BARBERA, Joe

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Birth/Death

Born: New York City, March 16, 1911
Died: 12-18-2006

Occupation/Title

Animator, Director, Producer, Studio Head

Bio Summary

Most people know him from the famous Hanna-Barbera studios cartoons, such as "The Flintstones" and "Scooby-Doo", but there was much more to the man's career.

Early Life/Family

Joseph Barbera was born in the Little Italy section of Manhattan, to Sicilian parents. (Wikipedia)

Education/Training

Career Outline

Published in Collier's magazine in 1928, and off-and-on while working for the Bankers' Trust Company in New York. In 1932, he joined Van Beuren Studio in New York, remaining until it closed in 1937. For a short while afterward, he worked for the Terrytoons (Paul Terry) studio before moving out West that summer because of a tempting salary increase.

Would eventually settle in Hollywood and establish partnership with Bill Hanna, as part of the animation department @ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM); Hanna and Barbera would create Tom and Jerry, producing a number of shorts under the direction of Fred Quimby until his retirement in 1956, at which time Hanna and Barbera became joint directors. That lasted less than a year, however; in the summer of 1957, MGM closed its animation department, and soon afterward, both would establish Hanna-Barbera Productions, in time becoming the leading studio for TV animation.

In 1994, he published his memoir, "My Life in Toons: From Flatbush to Hollywood in Less than a Century" (Turner Books/Andrews & MacNeel).

Comments On Style

Influences

Personality

"He was Fred Flintstone: loyal, loving family man; a self-image as a working stiff despite all evidence to the contrary; Average Joe. Except that he was nothing close to being average." (InsidePulse.com)

Anecdotes

"If you ever want to explore the cliche of "opposites attract", you could definitely start with Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna. Hanna was the embodiment of what would eventually become the California surfer boy, blond, and tan. Joe looked like a Thirties version of Tony Soprano, dark with the typically wide Italian face. Hanna was refined, Barbera still had the patina of crudeness that Brooklyn, to this day, layers on its inhabitants. Hanna was shy, Barbera gregarious. Hanna was on the fast track at MGM, his loyalty to Harman and Ising paying off as he was allowed to direct a few shorts starting in 1936; Barbera was one of the New York imports, there to provide the muscle behind the scenes. But somehow they clicked. Friendship quickly led to partnership. Everyone at MGM started regarding Hanna and Barbera as a single entity." (InsidePulse.com)

"[Barbera] could capture mood and expression in a quick sketch better than anyone I've ever known." - Bill Hanna

Miscellaneous

Filmography

1. The Karateguard (2005)
2. "Cartoon Alley" (2004) TV Series (original material)
3. Cartoon Crack-ups (2001) (V)
4. Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases (2000) (V)
   
5. Jetsons: The Movie (1990)
   
6. The Baby Smurf (1984) (TV)
7. Here Are the Smurfs (1984) (TV)
8. Dalton en cavale, Les (1983)
   ... aka Dalton en balade, Les
   ... aka Lucky Luke - Das große Abenteuer (West Germany)
   
9. Gulliver's Travels (1979) (TV) (uncredited)
10. "Fred Flintstone and Friends" (1977) TV Series
11. "The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie" (7 episodes, 1972-1973)
    ... aka The New Saturday Superstar Movie (USA: second season title)
    - Lost in Space (1973) TV Episode
    - Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family (1972) TV Episode
    - The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park (1972) TV Episode
    - The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik (1972) TV Episode
    - Oliver and the Artful Dodger: Part 2 (1972) TV Episode
    (2 more)
12. "The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan" (1 episode, 1972)
    - To Catch a Pitcher (1972) TV Episode
13. "Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer Space" (1972) TV Series
14. "The Roman Holidays" (1972) TV Series
15. "Sealab 2020" (1972) TV Series
16. "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" (1972) TV Series
    ... aka Scooby-Doo Meets the Harlem Globetrotters (USA: video title)
    ... aka Scooby-Doo's New Comedy Movie Pictures (USA)
17. "Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!" (1971) TV Series
18. "The Funky Phantom" (1971) TV Series
19. "The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show" (1971) TV Series
20. "Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har" (1971) TV Series (uncredited)
21. "Josie and the Pussycats" (1970) TV Series
22. "Harlem Globe Trotters" (1970) TV Series
    ... aka The Go-Go Globetrotters (USA: rerun title)
23. "Where's Huddles?" (1970) TV Series
    
24. "Love, American Style" (1969) TV Series
25. "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop" (1969) TV Series
26. "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" (1969) TV Series
27. "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines" (1969) TV Series
28. "Cattanooga Cats" (1969) TV Series
29. "Motormouse and Autocat" (1969) TV Series
30. "Loopy de Loop" (1969) TV Series
31. "The Adventures of Gulliver" (1968) TV Series
32. "Wacky Races" (1968) TV Series
33. "Arabian Knights" (1968) TV Series
34. "Shazzan" (1967) TV Series
35. "Fantastic 4" (5 episodes)
    - Danger in the Depths (????) TV Episode
    - Demon in the Deep (????) TV Episode
    - Invasion of the Super Skrulls (????) TV Episode
    - It Started on Yancy Street (????) TV Episode
    - KIaws/The Red Ghost (????) TV Episode
36. "The Herculoids" (1 episode)
    - The Gladiators of Kyanite/Temple of Trax (????) TV Episode
37. "Moby Dick and the Mighty Mightor" (1967) TV Series
38. "Birdman and the Galaxy Trio" (1967) TV Series
39. "The Atom Ant Show" (1967) TV Series
40. Shutter Bugged Cat (1967)
41. "Samson & Goliath" (1967) TV Series
    ... aka Young Samson & Goliath (USA: new title)
42. "Frankenstein, Jr. and the Impossibles" (1966) TV Series
43. "Space Ghost" (1966) TV Series
44. The Man Called Flintstone (1966)
45. "Abbott & Costello" (1966) TV Series
46. "A Laurel and Hardy Cartoon" (1966) TV Series
    ... aka Larry Harmon's Laurel & Hardy (UK: video box title)
47. Matinee Mouse (1966) (original material)
48. "The Secret Squirrel Show" (1965) TV Series
49. "Tom and Jerry" (1965) TV Series (uncredited)
50. Big Mouse Take (1965)
51. Crow's Fete (1965)
52. Pork Chop Phooey (1965)
53. "Jonny Quest" (8 episodes, 1964-1965)
    ... aka The Adventures of Jonny Quest
    - Attack of the Tree People (1965) TV Episode
    - The Robot Spy (1964) TV Episode
    - Treasure of the Temple (1964) TV Episode
    - The Riddle of the Gold (1964) TV Episode
    - Pursuit of the Po Ho (1964) TV Episode
    (3 more)
54. Horse Shoo (1965)
55. "The Hillbilly Bears" (1965) TV Series
56. "Precious Pupp" (1965) TV Series
57. Habit Troubles (1964)
58. Bear Knuckles (1964)
59. Trouble Bruin (1964)
60. "Peter Potamus and His Magic Flying Balloon" (1964) TV Series
61. Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964)
62. Bear Hug (1964)
63. Elephantastic (1964)
64. "The Magilla Gorilla Show" (1964) TV Series
65. Raggedy Rug (1964)
66. Habit Rabbit (1963)
67. Crook Who Cried Wolf (1963)
68. Bear Up! (1963)
69. Drum-Sticked (1963)
70. Not in Nottingham (1963)
71. Wolf in Sheep Dog's Clothing (1963)
72. Sheep Stealers Anonymous (1963)
73. A Fallible Fable (1963)
74. Whatcha Watchin' (1963)
75. Chicken Hearted Wolf (1963)
76. Just a Wolf at Heart (1963)
77. Bunnies Abundant (1962)
78. "The Jetsons" (4 episodes, 1962)
    - Elroy's TV Show (1962) TV Episode
    - The Good Little Scouts (1962) TV Episode
    - Jetsons Nite Out (1962) TV Episode
    - A Date with Jet Screamer (1962) TV Episode
79. Rancid Ransom (1962)
80. Chicken Fraca-See (1962)
81. Slippery Slippers (1962)
82. "The New Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Series" (1962) TV Series
83. "Wally Gator" (1962) TV Series (uncredited)
84. Bearly Able (1962)
85. Common Scents (1962)
86. Swash Buckled (1962)
87. Beef for and After (1962)
88. Bungle Uncle (1962)
89. Loopy's Hare-do (1961)
90. Kooky Loopy (1961)
91. "Top Cat" (1961) TV Series
    ... aka Boss Cat (UK)
92. Catch Meow (1961)
93. Child Sock-Cology (1961)
94. Zoo Is Company (1961)
95. Fee Fie Foes (1961)
96. This Is My Ducky Day (1961)
97. Two Faced Wolf (1961)
98. Happy Go Loopy (1961)
99. "The Yogi Bear Show" (1961) TV Series
100. Count Down Clown (1961)
101. "The Flintstones" (1 episode, 1960)
     - The Flintstone Flyer (1960) TV Episode
102. No Biz Like Shoe Biz (1960)
103. Here, Kiddie, Kiddie (1960)
104. The Do-Good Wolf (1960)
105. Snoopy Loopy (1960)
106. Creepy Time Pal (1960)
107. Life with Loopy (1960)
108. Tale of a Wolf (1960)
     
109. Little Bo Bopped (1959)
110. Wolf Hounded (1959)
111. "Quick Draw McGraw" (1959) TV Series
112. "Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks" (1958) TV Series
113. Tot Watchers (1958)
114. Robin Hoodwinked (1958)
115. The Vanishing Duck (1958)
116. Royal Cat Nap (1958)
117. Happy Go Ducky (1958)
     ... aka One Quack Mind
118. Tom's Photo Finish (1957)
119. Mucho Mouse (1957)
120. Scat Cats (1957)
121. Feedin' the Kiddie (1957)
122. Timid Tabby (1957)
123. Give and Tyke (1957)
124. Tops with Pops (1957)
125. Barbecue Brawl (1956)
126. Blue Cat Blues (1956)
127. Down Beat Bear (1956)
128. Muscle Beach Tom (1956)
129. Busy Buddies (1956)
130. The Egg and Jerry (1956)
131. The Flying Sorceress (1956)
132. Good Will to Men (1955)
133. That's My Mommy (1955)
134. Pecos Pest (1955)
135. Smarty Cat (1955)
136. Tom and Chérie (1955)
137. Designs on Jerry (1955)
138. Mouse for Sale (1955)
139. Pup on a Picnic (1955)
140. Southbound Duckling (1955)
141. Touché, Pussy Cat! (1954)
142. Pet Peeve (1954)
143. Downhearted Duckling (1954)
144. Neapolitan Mouse (1954)
145. Mice Follies (1954)
146. Baby Butch (1954)
147. Little School Mouse (1954)
148. Hic-cup Pup (1954)
     ... aka Tyke Takes a Nap
149. Posse Cat (1954)
150. Puppy Tale (1954)
151. Life with Tom (1953)
152. Two Little Indians (1953)
153. Just Ducky (1953)
154. That's My Pup! (1953)
155. Jerry and Jumbo (1953)
156. The Missing Mouse (1953)
157. The Dog House (1952)
158. Cruise Cat (1952)
159. Push-Button Kitty (1952)
160. Fit to Be Tied (1952)
161. Little Runaway (1952)
162. Triplet Trouble (1952)
163. Smitten Kitten (1952)
164. The Duck Doctor (1952)
165. The Flying Cat (1952)
166. Johann Mouse (1952)
167. Cat Napping (1951)
168. Nit-Witty Kitty (1951)
169. Slicked-up Pup (1951)
170. His Mouse Friday (1951)
171. Sleepy-Time Tom (1951)
172. Jerry and the Goldfish (1951)
173. Casanova Cat (1951)
174. The Two Mouseketeers (1951)
175. Cue Ball Cat (1950)
176. The Framed Cat (1950)
177. Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl (1950)
178. Safety Second (1950)
     ... aka F'r Safety Sake
179. Jerry and the Lion (1950)
     ... aka Hold That Lion
180. Texas Tom (1950)
181. Saturday Evening Puss (1950)
     ... aka Party Cat
182. Little Quacker (1950)
183. Jerry's Cousin (1950)
     ... aka City Cousin
     ... aka Muscles Mouse
     
     
184. Tennis Chumps (1949)
185. Jerry's Diary (1949)
186. Love That Pup (1949)
187. The Cat and the Mermouse (1949)
188. Heavenly Puss (1949)
189. Hatch Up Your Troubles (1949)
190. Polka-Dot Puss (1949)
191. Mouse Cleaning (1948)
192. Professor Tom (1948)
193. Old Rockin' Chair Tom (1948)
194. The Truce Hurts (1948)
195. Kitty Foiled (1948)
196. Make Mine Freedom (1948)
197. The Little Orphan (1948)
198. The Invisible Mouse (1947)
199. A Mouse in the House (1947)
200. Salt Water Tabby (1947)
201. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse (1947)
202. Part Time Pal (1947)
     ... aka Fair Weathered Friend
203. Cat Fishin' (1947)
204. Solid Serenade (1946)
205. Trap Happy (1946)
206. The Milky Waif (1946)
207. Springtime for Thomas (1946)
208. The Cat Concerto (1946)
209. Quiet Please! (1945)
210. Flirty Birdy (1945)
     ... aka Love Boids
211. Tee for Two (1945)
212. Mouse in Manhattan (1945)
     ... aka Manhattan Serenade
213. The Mouse Comes to Dinner (1945)
     ... aka Mouse to Dinner
214. Mouse Trouble (1944)
     ... aka Cat Nipped
     ... aka Kitty Foiled
215. Puttin' on the Dog (1944)
216. The Bodyguard (1944)
217. The Million Dollar Cat (1944)
218. The Zoot Cat (1944)
219. Baby Puss (1943)
220. War Dogs (1943)
221. The Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943)
222. The Lonesome Mouse (1943)
223. Sufferin' Cats (1943)
224. Fine Feathered Friend (1942)
225. The Bowling Alley-Cat (1942)
226. Puss n' Toots (1942)
227. Dog Trouble (1942)
228. Fraidy Cat (1942)
229. The Night Before Christmas (1941) (uncredited)
230. Officer Pooch (1941)
231. The Midnight Snack (1941)
232. The Goose Goes South (1941)
233. Gallopin' Gals (1940)
234. Swing Social (1940) (uncredited)
235. Puss Gets the Boot (1940) (uncredited)
     

Filmography From IMDB.com

Honors

Annie Award: Winsor McCay Award 1977
Hanna and Barbera's 17-year partnership on the Tom & Jerry series resulted in 7 Academy Awards for Best (Cartoon) Short Subject, and 14 total nominations, more than any other character-based theatrical animated series.

Related Links

Inside Pulse
Hanna-Barbera.com
BBC News Obituary: Joe Barbera

Bibliographic References

IMDb.com
Joseph Barbera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hanna-Barbera.com
Inside Pulse


Contributors To This Listing

the daily phosdex
Jorge Garrido
Brother Rabbit of http://www.ralphbakshi.com/

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