The Andromedan We're back… Log#62 believe it March 2002 or not! Vol. 5 #14 The official whenever-we-get-it-out newsletter of Star Base Andromeda Lincoln, NE Chuck Jones — 1912-2002 — R.I.P. “Animation isn’t the illusion of life; it is life” — Chuck Jones Legendary Warner Brothers animator and cartoon-director Chuck Jones, considered one of the modern masters of the craft of cartooning, died on Friday, February 22nd, 2002 at the age of 89. The three-time Oscar winner, whose career spanned more than 60 years and who is credited with the creation of more than 300 animated films, died of congestive heart failure. His wife of 20 years, Marian, was at his side. Jones, perhaps best known for his creation of many of the popular Warner Brothers cartoons, actually worked for a number of different studios. But he will always be remembered for those enduring Merry Melodies and Looney Tunes. Charles M. Jones was born in Spokane, WA on September 21, 1912. Growing up in a large family, Jones was used to the family moving numerous times during his childhood, before the Jones clan settled in Hollywood. A voracious reader, Jones credits the works of Mark Twain as being one of the earliest influences on his youthful development. Growing up in Hollywood, Jones was also influenced heavily by the talents of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and other early film comedians, as he worked occasionally as a child extra in Mack Sennett comedy shorts. Chaplin and Keaton’s specialties of drawing humor from the mundane and everyday activities of life (i.e. just trying to have enough food to eat, or a roof over your head), would show up as themes in Jones’ slate of WB cartoons. Encouraged by supportive parents, Jones attended the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (now the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA). Following graduation, Jones eaked out a temporary living drawing pencil por- traits and caricatures for $1 apiece on historic Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. In 1932, he got his first official job in the industry, as a cel washer in the studio of former Disney animator, Ubbe Iwerks. After a four-year apprentice- ship with Iwerks, in 1936, he got his first position as an animator, for the Leon Schlesinger Studio, which was soon bought out by the Warner Brothers studio. In 1938, he directed his first cartoon, “The Night Watchman”, for which he …continued in "Passages" on page 41 Duchovny Returns in X-Files Finale Book Discussion Group David Duchovny will reprise the role of FBI Agent Fox Mulder in the upcom- Starting in 2000, our semi-regular ing two-hour series finale of The X-Files, which is slated to air at 8 p.m. May 19th, Book Discussion group has continued the official X-Files Web site reported. Duchovny, who left the series at the end of to meet with some success during last season, will also direct the episode that is scheduled to air April 28, based on alternating months. After examining a story idea he co-wrote with series creator and executive producer Chris Carter the late Poul Anderson’s Boat of a and executive producer Frank Spotnitz, the site reported. Mulder will not appear Million Years during our January in that episode. discussion, we selected the fantasy As the series winds to an end, the final five episodes will begin to answer novel Newton’s Cannon, by J. Gregory many of the show’s most-asked questions, culminating in the finale, in which Keyes for our March gathering. Any continued on page 13… continued on page 4… 2001-2002 Season-to-Date TV Listings Start on Page 14! March 2002 1 Editor: Scott Clark (e-mail address at left) Andromeda Officials Contributors: Scott Clark, Frank Dreier, Terri Dreier, Brian Hirt, Mike Ponte, Dave Teche Mike Ponte The Andromedan Log is published monthly by Andromeda Press, a division of Star Base Andromeda. (Presidio, Registrar, Historian) Address: 7210 Francis St., Lincoln NE 68505-1545. E-mail address: [email protected]. Phone: (402) 435-5602 © 2002 Star Base Andromeda (SBA). The opinions expressed in reviews in this or any other issue of E-mail: [email protected] The Andromeda Log are the opinions of the individual writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of any other club members, the staff of The Andromedan Log, or of SBA as a whole. External Scott Clark (Editor, CCC, Publicity) reprint rights on all original material printed here revert to the original authors, with the understanding Phone: (402) 325-0246 that all material may be re-used by SBA in a “Best of…” capacity at an unspecified future date. E-mail: [email protected] Phone numbers, addresses and e-mail addresses are printed here for club member use and for club Frank Dreier (Librarian) business only, not for public distribution. Changes of Address should be sent to the SBA address above. E-mail: [email protected] Annual membership dues for Star Base Andromeda are as follows: $10.00/Full member — Receives David Teche (Treasurer) all club publications, is eligible for office, and is able to vote in all elections or on issues associated with the club. Only full members able to attend at least 20% of club meetings are eligible to hold office; $6.00/ E-mail: [email protected] Supporting — Receives all club publications, however is ineligible to hold office or vote. All club Agris Taurins publications are mailed first class. For postage outside the U.S. add an additional $5.00. (ConCussion rep/List maintainer) The expiration month of your membership is listed on your mailing label. Renewal notices go out E-mail: [email protected] both the month before expiration and with your final issue of The Log. Club members wishing to join the SBA electronic mailing list, please send a request to the Editor's e-mail address. 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456 1234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123456789012123456 Letters to the Editor: The Andromedan Log encourages Letters of Editorial Comments Comment and/or questions from fandom at I hate it when my heroes die. large, and will attempt to make room for For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been walking around, feeling like there’s a pertinent letters as often as possible. Please indicate if your letter is to be considered for indescribably large hole punched through my middle. It hasn’t affected my ability publication. All letters submitted must to do my job, or to interact with other folks. But it has affected my ability to laugh. include name and full address (and e-mail Chuck Jones was one of only a handful of creative artists (both writers and address, if you have one). Only name and city artists in a more visual sense) whose work has had a profound and life-long impact will be printed if your letter is actually used. Please send Letters to either the mailing upon me. Some of the earliest tv-viewing memories I have are of watching the address or e-mail address above right. classic Warner Brothers cartoons on Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons as a small child. While some of my friends may have gravitated towards the slapstick humor of Tex Avery, with the popping eyeballs and impossible sight Seeking Columnists… gags, or the wacky action of Friz Freling or Bob McKimson, for some reason the The Andromedan Log still seeks cartoons I enjoyed the most were those that had the name Charles M. Jones im- columnists to enliven the mix of printed at the end of the credits. content in future issues of the newslet- Chuck based his cartoons around two main themes: The “simple things in ter. We are currently specifically life”, and outlandish parodies. Cartoons such as “Feed the Kitty”, featuring the most seeking members (or non-members) of expressive dog in cartoon history anguishing over the fate of his pet kitten, or “A to SBA interested in writing a regular Zzzzz”, featuring the Walter Mitty fantasies of a bored young schoolboy, somehow column exploring news and reviews in struck home with me. And at the other end of the spectrum were the musical the comic-book and/or gaming fields. splendors of “Rabbit of Seville” and “What’s Opera, Doc?” or the genre parodies such If you are interested in contributing a as “Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 Century”. But all of these were painted with broad monthly or bi-monthly column on strokes. Some of Chuck’s best moments came is more subdued surroundings. The either of these subjects, or if you have series of Duck Season/Rabbit Season cartoons he was responsible will never leave some specific interest not currently my conciousness. reflected in the pages of The Log, please contact the editor at the e-mail or regular mail addresses above. We are also looking for artists who would be interested in contributing regular “spot illos”, a cartoon strip, or single-panel cartoons to issues of The Log on an on-going basis. If you would be interested in tackling such a project, please sent one or more samples of your intended work to the editor, and we will discuss your future in The Deadlines for contributions to upcoming issues of The Log: Andromedan Log! Serious applicants Issue #63 (March) — March 26th only, please… Issue #64 (April) — April 16th 2 The Andromedan Log #62 One of the highlights of my 38 years-to-date was the opportunity to see and meet Jones in person at the Sheldon film theater in 1988. The chance to hear him talk, and then to share the enjoyment of his classic work with a theater full of CONTENTS fellow fans is an experience I doubt I’ll ever come close to having again.