Foghorn Leghorn
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Foghorn Leghorn
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| First appearance | Walky Talky Hawky (1946) |
| Created by | Robert McKimson |
| Voiced by | Mel Blanc |
| Background Information | |
| Friends | Miss Prissy, |
| Rivals | Henery Hawk, Barnyard Dawg |
| Catch phrases | Son, I said Son... , Thankfully, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an occasion |
Foghorn Leghorn is the name of a character appearing in numerous Warner Brothers animated cartoons, especially Looney Tunes. He is a large, anthropomorphic adult rooster with a strong southern accent and a penchant for mischief. He first appeared in 1946 in a Henery Hawk film entitled Walky Talky Hawky. All of the motion picture Foghorn Leghorn cartoons were directed by Robert McKimson, and he vies with the Tasmanian Devil as the most popular character associated with the director.
Many of the gags involved Foghorn and a canine nemesis (informally known as the "Barnyard Dawg", though on early model sheets his name is given as George P. Dog) engaging in one-upmanship through a series of pranks. Most common among them was Leghorn's taking up a plank of wood, while ambling along humming "Camptown Races," (the only intelligible words being "Doo-DAH! Doo-DAH!") and, coming to the sleeping Dawg with his front half inside his doghouse, picking up his tail and rapidly whacking (almost always with eight strokes) his exposed rear end. The dog would give chase, usually with his leash still attached to his collar, until it was stretched taut and his barking was replaced by an anguished shriek. This gag was passed down to the Leghorn's grandson in Feather Bluster, where Foghorn was puzzled as to why the kid was behaving that way and the Dog was all too happy to remind him: "Ain't nothin' wrong with 'im, Foggy, 'cept that he takes after you."
Other recurring themes throughout the cartoons included the attempts of the diminutive Henery Hawk to catch and eat Foghorn, and the rooster's efforts to woo the widowed hen Miss Prissy (often by babysitting her bookish son, Egghead Jr).
Foghorn's voice was created by actor Mel Blanc, patterned after the character of Senator Claghorn, a blustering Southern politician who was a regular character on the Fred Allen radio show. Senator Claghorn was created and voiced by radio comedian Kenny Delmar. Foghorn Leghorn used a number of Claghorn's catch phrases, like "That's a joke... I say, that's a joke, son". The references to Claghorn were obvious to much of the audience when the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons first premiered, but like many of the references in WB cartoons of the era, they have since become dated and "go over the heads" of most modern-day audiences. A toddler version of Foghorn made an appearance in Baby Looney Tunes.
A leghorn is a breed of chicken, and foghorn describes the character's loud, overbearing voice. At its most raucous, it sounds similar to that of Blanc's Yosemite Sam. Both parts of the name also suggest the association with "Senator Claghorn."
[edit] Appearances
Title Date Director Comments/Company (MM – Merry Melodies/LT –Looney Tunes)
Walky Talky Hawky
08/31/46 Robert McKimson
Academy Award-nominated cartoon. Foghorn was first seen in this cartoon and was merely intended as a costar for already-established star Henery. Walky Talky Hawky introduced several gags which would be used throughout future Foghorn Leghorn offerings such as a Foghorn vs. Dawg "prank war", a loud "ahhh shudyap!", Dawg running out of rope, and Foghorn claiming not to be a chicken (he says he is a horse). At the end, Henery winds up dragging off a horse, Dawg and Foghorn since "one, just ONE of these things has got to be a chicken!". MM Foghorn Leghorn, Henery
Crowing Pains
07/12/47 Robert McKimson
Sylvester the Cat and Dawg are enemies in this cartoon, who become entangled with Foghorn's attempts to confuse Henery. Once again the young and inexperienced Henery is out looking for a chicken but isn't sure what a chicken looks like. Henery decides to determine who is a chicken (Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester or Dawg) by watching to see who crows at sunrise. It ends with the crowing seeming to come from Sylvester. Henery drags him away. But then you see Foghorn Leghorn crowing out the side of his beak. Then he looks at a book: How to be a Ventriloquist. Then he says "Ah say, you gotta stay on your toes. Toes that is." LT Foghorn Leghorn
The Foghorn Leghorn
10/09/48 Robert McKimson
After Henery's pop tells him that Foghorn isn't a chicken, but is a "loud-mouthed shnook", Henery goes looking for a real chicken. In a bit of a reversal of the usual plotline, Foghorn spends the rest of the cartoon trying to convince Henery that he is a chicken. In the end Henery decides that he'll take Foggy home for dinner - not caring whether he's really a chicken or a shnook. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Henery, Dawg
Henhouse Henery
07/02/49 Robert McKimson
A standard Foghorn Leghorn cartoon with the standard elements: Henery Hawk looking for a chicken, several verses of Camptown Races, Foggy and Dawg having a "prank war" in which Foggy gets ahead early but eventually loses, Foggy sends Henery after something other than himself (ducks, turtles), and in the end Dawg and Henery work together to bag Foggy. LT Foghorn Leghorn, Henery
The Leghorn Blows at Midnight
05/06/50 Robert McKimson
This offers many items in the standard Foghorn Leghorn formula: Dawg and Foghorn in prank wars, Henery looking for a chicken, but unsure what a chicken is, and Foghorn telling Henery that Dawg is what he wants (a pheasant). In addition to the usual "Camptown Races," Foghorn also sings "Old MacDonald" and (briefly) "A Hunting We Will Go." One highlight involves Foggy putting fake "vanishing cream" on Henery, who then thinks his is invisible as he proceeds to sneak up on Dawg. LT Foghorn Leghorn, Henery, Dawg
A Fractured Leghorn
09/16/50 Robert McKimson
Foghorn and "Barnyard Cat" spend most of the time fighting over a worm (Cat wants it for fishing, Foggy wants it for lunch). Foggy is at his loud-mouthed peak in this cartoon, as he does all the talking except for one line. Features one of the best concluding gags of any of the WB animated shorts: Foghorn refusing to shut up on the TOPIC of shutting up even after the screen goes black at the end the cartoon, to the point where he even wrestles with the 'closing circle' so he can get a few more words in on how he knows when to shut up! MM Foghorn Leghorn, Barnyard Cat
Leghorn Swoggled
07/28/51 Robert McKimson
Foghorn tells Henery he is too small to want Foggy, and Dawg offers to help for a bone which he can get from Cat for a fish, etc. Foggy inadvertently helps Henery get what he needs and he drags off the rooster in the end with Dawg's help (the bonehead technique). Foghorn Leghorn, Henery, Dawg
Lovelorn Leghorn
09/08/51 Robert McKimson
After reading the book "Live Alone and Hate It", Miss Prissy sets out to bag a husband, rolling pin in hand while the other hens laugh at her. In this "prank war" Foggy falls behind early, until he is able to get Prissy to believe that Dawg is a rooster in a dog suit. In the end Dawg and Prissy combine forces to get Prissy a husband. Foghorn Leghorn Ms Prissy
Sock-a-Doodle-Do
05/10/52 Robert McKimson
After falling off a truck, the pinfeatherweight boxing champ, Kid Banty finds himself at Foghorn's farm. Anytime the Kid hears a bell he comes out swinging, even punching a cow after the cowbell rings (a cowpuncher?). This leads to a series of gags in which Foggy and Dawg try arrange for a bell to ring when Banty is near the other. One rarity in this cartoon is that in addition to Camptown Races, Foggy hums the "This is the way we wash our clothes" tune. LT Foghorn Leghorn Kid Banty Barnyard Dawg
The Egg-Cited Rooster
10/04/52 Robert McKimson
Mrs. Leghorn orders Foggy to sit on her egg. With Foghorn stuck on the egg, Dawg takes advantage of him. Henery wanders by and Foghorn convinces him to watch the egg while he exacts revenge. Eventually Foghorn gets his lumps from the wife when he is caught neglecting his duty. MM Foghorn Leghorn Henery Hawk Barnyard Dawg Mrs. Leghorn
Plop Goes the Weasel
08/22/53 Robert McKimson
The plot revolves around Foghorn and Dawg each using the weasel to cause trouble for the other. Foggy tries to get Dawg in trouble by letting the weasel get near the chickens, while in return Dawg encourages the weasel to go after Foggy. Eventually Dawg clubs Foggy and leads the dizzy rooster into the weasel's clutches. LT Foghorn Leghorn Barnyard Dawg (unnamed) Weasel
Of Rice and Hen
11/14/53 Robert McKimson
Miss Prissy is distraught over her lack of a husband and sets out to commit suicide. Foghorn happens upon the scene and catches her, saving her life and making the hen fall in love with Foggy. Her attempts to attract Foghorn are resisted, so Dawg offers to help her catch the rooster. He dresses up as one himself, and acts interested in Prissy. Foghorn can't stand that Prissy seems to like someone else and Dawg's plan fools Foghorn into competing for her. In the end Prissy gets Foggy for her husband. A very well executed cartoon with good dialog and even an original song by Foggy about Dawg. LT Foghorn Leghorn, Prissy, Dawg
Little Boy Boo
06/05/54 Robert McKimson
Foghorn is seeking warming living quarters when he woos Miss Prissy saying he needs her love to keep him warm. She consents to let him in if he'll prove he can be a good father to her son Egghead Jr.. Foghorn's attempts to engage him in various games all wind up the same: Egghead always outdoes him using his genius. Even his paper airplane shoots down Foggy's! Eventually this outdoing gets Foggy 'badly injured' (in cartoon terms) and Foggy gives up, saying that his bandages will keep him warm instead. LT Foghorn Leghorn, Prissy, Egghead Jr.
Feather Dusted
01/15/55 Robert McKimson
Foghorn decides to take it upon himself to make sure Egghead Jr. learns to be more than a bookworm and play like a boy should. But as always happens when those two link up, Egghead Jr. figures a better way to accomplish the task at hand. MM Foghorn Leghorn
All Fowled Up
02/19/55 Robert McKimson
Foghorn and Dawg start out with a barrage of pranks, into which Henery wanders while looking for a chicken. Foghorn's pranks start backfiring - the TNT explodes on him instead of Dawg etc. Eventually the rooster's final prank backfires, resulting in a cement-covered rooster (Don't, I say, don't bother me, dawg, can't ya see I'm thinkin'), which Henery carries off (Of all the kinds of chickens in the world, I had to catch me a Plymouth Rock!). Foghorn Leghorn, Dawg, Henery
Weasel Stop
02/11/56 Robert McKimson
The chickenyard is threatened by a hungry and hyperactive weasel. Foggy decides to use the little guy to torment the "hillbilly" dog. But the weasel and Foghorn don't work out well as a team as everything they try seems to backfire. LT Foghorn Leghorn
The High and the Flighty
02/18/56 Robert McKimson
Daffy Duck is a traveling salesman from the Ace Novelty Company who happens upon a prank war between Dawg and Foggy. Seeing this as a great opportunity for sales, he sells trick items to both sides. They catch on eventually however and combine forces to bottle [sic] Daffy. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Daffy, Dawg
Raw! Raw! Rooster!
08/25/56 Robert McKimson
Foghorn's old college chum, Rhode Island Red, drops in by surprise (they went to Chicken Tech). Red is an incurable prankster who Foggy doesn't want around and he spends the rest of the cartoon trying to get rid of him. Most of the attempts backfire, but he eventually prevails. (Red was loosely based on the character "Loudmouth" Charlie Bratton, one of numerous characters Jackie Gleason played on his show.) LT Foghorn Leghorn
Fox Terror
05/11/57 Robert McKimson
A fox appears and keeps trying to lure away the two protectors of the hens, Foggy and Barnyard Dawg. Eventually they figure out what is going on and cooperate to out-fox the fox. Foghorn Leghorn
Feather Bluster
05/10/58 Robert McKimson
Somehow Dawg and Foghorn have survived each their activities to make it to old age. The two old friends watch their grandkids renewing the rivalry, which brings back fond memories of their old battles. Footage from The High and the Flighty, All Fowled Up and Henhouse Henery is shown here. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Dawg
Weasel While You Work
09/06/58 Robert McKimson
A wintertime cartoon, providing a change of scenery for the usual Foghorn-Dawg battles, with an appearance by the weasel thrown in for good measure. Foghorn doesn't deny being a chicken this time, but he convinces weasel that he would rather have other animals instead. Foggy then dresses Dawg in antlers (after telling weasel he wants a deer) and in a girdle (after telling weasel he wants a seal). In the end Dawg winds up sending Foggy up on a rocket. Foghorn Leghorn
A Broken Leghorn
09/26/59 Robert McKimson
Foghorn tries to help out the eggless Miss Prissy by slipping an egg under her. The egg hatches into a young rooster who immediately wants to displace Foggy. Foggy takes the role of mentor to little guy but his attempts to trick the little rooster keep backfiring and Foggy is sent packing. LT Foghorn Leghorn, Prissy
Crockett-Doodle-Do
06/25/60 Robert McKimson
Foghorn takes Junior out camping. Of course, every lesson Foghorn tries to teach the bright lad is answered by a better solution from Egghead Jr. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Egghead Jr.
The Dixie Fryer
09/24/60 Robert McKimson
In a departure from his normal role as predator / nuisance, Foghorn takes a trip to south of the "Masie-Dixie" line and finds himself the target of two hungry chickenhawks, Elvis and Pappy (the same ones who tried to get Bugs Bunny once). He doesn't have to try very hard two outsmart those two and they eventually give up. Foghorn Leghorn
Strangled Eggs
03/18/61 Robert McKimson
In search of warmer living quarters for winter, Foghorn woos Miss Prissy. Things seem to be going his way until Henery shows up as a foundling on the doorstep. Foggy sets out to convince Henery that he (Henery) is a chicken, but to no avail. His attempts to get rid of Henery also prove to be futile. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Prissy, Henery
The Slick Chick
07/21/62 Robert McKimson
This cartoon puts Foghorn into the role of babysitter for Junior, the son of Widder Hen. As it turns out, Junior is a born trouble-maker who spends the day pulling pranks on Foggy, who eventually decides that the kid is trouble. LT Foghorn Leghorn
Mother Was a Rooster
10/20/62 Robert McKimson
Dawg pulls the first prank, putting an ostrich egg under Foghorn, who thinks he is a mother after he notices it. Foggy proceeds to try to raise the ostrich, but Dawg is constantly working to undermine the ostrich's self-confidence. This leads to climatic fight between Foggy and Dawg. MM Foghorn Leghorn, Dawg
Banty Raids
06/29/63 Robert McKimson
Foggy is duped into parenthood again, this time by a beatnik rooster who pretends to be an orphan on his doorstep. But his real purpose is to get in to see the "chicks". Foggy keeps trying to teach him how to outsmart Dawg, while "sonny boy" just wants to sneak off to see the chicks. Dawg gets the upper hand in the end however. MM Foghorn Leghorn
Miscellaneous Cameos, Movie and TV Appearances
False Hare 07/16/64 Foghorn Leghorn
Bugs Bunny
Big Bad Wolf
Big Bad Wolf's nephew In the final Bugs Bunny cartoon made at the old Warner Bros cartoon studio, Foghorn appears in a brief cameo at the end. When Big Bad asks "I wonder if anyone would join a chicken club?" Foghorn pops out of a tree and responds "Did somebody mention my name?".
Bugs Bunny's Wild World of Sports 02/15/79 Too many to mention
The WB sportsman of the year award is given after showing an assortment of sports-related WB cartoons. Foghorn Leghorn in Raw! Raw! Rooster was included in these. By the way, Foghorn wins the sportsman of the year award.
The Bugs Bunny Mother's Day Special 05/12/79 Too many to mention
A collection of WB cartoons with mom as the common theme. One of the cartoons was Foghorn Leghorn in Mother Was a Rooster.
Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol 11/27/79 Too many to mention
This cartoon was part of the special Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales. It is a Looney Tunes version of Charles Dickens’s classic tale with Yosemite Sam as Scrooge. Foghorn appears in a minor role as part of a group of carolers.
The Yolks On You 4/01/80 Foghorn Leghorn
Miss Prissy
Sylvester
Daffy Duck
Part of the special Daffy Duck's Easter Special, this cartoon has a brief part for Foghorn in which he orders the hens to make colored Easter eggs. Prissy lays a golden egg, but it's the wrong color so she throws it out. The rest of the cartoon involves Sylvester and Daffy fighting over the egg.
Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island 08/05/83 Too many to mention
This was one of several movies Warner Bros with a plot designed to let them show a series of their existing cartoons. In this case, footage from 2 Foghorn Leghorn cartoons appeared: Banty Raids and Of Rice and Hen.
Carrotblanca 1995
8-minute Looney Tunes cartoon originally shown in cinemas alongside The Amazing Panda Adventure, and subsequently released on video packaged with older Looney Tunes cartoons.
A parody of Casablanca, the short involves all the major Looney Tunes characters in roles from the film, including Bugs Bunny as Rick, Daffy Duck as Sam, and Pepe Le Pew as Captain Renault. Some characters use their real names, others the names of the characters in the original film, or parodic versions.
A German secret document is stolen and Usmarte (Tweety Pie as Ugarte), the actual thief, lures Bugs Bunny into taking it. General Pandemonium (Yosemite Sam as Major Strasser) gets a frantic call from Foghorn Leghorn saying the secret document might be in the CarrotBlanca hotel.
Space Jam 1996 Many LT characters
Michael Jordan
Feature film about a basketball game between the Looney Tunes (with Michael Jordan) and some aliens from Moron Mountain (who have stolen the talents of several NBA stars). Foghorn Leghorn and Barnyard Dawg appear a number of times, including on the court as part of the "Tune Squad". Just about every Looney Tune character gets at least a cameo in this picture.
Pullet Surprise 1997 Foghorn Leghorn
Pete Puma
Theatrical short released with Cats Don't Dance. The plot centers on Pete Puma trying to raid a henhouse (for a meal) but Foggy sees him and spends the time teasing him with various schemes.
Campbell's Soup (TV Commercials) Late 70s-Early 80s Foghorn Leghorn
Two commercials for Campbell's Chicken Alphabet and Meatball Alphabet Soup. One featuring an unidentified cow who, instead of mooing said "M-m-meatballs". The other featured Toro the Bull from the Warner Brothers' classic "Bully For Bugs".
Oscar Meyer (TV Commercials) Early 80s Foghorn Leghorn
Two commercials for Oscar Meyer wieners combining animation with live action, both with little kids and Foggy as the foil. One was Foggy showing a boy different ways to dress up their hot dogs. The other was Foggy as a hot dog vender unsuccessfully offering different condiments to his customer (a little girl). Both times the kids ate their frankfurters as finger food.
KFC (TV Commercial) 1987 Foghorn Leghorn
Henery Hawk
TV commercial for Kentucky Fried Chicken. You can hear the commercial in real audio format at the site: The Looney Tunes in RealAudio! .
MCI (TV Commercial) 1998 Foghorn Leghorn
Michael Jordan TV ad for MCI long distance in which Michael Jordan imitates and irritates Foghorn Leghorn by making a "bird call".
Looney Tunes: Back in Action 2003 Foghorn Leghorn
Foghorn appears as a poker dealer at Yosemite Sam's casino.
[edit] Trivia
•Foghorn Leghorn's Tiny Toons equivalent is a chicken called "Fowlmouth," who truly lives up to his name when he speaks. Except around younger creatures (which the other Toonsters use to assist him in overcoming his potty mouth). Unlike Foghorn however, Fowlmouth speaks with a New York/New Jersey-accent.
•On an episode of The Simpsons, Carl Carlson is said to have a tattoo of Foghorn Leghorn on his thigh.
•On an episode of Friends, Rachel and Phoebe decide to get tattoos. Although Phoebe is set on having a tattoo of a lilly (named after her mother) she gets excited when she sees a picture of Foghorn Leghorn on the wall.
