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Harold Eugene Geer (September 13, 1916 – January 26, 2017) was an American producer, filmmaker and animator, noteworthy for his association with the ''
Geer subsequently worked at Walt Disney Productions from 1950 to 1955 in the special effects department. Following his employment at Disney, Geer worked at a number of independent production companies before being brought back to Warner Bros. by producer William L. Hendricks in 1967, beginning a twenty-year association with ''Looney Tunes''. Initially he served as the film editor (which, in the animation industry, means sound effects editor) on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoons, which lasted until 1969, when Warner Bros. ceased production of their theatrical shorts. However, Geer was retained in order to assist in production of '' The Bugs Bunny Show'', and eventually elevated to co-producer of the show in 1975.
Following the retirement of Hendricks two years later, Geer took over his position and became the de facto head of the ''Looney Tunes'' series. In 1980, Warner Bros. officially re-established its cartoon studio as Warner Bros. Animation, with Geer installed as its first head. He was soon joined by veteran ''Looney Tunes'' director Friz Freleng, and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials, including '' The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie'' and '' Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales''. During his stewardship of the new animation studio, Geer spearheaded a campaign to give
Hal Geer obituary
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Looney Tunes
''Looney Tunes'' is an American media franchise produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The franchise began as a series of animated short films that originally ran from 1930 to 1969, alongside its spin-off series ''Merrie Melodies'', during t ...
'' franchise.
Military career
Prior to his career in the entertainment industry, Geer served as a combat cameraman with the 16th Combat Camera Unit, enlisting just two weeks after theattack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
. As a sergeant he participated in several major projects, including the film documentary ''China Crisis''. He received a field commission to lieutenant, and took part in 86 combat missions during World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. He remained in the Army Reserves for 24 years, achieving the rank of major. In addition to his flight duties, he also worked as a newsreel cameraman during the war, and his experience in this job helped him secure a position in the special effects department at Warner Bros. after the war ended on September 2, 1945.
Film career
Geer subsequently worked at Walt Disney Productions from 1950 to 1955 in the special effects department. Following his employment at Disney, Geer worked at a number of independent production companies before being brought back to Warner Bros. by producer William L. Hendricks in 1967, beginning a twenty-year association with ''Looney Tunes''. Initially he served as the film editor (which, in the animation industry, means sound effects editor) on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoons, which lasted until 1969, when Warner Bros. ceased production of their theatrical shorts. However, Geer was retained in order to assist in production of '' The Bugs Bunny Show'', and eventually elevated to co-producer of the show in 1975.
Following the retirement of Hendricks two years later, Geer took over his position and became the de facto head of the ''Looney Tunes'' series. In 1980, Warner Bros. officially re-established its cartoon studio as Warner Bros. Animation, with Geer installed as its first head. He was soon joined by veteran ''Looney Tunes'' director Friz Freleng, and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials, including '' The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie'' and '' Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales''. During his stewardship of the new animation studio, Geer spearheaded a campaign to give Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a cartoon character created in the late 1930s at Warner Bros. Cartoons (originally Leon Schlesinger, Leon Schlesinger Productions) and Voice acting, voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his featured roles in the ' ...
his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
, which was granted in 1985.
Later career
Geer retired from both Warner Bros. and the film industry in 1987, and subsequently took on a career of lecturing aboard cruise ships. He turned 100 on September 13, 2016 and died on January 26, 2017, in Simi Valley, California./ref>
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Geer, Hal 1916 births 2017 deaths American animated film producers United States Army personnel of World War II American men centenarians Film producers from Missouri People from Jasper County, Missouri