Tex Avery
Taylor, Williamson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Born in Taylor on February 26, 1908, Frederick Bean “Tex” Avery is one of the most important figures in the history of animation. Directing cartoons at Warner Brothers and MGM from 1935 to 1955, he developed such legendary characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy and Chilly Willy. He also pioneered a style of fast-paced slapstick comedy that introduced many of the basic comedic elements still found in cartoons today. His peers considered him a creative genius and his films continue to enjoy critical and popular acclaim. Avery spent his childhood in Taylor, growing up in homes on Eighth and Hackberry streets. He attended high school in Dallas before moving to California after graduation. In 1935, Avery took a job at Warner Bros. Where he presided over the innovative crew of "Termite Terrace" and introduced the world to Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny. Searching for the perfect expression to capture Bugs Bunny’s carefree attitude in A Wild Hare (1940), Avery recalled a phrase popular among students at North Dallas High School: “What’s up, Doc?” He spent seven years at Warner Brothers and then moved to MGM in 1942, where he perfected his unique style of rapid-fire, logic-defying gags. After a lifetime spent reinventing the American cartoon, Avery died in Los Angeles in 1980. Tex Avery’s influence on his craft is difficult to overstate. He created some of the most enduring characters and compositions in history and directed cartoons that were funnier, faster and wilder than anyone had ever seen. An enormously talented writer, artist and director, Tex Avery left his stamp not just on the world of animation, but on the wider universe of American popular culture. 175 Years of Texas Independence * 1836 - 2011
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery was born in Taylor in 1908 and spent his boyhood there before heading west into the movie business. Directing at Warner Bros. and MGM from 1935 to 1955, he shaped Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Droopy, and reached for a Bugs catchphrase he remembered from his Dallas high-school days: "What's up, Doc?" His wild, fast, logic-defying gags reinvented the American cartoon and echo through animation to this day.
Why it matters
Avery helped invent the visual language of American comedy animation, leaving a mark on popular culture far beyond the movie screen.
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