Burbank Studio
Sam Clayberger
Notes
We interviewed Sam Clayberger at Stevens’ Recording Studio in 2007.
Audio: Ed Stevens
Sam Clayberger, like many UPA artists, began as a student of Don Graham’s at Choinards Art Institute. As Sam was nearing graduation he asked Graham’s advise as to which of the studios he should to try to get work. Graham considered UPA the only option in those days for people who were artists and wanted to work in the animation business. He advised Sam to apply for any job possible, “sweep the floors”, he said, “if you have to, just to get in there”, and that’s exactly what he did, while getting to know the artists there. Eventually they saw his talent and he was given a job at designing and background artwork, exactly what he loved.
Sam Clayberger is part of the Sweep the Floors scene
Click to hear a portion of his interview
Fred Crippen
Notes
We interviewed Fred Crippen in his his bustling Pantomime Pictures studio, in Studio City, California, in 2005.
Camera: Patrick Dunavan / Audio: Ken Gale
Fred Crippen was a fascinating artist to interview, because he worked first at the highly praised UPA New York studio as a budding animator, under the tutelage of Dwayne Crowther, and later moved to Burbank for the Ham & Hattie productions, while the CBS Gerald McBoing Boing television series was just getting under way. He directed some of the funniest segments, the Three Horned Flink, Fight on for Old, Winter Sports, among many others. Fred also made himself available for all our events, being on the panel for the 2004 AFI UPA Tribute, the epic 2006 Egyptian Theatre tribute, the 2010 AniMazSpot festival tribute at Woodbury, and the big 2012 Magoo at the Alex Tribute, which screened pristine 35mm prints of all 15 Oscar nominated UPA shorts. Plus, he gave unforgettable tours of his Pantomime Pictures studio to wide eyed attendees two AniMazSpot festivals.
Fred Crippen is part of the Unlimited Animation scene.
Dale Case
Notes
We interviewed Dale Case at his home in the most northwestern corner of Washington State, at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, overlooking Canada and Puget Sound in 2005
Assistance: Hana Cannon
Dale Case is a wonderful find for us, because he worked at UPA at the critical juncture between the tenure of Steve Bosustow and Henry Saperstein. Additionally, Dale has produced and directed and animated many highly acclaimed films beyond his work at UPA, and continues to work out of his picturesque home.
