Happy Birthday, Mel Blanc!

Yesterday was the anniversary of the birth of one of cartoon's greatest talents, Mr. Mel Blanc. He was born on May 30, 1908 and broke into radio after doing vaudeville and other circuit acts in the Twenties and Thirties. He became famous as part of Jack Benny's troupe of talented performers on radio, and then later, television.

His first work for Warner Bros was in 1937. Eventually he voiced all the major Looney Tunes characters. Famously, he would chew on carrots while voicing Bugs Bunny, but then spit them out instead of swallowing them because he hated them! 

After his exclusive contract with Warner Bros expired he worked some for Hanna-Barbera. Most famously, he was the original voice of Barney Rubble on The Flintstones.

He passed away on July 10, 1989.

 

Happy Birthday, Mel Blanc!

 

 

 

 art commissioned by Warner Bros when Mel Blanc died in 1989

art by Hector Martinez (signed by Noel Blanc)

Check out his head-stone. You *know* he had a sense of humor....!

 

Mel Blanc telling his career story on David Letterman

 

Here's a classic "Si....Sy....Sue" routine with Jack Benny.

Notice how the audience recognizes the character

as soon as Mel raises his head? Also notice how Jack

can't keep a straight face during the sketch!