GIL TURNER
Amazing Animators No. 7
GIL TURNER
Gilbert Henry Turner nasce il 1° dicembre 1911 a Milwaukee, nel Wisconsin, da Charles Edward Turner e Alice Marie Gilbert, entrambi nati nel 1883. Gil ha un fratello minore, Robert W., nato nel 1920 a Chatsworth, in California, dove la famiglia si è nel frattempo trasferita e dove Charles lavora come magazziniere per il dipartimento delle ferrovie della contea di Los Angeles. Nel 1932 Turner debutta nell’animazione, probabilmente come intercalatore, presso lo studio Disney. Il 28 settembre 1934, a Los Angeles, sposa la ventenne Angelyn Robbins.
Si trasferisce quindi a Detroit, nel Michigan, dove nel 1936-38 è animatore presso lo studio Jam Handy (di Jameson Handy), che produce cortometraggi promozionali per Chevrolet e altre compagnie. Nel 1938 torna in California ed entra in forza allo studio Schlesinger/Warner Bros., dove per una paga annuale di $3900 anima personaggi quali Bugs Bunny e Porky Pig per i registi Ben Hardaway, Cal Dalton e Friz Freleng. Allo studio Schlesinger/Warner Bros., Turner è vittima di vari scherzi giocatigli dai suoi colleghi. Una volta gli nascondono i vestiti dopo che se li è tolti perché nello studio non c’è l’aria condizionata. Chiamato ad arte dal braccio destro di Schlesinger, Henry Binder, gli si presenta in mutande e canottiera.
Il figlio di Gil e Angelyn, Thomas, nasce nel 1939.
Nel 1944 Turner realizza le prime storie a fumetti con “animali buffi” per Jim Davis, coordinatore della produzione del Sangor Studio. Tali storie appaiono sugli albi della ACG/Creston e Better/Standard, ma Turner lavora anche per Laue/Dearfield e soprattutto per la Dell/Western, l’editrice dove realizzerà il maggior numero di storie (con personaggi Disney, Warner e MGM) dal 1947 al 1957. Forse ancora nell’ambito del Sangor Studio, nel 1950 realizza anche una striscia settimanale, Holly Wood, pubblicata esclusivamente sul quotidiano Redwood Journal Press-Dispatch ogni mercoledì. Turner è uno dei più grandi disegnatori di “personaggi buffi”. Tra il 1944 e il 1952 scrive le sceneggiature e cura il lettering della maggior parte delle storie che disegna, conseguendo livelli di eccellenza con serie quali Barney Bear and Benny Burro (Pappalardo e Ciuffino), The Li’l Bad Wolf (Lupetto) e Little Pancho Vanilla. Sfondi realistici e dettagliati rendono ancor più credibili i suoi personaggi umani o antropomorfi. Dal 1952 in poi si limita di solito al disegno a matita, lasciando chine e lettering a un artista non meglio identificato, forse un suo collega nell’animazione.
Mentre disegna fumetti con regolarità, Turner continua la carriera di animatore. Nel 1944 è al piccolo studio Carry-Weston di J. Richard Weston’s con altri transfughi di Warner Bros. e Disney quali Jack Bradbury e Ray Patin, dove anima The Inside Story of Seaman Joe, realizzato per conto della Marina USA. Tra il 1946 e il 1948 è alla MGM, dove lavora con i registi Tex Avery, Preston Blair e Michael Lah. Per questi ultimi due anima cortometraggi con Barney Bear, personaggio con il quale realizza poi diverse storie a fumetti. Negli anni Cinquanta è allo studio di Ray Patin (dove anima cortometraggi pubblicitari), poi da Walter Lantz (dove anima Picchiarello e cortometraggi di altre serie per il regista Paul J. Smith) e alla UPA (dove è animatore con i registi Pete Burness e Jack Kinney e poi egli stesso regista per Mr. Magoo).
Nei primi anni Sessanta anima almeno una sequenza di The Yogi Bear Show con il leone Snagglepuss (Svicolone) per Hanna-Barbera, poi dirige alcuni episodi di The Alvin Show per la Format Films e partecipa all’animazione del lungometraggio The Man from Button Willow con altri veterani del settore.
Nel 1963 si trasferisce a Scottsdale, in Arizona, dove accetta un lavoro presso la Richardson Camera Co. Continua tuttavia a lavorare part-time per Hanna-Barbera realizzando layouts per lo show televisivo Space Ghost. Purtroppo di ammala di cancro e muore il 19 marzo 1967, appena due mesi e mezzo dopo suo padre (morto il 9 gennaio). Il funerale è celebrato dalla loggia massonica cui appartiene. Dopo la sua scomparsa, la moglie Angelyn torna a Los Angeles, dove scomparirà nel 1988.
Gilbert Henry Turner was born December 1, 1911 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Charles Edward Turner and Alice Marie Gilbert, both born in 1883. Gil had a younger brother, Robert W., born 1920 in Chatsworth, California, where the Turners had since moved and where Charles worked as a warehouse clerk for the Los Angeles County Railway Department. In 1932 Turner made his début in the animation field, probably as an inbetweener, at the Disney studio. On September 28, 1934, he married twenty-year-old Angelyn Robbins in Los Angeles.
The couple later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where during 1936-38 Turner animated at Jameson Handy’s Jam Handy organization, which produced commercials for Chevrolet and other companies. In 1938 he was back in California, joining the Schlesinger/Warner Bros. animation staff, where he drew such characters as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig for directors Ben Hardaway, Cal Dalton and Friz Freleng at $3900 a year. At Warners, Turner was the object of several tricks played by his fellow animators. Once his clothes were hidden after he had taken them off in the summer heat at the un-air-conditioned studio. Summoned by Schlesinger’s right arm, Henry Binder, had to go there in his underwear.
Gil and Angelyn’s son, Thomas, was born in 1939 in Los Angeles.
In 1944 he was at J. Richard Weston’s small Carry-Weston studio together with other former Warner Bros. animator Jack Bradbury and former Disney layout man Ray Patin, animating The Inside Story of Seaman Joe for the US Navy. Still in 1944 Turner wrote and drew his first funny animal comics for Jim Davis, who supervised production for Sangor Studios. These stories appeared in titles published by ACG/Creston and Better/Standard, but Turner also contributed to comics issued by Laue/Dearfield and most of all by Dell/Western, where he drew a great number of stories featuring Disney, Warner, and MGM characters from 1947-57. Perhaps it was for Sangor Studios that he also produced the weekly strip Holly Wood, which appeared on Wednesdays in the Redwood Journal Press-Dispatch. Turner was a great funny stuff artist. From 1944-52, he wrote and lettered most of the stories he drew, achieving excellence with such series as MGM’s Barney Bear and Benny Burro, Disney’s The Li’l Bad Wolf, and Warner Bros.’s Little Pancho Vanilla. Realistic and detailed backgrounds made his lively depiction of both human and animal characters even more credible. From 1952 onwards, he usually limited himself to penciling his strips, which were inked and lettered by an unknown artist, probably someone who was working with him in animation.
While drawing comics on a regular basis, Turner continued his work as an animator. From 1946-48 he was at MGM, working with directors Tex Avery, Preston Blair, and Michael Lah. For the latter two he animated on shorts featuring Barney Bear. In the Fifties he worked for Ray Patin (on animated commercials), Walter Lantz (on Woody Woodpecker and other series directed by Paul J. Smith), and UPA (where he animated under Pete Burness and Jack Kinney and then directed Mr. Magoo shorts himself).
During the early Sixties he animated at least one sequence for The Yogi Bear Show featuring Snagglepuss the lion at Hanna-Barbera, then directed episodes of The Alvin Show at Format Films and took part in the making of the feature cartoon, The Man from Button Willow, with other animation veterans.
He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1963, taking a job with the Richardson Camera Co. It seemed that he continued working for Hanna-Barbera on the side, drawing layouts for their Space Ghost TV Show. Unfortunately he fell ill with cancer and passed away on March 19, 1967, shortly after his father (who died on January 9). His funeral was organized by the masonic lodge he belonged to. After his death, wife Angelyn went back to Los Angeles, where she passed away in 1988.
FILMOGRAFIA / FILMOGRAPHY
Studio: DISNEY c.1932-1935
Intercalatore / Inbetweener
1932-1935 – Cortometraggi non identificati / Unidentified shorts
Studio: JAM HANDY c.1936-1938
Animatore / Animator
1937-38 Film promozionali per Chevrolet / Promotional films for Chevrolet
Studio: SCHLESINGER/WARNER BROS. 1938-1943
Animatore / Animator
17/12/1938 Porky the Gob [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
28/01/1939 It’s an Ill Wind [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
25/02/1939 Gold Rush Daze [Merrie Melodies]
08/04/1939 Bars and Stripes Forever [Merrie Melodies]
22/04/1939 Porky and Teabiscuit [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
17/06/1939 Hobo Gadget Band [Merrie Melodies]
12/08/1939 Hare-um Scare-um [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny]
09/09/1939 Sioux Me [Merrie Melodies]
18/11/1939 Fagin’s Freshman [Merrie Melodies]
18/11/1939 Porky the Giant Killer [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
10/02/1940 Busy Bakers [Merrie Melodies]
30/03/1940 Confederate Honey [Merrie Melodies – Elmer Fudd]
27/04/1940 The Hardship of Miles Standish [Merrie Melodies – Elmer Fudd]
18/05/1940 You Ought to Be in Pictures [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig & Daffy Duck]
06/07/1940 Porky’s Baseball Broadcast [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
06/07/1940 Little Blabbermouse [Merrie Melodies]
24/08/1940 Ceiling Hero [Merrie Melodies]
14/09/1940 Malibu Beach Party [Merrie Melodies]
21/09/1940 Calling Dr. Porky [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
30/11/1940 Porky’s Hired Hand [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
21/12/1940 Shop, Look and Listen [Merrie Melodies]
18/01/1941 The Fighting 69th 1/2 [Merrie Melodies]
01/03/1941 The Cat’s Tale [Merrie Melodies]
29/03/1941 Porky’s Bear Facts [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
26/04/1941 The Trial of Mr. Wolf [Merrie Melodies]
07/06/1941 Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt [Merrie Melodies]
21/06/1941 The Wacky Worm [Merrie Melodies]
16/08/1941 Sport Chumpions [Merrie Melodies]
20/09/1941 Notes to You [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
25/10/1941 Rookie Revue [Merrie Melodies]
06/12/1941 Rhapsody in Rivets [Merrie Melodies]
03/01/1942 Hop, Skip and a Chump [Merrie Melodies]
17/01/1942 Porky’s Pastry Pirates [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig]
28/03/1942 The Wabbit Who Came to Supper [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd]
11/04/1942 Saps in Chaps [Looney Tunes]
23/05/1942 Lights Fantastic [Merrie Melodies]
27/06/1942 Double Chaser [Merrie Melodies]
01/08/1942 Foney Fables [Merrie Melodies]
22/08/1942 Fresh Hare [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd]
17/10/1942 The Sheepish Wolf [Merrie Melodies]
31/10/1943 The Hare-Brained Hypnotist [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd]
05/12/1943 Ding Dong Daddy [Merrie Melodies]
02/02/1943 Pigs in a Polka [Merrie Melodies]
06/03/1943 Fifth Column Mouse [Merrie Melodies]
15/05/1943 Greetings Bait [Merrie Melodies]
12/06/1943 Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny]
03/07/1943 Yankee Doodle Daffy [Looney Tunes – Daffy Duck]
02/08/1943 Hi Diddle Diddle [animated insert in live-action movie]
11/09/1943 Hiss and Make Up [Merrie Melodies]
28/11/1943 Daffy – The Commando [Looney Tunes – Daffy Duck]
04/01/1944 Little Red Riding Rabbit [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny]
08/01/1944 What’s Cookin’ Doc? [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny]
29/01/1944 Meatless Flyday [Merrie Melodies]
22/04/1944 Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips [Merrie Melodies – Bugs Bunny]
27/05/1944 Duck Soup to Nuts [Looney Tunes – Porky Pig & Daffy Duck]
Studio: CARRY-WESTON c.1944-1945
Animatore / Animator
1945 The Inside Story of Seaman Joe [per U.S. Navy]
Studio: MGM 1946-1948
Animatore, Model Sheets /Animator, Model Sheets
20/03/1948 What Price Fleadom
26/06/1948 The Bear and the Hare [Barney Bear]
15/01/1949 Goggle Fishin’ Bear [Barney Bear]
Studio: RAY PATIN c.1948-1952
Animatore / Animator
1949-1953 Cortometraggi pubblicitari / Commercials
Studio: WALTER LANTZ 1952-1955
Animatore / Animator
23/03/1953 The Dog That Cried Wolf [Cartune]
11/05/1953 The Mouse and the Lion [Foolish Fables]
29/06/1953 The Flying Turtle [Foolish Fables]
10/08/1953 Maw and Paw [Maw and Paw]
28/08/1953 The Hypnotic Hick [Woody Woodpecker]
28/09/1953 Plywood Panic [Maw and Paw]
12/10/1953 Hot Noon or 12 O’Clock for Sure [Woody Woodpecker]
21/12/1953 Chilly Willy [Chilly Willy]
15/02/1954 A Horse’s Tale [Sugarfoot]
07/06/1954 Hay Rube [Sugarfoot]
30/08/1954 Pig in a Pickle [Cartune]
20/09/1954 Real Gone Woody [Woody Woodpecker]
17/01/1955 Helter Shelter [Woody Woodpecker]
14/03/1955 Witch Crafty [Woody Woodpecker]
09/05/1955 Private-Eye Pooch [Woody Woodpecker]
04/07/1955 Bedtime Bedlam [Woody Woodpecker]
26/09/1955 Square Shootin’ Square [Woody Woodpecker]
21/11/1955 Bunco Busters [Woody Woodpecker]
13/02/1956 After the Ball [Woody Woodpecker]
12/03/1956 Get Lost [Woody Woodpecker]
Studio: UPA 1955-1959
Animatore / Animator
19/04/1956 Magoo Goes West [Mr. Magoo]
24/05/1956 Calling Doctor Magoo [Mr. Magoo]
21/06/1956 Magoo Beats the Heat [Mr. Magoo]
26/07/1956 Magoo’s Puddle Jumper [Mr. Magoo]
13/09/1956 Trailblazer Magoo [Mr. Magoo]
18/10/1956 Magoo’s Problem Child [Mr. Magoo]
27/12/1956 Meet Mother Magoo [Mr. Magoo]
21/02/1957 Magoo Goes Overboard [Mr. Magoo]
28/03/1957 Matador Magoo [Mr. Magoo]
27/06/1957 Magoo Breaks Par [Mr. Magoo]
25/07/1957 Magoo’s Glorious Fourth [Mr. Magoo]
29/09/1957 Magoo Saves the Bank [Mr. Magoo]
03/10/1957-09/1958 The Woody Woodpecker Show [serie TV]
13/03/1958 Magoo’s Young Manhood [Mr. Magoo]
05/06/1958 Magoo’s Three-Point Landing [Mr. Magoo]
1960 Magoo Meets McBoing Boing [serie TV Mr. Magoo]
Regista / Director
11/1958 Gumshoe Magoo [Mr. Magoo]
06/03/1959 Magoo’s Homecoming [Mr. Magoo]
1960 Magoo Meets Frankenstein [serie TV Mr. Magoo]
Regista sequenze / Sequence Director
01/12/1959 1001 Arabian Nights [lungometraggio Mr. Magoo]
Studio: HANNA-BARBERA 1960-1961/c.1965-1966
Animatore / Animator
08/05/1961 Remember Your Lions [Snagglepuss – The Yogi Bear Show TV Show]
Layouts
1966 – Space Ghost [TV Series]
Studio: FORMAT FILMS 1961-1962
Regista / Director
14/10/1961-12/09/1962 The Alvin Show [serie TV]
Studio: EAGLE FILMS/DE TIEGE 1963
Animatore
03/04/1965 The Man from Button Willow
FUMETTOGRAFIA / COMICOGRAPHY
COMIC BOOKS
Editore/Publisher: AMERICAN COMICS GROUP (alias MICHEL, B&I, B&M, REGIS, SCOPE, CRESTON)
Anchors Awry – Giggle Comics #69 (1950) [anche testi / also scripts].
Bingo – Giggle Comics #63 (1949).
Hermie – Giggle Comics #23 (1945).
The Homeless Ghosts – Ha Ha Comics #35 (1946).
The Magic Mirror – Ha Ha Comics #31 (1946) [anche testi / also scripts].
Mr. Scarecrow Goes to Town – Ha Ha Comics #26 (1946) [anche testi / also scripts].
Niño – Ha Ha Comics #37 (1947) [anche testi / also scripts].
Ol’ Tabby – Ha Ha Comics #5 (1944) [anche testi / also scripts].
Ringo [Raccoon] – Giggle Comics #23 (1945-47) [anche testi / also scripts].
The Sad Scarecrow – Ha Ha Comics #22 (1945) [anche testi / also scripts].
Sweet William – Giggle Comics #36 (1946) [anche testi / also scripts].
Trudy – Cookie #2, 3 (1946) [anche testi / also scripts].
Editore/Publisher: DELL (aka KK PUBLICATIONS, WESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY)
Barney Bear [and Benny Burro] – Our Gang #36-59 (1947-49) [anche testi di alcune storie / also some scripts]; Tom and Jerry Comics #60-66 et al (1949-50) [anche testi di alcune storie / also some scripts].
Benny the Burro – Our Gang #5 (1943).
Bongo – Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #82-84 (1947).
Bucky Bug – Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #108, 117 (1949/50).
Copertine – Four Color #473 (1953).
Dumbo and Little Pedro – Four Color #234 (1949).
The Big Bad Wolf – Four Color #218 (1949).
The Li’l Bad Wolf – Christmas Parade #1-4 (1949-52); Four Color #403, 473 (1952/53); Vacation Parade #1 (1950); Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #85-87, 92-97, 99-109, 11, 127, 130, 131, 133-153, 158, 169, 170, 172, 192-197, 201, 203 (1947-57) [anche testi di alcune storie; solo matite / also some scripts; pencils only #135-142, 147, 150-153, 158, 169, 170, 172]; Wheaties Premiums #A6, B5, C3, D7 (1950).
Little Pancho Vanilla – Bugs Bunny Christmas Funnies #3-6 (1952-55) [anche testi, solo matite / also scripts, pencils only #5]; Bugs Bunny Halloween Party #1, 2 (1953-54) [anche testi / also scripts]; Bugs Bunny Trick ‘n’ Treat Halloween Funnies #3 (1955) [anche testi / also scripts]; Bugs Bunny Vacation Funnies #1-6 (1951-56) [anche testi / also scripts]; Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #130-155 (1952-54) [anche testi, solo matite / also scripts, pencils only #138-155].
Mickey Mouse – Firestone Christmas Giveaway (1947); Four Color #181 (1948).
Pluto – Four Color #313 (1951).
Porky Pig – Four Color #191, 241, 277 (1948/49/50); Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #70 (1947).
Sniffles and Mary Jane – Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #103 (1950).
Tavole con Testo e Illustrazione / Text Illustration Pages – Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #84, 92, 93, 95 (1948/49); Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #96, 99, 101, 103, 115, 118 (1948-50).
The Three Little Pigs – Four Color #218 (1949).
Editore/Publisher: DEARFIELD (aka LAUE)
The Bugsey Bear Family – “Red” Rabbit Comics #11 (1949).
Pete and Tweet – Foxy Fagan Comics #5 (1947).
Editore/Publisher: STANDARD (aka Animated Cartoons, Polo, Better, Nedor, Pines)
A. Wolf – (1944) [anche testi / also script].
Buster – Coo Coo Comics #41 (1948).
Cedric – Coo Coo Comics #23 (1946).
Custer – Coo Coo Comics #32, 33 (1947) [anche testi / also script].
Daffy and Dilly – Goofy Comics #18 (1948).
Eggbert – Barnyard Comics #13 (1947) [anche testi / also script].
Farnsworth Fox – Coo Coo Comics #36 (1947).
The Gardener’s Partner – (1945) [anche testi / also script].
Homer Hound – Ha Ha Comics (1946) [anche testi / also script].
Homer House Hunter – Coo Coo Comics #35 (1947).
Pa Tucket – Complete Book of Comics and Funnies #1 (1944) [anche testi / also script]; Wonder Comics #3, 4 (1944-45) [anche testi / also script].
Run Sheep Run – (1946) [anche testi / also script].
Superstrip – Happy Comics #18, 19 (1947).
Wallace Wolf – Coo Coo Comics #16 (1945) [anche testi / also script].
Whitey – Goofy Comics #18 (1948) [anche testi / also script].
Editore/Publisher: WILLIAM H. WISE
Pa Tucket – Complete Book of Comics and Funnies #1 (1944) [anche testi / also script].
FUMETTI PER QUOTIDIANI / NEWSPAPER STRIPS
Editore/Publisher: CONSOLIDATED NEWS FEATURES
Holly Wood – Striscia settimanale / Weekly strip – testi e disegni / script and art Apr 19 1950-Oct 1950.
Editore/Publisher: ? SYNDICATE
Chico – Tavola settimanale? / Weekly page? – testi e disegni / script and art (1948-49) [Esistenza non confermata / Unconfirmed. Exist?].
LIBRI ILLUSTRATI / ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
Editore: WHITMAN
Tell-a-Tale – Uncle Wiggily and the Alligator #903 (1953) [solo testi, illustrazioni di / Script only, illustrated by Bill Weaver – pubblicato anche con il / also published with #2504].
Whitman Book – Minnie Mouse and the Antique Chair #845 (1948).
