# Explain this joke from a Looney Toon cartoon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** cartoons-animation\ **Created:** [November 14, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571 "2020-11-14T12:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/1 "2020-11-14T12:30:30Z")
I stumbled across this compendium of old cartoons recently. And the very first one on the attached link is a Looney Toons cartoon called “Daffy-The Commando”. It’s a World War II era cartoon where Daffy Duck plays a commando who parachutes into German territory. Just after he lands the German commander is approaching him (to bonk him with a mallet) Daffy pulls down a grey blind labelled “asbestos” (from thin air above his head - of course!). This makes the German commander hesitate for a second and then lift the blind up to see Duffy in behind it, doing his typical Daffy antics. I don’t get the “asbestos” joke, why would the blind be labelled “asbestos”. What would this have meant to the 1940s audience? The scene takes place about 3:20 into the attached video link. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pvGFo-B68D0/maxresdefault.jpg "Looney Tunes 1932-1960 | 5 Hours Compilation | Bugs Bunny | Daffy Duck | Porky Pig | Chuck Jones") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvGFo-B68D0) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/2 "2020-11-14T13:03:35Z")
After a series of disastrous fires, movie theaters started using asbestos screens which could be raised or lowered when appropriate. > **[Asbestos Use and Exposure Risks at Movie Theaters | Asbestos 123](https://www.asbestos123.com/news/asbestos-exposure-risks-at-movie-theaters/)** > > People who have worked in theaters around asbestos curtains and have developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease are eligible to seek legal compensation. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/3 "2020-11-14T13:04:01Z")
Theater curtains were sometimes made of asbestos in case a fire broke out onstage. The asbestos curtain would be lowered to keep it from spreading and allow the audience to exit safely. I don’t know if they were labeled, but they were common enough. This was before people realized how dangerous asbestos really was. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/4 "2020-11-14T13:56:33Z")
Given the choice of breathing some asbestos fibers for a few minutes or being immolated, I’ll take the former. While asbestos-caused mesothelioma is undeniably bad, most of the victims worked with the stuff, often for years. Most of the US victims, some 100,000, were shipbuilders during WWII. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/5 "2020-11-14T14:02:09Z")
**Modnote** : could be an interesting subject of its own thread. But let’s not debate Asbestos in a Cafe Thread about a Looney Toon. (_remember, this is not a warning, just a guidance_) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/6 "2020-11-14T14:03:30Z")
Here’s an image of an [asbestos curtain](https://i.redd.it/9abn07z9v0811.jpg) in an old theater. I believe they often were labelled, possibly to reassure theater audiences of fire safety. I recall seeing such images in other old cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/7 "2020-11-14T14:14:13Z")
Now I’m curious. Was that curtain the one ordinarily rung down or was it deployed only in emergencies? I’ve never considered the question before. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/8 "2020-11-14T14:17:16Z")
Daffy is pretending to be onstage - with the searchlight being treated like a stage spotlight. The German enlisted man is completely fooled, and is just sitting in his camp chair applauding Daffy’s antics. The officer is a little smarter, so Daffy pulls another trick to convince him he’s watching a show - the stage curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/9 "2020-11-14T14:21:01Z")
The label helps distinguish it specifically as a stage curtain as opposed to window, shower, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/10 "2020-11-14T14:21:07Z")
The fire curtain is separate from the main drape. They are still required on stages, and are rigged with a quick deployment system. IIRC the fire curtain comes down if the sprinklers go off. Stage sets can’t be made to block deployment. It’s occasionally annoying when trying to design a set. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/11 "2020-11-14T14:38:08Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Now I’m curious. Was that curtain the one ordinarily rung down or was it deployed only in emergencies? I’ve never considered the question before. Per Wiki’s article on [safety curtains:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_curtain) > [@](#): > > It can also be [flown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_system) in and out, as regulations in some jurisdictions state that it must be shown to the [audience](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audience), to prove its effective operation, for a certain amount of time during every [performance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance). This usually occurs during the [intermission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermission). So it would not be raised or lowered as often as a regular curtain, but the audience would see it at some point, including the “asbestos” label. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/12 "2020-11-14T15:00:21Z")
Makes sense, especially the labeling. In a similar vein, back in the nitrate film days, the projection booth in a movie theater would be more or less fireproof and there was a fusible link in the cable holding the doors to the windows the projectors shined through open. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/13 "2020-11-14T17:33:59Z")
Thanks for the replies - ignorance completely fought. I’ve never heard of the theatre asbestos fire curtains before. That makes complete sense. I imagine that in hindsight I could’ve put this into the “Jokes that need explaining nowadays” thread as well. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/14 "2020-11-15T04:52:01Z")
_Mandela Effect Alert:_ It’s actually **Looney Tunes** , and not, as many misremember, **Looney Toons**. And I say that as one who used to think this too. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/15 "2020-11-15T13:51:49Z")
In the opening to this classic cartoon, the “Mean Old Queen” is so rich, she has **“EVERYTHING!”** A part of the joke that most people would miss nowadays is that she was a WWII hoarder (and probably black marketeer), because most everything that’s shown (e.g., tires, coffee, sugar) was rationed during the war. I had to explain this to my daughter when she and I watched it together. I’m spoilering this link because those with tender sensibilities would no doubt find the cartoon extremely offensive. If you want to watch it, go ahead. You have been warned! [Merrie Melodies - Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs (WWII cartoon 1943).mpg - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT2LSB1Bz2o) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/16 "2020-11-15T13:52:33Z")
Right, compare to Merry Melodies. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/17 "2020-11-15T14:35:17Z")
There is no need to put a YouTube link in a spoiler box. 🙄 This is the second post of yours today I’ve read complaining about people with “tender sensibilities.” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/18 "2020-11-15T14:40:22Z")
**Modnote** : Better safe than sorry. That video is probably not workplace safe at very least. Any complaints about **terentii** ’s posting choices should not be here anyway. If you feel the need, you have the pit. Please not, this is not a warning. Just a note. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/19 "2020-11-15T16:22:43Z")
That’s a complaint? 😲 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571/20 "2020-11-15T22:22:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Right, compare to Merry Melodies. Yeah, _Looney Tunes_ and _Merrie Melodies_ are all parodies of Disney’s _Silly Symphonies_. It’s “Looney Tunes” that seems to have managed to stick around most prominently out of all those. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-joke-from-a-looney-toon-cartoon/925571.md?page=2)