ROBERT (BOB) CLAMPETT (1913-1984)

In my previous post showing the McCall's Disney pattern i mentioned that it was designed by Bob Clampett. Charlotte Clark (née Carolyn Geis), who in January 1930 had asked her then 16-year-old nephew and aspiring young artist, Bob Clampett, to come up with sketches of Mickey Mouse on which she could base her doll design. Not having any reference material handy, Bob grabbed his sketch pad and went to the Alexander Theater in Glendale, California, to sketch Mickey in action from one of the Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts being screened there. Charlotte and Bob created the first doll, and on the advice of Bob’s father, sought the approval from Walt and Roy to produce and sell their Mickey Mouse doll creations. Not only were the Disney brothers pleased with Charlotte Clark’s doll, they set it as the standard against which all subsequent Mickey Mouse dolls were soon to be measured. (info courtesy of Libby Spatz} --- The photo shown is what i took with my old box camera at one of the first Mickey Mouse fan club meetings. The young boy is not known. I had the pleasure of sitting next to Bob during dinner that night. --- Earlier Bob had been a writer-director at Warner Brothers Studio developing such characters as Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Tweety. In 1931 he helped draw the first Warner Brothers Merrie Melodie cartoon and many early Looney Tunes. Later he had his first TV show, TIME FOR BEANY, featuring Beany Boy, Cecil the Sea Sick Sea Serpent, Capt. Huffenpuff, and Dishonest John.