He was giving a presentation of some of his Roadrunner & Coyote shorts at a West Coast University Film Association conference in the 1960s. My Dad taught radio/TV/film production and was a member of the UFA (now renamed the University Film & Video Association). I remember being taken by the hand, lead down the aisle to the stage, and being introduced to Mr. Jones by my parents. He looked into my eyes. He was very tall. (I was very small.) He paused, smiled and shook my hand when he was told that, "Mike likes to draw."
Mr. Jones proffered a deal: I mail a letter to his MGM offices and he would mail back a drawing for me and my baby sister. After a couple weeks of my Mom badgering me, I finally sent him a letter. I didn't know what to say and I don't remember what I finally wrote. Anyway, Mr. Jones, a man of his word, replied with this:
Chuck Jones also was the first cartoonist I met, a truly incredible gentleman.
ReplyDeleteI met Chuck at the Central Park debut of the Bugs Bunny Thanksgiving balloon back in 1989. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as pleasant the following Thursday & poor Bugs was grounded until the next year.
Wow! How cool is THAT!?
ReplyDeleteJeff P.
What a cool story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool story!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you never told me this story before, Mike. That's truly awesome! I'm going to show your picture to my son. He'll be very impressed. I sure am!
ReplyDeleteYou were so Lucky, Mr. Lynch!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could had the fantastic experience to met this great Man...
but just seeing his his fantastic gift it's a great Joy for me: thank you for the post!