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The Hanna-Barbera Art Show

Monday, April 8th, 2013

This past Saturday night, April 6, Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California hosted a group art show where over 100 artists created a piece of art within the theme of cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera Studio. This was the first group show of which I have ever been a part, and WHAT A SHOW!

The opening night reception was attended by a staggering amount of people. When I first inched my way into the gallery, the first person I said “hello” to was Janet Waldo, the original voice of Judy Jetson. Even Rose Marie from “The Dick Van Dyke Show” was in attendance. You couldn’t see the art because of the sea of people! You almost needed to take some Dramamine as you waded through.

Below are some highlights of the show:

This was the scene on the sidewalk outside of Van Eaton Galleries where folks were trying to get some air while the inside was shoulder to shoulder with art enthusiasts.

The crowd continued indoors! On the extreme left is the great character actor Ed Lauter ("The Artist", "The Rocketeer") whose mother-in-law was Bill Hanna's secretary.

Yours truly posing under my Yogi Bear painting with friends James Lopez (Disney animator) and Chris Bailey (former Disney animator/director who now supervises animation for live action films and recently the "Despicable Me" ride in Universal Studios FL).

The "Pull My Finger Fred" - naw, I'm kidding. It's "The Viewmaster Fred" by Lance Smith that was one of the pieces sold on opening night.

Here is my friend David Derks standing by his piece that wins for most obscure Hanna-Barbera show reference based on "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home" that aired in the early 1970s.

Here's a shot of contributing artists all posing with Gerald Mendez at his terrific Droopy Dog piece. From L to R: Psycho James, Javier Soto, Enrique Pita, Gerald Mendez, A.R. and yours truly.

The crowd was whipped into a frenzy.

The gallery had this gentleman (on the left) building some of the most elaborate balloon sculptures I have ever seen. This one is of Shaggy and Scooby Doo being frightened by a monster.

This woman acquired a Huckleberry Hound from the balloon artist.

Dave Nimitz with a balloon version of "The Flintstones" Dino. Dave loaned a selection of his H&B toy collection for display at the show.

Orful Octopus from Hanna-Barbera's "Laff-A-Lympics" made by Matthew Dutton topped by Alan Bodner's charming Yakky Doodle painting.

The delightful Margaret Kerry (Walt Disney's live-action Tinkerbell model for the original "Peter Pan" film) was also on hand to take in some of the evening's fine art.

So, if you are in the Los Angeles area, please come see the show! You actually will have an easier time viewing the art without the opening night crowd blocking your view. This unique show will be hanging at the Van Eaton Galleries until April 20, and ALL ART IS FOR SALE!

CLICK HERE to see all the art and its availability.

Artwork is on display until April 20, 2013

Van Eaton Galleries

13613 Ventura Boulevard

Sherman Oaks, CA

Please come back tomorrow when I will begin to show a step-by-step progression of my Yogi Bear painting!

Posted in Animals, Art: Animation, Chad About Town | No Comments »

40th Annual Annie Awards – 2013 (part 2)

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Earlier this week I shared with you some of my photos taken from the balcony during the 2013 Annie Awards held at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. What made the evening a little more special is that it happened to be the 40th anniversary of the Annies.

Never to miss an opportunity to be a support to an industry that has supported her for most of her 95 years, the First Lady of Animation June Foray was in attendance. June is legendary for her many vocal roles in film and television. You know her as Rocky from Rocky & Bullwinkle, Witch Hazel from Bugs Bunny and Donald Duck cartoons, she was the meowing cat Lucifer in Disney’s Cinderella, Cindy-Lou Who from the Grinch cartoon, the creepy Talky Tina from The Twilight Zone, and Granny from Tweety & Sylvester cartoons among many, many others. She is one of a handful of voice actors to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

June Foray is an ASIFA-Hollywood founding member. She and a few other folks founded the organization because they felt that there wasn’t much support for animation here in Los Angeles. In 1972, she thought there should be awards for the industry, and an idea was born that carries on to this day.

Below is a short film that was shown during the recent awards ceremony. Filmed in a documentary style, the short shows June and others (including Margaret Kerry, the live action model for the animated Tinkerbell in Disney’s Peter Pan) recounting the early days of ASIFA-Hollywood and the founding of the Annie Awards. My good friend Brian Joseph Ochab directed the piece. If you follow my blog, you might recognize Brian’s name from when he and I were trying to get a short Tim Burton tribute film off the ground. This piece was also produced by our friend and ASIFA-Hollywood board member David Derks, with an original music score by Peter Deneff.

Enjoy, and please check out ASIFA-Hollywood’s website when you have a moment!

Annie Awards: The First Forty Years Montage from ASIFA Hollywood on Vimeo.

Posted in Art: Animation, Chad About Town, Videos | Comments Off

40th Annual Annie Awards – 2013 (part 1)

Monday, February 4th, 2013

The 40th annual Annie Awards took place this past Saturday, February 2, in Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. Even though we love ya’ Tomorrow, the Annies have nothing to do with little singing red-haired orphans. ASIFA-Hollywood formed the Annies to honor the best and the brightest in the field of animation. They were conceived by founding member and legendary voice actress June Foray (Tweety’s Granny, Rocky the flying squirrel). So, when the lights went down in the auditorium Saturday night, the industry was on hand to honor the fantastic work unveiled in 2012.

I had a nice bird’s eye view of the stage from my perch in the balcony. It was great to see several personal friends and colleagues walk to the stage to accept their golden zoetrope trophies throughout the ceremony.

The Annies' stage right before the festivities began. Also, the back of the head of the great animator T. Dan Hofstedt.

The ceremony was hosted by film critic and animation aficionado Leonard Maltin, occasionally aided by the voices of Pinky and the Brain Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche. And there were many celebrity presenters on hand from movies and television, but all having worked as voice actors in animation.

Chad_Frye_2013_Annie_Awards_MauriceLaMarche_LeonardMaltin_SethGreen_RobPaulsen

Maurice LaMarche, Leonard Maltin, Seth Green and Rob Paulsen having a conversation on stage at the Annie Awards.

Rocky & Bullwinkle? Close - June "Rocky" Foray and Leonard "not Bullwinkle" Maltin just before presenting the June Foray Award to Howard Green of the Walt Disney Studios.

June Foray was surprised on stage by Reel FX when they presented her with their Texas Avery Award for her many years of work in animation. June was overwhelmed with gratitude, and regaled the audience with tales of having worked with Tex Avery as far back as on the famous "Red Hot Riding Hood".

Chris Bailey accepting the Annie for Best Animated Special Production awarded to "Despicable Me - Minion Mayhem", an immersive attraction that you can experience at Universal Studios Florida. Actor Sam Witwer (Being Human) stands behind him on the right.

John Eng accepting his award for directing on Dreamworks' "Dragons: Riders of Berk" television show. John and I were working on a movie based on Zhu Zhu Pets (that strangely enough also contains a dragon) when he left to direct on "Dragons", so it was exciting to see him win. And yes, that is actress Mindy Sperling from "Austin Powers" over his shoulder.

Voice actor Jim Cummings and "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening. Jim helped present a couple of awards not only as himself, but also as both Tigger and Winnie the Pooh to the delight of the audience.

Actress Ming-Na Wen (voice of Disney's Mulan) who presented the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement to Mulan's animator Mark Henn.

Mark Henn giving a very heartfelt and humble speech after accepting his Winsor McCay Award. Mark's work at Disney includes animating Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, young Simba, Tiana, Oliver, Dodger, Pooh, and even all the dancing hula girls at the beginning of "Lilo & Stitch". He also directed the very stylish short "John Henry". The other two Winsor McCay recipients of the evening included Oscar Grillo and Terry Gilliam.

Cowabunga - it's the cast from the latest "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" with Sean Astin (Goonies, Lord of the Rings, Rudy), Mae Whitman (Parenthood), Greg Cipes, Jason Biggs and Rob Paulsen.

Director Rich Moore (who won earlier for directing a feature) and producer Clark Spencer accepting the Best Animated Feature Annie Award for their movie "Wreck-It Ralph". "Ralph" won four awards that night along with Disney winning Best Animated Short with "Paperman" the short film that played in front of "Wreck-It Ralph".

There was plenty of time for socializing at the Annies with both a pre party where many “good lucks” were wished, and an after party where much back slapping was experienced by those who won awards. If you would like to see a full list of the nominees and winners, please CLICK HERE.

Simpsons creator Matt Groening having a chat with Mulan director Tony Bancroft.

Yours truly, actor Sam Witwer from "Being Human" and nominated that evening for voicing Darth Maul in "Star Wars: The Clone Wars", Sam's wife Sarah, their friend Daniel, and my friend and colleague Steffi Larson.

Posted in Art: Animation, Chad About Town | Comments Off

Sand People – OBX 2012

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Each year I like to get away from it all to a place where I can just put my responsibilities behind me and relax. I just returned from my happy place in the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina where I go during hurricane season. Mind you, I don’t go with the hopes of experiencing a hurricane – it’s just that I usually go there during that time. If a hurricane should actually blow into town, relaxation requires a bit more concentration.

Of course, many hours are spent on the beach taking in the breeze, the surf, and the wide array of interesting people who under other circumstances would never be seen in public the way they freely saunter along the sand. This is why I bring a sketchbook to the beach.

This first drawing is of two beach-walkin’ fellas who did not look like they had any earthly connection to each other. You can see that the fella in the foreground was hanging onto his days when he was in an 80′s hair band despite the fact that his former 80′s physique has gone the way of 8-track tapes. The other guy hit his middle age in stride with a laid back attitude and a lanky walk. Both had kids accompanying them running around looking for shells and playing in the surf. I like to think that they were probably brothers-in-law taking the kids on a walk to give their wives a break.

Whether you're a mother or whether you're a brother-in-law, you're stayin' alive....

There is something about going to the beach so late in the summer season. With many schools in session, the beaches are quieter than during the prime summer months, the heat is no longer debilitating, and all the mature and <ahem> well-rounded adults venture out into the light for their daily dose of vitamin D. Such was the case with this next gentleman.

Now, when the kiddies come to the beach with kites, they don’t care if there is wind or not. They gleefully run up and down the beach to launch their technicolor plastic playthings. When adults get that same gleam in their eye, they have the good sense to come on a day sponsored by a strong wind. On this particularly windy day, four adults wandered over the dunes where two of them immediately dropped their chairs to the sand and launched their kites with nary a trot between them necessary to generate any wind speed. Although I imagine trotting was not a common activity for either of them.

Beach kites bring out the kid in all of us even when the kid in all of us was long ago absorbed by life.

Well, now you know about my happy place. Where is your happy place? On second thought, don’t tell me if you really don’t want me to show up with my sketchbook.

Posted in Caricature, Chad About Town, Life Drawings, Sketchbook | Comments Off

The Great Stan Freberg

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

I wanted to say a few words about the great Stan Freberg today. Do you know who he is? He has been a gold record selling comedian, cartoon voice actor, movie and television actor, radio show host, a puppeteer, an author and a pioneer of using humor in advertising. He even came up with the name “Grammy” for the recording industry’s highest award. And if you are in the Los Angeles area this weekend (August 4-5, 2012), you have a chance to shake his hand and get an autograph. (DETAILS HERE!)

Stan Freberg as he looked in the 1950s during his Capitol Records comedy days.

Stan Freberg got his start in the entertainment business as a teenager. He literally got off the bus in Hollywood and immediately landed a job doing voices for the classic Warner Bros. cartoons. That’s right, despite all the title cards saying Mel Blanc did all the voices, Stan was right there doing many voices as well along with folks like June Foray, Arthur Q. Bryan and others.

Perhaps Stan’s most iconic Warner Bros. character was Pete Puma, the mountain lion who Bugs Bunny tricked into getting many lumps pounded into his head in several cartoons. Stan also did the hilarious Junyer Bear who was far too big for his diaper. He was also one half (the other half being Mel Blanc) of the mice Hubie & Bertie and half of the Goofy Gophers. The list of other characters is quite long including being the voice of a cat in the first Speedy Gonzales cartoon.

Pete Puma after asking Bugs Bunny for "A lotta lumps".

Junyer Bear who always loves his paw.

The one time Stan got screen credit was when he was the ONLY voice in an entire Warner Bros. cartoon. Friz Freleng directed Stan in The Three Little Bops that was a zoot suited version of the story of the Three Little Pigs. Stan sang the song and voiced every character.

The Three Little Bops

Stan did cartoon vocal work for other studios, too. Disney was one. He sang a song about the Jabberwocky for Alice In Wonderland that Walt ultimately cut from the movie, but he also memorably did the voice of the beaver in Lady and the Tramp. As you recall, the beaver helps get the muzzle off of Lady when she and Tramp come to see him at the zoo. Walt Disney himself directed Stan in that performance.

This beautiful pencil drawing of Stan Freberg's character of the beaver from Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" is on an 8x10 that Stan has available at public appearances.

Out of a pure indulgence of mine, I also want to mention Stan’s role as the Yawning Man in the 1958 movie Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb was a wonderful fantasy movie directed by the great George Pal who loved incorporating stop-motion animation into his movies. He did it the hard way, too. The characters faces would all be sculpted in wood. George had Stan play a small but memorable role of a toy that helps put Tom Thumb (played by Russ Tamblyn from West Side Story) to sleep. Here’s the scene for you to see. I dare you to not yawn during this wonderful vocal performance by Freberg:

I first learned of Stan’s name when I was in high school. I was working at a summer camp on an island in the Delaware River sharing a cabin with several other staff guys. My friend Kevin Wertz had a copy of Freberg’s The United States of America album on a cassette tape that we listened to over and over after our long day’s work. That just might be the funniest album by any comedian I have ever heard, and am thrilled to have my own signed copy on LP framed on the wall in my studio. Later I discovered that Stan had made MANY records, most of which were song parodies of the day. His cover of Harry Bellefonte’s Banana Boat Song put me in stitches. It is no surprise that “Weird” Al Yankovic counts Stan as one of his inspirations.

This is perhaps the best of Stan's hilarious records with Capitol Records.

Another guy inspired by Stan was the late Jim Henson. Stan, along with Daws Butler, were the guys who brought Bob Clampett’s creations of Beany & Cecil to life as a live television puppet show called Time For Beany. Stan was the original Cecil the Seasick Sea Serpent as well as Dishonest John. Stan once told me how he showed a young Jim Henson how to make Kermit the Frog seem as though he was smiling.

Stan Freberg with puppets of Dishonest John and Cecil from "Time For Beany."

Freberg’s later career as an advertising man broke new ground for that industry. He broke away from the fake testimonial ads common in the day, and from the ads that made all kinds of promises to make ads that made people laugh. He was wildly successful and we have had funny ads ever since. One of the big accounts Stan had was doing all the TV and radio ads for the movie It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in which he also had a silent cameo (he’s the sheriff’s deputy sitting in the background of Andy Divine’s scenes), but he also did funny ads for Sunsweet Prunes, Geno’s Pizza and many others.

As you can tell, I love the guy. I could go on and on about his career, but you would be better served if you could find a copy of his out-of-print autobiography titled It Only Hurts When I Laugh so that you can read his funny tales about all of the above and more in his own words. If you come see Stan this weekend at The Hollywood Show in Burbank, you might be lucky enough to score one of the few copies he has left.

That’s right, so if you would like to come see Stan, shake his hand, and get an autograph he is appearing at the Burbank Marriott by the airport along with many other Hollywood celebrities. To see more details about The Hollywood Show and who will be there, CLICK HERE! Stan will have photos of Pete Puma, the beaver and other shots of himself for sale. He has a couple of books, and some record albums and CDs from his own collection that he will be selling, along with a few copies of Warner Bros. Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2 that has cartoons of Junyer Bear, Pete Puma and The Three Little Bops on it (Stan even provides voice commentary on that set)!

Oh, and if you drop by, be sure to wish Stan a Happy Birthday! He will be 86 years old on August 7!

This is a great casual shot of Capitol Records stars all together. You might recognize Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin and Stan Freberg.

Posted in Art: Drawings, Caricature, Cartoons, Chad About Town, Chad's Editorials, Disney, Life Drawings, Sketchbook, Videos | Comments Off

The Great Bil Keane

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

On November 8, 2011, a great cartoonist and a greater man quietly slipped away. Every day over the past 51 years, Bil Keane’s comic strip The Family Circus made us laugh, smile, and feel good inside whether we read it in a newspaper or from the side of a refrigerator where many were displayed. His influence on society was duly noted when word of his passing was mentioned in televised reports on national news broadcasts, on countless websites, and in many tweets and Facebook comments. It was so nice to see this outpouring of affection from many strangers for a man I was privileged to count as a dear friend.

The master in his Arizona studio taken by photographer Greg Preston for his wonderful book "The Artist Within" that shows many top cartoonists in their work space. Used with permission from the photographer. (Click on image to see it larger.)

This past weekend, Bil’s life was celebrated. I made the trip to the Phoenix area to attend the funeral where many tears and many laughs were shared. The memories came flooding back. Like many of you, I grew up reading The Family Circus in the newspaper and always got that warm and fuzzy feeling. Later, as a professional, I began to understand the fine artistic qualities of the artwork. Then what had become a professional admiration for Bil Keane eventually grew to a personal appreciation.

When first entering the professional world of cartooning, Bil Keane was one of the first cartoonists to whom I wrote. That initial correspondence in 1994 was simply a young rookie writing a fan letter to one of his heroes. Bil sent a reply that included a wonderful pencil sketch of the entire cast of his strip that has remained on my wall ever since.

This 1994 sketch hangs proudly on my wall as a daily reminder of Bil Keane.

Two years later, in 1996, I attended my first Reuben Awards that the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) hosts each year. It was held at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. I was a young illustrator living and working in South Carolina who, for the first time, was being exposed to a room full of professional cartoonists. It was a memorable evening for many reasons – in a glance around the room one could see Charles Schulz, Garry Trudeau with wife Jane Pauley, Archie artist Dan DeCarlo, MAD Magazine‘s Mort Drucker and Sergio Aragonès, Al Hirschfeld and so on. Even the mayor, Rudolph Giuliani was there. Best of all, Bil Keane was the Master of Ceremonies.

Based on the content of his comic strip, one’s impression of Bil Keane would be that he was a quiet, gentle, mild-mannered man. When he stepped up to the microphone that evening, all bets were off. Bil had a wicked sense of humor that had the whole room in stitches with great one-liners and his deft use of double-talk. We were there to celebrate the best of the cartooning business, but in between acceptance speeches, nobody was safe from Bil’s sharp and hilarious tongue. The one comment he made that night that I remember to this day was when he was introducing one of our larger colleagues. Bil said, “And now, here’s a cartoonist whose shadow weighs more than he does….” This was a room of longtime friends truly full of personal and professional admiration.

Taken in 1997 at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, Bil Keane, a young Chad Frye, Johnny Hart (B.C. comic strip), and Brant Parker (Wizard of ID comic strip). This was my first photo with any of these gentlemen.

It turns out that along with that sharp wit, Bil also really was the gentle, mild-mannered man one might expect. When you met him, he’d have an impish grin, a twinkle in his eye, and a handshake so firm that you’d have to learn to draw with your left hand. Over the years I just came to appreciate him more and more, now and then chatting on the phone, and visiting with him in Arizona when in town to see relatives.

In 2008 I was involved with a committee planning a banquet in Bil’s honor for the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS). CAPS had created an award called The Sergio named after CAPS co-founder Sergio Aragonès who also designed the trophy. The Sergio is given once each year to a cartoonist in appreciation for their lifetime of work in our profession. Bil’s beloved wife Thel had passed away earlier that year, and we decided it was time to give some very deserving love to Bil. Gary Owens (Rowen & Martin’s Laugh-In) emceed, and guest speakers included Greg Evans (Luann comic strip), Mell Lazarus (Momma comic strip), Cathy Guisewite (Cathy comic strip), son Jeff Keane (who had now taken over all duties on Family Circus and continues to do so today), and son Glen Keane (Disney animator). When Bil came to the mic to accept his award, true to form, he had us all holding our aching sides with his speech.

Bil Keane holding his Sergio Award from CAPS in 2008 while sitting next to the actual Sergio Aragonès at Maggiano's restaurant in Woodland Hills, CA.

Just about one year ago was the last time I saw Bil. I was in town with my folks for my father’s 50th high school reunion, and one afternoon my mother and I paid Bil a visit. He had taken a fall a few months earlier that had weakened him and required some special rehabilitation measures. Despite the discomfort he was experiencing, he greeted us with that familiar twinkle in his eye, the impish grin, and a handshake so firm that I can still feel it. We talked about how his faithful dog had saved his life the day of his fall. He recalled days when the famous and not so famous came by the house, and of vacationing with Ozzie and Harriet who owned a vacation home next to Bil’s vacation home back in the day. We talked about life, and of cartooning, and about his family of whom he was so very proud. That was a very special afternoon.

Chad Frye with Bil Keane in October, 2010. Sadly, Bil's beloved dog who remained by his side during our visit passed away only six months ago.

So, while the news stories heralded the passing of this great cartoonist two weeks ago, there was so much more to the man that I wish everyone could have known. Perhaps Bil’s ever cheerful outlook on life came from something he once wrote in The Family Circus, “Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a GIFT. That’s why it’s called the present.” I’m truly grateful for the many gift-wrapped “todays” with Bil.

Taken last Saturday, Bil Keane's studio where thousands of circular pearls of wit and wisdom were birthed before being released to the world. Thank you for everything, Bil.

Posted in Chad About Town, Chad's Editorials | 2 Comments »

Fans of Film Music 2011 – part 1

Monday, August 29th, 2011

I have a confession to make. It’s not something that I talk about much here, but it’s something that is a part of my daily life. It’s an obsession really. I’m not ashamed of it, but I’m also not sure how common my obsession really is. So, here goes….

Hi, I’m Chad, and I’m a film musicaholic.

Whew. Felt good getting that off my chest. Really, though, I love orchestral film music – especially while I am doing my drawings, and living here in the Hollywood area there are multiple opportunities to feed this hobby of mine. This past year I met a fella from the midwest named Peter Hackman who shares in this passion. So much so, that he formed a group called Fans Of Film Music, and this past weekend Peter put together a terrific event that film music fans across the globe should know about.

Here is the youngest of the composers on the panel, Brian Tyler, whose recent score to "Fast Five" actually makes me draw faster.

First, Friday evening about 30 film music enthusiasts gathered at a restaurant in Silver Lake, CA just to swap stories and get to know each other. I had never been to anything like it, and was amazed to meet these folks, many of which work in the film business or in the music industry. It was amazing hearing tales of being at James Horner’s first film scoring recording sessions, or about encounters with legends like Jerry Goldsmith or John Williams.

film scoring

Many of these folks attended the John Williams concert held at the Hollywood Bowl Saturday night, but quite frankly, the icing on the cake is what went down Sunday afternoon at the Dark Delicacies store in Burbank. Mr. Hackman was able to gather together some amazing composers for a panel discussion open to only 45 attendees: Brad Fiedel (Terminator, T2, True Lies), Lee Holdridge (Old Gringo, Mists of Avalon, Splash), David Newman (Nutty Professor, Hoffa, Ice Age), Nicholas Pike (Return To Me, Sleepwalkers, Star Kid), Ken Thorne (Help!, Lassiter, Inspector Clousseau), Brian Tyler (Fast Five, Battle: LA, Rambo), and Christopher Young (Priest, Love Happens, Spider-man 3). Aaron Zigman (The Proposal, The Notebook, Flash of Genius) was scheduled to attend, but had a family emergency that prevented his attendance. Wonderfully moderated by film music critic and historian Daniel Schweiger, the hour and a half panel was riveting with these maestros telling tales of their experiences in their chosen profession.

I had a great seat, and sat there with my sketchbook in hand working on quick sketches of the panelists. Once at home, I finessed the drawings a bit. Anyone could show you photos of the day’s events (which you will probably be able to see on the Fans of Film Music Facebook page very soon), but I thought I’d share with you a few drawings instead…

Brad "I'll be back" Fiedel who first really caught everyone's attention with his score for "The Terminator."

I first met Chris Young probably over 10 years ago when I visited a class he was teaching at USC, and have always found him to be a generous man.

If you like these, perhaps I’ll show you some more sketches of the other panelists later in the week. And if you’d like to see other art of mine related to the world of film music, CLICK HERE!

Posted in Caricature, Chad About Town, Chad's Editorials, Film Music, Life Drawings, Sketchbook | Comments Off

Happy 100th Birthday, Burbank?

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Burbank, oh Burbank – what was THAT!?

Just two weeks ago I first learned that my fair city of Burbank, California, was going to be celebrating their 100 years of incorporation on July 8, 2011 with the “Party of the Century.” I myself chose to live in beautiful downtown Burbank fourteen years ago when first arriving in Southern California. The city is clean, well-groomed, quiet, and relatively safe. It reminded me of the town in which I grew up in New Jersey.

Burbank’s “Party of the Century” kicked off at 5pm Friday afternoon with the opening of a time capsule containing the history and treasures of the bygone days of 1986. I didn’t get home until 7 from my job in another town, so I missed seeing the mayor pull out a pair of leg warmers and a Born in the U.S.A. album. Missing the opening ceremonies did not dampen my enthusiasm for getting down to the promised giant pedestrian party being held on 4 or 5 blocks of San Fernando and even part of Olive.

While walking to downtown, I could imagine the wafting scents of funnel cake, popcorn and cotton candy. Thoughts of sizzling marinated BBQ were making my mouth water! Finish it off with snow cones, Italian ice or ice cream! Maybe they’ll have bounce houses for the kids! There surely will be a plethora of face painters, balloons, carnival games, contests for families – perhaps a great commemorative T-shirt to buy, maybe local artisans with wares! Will the local equestrian community trot out their horses for pony rides? Or will the LA Zoo next to town have a petting area with non-dangerous animals? All are things one would dare hope for at a great street fair!

Arriving on the Media Center Mall end of the strip, my excitement could hardly contain itself! There were THOUSANDS of people on the street! First thing to see was a stage where some girls were doing a dance demo. Ok, not my speed. Moving forward, there was a line of about 30 people waiting to see a lone balloon animal maker. Oh well, on to see what was beyond that first block. I was on the hunt for a grilled savory piece of meat.

Meat? Not yet. To the left there were three vendors – a honey vendor, fruit, and flowers – three booths common at our weekly Farmer’s Market. Little did I realize at that moment that they were the ONLY vendors at the event selling anything!

The town certainly had the entertainment covered. I’ll grant them that. Total there were 4 1/2 stages with various groups performing. I spoke to the sax player of a zoot-suited band who told me they traveled over from Idaho for our shin dig. Idaho. Not Burbank. Not even from LA.

The tents started at this point. Now I should find those street fair goodies I am looking for. Nope. The tents almost entirely featured Burbank services (library, credit union, fire dept., etc) or businesses that were in some fashion associated with Burbank’s government (airport, Cusumano Real Estate who owns half the town, Lockheed Martin, etc.). Most were just giving away pamphlets advertising their services. If you were lucky, you could get a pin or a stick-on tattoo.

Where was the fun?

Bob "Burbank" Hope

I’m sure the Burbank City Council is slapping themselves on the back – one council member told a friend of mine that 28,000 people were in attendance. If the goal was to support the Burbank businesses who happened to border the party area, then congratulations on a job well-done. There were lines out the door of any restaurant you could find because they were the only source of food or drink (and incapable of handling 10,000 people let alone 28,000).

But this was supposed to be a celebration of our whole city. Why didn’t I see tables of food from longtime Burbank businesses like The Smokehouse, or Chili John’s, or Coral Cafè, or Santoro’s, or Giamela’s, or Riverside Cafè, Bob’s Big Boy (oldest one in the country!), Pinocchio’s, Tony’s Bella Vista, or even that dude down on Magnolia who grills up all kinds of meats on Saturdays for his customers?

Our town is where movies are made. Why didn’t anyone think to construct a giant screen somewhere showing clips of films and TV shows shot on the streets of Burbank? Back to the Future, Clint Eastwood films, Apollo 13, CSI, Parks & Recreation, even Jurassic Park: The Lost World which shot on the very street where we were “partying”.

Where were the family activities to inspire civic pride? How about a William Mulholland Dunk Tank (he built the aqueducts for LA), a Luther Burbank Fruit Smoothie stand, a Luther Burbank look-a-like contest, performances from our local senior center talent show, or one from one of our award-winning high school groups? Maybe a Bob “I used to own Burbank” Hope impersonator doing a USO themed act using Burbankisms as a part of it? NBC, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., ABC, and even Universal Studios all have a leg in Burbank, and the town is home to many of their workers – why didn’t they have a strong presence at the festival?

I did hear that the fireworks were ok. I skipped them. After wandering around for an hour and a half with nothing to do and a grumbling stomach, I was home by 8:45 without having spent a dime and with my spirit crushed that my town had failed my expectations so miserably. The craft fairs held there in the past were more exciting.

So, congratulations on your “Party of the Century” Burbank City Council. Please, next time call it “Party IN a Century” so my expectations won’t possibly have a chance to be dashed.

Posted in Caricature, Chad About Town, Chad's Editorials | 1 Comment »

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