The Ray Abrams Archives – Part 3: Cowboys, Co-Workers and Polo Ponies
Some more momentos from the archives of veteran Lantz/MGM animator Ray Abrams. This time a few items that reflect his personal interests – and his art.
Four Brothers Named Mills
A number of artists appeared in the Fleischer Screen Songs cartoons. One act not only did three Screen Songs cartoons, but had good-natured fun with caricature. That act was the Mills Brothers.
Dreamers Draw Big Eyes
Virgil Ross remembered some fascinating details of his time working with Tex Avery and Ray Abrams at the Universal Cartoon Dept.
Animation Anecdotes #307
The president of Tezuka Productions in Tokyo took note of some apparent similarities between Disney’s The Lion King (1994) and Osamu Tezuka’s TV series Kimba, The White Lion (1965).
The Ray Abrams Archives – Part 2: Envelope Art
Continuing our deep dive through a treasure trove of mementos from veteran animator Ray Abrams (Lantz, MGM, Avery, H-B) courtesy of his son William Abrams.
In Her Own Words: Margaret Kerry and Cambria Productions
I got to spend a few hours with Margaret Kerry and I asked her some questions about Cambria Productions, which produced such unique series as Clutch Cargo and Space Angel.
Filmation’s “Journey Back to Oz” (1974) on Records
How does the soundtrack to Filmation’s seminal animated feature connect with Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, Astro Boy, a Congo airline and a plate of bad shrimp?
The Ray Abrams Archives – Part 1
The son of Lantz animator Ray Abrams has a whole cache of material that his dad saved – staff photos, gag drawings, personal sketches – and he’s graciously sharing them with us.
Popeye Dances Again in “Morning Noon and Night Club” (1937)
Popeye and Olive Oyl take to the dance floor again in 1937’s Morning Noon and Night Club. However, the dance inspiration in this cartoon was rather different from the last outing.
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]
