- Member of the International Combat Cameramens Association. Hal Geer is the artist of the bunch. From bomber planes, he filmed attacks in the Pacific and the A-bomb test after World War II on Bikini Atoll. His best pictures though were snapped on the ground during the Japanese invasion of China. They are images of human misery that are somehow beautiful to look at, instinctively arranged to please the eye. Like the one of Chinese refugees dragging carts through the mud, faces gripped with fear, ribbons of farmland in the background, a slice of sky at the top of the frame. "I was telling the story of human hell," he said. "We were there to tell stories, to make sure people didn't forget what happened.".
- Following the retirement of Hendricks two years later, Geer took over his position and became the de facto head of the Looney Tunes series.
- Geer retired from both Warner Bros. and the film industry in 1987, and subsequently took on a career of lecturing aboard cruise ships.
- Hal Geer was an American producer, filmmaker and animator, noteworthy for his association with the Looney Tunes franchise.
- As a Sergeant he participated in several major projects, including the film documentary "China Crisis".
- Geer subsequently worked at The Walt Disney Company from 1950 to 1955 in the special effects department.
- Initially he served as the film editor (which, in the animation industry, means sound effects editor) on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, which lasted until 1969, when Warner Bros. ceased production of their theatrical shorts.
- During his stewardship of the new animation studio (Warner Bros. Animation), Geer spearheaded a campaign to give Bugs Bunny his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was granted in 1985.
- Prior to his career in the entertainment industry, Geer served as a Combat Cameraman with the 16th Combat Camera Unit, enlisting just two weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack.
- In addition to his flight duties, he also worked as a newsreel cameraman during the war, and his experience in this job helped him secure a position in the special effects department at Warner Bros. after the World War II ended on September 2, 1945.
- He remained in the Army Reserves for 24 years, achieving the rank of Major.
- He received a field commission to Lieutenant, and took part in 86 combat missions during World War II.
- In 1980, Warner Bros. officially re-established its cartoon studio as Warner Bros. Animation, with Geer installed as its first head. He was soon joined by veteran Looney Tunes director Friz Freleng, and together the two produced a number of compilation films and television specials, including The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie and Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales.
- Geer was retained in order to assist in production of The Bugs Bunny Show, and eventually elevated to co-producer of the show in 1975.
- Following his employment at Disney, Geer worked at a number of independent production companies before being brought back to Warner Bros. by producer William L. Hendricks in 1967, beginning a twenty-year association with Looney Tunes.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content