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Norman Spencer (composer)

January 01, 1970

For other people with the same name, see Norman Spencer.

Norman Spencer Matthews (March 3, 1891– February 15, 1940),[1] was an American musician and songwriter. He is best known for having served as musical director/composer for Warner Brothers' /Leon Schlesinger's Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon shorts from 1933 to 1936.

Career edit

Spencer was born in Minneapolis. By 1911 he was living in California and working as a pianist. Beginning in 1919 he was credited as a songwriter for many songs as well as writing scores for musical stage shows.

Spencer served as composer and director of music for Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1936, along with fellow composer Bernard Brown, creating film scores for animated short films in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series produced by Leon Schlesinger. His son Norman, Jr. reportedly handled the musical arrangements for both series.[1]

According to an article for The Film Daily published on April 29, 1936, Spencer had just completed a three-year contract for the studio and signed a new three-year contract. However, an article published on August 3 of the same year reported that Spencer had resigned and that Carl Stalling was succeeding him as the studio's music director.[1] According to the article, Schlesinger had already signed a new contract with Spencer, only to hire his replacement a few months later, following Brown's departure to head the sound department for Universal Studios. The reasons for Spencer's resignation are unknown.[1]

According to a story told by voice actor Mel Blanc during a 1988 interview, Spencer was also the person responsible for hiring voice actors for the studio. Blanc repeatedly requested an audition from the Schlesinger studio, but Spencer kept telling him that the studio had no need for new voice actors. One day in 1936, Blanc returned with another request for an audition and found Spencer missing, as he had fallen ill and Treg Brown (who later replaced Spencer as sound editor) was filling in. At this point, Brown finally gave Blanc his long-awaited audition, and subsequently hired him.[2]

Filmography edit

Clifford McCarty lists the following credits for Norman Spencer:[3]

Sources edit

  • McCarty, Clifford (2000). "Screen credits". Film Composers in America: A Filmography, 1911-1970. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195114737.
  • McCarty, Clifford (2000). "Methodology". Film Composers in America: A Filmography, 1911-1970. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195114737.
  • McCarty, Clifford (2000). "Spencer, Norman". Film Composers in America: A Filmography, 1911-1970. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195114737.
  • Sigall, Martha (2005). "The Boys of Termite Terrace". Living Life Inside the Lines: Tales from the Golden Age of Animation. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781578067497.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Tralfaz: Cartoons and Tralfazian Stuff (September 5, 2012). "The Search For Norman Spencer". Blogger. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  2. ^ Sigall (2005), pp. 84–86
  3. ^ McCarty (2000), p. 299, "Spencer, Norman"

External links edit

  • Norman Spencer at IMDb

January 01, 1970
norman, spencer, composer, other, people, with, same, name, norman, spencer, norman, spencer, matthews, march, 1891, february, 1940, american, musician, songwriter, best, known, having, served, musical, director, composer, warner, brothers, leon, schlesinger, . For other people with the same name see Norman Spencer Norman Spencer Matthews March 3 1891 February 15 1940 1 was an American musician and songwriter He is best known for having served as musical director composer for Warner Brothers Leon Schlesinger s Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoon shorts from 1933 to 1936 Contents 1 Career 2 Filmography 3 Sources 4 References 5 External linksCareer editSpencer was born in Minneapolis By 1911 he was living in California and working as a pianist Beginning in 1919 he was credited as a songwriter for many songs as well as writing scores for musical stage shows Spencer served as composer and director of music for Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1936 along with fellow composer Bernard Brown creating film scores for animated short films in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series produced by Leon Schlesinger His son Norman Jr reportedly handled the musical arrangements for both series 1 According to an article for The Film Daily published on April 29 1936 Spencer had just completed a three year contract for the studio and signed a new three year contract However an article published on August 3 of the same year reported that Spencer had resigned and that Carl Stalling was succeeding him as the studio s music director 1 According to the article Schlesinger had already signed a new contract with Spencer only to hire his replacement a few months later following Brown s departure to head the sound department for Universal Studios The reasons for Spencer s resignation are unknown 1 According to a story told by voice actor Mel Blanc during a 1988 interview Spencer was also the person responsible for hiring voice actors for the studio Blanc repeatedly requested an audition from the Schlesinger studio but Spencer kept telling him that the studio had no need for new voice actors One day in 1936 Blanc returned with another request for an audition and found Spencer missing as he had fallen ill and Treg Brown who later replaced Spencer as sound editor was filling in At this point Brown finally gave Blanc his long awaited audition and subsequently hired him 2 Filmography editClifford McCarty lists the following credits for Norman Spencer 3 Buddy s Day Out 1933 I ve Got to Sing a Torch Song 1933 Beauty and the Beast 1934 Buddy and Towser 1934 Buddy of the Apes 1934 Buddy the Detective 1934 Buddy the Gob 1934 Buddy the Woodsman 1934 Buddy s Bearcats 1934 Buddy s Beer Garden 1934 Buddy s Circus 1934 Buddy s Garage 1934 Buddy s Show Boat 1934 Buddy s Trolley Troubles 1934 The Girl at the Ironing Board 1934 Goin to Heaven on a Mule 1934 Honeymoon Hotel 1934 The Miller s Daughter 1934 Pettin in the Park 1934 Shake Your Powder Puff 1934 Sittin on a Backyard Fence 1933 Those Were Wonderful Days 1934 Viva Buddy 1934 Why Do I Dream Those Dreams 1934 Along Flirtation Walk 1935 Buddy in Africa 1935 Buddy of the Legion 1935 Buddy Steps Out 1935 Buddy the Dentist 1934 Buddy the Gee Man 1935 Buddy s Adventures 1934 Buddy s Bug Hunt 1935 Buddy s Pony Express 1935 Buddy s Theatre 1935 The Country Boy 1935 The Country Mouse 1935 I Haven t Got a Hat 1935 Into Your Dance 1935 The Merry Old Soul 1935 Mr and Mrs Is the Name 1935 My Green Fedora 1935 Pop Goes Your Heart 1934 Rhythm in the Bow 1934 Those Beautiful Dames 1934 Alpine Antics 1936 At Your Service Madame 1936 Billboard Frolics 1935 Bingo Crosbyana 1936 The Blow Out 1936 Boom Boom 1936 Buddy s Lost World 1935 A Cartoonist s Nightmare 1936 The Cat Came Back 1936 The Fire Alarm 1936 Fish Tales 1936 Flowers for Madame 1935 Gold Diggers of 49 1935 Hollywood Capers 1935 I Love to Singa 1936 I Wanna Play House 1936 I d Love to Take Orders From You 1936 I m a Big Shot Now 1936 The Lady in Red 1936 Let It Be Me 1936 The Little Dutch Plate 1935 Page Miss Glory 1936 The Phantom Ship 1936 Plane Dippy 1936 Porky the Rain Maker 1936 Porky s Pet 1936 Shanghaied Shipmates 1936 Sunday Go to Meetin Time 1936 Westward Whoa 1936 When I Yoo Hoo 1936 Sources editMcCarty Clifford 2000 Screen credits Film Composers in America A Filmography 1911 1970 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0195114737 McCarty Clifford 2000 Methodology Film Composers in America A Filmography 1911 1970 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0195114737 McCarty Clifford 2000 Spencer Norman Film Composers in America A Filmography 1911 1970 Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0195114737 Sigall Martha 2005 The Boys of Termite Terrace Living Life Inside the Lines Tales from the Golden Age of Animation University Press of Mississippi ISBN 9781578067497 References edit a b c d Tralfaz Cartoons and Tralfazian Stuff September 5 2012 The Search For Norman Spencer Blogger Retrieved September 13 2016 Sigall 2005 pp 84 86 McCarty 2000 p 299 Spencer Norman External links editNorman Spencer at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norman Spencer composer amp oldid 1162702373, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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