ABC’s News-Making “Hot Wheels” Cartoon on Records
The first toy-driven Saturday morning series inspired more than just negative pushback—it created an historic start-up opportunity and a groovy soundtrack LP.
Warner Club News (1958) – Part 2
I’m afraid the Bugs Bunny Lari-Loop Larriette was no hula-hoop or coon-skin cap… but nice try!
That First Step… Is a “Lulu”!
At Paramount Pictures offices in New York, the “Little Lulu” series of cartoons must have seemed a dream come true. And, of course, a theme song was in order.
The Secret Sauce in Disney Animated Films
One of the questions that I get asked most often is: what’s the secret to the continuing success of Disney animated films? Here’s my thoughts on that matter.
Animation Anecdotes #366
Richard Williams’ The Thief and the Cobbler project went through many different working titles throughout the thrity-one years it was in production.
“A is for Atom” (1952) … and the Frustrations of Dealing With Deteriorating Physical Media
This 15 minute short, produced for General Electric, does a pretty good job explaining some fairly complex ideas, presenting them to a (presumedly) High School Audience.
Publicity Art for Disney’s “Victory Through Air Power” (1943)
That didn’t mean they couldn’t enlist the standard characters (Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Goofy, etc) to help promote the picture. In fact, I don’t think they could help it.
Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh & Tigger Too” on Records
The last Pooh featurette to be released during Disneyland Records’ original vinyl era was also the only one to feature Paul Winchell as Tigger—and win a Grammy.
Warner Club News (1958) – Part 1
A final word from Eddie Selzer… Lou Scheimer, Owen Fitzgerald and Sam Armstrong join the studio as layout men… and the new Warner Bros. Commercial and Industrial Films Division opens.
Jerry Beck is a writer, animation producer, college professor and author of more than 15 books on animation history. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon Movies and Disney, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He has curated cartoons for DVD and Blu-ray compilations and has lent his expertise to dozens of bonus documentaries and audio commentaries on such. Beck is currently on the faculty of CalArts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
