Margaret J. Winkler
Encyclopedia
Margaret J. Winkler was one of the key figures in silent animation history, having a crucial role to play in the histories of Max
and Dave Fleischer
, Pat Sullivan
, Otto Messmer
, and Walt Disney
. She was also the first woman to produce and distribute animated films.
Winkler began her career as personal secretary of Harry Warner
, one of the founders of Warner Brothers. Through most of the silent era, Warner Brothers was strictly a film
distributor, and Harry Warner was the man who made the deals. In 1917, Warner Brothers started distributing cartoons with the states rights distribution of Mutt and Jeff in New York
and New Jersey
. Warner was impressed with Winkler's talents, and when Max and Dave Fleischer, owners of Fleischer Studios
, came to him with their series Out of the Inkwell
, he gave it to Winkler and encouraged her to form her own distribution company, Winkler Productions, on a state's rights basis.
In 1922, she signed a contract with Pat Sullivan of Pat Sullivan Productions to produce Felix the Cat
cartoons. This act cemented her reputation as the top distributor in the cartoon world. It was a good thing, because at the end of that same year the Fleischer brothers, flushed with success from Winkler's work, left her to form their own distribution company, Red Seal Pictures.
However much he helped her business, Sullivan soon became a nightmare to Winkler, with the two constantly fighting. In September 1923, the renewal of his contract came up, and his unrealistic demands meant for a while that Winkler Pictures might have to survive without its biggest star. She was therefore particularly open to a pilot reel submitted by neophyte animator Walt Disney called Alice's Wonderland
, which became the first entry in the "Alice Comedies
" series. Winkler was intrigued with the idea of a live-action girl in a cartoon world, and signed Disney to a year-long contract despite the fact that the studio that made the cartoon was now bankrupt.
In any case, Disney formed a new studio, Disney Brothers, which was the first cartoon studio in Hollywood and soon to change its name to The Walt Disney Company
on October 16, 1923. Disney was helped by the tutelage of Winkler, who insisted on editing all of the "Alice Comedies" episodes herself. One of her suggestions was the addition of a suspiciously Felix-like character called Julius. This was apparently the "straw that broke the camel's back" for Sullivan, who signed with rival distributor E. W. Hammons
of Educational Pictures
in 1925.
In 1924, Margaret married another distributor, Charles B. Mintz
, who had been working for her since 1922. Soon after she had her first child and retired from the business, turning over her company to Mintz.
Max Fleischer
Max Fleischer was an American animator. He was a pioneer in the development of the animated cartoon and served as the head of Fleischer Studios...
and Dave Fleischer
Dave Fleischer
David "Dave" Fleischer was an American animator film director and film producer, best known as a co-owner of Fleischer Studios with his two older brothers Max Fleischer and Lou Fleischer...
, Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (film producer)
Patrick Sullivan was an Australian cartoonist, pioneer animator and film producer, best known for producing the first Felix the Cat silent cartoons. Sullivan arrived in the United States around 1910, after spending several months in London...
, Otto Messmer
Otto Messmer
Otto James Messmer was an American animator, best known for his work on the Felix the Cat cartoons and comic strip produced by the Pat Sullivan studio....
, and Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
. She was also the first woman to produce and distribute animated films.
Winkler began her career as personal secretary of Harry Warner
Harry Warner
Harry Morris Warner was an American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. Along with his three brothers Warner played a crucial role in the film business and played a key role in establishing Warner Bros...
, one of the founders of Warner Brothers. Through most of the silent era, Warner Brothers was strictly a film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
distributor, and Harry Warner was the man who made the deals. In 1917, Warner Brothers started distributing cartoons with the states rights distribution of Mutt and Jeff in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Warner was impressed with Winkler's talents, and when Max and Dave Fleischer, owners of Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios
Fleischer Studios, Inc., was an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City, New York...
, came to him with their series Out of the Inkwell
Out of the Inkwell
Out of the Inkwell was a major animated series of the silent era produced by Max Fleischer from 1918 to 1929.The series was the result of three short experimental films that Max Fleischer independently produced in the period of 1914-1916 to demonstrate his invention, the Rotoscope, which was a...
, he gave it to Winkler and encouraged her to form her own distribution company, Winkler Productions, on a state's rights basis.
In 1922, she signed a contract with Pat Sullivan of Pat Sullivan Productions to produce Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
cartoons. This act cemented her reputation as the top distributor in the cartoon world. It was a good thing, because at the end of that same year the Fleischer brothers, flushed with success from Winkler's work, left her to form their own distribution company, Red Seal Pictures.
However much he helped her business, Sullivan soon became a nightmare to Winkler, with the two constantly fighting. In September 1923, the renewal of his contract came up, and his unrealistic demands meant for a while that Winkler Pictures might have to survive without its biggest star. She was therefore particularly open to a pilot reel submitted by neophyte animator Walt Disney called Alice's Wonderland
Alice's Wonderland
Alice's Wonderland is a Walt Disney short silent film, in black and white, produced in Kansas City, Missouri. This short was the first of Walt Disney's famous Alice Comedies and had a working title of Alice in Slumberland...
, which became the first entry in the "Alice Comedies
Alice Comedies
The "Alice Comedies" are a series of animated cartoonscreated by Walt Disney in the 1920s, in which a live action little girl named Alice and an animated cat named Julius have adventures in an animated landscape....
" series. Winkler was intrigued with the idea of a live-action girl in a cartoon world, and signed Disney to a year-long contract despite the fact that the studio that made the cartoon was now bankrupt.
In any case, Disney formed a new studio, Disney Brothers, which was the first cartoon studio in Hollywood and soon to change its name to The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
on October 16, 1923. Disney was helped by the tutelage of Winkler, who insisted on editing all of the "Alice Comedies" episodes herself. One of her suggestions was the addition of a suspiciously Felix-like character called Julius. This was apparently the "straw that broke the camel's back" for Sullivan, who signed with rival distributor E. W. Hammons
E. W. Hammons
E. W. Hammons was an American film producer. He produced 228 films between 1921 and 1938. In 1915 he founded Educational Pictures, which started out making educational films for schools, but soon changed its focus to comedy short films.He was born in Winona, Mississippi, and died in New Rochelle,...
of Educational Pictures
Educational Pictures
Educational Pictures was a film distribution company founded in 1919 by Earle Hammons . Educational primarily distributed short subjects, and today is probably best known for its series of 1930s comedies starring Buster Keaton, as well as for a series of one-reel comedies featuring Shirley...
in 1925.
In 1924, Margaret married another distributor, Charles B. Mintz
Charles B. Mintz
Charles B. Mintz was an American film producer and distributor, who took control over Margaret J. Winkler's Winkler Pictures after marrying her in 1924....
, who had been working for her since 1922. Soon after she had her first child and retired from the business, turning over her company to Mintz.