Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Lantz Has Been Making Cartoons for 35 Years Having just completed negotiations which will bring his “Woody Woodpecker Show” to some 250 television stations from coast to coast for a 52-week period, Walter Lantz, Hollywood’s longtime i n d e p e n dent cartoon producer for theatrical distribution, finds his theatrical cartoon producing business bouncing more than ever today. This, in essence, was the message enunciated by Lantz, who was accompanied by his wife, Grace Stafford, the voice of “Woody Woodpecker” for the past 23 years, during an interview in New York, while he was busy promoting the new television show which is being sponsored by Kellogg Company. Lantz has been producing animated cartoons for Universal release to theatres throughout the world for the past 35 years. For 1963-1964, Universal will release 13 new Walter Lantz Color Cartunes and seven reissues, but this is not a barometer of Lantz’ activities. He is producing 19 new Cartunes each year and he has already completed all of 1964-1965 product, being a year ahead on production. He will introduce a new series “The Beary Family” which will be domestic comedy and deliver 10 new “Woody Woodpecker” cartoons and three “Chilly Willy” cartoons and is developing a new “Inspector Willoughby” private eye series. What is keeping Walter Lantz in the business of making cartoons for theatrical distribution to the screens of the world — his cartoons are shown in 72 countries — is the controlled cost factor and the economics of distribution by Universal, he said. Over 30 per cent of his revenue now comes from the foreign market. Of the 70 new cartoons placed in distribution by Universal in the four years starting with the 1959-60 selling season, plus 26 reissues, Universal has obtained over 450,000 domestic playdates and continuity of production has built up a steady flow of revenue for Lantz. Lantz believes that the “Woody Woodpecker” television show for Kellogg will make countless additional fans for the cartoons in theatres. The “Woody Woodpecker Show” used by Kellogg is being heavily exploited by the cereal company on the boxes of the cereals, in supermarkets, through special advertising displays and posters and even through radio spot announcements. Lantz in summing up said he believes emphatically that exhibitors want animated cartoons. His belief is based on the fact that his business continues to expand in the theatrical field, in the comic book field, in the merchandising field and now in the field of television. New Lantz cartoons are being made to be projected on all types of screens including anamorphic process with a minimum of dialog, since they are understood by children throughout the world without translation. Featurettes Available From Several Sources “The Communist Threat,” a featurette shot at the Berlin Wall and termed a “must” for every American, is a short subject release of Cinema-Video International Corp., headed by Emanuel Barling, president. The subject was placed in release in October and will be carried through the 1963-64 season. Two biographical featurettes are on the 1963-64 release schedule of Janus Films. “A Tribute to Dylan Thomas,” 30-minute featurette, narrated by Richard Burton, is a filmed story of the late poet’s life and Wales and England as seen through the poet’s own words. The second featurette, “The Most,” is a documentary short film study of Hugh Hefner, originator of Playboy Magazine. “Friendly Neighbors,” 22-minute documentary in color dealing with the visit of President Kennedy to Mexico, is a short subject release of Parade Pictures of Hollywood, Calif., for the 1963-64 season, according to Parade executive Robert Patrick. United Producers Releasing Organization of Los Angeles is distributing the 21 -minute featurette “The Cadillac,” concerning a Spanish -speaking community. The film received a special award for a short subject from the American Cinema Editors, was nominated for an Oscar by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and was chosen as outstanding by the Columbia Broadcasting System in its search for new talent. Walter Lantz a Good Company None better! Terrytoons creations -Hector Heathcote, Silly Sidney, Hashimoto-San, Deputy Dawg, Luno the Soaring Stallion and Tim, and others-are the delight of vast audiences (for the fifth consecutive year, Terrytoons has placed among the industry’s top ten producers in Motion Picture Herald's Annual Short Subjects Poll!). You and your audiences will be delighted, too, when you book cartoons-in CinemaScope with Color by Deluxe-from the best company... TGITytOOHS A DIVISION OF CBS FILMS INC. 18 BOXOFFICE :: November 25, 1963