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Cultural Scene and Heard: What’s Up, Doc? The Chuck Jones Experience
By Mike Sweeney
Even if you don’t know the name Chuck Jones, you’re probably still familiar with his work. Over the course of his distinguished 60-year career, he created over 300 animated films and helped bring to life some of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time, such as Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Pepé Le Pew and that “wascally wabbit” himself, Bugs Bunny. Thanks to the new Chuck Jones Experience exhibit, which will hold its grand opening at Circus Circus on January 18th, Las Vegas residents can get an inside look at the life and career of this extraordinary artist.
Every aspect of the exhibit is designed to celebrate Jones’ brilliant work, including the Acme Warehouse gift shop and animation gallery found at the main entrance. Themed after the infamous mail order company from which Wile E. Coyote acquires his mediocre anvils and explosives, the store offers books and souvenirs of all kinds, including a display of artwork and framed animation cels. Once you’ve had a good look around, purchase your ticket and make your way inside a cartoon lover’s wonderland.
The first stop on the tour is Animation Alley, a painted street scene that’s bursting with color, where the walls display some vivid renderings of treasured characters and a timeline of Chuck’s life. Here you’ll also find the Chuck Jones Theatre, a small movie house designed to resemble the 1930s-style venue from Jones’ classic cartoon, One Froggy Evening. Take in the old-fashioned surroundings as you view a short film that serves as an introduction to Chuck’s world.
From there, your visit takes you to a physical recreation of his office at Warner Bros., where he worked among the famous “Termite Terrace” team of animators, whose ranks also included Tex Avery and Friz Freleng. You’ll get to see Chuck’s actual work desk, along with a few book cases stocked with items from his personal library. Everything from the tile floor to the period wainscoting evokes an old Hollywood milieu. The gallery that follows puts Jones’ work front and center. Alongside his drawings and sketches, you’ll discover an impressive display of accomplished oil paintings, both of his classic creations and other subjects from real life.
One of the best things about the Chuck Jones Experience is its interactivity. Stand beside 3-D models of his famous animated characters and see how you measure up. Engage in some Chuck Jones trivia with the amusing Quiz-a-Nator by moving tiles, spinning blocks and pulling levers. In the Universe of Animation room, inspired by Marvin the Martian, try your hand at creating your own cartoons using an old-fashioned spinning zoetrope device. You can even provide voice-over and live sound effects (known in the industry as “Foley”) for a classic cartoon at the Rikki-Tikki Foley Stage, a reference to the artist’s animated version of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.
As you exit the exhibit, you’ll find the glass-enclosed Chuck Jones Center for Creativity classroom. Founded by Jones with the hope of inspiring joy and innovation in others, this nonprofit organization will offer drawing classes, lectures and various other projects and educational programs for children of all ages to explore their artistic side. Chuck believed that creativity was one of the strongest forces on the planet, and this facility serves to (pardon the expression) illustrate the fundamentals of his philosophy.
The Chuck Jones Experience brings a welcome addition of family-friendly entertainment to Las Vegas. There’s even a parking structure adjacent to the exhibit entrance, so you don’t have to walk through the casino to discover all the fun. Take a nostalgic trip back to the Golden Age of animation and experience the life, work and genius of a man who educated, inspired and entertained millions with his imaginative and amusing outlook on the world. As Chuck Jones himself once said, “The rules are simple. Take your work, but never yourself, seriously. Pour in the love and whatever skill you have, and it will come out.”
For more information, visit www.chuckjonesexperience.com.
