Q&A with Dan Sendker, author of Dance of the Comedians
1. “Dance of the Comedians” is an unusual title for a book on the Road Runner. Where did it come from?
A: There’s a famous piece of classical music called “Dance of the Comedians” that plays in multiple Road Runner cartoons and essentially serves as a musical theme for the characters. I also felt like it’s a good way to describe the long relationship between the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote!
2. This book seems to have everything a Chuck Jones fan could think of! Is there anything you couldn’t include, or chose not to?
A: As much as possible, I tried to steer clear of the infamous rivalry between Chuck and Bob Clampett, especially regarding Clampett’s many exaggerated claims. Bob Clampett has many diehard fans, and deservedly so, much like Chuck Jones. Out of respect for Bob, I didn’t dive into the specifics of their rivalry. Besides, Chuck didn’t create the Road Runner until after Bob had left Warner Bros, so it was outside the scope of the book anyway.
3. Why did you choose BearManor Media for a publisher?
A: BearManor Media has a history of great books on animation, from Ben Ohmart’s gigantic Mel Blanc biography to books on Popeye, Hanna-Barbera, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, and more. I thought they would be the perfect publisher for my book on two of the biggest cartoon superstars ever made, and I was right! Working with Ben and BearManor Media has been a dream come true, and I’m honored to be part of the BearManor brand.
4. There are so many Road Runner cartoons, and they all look the same. How can you tell them apart?
A: The easiest way is to look at the sky. The Road Runner cartoons featured an off-white sky from 1953 to 1955, then switched to a yellow sky with purple/red rocks from 1956 to 1960. In 1960, the sky changed to blue with more abstract rock formations, and the color scheme stayed this way until Chuck Jones’ last Road Runner cartoon in 1964. The Rudy Larriva cartoons of 1965-1966 also have blue skies, but the animation quality is noticeably worse in these cartoons.
5. What do you think is the single most iconic gag in a Road Runner cartoon?
A: There are some clear contenders for sure: The green Bat-man suit from “Gee Whiz-z-z-z-z-z-z,” the earthquake pills from “Hopalong Casualty,” and the various catapult gags from “To Beep or Not to Beep” all come to mind. But I think the one that sticks most in people’s minds is the famous painted tunnel gag. We first see this in the very first Road Runner cartoon, “Fast and Furry-ous,” and it appears in different forms in several later cartoons as well.
6. Be honest: do you think Coyote vs. Acme will ever see the light of day?
A: I hope so, but frankly it doesn’t look good. I interviewed Dave Green (director), Chris DeFaria (producer), and Eric Bauza (voice actor), and all of them poured their heart and soul into this movie. You can read all about the making and cancellation of Coyote vs. Acme in my book. If the movie ever does come out, it will likely be due to fans actively calling for Warner Bros. to #releasecoyotevsacme
7. What was the most surprising thing you learned about the Road Runner and Coyote while writing this book?
A: Honestly, the biggest surprises had less to do with the cartoons and more to do with the artists who made them. I had the honor of speaking with animation legends Bob Singer, Willie Ito, and Jerry Eisenberg, three of the last surviving artists who worked on the original Looney Tunes cartoons, and they were a treasure trove of memories and information. I loved learning about the animators’ lives and careers. I also spoke with relatives of Mike Maltese, Ben Washam, Abe Levitow, and John Dunn. It humanized the names you see in the opening credits of all the Looney Tunes cartoons.
8. Do you see yourself working with BearManor Media in the future?
A: If I ever get an idea for another book, I’d love to! Ben Ohmart is great to work with, and I had a very positive experience publishing with BearManor. I’m not sure what the future looks like, but if BearManor will have me, I’d partner with them again in a heartbeat.