Foxy and the Hippo

You have it backwards?  There are two sections of backwards dialog used in this film. The cartoon features a lady hippo who tries to board a train but is too large. As Foxy struggles to push her on, this hippo lets out a strange squeal. There's a picture of this scene to the left. Here - listen to this squeal. But if you reverse this, it's a woman's voice saying "Susie heard one of those Atlantic bells! Whataya think" . Here - listen to the reversed copy yourself .

Foxy with the deflated Hippo

But wait! There's more - a bit later Foxy uses a pin to deflate the hippo and she lets out another squeal of disapproval. The scene is shown here. Here's is the squeal and the reversed version which sounds like "my diary looks like the register".

Kosher tot

Approved   One of the new arrivals is stamped as "Kosher". The kosher symbol also appeared in Now That Summer Is Gone.

Friz and Lillian! [Select to enlarge]

Who is Lillian?  Note how the book named "Fairy Tales" has the name Lillian Freleng on it. Well, she was Friz' wife - in fact they were newlyweds when this cartoon was being created and apparently Friz Freleng decided to slip in this tribute to her.
[Thanks to Sogturtle for some of this info. :) ].

Look at the head on that one...

How About Some Refreshing Katz?   If you take a look at the fuzzy dark ad on the side of a building you'll see that it is plugging "Katz Beer" - as in Ray Katz, Leon Schlesinger's business assistant. It's just one of many places where the animators slipped his name into the scenery.

For the dogs? [Select to see more]

What's Pratt On The Shelf?   Behind the diving Eskimo Pie boy you can see a product called "Pratt's Dog Biscuits". This might be a reference to Hawley Pratt, who became a layout artist there several years later. However I can't be sure because I have not been able to confirm whether or not he was there at the time (he may have been working there as an uncredited staffer). Pratt's name appears in backgrounds in other films such as I Taw A Putty Tat (Freleng, 1948), Hare Do (Freleng, 1949) and Kit For Cat (Freleng, 1948).

Box of Friz

Another Fine Friz Product   As our boy falls, he passes another shelf with a product called "Friz's" (something). There were many cases of Friz Freleng's name appearing in film backgrounds and this was the earliest one I've found so far.

Friz Dressing

More Fine Products   As the flies swarm a loaf of Russian Rye bread, you can see a bottle of "Friz's Salad Dressing" behind it (along with "Sneeze-O Black Pepper" and "Hot Cha Horse Radish").

Back To Norm

Norm's Crackers?   In this scene there are a pile of cracker boxes behind the boy. But they aren't just any brand of crackers - they are "Norm's Crackers". This is most likely named after Norm Spencer, a studio composer. Spencer was also memorialized in a background in Have You Got Any Castles? (Tashlin, 1938).

Jones' Grocery   Behind the performing cow is an ad for "Jones Grocery" - which is most likely another bit of Chuck Jones-inspired scenery.

Gettin' Warmer [Select to see more]

The Stages   A gag which appears several other times over the years - calling the studio "Warmer Bros". I also like having the stagecoach labelled as "stage no. 2"...

Behind The Bar

Coming Attractions   On the wall behind the bar are a couple of interesting notices.
- One announces an exhibition pool game between "Fancy Spencer" and "Nifty Bigchin". The first was inspired by Norm Spencer who was the composer for this cartoon. Offhand I'm not ready to guess who might have been "Bigchin".
-The other mentions a fight between two fighters with last names which are familar around the studio : "Punchy Pierce" (referring to Tedd Pierce) and "Hurricane Hardaway" (Ben "Bugs" Hardaway).

The writing on the wall

Special Notice   Once again Ray Katz gets his name into the background. On the wall is a notice signed by "R Katz".

Three Stars [Select to enlarge]

Millar's Finest?  The worm and chick race past a discarded bottle - which reads "Three Star Millar". "Millar" refers to Melvin Millar, a story writer who often had his name slipped into the backgrounds.

A fine Pierce product! [Select to enlarge]

Pierce's Soap Box  Behind the flame there's a soapbox labelled "Pierce's Pine and Tar Soap". This is a reference to one of the top story writers - Tedd Pierce.

The News! [Select to enlarge]

Today's headlines   Beans appears as the main story in the paper, but one headline reads: "17 Birdmen Visit Warner Bros Studio".

Look Who's Here! [Select for more pictures]

The Gang's All Here?  Coming to greet Miss Glory as she arrives in their fair town are a group of men. These happen to be caricatures of several staff members including Melvin Millar, Robert Cannon, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, and Chuck Jones.

Looney Tune Tonite! [Select to enlarge]

Looney Tune Sign  In a self-refferential move, on the wall behind Porky is a sign which announces "Looney Tune Tonite". Don't miss it!

Today's headlines! [Select to enlarge]

Familiar names  One headline reads "Tubby Millar Buys Home In Burbank". Mevin "Tubby" Millar was a story writer. Other headlines contain the names of animator "Jack Carr" and director "I. Freleng".

Portis Matches

Here's Portis   One little fly is next to a matchbox labelled "Portis Matches". This is one of many hidden references to he town of Portis, Kansas which can be found in LT&MM cartoons - including "Porky's Pet, "Porky in the North Woods", "Porky's Road Race", "Sniffles and the Bookworm" and "The Case of the Stuttering Pig". Why did they use Portis? Because it's the hometown of the writer, Melvin "Tubby" Millar! Here's a picture of the monument the town made to him.

More Portis, Anyone?

Portis Wine? A couple of wine bottles are visible here. One says "90 percent Portis". The other says "Yale". They seemed to really have a thing for Portis in this cartoon!

Thirsty? [Select to see more]

Signs and more signs   Behind the bike you can see a billboard for "Burton's Burpo Beer" - using the name of John Burton - a production manager at Warner Bros.

A Sick Joke?

A Catchy Name?   The next sign which whizzes past is for a place with the inviting name of "Malaria Manor".

When in Portis...

Visit Millar Manor   At the train station there is a poster asking the traveler "When in Portis, Stop at Millar Manor". Millar refers to Melvin "Tubby" Millar and Portis is a small town in Kansas which was the hometown of Millar. Here's a picture of the monument the town of Portis made to honor Tubby Millar.

Portis is also mentioned in several other cartoons including "Bingo Crosbyana", "Porky in the North Woods" "Porky's Road Race", "Sniffles and the Bookworm" and "The Case of the Stuttering Pig".

A Business Background [Select to enlarge]

As the pig flys past...  the name of one local business is "Millar's Agricultural Emporium", serving as yet another case of Mevin "Tubby" Millar getting his name preserved.

Portis anyone? [Select to see more]

Portis, Kansas   On a crate it reads "#2 Portis Kan". This is another reference to Portis, Kansas - the hometown of Melvin "Tubby" Millar. Here's a picture of the Millar monument in Portis.
Portis is also mentioned in "Bingo Crosbyana", "Porky's Pet", "Porky's Road Race", "Sniffles and the Bookworm" and "The Case of the Stuttering Pig".