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The Man Who Made America Laugh

September 21, 2012

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Profile America -- Friday, September 21st. Today marks the birthday of a creative genius who made generations of Americans laugh -- motion picture animator Chuck Jones. He created the characters of Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, and helped develop Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. Jones won several Academy Awards and wrote, produced and directed the 1966 television classic, Dr. Seuss's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." When Chuck Jones headed his own unit in 1962, most movies were preceded by a short cartoon. At that time, American's spent about $5 going to movies -- less than the cost of admission to a single movie today -- even with no cartoon included. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 462
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 9, 400