So what do Pepé LePew, Wile E. Coyote, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Tom 'n' Jerry, and The Grinch all have in common? They were all characters Chuck Jones worked with in productions he either wrote, produced or directed during his extensive career in animation. The first two, Pepé LePew and Wile E. Coyote are characters he actually created along with the Road Runner. What does Chuck Jones have to do with Spokane?
He was born here in on September 21st, 1912. Although he passed away in 2002, he left a legacy of animation work that is familiar to almost all American adults and especially children. Now, even though he left here before he was one year old, he was still technically a Spokanite.
So here's the pitch: as Mobius, the Childrens' Museum, looks to find a larger permanent home in the future, why not establish a wing/section dedicated to his life and career? Rotate exhibits that focus on animation from all over (e.g. Matt Groening - Olympia) in all it's forms. Bring in guest speakers, host animated film festivals in partnership with the Crosby Theater and the Magic Lantern Theater, create a complimentary connection to the local arts scene and the Spokane Arts School youth programs. Events like Comicon are huge attractions, and the lines are increasingly blurred between animation, gaming, entertainment, and technology. Grow our own here. Yeah, it's a long shot, but an idea we thought was worth throwing out there. Economic development can be generated by these types of things...on that note we leave you with the "Rabbit of Seville." for a Monday laugh. Enjoy!
It sounds like a wonderful idea!
I went to the Bugs Bunny symphony concert several months ago and, if I remember correctly, when the director found out that Chuck Jones was from Spokane, he arranged for the Jones family to donate money to the Fox Theater. On the other hand, I have killed a lot of my brain cells over the years, so I could be remembering incorrectly... Does anyone else remember this?
Posted by: martha | September 24, 2007 at 06:32 PM