Argon - Editor

     This reporter attended the ‘MegaCon’ comic book convention in Orlando, Florida, Friday to see the goings-on at the event and to verify the geek quotient that Mavra, fiancée’ to this reporter and local centaur proclaimed that would be present.  While she was reluctant and too fatigued to attend, this reporter was able to confirm that there were geeks at the convention.  Surprisingly, there was an absence of odor that normally accompanies geeks, but being comic book geeks, a subtle yet significant difference, they were well-washed, not wanting their body oils and unwashed skin to come into contact with an issue of Superman #1.  Even the purchase of comic books itself was possible, although the sums asked for certain issues were outrageous and then turned down. 

     A pleasant side-event that took place was the signing/autograph session for numerous actors and actresses from an even larger number of motion pictures.  The most significant ones being June Lockhart, the ‘mother’ in the ‘Lost in Space’ series in the 1960’s, as well as Mark Goddard and Bob May, who played the roles of Maj. Don West and ‘The Robot’, respectively.  Other attendees were the small in size but huge in capable acting Kenny Baker, R2-D2’s performer, and David Prowse, the man behind the mask of Darth Vader.  Finally, the voice talent of ‘Space Ghost, Coast-to-Coast’, George Lowe, was present, signing many cards and pictures.  There were other actors and actresses there from other films and television shows that this reporter won’t further elaborate upon. 

     After splitting into three pieces, Arkitaur local… whatever he is, claimed to be on the side of good until it was learned that he had abducted one of the other pieces of himself called Seirahlee, a mouse shaped piece of the original Arkitah and power source.

     After hearing that Arkitaur had abducted Seirahlee local Centaur and Spindizzy reporter Rown (me, Heh!) stepped in to try and negotiate a release. Arkitaur expressed a genuine interest in the secrets Centaurs keep since we are all good by nature so while the negotiations went on Rown dropped a little black box he had been carrying around innocently and explained that some of the secrets were hidden in the black box.

     Arkitaur produced an evil radio device and spread pamphlets with gibberish and lyrics to hippie music all over the place then threatened to turn on the radio and play 70’s hippie music nonstop 24/7. Of course with many from the 70’s in attendance that was more or less the promise of a treat instead of a threat and all waited for the radio to turn on so they could listen to replays of the Cowsils and ram munchies down their throats like a pile driver. Unfortunately Arkitah not being much of an electronics wiz, forgot to put an “on” switch on it.

    Meanwhile, Shoe, who had asked the Centaurs as well as others to make Arkitaur release Seirahlee, inspected the box thoroughly before exiting and leaving it open for Arkitaur to investigate. When he realized that he might learn the secrets of the Centaurs he entered and was immediately locked inside after Rown closed the box.

     After protesting the evilness of the trap, Arkitaur finally admitted that he was truly evil. He then threatened to never let Seirahlee go so Rown decided to leave Arkitaur in the trap because, after all the residents in the Rose Garden worked to free it, it was perfectly clear that “Nobody doesn’t like Seirahlee”. :-p

     For a short time Spindizzy was the proud owner of an Ark-in-a-box till he finally recognized the errors of his ways and agreed to release Seirahlee as per agreement, Rown opened the crank on the side of the box and turned it. The tune “Pop goes the weasel” rang out prophetically before the top of the box popped open and Arkitaur sprung out.

    He immediately went to work deceiving everyone by draining Seirahlee of it’s power the discarding the remains with the “slingshot of sorrow”. The amber that was Seirahlee flew off into the distance while Arkitaur grew in strength.

The animator died at home of congestive heart failure with his wife of 20 years, Marian, by his side, his family said.

"He was never rich, but he was paid enough to ... do what he loved," said Craig Kausen, Jones' 39-year-old grandson, who worked with him for the past decade in the family's art business.

Born September 21, 1912, in Spokane, Washington, Jones grew up in Hollywood, where he observed Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton while working as a child extra in silent comedies.

After graduating from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles -- now the California Institute of the Arts -- Jones drew pencil portraits and sold them for a dollar each on the street. In 1932 he got his first job washing cels, or transparent sheets of celluloid, in the fledgling animation industry.

"He thought he was going to be cleaning in a prison," Kausen said.

Four years later, he became an animator for the Leon Schlesinger Studio. The studio later was sold to Warner Bros., where he was assigned to the team that made "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons. AOL Time Warner is the parent company of Warner Bros. and CNN.

He directed his first animated film, "The Night Watchman," at age 25. The six-minute cartoon used 5,000 animation drawings.

Later, he moved to MGM Studios, where he created new episodes for the "Tom & Jerry" cartoon series, co-directed and co-wrote the full-length feature "The Phantom Tollbooth" and directed the Academy Award winning film, "The Dot and the Line."

In his 60-year career, Jones made more than 300 animated films -- including the Peabody Award-winning special "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" -- and won two other Oscars, according to his Web site.

"Animation isn't the illusion of life; it is life," Jones once said.

Whatever the technical quality of the animation, Jones felt character development was the most important element in any piece, according to Kausen.

His grandson said the animator had no regrets about some of his now controversial portrayals of certain ethnic and racial groups -- including World War II-era films depicting Japanese with buck teeth and a small black boy named "Inky" who lived in the jungle.

"He looked back and said that was part of the time," Kausen said. "He wouldn't agree that is appropriate not to show them, because it is part of history. ... He never portrayed anybody as a lesser of a person."

Two years ago, Jones set up the Chuck Jones Foundation to encourage the proliferation of classic animation and art and provide promising art students with scholarships and grants.

A memorial for the animator is planned in Newport Beach, said a statement from Linda Jones Enterprises, a company run by Jones' daughter, Linda. Private services will be held for family members only.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Jones is survived by three grandchildren.

But imagine the cartoons they'll have in Heaven!   ~Argon

Most any type of story or article will be accepted.  Generally, we'd prefer things that aren't out and out lies or flames about other folks, and have a basis in the reality of SpinDizzy. Things that occur in public areas are fair game. The things reported don't have to have actually happened, (Any more than anything that happens here does.) but make sure you don't overstep the social boundaries and rules of interaction that we have.  These are pretty broad guidelines, but we expect good sense to apply. 

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