Bugs Bunny at 70

April 30, 2008

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Profile America — Wednesday, April 30th. One of the most beloved cartoon characters was unleashed on an unsuspecting America 70 years ago today — the rascally rabbit who later became Bugs Bunny. The name “Bugs” came from the nickname of Ben Hardaway, who directed that first cartoon. In the next few years, the team of Chuck Jones and Tex Avery refined Bugs Bunny into the maddening character we all know. The flippant “What’s up, doc?” was voiced by Mel Blanc. The rabbit’s noisy carrot munching was based on a scene in the movie “It Happened One Night,” with Clark Gable leaning on a fence and chewing a carrot. When Bugs Bunny first appeared, Americans spent an average of $5 a year going to the movies. Now, that figure is $65. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2008, p. 242
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 400
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1216
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html