Egging On Warren

Long-outdated pop culture references drive the story in Slap Happy Pappy, a 1940 Warner Bros. cartoon. The gags are based around Eddie Cantor having only girls and wanting a boy, and Bing Crosby only having boys.

The “Bing” rooster excites a hen so much with her crooning, she lays a tower of eggs.



On closer inspection, some are named after Warner Bros. cartoon staff, beginning with director Bob Clampett and writer Warren Foster. Or could it be assistant animator Warren Batchelder?



You can probably guess at some of the others: Chuck Jones (or maybe Chuck McKimson), Sid Sutherland, Ben Hardaway, Alex Ignatiev, Dick Bickenbach (or maybe Dick Thomas), Ray Katz, Art Loomer, Roger is perhaps Roger Daley (in the long shot, you can spot Rev Chaney, Norm McCabe and what may be Sam Nicholson). I don't know if George Grandpre was at the studio then.

Other celebs include Walter Winchell, Jack Benny (Jack Lescoulie does the voice), Andy Devine, Eddie (Rochester) Anderson (by Mel Blanc), Ned Sparks and Kay Kyser, with catchphrases of Bert (the Mad Russian) Gordon and the Al Pearce version of Mr. Kitzel.

John Carey and Izzy Ellis (who doesn’t get an egg named for him) are the credited animators.