Eddie Selzer

Edward Selzer (January 12, 1893 – February 22, 1970) was an American film producer who served as head of Warner Bros. Cartoons from 1944 to 1958.

Personal life

The son of German Jewish immigrants, Selzer was raised in New York City with his brother, then enlisted and served in the US Navy where he fought as a Golden Gloves boxer. He won a boxing exhibition for the Navy and was awarded with a weekend pass. While out on leave, he met a New York chorus girl named Laura Cohen; he later married her in 1927 and relocated to Los Angeles where they raised two children; Phyllis and Robert.

Warner Bros. Cartoons After Leon Schlesinger sold his studio to Warner Bros. Pictures in July 1944, Selzer was assigned studio head by Jack L. Warner. His first cartoon was Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears. The argument reached its crux when Freleng reportedly placed his drawing pencil on Selzer's desk, angrily telling him that if he knew so much about animation, he should do the work himself instead.

He also loudly (and indelicately) declared that there was nothing funny about a skunk who spoke French, but proudly accepted the Academy Award for Animated Short Film in 1949 – for For Scent-imental Reasons, a Pepé Le Pew cartoon while giving credit where due. Selzer also forbade Robert McKimson from producing any future cartoons with the Tasmanian Devil in them after seeing the Devil's premiere short and deeming the creature far too grotesque to be a recurring character. Selzer changed his mind and allowed further cartoons with the Tasmanian Devil, only upon discovering from Jack Warner that he was in fact a massive hit with audiences.

Selzer was also known to be one of the first men in animation to bring female artists on board and not relegate them to secretarial roles; rather, he encouraged their participation in the creative process and valued their feedback.

Selzer retired in 1958, and John Burton became the head of Warner Bros. Cartoons.

Death Selzer died on February 22, 1970, after a long illness. while the ones for Tweetie Pie and Speedy Gonzales were given to Freleng.