Radio and Television Broadcast Engineers Union Local 1212 at WPIX New York

MICHIGAN J. FROG

Medium:            Theatrical animation
Produced by:     Edward Selzer, Warner Bros.
First Appeared:1955
Creators:          Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese

Not many characters achieve lasting fame just from having appeared in a single six-minute cartoon. In fact, Michigan J. Frog may be the only one.

The Frog was not a star when Warner Bros.' One Froggy Evening (which was written by Michael Maltese and directed by Chuck Jones) premiered on December 31, 1955.

Synopsis:

", Hello! Ma Baby hello ma honey, hello ma ragtime gal..."

A construction worker finds a singing and dancing frog in the cornerstone of the J.C. Wilber Building, an old structure (built in 1892) that he is demolishing. But when he tries to cash in on his discovery, he finds that the frog will sing only for him...and just croak for the talent agent and the audience in the theater he's spent his life savings on.

Nobody expected him to become a star, either. Even his name was given to him only in retrospect — in the cartoon itself, neither he nor his tormented victim had names. His last name is from his body type, his first from "The Michigan Rag" (the one song that Maltese wrote especially for him), and his middle from the fact that unless evidence exists to the contrary, all cartoon characters are considered to have J. for a middle initial.

In fact, that was the point — his spectacular song and dance routines were seen by only one person.  What's more, nobody even knows who did his voice — and no, despite the "certain knowledge" of many cartoon buffs, it was not Thurl Ravenscroft (Tony the Tiger, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"). Jones cast the part simply by asking Warner Bros. for a baritone, and they responded by sending over one of many singers working for them. By the time anyone realized people would someday be interested in credits for this sort of thing, everyone had forgotten the man's name.

Despite the instant popularity and definite appeal of the character, Warner Bros. made no additional cartoons with him. What would be the point? His story was told, and it required no sequels. But — no matter how little he needed one, any character that well remembered is bound to be revived by a new generation of cartoonists. Michigan appeared in two 1990 episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures — Turtle Hurdle and Class Cut-up. In 1995, Jones himself revived him in Another Froggy Evening. His first appearance remains his best — but Class Cut-up, where he played Hamton Pig's dissection frog, was a clever use of the character.

In more recent years, a look-alike has masqueraded as Michigan J. Frog, acting as host of the Warner television network. A look-alike also appeared in an episode of The Simpsons, hosting a tribute to Krusty the Clown. But of course, that can't be the real Michigan, who does not perform before an audience.

Michigan J. Frog has never appeared in comic books or on lunch boxes (tho he did grace the cover of Leon Redbone's first album, which came out in 1975). Despite modern attempts, there is really only the one cartoon. It says everything about the character that needs to be said. From Don Markstein's Toonopedia™

Read below about "Old Rip", the inspiration for the creation of Michigan J. Frog

"Old Rip"

In 1897, a horned toad was placed in the cornerstone of the courthouse in Eastland, TX, as it was being sealed. People remembered the event, but no one thought much of it until 1928, when the courthouse was demolished to make way for a new, Jazz Age model. Three thousand people were on hand to watch the opening of the old cornerstone. Inside lay the horned toad, all right — flat and covered with dust — and ALIVE! After 31 years!

The toad was christened "Old Rip" and became a national sensation. He toured the US He met President Coolidge. Local gas stations gave away complimentary toads to customers.

Eleven months after his resurrection, Old Rip croaked. His body was embalmed and placed in a tiny, open casket — velvet lined — in the lobby of the new courthouse.

A horned toad in the velvet-lined casket can still be seen there today, though there is some controversy over just who is being exhibited. In 1973, Old Rip was stolen. An anonymous kidnapper wrote a letter explaining that his conscience would not let him remain silent any longer. He claimed to be part of a larger conspiracy that had hoaxed the nation with Old Rip. He demanded that his accomplices join him in a full confession.

When no accomplices came forward, another letter arrived, saying that Old Rip could be found in his coffin at the county fairgrounds. The coffin and a toad were recovered — though some believe that this Old Rip is an impostor. Eastland County Judge Scott Bailey has been quoted as saying: "This toad is fairly well-preserved. The other was more ... mummified."

Whether the current Old Rip is real or fake, he is on display in his coffin in Eastland. And Old Rip has been immortalized in another way — as the original inspiration for the Warner Bros. cartoon character "Michigan J. Frog," who serves as the WB television network mascot.

In 2002, Rip left Eastland temporarily for a gig at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington. Rip has since traveled to many other exhibits, but always returns to his courthouse home in Eastland Texas.

Note that the cartoonists at the Warner Brothers Studio liked to remember their coworkers by including references to them in obscure corners of the cartoons.

In "One Froggy Evening ",as Michigan's owner is thrown outside, you can see a business behind him named "Gribbroek Theatrical Shoes". It's a reference to layout artist Robert Gribbroek.

In addition, Michigan J. Frog was placed into the foundation block for a new building called the "Tregoweth Brown" building. This was a small tribute to Tregoweth (or Treg) Brown who was the sound effects man for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies films.

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