The Bugs Bunny Show (cartoons, including other WB
characters)
(ABC Primetime, 1960 - 1962 as "The Bugs Bunny Show";
ABC Sat. Mornings, 1962 - 1968 as "The Bugs Bunny Show";
CBS Sat. Mornings, 1968 - 1971 as "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour";
CBS Sat. Mornings, 1971 - 1973 as "The Bugs Bunny Show";
ABC Sat. Mornings, 1973 - 1975 as "The Bugs Bunny Show";
CBS Sat. Mornings, 1975 - 1978 as "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour";
CBS Primetime, 1976 - 1978 as "The Bugs Bunny Show";
CBS Sat. Mornings, 1978 - as "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show")
[An unusual debut for a cartoon show -- a two-year PrimeTime
series which became a fixture of Saturday mornings from the
1960s forward; it even had a second two-year PrimeTime revival
during the 1970s on CBS -- not bad for a cartoon empire that
began in the 1930s from the Leon Schlesinger animation studio
(which was later absorbed into Warner Brothers);
Some students of animation have traced the origin of the Bugs
Bunny character to the tales of African legend which had a
couple of characters known as "Zomo" and "Bro Rabbit", which
may in turn have evolved into the 1930s Uncle Remus' stories
of a bunny who outwitted farmers, known as "Br'er Rabbit";
Visually, Bugs was a character first drawn by animator named
Ben ("Bugs") Hardaway who worked at Warner Brothers' studio;
The first theatrical cartoon featuring Bugs's "Bunny" appeared
in 1938; But in the earliest cartoons, Bugs was a variation of
Daffy Duck -- he hadn't found a consistent character -- he
had not yet acquired the sassy Brooklyn-esque Mel Blanc voice
which so captured the fascination of the public during
World War II; His attitude crystalized in the immortal phrase
first heard in the cartoon "A Wild Hare" (1940) when Bugs was
confronted with Elmer Fudd's shotgun, and casually continued
to chew on a carrot pausing to drawl, "Eh...What's Up, Doc?"
The sassy yank attitude in the face of a wartime threat was
one with which soldiers and their families identified; they
embraced this rascally wiseguy, and his popularity skyrocketed
during the wartime 1940's.
Bugs Bunny was already a star by the time television arrived;
In the 1950's, packages of Warner Brothers theatrical cartoons
were sold to TV; By 1960, the audience had developed renewed
interest in animated characters, due to several PrimeTime
contemporary cartoon series from Hanna-Barbera -- including
"The Flintstones"; To meet this demand the networks wanted to
find other animated product in a hurry; And they already could
tap into a backlog of classic cartoons from which to choose;
Nearly 900 cartoons had come from the Warner Brothers studios
by this time, including the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes
cartoons; So there was a good library of cartoons from which
to draw when Warners put together a show for ABC in 1960;
The series not only included the Bugs Bunny character around
which the series hung its hat, but many other classic Warner
Brothers' favorites: Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck,
Tweety and Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, The Road Runner, Henery
Hawk, Foghorn Leghorn, Ollie Owl and Hippity Hopper; the
amazing Mel Blanc voiced most of these cartoon characters;
Many of the orchestrations of various Signature THEMES and
interior cues were created by Warner Bros. venerable arrangers
Carl W. Stalling and Milt J. Franklyn, plus the ubiquitous
Hollywood handyman -- composer/arranger William ("Bill") Lava;
For the title THEME of this Warner Brothers' showcase, a
fast-paced overture song was commissioned from the songwriting
duo of Jerry Livingston and Mack David who had written several
youthful-flavored THEME songs for other Warner Brothers films
and TV series during the 1950s -- including "77 Sunset Strip",
"Hawaiian Eye", "Surfside 6" and "Bourbon Street Beat."]
Main Theme: "This Is It! (The Bugs Bunny
Overture)"
[ASCAP title variations...
aka: "This Is It (Main & End)";
aka: "Bugs Bunny Theme";
aka: "Bugs Bunny Overture"]
Composers: Jerry Livingston (ASCAP) and
Mack David (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publishers: Hallmark Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP)
of Brookline, MA; and
Universal/Polygram International Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Universal Music Publishing Group
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: July 6, 1961; Eu 677 583.
Renewal Date: Jan. 9, 1989; RE-416-773.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Bugs Bunny): "Bugs
Bunny TV Show"
[ASCAP title variations aka: "Bugs Bunny Cues"
aka: "Bugs Bunny FM" (format music)]
Composer: Milton J. ("Milt") Franklyn (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Merrie
Melodies): "Merrily We Roll Along"
[ASCAP title variations include...
aka: "Merrie Melodies (Open/Closing Theme)"
aka: "That's All Folks"]
Composers: Charles Tobias (ASCAP),
Murray Mencher (ASCAP) and
Eddie Cantor (ASCAP), with
Arranger: Carl W. Stalling (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: T. B. Harms, Inc. (ASCAP)
2001 Publishers: Ched Music Corp. (ASCAP)
of Naples, FL;
Eddie Cantor Music (ASCAP)
of New York, NY; and
Harms, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Warner Bros., Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Feb. 14, 1935; EP 46 607.
Revised Version: Nov. 19, 1956; Eu 457 377.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Looney Tunes):
"The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"
[ASCAP title variations include...
aka: "Looney Tunes Open"; and
aka: "Looney Tunes Close"]
Composers: Cliff Friend (ASCAP)
[professional name of John Clifford Friend], and
Dave Franklin (ASCAP), with
Arranger: Carl W. Stalling (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: T. B. Harms, Inc. (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Harms, Inc. (ASCAP)
c/o Warner Bros., Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: 1937; E pub. [Ep] 62 263.
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Porky Pig): "Porky
Sig"
[ASCAP title variations aka: "Porky Pig"]
Composer: M. K. Jerome (ASCAP)
[professional name of Maurice K. Jerome]
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Tweety Bird):
"Tweety Bird"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date:
Renewal Date:
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Sylvester):
"Sylvester The Cat"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Jan. 19, 1955; Eu 383 361.
Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-146-218.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Daffy Duck): "Daffy
Duck"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Unpublished Copyright Date: Jan. 19, 1955; EU 383 356.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-151-698.
Published Copyright Date: Mar. 15, 1955; EP 88 140.
Published Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-151-674.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Foghorn
Leghorn): "Foghorn Leghorn"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Jan. 19, 1955; EU 383 358.
Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-151-699.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Henery Hawk):
"Henerry <sic> Hawk"
[aka: "Henry Hawk" ]
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Jan. 19, 1955; EU 383 359.
Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-151-700.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Yosemite Sam):
"Yosemite Sam"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Jan. 19, 1955; EU 383 363.
Renewal Date: Jan. 3, 1983; RE-151-702.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Ollie Owl):
"April--Ollie Owl"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Dec. 3, 1956; Eu 459 810.
Renewal Date: Aug. 28, 1984; RE-249-007.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for Hippity Hopper):
"October--Hippety Hopper"
Composers: Warren Foster (ASCAP) and
Tedd Pierce (Not Affil.)
1978 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons (ASCAP)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: Dec. 3, 1956; Eu 459 809.
Renewal Date: Aug. 28, 1984; RE-249-008.
Recordings:
Signature Theme (for The Road Runner):
"The Road Runner Theme (from the TV series)"
[above is title as filed for copyright;
ASCAP title variations aka: "Road Runner (Main and End)"]
Composer: Barbara Cameron (ASCAP)
1978 Publisher: Warner Bros., Inc. (ASCAP)
2001 Publisher: Warner Bros., Inc. (ASCAP)
(Warner Bros. Music Div.)
c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
of Los Angeles, CA
Unpublished Copyright Date: Aug. 7, 1972; Eu 349 069.
Unpublished Renewal Date: Jan. 5, 2000; RE-820-433.
Published Copyright Date: Aug. 4, 1972; EP 304 190.
Published Renewal Date: Jan. 5, 2000; RE-820-292.
Recordings:
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