Joseph Barbera
Birthday:
24 March 1911, Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name:
Joseph Roland Barbera
Joseph Barbera was born on March 24, 1911 in Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA as Joseph Roland Barbera. He was a producer and director, known for The Ruff & Reddy Show (1957), Smurfs (1981) and The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958). He was married to Sheila Holden and Dorothy Earl. He died on December 18, 2006 in Studio Cit...
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Joseph Barbera was born on March 24, 1911 in Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA as Joseph Roland Barbera. He was a producer and director, known for The Ruff & Reddy Show (1957), Smurfs (1981) and The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958). He was married to Sheila Holden and Dorothy Earl. He died on December 18, 2006 in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA. Show less «
[on the advantages of syndication vs. network programming] These days even Charles Chaplin couldn't get his material past a network.
[on the advantages of syndication vs. network programming] These days even Charles Chaplin couldn't get his material past a network.
Animation is a relief from what's going on in the world. You get up in the morning and turn on the radio and you hear a bridge goes out in A...Show more »
Animation is a relief from what's going on in the world. You get up in the morning and turn on the radio and you hear a bridge goes out in Albany, a bomb has exploded here and there's a flood on the East Coast. Then you turn on the TV and see it all visualized. In living color, no less. Where's the relief? That's what we do: Provide relief in fantasy product. It's important to make people forget what's really happening. Show less «
I cannot say who, precisely, came up with the idea of a Stone Age family.
I cannot say who, precisely, came up with the idea of a Stone Age family.
I hope we don't get to the point where we have to have the cat stop chasing the mouse to teach him glassblowing and basket weaving.
I hope we don't get to the point where we have to have the cat stop chasing the mouse to teach him glassblowing and basket weaving.
My marriage had been impulsive. That marriage should have been short-lived instead of the 23 years it spanned.
My marriage had been impulsive. That marriage should have been short-lived instead of the 23 years it spanned.
What about Mickey Mouse? Disney tried very hard to make him a star. But Mickey Mouse is more of a symbol than a real character.
What about Mickey Mouse? Disney tried very hard to make him a star. But Mickey Mouse is more of a symbol than a real character.
Publicity gets more than a little tiring. You want it, you need it, you crave it, and you're scared as hell when it stops.
Publicity gets more than a little tiring. You want it, you need it, you crave it, and you're scared as hell when it stops.
After I had done a handful of cartoons I was satisfied with, I started submitting them to the magazines.
After I had done a handful of cartoons I was satisfied with, I started submitting them to the magazines.
High-level, big-deal publicity has a way of getting old for me, but what never fails to thrill me is when I make personal appearances.
High-level, big-deal publicity has a way of getting old for me, but what never fails to thrill me is when I make personal appearances.
My last days at MGM were like the fall of the Roman Empire in fast motion.
My last days at MGM were like the fall of the Roman Empire in fast motion.
That's what keeps me going: dreaming, inventing, then hoping and dreaming some more in order to keep dreaming.
That's what keeps me going: dreaming, inventing, then hoping and dreaming some more in order to keep dreaming.
Making cartoons means very hard work at every step of the way, but creating a successful cartoon character is the hardest work of all.
Making cartoons means very hard work at every step of the way, but creating a successful cartoon character is the hardest work of all.
Los Angeles was an impression of failure, of disappointment, of despair, and of oddly makeshift lives. This is California? I thought.
Los Angeles was an impression of failure, of disappointment, of despair, and of oddly makeshift lives. This is California? I thought.
My biggest kick comes from the individual fans I run into. Middle-aged men ask me when we're going to do more Johnny Quest cartoons.
My biggest kick comes from the individual fans I run into. Middle-aged men ask me when we're going to do more Johnny Quest cartoons.
Friends don't necessarily made good business or creative partners.
Friends don't necessarily made good business or creative partners.
I was 82 years old before Who's Who thought I was enough of a big shot to do a piece on me.
I was 82 years old before Who's Who thought I was enough of a big shot to do a piece on me.
I hate fishing, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to hike when you can get in the car and drive.
I hate fishing, and I can't imagine why anyone would want to hike when you can get in the car and drive.
In those days, boxing was very glamorous and romantic. You listened to fights on the radio, and a good announcer made it seem like a contest...Show more »
In those days, boxing was very glamorous and romantic. You listened to fights on the radio, and a good announcer made it seem like a contest between gladiators. Show less «
While I have never been a regular churchgoer, I'm anything but immune to the power and the majesty of the religious experience.
While I have never been a regular churchgoer, I'm anything but immune to the power and the majesty of the religious experience.
Bill Hanna and I owe an awful lot to television, but we both got our start and built the first phase of our partnership in the movies.
Bill Hanna and I owe an awful lot to television, but we both got our start and built the first phase of our partnership in the movies.
Despite the rejection, and in violation of all the rules, I came back year after year.
Despite the rejection, and in violation of all the rules, I came back year after year.
Faced with the choice of enduring a bad toothache or going to the dentist, we generally tried to ride out the bad tooth.
Faced with the choice of enduring a bad toothache or going to the dentist, we generally tried to ride out the bad tooth.
I don't know that I spent any more time alone than any other kid, but being by myself never bothered me.
I don't know that I spent any more time alone than any other kid, but being by myself never bothered me.
I learned long ago to accept the fact that not everything I create will see the light of day.
I learned long ago to accept the fact that not everything I create will see the light of day.
When animators weren't sleeping, they were drinking.
When animators weren't sleeping, they were drinking.
Among the great glories of the MGM lot were the vast outdoor sets that had been constructed over the years.
Among the great glories of the MGM lot were the vast outdoor sets that had been constructed over the years.
Except for me, no one in my family could draw.
Except for me, no one in my family could draw.
I don't know anyone who enjoys going to the hospital. To help remedy this, I got an idea to create what a Laugh Room in the pediatric ward o...Show more »
I don't know anyone who enjoys going to the hospital. To help remedy this, I got an idea to create what a Laugh Room in the pediatric ward of hospitals. Show less «
Ted Turner sailed into the meeting, and I mean sailed. He holds himself as if he were at the helm of his sailboat, in the process of winning...Show more »
Ted Turner sailed into the meeting, and I mean sailed. He holds himself as if he were at the helm of his sailboat, in the process of winning the race. Show less «
There is no law that says a man who earned a hundred million dollars in his first half-dozen years on the job has to be a decent human being...Show more »
There is no law that says a man who earned a hundred million dollars in his first half-dozen years on the job has to be a decent human being, but Mike Eisner is that and more. Show less «
I never got tired of Tom and Jerry, but I did have a dream of doing more with my life than making cartoons.
I never got tired of Tom and Jerry, but I did have a dream of doing more with my life than making cartoons.
I was convinced there as only one actor to play Templeton the Rat, and that was Tony Randall.
I was convinced there as only one actor to play Templeton the Rat, and that was Tony Randall.
What the real world of 1941 needed most was the release and relief provided by laughter.
What the real world of 1941 needed most was the release and relief provided by laughter.
Creating fantasy is a very personal thing, but you can't take the process too personally.
Creating fantasy is a very personal thing, but you can't take the process too personally.
I first pitched the idea of doing a series of cartoons based on Bible stories. They didn't much like it.
I first pitched the idea of doing a series of cartoons based on Bible stories. They didn't much like it.
You keep pitching. Most of the pitches run wild. A few are caught.
You keep pitching. Most of the pitches run wild. A few are caught.
Not once in six years did I make it to the office by 9 on the dot.
Not once in six years did I make it to the office by 9 on the dot.
I have spent a lot of years on the outside looking in.
I have spent a lot of years on the outside looking in.
One of the most attractive things about writing your autobiography is that you're not dead.
One of the most attractive things about writing your autobiography is that you're not dead.
Parents look at me like I'm somebody pretty important, and say, We were raised on your characters, and now we're enjoying them all over agai...Show more »
Parents look at me like I'm somebody pretty important, and say, We were raised on your characters, and now we're enjoying them all over again with our children. Show less «
Joseph Barbera's Photos
