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47-656: The Centaur Film Company was the first independent motion picture production company in the United States. It was formed in 1907 by David Horsley , operator of a successful bicycle business and pool parlor in Bayonne, New Jersey , with his brother William Horsley and Charles Gorman, a screenwriter for the Biograph Company . The company's first production was The Cowboy's Escape , a one-reel short film released September 15, 1908. In 1910 Gorman sold his interest in

94-724: A film studio appears to have existed in Bayonne, New Jersey, until the opening of Nestor Studios Hollywood in 1912. The name used again (1916 to 1919, by David Horsley after he sold his shares in Universal Pictures . The "Centaur Film Company" name appears on 55 films (1916 to 1919) - Pictures released by different film distributors ( Mutual Film (1915–1916 )- Triangle Distributing Corporation) The "Nestor Film Company" name appears on 184 films (1910 to 1920) - Pictures released by Universal Film Manufacturing Company : Santa Monica Road Race (1912) The "Nestor Film Company"

141-414: A ranch nearby. He and Stafford kept hearing a woodpecker incessantly pecking on their roof. Grace suggested that Walter used the bird for inspiration as a cartoon character. Taking her advice, though a bit skeptical, Lantz created the brash woodpecker character, similar to the early Daffy Duck . Woody Woodpecker became an instant hit and got his own series during 1941. Lantz claimed that Alex Lovy created

188-633: A $ 10,000 scholarship and prize for animators in his name at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Santa Clarita . Lantz died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California from heart failure on March 22, 1994, at age 94. His ashes were interred beside his wife Gracie (1903–1992), at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles County, California, CA., in

235-573: A failed exotic animal show, David Horsley went back into the motion picture business with David Horsley Studios and using the animals from the failed show, established the Bostock Jungle Films Company. By the spring of 1917, he had outfitted his new operations in Los Angeles at Main and Washington streets however a series of setbacks cost Horsley his entire fortune and left him in debt. David Horsley died in Los Angeles. He

282-479: A game of poker, the character would be his. As fate would have it, Lantz won the bet and Oswald was now his character. Lantz inherited many of his initial staff, including animator Tom Palmer and musician Bert Fiske from the Winkler studio, but importantly he chose fellow New York animator Bill Nolan to help develop the series. Nolan's previous credentials included inventing the panorama background and developing

329-733: A name it is a true piece of Hollywood history. In the fall of 1911, the Nestor Motion Picture Company opened the first motion picture studio in Hollywood in the Blondeau Tavern building at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. With Horsley was Al Christie who served as general manager in charge of Christie Comedies plus Charles Rosher who lent his expertise as the studio's full-time cameraman. Other East Coast film companies recognized Horsley's advantage and quickly followed his lead. In April 1912,

376-477: A new, streamlined " Felix the Cat ". Nolan was (and still is) best known for perfecting the "rubber hose" style of animation . In September 1929, Lantz released his first cartoon, " Race Riot ". The character went to Lantz's operation in 1933. By 1935, he parted company with Nolan. Lantz became an independent producer, supplying cartoons to Universal instead of merely overseeing the animation department. By 1940, he

423-452: A publicity film studio in 1927, where he attempted to set up his own cartoon studio with Pinto Colvig , but their sound cartoons never got produced. In the meantime, he worked briefly for director Frank Capra and was a gag writer for Mack Sennett comedies. He also resorted to odd jobs, one of them being a chauffeur. In 1928, Lantz was hired by Charles B. Mintz as director on the Oswald

470-533: A week, including the Mutt and Jeff comedies. David and William Horsley, along with other film independents , succeeded in defeating the monopolistic hold on the industry of Thomas Edison 's Motion Picture Patents Company . However, weather conditions on the East Coast made filming an uncertain proposition because camera technology at the time relied on sunshine. Frustrated, and realizing that California afforded

517-647: A wooden model of Woody Woodpecker from the cartoon character's debut in 1940. The Lantzes also made time to visit hospitals and other institutions where Walter would draw Woody and Grace would do the Woody laugh for patients. During the 1980s and 1990s, Lantz served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute . In 1990, Woody Woodpecker was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1993, Lantz established

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564-614: Is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery , Hollywood. His son David Stanley Horsley (1906–1976) trained as a cinematographer and became an expert in special effects photography, working in the film industry for nearly thirty years. Walter Lantz Walter Benjamin Lantz (April 27, 1899 – March 22, 1994) was an American cartoonist , animator , producer and director best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker . Lantz

611-599: Is one of the nicest, sweetest guys. He was great to pick up talent already developed. The only trouble is, once you've been at Disney's, it was just a job. The people you worked with were second-rate [compared to Disney's], and no extra effort was expected. I wasn't used to that. So as a result, I just got bored there." Another industry veteran, Sid Marcus, replaced Hannah in 1962. Walter Lantz brought his old theatrical cartoons to network television in 1957, with The Woody Woodpecker Show (1957-58). Each half-hour program featured new live-action segments with Lantz himself, hosting

658-527: The Hanna-Barbera TV-cartoon company. While the animation departments of other studios like Paramount and Terrytoons were being entrusted to younger creative directors, Walter Lantz preferred established, veteran directors of the 1930s and '40s. Lantz replaced Lovy with Disney director Jack Hannah . Hannah brought his own sense of humor to the studio, but soon became disillusioned by the Lantz studio's lower standards: "Walter Lantz himself

705-619: The John R. Bray Studios on the Jerry on the Job series. In 1924, Lantz directed, animated and even starred in his first cartoon series "Dinky Doodle", which included the popular fairy tale animated shorts Cinderella (1925) and Little Red Riding Hood (1925). Lantz soon replaced George "Vernon" Stallings as head of production at Bray in 1924. At the urging of his friend Robert G. Vignola , Lantz moved to Hollywood, California , after Bray switched to

752-547: The Motion Picture Patents Company . This brought the Horsleys into the patents war, and they became the first independent producers." Actors working for Centaur included Francis Ford , who joined the company around 1908 and inspired his younger brother John Ford to also enter the film industry. Motion picture industry pioneer Al Christie began his filmmaking career at Centaur in 1909. By 1910,

799-703: The Universal Film Manufacturing Company was formed and David Horsley and other small studios merged, each accepting shares in Universal as payment for their business. Horsley received $ 175,000 in preferred stock and $ 204,000 in common stock in the new Universal Film Company and was also appointed the company's treasurer. However, the peaceful merger soon turned sour and in 1913 Horsley sold his interest to Carl Laemmle . A wealthy man, David Horsley travelled to his birthplace and around Europe. After returning to California, and investing in

846-475: The 1939–1940 production season. The woodpecker himself, Woody Woodpecker , made his first appearance in an Andy Panda short entitled Knock Knock on November 25, 1940. Less than a year later on August 29, 1941, Lantz married actress Grace Stafford in Reno, Nevada (he was previously married to and had a child with Doris Hollister). According to Lantz himself, he came up with the character during his honeymoon at

893-499: The 1960s when Disney withdrew their license and started their own home movie division. The company was later known as Hollywood Film and Video, Inc. William was David's silent partner in "David Horsley Productions" (1916 to 1919) 17 films between 1916 and 1919 listed in the Internet Movie Data base (IMDb) and possibly the 55 films (1916 to 1919) released using "The Centaur Film Company" Name. "Centaur Film Company", as

940-460: The Lantz studio, where he directed four cartoons in 1954–55: Crazy Mixed Up Pup , Sh-h-h-h-h-h , and the Chilly Willy cartoons I'm Cold and The Legend of Rockabye Point . Avery's wild approach to cartoon gags influenced the Lantz staff and temporarily revitalized the Lantz cartoons; The Legend of Rockabye Point and Crazy Mixed Up Pup were nominated for Academy Awards . Since

987-720: The Lucky Rabbit cartoon series for Universal Pictures . Earlier that year, Mintz and his brother-in-law George Winkler had succeeded in getting several animators from the Walt Disney Studio to work for their own studio instead. Universal president Carl Laemmle grew dissatisfied with the Mintz-Winkler product and fired them, deciding instead to produce the Oswalds on the Universal lot. While schmoozing with Laemmle, Lantz wagered that if he could beat Laemmle in

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1034-521: The Universal company and set up the William Horsley Film Laboratory, later known as Hollywood Film Laboratory, later known as Hollywood Film Enterprises, Inc., devoted exclusively to the developing and printing of 35 mm. films, later known as Hollywood Digital Laboratory. From the 1930s to the 1960s, Hollywood Film Enterprises diversified its activities into the 16mm and 8mm "home movie" area. During those years, they were

1081-427: The beginning of 1949. Financial difficulties forced Lantz to shut down his studio in 1949. Universal-International re-released Lantz's UA cartoons (and several earlier ones) during the shutdown and eventually came to terms with Lantz, who resumed production in 1951. Director Tex Avery had developed a wacky, fast-paced style in his cartoons for Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . Walter Lantz persuaded him to join

1128-605: The bird's voice the following year, starting with The Barber of Seville . Despite this, Blanc's distinctive laugh was still used throughout the cartoons until 1951. In 1948, the Lantz studio created a hit Academy Award -nominated song titled "The Woody Woodpecker Song", featuring Blanc's laugh. The song was featured in the film Wet Blanket Policy . Mel Blanc sued Lantz for half a million dollars, claiming that Lantz had used his voice in later cartoons without permission. The judge ruled for Lantz, saying that Blanc had failed to copyright his voice or his contributions. Though Lantz won

1175-422: The case, he paid Blanc in an out-of-court settlement when Blanc filed an appeal, and Lantz began searching for a new voice for Woody Woodpecker. In 1950, Lantz held anonymous auditions. Grace, Lantz's wife, offered to do Woody's voice, but Lantz turned her down because Woody was a male character. Not discouraged in the least, Grace made her own anonymous audition tape and submitted it to the studio. Not knowing who

1222-440: The company back to the Horsleys, and William Horsley—a silent partner for Centaur's first three years—assumed an active role running the company's laboratory. Cinematographer Charles Rosher , who went to work for Centaur in 1909 recalled, "Well, I won't call it a studio. It was really nothing but a shop, with a lot of bathtubs for developing the film. They used to go out and make pictures with an improvised camera—an infringement of

1269-533: The early 1950s, Walter Lantz had been working faster and cheaper, no longer using the lush, artistic backgrounds and stylings that had distinguished his 1940s work. Lantz, forced to economize, could no longer afford Avery. A salary dispute resulted in Avery leaving the studio, effectively ending Avery's career in theatrical animation. Avery left three new Chilly Willy storyboards behind; these were later made into cartoons by director Alex Lovy . Lovy left in 1959 to join

1316-425: The exclusive distributor of Walt Disney 's cartoons in 8mm and 16mm for home movie and "toy" projectors. HFE also at various times offered Walter Lantz and Hugh Harman - Rudolf Ising cartoons as well; along with home movie reels of Laurel and Hardy , Gene Autry , Roy Rogers , various Hal Roach and Al Christie comedies, and a Tarzan series edited from a silent era serial. They left the home movie business in

1363-632: The fall of 1911 it opened the first motion picture studio in Hollywood, in the Blondeau Tavern building at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street . With Horsley was Al Christie , who served as general manager in charge of Christie Comedies, plus Charles Rosher , who lent his expertise as the studio's full-time cameraman. In 1912 the Horsley Brothers, along with other independents, notably Carl Laemmle and his Independent Motion Picture Company, known as IMP, and Swanson and Ed Porter founded Universal Picture Company, succeeded in defeating

1410-496: The first three cartoons. When Blanc accepted a full-time contract with Warner Bros. , he was replaced as Woody's voice by Danny Webb , who only voiced the character in Pantry Panic before Webb himself was replaced by Kent Rogers . After Rogers went into the service due to World War II , Dick Nelson voiced Woody in 1943's Ration Bored before gagman Ben Hardaway, the man who was the main force behind Knock Knock , became

1457-573: The garage's bulletin board and financed Lantz's studies at the Art Students League of New York . Kafka also helped him land a job as a copy boy at the New York American , owned by William Randolph Hearst . Lantz worked at the newspaper and attended art school at night. By the age of 16, Lantz was working in the animation department of International Film Service studio under director Gregory La Cava . Lantz then worked at

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1504-534: The grocery store at a young age. According to Joe Adamson's biography The Walter Lantz Story , Lantz's father was given his new surname by an immigration official who anglicized it. Walter Lantz was always interested in art, completing a mail-order drawing class at age 12. He was inspired when he saw Winsor McCay 's animated short " Gertie the Dinosaur ". While working as an auto mechanic, Lantz got his first break. Wealthy customer Fred Kafka liked his drawings on

1551-438: The late 1960s, other movie studios had discontinued their animation departments, leaving Lantz as one of two producers still making cartoons for theaters (the other was DePatie-Freleng Enterprises ). Lantz finally closed his studio's doors for good in 1972, because by then, he explained, it was economically impossible to continue producing them and stay in business as rising inflation had strained his profits, and Universal serviced

1598-993: The monopolistic hold on the industry of the Patents Company and General Film Company, in what was known at the time as the Latham Loop controversy. Nestor Studio and Nestor Ranch ranch location were renamed by Carl Laemmle, becoming Universal Studios and the Universal Ranch (First Universal City ) - see "Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Film History" Nestor Studios name appeared on 844 films, from The Blazed Trail (1910) - Nestor Film Company to Ain't Nature Wonderful? (1920) distributor: Universal Film Manufacturing Company (1920) In 1913 David Horsley sold his Universal shares and started David Horsley Productions, producing 17 films in 1916 to 1919, released by different film distributors ( Mutual Film (1915-(1916 - Triangle Distributing Corporation). By 1915 Universal completed

1645-502: The move of its operations (Nestor/ Universal ranch and studio) to the new Universal City (Lankershim), The Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street studio continued as the production location for Nestor Comedies ( Nestor production unit). In 1916 the Oak Crest/Nestor/Universal ranch is leased by Lasky. The Lasky/Famous Players/Paramount Ranch remained as filming location until 1926. In 1916 William Horsley withdrew from

1692-542: The operation was producing three movies a week, including the Mutt and Jeff comedies. "However, weather conditions on the east coast made filming an uncertain proposition because camera technology at the time relied on sunshine." "Frustrated, and realizing that California afforded the opportunity to make films year round, David Horsley moved his operations to the west coast." Centaur changed its name to Nestor Motion Picture Company after its West Coast production unit, and in

1739-528: The opportunity to make films year round, David Horsley moved his operations to the West Coast. Among the first motion pictures ever filmed in Hollywood was taken on October 26, 1911 in the orchards of H J Whitley's estate ( D.W. Griffith filmed Love Among the Roses at the studio of famed French floral painter, Paul de Longpre at his home and studio in Hollywood in 1909). Although the movie never really had

1786-421: The original design for Woody, although many animators at the studio agreed that Ben Hardaway , who liked screwball characters (with him creating the preliminary version of Bugs Bunny ), drew the original design. Hardaway showed a prototype drawing of Woody to voice actor Mel Blanc , asking what he thought of it, to which he jokingly responded "Ugliest damn thing I ever saw". Mel Blanc supplied Woody's voice for

1833-504: The remaining demand with reissues of his older cartoons. In retirement, Lantz continued to manage his properties by licensing them to media. He continued to draw and paint, selling his paintings of Woody Woodpecker rapidly. On top of that, he worked with Little League and other youth groups in his area. In 1982, Lantz donated 17 artifacts to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History , among them

1880-516: The show and demonstrating the animation process. The series, originally telecast on ABC , was later syndicated to local stations until 1966. The Woody Woodpecker Show returned to NBC's Saturday-morning schedule in 1970, minus the live-action appearances by Lantz, and again in 1976. Lantz entertained the troops during the Vietnam War and visited hospitalized veterans. Walter Lantz was a good friend of special-effects animator George Pal . By

1927-410: The studio releasing his cartoons, was jarred when new ownership transformed the company into Universal-International and ended many of Universal's company policies. The new management insisted on owning licensing and merchandising rights to Lantz's characters. Lantz refused and withdrew from the parent company by the end of 1947, releasing 12 cartoons independently through United Artists in 1948 and into

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1974-478: Was behind the voice, Lantz chose Grace's voice for Woody Woodpecker. Grace supplied Woody's voice until the end of production in 1972 and also performed in non-Woody cartoons. At first, Grace voiced Woody without screen credit, thinking that it would disappoint viewers both young and old to know that Woody Woodpecker was voiced by a woman. However, she soon began to enjoy being known as the voice of Woody Woodpecker and, starting with 1958's Misguided Missile , her name

2021-480: Was born in New Rochelle, New York , to Italian immigrant parents Francesco Paolo Lantz (formerly Lanza) from Castiglione Cosentino , Italy and Maria Gervasi (changed to Jarvis to avoid prejudice) from Calitri . Walter's father ran a grocery. His mother, Maria, died while giving birth to Walter's younger brother, Michael Lantz. Walter's father, Francesco, soon became physically incapacitated leaving Walter to run

2068-532: Was born in Stanley, County Durham in northern England. In 1884, the family moved to Bayonne, New Jersey where as a young man he built a bicycle business and ran a pool hall. It was then that he met a former employee of Biograph Studios , Charles Gorman, and along with his brother William Horsley (1870–1956), they formed the Centaur Film Company . By 1910 their operation was producing three films

2115-442: Was credited on the screen. Her version of Woody was cuter and friendlier than the manic Woody of the 1940s, and Lantz's artists redesigned the character to suit the new personality. Grace also recorded her own version of Woody's trademark laugh, which was used in the shorts from 1950's Puny Express onward, but Mel Blanc's voice was still heard saying "Guess who!?" in the opening titles. Lantz's harmonious relationship with Universal,

2162-462: Was negotiating ownership for the characters with whom he had been working. When Oswald had worn out his welcome, Lantz needed a new character. Meany, Miny and Moe (three ne'er-do-well chimps), Baby-Face Mouse, Snuffy Skunk, Doxie (a comic dachshund), and Jock and Jill (monkeys that resembled Warner Brothers ' Bosko ) were some personalities Lantz and his staff came up with. One character, Andy Panda , stood out and soon became Lantz's headline star for

2209-562: Was used as the name of a UnIversal Studios Production units - 660 productions - Universal Film Manufacturing Company (1912–1920) David Horsley David Horsley (March 11, 1873 – February 23, 1933) was an English-American pioneer of the film industry. He founded the Centaur Film Company and its West Coast branch, the Nestor Film Company , which established the first film studio in Hollywood in 1911. Horsley

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