Art imitating life

[AndrewGilmore]

Most of us probably know that "A Bear For Punishment" was inspired by Chuck Jones' own Father's Day experiences. I like to think that perhaps many Warner cartoons were inspired by real events in the directors' lives- perhaps Arthur Davis had termites in his home shortly before "The Pest That Came to Dinner" was made, or perhaps Frank Tashlin bought a pet for his daughter and then came up with "Nasty Quacks". What other cartoons do you think could have been inspired by the directors' home lives, and is there maybe any evidence to support such a theory?

[Cartman]

In Tex Avery's cartoons such as FIELD AND SCREAM and THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW, he makes a few negative jokes about the "mother in law." Could it be possible that he was having a little trouble with his own mother-in-law?

Also, according to a segment about story ideas on the first Woody Woodpecker DVD set, Walter Lantz stated that he got the idea for the cartoon TO CATCH A WOODPECKER from a newspaper article about woodpeckers wrecking telephone poles.

[Brandon Panther]

"Fresh Airedale"? :p

While this isn't based on the whole cartoon itself, but "Ask boss for a raise" is written on a notepad in the background for Have You Got Any Castels? A reference to Leon Schlesinger being tight-fisted.

[mulroz]

[QUOTE=Cartman;151625]In Tex Avery's cartoons such as FIELD AND SCREAM and THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW, he makes a few negative jokes about the "mother in law." Could it be possible that he was having a little trouble with his own mother-in-law?
QUOTE]

Who isn't, only proofs that Tex was human.

[Richie]

I bet many of Goofy's gags in the satirical shorts of the 50's were inspired by the various artists behind the cartoons.

[Fibber Fox]

In Tex Avery's cartoons such as FIELD AND SCREAM and THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW, he makes a few negative jokes about the "mother in law." Could it be possible that he was having a little trouble with his own mother-in-law?

I doubt it. Mother-in-law jokes were pretty standard comic fare for years. Watch tape of any stand-up comedian circa 1960.

F. Fox
http://yowpyowp.blogspot.com

[larriva9/11]

Don't forget Clampett's "The Big Snooze" as a possible allusion to his own tempestuous end at Warners...

And maybe, the purported inspiration behind "One Froggy Evening".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_Rip_the_Horned_Toad

[Ray Pointer]

According to Walter Lantz' legend, WOODY WOODPECKER was born out of a woodpecker that kept hammering away at a metal stove pipe on his honeymoon cottage.

[Cartman]

Let's also not forget YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES as Friz's way of thanking Leon for welcoming him back.:daffy::ham:

[jonmayo15]

According to Walter Lantz' legend, WOODY WOODPECKER was born out of a woodpecker that kept hammering away at a metal stove pipe on his honeymoon cottage.He liked to say that, but Lantz wasn't married at the time of Woody's creation.

[laugh4me]

Bob Clampett's design for Tweety was inspired by his own baby photo.

[laugh4me]

Another one just came to mind. Bugs' famous catch phrase "What's Up Doc?" came from Tex Avery's own personal experience in high school. It had been a popular phrase among Tex and his friends at the time and he just decided to try it with Bugs.

The story as related by Martha Sigall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOaozloQdCw)

[Ray Pointer]

He liked to say that, but Lantz wasn't married at the time of Woody's creation.

Are you sure? What's your source?

[jonmayo15]

One online place is here: http://www.toonopedia.com/woody.htm

But I have read it other places, and I'm sure it's mentioned in a thread around here somewhere.

[nickramer]

I heard that the early Mickey Mouse short "Traffic Troubles" (1931) was based on a taxi ride Walt was in .