Morton Schindel
Encyclopedia
Morton Schindel is an American educator and producer, the founder of Weston Woods Studios
, which specializes in adapting children's books into animated films. He named the company after the wooded area outside his home in Weston, Connecticut
. The Weston Woods Studios business address was 143 Main Street in Norwalk, Connecticut
.
Born and raised in Orange, New Jersey
, Schindel went to the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1939 from the Wharton School of Finance. In 1941 he married Ellen Bamberger (of the family famed for the Bamberger's
department store chain); the couple had two daughters and one son. In 1948, he worked with Teaching Films Inc. After it declared bankruptcy, he opened his own company, Key Productions, but found film distributors uninterested in his ideas to create animated films of children’s picture books.
. Weston Woods films were shown at the Museum of Modern Art
in 1956, and that same year the films had their CBS
television premiere on Captain Kangaroo
. In 1963, the studio released its first animated film, The Snowy Day
, adapted from the 1962 Caldecott Medal book by Ezra Jack Keats
, and the following year, it produced a documentary. The Lively Art of Picture Books, for the American Library Association
. The Doughnuts (1963) was a 28-minute live-action comedy based on a chapter from Robert McCloskey
's Homer Price (1943). Beginning in 1968, Gene Deitch
became the leading animation director for Weston Woods, working from his studio in Czechoslovakia with his wife, Zdenka Deitchova.
. In the tale a mouse-dentist agrees to treat a fox, yet he fears he could be eaten by the fox. Schindel recalled, “This was probably one of our best films. The book it was based on had great illustrations and won a Newbery medal for its writing, so it made for a great film.”
Schindel also made documentaries about artists, such as the 18-minute Robert McCloskey (1964), a documentary which is sometimes screened in art schools. The film shows McCloskey sitting in the Boston Public Garden and intercuts pages from his sketchbook drawings for Make Way for Ducklings. The illustrator discusses experiences that have influenced his work and the relationship of craftsmanship to inspiration.
In 1996, Scholastic Inc. acquired Weston Woods, and Schindel founded the nonprofit Weston Woods Institute to work on such educational endeavors as the Children’s Literacy Project.
in 1979.
In 2002, Weston Woods was the focus of the Donnell Library Center
's "Meet the Maker" film series. "Twentieth-century Mirrors: America Seen through the Eyes of Independent Filmmakers," which featured a panel discussion with Schindel and Deitch as part of a month-long program honoring Weston Woods’ 50 years of films.
In 2007, Schindel was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Center for the Book, associated with the Library of Congress, and a plaque from the International Storytelling Center acknowledged his contribution to “Blazing New Trails for Storytelling.”
Purdue University’s College of Education includes a study of Weston Woods films in an undergraduate children’s media course, and in 2008 Schindel received an honorary doctoral degree in education from Purdue.
Schindel's wife, Cari Best, is a prolific children's book author (Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen) with Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Weston Woods Studios
Weston Woods Studios is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children. It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near his home. The company's first project was Andy and the Lion in 1954, and its...
, which specializes in adapting children's books into animated films. He named the company after the wooded area outside his home in Weston, Connecticut
Weston, Connecticut
Weston is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The population was 10,179 at the 2010 census. The town is served by Route 57 and Route 53, both of which run through the town center. About 19% of the town's workforce commutes to New York City, about to the southwest.Like many towns in...
. The Weston Woods Studios business address was 143 Main Street in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
.
Born and raised in Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, Schindel went to the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1939 from the Wharton School of Finance. In 1941 he married Ellen Bamberger (of the family famed for the Bamberger's
Bamberger's
Bamberger's was a department store chain with locations primarily in New Jersey, but also Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. The chain was headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.-History:Founded in 1893 by Louis Bamberger as L...
department store chain); the couple had two daughters and one son. In 1948, he worked with Teaching Films Inc. After it declared bankruptcy, he opened his own company, Key Productions, but found film distributors uninterested in his ideas to create animated films of children’s picture books.
Go Weston, young man
In 1949, Schindel received a master’s degree in curriculum from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 1953, he founded Weston Woods Studios, which has since produced more than 500 films and film strips, beginning with Andy and the Lion (1954), adapted from the 1939 Caldecott Honor book by James DaughertyJames Daugherty
James Henry Daugherty was an American modernist painter, muralist, children's book author, and illustrator. -Life:...
. Weston Woods films were shown at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in 1956, and that same year the films had their CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television premiere on Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
. In 1963, the studio released its first animated film, The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day is a 1962 children's picture book by American author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. Keats received the 1963 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in the book...
, adapted from the 1962 Caldecott Medal book by Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats , Caldecott-winning author of The Snowy Day, was one of the most important children's literature authors and illustrators of the 20th Century....
, and the following year, it produced a documentary. The Lively Art of Picture Books, for the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
. The Doughnuts (1963) was a 28-minute live-action comedy based on a chapter from Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey was an American author and illustrator of children's books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's annual award of distinction for children's book illustration.Many of McCloskey's books were set on the...
's Homer Price (1943). Beginning in 1968, Gene Deitch
Gene Deitch
Eugene Merril "Gene" Deitch is an American illustrator, animator and film director. He has been based in Prague, capital of Czechoslovakia and the present-day Czech Republic, since 1959. Since 1968, Deitch has been the leading animation director for the Connecticut organization Weston...
became the leading animation director for Weston Woods, working from his studio in Czechoslovakia with his wife, Zdenka Deitchova.
Oscar nomination
Known for remaining faithful to the books he adapted, Schindel was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Film, Animated category for Doctor DeSoto (1984), which he produced with Michael SpornMichael Sporn
Michael Sporn is an American animator who founded his New York-based company, Michael Sporn Animation in 1980, and has produced and directed numerous animated TV specials and short spots.-Career:...
. In the tale a mouse-dentist agrees to treat a fox, yet he fears he could be eaten by the fox. Schindel recalled, “This was probably one of our best films. The book it was based on had great illustrations and won a Newbery medal for its writing, so it made for a great film.”
Schindel also made documentaries about artists, such as the 18-minute Robert McCloskey (1964), a documentary which is sometimes screened in art schools. The film shows McCloskey sitting in the Boston Public Garden and intercuts pages from his sketchbook drawings for Make Way for Ducklings. The illustrator discusses experiences that have influenced his work and the relationship of craftsmanship to inspiration.
In 1996, Scholastic Inc. acquired Weston Woods, and Schindel founded the nonprofit Weston Woods Institute to work on such educational endeavors as the Children’s Literacy Project.
Awards and honors
Schindel was awarded the Regina MedalRegina Medal
The Regina Medal is an American Literary award of the Catholic Library Association. It was established in 1959 to recognize "continued, distinguished contribution to children’s literature without regard to the nature of the contribution"....
in 1979.
In 2002, Weston Woods was the focus of the Donnell Library Center
Donnell Library Center
The Donnell Library Center was a branch of the New York City Library at 20 West 53rd Street just north of Rockefeller Center. It closed as of August 30, 2008....
's "Meet the Maker" film series. "Twentieth-century Mirrors: America Seen through the Eyes of Independent Filmmakers," which featured a panel discussion with Schindel and Deitch as part of a month-long program honoring Weston Woods’ 50 years of films.
In 2007, Schindel was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Center for the Book, associated with the Library of Congress, and a plaque from the International Storytelling Center acknowledged his contribution to “Blazing New Trails for Storytelling.”
Purdue University’s College of Education includes a study of Weston Woods films in an undergraduate children’s media course, and in 2008 Schindel received an honorary doctoral degree in education from Purdue.
Schindel's wife, Cari Best, is a prolific children's book author (Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen) with Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
