Today – being a Presidents Day holiday here in the United States, a little pictorial post for your enjoyment. Thanks to Norman Chaney, we’ve been sent a group of just discovered snapshots for a few of our favorite animators at the Leon Schlesinger studio – taken by Norman’s father: Revelee Guy Chaney.
Rev joined Schlesinger’s studio in 1936, working as an inbetweener and assistant, graduating to animator status in 1940. In 1951 he left Warners to join UPA, becoming the head of Ink-and-Paint – and was later promoted to assistant production manager.
While at Warners, Rev seemed to work on any film that needed his help – for example, see his credited scenes in Devon Baxter’s breakdown for Clampett’s A Tale Of Two Kitties – though he was mainly housed in Jones’ unit.
These few photos are a wonderful window into the past, to a place I think we’d all want to visit in 1938 (right after visiting a newsstand magazine rack to purchase a few mint copies of Action Comics #1 – for ten cents a pop). The photos were stamped on the back (at right), revealing they weren’t developed until April 7th 1939 at the local Thrifty Drug Store.
ABOVE: The Good Humor man awaits the staff to take a break. This building still exists today on Van Ness at Fernwood in Hollywood. The front is smoothed over – here’s a photo of it today off Google Maps. BELOW: The next two photos are interesting, as we can see model sheets for Tashlin’s Little Pancho Vanilla and Jones’ The Night Watchman on the wall on the right. Obviously both animators chose to pose at the same desk. Any speculations as to who’s desk this is?
Rev Chaney
This model sheet is spotted in the wall in the photo above and below.
Ken Harris
Ken Harris
Rudy Larriva
Rudy Larriva
Phil Monroe. Rev and Phil were high school classmates – Phil was actually Rev’s best man when he was married in 1940.
This photo needs to be ID – Steve Millman is the older gent with his arms folded
Can’t quite make out the caricatures and what’s going on here… ??
The original Warner water tower at the Sunset Blvd. studio in 1938
Thank you Rev (and Norman) Chaney.
And Thank you Devon Baxter for additional writing and research above. Please support Devon’s Patreon Page
