Meet Walter “Woody Woodpecker” Lantz (1951) 🇺🇸

Walter Lantz, dean of animated cartoons, is about to launch his favorite star in yet another phase of entertainment.

by Paul Manning

On Nov. 1, “Woody Woodpecker” will peck his way into his first comic strip, and his fans will get a chance daily to chuckle with the nation’s “Number One Laugh Bird.” Woody is established as a star of animated cartoons, radio, records, and comic books, and Lantz feels the time is right for him to break into the newspaper field. Consolidated News Features, Inc., of New York, will release the comic strip.

Since he was 16, Lantz has been cartooning, starting in New York City as assistant to well-known director Gregory La Cava. In 1927, he came to Hollywood, signed with Universal to do a series of cartoons starring Oswald Rabbit, began producing independently in 1935, and has been at it ever since. His most important creations are “Woody Woodpecker”, “Andy Panda”, “Wally Walrus”, “Buzz Buzzard”, and others. “Woody”, particularly, is known ‘round the world, catapulted to international fame by the amazing song which he inspired.

The producer feels that in his own daily comic strip, “Woody”, supported by the other Lantz characters, will have an additional chance to show off his talents which have brought him fame in other fields.

Says Lantz:

“Woody’s dedicated to one thing, entertainment. He’s not trying to change the world’s history. He’s brash, fresh, and unpredictable. There’s just one thing you can depend on with ‘Woody’ around, and that’s a good laugh. What more can you expect from the nation’s ‘Number One Laugh Bird’?”— P. M.

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Good Things to come from Hollywood… “Detective Story”

by Paul Manning

“Detective Story”, produced and directed by William Wyler for Paramount, is a great big hunk of screen dynamite.

Adapted for the screen from the successful Broadway stage play by Sidney Kingsley, this picture, which commands attention for one hour and 42 minutes, is headed for top grosses. The cast, Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Horace McMahon, and a group of superb supporting characters, some from the stage vehicle itself, crack through with conviction and stark realism. The many scenes which take place in the normal routine of any big city police station are given natural treatment. Humor, pathos, dangerous suspense, and love in all their stages are captured by the inspired direction of Wyler. If patrons are among those who like a slice of life brought to the screen with every vital element portrayed. Paramount’s Detective Story is their meat. — P. M.

Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker, upper left, are starred in Paramount’s Detective Story, a screen adaptation of the highly successful play by Sidney Kingsley. Supporting players include Horace McMahon, shown at upper right with the stars in a scene from the film, and at lower left, William Bendix and Luis Van Rooten, pictured with Douglas. Detective Story was produced and directed for Paramount by William Wyler, who is seen at lower right.

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Paul Manning, Studio Survey editor, recently attended the monthly meeting of the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association on the coast as a guest of European correspondent Mishel Green, right.

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Correction

(In the issue of Sept. 5, Arthur Lubin was credited as the producer of Queen for a Day, whereas actually Robert Stillman produced it. Lubin was the director. — Ed.)

Collection: Exhibitor Magazine (Studio Survey), October 1951