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Walter Lantz
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Art Corporation of America has the largest collection of paintings, prints, and cartoon cells signed by Walter Lantz. We have many, one of a kind, items that you will not find anywhere else. Contact us for prices and availability.
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Walter Lantz was born Walter Benjamin Lantz on April 27, 1899 in New Rochelle, New York into a family of Italian immigrants, his parents being Francesco Paolo Lantz (formerly Lanza) and Maria Gervasi (later Jarvis), the latter coming from Calitri, Italy. Lantz was interested in art at an early age, completing a mail order drawing class at age twelve. He got his first taste of animation when he watched Winsor McCays cartoon short, Gertie the Dinosaur. This, perhaps, inspired him to become a cartoonist himself..
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Walter Lantz with Dr. Mett
The painting
"A Portrait of Woody Woodpecker"
is in the background.
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A Portrait of Woody Woodpecker
Original Oil on Panel 14x11
by Walter Lantz
While working as an auto mechanic, Walter Lantz got his first break in the art world. A well-to-do customer, Fred Kafka, liked his drawings on the garage's bulletin board. He bankrolled his studies at New York City's Art Students League. Kafka also helped him get a job in town, as a copy boy at the New York American, owned by William Randolph Hearst. When he had completed his day's work at the newspaper office, he attended art school.
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An Original Sketch of Woody Woodpecker by Walter Lantz
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Introduction Cartoon Cell
Personally Signed by
Walter Lantz
Extremely Rare Collectable
By the time he was sixteen, Lantz was working behind the camera in the animation department under the supervision of director Gregory La Cava. Lantz then began work at the John R. Bray Studios in New York on the Jerry On The Job series. In 1924, Lantz began to rise to prominence at the studio and directed, animated, and even starred in his first cartoon series, Dinky Doodle. By 1927 he moved to Hollywood, California where he worked briefly for director Frank Capra and then was a gag writer for Mack Sennett comedies.
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In 1928, Lantz was hired by Charles B. Mintz as a
director on the Oswald the Lucky
Rabbit cartoon series for Universal. Earlier that year, Mintz and his
brother-in-law George
Winkler had succeeded in snatching Oswald from the character's original
creator, Walt Disney. Universal
president Carl Laemmle became
dissatisfied with the Mintz-Winkler product and fired them, deciding instead to
produce the Oswalds directly on the Universal lot. While schmoozing with
Laemmle, Lantz wagered a bet that if he could beat the producer in a game of
poker that the character would be his. As fate would have it, Lantz successfully
won the bet and Oswald was now his character.
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Walter Lantz
Highlighting Woody Woodpecker's
Triple Self Portrait
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Triple Self Portrait
of Woody Woodpecker
16x20 Oilgraph Highlighted and Signed
by Walter Lantz
The "Triple Self Portrait" of Woody Woodpecker is one of Walter Lantz'z most popular paintings.
Mr. Lantz took his inspiration for this piece from Norman Rockwell's famous "Triple Self Portrait", which is also available through Art Corporation of America.
As Walter Lantz began assembling a new studio, he decided to select a fellow New York animator, Bill Nolan, to help develop the series. Nolan's previous credentials included inventing the panorama background and developing a new, streamlined Felix the Cat. Nolan was (and still is) probably best known for perfecting the "rubber hose" style of animation. In September 1929, Lantz finally put out his first cartoon, Race Riot.
By 1935, Walter Lantz had managed to become an independent producer, supplying cartoons to Universal instead of merely overseeing the animation department. By 1940, he was negotiating ownership for the characters he had been working with.
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When Oswald had worn out his welcome, Lantz decided that he needed a new character. Meany, Miny, and Moe, Baby-Face Mouse, and Snuffy Skunk were only a few of the personalities Lantz and his staff had come up with. However, one character, Andy Panda, stood out from the rest and soon became Lantz's headline star for the 1939-1940 production season.
In 1940 Lantz had married actress Grace Stafford. During their honeymoon, the couple kept hearing a woodpecker incessantly pecking on their roof. Gracie suggested that Walter use the bird for inspiration and make him into a cartoon character. Taking her advice, though a bit skeptical about its success, Lantz debuted Woody Woodpecker as a side star in an animation short called Knock Knock featuring Andy Panda.
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Mel Blanc supplied Woody's voice for his first three cartoons. When Blanc accepted a full-time contract with Leon Schlesinger Productions/Warner Bros. and left the Lantz studio, gagman Ben Hardaway, who was the main force responsible for Knock Knock, became the bird's voice. Despite this, however, Blanc's distinctive laugh was still used throughout the cartoons.
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During 1948, the Lantz studio had a hit Academy Award-nominated tune in The Woody Woodpecker Song, featuring Blancs laugh. Mel Blanc sued Lantz for half a million dollars, claiming that Lantz had used his voice in various later cartoons without his permission.
The judge, however, ruled against Blanc, saying that he had failed to copyright his voice or contributions. Even though Lantz had won the case, he paid Blanc the money in an out-of-court settlement when Blanc filed an appeal, and went off to search for a new voice for Woody Woodpecker.
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In 1950, Lantz held anonymous auditions. Gracie, Lantz's wife, had offered to do Woody's voice; however, Lantz turned her down because Woody was a male character. Not discouraged in the least, Gracie went about secretly making her own anonymous audition tape, and submitted it with the others for the studio to listen to. Not knowing whose voice was being heard, Lantz picked Gracies voice to do Woody Woodpecker. Gracie supplied Woodys voice until Lantz finally stopped making new cartoons for Woody Woodpecker. At first Gracie had chosen to voice Woody with no screen credit because she thought that it would disappoint the children to know Woody Woodpecker was voiced by a woman. However, she soon came to enjoy being known as the voice of Woody Woodpecker, and allowed her name to be put on the credit screen.
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The baby boomer generation came to know and love Lantz as the creator of the Woody Woodpecker cartoons. He used his TV appearances to show how the animation was actually done. For many of those young viewers, it was the first time they had seen an explanation of the process. That same generation later knew him for entertaining the troops during the Vietnam War and visiting hospitalized veterans.
Walter Lantz's studio closed in 1972. It had been the last remaining classical cartoon studio. In his retirement, Lantz continued to manage his studios properties by offering re-releases of cartoons and sales to new venues. He also continued to draw and paint, selling his paintings of Woody Woodpecker rapidly. On top of that, he worked with Little League and other youth groups around his area. In 1982, Lantz donated seventeen artifacts to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, among them a wooden model of Woody Woodpecker from the cartoon characters debut in 1941.
In 1993, Lantz established a ten thousand dollar scholarship and prize for animators in his name at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. Walter Lantz died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California of heart failure on March 22, 1994, aged 94.
ART & COLLECTABLES OF WALTER LANTZ
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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A Portrait of Woody Woodpecker An original oil painting on canvas, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz, created in commemoration of Woodys fifteenth anniversary 14"x11" |
A Preliminary Drawing for a Cover of a Coloring Book Hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Woody's Picnic A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Aloha Woody A unique hand highlighted graphic by the artist, mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 14"x11" |
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Blue Boy Woody A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16" |
Born to Peck A limited edition animation cel, and hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and numbered 24/300 10.5"x12.5" |
Carson Peak An original oil painting on canvas, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 12"x16" |
Catch Me if You Can A very rare 1940's hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
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Chilly Willy's Fishing Hole A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered --- 10.25x12.5" |
Chilly Willy An original drawing on paper, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 7x9.5" |
Chilly Willy Running Away An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 7x7" |
Chilly Willy An original drawing on paper, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 7x9.5" |
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Chilly Willy's Fishing Hole A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and numbered --- 10.25"x12.5" |
Snow Sled A preliminary drawing in pencil on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 8"x10 |
Don Quixote Woody A unique hand highlighted graphic by the artist mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Don Quixote Woody A unique hand highlighted graphic by the artist mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16" |
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Fifty Years a Star A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered --- 17.5"x30" |
Hawaii Moonlight Seascape An original oil painting on board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 11"x14" |
King Woody A limited edition graphic on canvas, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Mendocino Coast An original oil painting on canvas, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz. This painting also bears a small oil painting of Woody Woodpecker next to the artists initials 12"x20" |
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Mona Woody A unique hand highlighted graphic by the artist mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16" |
Old Fishing Hole A rare original drawing circa 1930's, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz *size* |
Pencil Drawing of Woody A preliminary drawing in pencil on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 9"x11 |
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Pole Vault Perils An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Portrait of Woody A preliminary drawing in pencil on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 9"x11.5" |
Portrait of Woody A superb original drawing on paper, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 11.5"x9" |
President Woody A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered --- 10.5"x12.5" |
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Rising Tide An original oil painting on board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 12"x16" |
Rising Tide A unique extensively hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20 |
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Story Board Drawings Nine signed pencil drawings on paper representing a preliminary concept for an animation film cel 14"x13 |
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Tin Can Concert A very rare 1940's hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist Walter Lantz 11x14" |
The Professor A preliminary drawing on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
There's a Lump in my Bed A preliminary drawing on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 9"x11 |
Time for Your Bath! A very rare 1940's hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10x12" |
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Woody's Triple Self Portrait A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20 |
Triple Self Portrait A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered --- 10.5"x12.5" |
A porcelain plate measuring 8.5 in diameter of Walter Lantz's "Triple Self Portrait" |
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Triple Self Portrait A porcelain three dimensional sculpture measuring --- high, bearing the signature of Walter Lantz |
Woody's Scolds Andy Panda A limited edition animation cel hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered 190/200 11.5"x14.5" |
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Where Did You Get Those Feathers An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 9.5"x12 |
Woody A preliminary drawing in red pastel on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12 |
Woody and Friends A unique hand highlighted graphic by the artist mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Woodys Surprise Guest An original animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12 |
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Woody and His Hammer A preliminary drawing in pencil on paper for an animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 11"x8" |
Woody and Winnies Private Hawaiian Waterfall An original oil painting on board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16" |
Woody and Winnie Carved in a Tree A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered --- 14"x16" |
Woody and Winnie Doing the Hula on Waikiki Beach An original watercolor, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 8.5x11.5" |
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Woody in Forest A limited edition print, hand highlighted and signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 14"x11 |
Woodys Birdbath A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16" |
Woody Meets Lincoln A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 20"x16 |
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Woody on Hawaiian Beach A unique hand highlighted graphic mounted to board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Goes Through the Roof A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered 36/50 int. 9.5"x12.75" |
Woody on Waikiki Beach An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Waiting for the Fish An original animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10.5"x13 |
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Woody Warms the Nest A unique hand highlighted graphic, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 16"x20" |
Woody with Pine Trees An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 8"x4" |
Woody Woodpecker - Aladdin I An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker - Aladdin II An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
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Woody Woodpecker and His Magic Lamp An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker at the Movies An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker Intermission Title Card An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker - Lost in the Desert A very rare 1940's hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
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Woody Woodpecker on Safari An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker Pole Vaulting An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker Termite Control Title Card An elaborate original drawing on board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
Woody Woodpecker Title Cel A very rare 1940's hand painted animation title cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
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Woody Woodpecker's Great Train Robbery ***An original hand painted animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz*** 10"x12" |
Woody on Rooftop A limited edition animation cel, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz and individually numbered 7/200 11.5x14.5" |
Woody's Catch of the Day An original oil painting on board, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 12"x16" |
Woody's New Tuning Fork An original hand painted animation cel mounted above a hand painted background, hand signed by the artist, Walter Lantz 10"x12" |
