Harold Eugene Geer (September 13, 1916 – January 26, 2017) was an American producer, filmmaker and animator, noteworthy for his association with the Looney Tunes franchise.[1]
Prior to his career in the entertainment industry, Geer served as a combat cameraman with the 16th Combat Camera Unit, enlisting just two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As a sergeant he participated in several major projects, including the film documentary China Crisis.[citation needed] He received a field commission to lieutenant, and took part in 86 combat missions during World War II. He remained in the Army Reserves for 24 years, achieving the rank of major.[2] In addition to his flight duties, he also worked as a newsreel cameraman during the war, and his experience in this job helped him secure a position in the special effects department at Warner Bros. after the World War II ended on September 2, 1945.
Geer subsequently worked at Walt Disney Productions from 1950 to 1955 in the special effects department.[3] Following his employment at Disney, Geer worked at a number of independent production companies before being brought back to Warner Bros. by producer William L. Hendricks in 1967, beginning a twenty-year association with Looney Tunes. Initially he served as the film editor (which, in the animation industry, means sound effects editor) on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, which lasted until 1969, when Warner Bros. ceased production of their theatrical shorts. However, Geer was retained in order to assist in production of The Bugs Bunny Show, and eventually elevated to co-producer of the show in 1975.[4]
Following the retirement of Hendricks two years later, Geer took over his position and became the de facto head of the Looney Tunes series. In 1980, Warner Bros. officially re-established its cartoon studio as Warner Bros. Animation, with Geer installed as its first head. He was soon joined by veteran Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng, and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials, including The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie and Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales. During his stewardship of the new animation studio, Geer spearheaded a campaign to give Bugs Bunny his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was granted in 1985.[5]
Later careeredit
Geer retired from both Warner Bros. and the film industry in 1987, and subsequently took on a career of lecturing aboard cruise ships.[6] He turned 100 on September 13, 2016[7] and died on January 26, 2017, in Simi Valley, California.[8]
Referencesedit
^Steven H. Scheuer (1983). Who's Who in Television and Cable. Facts on File Incorporated. p. 177. ISBN0871967472.
^Trossman Bien, Joan (October 18, 2007). . Ventura County Reporter. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^Picarella, Michael (July 8, 2005). . Simi Valley Acorn. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^McCorry, Kevin; Cooke, Jon. . Golden Age Cartoons. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^Trossman Bien, Joan (October 18, 2007). . Ventura County Reporter. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^Trossman Bien, Joan (October 18, 2007). . Ventura County Reporter. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^Melissa Simon (September 16, 2016). "Retired cartoon man celebrates 100 years of adventure". Simi Valley Acorn. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
geer, harold, eugene, geer, september, 1916, january, 2017, american, producer, filmmaker, animator, noteworthy, association, with, looney, tunes, franchise, bornharold, eugene, geer, 1916, september, 1916oronogo, missouri, diedjanuary, 2017, 2017, aged, simi,. Harold Eugene Geer September 13 1916 January 26 2017 was an American producer filmmaker and animator noteworthy for his association with the Looney Tunes franchise 1 Hal GeerBornHarold Eugene Geer 1916 09 13 September 13 1916Oronogo Missouri U S DiedJanuary 26 2017 2017 01 26 aged 100 Simi Valley California U S Resting placePierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial ParkOccupation s Filmmaker film producer animatorYears active1950 1987WorksLooney TunesMerrie MelodiesSpousesNancy Walker m 1939 died 1980 wbr Carol Jones m 1983 wbr Children2 Contents 1 Military career 2 Film career 3 Later career 4 References 5 External linksMilitary career editPrior to his career in the entertainment industry Geer served as a combat cameraman with the 16th Combat Camera Unit enlisting just two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor As a sergeant he participated in several major projects including the film documentary China Crisis citation needed He received a field commission to lieutenant and took part in 86 combat missions during World War II He remained in the Army Reserves for 24 years achieving the rank of major 2 In addition to his flight duties he also worked as a newsreel cameraman during the war and his experience in this job helped him secure a position in the special effects department at Warner Bros after the World War II ended on September 2 1945 Film career edit nbsp Bugs Bunny s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Geer subsequently worked at Walt Disney Productions from 1950 to 1955 in the special effects department 3 Following his employment at Disney Geer worked at a number of independent production companies before being brought back to Warner Bros by producer William L Hendricks in 1967 beginning a twenty year association with Looney Tunes Initially he served as the film editor which in the animation industry means sound effects editor on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons which lasted until 1969 when Warner Bros ceased production of their theatrical shorts However Geer was retained in order to assist in production of The Bugs Bunny Show and eventually elevated to co producer of the show in 1975 4 Following the retirement of Hendricks two years later Geer took over his position and became the de facto head of the Looney Tunes series In 1980 Warner Bros officially re established its cartoon studio as Warner Bros Animation with Geer installed as its first head He was soon joined by veteran Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials including The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie and Bugs Bunny s 3rd Movie 1001 Rabbit Tales During his stewardship of the new animation studio Geer spearheaded a campaign to give Bugs Bunny his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which was granted in 1985 5 Later career editGeer retired from both Warner Bros and the film industry in 1987 and subsequently took on a career of lecturing aboard cruise ships 6 He turned 100 on September 13 2016 7 and died on January 26 2017 in Simi Valley California 8 References edit Steven H Scheuer 1983 Who s Who in Television and Cable Facts on File Incorporated p 177 ISBN 0871967472 Trossman Bien Joan October 18 2007 World War II through combat photographers lenses Ventura County Reporter Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved October 23 2011 Picarella Michael July 8 2005 Pioneering animator celebrates a life of laughter Simi Valley Acorn Archived from the original on April 8 2016 Retrieved October 23 2011 McCorry Kevin Cooke Jon Looney Tunes On Television Golden Age Cartoons Archived from the original on October 8 2011 Retrieved October 23 2011 Trossman Bien Joan October 18 2007 World War II through combat photographers lenses Ventura County Reporter Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved October 23 2011 Trossman Bien Joan October 18 2007 World War II through combat photographers lenses Ventura County Reporter Archived from the original on April 2 2012 Retrieved October 23 2011 Melissa Simon September 16 2016 Retired cartoon man celebrates 100 years of adventure Simi Valley Acorn Retrieved September 21 2016 Hal Geer obituaryExternal links editHal Geer at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hal Geer amp oldid 1162912485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
