When did Paramount drop plans to distribute Coonskin?
Bakshi: They never did. Frank Yablans was then the head of Paramount. He thought it was sensational. Then Yablans got fired, and Barry Diller took over. [Note to animation fans: Diller is widely considered to be the model for evil tycoon J. Montgomery Burns on The Simpsons]. We were showing Coonskin at the Museum of Modern Art, and the Committee on Racial Equality [CORE] surrounds the building-no one had seen the film yet. The protest’s leader was the young Al Sharpton. I asked Sharpton why he didn’t come in and see the movie, and he announced, “I don’t got to see shit; I can smell shit!” He brought in some bruisers, and I could hear them asking, “Should we beat him up or cool it?” “Ah, let’s watch the film” After the screening, Sharpton charged up to the screen, but there wasn’t anyone behind him. He could hear voices behind him, “It wasn’t that bad!” Next the picketers surround Paramount Building in New York City. Diller was in town for the day, and he’s going, “Bakshi? Who is Bakshi
