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What’s Up, Doc? April Birthdays
On April 30, 1938, Warner Bros. released a new Thomas - April 14 Looney Tunes cartoon featuring Porky Pig as a The Gardenview hapless hunter trying to unsuccessfully bag a . humorously hyperactive rabbit named Happy. Gable Pines of Vadnais Heights How could audiences know that this rabbit Marvin Gaye (singer) – April 2, 1939 would evolve into Bugs Bunny, one of the most Eddie Murphy (comedian) – April 3, 1961 recognizable cartoon characters of all time? Sterling K. Brown (actor) – April 5, 1976 Celebrating April Jackie Chan (actor) – April 7, 1954 Hello to Gable Pines Residents! The rabbit in Porky’s Hare Hunt bore Al Green (singer) – April 13, 1946 Habitat Awareness Month little resemblance to the Bugs Bunny Julie Christie (actress) – April 14, 1940 I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the we all know and love today. This Charlotte Brontë (writer) – April 21, 1816 residents I have not yet met, and to the new residents of white rabbit wore no gloves, lacked Barbra Streisand (entertainer) – April 24, 1942 Jazz Appreciation Month Gable Pines! Bugs’ recognizable voice, and did Ella Fitzgerald (singer) – April 25, 1917
not eat a single carrot! Nevertheless, Willie Nelson (musician) – April 29, 1933 Card and Letter Writing I have served in several senior living communities during the rabbit was voiced by Mel Blanc, Month my 20-year career. I have served as Executive Director in the future voice of Bugs Bunny, and the short multiple settings, including Campus Director in 3 Jewish was directed by Ben “Bugs” Hardaway, for whom Bugs Bunny was later named. It would be two April Fools’ Day senior living communities. Oy vey! Unnatural History years before Bugs made his official debut in April 1 A Wild Hare. When a redesigned rabbit was Back in late December, when asked to serve in an interim If ever there was a day to believe in magic role at Gable Pines, assisting Becky Willett, the Executive requested for the short, Bob Givens went to work and hope for the impossible, it is April 9, Easter and sketched a rabbit based on a Bugs Hardaway Director, while on medical leave, I was thrilled to join your Unicorn Day. Unicorns have not entered our April 4 community. Not only are your buildings and grounds design labeled “Bugs’s Bunny.” The name stuck. collective imagination from myth or legend but When audiences got their first glimpse at the new beautiful, but everyone has been SO welcoming! The from natural history. Various ancient Greek Beer Day residents, your families, and staff have generously and and improved rabbit, the character stuck, too. historians recorded the existence of unicorns. warmly welcomed me. I know, filling in for Becky, I’ve had The Indus Valley Civilization emblazoned the April 7 The Bugs Bunny featured in A Wild Hare already some big “high heels to fill!” HA! unicorn on official seals, and a unique animal displayed many of the Bugs Bunny trademarks known as a re’em, which many believe to Twins Home Opener we have come to love. When staring down the I am contracted with LCS, Gable Pines’ management be a unicorn, is even mentioned in the Bible. barrel of Elmer Fudd’s shotgun, Bugs first utters April 8 company, until April 30, 2021. During my short tenure Even Leonardo da Vinci mentioned them in his catchphrase “What’s up, Doc?” in a Brooklyn- here, please reach out to me if you have any questions, his famed notebooks. Modern-day scientists esque accent. The phrase was added by the Cinnamon Crescent Day comments, or suggestions. The time spent here has been may have something in common with these cartoon’s director, Tex Avery, who had heard the wonderful, and I found, you CAN “teach an old dog new scientists of centuries past. Researchers have April 10 expression a thousand times in his native Texas. tricks!” So much of what I’ve learned at Gable Pines, I discovered evidence of a giant hairy rhino Avery figured it a throwaway line and was more hope to share as I serve in my next community. that roamed the grasslands of Eurasia as Wear Your Pajamas to Work surprised than anybody when it left audiences recently as 39,000 years ago. This Ice Age rolling with laughter. As for Bugs’ obsession with April 16 Sending my thoughts and prayers on behalf of Becky for a relic survived long enough to live alongside munching carrots, this was a habit “borrowed” speedy recovery and her return to Gable Pines! humans. Scientists speculate that this from Clark Gable’s character in the 1934 movie It Earth Day “Siberian unicorn” might very well have been Happened One Night. In one scene, Gable stands Warmly, the origin of many unicorn myths that pervaded April 22 by a fence spouting advice to Claudette Colbert so many ancient cultures. while chewing a carrot and talking with his mouth David Jones, Interim Executive Director Superhero Day full. The scene was so famous at the time that audiences immediately got Bugs’ imitation, and it April 28 earned the bunny instant panache. His popularity would endure for over 70 years and he would International Dance Day remain Warner Bros.’ most popular and April 29 recognizable mascot.
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