Jack Dunham
Encyclopedia
Jack Dunham was an American
animator
and television producer
who worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walter Lantz Productions during his career.
Dunham was born in Bismarck, North Dakota
, on September 19, 1910.
He began his career by working on animated shorts of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
for Walter Lantz
at Walter Lantz Productions. Dunham also worked as an animator on several other Walter Lantz Production cartoon
s, including Night Life Of The Bugs and The Fun House, which were both released in 1936, and Dumb Cluck and Duck Hunt, which were both produced in 1937. He also worked on an episode of Meany, Miny and Moe and The Country Store, which was released in 1937.
Dunham was hired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1937, where he worked as an inbetweener
, an industry term for an animator's assistant, on the film, Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs
. He later joined management
, and remained a unit manager until his departure from Disney in 1947.
Dunham moved to Canada
in 1955 for a management position at Associated Screen News of Canada
in Montreal
. He later enjoyed a career creating both animated and live action
commercials in Toronto
and Montreal.
Dunham created the official mascot
of the St-Hubert BBQ restaurant chain, the St. Hubert rooster. St-Hubert is a chain of rotisserie
chicken based in Quebec
. Additionally, Dunham also produced St-Hubert's first television commercials. The St. Hubert rooster is still used as the mascot and logo for the St-Hubert chain as of 2009.
An article in the Montreal Gazette in March 2006 revealed that Dunham and his wife, Dorothy Stewart
, a former fashion model, were homeless following their eviction from their Montreal apartment in February 2006. The Montreal Gazette reported that, "Social service agencies are trying to place the couple in a care facility, but that could take awhile." Dunham and his wife, who were married for 51 years at the time, were taken to the St. Luc Hospital to live following the publication of the article. Their move to the government-run hospital was reportedly against the couple's will. Jack and Dorothy escaped from the facility, but were found by police in Ottawa
and returned.
Jack Dunham died on March 15, 2009, at the age of 98.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
and television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
who worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walter Lantz Productions during his career.
Dunham was born in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, on September 19, 1910.
He began his career by working on animated shorts of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is an anthropomorphic rabbit and animated cartoon character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney for films distributed by Universal Pictures in the 1920s and 1930s...
for Walter Lantz
Walter Lantz
Walter Benjamin Lantz was an American cartoonist, animator, film producer, and director, best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker.-Early years and start in animation:...
at Walter Lantz Productions. Dunham also worked as an animator on several other Walter Lantz Production cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s, including Night Life Of The Bugs and The Fun House, which were both released in 1936, and Dumb Cluck and Duck Hunt, which were both produced in 1937. He also worked on an episode of Meany, Miny and Moe and The Country Store, which was released in 1937.
Dunham was hired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1937, where he worked as an inbetweener
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, an industry term for an animator's assistant, on the film, Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
. He later joined management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, and remained a unit manager until his departure from Disney in 1947.
Dunham moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1955 for a management position at Associated Screen News of Canada
Associated Screen News of Canada
The Associated Screen News of Canada was incorporated in 1920 by the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal. Ben Norrish, who formerly worked for the Canadian Government Motion Picture Board, was appointed as the head of ASN. In the period of 1920 to 1958, ASN produced the majority of newsreels,...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. He later enjoyed a career creating both animated and live action
Live action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
commercials in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal.
Dunham created the official mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of the St-Hubert BBQ restaurant chain, the St. Hubert rooster. St-Hubert is a chain of rotisserie
Rotisserie
Rotisserie is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit - a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace or over a campfire, or roasted in an oven. This method is generally used for cooking large joints of meat or entire animals, such as pigs,...
chicken based in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Additionally, Dunham also produced St-Hubert's first television commercials. The St. Hubert rooster is still used as the mascot and logo for the St-Hubert chain as of 2009.
An article in the Montreal Gazette in March 2006 revealed that Dunham and his wife, Dorothy Stewart
Dorothy Stewart
Dorothy Newkirk Stewart was an American printer, printmaker and artist. She was boron April 8, 1891 in Philadelphia to Dr. William Shaw and Delia Allman Stewart. Her parents sent her and her sister Margretta to private school in Philadelphia.-Art Training:...
, a former fashion model, were homeless following their eviction from their Montreal apartment in February 2006. The Montreal Gazette reported that, "Social service agencies are trying to place the couple in a care facility, but that could take awhile." Dunham and his wife, who were married for 51 years at the time, were taken to the St. Luc Hospital to live following the publication of the article. Their move to the government-run hospital was reportedly against the couple's will. Jack and Dorothy escaped from the facility, but were found by police in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and returned.
Jack Dunham died on March 15, 2009, at the age of 98.