Jack Chojnacki Explained

Jack Chojnacki
Birth Date:c. [1]
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin[2]
Years Active:1970s–1980s
Known For:Strawberry Shortcake
Care Bears
Holly Hobbie
Employer:American Greetings
Occupation:Co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland, AGC's licensing division

Jack Chojnacki (born c. 1941)[1] served as the co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland Inc., a division of U.S. greeting card company American Greetings (AGC), in the 1980s. He assisted in the creation of several AGC franchises, including Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears.

Career

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[2] Chojnacki graduated from the city's Marquette University High School in 1958.[2] During the 1970s, he was among the staff of American Greetings, a card company based in Cleveland, Ohio;[3] he licensed the Holly Hobbie character early in his tenure there.[4] Later that decade, he set up the company's licensing branch[3] Those Characters from Cleveland[5] [6] with another AGC employee, Tim Wilson (the creator of the comic strip Ziggy).[7] Its first franchise, Strawberry Shortcake, made its public debut in 1980.[3]

Beginning in the early 1980s, Chojnacki served as co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland[6] along with Wilson,[8] and vice-president of AGC's licensing operations.[9] Starting in February 1981, he assisted in the creation of another American Greetings franchise, the Care Bears.[10] He served as executive producer of 1985's The Care Bears Movie,[11] [12] along with its 1986 prequel A New Generation;[13] he also was a creative consultant for the 1987 follow-up, Adventure in Wonderland.[14] After the Care Bears, Chojnacki helped out with another two AGC properties, Madballs[15] and Popples.[16] [17] In 1989, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) inducted him into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame, as a charter member.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Who's Red and Sweet and Filthy Rich? Strawberry Shortcake, Toyland's Newest Tyke-Coon. Chiu. Tony. Wansley. Joyce. May 10, 1982. September 17, 2010. People Weekly. Time Inc.. 17. 18.
  2. News: Care Bear market is looking bullish. Daniell. Tina. April 24, 1985. August 21, 2010. The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. 7 (Part 3).
  3. Saturday Morning Fever: The Hard Sell Takeover of Kids TV. Engelhardt. Tom. September 1986. August 21, 2010. Mother Jones. Foundation for National Progress. 11. 6. 40.
  4. Liebeck. Laura. Transforming a license into a brand. June 4, 1990. Discount Store News. Lebhar-Friedman Inc.. 29. 11. 113.
  5. News: Advertising; 825/Strawberry Shortcake to Dancer Fitzgerald. Dougherty. Philip H.. November 17, 1981. August 21, 2010. The New York Times.
  6. News: Out to launch: Is there shelf life after Holly Hobbie? You bet. DeWolf. Rose. October 12, 1982. August 21, 2010. registration . Philadelphia Daily News. 33 (FEATURES). Jack Chojnacki, copresident of Those Characters from Cleveland, a subsidiary of American Greetings set up just to handle licensing, told a recent meeting....
  7. Book: Abelman, Robert. Reclaiming the Wasteland: TV & Gifted Children. 88. 1-57273-014-5. 1995. August 21, 2010. Hampton Press.
  8. McAllister. Liane. Character marketing—competitive and thriving. April 1984. Gifts & Decorative Accessories. Geyer-McAllister Publications Inc.. 85. 120. ...Adds Jack Chojnacki, co-president with Tom Wilson, of Those Characters from Cleveland, 'You see numerous characters, but only few sensible ones; the marketplace really boils down to 20 or 30 good properties'.
  9. News: A Word from the Sponsor: Holly Hobbie Set to Go Hollywood. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103145955/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/658170702.html?dids=658170702:658170702&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+09,+1980&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=A+Word+From+the+Sponsor&pqatl=google . dead . November 3, 2012 . Yoshihara. Nancy. September 9, 1980. August 21, 2010. registration . Los Angeles Times. E5.
  10. News: High 'aaah" factor has meant millions. Connelly. Sherryl. New York Daily News. April 2, 1985. August 21, 2010. Boca Raton News. 4B.
  11. 1985 . Animated film . The Samuel Goldwyn Company (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / American Greetings / CPG Products Corp . Selznick, Arna (director) .
  12. Canadian, eh? Take One's unofficial list of 20 box-office hits. Wyse. Wyndham. March 22, 2000. October 30, 2010. Take One. Canadian Independent Film & Television Publishing Association. 9. 27. 20–4, 29–31.
  13. 1986 . Animated film . Columbia Pictures (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / LBS Communications . Schott, Dale (director) .
  14. 1987 . Animated film . Cineplex Odeon Films (distributor, North America) / Nelvana Limited . Jafelice, Raymond (director) .
  15. News: The ugliest toys ever—Madballs!. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103150008/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/99983112.html?dids=99983112:99983112&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+08,+1986&author=By+Susan+Whitall.+The+Detroit+News&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=The+ugliest+toys+ever+-+Madballs!&pqatl=google. dead. November 3, 2012. Whitall. Susan. The Detroit News. March 8, 1986. August 21, 2010. registration . Newsday. 2 (Part II).
  16. Industry forecast for '86 properties (Licensing Scope). December 1985. Playthings. Geyer-McAllister Publications Inc.. 83. 50.
  17. Jones. Vicki. Licensed to sell. November 4, 1985. HFD: The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper. Capital Cities Media. 59. 15.
  18. Web site: About LIMA: Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame. November 3, 2010. Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA).

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