Happy 80th Birthday Bugs Bunny

Motion Picture Daily, 1941

Today is the day we celebrate Bugs Bunny's 80th birthday. While this point can be argued as it is based around the cartoon, A Wild Hare (1940), while others argue that Porky's Hare Hunt (1938) was actually his first appearance. Regardless of what you consider the first Bugs cartoon, he first appeared fully formed in A Wild Hare, so it seems appropriate that we celebrate his birthday today.

Though July 27th has become official considered Bugs' birthday, for years Bugs had his birthday hop around (pun intended) from day and to and questionable from year to year as his age would sometime not correspond with what his age was said to be a few years earlier. As I have discussed in a previous blog post, you can read by clicking here.

Bugs Bunny cartoons were often just as cherished a part of the movie going experience as the feature film. As such it should come as no surprise that entire movie programs were created around the Wascally Wabbit's films. An issue of The Showman's Trade Review dated April 4, 1942 informs how you can put on your own.

"Bugs Bunny has come into his own. He's a full fledged cartoon star now, thanks to the public. In fact so popular has the rabbit become that exhibitors throughout the country are cashing in by staging Bugs Bunny Kartoon Karnivals.

"Easter would be an ideal time for this activity, but Easter has come and gone, so that angle is out. Let not your showmanship spirit be dampened, however, for you can put on a Bugs Bunny Kartoon Karnival anytime during the year.

"Four or five cartoons should be booked for the occasion. Devote more than average space for the show in your ad. We've seen several ads from theatres that have already put on the special programs, and nearly all featured line-cut illustrations of the famous hare.   

"Display a large cut out in you lobby. Conduct a drawing contest via the newspaper, with guest tickets for the Karnival going to children who submit the best drawings of Bugs Bunny. Arrangements might be made for a certain number of live rabbits to be given away. (The latter suggestion holds only if you stage the Karnival at a special matinee.)

"Tie-ups of course, depend on the cartoons to be exhibited. For example if one of them is 'The Wabbit Who Came to Supper' (coming right up, we understand), you should be able to promote a window display and imprinted napkins and menus from a neighborhood restaurant. Further tie-ups of a different nature might be suggested by the subject matter of other recent Bugs Bunny releases. 

"I case 'The Heckling Hare' is part of your program you might try a newspaper contest wherein prizes are offered for the best short letters on the subject, 'Why I hate a heckler.'

"Whether you put on the Karnival or whether you play the Bugs Bunny cartoons singly, be sure to feature them prominently in all your advertisements. You'll be surprised by the number of people who'll come to your theatre when they know Bugs is on your program." 

Sponsor, 1957

Sponsor, 1961

-Michael J. Ruhland