Joseph Barbera and Hanna worked alongside animator Tex Avery, who had created Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny for Warner Bros. and directed "Droopy" cartoons at MGM. In 1940, Hanna and Barbera jointly directed "Puss Gets the Boot", which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best (Cartoon) Short Subject. The studio wanted a diversified cartoon portfolio, so despite the success of "Puss Gets the Boot", Barbera and Hanna's supervisor, Fred Quimby, did not want to produce more cat and mouse cartoons believing that there were already enough cartoons of those in existence. Surprised by the success of "Puss Gets the Boot", Barbera
Dixieland Droopy him throughout the city (while the fleas take a smoke break). The pursuit continues with the owner chasing Droopy inside Jazza Plaza. Droopy ultimately escapes the owner by hiding inside a theatrical agent's office, and when the agent who doesn't approve of dog acts, demands that Droopy leave, but he retracts when he hears the flea band, mistakenly believes that Pettybone is making the music himself. Pettybone becomes famous as "John Pettybone, Dog of Mystery", and realizes his dream of playing the Hollywood Bowl. As the cartoon concludes with a close-up of the flea circus band, the narrator states that