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Creation
"BIRTH"
Porky first appears in the 1935 cartoon, "I Haven't Got a Hat," directed by Friz Freleng. Porky is just a minor character, but he gets a lot of laughs from the audience. -
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Porky Pig
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"Gold Diggers of '49"
ACHIEVEMENT (good enough to become recurring character)
Porky's second film appearance is "Gold Diggers of '49, " which is directed by Fred Avery. Although he is again a minor character in the cartoon, he is a major hit with audiences. The producers and animators at Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes know that Porky is worth keeping around. He soon becomes the animation studio's only star. -
Porky's Stature Slips a Bit
CHALLENGE
In 1937, Porky appears in a cartoon with a black duck. This duck is soon given the name Daffy, and Daffy's popularity with audiences soon surpasses Porky's.
Within a few year, though, Daffy Duck will start playing second fiddle to a new rabbiit named Bugs Bunny. -
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The Voice
SIGNIFICANT PERSON
Mel Blanc provided Porky's voice from 1937 until he (Blanc) died in 1989. -
A Nemesis Appears
SIGNIFICANT PERSON
The character who will soon develop into a rabbit named Bugs makes his debut with Porky in the cartoon, "Porky's Hare Hunt." -
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The US is involved in World War II
WORLD HISTORY
Although the war had started in Europe in 1938, the US remained officiallly "neutral" until its naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked and severely damaged by planes launched from Japanese aircraft carriers. The United States soon sent troops to the Pacific as well as to Europe and northern Africa.
The European portion of the war ended with the unconditional surrender of German forces on May 7, 1945. Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender later that summer on August 14. -
The Current Design
SIGNIFICANT PERSON
Bob Clampett is credited with creating the current design of Porky Pig. After going through several design changes during his early appearances, Porky assumed his now-familiar form in 1943. He has changed very little since then. -
The Diners Club
WORLD HISTORY
The first modern credit card, Diners Club, is introduced in New York City. What makes it "modern"? It can be used at multiple businesses. By the end of the year, 20,000 people are using the card. -
Great Day in History!
WORLD HISTORY
Mr. Cantrell is born in New Haven, CT.
The world immediately becomes a better place. -
Don't Turn Out the Lights!
CHALLENGE
Warner Brothers shuts down their animation studios. Porky and his friends still appear on television, however; and Warner Brothers begins producing animated cartoons again in 1969. -
One Small Step for a Man
WORLD HISTORY
Ohioan Neil Armstrong climbs out of Apollo Eleven's lunar module to become the first human to walk on the moon. -
CAT scan
WORLD HISTORY
CAT scanning (Computerized Axial Tomography) is introduced as a medical procedure. The CAT scan is often recognized as the most important medical breakthrough since the X-ray. -
Loss of an Artist
SIGNIFICANT PERSON
Bob Clampett, the man credited with Porky's current "look," dies. Clampett was an animator, producer, and director who was sometimes credited with putting the "looney" in Looney Tunes. -
Porky Loses His Voice
SIGNIFICANT PERSON
Mel Blanc, the long-time voice of Porky and most other Looney Tunes characters, dies in 1989. Several other actors, including Mel's son, have voiced Porky's appearances since then. -
Tiny Toon Adventures
WORLD HISTORY
Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures debuts on CBS. The show is a joint production of Amblin Entertainment and Warner Brothers Animation, and it presents characters who resemble young versions of the "adult" Looney Tunes characters (Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and others). -
Super Nintendo Star
ACHIEVEMENT
"Porky Pig's Haunted Holiday" is the only video game licensed to include Porky Pig as its star. If Mr. C. owned a Supeer Nintendo system, he would certainly want to have a copy of this game. -
A Permanent Piece of History
ACHIEVEMENT
In 2000, Porky's cartoon, "Porky in Wackyland" is chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry, a part of the Library of Congress. -
