What’s up, doc? How ’bout cannibalism, a cat committing suicide, a “Sambo” jazz band, and Bugs in blackface. These are a few of the jawdroppers on display in this collection of vintage Looney Tunes shorts (long out of circulation), assembled as “Banned Toons.” In truth, most are more bizarre than offensive, and oddly omitted are any of Warner Bros.’ flabbergasting yet fascinating WWII propaganda pieces, but the “Banned Toons” omnibus is an historically enlightening document nonetheless. The Alamo Drafthouse Downtown’s two-hour program kicks off with Cab Calloway and Fats Waller archival footage and includes a discussion with film historian Gary Huggins from Kansas City’s Chucky Lou AV Club.
The Chucky Lou AV Club presents “Banned Toons” at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (409 Colorado) on Saturday, June 14, at 7 and 9:45pm. Tickets cost $7.50 and may be purchased online at www.drafthouse.com.
This article appears in June 13 • 2003.
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A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...
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