That's Not All Folks! Paperback – November 1, 1989

One of my favorite pieces which I have on my wall is a color photo Mel Blanc used to send out to fans with his autograph, showing him sitting at his desk, with the characters he gave voice to perched on his shoulder and in pockets and on the desktop in front of him -- Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, and others.When he died a few years ago, he was buried under a stone which read "That's All Folks!" but luckily, among his many works, he left this delightful 1988 autobiography which I dscovered on Amazon.com, subtitled "My life in the Golden Age of cartoons and radio."Mel Blanc started at the bottom, looking for work at local radio stations and landing a few jobs here and there until Warner Brothers hired him for some gigs providing voices to cartoons.He became the voice first of the redesigned Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny who went through a redesign of his own, Elmer Fudd, who wasn't as bright as Porky Pig but at least could be an adversary for Bugs unlike Porky who was too sweet a guy, and Daffy Duck, a perfect opponent for Bugs, both intelligent and pugnacious. The greatest Bugs opponent was a late-comer, Yosemite Sam, all violence and animosity.Once he was well on his way as Warners' Man of a Thousand Voices, he asked for a raise, which his cheap employer wasn't likely to go for, or for a credit. A credit in a cartoon? But at least it didn't cost anything so Blanc got his credit and people noticed. He started getting hired for radio and later TV shows. He started out doing bits on Jack Benny's show and wound up on many more shows, including the Abbott and Costello Show, and headlined his own radio show briefly. One of the best bits ever on Benny's program was the "Si-Si" routine in which Mel is a Mexican wearing a sombrero (Are you going to New York?" Si. Are you takling Flight 18? Si. Si? Si.....and so on.) (You can find it on YouTube. It's hysterical. Blanc keeps a straight face and Benny loses it everytime.)Having recently read Lou Costello's daughter's biography of her dad, it was interesting to read Blanc's comments about how the two rarely spoke to each other but were so attuned to their specialty and so professional they could get on stage or before a camera and start cooking like they were best buds.Blanc's autobiography covers his life, talking about he liked to plays with dialects and voices as a kid. Doing a crazy laugh in an empty school hallway whose acoustics he admired got him a visit to the principal and many years later became Woody Woodpecker's trademark laugh.Blanc regretted the loss of quality with the full animation technique in the 1960's when the number of drawings for a cartoon were reduced in a time- and-cost-saving measure. Movements became jerkier, less natural, but he enthusiastically did his best for every one of the jobs he was hired for.The book continues through his life, up and through the car accident in 1960 that left him in a body cast with almost every bone in his body broken. When his doctor, after many days of coma, tried to rouse him, he had a light bulb moment and asked, "How are you, Bugs Bunny?" Blanc replied as Bugs, "I'm fine, doc, how're you?"Later, from his hospital bed, Blanc would do his lines as Barney Rubble for the hit Flintsones TV show as his co-star voice actors stood alongside.This is an excellent book. You gotta love a book that has back cover testimonials from Vincent Price, Lucille Ball, Kirk Douglas, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Daffy Duck.

It is a heart warming to share the life of this remarkable man. He does not pull punches but he is also kind and generous to so many people he met across the breadth of American entertainment. He remembered how difficult it was to become a rare voice talent and gifted comedian. He recognized the people who traveled that difficult road with him. His tribute to Jack Benny fits nicely with the testimony given by the men and women who were all Benny fans.He also gives rare insight into the difficult world for which he is most known: A voice artist for decades of cartoons. Those hundreds of WB cartoons never listed more than a handful of names. But really hundreds of people worked on each one. As Mel said, instead of giving him a raise they put his name in that small list who got screen credit. That credit was worth ten times his salary because it finally opened the doors that had been closed to him.The book was written while he was still alive. He was full of hope and energy even after so many decades. He never let anythingstop him. What a rare person he was.

Mel Blanc shares his story with all the humor, candor, and fascinating details I'd hoped for. The master of voice overs remained a humble, hard working guy as he entertained millions. We're lucky his work survives to entertain countless future generations.

I just adored this book! One of my favorite anecdotes was the teacher who, because Mel was playing around with voices instead of taking his studies seriously, declared that he'd never amount to anything. I sure hope that teacher saw that his success far exceeded hers. And bravo to his parents for encouraging him to follow his dreams. I'm glad I read this book in 2016 instead of when it first came out because I was able to go to youtube and pull up many of the shows and skits he wrote about so I could see them for myself.

Mel Blanc wrote this book several years ago. I remember his work on the Jack Benney show and his voices in the cartoons. He was a funny and talented man. The book is worth reading.

If you grew up with Looney Tunes as your cartoon choice, you will really enjoy reading this book. This also dives back into the time when radio was the primary media for entertainment.

This is the very interesting life of Mel Blanc who was the voice of many cartoons among them Bugs Bunny Daffy Duck Woody Woodpecker exspecially the laugh Yosemite Sam Porky Pig Syvester and Tweety Elmer Fudd and later Barney Rubble. He also sang novelty songs but he is best known as the the man of 1000 voices. If youve heard of theese chachors-and most of us have -get this book. It should interest you.

Interesting autobiographical abridged account of Mel Blanc, the Man of a Thousand(at least) Voices. The good times and bad are written for your perusal and it is an interesting read. Mel Blanc, one of those unforgettable talented people who touch your heart and bring a tear of joy to your eyes. The world was a much better place with him in it. His many comtributions are still alive and active today. Quite a man.

Wanted this book for ages. Huge fan of all Warner brothers cartoons. Book is great. Slightly disappointed it didn't have dust jacket as picture indicated but it is a,second hand book so it probably long gone. Other than that a great purchase

Good book about a often overlooked and maybe forgotten master of the screen.

Bland was one of the top voice artists.So the most interesting part of the book is his time with the Earners cartoon unit.

Just what he wanted

Order it to replace a friend's copy that my wife's dog chewed.