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1980 marked the 50th Birthday of LOONEY TUNES CARTOONS and the 40th Birthday Bugs Bunny. Everyone focused on Tex Avery and Chuck Jones. Most, to my surprise, ignored Ftiz Freleng. I invited Friz to Toronto for three days on my dime (and I don’t have a dime). “Would you care for a fee?” I said. Friz said, “Can I bring my wife?” I thought, “What kind of question is that? Who says,’No” to that question.” I later learned the art galleries, Cinematheques, Museums, Rep Cinemas said, “We don’t have enough money in our budget.” Well, I don’t have a budget. I said, “Of course.” Friz said, “In that case there is no fee.”
I flew Friz and his wife from Hollywood to Toronto AIR CANADA First Class. I told them he was one of the key people behind LOONEY TUNES, MERRIE MELODIES, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and more. Not only that Friz had received 5 Academy Awards for his films. This was before 9/11. When the plane landed in Toronto Air Canada put Friz in the pilot’s seat. I was really looking forward to his visit. There was much I knew I could learn from Friz.
To my surprise Toronto’s animation community (which by and large, like Toronto’s film community) has never supported my work) said they were not interest that Friz was old hat and had nothing to teach them.
The people working with me at the time advised me to cancel the event. It was going to be expensive. The people we thought would be most interested had let us know they weren’t.
As I picked up the phone, before dialing, I heard Friz’s voice. He said, “Reg, this is Friz. I’m back at Warner Brothers. They don’t want me going anywhere they don’t approve of and they don’t approve of you.”
I thought to myself, “I’m saved. I won’t lose face. All I have to do is say, ‘Gee, Friz, that is too bad.’ I’m off the hook.”
Instead I got my Irish up. I said, “How do you feel about it?” Friz said, “I gave you my word. My wife is looking forward to the trip.” I said, “Then you are coming.”
When I told those who had asked me to cancel he was coming they said, “YOU CAN’T TALK TO YOU!” They quit. I put Friz and Lily up at one of the finest hotels in Toronto, the Royal York.
That first night Friz said, “I’m only going to talk for half an hour.”
Three hours later he was still going. He answered technical questions about shading, he for the first time met an audience interested in him as an the artist he was. It was wonderful.
When Jerry Beck, who has done and who continues to do brilliant work, does something he does not have to do what I had to do which was to pull one helluva rabbit of of my hat to pay for all this.
Not saying I am better. Just saying I faced and face a much bigger challenge.
Was it worth it? Is it worth it? Yes, hell, yes.
That Christmas I called Friz to wish him a Merry one. He said, “You are the finest host I ever met. To my surprise Warner Archive and George Feltenstein are not interested in the video of Friz’s Toronto appearance.
When I sent Jerry the books and videos of my Toronto work with Friz, Bob Clampett, Grim Natwick and Shamus Culhane I was surprised to learn later he had no memory of them.
The packages remained unopened. That’s fine.
Others did open them and do value them.
For 25 years in Toronto I have been under vicious attack. Canada’s New York Times, THE GLOBE AND MAIL, said, “REG HARTT IS STANDING UP TO A BULLY WHO IS POSTING ANONYMOUS FLYERS DESIGNED TO INCITE VIOLENCE UPON HIMSELF AND OTHERS.”
Bugs Bunny is about nothing if he is not about standing up alone to a bully. The great Warner animation directors all stood up o bullies. I learned a lot from them. Here Friz in Toronto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsyLR-t_EE0 .
The fellow who posted this has been happy to receive thanks for doping it but has chosen not to thank the one without whom it would not exist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbZwISKdfnQ

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