February 26 is Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery's birthday. Avery virtually invented the physics-defying sight gags that the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes writers, artists and animators would exploit so well for a good three decades. He's also responsible for the sort of Sarte-esque cosmic (in)justice that informs so many of his and his imitators works. (Think of Chuck Jones' Coyote vs. Roadrunner 'toons.)
A true envelope pusher of 20th century cinema, Avery could elevate the simplest plot, even a single gag, into pure gut-punch comedy worthy of post-graduate study. Alright, shut up and let's watch his 1949 short for MGM, Bad Luck Blackie:
[courtesy of gobearsnfl]
Thank you Tex.
