Fleischer Studios Blog

Welcome to our first guest contributor, Bob Jaques!

5/26/2016

Drawing by animator Abner Kneitel. While working as an animator, Ozark did sports cartoons on the side. This gag cartoon is in reference to the horse races at the Hialeah Park Racetrack that he frequented.

We are thrilled to celebrate Memorial Day, and all our men and women in uniform, with the help of our very first guest contributor Bob Jaques. An acclaimed animation producer and director - currently an Animation Director working on SpongeBob Squarepants, Jaques is a self proclaimed Fleischer Studios fanatic. His blog Popeye Cartoons celebrates, as he states, "the most amazing cartoon character ever created."

An avid amateur animation historian, Jaques comes to us with the fascinating story of Jack Ozark, Fleischer animator turned World War II code-breaker (one of many animators to use his very special set of skills while serving in the armed forces during the War).

This fascinating exhibit includes a number of wonderful drawings that his fellow animators created for Ozark during his time in the service. It's a wonderful tribute to an amazing animator and serviceman, and an important reminder of the power of humor and friendship - even in the most difficult of circumstances.

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Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Fleischer Studios!

11/26/2015

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Betty Boop's Veterans Day Salute!

11/11/2015

Betty Boop in "There's Something About a Soldier" (1934)

Today we're marking Veterans Day by honoring some of the talented and brave members of the Fleischer Studios family who served in a wide range of capacities during World War II.

Although it's not widely known, a considerable number of animators served in World War II.

While some saw combat, many were called on to use their special blend of artistic talent and technical know-how to create training and educational films for our troops. Still others worked with the signal corp developing and managing communications, and others were enlisted by the government to create films that would help to build morale at home, and encourage Americans to do their part, whether it be by donating scrap metal or buying war bonds.

This historic photo, taken in front of the Fleischer Studio's Miami home, serves to commemorate some of the brave members of the Fleischer Studio family who served their country during World War II.

Myron Waldman (in the photo above, front row and third from the left) enlisted in the Signal Corp and worked with Frank Capra on the Why We Fight series which was created to show American soldiers the reason for U.S. involvement in the war, and later to the public to encourage American support for involvement in the war.

One Fleischer animator who saw combat was Willard Bowsky. Having started with the Studio in the 1920's in New York, Bowsky - whose work can be seen in Talkartoon, Color Classics and Screen Song (Bouncing Ball) films, as well as dozens of classic Betty Boop and Popeye cartoon shorts - moved with the Studio to Florida in 1938, and enlisted in the Army in 1942.

Insignia designed by Willard Bowsky

Eventually assigned to the 14th Armored Division, Bowsky served as platoon leader with fifty men under his command in the 94th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Utilizing his artistic skills, he also designed the unit’s insignia.

Willard Bowsky

On November 27, 1944, Second Lieutenant Willard Bowsky was killed in action in the midst of a night time fire-fight near Metz, France.

Willard Bowsky was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, and is interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France.

On this Veterans Day, as we revisit and honor these great heroes of yesteryear, all of us at Fleischer Studios want to offer up our heart felt gratitude and admiration to to the courageous men and women - heroes all - who continue to fight for us today.

References:
Animation: Who and Where
Mayerson on Animation
Willard Bowsky on Wikipedia
World War II and Animation

Thanks for all you do!

Join Betty Boop for National Love Your Red Hair Day!

11/5/2015

Sometimes it seems like there is a national holiday for everything, so it might surprise you to discover that November 5, 2015 is the very first ever National Love Your Red Hair Day!!!

What does a day for redheads have to do with Betty Boop?

While we tend to remember Betty as having black hair, she did - for one film - sport a vibrant red do: the 1934 Color Classic Poor Cinderella.

Why was Betty's hair red? Check out Poor Cinderella in our Theater now and find out the answer to this intriguing question and watch this glorious, and very special, film.

Celebrate Grandparents Day with Betty Boop & Grampy!

9/13/2015

Click here to watch Betty and Grampy

It's Grandparents Day, the perfect day to celebrate the love and wisdom bestowed upon us by those special people who come into our lives as simply as Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Pop-pop, Bubby and Pawpaw, Oma and Opa, or Grammy and Grampy. Call them what you will, more often than not, we all know that our own Grandparents are, without a doubt, the absolute best in the world!

At Fleischer Studios, we're celebrating this very special holiday with Betty and Grampy (1935), the first screen appearance of that wacky, wonderful and just plain unstoppable genius called simply Grampy.

From the moment he burst to wonderful life, Grampy was the quintessential grandparent: wise, warm, always ready for fun and full of surprises.

Grampy's ingeniously complicated inventions are often referred to as "Rube Goldberg" machines. As it turns out, this may be no coincidence. Goldberg, a cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor was already well known by the time Grampy first appeared in 1935.

Goldberg was so well-know that by 1931 the Merriam-Webster dictionary had already adopted the phrase "Rube Goldberg" as an adjective defined as accomplishing something simple through complicated means.

Interestingly, Goldberg was born on July 4, 1883 - just two weeks before Max Fleischer himself was born on July 19, 1883!

Many believe Grampy is based chiefly on Max himself, which is also possible. Max, like Grampy, was a life-long tinkerer and inventor with numerous patents to his name. Although he is best remembered for his inventions and innovations in the area of animation, Max actually held a number of patents for some very Grampy-like inventions, including a "Never-Wind" clock!

Max Fleischer himself would go on to become much-beloved grandfather of six, all of whom called him "PopMax." He even lived long enough to meet and enjoy many of his sixteen great-grandchildren before passing away in 1972.

Of course the important thing is that, wherever he came from, Grampy - like most grandparents - holds a very special place in our hearts. We hope you enjoy Betty and Grampy, and share it with someone who makes your heart dance.

And if you need even MORE Grampy, check our YouTube Channel for even more fun-filled films featuring that irrepressible scamp, Grampy!

Fleischer Studios Flag Day Trivia!

6/14/2015

Who are the people in this photo?

Answer: Max Fleischer's children: Ruth and Richard!

Taken about 1918 (& likely on Flag Day), this would have been taken only about
three years after President Wilson first declared July 19th as Flag Day.

Ruth went on to work in Fleischer Studios (she was also a performer and was played a featured role in the Carrie of the Chorus series), and married Head Animator Seymour Kneitel.

Richard went on to become an award-winning film director whose credits include
movie classics such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), The Narrow Margin (1952), Soylent Green (1973), The Vikings (1958), Compulsion (1959), Fantastic Voyage (1966) and The Boston Strangler (1968).

Happy Mothers Day!!!

5/10/2015

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Fleischer Studios!

Whether you're celebrating your own Mom, the kids who made you a mom, or the loving, nurturing spirit of the day, Mothers Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the ones who make you feel loved!

And if you're still looking for what to get that very special Betty Boop fan this Mothers Day, check out the gorgeous Betty Boop Roses in the photo above - yes, Betty Boop really does have a variety of rose named for her. They are the perfect way to make someone's day!

Visit A Very Fleischer Christmas Exhibit and download your FREE Betty Boop Holiday Cards!

12/10/2014

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We're thrilled to announce the launch of our latest exhibit: A Very Fleischer Christmas!

Christmas was a special time at Fleischer Studios. The joy of the season offered studio artists the perfect opportunity to exercise their special brand of zaniness for their own - and each other's - enjoyment.

Now, thanks to this exhibit, we can share the joy and zaniness of having A Very Fleischer Christmas with all of you!

Not only does this exhibit include images from the Fleischer Family Collection of historic, hand drawn Holiday Cards by some of our greatest animators; it even includes actual footage from the Studio's 1935 Holiday Party!

As if all that was't enough, the exhibit also includes a collection of 6 ready-to-download Holiday Cards that were specially created for the launch of this exhibit!

Don't miss this very special exhibit celebrating this most special time of year!