Jack Carr (animator) explained

Jack Carr (born Frank Carr; May 17, 1906 – February 2, 1967) was an American actor and animator.

Biography

Jack Carr was born Frank Carr on May 17, 1906, in Bayonne, New Jersey to James and Bridgett O'Donnell Carr, Irish immigrants. He was one of eight children.[1]

Carr worked for a number of animation studios and was a credited animator since at least the early 1930s. When, in 1930, Charles Mintz found a cartoon distributor in Columbia Pictures and moved his operations to California, Mr. Carr was amongst his staff;[2] whilst working at the Warner Bros. studio of Leon Schlesinger, he provided the voice of Buddy from 1933 to 1934: he is also a credited animator on one Buddy short, Buddy in Africa. Carr is also credited with naming the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry when Hanna-Barbera had a naming contest amongst the staff; Carr won the $25 prize.[3] Hanna and Barbera were said to be unhappy to have their characters named after a popular drink of the time, but history later proved that names having dual associations are the most popular as they are easier for the public to remember Carr family lore. He also, coincidentally, worked on two Tom and Jerry shorts during the CinemaScope period.

Carr acted as an extra, often uncredited, in nearly 100 films and television episodes from 1933 through 1963.

Credited animator

Jack Carr animated or co-animated the following shorts, arranged by series and studio:

Krazy Kat, Screen Gems:

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walter Lantz Productions:

Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, Leon Schlesinger Productions:

Barney Bear, MGM:

Tom and Jerry, MGM:

Carr was also an animator on The Yogi Bear Show and The Flintstones.

Notes and References

  1. Great Nephew, William Lord
  2. Maltin, Leonard. Of Mice and Magic: a History of American Animated Cartoons. Von Hoffmann Press, Inc., 1980. p. 206
  3. The Art of Hanna-Barbera: Fifty Years of Creativity, Ted Sennett.