"What, no Mickey Mouse?"Legendary animation historian Jerry Beck joins the podcast for a multi-episode discussion on Looney Tunes.  In this first episode, Jerry provides background on how he got into animation history and the importance of his friendship with the iconic Leonard Maltin.  And he provides a brief history of Looney Tunes starting with the character of Bosko, which was influenced by the popularity of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.  Mickey’s popularity led moviegoers to pressure the studios for more animation, and led to the popular saying of the day, “what, no Mickey Mouse?”  That pressure eventually led to the development of Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies to create musical cartoons for theatrical release.  Jerry also discusses the development of the Looney Tunes “stars”, including Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and that wacky rabbit Bugs Bunny.  He also discusses the impact of key directors including Tex Avery and the voice of so many Looney Tunes characters, Mel Blanc.  Whether you know the history of Looney Tunes already or are a novice, Jerry tells the story in terms we can all enjoy.