Hal Geer
Encyclopedia
Hal Geer is an American producer and filmmaker, noteworthy for his association with the Looney Tunes
franchise.
, enlisting just two weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack. He eventually rose to the rank of Major, and took part in 86 combat missions. 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 war ended.
from 1950 to 1955, also in the special effects department.
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. 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.
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
franchise.
Military career
Prior to his career in the entertainment industry, Geer served as a fighter pilot during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, enlisting just two weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack. He eventually rose to the rank of Major, and took part in 86 combat missions. 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.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
after the war ended.
Film career
He subsequently worked at The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
from 1950 to 1955, also in the special effects department.
William L. Hendricks
William L. Hendricks was a former USMCR Colonel who was the key figure in setting up the "Toys for Tots" program. Aside from his USMCR career he also worked in the film industry for many years, initially as a documentary producer for the United States Army, then as a production executive at Warner...
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
Merrie Melodies
Merrie Melodies is the name of a series of animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures between 1931 and 1969.Originally produced by Harman-Ising Pictures, Merrie Melodies were produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions from 1933 to 1944. Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. in 1944,...
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
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show is a long-running American television anthology series hosted by Bugs Bunny, that was mainly composed of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons released by Warner Bros. between August 1, 1948 and the end of 1969. The show originally debuted as a primetime half-hour program on...
, and eventually elevated to co-producer of the show in 1975. 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
Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, among others. The studio is the successor to Warner Bros...
, with Geer installed as its first head. He was soon joined by veteran Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
, and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials, including The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie is a 1981 Looney Tunes film with a compilation of classic Warner Bros. cartoon shorts and animated bridging sequences produced by Friz Freleng, hosted by Bugs Bunny...
and Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales
Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales
Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales is a 1982 Looney Tunes film with a compilation of classic Warner Bros. cartoon shorts and animated bridging sequences, hosted by Bugs Bunny...
. During his stewardship of the new animation studio, Geer spearheaded a campaign to give Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
, which was granted in 1985.