I wonder how many people today know what a "hurdy-gurdy" is? According to the Wikipedia, it is "a stringed musical instrument in which the strings are sounded by means of a rosined wheel which the strings of the instrument pass over. This wheel, turned with a crank, functions much like a violin bow. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents (small wedges, usually made of wood) against one or more of these strings to change their vibrating length, and therefore pitch."
I first remember hearing the term when Donovan had his hit song in 1968 called "The Hurdy Gurdy Man." That's still a great song, and was featured in the recent film, "Zodiac."
Anyway, Bugs is in Central Park in New York and comes across a classified ad in the newspaper stating "Hurdy Gurdy and monkey for sale cheap."
"Hey, I'll go into the music business," he says. Pretty soon, he's walking down the streets of New York pulling this big instrument and having a little chimp sitting on top. Bugs finds out quickly that the little simian is holding out on him with the tip money, so he boots him out and decides to imitate the chimp himself. "Who needs that chiseler," he thinks.
The fun starts when the chimp goes to the zoo and informs this humongous ape what happened to him and the big gorilla breaks out and goes looking for Bugs!
I first remember hearing the term when Donovan had his hit song in 1968 called "The Hurdy Gurdy Man." That's still a great song, and was featured in the recent film, "Zodiac."
Anyway, Bugs is in Central Park in New York and comes across a classified ad in the newspaper stating "Hurdy Gurdy and monkey for sale cheap."
"Hey, I'll go into the music business," he says. Pretty soon, he's walking down the streets of New York pulling this big instrument and having a little chimp sitting on top. Bugs finds out quickly that the little simian is holding out on him with the tip money, so he boots him out and decides to imitate the chimp himself. "Who needs that chiseler," he thinks.
The fun starts when the chimp goes to the zoo and informs this humongous ape what happened to him and the big gorilla breaks out and goes looking for Bugs!