Ray Bradbury Forums
Condolences on the passing of Chuck Jones

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25 February 2002, 12:47 PM
dandelion
Condolences on the passing of Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones, 89, best known for the Bugs Bunny and Roadrunner cartoons, passed away Friday. He was the last of the old guard and a dear friend of Ray Bradbury's. Chuck Jones directed an excellent adaptation of Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" and a story he told was the inspiration for "The Halloween Tree." One Halloween a costumed small boy came to Jones's home and said, "Trick or Treat." Entirely out of candy or any other suitable treat, Jones said, "I guess it'll have to be a trick." In a tearful voice, the boy said, "Well, all right then," went out in the middle of the yard, and stood on his head! On hearing this story, Bradbury decided it was time kids learned the origins of Halloween, hence "The Halloween Tree." Jones was to have made the cartoon version, which years later was made by someone else. Chuck Jones said Ray Bradbury had offered his most fitting epitaph. When asked at his 55th birthday party what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, "I want to be 14 years old like Chuck Jones." He will be missed, rest in peace!