“How a Cartoon is Produced” on page 6 of "Paramount News" (Volume III No.11 March 12, 1951) shows the basic steps in the process of creating a cartoon (click to enlarge image)… the accompanying text is as follows…
“Our cameraman spent all last week with Producers Isadore Sparber and Seymour Kneitel photographing the various steps necessary to make one of the popular Paramount cartoons. Little did we realize the amount of hard work that goes into the making of the ‘exhibitor’s best program builder.” But suppose you join us on a personally conducted tour of the cartoon studio. First, let’s meet Irving Spector as he completes the last sketch of a Popeye story in preparation for a final story conference. With the story approved, Animator Nick Tafuri is shown 2. as he strikes a pose for the action he is about to draw. His pencil sketches are photographed by Matthew Gentilella 3. for reviewing by head animator and director, who will assign the work to assistant animators and “fillers-in” 4. Now, with the animation well under way, Bob Owen, Bob Connavle and John Zago prepare the backgrounds. 5. Aftr the animators pencil sketches are traced in black ink, Alice Rehberg, Ruth Gorman and Joan Saracina match the transparent acetate sheets for the next step which is the coloring. 6. Here Peter Ignatenko, Eugene Babitchev and Maria Serianni prepare the colors in the paint laboratory. 7. As an added precaution, Alice Ament matches the colors as she test-paints some of the transparent sheets. 8. It is at this point that Music Director Winston Sharples creates and arranges special music as 9. Morris Manne and Bernice Steinberg edit the cartoon for sound effects and dialogue. 10. The completed cartoon is screened for the staff and with the approval of Producers Sparber and Knitel (sic), Leonard McCormick photographs the main title and another top-notch Paramount cartoon is ready for selling and booking. It’s just as easy as that!"
"Paramount News" Vol. III No.11 March 12, 1951: Collection of Virginia Mahoney
That picture of Lenoard McCormick taking some frames of the Paramount logo....is just priceless.
ReplyDeleteBTW, do you happen to have some production drawings, cels, or behind-the scenes photos of some sing-along cartoons, specfically for "Old Macdonald Had A Farm"?
there are a lot of names in this story that i never heard before. the one that interests me most if "photographer" Matthew Gentilella. it's a good guess that he was in some way related to famous studio animator "johnny" gentilella, whom many considered to be the finest of all the classic east coast animators.
ReplyDeleteNo- sorry I don't re-call having anything particular relating to sing-along cartoons-- though something might turn up----
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! One of the questions I always have and get asked again and again from other Famous Studios fans is "Who did what and in what order as the Famous Studios cartoons were being produced?" This page gives us some answers.
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog! Out of curiousity do you have any film prints of any of the cartoons that your father worked on?
ReplyDeleteNo- I don't have prints of any of his cartoons---
ReplyDeleteI sent your articles links to all my contacts and they all adore it including me.
ReplyDeletewatch anime