Bugs playing an exploding piano set up by Yosemite Sam in "Ballot Box Bunny"
The "Exploding Piano Gag" (also known as the Xylophone Gag[1]) is a recurring gag in Looney Tunes. It was first introduced by director Bob Clampett in the Private Snafu short "Booby Traps", although in the original case it was a generic piano trap in a saloon set up by the Germans of World War II. It was later adopted and developed by director Friz Freleng in its more known format.
The gag often features the cartoon's antagonist rigging a C-note key with dynamite, then tricking the protagonist into playing "Those Endearing Little Charms". Naturally, the protagonist skips over the rigged key, and the antagonist tells them to try again; after the same thing happens once or twice, the antagonist exasperatedly shows them how to play the song correctly, resulting in them being blown up instead. This was averted in "Slappy Goes Walnuts", where Doug the Dog is immediately blown up without having to show how to play the song correctly, to which Slappy confirms "Old gag, new twist."
In most instances, a piano is used for the gag. In "Show Biz Bugs", a xylophone is used instead, and in the ending of "Booby Traps", a harp was used as well.
Usage[]
| Cartoon | User | Intended Victim |
|---|---|---|
| "Booby Traps" | Private Snafu | |
| "Ballot Box Bunny" | Yosemite Sam | Bugs Bunny |
| "Show Biz Bugs" | Daffy Duck | |
| "Rushing Roulette" | Wile E. Coyote | Road Runner |
| "Slappy Goes Walnuts" | Doug the Dog | Slappy Squirrel |