sun
08-31-2001, 02:43 PM
I was part of group that had a discussion with Fritz Freeling in October of 1979.. It was after the world premere of Bugs Bunny's Loony Loony Toon Movie, or some title similiar to that. The movie was shown as part of the Chicago Film Festival. It was at the beginning of the revival of animation ..After the showing of the film. ( It was, and still is funny, ) Friz stood at the podium, and answered questions from the audience for about 45 minutes. After the question and answer sesson, 7 or 8 of us, waited in the hall outsite the theater, (it was really a lecture hall, at the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology approximately 33rd street on the south side of Chicago, seated about 800, it was about 2/3rds full) He talked to us again for what was 15-25 minutes. I remember several points he made.(these may have been made with the large audience or in our small group. The directors, although well paid for the times, (about 125 ,000 in today's money) no more than 25,000 in the 50s, never got anything from the tv showings, or reruns in the theaters. Also, he was concerned about marketing the film and deals were made even then, from start of production, to which cable network would show it eventually. He was soft spoken, sharp at 71 or 72, and modest. He didn't talk too much about the production of the cartoon, (did so when asked by the large crowd) but he was exceptionally knowledgeable in all areas. (only later did I read that he was part of Disney's original animation team that worked on Oswald the Rabbit) While he got great applause, from the crowd and praise from those who stayed behind to talk to him, I got the feeling (totally unscientific) that he did now know how much happiness and joy he had spread. I would apprecaite any other comments on him, or the other directors who worked for WArners.. Thanks for reading all of this