Entertainment & Arts
Walter Lantz turned 92 on April 27.
May 17, 1992
Archives
Walter Lantz, creator of the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker, will receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 27, 1986
Walter Lantz, who emerged from the ranks of animation’s early pioneers to build a multimillion-dollar cartoon empire and a respected worldwide reputation with the creation of an irascible woodpecker named Woody, died Tuesday morning.
March 23, 1994
Animation pioneer Walter Lantz will appear in person to celebrate the 40th birthday of his cartoon character Chilly Willy on Dec. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Name That Toon Gallery, 8483 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood.
Nov. 26, 1993
BIG LOSS: Walter Lantz, the animator who gave us “Woody Woodpecker,” died Tuesday (A1), and one place he’ll surely be missed is CalArts in Valencia.
Animator Walter Lantz, creator of “Woody Woodpecker” and other cartoons, has developed through his foundation two special funds for CalArts students: a scholarship and a prize.
April 19, 1993
Gracie Lantz, who conceived of the irreverent woodpecker “Woody” on her honeymoon with her animator husband and a decade later became the voice of the mocking bird, has died.
March 19, 1992
Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy and Andy Panda will greet visitors to the Doris Stein Eye Research Center (adjacent the Jules Stein Eye Institute) when it opens at UCLA in May.
June 9, 1988
Business
Toys ‘R’ Us, the nation’s largest retailer of toys, was sued for copyright and trademark infringement in Los Angeles federal court over a 1944 cartoon featuring Woody Woodpecker.
Jan. 8, 1986
Television
A family affair: Snoopy’s brother, Spike, will meet Charles Schulz’s daughter, Jill, in “It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown,” a combination live action-animation “Peanuts” special airing Tuesday that was written by the cartoonist’s son, Monte.
Sept. 22, 1988