by

On Beep Beep

Here’s one for the ages, so for those who don’t know the words, look below the video.

If you’re on the highway and Road Runner goes beep beep.
Just step aside or might end up in a heap.
Road Runner, Road Runner runs on the road all day.
Even the coyote can’t make him change his ways.

Road Runner, the coyote’s after you.
Road Runner, if he catches you you’re through.
Road Runner, the coyote’s after you.
Road Runner, if he catches you you’re through.

That coyote is really a crazy clown,
When will he learn he can never mow him down?
Poor little Road Runner never bothers anyone,
Just runnin’ down the road’s his idea of having fun.
Lyrics source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com

History
Created by Chuck Jones (Interview with him below) for Warner Brothers Merrie Melodies

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48 shorts (majority by Chuck Jones) with Wile E Coyote (his tribute here)

First: Fast and Furry-ous (Sept. 17, 1949)

Last: Sugar and Spies (1966) (directed by Robert McKimson)

Beep Prepared (1961) received an Academy Award nomination

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Additional TIdbits
Road Runner only vocalizes “Beep, Beep” by Paul Julian

#38 (with Wile E Coyote) on TV Guide’s list of 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters

Road Runner also known as Acceleratii incredibus, Velocitus tremenjus, Hot-roddicus supersonicus, Speedipus Rex, Velocitus delectiblus, Delicius delicius, Dig-outius tid-bittius, Tastyus supersonicus, Birdibus zippibus, Birdius high-ballius, Burnius-roadibus, Super-sonicus-tastius, Batoutahelius, Velocitus incalcublii, Digoutius-hot-rodis, Fastius tasty-us, Tid-bittius velocitus, Super-Sonnicus idioticus, Disappearialis quickius, Burn-em upus asphaltus, Semper food-ellus, Ultra-sonicus ad infinitum, Boulevardius-burnupius, Morselus babyfatius tastius, Geococcyx californianus

Road Runner cartoons follow the laws of cartoon physics

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See wonderful pics of a real road runner by visiting Cindy Knoke

The Road Runner Show aired on CBS from September 1966 to September 1968

Merged with The Bugs Bunny Show to create The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Hour (1968-1985)

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Comic history includes Dell Comics (1958-1962) and Gold Key (1966-1983)

Enjoy this tribute to Road Runner

69 thoughts on “On Beep Beep”

  1. I did enjoy the Road Runner and in some way felt sorry for the Coyote, never managed to get things right… feel a bit like him with some of my bird photography, never quite manage to capture the shot I want….

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  5. Ah, Frank, that was a wonderful surprise! This guy accompanied my childhood years [he was even on my sheets!] and he was actually responsible for my love for animals. Because of the coyote I learned to respect all beings. Amazing what a cartoon can do to a child’s mind! Needless to say that I still expect some justice for poor coyote! 🙂 Have a great weekend! 🙂

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  8. Now there is a cartoon I enjoyed and still do. If the grandkids are watching cartoons, I switch the tv from the modern cartoon crap to some Looney Tunes channel. There is just no comparison. Burn-em upus asphaltus is one of the best ever.

    In September, we went to OK to visit our son. While driving to a hiking location, we saw a road runner. I think that is the first time I ever saw one.

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    • Jim,
      I did a quick search for a RR distribution map, which is basically from Louisiana’s eastern border, but to the southern Missouri border, then westward to California. … and yes, they don’t make them like they used to, and it’s not even close.

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  9. My dad liked to cook breakfast on Sat. morning. He was a terrible cook. He would make eggs and fried potatoes (a little burnt on the outside and a little raw in the middle – I had to cover them with ketchup to eat them) and we would eat breakfast and watch the Bugs n RR hour. I remember doing that for years n years on Sat’s with him. (thanks for the memories, Frank!)

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  11. Loved the history video of the Roadrunner cartoons, especially the story of the “beep beep” and the cartoon drawing. I must admit that the scene of the coyote with binoculars in the “Fast and Furry-ous” cartoon reminded me a lot of my dog by the front door, ogling the squirrels and chipmunks that she is committed to chasing. Thanks for the Saturday morning fun, Frank!

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  12. i’m surprised you hadn’t done this one before because of its popularity – at least with me. and isn’t it all about me? loved the episodes in which the only dialogue at all was “beep beep.” although there is controversy over whether it was “beep” or “meep.” loved the fake holes that the coyote would employ and then fall through himself. the giant magnets, roller-skate/jetpack, and other devices from Acme.

    and don’t forget this moment…

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  17. We used to visit my husband’s sister in Arizona and watch the road runners. To a one, every adult would always give a “beep beep” I loved Wile E. Coyote and always enjoyed the Road Runner cartoons. These are such fun video clips. They bring back lots of memories. 🙂

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  19. We all respected Wilie E. Coyote for his tenacity, but wondered if he had heard the old saying “There’s no education the second time you’re kicked by a mule.”

    Also wondering the what/where of your new Deep Space header? (From the Hubble telescope I presume)

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  20. I LOVE the roadrunner, Frank. It was always my favorite show as a kid and I still like it. The coyote always got hammered from his own machinations. I guess a lesson that we’re always the ones responsible for our own choices? Anyway, I’ll never forget the first time I saw a real roadrunner in New Mexico – I was so excited! And I thought: he looks like the one in the cartoons! 🙂 Great post, as usual.
    Cathy

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    • Cayman,
      Cheers to your love for RR cartoons. After all, I wonder how many one couldn’t enjoy them!

      Meanwhile, the Bengals are up 14-0 on the J-E-T-S, so I hope the same doesn’t happen as it did to your team who was up by the same score.

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  23. Are you testing us Frank? That “Fast and Furry-ous” you posted is a very well made fake! The Coyote in every Warner Brothers Roadrunner cartoon never caught the Road Runner, but here he does! Whoever posted it on YouTube was very careful with what they called it: “Coyotte & Bip-Bip”. Here’s the “true story” of what happened in “Fast and Furry-ous”:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_and_Furry-ous

    I loved these characters and they’re in many of the most inventive gags Chuck Jones ever created. I especially loved the Coyote’s use of blueprints. You’d think the government would value an ingenious mind like his, but alas, if the Coyote had a real job, there would be no more chases. Did I ever send you the link to his lawsuit vs. Acme as written by the humorist Ian Frazier?

    http://www.jamesfuqua.com/lawyers/jokes/coyote-acme.shtml

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