World War Woodpecker, 1941
For $21 a day, once a month, a soldier’s life was just the fit for these characters from Toyland, and Bugs Hardaway was the veteran of a real war who made up the gags.
Tag Archives: Walter Lantz
La Verne Harding and “Cynical Susie”, 1934
Her name appeared daily on this syndicated comic strip, yet she gave it all up for her budding career as an animator at Universal.
Saturday Book Reviews
Another round-up new books of interest for dedicated cartoon historians, die-hard cartoon watchers – and just about anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis.
How To Upstage Kirk Douglas, 1963
Edgar O. Kiechle moved on from Lantz but remained at the studio as a set painter for Universal Pictures, leading to his scene-stealing work in “For Love or Money”.
Manuel Moreno, Lens to Destiny, 1935
Despite offers to work at Disney, this animation director stayed at Universal and was a driving force behind the success of the fledgling Walter Lantz studio.
Tex Avery Under the Razor, 1934
Usually when Lantz got summoned by Henry Henigson, he had to sit around and watch this studio executive get shaved, but then came a surprise call about Tex Avery.
Woody Woodpecker in “Ski For Two” (1944)
Shamus Culhane’s third Woody Woodpecker cartoon transforms him into a glutton, a trait that dominated almost all of his Woody cartoons. Let’s take a visit to Swiss Chard Lodge.
Animation Anecdotes #243
Happy New Year! We start the year with anecdotes on The Reluctant Dragon and Baby Weems, Rankin-Bass and Thundercats, Private Snafu, Yellow Submarine and Walter Lantz’ Jitterbugs.
Tex Avery Chills and Thrills, 1955
There is even more to this Legend of Rockabye Point than at first meets the eye. Decades later, follow a runaway holiday balloon to learn a new secret about the man who gave us Chilly Willy.
Carl Laemmle Opens Universal City, 1915
When the day was over, a pall had been cast over the studio. Perhaps the karmic fate of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit had been foreshadowed too.
