The Bugs Bunny Story

Martha Goldman Sigall worked at the Termite Terrace, Leon Schlesinger's Studios in 1939 when Bugs Bunny was created by Ben Hardaway, whose nickname was Bugs.

Ben announced one day that he was going to create a rabbit based on Daffy Duck. Im going to put a rabbit suit on that duck, he said. The result was Porkys Hare Hunt (1938). Chuck Jones then used the rabbit in Presto-O Change-O (1939). Bugs Hardaway then directed Hare-Um Scare-Um (1939). Chuck Jones directed Elmers Candid Camera (1939) with the rabbit.

Tex Avery was assigned to do A Wild Hare (1940) and in that cartoon, the rabbit says Whats up, doc? for the first time, to Elmer Fudd. Martha Goldman asked him why he said that, and Tex said it was a popular thing to say when he was in high school.

In A Wild Hare, they decided to name the rabbit. Tex Avery wanted to call him Jack E. Rabbit. The model sheet listed him only as Bugs Bunny, since Ben Bugs Hardaway had created him. The PR person, Rose Horsely looked at it and recommended Bugs Bunny. Leon Schlesinger liked it and thats how he came to be named.

Martha Sigall was 92 when this video was recorded. She worked in animation for 53 years and when she was 88, published Living Life inside the lines: Tales from the golden age of animation. Its available from Amazon.com. In 2005, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Annie award.

Martha speaks to conventions and groups in Los Angeles. Contact her at Sigall@Yahoo.com.

Her son, Bob Sigall, recorded this in her home studio in Culver City California in June of 2009.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Bugs Bunny
• Daffy Duck
• Martha Goldman Sigall
• Merrie Melodies
• Looney Tunes
• Chuck Jones
• Tex Avery

[DaveWollenberg]

What was Martha's capacity at Termite Terrace?

[sigall]

@DaveWollenberg

Martha was an inker and painter, although she worked in the camera department for a short time.

[ESLinstructor1]

Is this Martha Sgall's home?

[sigall]

yes it is.

[robcat2075]

More! More stories about the cartoon age! I bet you've got a million of them!

Thanks so much!

[sigall]

I'll post three more of her videos in the next month or so - Tom & Jerry, Roadrunner, and Peanuts.

[Netbug009]

I hope I'm that cool when I get older. xD

[SIMPFANN]

God bless you, Martha. How wonderful to see one of the last Termite Terrace survivors here on YouTube!

[Madblaster89]

Oh man I like Jack -e- rabbit.

[DaveWollenberg]

@sigall Thanx for letttin' me know. God bless ya, for that. Have a blessed week!

[jenwejbe]

God bless Martha! Im a Hollywoodian & I would really love 2 meet the old girl & talk some shop talk & know even more the her book told (I use 2 b a stage hand & some of my coworkers were around back in the day & they all had great storys) & I just LOVED!

[TommyDDoom]

Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyy!!! what'z up mom?

[superleviathan]

According to David Gerstein, the synopsis of "Elmer's Candid Camera" Warner Bros. submitted to the Library of Congress to get that cartoon's copyright registered refers to the rabbit in no uncertain terms as Bugs Bunny.

You can see elements of Bugs in all of the "proto" cartoons; kissing his enemies, fake deaths, quoting Groucho's "this means war", dressing up in drag.

[HeavyLiquidVideos]

wonder what she thinks about the new Bugs Bunny?

[secretxax1]

Terrific story! :)

[elsexydavid91]

BUGS BUNNY!!!