamburger-
\nchewing bystanders being slaughtered by the crossfire…
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1278, from switch, 55 chars, Tue May 30 22:02:40 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1277.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nBut that adds to the excitement of eating there!<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1279, from hmccracken, 445 chars, Wed Jun 14 01:50:00 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1278.
\n————————–
\nArrrgghh! Superhero fights at fast-food places continue, at least
\nin commercials. McDonald’s latest ad not only shows Batman stopping
\nat the Drive-Thru in the Batmobile (which would scare the heck out
\nof me), but also depicts the Riddler purchasing a meal inside.<\/p>\n

First question: Does McDonald’s really want to show a murderous, insane
\nsuper-villain habituating its restaurant?<\/p>\n

Second question: Wouldn’t the Riddler *steal* his food?
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1280, from hmccracken, 500 chars, Wed Jul 5 22:44:59 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Italian boy dives from window, “just like Bugs”
\nFor decades, there have been reports — possibly unfounded —
\nof kids jumping off buildings, in emulation of Superman, and
\nmeeting untimely deaths.<\/p>\n

On today’s newswire, there’s a similar story about an Italian
\nlad, but with a couple of twists. First, he survived his leap
\nfrom a second-story window unscathed. Second, the boy was imitating
\nBugs Bunny, not Superman.<\/p>\n

So in what cartoon does Bugs Bunny leap from a second-story window?
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1281, from hmccracken, 346 chars, Mon Jul 24 19:23:27 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Gee, It’s Quiet in Here…<\/p>\n

Anyone seen any interesting animation (or read any interesting comics)
\nlately?<\/p>\n

I must admit that I haven’t, but that will change later this week, when
\nI travel down to San Diego to attend the gigantic Comicon there — my
\nfirst one in five years. Naturally, I’ll be posting reports from the
\nshow here.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1282, from dgh, 963 chars, Tue Jul 25 00:59:49 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1281.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1281.
\n————————–
\nHmmmm… Ok, I’ll talk.<\/p>\n

I recently watched La Blue Girl (the uncensored version from Anime 18, the
\nUS Manga Corps “adult” label). Wow! A strange combination of martial arts,
\ndemons, and sex. The violence is graphic. Sex between humans is tame (on a
\npar with Showtime’s Red Shoe Diaries). However, sex between humans and
\ndemons is *very* graphic. Plot? Oh, yeah! I guess there was a plot…<\/p>\n

One Ninja clan has stayed in power by controlling the demons with an
\nancient agreement and a control device. Another Ninja clan has been trying,
\nwith zero success, to wrest away that control. After hundreds of years,
\nthey finally succeed when they kill our heroines grandmother. Then the
\ndemons accidentally kidnap her sister in her place and she must rescue the
\nsister. However, the rival clan still has the control device (she never
\nwent after it, so it’s not like I’m giving anything away), so there’s
\nundoubtedly a sequel…<\/p>\n

,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1283, from dgh, 181 chars, Tue Jul 25 00:59:54 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1281.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1281.
\n————————–
\nI also recently watched Project A-Ko Final. And here I thought it couldn’t
\nget any lamer than the first three… I will *not* be renting the 2nd series.
\n ,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1284, from dgh, 338 chars, Tue Jul 25 01:00:01 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1281.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1281.
\n————————–
\nI also recently watched “Otaku No Video”, which is an animation story of how
\na boy falls in with the Otaku crowd and becomes Otaking (King of all Otaku).
\nInterspersed with the animated plot are profiles of actual Otaku. The anime
\nplot was very good and the profiles were very interesting.<\/p>\n

Highly recommended.
\n ,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1285, from dgh, 4177 chars, Tue Jul 25 01:00:51 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1281.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1281.
\n————————–
\nI’ve been renting two or three anime a week for a while now (at only $2.50
\nfor full-length tapes and $1.25 for short ones, it’s very affordable).<\/p>\n

Unless otherwise noted, all tapes are in Japanese with subtitles.<\/p>\n

“Oh My Goddess” is a love story in five (short) volumes.
\nHighly recommended.<\/p>\n

“Urusei Yatsuru”, unoffically knows as “Lum”, is available in three formats,
\nall of which I highly recommend. This is what can only be called wierd
\nhumor. The three formats are as follows: 1) Japanese TV episodes, packaged
\nfour to a tape in 15 volumes; 2) Movies, packaged one per tape in 6 volumes;
\nand 3) Direct video releases, called OVAs, packaged two to a tape (except
\nfor volume 1) in 6 volumes.
\nHighly recommended.<\/p>\n

“Bubblegum Crisis” is a “fighting babes in robo-armor” series in 8 volumes
\n(a second series is called “Bubblegum Crash”). I’ve seen the first two
\nvolumes, which were very good. However, I made the mistake of watching the
\n2nd one in the English-dubbed version. What lousy voice-acting! Stick to
\nthe original Japanese with subtitles.
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

“Orange Road” is another love story in 5 volumes (long ones, though, with
\ntwo episodes per tape, except for the final volume which is a “movie”).
\nOthers may tell you that you can safely skip the first volume and may even
\ncall it “boring”, but I won’t go that far. It’s not as interesting as the
\nother volumes, but it is required watching, because it lays the foundation
\nupon with the excellent character devleopment is built. Don’t skip Vol. 1.
\nHighly recommended.<\/p>\n

“Dominion Tank Police” is a 4-volume series about a post-modern tank police
\nsquad in a big city. This is comedy of the highest order, with an overall
\nplot that is subtly sustained throughout the series, leading to a tear-
\njerker of an ending.
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

“New Dominion Tank Police” is a new series with the same characters from
\n“Domintion Tank Police”. I’ve only seen Volume 1, which was *excellently*
\ndubbed in English.
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

“Gall Force” is a 3-volume series about two ancient space-faring races,
\neach from a different galaxy, battling it out for supremacy. I’ve only
\nbeen able to find the first two volumes, but it sure looked like volume
\n2 ended the series (with an ironic, but not unexpected, twist).
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

I’ve seen two other “Gall Force” videos. The first of these two was “Gall
\nForce: Earth Chapter 1”. The label on the tape actually said “Gall Force:
\nGairath” (or something like that), which confused both me and the comic
\nstore lady, but it turned out to be “Earth Chapter 1” when I watched it.
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

The other is “????? Gall Force” (I can’t recall what the first word was)
\nthat turned out to actually precede “Gall Force: Earth Chapter 1”. Wierd
\nnaming, I tell you. (There was *nothing* in this volume that tied it to the
\noriginal “Gall Force” series, other than the animation style, but “Earth
\nChapter 1” just barely managed to tie into the original series at the very
\nend).
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

Available soon, according to “The Right Stuff” catalog (February 1995) are
\n“Gall Force Shinseikihen” 1 and 2 and “Gall Force Earth Chapter” 2 and 3.<\/p>\n

“A Wind Named Amnesia” is an interesting fairy tale about the fall of the
\nearth and its possible salvation by a persistent young man. It’s hard to
\ndescribe, so I won’t even try it, but I think it’s well worth watching, as
\nit’s quite thought-provoking.
\nRecommended.<\/p>\n

I’ll mention just one more: Imagine a father and son fleeing from a
\nruthless corporation. Imagine that the son finds a cat (“neku” in
\nJapanese). Imagine that a crack fighter squadron (ok, so it’s just
\none jet and a pair of bickering hench-women who couldn’t hit the broad
\nside of a barn) manages to kill the cat (quite by accident and without
\neven knowing that they did it). Imagine that the father is a crack
\nrobo-scientist (no, really) who happens to have a nearly-completed
\nandroid in the back of the Land Rover. Well, then you end up with
\nthe hilariously funny “Cat Girl Nuku Nuku” about a strange family.
\nSo, is there any connection between “neku” (cat) and “Nuku Nuku” (the
\nname of the cat girl)? Don’t ask me, ’cause I don’t know!
\nHighly recommended.<\/p>\n

,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1286, from elfhive, 245 chars, Tue Jul 25 12:44:55 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1284.
\n————————–
\nOtaku no Video is a thinly veiled self-parody of the boys who created Gainax
\nStudios and brought you Wings of Honneamise, Gunbuster and Nadia. It’s more
\nfun for those “in the know” as it were, but certainly an amusing video
\nfor any anime lover.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1287, from switch, 1307 chars, Tue Jul 25 22:13:54 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1281.
\n————————–
\nI’ve been busily watching and reviewing stuff for fps #6, watching tapes
\nfrom a friend who gets FOX, and trying to catch up on my own backlog.<\/p>\n

The short version:<\/p>\n

Hello Kitty (FHE): They’re cute, they’re lovable, and I really enjoy
\nwatching them. I don’t know why. But they’re fun.<\/p>\n

Keroppi and Friends (FHE): Kitty’s frog pal. See above.<\/p>\n

Batman: TAS: Since my buddy got FOX, he’s been taping some shows for me
\nas fast as I can feed him tapes. As a result, I’ve been catching up on
\nthe Batman episodes I missed when my other FOX-equipped friend lost the
\nuse of his VCR. Having just watched “Second Chance”, “Lock Up”, and both
\nparts of “Shadow of the Bat”, I must say I am constantly impressed. I
\nwould really like to see another shot at an animated movie, but with TMS
\nor Spectrum handling the animation.<\/p>\n

The Tick: I *love* this show. Don’t get me started.<\/p>\n

Dangaio: Re-watched this one for a review to go in Sci-Fi Entertainment.
\nThis is a very cool mecha action flick. A real no-brainer, but it brings
\ntogether all the cliches and tweaks everything to perfection. Lots of
\nfun for us old-school types.<\/p>\n

Pocahontas: Loved it. Can’t wait for Toy Story.<\/p>\n

Crying Freeman: Streamline’s dubs are improving. And I found myself
\nliking this more than when I first saw it in ’89 or so.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1288, from switch, 217 chars, Tue Jul 25 22:17:41 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1285.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1285.
\n————————–
\nActually, “neko” is the word for cat. And I suspect “nuku nuku” is some
\nform of onomatopaeia.<\/p>\n

As for Gaiarth — are you referring to Genesis Survivor Gaiarth? I wasn’t
\naware that it was linked to Gall Force.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1289, from dgh, 176 chars, Thu Jul 27 01:48:27 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1288.
\n————————–<\/p>\n

I may have that word wrong, but I’m pretty sure it started with G. There’s
\nno connection between it and Genesis Survivor Gaiarth as far as I know.
\n ,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1290, from dgh, 89 chars, Thu Jul 27 21:23:40 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1285.
\n————————–
\nThat word I couldn’t recall was Rhea (as in Rhea Gall Force).
\n ,
\n |) \/\\ \\\/ | +)<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1291, from hmccracken, 927 chars, Sun Aug 6 18:51:49 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: _Animato_ #32 is out…
\n…and features, among other things:<\/p>\n

* A lengthy article about censorship in animation
\n* An article about the upcoming _Gumby_ theatrical film
\n* A look at _Pocahontas_
\n* A profile of Goofy
\n* A piece about Bluto, Popeye’s nemesis
\n* An episode guide to _Swat Kats_
\n* An article about the animated special effects in the _Power Rangers_
\nfilm
\n* The truth behind the creation of Casper
\n* An interview with Space Ghost
\n* An article about current comic-book adaptations of animated films
\n* A column on Canadian animation
\n* A department about cartoon voices
\n* A special section of anime reviews
\n* Reviews and news
\n* A column by me on the San Francisco animation scene
\n* A reprint of a tribute to Friz Freleng I wrote in 1988
\n* And more<\/p>\n

Whew! _Animato_ #32 weighs in at 72 pages, costs $4.50, and is available
\nat comic shops and book stores (including the Borders and Barnes and
\nNoble chains).
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1292, from hkenner, 185 chars, Sun Aug 6 19:14:39 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1291.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHarry–
\n\t\tI’ve just encountered, on a local newsstand, *Animation*
\nmagazine.<\/p>\n

\t\tHelp me. Who’s it for? I normally get such info from the
\nads, but they make no sense whatsoever.<\/p>\n

–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1293, from elfhive, 297 chars, Sun Aug 6 19:47:16 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1292.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1292.
\n————————–
\n\u001b[C*Animation* is pretty much aimed at the industry. The articles seem to
\nfocus on new technological developments and once in a while on the
\nphilosophy of various animators. It doesn’t do much in the way of historical
\ncoverage. It has a big section at the end on collecting cels and backgrounds.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1294, from hmccracken, 488 chars, Tue Aug 8 22:47:00 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1292.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nHugh, as Elf says, _Animation_ is largely a trade journal for the
\nanimation industry, full of articles on studio executives, news
\nabout awards, and the like. It does carry some reviews and
\nhistorical material, but it’s mostly a cheerleader for the
\nanimation business such as it currently stands, not a critical
\njournal. <\/p>\n

It’s been around for close to ten years — it’s the second oldest
\nmainstream American magazine about animation, after _Animato_
\n(which was founded in 1983).
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1295, from elfhive, 229 chars, Tue Aug 8 23:41:30 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1294.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1294.
\n————————–
\nI believe Terry Thoren is behind Animation, the man who brings us the
\nInternational Animation Festival shorts in theatrical release?<\/p>\n

Also, wasn’t there a hiatus in the publishing continuity for _Animation_
\nabout four years ago?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1296, from hmccracken, 369 chars, Wed Aug 9 00:00:16 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1295.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThat’s right — Terry founded _Animation_, and is the producer
\nof the Animation Tournees and other touring festivals. In fact, the
\nmagazine began as a promotional tabloid for his film shows.<\/p>\n

I’m not sure if there was ever a lengthy time when _Animation_
\nwent unpublished, but Thoren sold it to a company that closed,
\nthen bought it back about four years ago.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1297, from hkenner, 162 chars, Wed Aug 9 13:33:12 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1294.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThanks, Elf & Harry! Main puzzlement for was the ads, which tended
\nto use up a quarter-page providing some small studio’s name, address
\nand phone number.
\n–HK<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1298, from switch, 169 chars, Wed Aug 9 18:45:11 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1296.
\n————————–
\nThoren himself is now president of Klasky-Csupo, so I don’t think he has much
\ntime for the Tournees (there isn’t one this year, though that may be a
\ncoincidence.)<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1299, from elfhive, 262 chars, Thu Aug 10 01:10:35 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1297.
\n————————–
\nI actually have been noticing a dramatic increase in ads from major studios
\nseeking illustrators and animators. This is very different that from even
\ntwo years ago. There appears to be a serious amount of activity in animation
\nin the US. It is very encouraging.<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1300, from hmccracken, 401 chars, Sun Sep 17 00:12:59 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Snoopy on the Shuttle
\nIt’s a tradition for NASA’s grounds crew to wake up the shuttle astronauts
\nwith a bit of appropriate music? Today’s selection for the astronauts
\naboard the Endeavor? Vince Girauldi’s _Linus and Lucy_, the classic tune from
\nthe _Peanuts_ specials. Apparently, for some reason the Endeavor crew is
\nknown as “the dog crew,” and the mujsic was a reference to Snoopy.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1301, from peabo, 257 chars, Sun Sep 17 00:21:08 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1300.
\n————————–
\nWell, the end of summer is often called “the dog days”, a reference to Sirius,
\nOrion’s faithful hound (probably because the constellation is especially
\nprominent in the Northern hemisphere this time of year).<\/p>\n

Perhpas medtek or petemanly would know?<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1303, from hmccracken, 523 chars, Sun Sep 24 00:07:52 1995
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Margaret Makes the News
\nMargaret, Dennis the Menace’s red-haired friend\/sparring partner, usually
\nisn’t terribly controversial. But surprisingly enough, she was recently
\nbanned by Wal-Mart.<\/p>\n

To be exact, Wal-Mart stopped selling a Margaret T-shirt — on which
\nshe says that “Some day a woman will be president” — after complaints
\nthat this sentiment was anti-family values (?). When word of this got
\nout, the company was further criticized for withdrawing the shirt —
\nso Margaret is now back at Wal-Mart.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1304, from switch, 34 chars, Sun Sep 24 17:19:28 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1303.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\n“Anti-family values?”<\/p>\n

Woo.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1305, from peabo, 52 chars, Mon Sep 25 00:35:10 1995
\nThis is a comment to message 1304.
\n————————–
\nIt’s enough to make you want to cry “uncle”.<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1306, from hmccracken, 368 chars, Sat Sep 30 21:05:02 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Grampy is Back
\nAs we’ve discussed here before, there’s a current trend going on — using
\nbrief, almost subliminal clips from old cartoons in TV commercials.
\nA current example: An ad for MCI’s computer-related services uses a quick
\npiece of animation starring Grampy, Betty Boop’s inventing grandfather,
\nwho appeared in many of the later Boop cartoons.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1307, from hmccracken, 599 chars, Sat Sep 30 21:08:18 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Reddy Turns Lobbyist
\nGrampy isn’t the only retired cartoon character who has reappeared.
\nReddy Kilowatt, the fellow with a light bulb for a head and a lightning-bolt
\nbody, appears in a current magazine advertorial protesting the Rio treaty,
\nwhich has something to do with the environment and which is opposed, apparently,
\nby electric companies.<\/p>\n

Reddy, who used to spend his time appearing in electric company ads touting
\nthe wonders of electrical power, was always a favorite of mine. I’m not sure
\nhow I feel about his present activities, but it *is* good to see him up and
\nabout.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1308, from hmccracken, 517 chars, Tue Nov 7 01:29:13 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Happy Birthday, Mr. Fresh
\nTuesday is the thirtieth birthday of Poppin Fresh, known to you
\n\/and me as the Pillsbury Doughboy. As reported in a nice
\n_USA Today_ story, the Doughboy is one of the most enduringly
\npopular TV spokescharacters. After a period of relatively
\nlittle prominence in the 1980s, the Doughboy is once again
\nthe center of attention in Pillsbury ads.<\/p>\n

So here’s to Poppin Fresh, along with Tony the Tiger, Charlie
\nthe Tuna, Punchy, and the other veterans of TV commercial
\n\/animation.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1309, from hmccracken, 513 chars, Tue Nov 7 01:33:10 1995
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Mutt and Jeff: Not P.C.
\nToday’s (Monday’s) _New York Times_ has an article on the
\nU.S. Post Office’s comics stamps, which says that Mutt and
\nJeff didn’t get a stamp because it proved impossible to
\nfind any artwork of them in which they weren’t hitting
\neach other. (A pretty poor excuse — I could have provided
\n\/them with 500 examples.)<\/p>\n

The story also explains that the image used of Popeye was
\nnot drawn by E.C. Segar, his creator, for similar reasons:
\nSegar’s art was too violent and grotesque.
\n–Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1310, from mikebryant, 376 chars, Tue Jan 16 23:40:41 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Dirty Pair: Fatal but not serious
\nThis book has supposedly been out since November but I just picked up the
\nlast issue #5 tonight. <\/p>\n

Possible SPoilers…<\/p>\n

I’m confused. Adam apparently left the clone Yuri alive while killing off
\nthe original Yuri. What happend to all the self-destruct measures mentioned
\nin issue #2 to ensure that the clone killed herself off?<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1311, from hmccracken, 1466 chars, Mon Mar 18 13:21:41 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: This has nothing to do with animation, but…
\n…it’s too funny not to share.<\/p>\n

I go to the Barnes and Noble bookstore in downtown Boston to
\nbrowse at lunchtime. Alan Dershowitz is there to sign copies
\nof his new book on the O.J. Simpson trial. He’s standing behind
\na table piled high with copies of the book.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, none of the customers in the crowded bookstore
\nseem remotely interested in buying a copy of Dershowitz’s book. In fact,
\nnobody cares enough to even stop and gawk at him as a celebrity. He simply
\nstands there, wearing his jacket and clutching some papers, talking
\nnervously to a B&N employee.<\/p>\n

Eventually, Dershowitz wanders off towards a nearby display of books (not
\nhis) and begins to browse. Then he disappears altogether — perhaps to
\nanother section of the large store.<\/p>\n

Then, finally, a customer appears who’s interested in Dershowitz’s book.
\nIt’s a very small, very elderly man wearing a trenchcoat and fedora. He
\nwalks with a cane. He begins to flip through the book, then asks a B&N
\nemployee if it would be all right if he sat down in the chair behind the
\ntable — the one that was meant for the absent Dershowitz. It’s okay, so
\nthe elderly man sits down behind the stacks of the O.J. book.<\/p>\n

At that point I left, but I’d love to think that some Dershowitz fan
\narrived at that point and had the little old man sign a copy of the book
\n— wondering all the while why the famed attorney looked so much older in
\nperson.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1312, from hmccracken, 1030 chars, Sat May 18 20:54:42 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What do Chuck Jones and the Big Boy have in common?
\nThe Big Boy being, of course, the small boy, clad in checked overalls,
\nwho is the mascot of the hamburger chain that began in Los Angeles in
\nthe 1930s?<\/p>\n

What they have in common is Ben Washam, who was an animator for Jones
\nfor many years and a high school chum of Bob Wian, the founder of
\nthe Bob’s Big Boy chain. Wian devised a double decker sandwich and
\nnamed it after the nickname of a chubby youngster who hung around
\nhis hamburger stand; Washam drew a cartoon version of the kid,
\nand the rest is history. (Washam’s drawing doesn’t look quite
\nlike the Big Boy we know and love today — the original version
\nwas, believe it or not, a little more portly, and his overalls
\ndrooped a bit more.)<\/p>\n

I gleaned this bit of trivia from _Car Hops and Curb Service_, a new
\nbook by Jim Heilman about the golden age of the American drive-in
\nrestaurant. Heilman has Washam’s name as “Benny Woshum,” but I am
\nindebted to him for the information. And the book is excellent.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1313, from hmccracken, 586 chars, Sat May 18 21:15:45 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Trivia Night in the Works
\nIt’s high time that we had another BIX Animation Conference Trivia
\nNight! As usual, we’ll have a competition that tests your animation\/
\ncomics knowledge (though it’s all multiple-choice, so intelligent
\nguessing also works). As usual, we’ll have prizes — interesting
\nbooks and magazines.<\/p>\n

All we need is a date. If you’re interested in participating —
\nand Trivia Nights are always a lot of fun — please feel free
\nto mention a day of the week or time of day\/night. We’d like
\nto schedule it so that as many members as possible can
\nparticipate.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1314, from lkaplan, 657 chars, Sun May 19 13:13:50 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1312.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nRe: What do Chuck Jones and the Big Boy have in common?
\nNeat bit of information, thanks for posting that! How far back do drive-in
\nrestaurants date?<\/p>\n

There seem to be a bunch of good “history of popular culture” books out
\nthere … I’ve got John Baeder’s books on diners, gas stations, and motels,
\nand I’ll probably pick up one of the books on gas stations at some point.<\/p>\n

Of course, you’ve just gotten me to add another book to my list \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

(BTW, we have a 30-year-old “A&W” drive-in a half-hour south of here …
\nyou still order from your car, the girls hang a tray off your window, and,
\nif you’re inside, you order using a telephone at your table)<\/p>\n

-Len<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1315, from hmccracken, 2377 chars, Mon May 20 22:11:49 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1314.
\n————————–
\nI’m not entirely sure why, but I have a deep interest in drive-in
\nrestaurants and their history and lore. I’m too young to remember the’
\nGolden Age of the drive-in, but there were still quite a few of them
\nwhen I was growing up in Portland, Oregon in the 1970s. We lived near
\na fine one called the Arctic Circle, part of a chain which featured
\na Foghorn Leghorn-like rooster as its mascot. And I also have memories
\nof a Kentucky Fried Chicken drive-in that bore a HUGE neon sign reading
\n“SPECK” on its roof. (Speck, no relation to the mass murderer that I
\nknow of, was the man who was the local franchisee for KFC.)<\/p>\n

There are a surprising number of books about drive-in restaurants and
\nrelated topics, and what’s even more surprising is that most of them
\nare quite good, with little overlap with each other. A brief bibliography
\nof ones other than this new one I mentioned:<\/p>\n

Orange Roofs and Golden Arches: The Architecture of American Chain
\nRestaurants (Philip Langdon, 1986): Despite the title, this book is
\nthe closest thing to an all-encompassing history of American fast
\nfood that I know of. It’s also one of the best bookd that I’ve
\never read on any topic, somehow striking the right balance between
\nseriousness and informality.<\/p>\n

Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture (Alan Hess, 1985): Another
\nwonderful book, one that focuses on the coffee shops of 1950s
\nSouthern California. It features a guide to those that were still
\nstanding as of its publication date — it would be invaluable if it
\nwasn’t for the sad fact that so many of them have been torn down
\nin the last ten years.<\/p>\n

Hamburger Heaven (Jeffrey Tennyson, 1993): This book claims to be the
\n“Illustrated History of the Hamburger,” but it’s mostly about
\nfast-food chains of the past. The text is a little fluffy, but
\nthe illustrations are fine.<\/p>\n

The American Drive-In: History and Folklore of the Drive-In Restaurant
\nin American Car Culture (Michael Karl Witzel, 1994): The text here
\nis a disorganized hodgepodge, but there’s lots of interesting information
\nand the lavish color photos are hard to beat.<\/p>\n

There’s also a fine book on the White Tower chain — one of the first
\nfast-food organizations. I’ve misplaced my copy, so I can’t provide
\ndetails.<\/p>\n

Oh, as for your question: this new book on drive-ins traces their
\norigin to the Pig Stand, a wonderfully-named Texas chain that
\nstarted in 1921.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1316, from hmccracken, 143 chars, Mon May 20 22:13:02 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1313.
\n————————–
\nWhat, is nobody interested in a Trivia Night? Will we have to
\ndistribute our prizes to starving orphans rather than to
\nbrainy BIXen?<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1317, from hmccracken, 1245 chars, Mon Jul 8 21:50:28 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Return of Freberg
\nIn 1961, comedian and sometime voice actor Stan Freberg released an album
\nentitled _Stan Freberg’s History of the United States of America, Part I_.
\nYou can be forgiven if you gave up waiting for part two, but thirty-five
\nyears later, it’s finally here. (I heard both parts as a Fourth of July
\nspecial on my local public radio station, but they’re also available on
\nCD.)<\/p>\n

The quick way to review part two is to say that if you loved part one,
\nyou’ll love part two. And if you’ve never heard Freberg but are a fan of
\nJay Ward’s Fractured Fairy Tales and Mr. Peabody’s Improbable History,
\nyou’ll undoubredly be a fan of Freberg’s fractured approach to U.S.
\nhistory, too. In fact, the two parts comprise a remarkably seamless whole;
\nFreberg’s voice and sensibility really haven’t changed much over the
\nyears, and the humor and music are consistent throughout. I’d love to know
\nwhen he began writing part two — much of it has an early 60s feel to it,
\nbut there are also references to the Internet and other tipoffs that it’s
\na new piece.<\/p>\n

Between parts one and two, you’ll hear the acting of several fine cartoon
\nperformers, including June Foray, Paul Frees, Lorenzo Music, Corey Burton,
\nand Freberg himself.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1318, from peabo, 97 chars, Tue Jul 9 00:08:22 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1317.
\n————————–
\n“… that Life, Liberty, and the Purfuit of Domain Name Service, shall not
\nbe denied …”<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1319, from hmccracken, 321 chars, Wed Jul 10 21:29:50 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Moviegoers’ Gain is Commercial Watchers’ Loss
\nPixar, the computer-animation studio that produced _Toy Story_ for Disney,
\nhas announced that it will no longer make computer-generated TV commercials.
\nIt’s so busy with its upcoming theatrical projects that it can’t spare the
\nresources needed to do TV work.<\/p>\n

– Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1320, from sfmcnally, 84 chars, Thu Jul 11 13:03:35 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1319.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nI didn’t know they did TV commercials. Any notable ones I might have seen?<\/p>\n

Seumas<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1321, from lkaplan, 157 chars, Thu Jul 11 17:44:08 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1320.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1320.
\n————————–
\n>Any notable ones I might have seen?<\/p>\n

They did the Listerine “Tarzan” mouthwash commercial — the one where you
\nsee a bottle swinging thru the jungle.<\/p>\n

-Len<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1322, from hmccracken, 247 chars, Thu Jul 11 21:38:42 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1321.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\nThere are additional comments to message 1321.
\n————————–
\nThat’s the one I remember, but I’m told they’ve also done work for
\nCoke and McDonald’s. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re responsible
\nfor at least some of the umpteen ads with the advertised product
\ndoing a jolly dance of some sort.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1323, from sfmcnally, 102 chars, Fri Jul 12 11:57:33 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1321.
\n————————–
\nI thought I heard that was done with Lightwave. Or does Pixar use Lightwave
\nfor some things?<\/p>\n

Seumas<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1324, from switch, 48 chars, Sat Jul 13 09:53:54 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1322.
\n————————–
\nAlso the Tropicana ads from a while back.<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1325, from hmccracken, 1534 chars, Tue Jul 16 03:29:33 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Hamm’s Bear is alive and well
\nCamel Cigarettes’ use of a cartoon camel named Old Joe in its ads
\nhas angered people so much that some folks want the ads outlawed.
\nBut Old Joe has nothing on the Hamm’s Bear, a cute character who
\nwas created for early TV animated beer commercials in the 1950s.<\/p>\n

We don’t have Hamm’s in New England, so I was unaware of the bear’s
\nstatus until I took a trip — which I’m on right now — to Seattle on
\nbusiness. I killed some time by visiting the Olympia brewery in
\nTumwater, Washington, which is one of the places where Hamm’s is
\nmade these days. And boy, is the Hamm’s Bear still around! The brewery
\nhas a large gift shop filled with merchandise that, er, bears his
\nlikeness. I imagine that much of this stuff is designed to appeal to
\nkids; I can’t imagine that 40-year-old beer drinkers want cuddly
\nstuffed bears. And in some cases, there’s no doubt — they have
\nHamm’s sweatshirts in children’s sizes. Me, I bought a T-shirt
\nthat features a drawing of the bear hoisting a mug of beer and
\nbeing carried around by a happy band of woodland critters — a
\nvery odd image.<\/p>\n

So does Hamm’s use of an adorable cartoon bear lead eight-year-olds
\nto drink? It’s hard to say. When I was a kid, I had a relative who
\nhad a small statue of the bear, which I was very fond of. In fact,
\nmy fondness for that statue is probably why I’m interested enough
\nin the whole topic of the Hamm’s Bear to write this message. But
\nmy interest never led me to drink Hamm’s — in fact, I’ve still
\nnever had it.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1326, from grekel, 274 chars, Thu Jul 18 14:08:02 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1320.
\n————————–
\nI believe they also did the “Gummi Life Savers” spots (again, dancing
\nproduct) and a spot for gum (I think?) that featured a piano-playing
\nice cube and mint leaf.<\/p>\n

Wonder if they will ever do another Sesame Street short like the two
\nthat run now featuring Luxo & Jr.?<\/p>\n

greg<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1327, from hmccracken, 750 chars, Sun Jul 21 22:42:43 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Lasseter interview in long.messages
\nIn my copious spare time, I’m working on a project that the world really
\nneeds: a Harry McCracken Web page. As part of this noble enterprise, I’m
\nusing OCR software to create electronic versions of some of my animation
\nwritings, mainly pieces I did for Animato magazine years ago. (I did
\nthem on a computer in the first place, but didn’t have enough foresight
\nto save my files.)<\/p>\n

I have no idea when my Web page will be ready for public consumption, but
\nthose BIXen who are interested in my pieces don’t need to wait — I’ll post
\nthem in animation\/long.messages as they’re ready. First up: a 1989 interview
\nwith John Lasseter, the director of Tin Toy. You’ll find it as long.messages
\nmessage 178.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1328, from hmccracken, 300 chars, Mon Jul 22 01:11:04 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Another Golden Oldie in long.messages
\nAnimation\/long.messages #179 contains a 1990 article on Disney’s Florida
\nanimation studio. At the time, a Disney studio outside of California was
\na novelty; since then, the company has opened branches in France, Canada,
\nand who knows where else.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1329, from hmccracken, 914 chars, Thu Aug 1 18:11:55 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Obituary: Harold Fox
\nHarold Fox has died at his home in Siesta Key, Florida. Fox, who was
\n86. claimed to be the inventor of the Zoot Suit. (I say “claimed” only
\nbecause the lengthy obituary in today’s New York Times seems somewhat
\ndoubtful about it.)<\/p>\n

The Zoot Suit, which Fox said he devised in the late 1930s, was the
\nepitome of hip for awhile in the 1940s: it was a weirdly-tailored
\nman’s suit which was baggy in some places and tight in others.
\nIt found favor among jazz musicians, urban teenagers, and others,
\nand was the subject of the Los Angeles Zoot Suit riots of 1942. (I don’t know the specifics on the riots
\n— they’re mentioned briefly in the Times’ article.)<\/p>\n

I mention Fox’s death here because the Zoot Suit found its way into comics and cartoons, including a
\nfunny Li’l Abner sequence involving the Root Toot Zoot Suit Company and the wonderful Tom and Jerry
\ncartoon The Zoot Cat.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1330, from lkaplan, 230 chars, Thu Aug 1 21:41:45 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1329.
\n————————–
\nRe: Obituary: Harold Fox
\n>I mention Fox’s death here because the Zoot Suit found its way into comics
\nand >cartoons, including<\/p>\n

Wasn’t there also a cartoon (WB?) with at least one wolf (or maybe several)
\nwearing a zoot suit?<\/p>\n

-Len<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1331, from hmccracken, 2156 chars, Fri Aug 2 23:14:35 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Best Place to Buy Animation Books in Boston
\n…may well be the new Borders bookstore at Downtown Crossing (which,
\nI’m pleased to report, is two blocks from where I work). I wouldn’t
\nbe surprised if Borders has an animation fan in its book-buying
\ndepartment — the store seems to have just about everything that’s
\nin print, including all of the many Disney titles, a paperback edition
\nof _Before Mickey_, our own Hugh Kenner’s _Chuck Jones: A Flurry of
\nDrawings_, Jones’s _Chuck Amuck_, and many more volumes.<\/p>\n

This new Borders location is about a block from a Barnes and Noble
\nSuperstore, and they’re both huge. So far, there seems to be enough
\nbusiness to keep both crowded, though I worry for the Old Corner Bookstore
\n(one of the oldest bookstores in the country, now specialists in travel
\nbooks) and Lauriat’s (a fine old Boston bookstore). Between all of these
\nstores and the Brattle Bookshop (a wonderful used book store that Charles
\nDickens once visited), Downtown Crossing now provides stiff competition
\nfor Harvard Square, traditionally the best place in the Boston area to buy
\nbooks. In fact, Harvard Square may be on the decline as a book shoppers’
\nMecca — it’s lost three of its stores in the last few years, and the
\nlegendary Harvard Coop is in the process of becoming another Barnes and
\nNoble store.<\/p>\n

The best single bookstore in the Boston area — or at least the one I’m
\nmost fond of — continues to be the New England Mobile Book Fair in
\nNewton. Despite its name, it isn’t mobile at all, but it is extremely
\nlarge, with the best discount policy I’ve seen (at least twenty percent
\noff everything). You could get lost in the Book Fair’s maze of remainder
\nrooms.<\/p>\n

Boston doesn’t have anything to match Powell’s, which I just visited
\nduring my recent trip to Portland, Oregon. In fact, the only bookstore
\nI’ve seen that rivals Powell’s in size is Foyle’s in London. Besides being
\nutterly huge, Powell’s mixes new and old books in every section, which
\nmakes for fun browsing. It’s got a very respectable animation section, as
\nwell as a humor\/cartoons section which seems to go on for miles. As a
\nPortland boy, I’m proud.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1332, from hmccracken, 1091 chars, Fri Aug 2 23:22:44 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: And now for a few words about my sister’s book
\nTo use an old bit of BIX speak, This Is Not A Review — but it is an
\nunabashed plug for _The Giant’s House_, a new novel by my sister,
\nElizabeth McCracken. The book, published by the Dial Press, came out a few
\nweeks ago, and has gotten some very nice publicity, including a full-page
\nrave in the _New Yorker_; Elizabeth was also named one of the best twenty
\nAmerican novelists under forty by _Granta_ magazine. And Elizabeth has done
\nsome radio broadcasts and so many book signings that I’ve lost count.<\/p>\n

The story involves a Cape Cod librarian and the world’s tallest boy, and
\nwhile I don’t think there are any animation references, there are several
\ncomic-book ones, including a mention of Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen.
\nPerhaps I can take some credit for my little sister’s interest in the
\ncomics, but not in her skills as a writer. She’s already at work on
\nanother novel for Dial, about the elderly Jewish population of Des Moines
\n(a topic close to both of our hearts, as a fair-sized chunk of that
\npopulation is our kin).<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1333, from hmccracken, 451 chars, Sun Aug 11 21:05:07 1996
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Is Sluggo a Mac Fan?
\nPower Computing, a manufacturer of Macintosh clones, was distributing
\nT-shirts last week at Macworld Expo in Boston. The shirts feature
\na picture of a character who looks suspiciously like Sluggo (Nancy’s
\nfriend, of course) seething with anger, apparently about the bad
\npress that Macs get these days.<\/p>\n

I didn’t see a copyright message, but let’s hope that these
\nshirts are officially licensed Sluggo merchandise.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1334, from peabo, 627 chars, Tue Aug 13 00:44:56 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1333.
\nThere is\/are comment(s) on this message.
\n————————–
\nThere are two versions of the T-shirt\/poster\/webpage. One says:<\/p>\n

“We’re gonna kick Intel’s ass!”<\/p>\n

with a subcaption advertising the 225 MHz 604e chip. The other says:<\/p>\n

“We’re fighting to save the Mac.”<\/p>\n

I tried to confirm a rumor that Intel went to court to block distribution
\nof the first one, but the booth personnel told me that they just ran out and
\nhad to switch to the second. I’m inclined to believe them. However, the
\nWeb page disappeared by the time I heard the rumor. You don’t run out of
\nWeb pages, so maybe some sort of pressure was applied \ud83d\ude42 The CD-ROMs I
\nsaw all had the second slogan on them.<\/p>\n

peter<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1335, from hmccracken, 198 chars, Tue Aug 13 09:45:38 1996
\nThis is a comment to message 1334.
\n————————–
\nI don’t have any sympathy for Intel, but I think the Bushmiller estate should
\nget a few bucks out of all this! (Actually, they probably wouldn’t, since
\nSluggo is owned by United Features.)
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1336, from hmccracken, 387 chars, Sat Aug 17 20:50:13 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: What’s up, GOP?
\nDelegates to the recent Republican National Convention in San Diego
\nwere presented with free duffel bags containing a variety of gifts
\nsupplied by AT&T, Kraft, and the other large corporations that
\nprovided funds to put on the convention. Among the goodies: a Bugs
\nBunny baseball cap. Bugs represented Time Warner, the conglomerate
\nthat owns Warner Bros.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1337, from hmccracken, 834 chars, Tue Aug 27 21:23:50 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: More on Ben Washam’s Big Boy
\nA few months ago, we were discussing the fact that the Big Boy, the chubby
\nmascot of the Bob’s Big Boy hamburger chain, was created by Warner Bros.
\nanimator Ben Washam.<\/p>\n

During a weekend trip to Los Angeles (which will be the subject of several
\nmessages here), I visited the Bob’s location in Burbank, which opened in
\n1949 and is not too far from Warner Bros. Bob’s was once a large chain, but
\nhas petered out in recent years; this may be the last location in the LA
\narea. It’s in beautiful shape, though, and operates a small gift shop
\ndevoted to Big Boy merchandise.<\/p>\n

Much of this merchandise features the original Washam version of the Big
\nBoy, which is decidely portlier and sloppier than the more familiar
\ndrawing. You can buy a Washam-version T-shirt or even a handsome piggy bank.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1338, from hmccracken, 320 chars, Tue Aug 27 21:25:27 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Has Snoopy taken over LA?
\nDuring my Los Angeles visit, I sometimes felt like Charlie Brown, Snoopy,
\namd the other _Peanuts_ characters were taking over the town. That’s
\nbecause everywhere I looked, I saw them on billboards — some were for
\nMet Life insurance, others for Knott’s Berry Farm. Good grief!<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1339, from hmccracken, 2482 chars, Sun Sep 8 17:18:29 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Let’s Play Post Office
\nThe U.S. Postal Service’s recent comic-strip stamp series and
\nupcoming Looney Tunes one suggests an entertaining game:
\ncreating our own wish list of comic- and cartoon-related
\nstamps. Here are a few of mine — I’d love to hear about
\nyours.<\/p>\n

(For no particular reason, my series all come in sets of eight.)<\/p>\n

THE GREAT
\nANIMATORS SERIES
\nWalt Disney — he had a stamp in 1967, but it’s high time for another
\nChuck Jones — the greatest director of them all
\nOtto Messmer — the creator of Felix, the first great cartoon star
\nWinsor McCay — he didn’t invent animation, but he’s really its father
\n in many ways
\nMax and Dave Fleischer — We’ll avoid arguments about whom was
\n the most important brother by letting
\n them share a stamp
\nTax Avery — The most uniquely American of the great directors
\nJ. Stuart Blackton — The first American animator
\nBob Clampett — Along with Jones and Avery, probably one of the
\n three greatest directors<\/p>\n

GREAT FIGURES IN AMERICAN ANIMATION
\nWalt Disney — again, no animation series would be complete without
\n him
\nChuck Jones — Like Disney, an obvious choice
\nMel Blanc – The greatest voice artist and one of the most
\n important contributors to Warner Bros’ greatness
\nMaurice Noble — One of the most important of the great animation
\n art directors
\nBill Tytla — Many folks’ choice as the most brilliant character
\n animator of them all
\nDick Heumer — To represent that underappreciated animation
\n professional, the storyman
\nMax Fleischer — This time alone, for his technological
\n innovations suh as rotoscoping
\nMary Blair — One of Disney’s great inspirational artists<\/p>\n

GREAT AMERICAN CARTOONISTS (with no duplications from the recent
\ncomic-strip stamp series)
\nWalt Kelly — Especially since Pogo didn’t get a
\nstamp
\nRoy Crane — The first of the great adventure artists, and
\n creator of Wash Tubbs and Buz Sawyer
\nWill Eisner — The briliant cartoonist\/entrepreneur who
\n did _The Spirit_
\nMarge — Inventor of the immortal Little Lulu
\nJack Kirby — The greatest superhero comic-book artist
\nCharles Addams — Everybody’s favorite _New Yorker_ cartoonist
\nCharles Dana Gibson — Creator of the Gibson Girl and the definitive portrait
\n of Uncle Sam
\nCarl Barks — The greatest funny-animal comic-book artist<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1340, from hmccracken, 429 chars, Thu Sep 26 22:37:21 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Another Famous Cartoon Fan
\nAl Roker, NBC weatherman and weekend talk-show host on CNBC,
\nis an animation fanatic. So he revealed on one his his
\nprograms last weekend, in which he interviewed film critic
\nLeonard Maltin and was clearly most interested in the fact
\nthat Maltin wrote the classic history of animation, _Of Mice and
\nMagic_, a book Roker says he uses constantly to answer his
\nfriends’ cartoon questions.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1341, from hmccracken, 575 chars, Wed Oct 2 23:39:14 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: You heard it here first…
\nA reliable source has told me that Bugs Hardaway, animation
\ndirector\/storyman (and the man who gave his name to Bugs Bunny)
\nand Harry S Truman (President of the United States of America,
\n1945-1953) were apparently army buddies! To be exact, Hardaway
\nwas in a unit commanded by Truman during World War I. The two
\napparently kept in touch as time went on and both became
\nsuccessful in their respective fields.<\/p>\n

My source is in touch with the Truman presidential library,
\nwhich apparently has some papers that confirm the friendship.<\/p>\n

— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1342, from hmccracken, 704 chars, Mon Oct 14 22:06:34 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Cartoonist in Chief
\nRecently, an editorial cartoonist who was flying aboard Air Force
\nOne with Bill Clinton asked him to try his hand at a self-
\ncaricature. The results, reprinted in last week’s _Editor and
\nPublisher_, aren’t bad — I’d guess that Clinton, at one point in
\nhis life, spent some time drawing at least semi-seriously.<\/p>\n

Most caricaturists who draw the President portray him as a
\nsort of W.C. Fields with bushy hair, but Clinton’s own self-
\nportrait shows him as being rather slim and handsome. I guess
\nthat’s OK — if I was faced each day with unflattering drawings
\nof myself in the newspaper, I’d probably err on the side of showwing
\nmyself in a flattering light, too.
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1343, from hmccracken, 763 chars, Mon Oct 28 20:19:35 1996
\n————————–
\nTITLE: Al Hirschfeld Gets Hitched
\nMy mother called me with some important news yesterday night at
\n10pm: The Sunday _Times_ wedding announcements included one for
\nnone other than Al Hirschfeld. The legendary caricaturist, who
\nhas been drawing for the _Times_ for 69 of his 93 years, has
\nmarried Louise Kerz, a young lady of 60. The new Mrs. Hirschfeld
\nis an art historian.<\/p>\n

The wedding took place last Wednesday at Temple Emannu-El in
\nNew York; Al was apparently back at work without a honeymoon,
\njudging from the fact that he had a drawing in yesterday’s paper.
\nThis is, of course, not Hirschfeld’s first marriage; he became
\na widower after the death of the mother of Nina. Wonder if he’ll
\nbe tempted to embed the name “Louise” in his work from now on?
\n— Harry<\/p>\n

==========================
\nanimation\/inkwell #1344, from switch, 336 chars, Thu May 22 22:02:02 1997
\n————————–
\nTITLE: The Fifth Element
\nI could tie the Fifth Element into this conference by mentioning the
\nMoebius designs or the Digital Domain special effects, but there is a subject
\nwhich I think is far more important:<\/p>\n

Am I the only one who thought of Umbra from Mighty Orbots when Shadow (the
\nevil entity) communicated with Gary Oldman?<\/p>\n

Emru<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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