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The Walter Lantz Story
Active in the field of film animation for more than 50 years, Lantz is best known for having created Woody Woodpecker. Adamson, author of several other books on film, including one on animator Tex Avery, here does a good job of informally recounting Lantz's life and career. The illustrative material is well chosen, and the book is generally well written. A few more dates in the text would have been helpful, however, and a filmography should have been appended. Despite Lantz's sterling personal qualities, his productions were usually of the second rank, and for most libraries the information in Leonard Maltin's Of Mice and Magic (LJ 9/1/80) will be sufficient. For special collections and large libraries, Adamson's book is a worthy addition. John Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Freehold, N.J.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc
254 pages, Hardcover
First published November 29, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 2, 2016
Have you ever wondered, like me, who voiced that joyous, rascally, in-your-face Woody Woodpecker Laugh? Film historian Joe Adamson answers that -- and more.
If, also like me, you love memoirs and biographies of creative men and women, then I recommend THE WALTER LANTZ STORY. With input from Walter Lantz himself, Adamson has written an astute study of a great artist and the moving life of a warm and kind man.
At age 12, Walter Lantz dropped out of school to work for his father at a mining company commissary deep in the green Northwoods of New England.
While he enjoyed hunting and fishing, he still yearned to educate himself.
Wanting to follow his artistic dreams, the young Walter enrolled in two correspondence courses. One was in the popular field of newspaper cartooning. The other course was in a new art form, "something called Animation."
Walter Lantz literally started his career at the beginning of animated motion picture shorts -- his story is the history of the feature cartoon. And it's all here in this book -- complete with photos and artwork on nearly every page.
And the kindness I spoke of... While Walter lost his mother at an early age, and his father lost the use of his legs, and it became a family struggle just to make a living, Walter kept his warm sense of humour and his deep love of family and friends.
From his early days drawing cartoons for Randolph Hearst's newspapers to his creative experiences in the newly formed Hollywood animation studios, Walter built a career.
When he first arrived in Hollywood, the animated silent cartoon had fallen on hard times and Walter found himself starring in short two-reel live-action comedies. Working first for Hal Roach, then Canadian Mack Sennet, Walter learned the basics of movie comedy: slapstick and gags.
When the arrival of sound and a young Walt Disney made cartoons a hot item again, Walter Lantz was ready.
First came Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, voice provided by a kid named Mickey Rooney.
Then Andy Panda -- inspired by the sudden love affair of North Americans in the Thirties with the Chinese Panda.
And then Woody Woodpecker -- inspired by an obnoxious woodpecker tapping noisily on the roof of the lakeside cabin where Walter and his new bride Gracie were attempting to enjoy their honeymoon.
Followed by Chilly Willy, Homer Pigeon, Wally Walrus...
Oh, yes. Who performed Woody's voice? In 1940, it was Mel Blanc. By the Fifties, Mrs. Gracie Stafford Lantz did Woody's voice -- and that famous laugh.
Yup, I recommend THE WALTER LANTZ STORY.
Five Out of Five BEAR HUGS!
==>> To read MORE about the well-lived life, worthwhile works and wonderful wacky worlds of this great animator and storyteller, see "THE WALTER LANTZ STORY: Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy & the Beary Family" at www.CivilizedBears.com/Walter-Lantz-S...
- Brian Alan Burhoe (Papa Bear)
If, also like me, you love memoirs and biographies of creative men and women, then I recommend THE WALTER LANTZ STORY. With input from Walter Lantz himself, Adamson has written an astute study of a great artist and the moving life of a warm and kind man.
At age 12, Walter Lantz dropped out of school to work for his father at a mining company commissary deep in the green Northwoods of New England.
While he enjoyed hunting and fishing, he still yearned to educate himself.
Wanting to follow his artistic dreams, the young Walter enrolled in two correspondence courses. One was in the popular field of newspaper cartooning. The other course was in a new art form, "something called Animation."
Walter Lantz literally started his career at the beginning of animated motion picture shorts -- his story is the history of the feature cartoon. And it's all here in this book -- complete with photos and artwork on nearly every page.
And the kindness I spoke of... While Walter lost his mother at an early age, and his father lost the use of his legs, and it became a family struggle just to make a living, Walter kept his warm sense of humour and his deep love of family and friends.
From his early days drawing cartoons for Randolph Hearst's newspapers to his creative experiences in the newly formed Hollywood animation studios, Walter built a career.
When he first arrived in Hollywood, the animated silent cartoon had fallen on hard times and Walter found himself starring in short two-reel live-action comedies. Working first for Hal Roach, then Canadian Mack Sennet, Walter learned the basics of movie comedy: slapstick and gags.
When the arrival of sound and a young Walt Disney made cartoons a hot item again, Walter Lantz was ready.
First came Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, voice provided by a kid named Mickey Rooney.
Then Andy Panda -- inspired by the sudden love affair of North Americans in the Thirties with the Chinese Panda.
And then Woody Woodpecker -- inspired by an obnoxious woodpecker tapping noisily on the roof of the lakeside cabin where Walter and his new bride Gracie were attempting to enjoy their honeymoon.
Followed by Chilly Willy, Homer Pigeon, Wally Walrus...
Oh, yes. Who performed Woody's voice? In 1940, it was Mel Blanc. By the Fifties, Mrs. Gracie Stafford Lantz did Woody's voice -- and that famous laugh.
Yup, I recommend THE WALTER LANTZ STORY.
Five Out of Five BEAR HUGS!
==>> To read MORE about the well-lived life, worthwhile works and wonderful wacky worlds of this great animator and storyteller, see "THE WALTER LANTZ STORY: Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy & the Beary Family" at www.CivilizedBears.com/Walter-Lantz-S...
- Brian Alan Burhoe (Papa Bear)
August 16, 2012
Onderhoudende biografie van Walter Lantz, de geestelijke vader van Woody Woodpecker. De biografie is vlot geschreven met cliffhangers en evocatieve scenes.
Helaas is hij ook wat hagiografisch: over Lantz en zijn vrouw Grace niks dan goeds en over de films komen we maar weinig te weten. Vooral de hoofdstukken over de jaren veertig en vijftig zijn daarmee erg frustrerend om te lezen: voor je gevoel wordt er maar een tipje van de sluier opgelicht.
Het laatste hoofdstuk, over Lantz' post-studiojaren zijn helemaal saai, maar de eerste hoofdstukken sprankelen en vormen een mooie snapshot van de geschiedenis van de animatie en zelfs een beetje van die van Amerika.
Helaas is hij ook wat hagiografisch: over Lantz en zijn vrouw Grace niks dan goeds en over de films komen we maar weinig te weten. Vooral de hoofdstukken over de jaren veertig en vijftig zijn daarmee erg frustrerend om te lezen: voor je gevoel wordt er maar een tipje van de sluier opgelicht.
Het laatste hoofdstuk, over Lantz' post-studiojaren zijn helemaal saai, maar de eerste hoofdstukken sprankelen en vormen een mooie snapshot van de geschiedenis van de animatie en zelfs een beetje van die van Amerika.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews