Ron Campbell, animator

[baldguy]

Ron Campbell has a storied history in animation. For example, his work appears in Yellow Submarine.

Here's a snippet from Wikipedia:

Ron Campbell’s career[1]  began in 1958 animating various commercials for Australian television. However, when Al Brodax brought both his Krazy Kat and Beetle Bailey cartoons to Australia for production, Ron was recruited to work on the project.

After Krazy Kat, Ron went on to direct many installments of The Beatles (TV series) for King Features. The show debuted on September 25, 1965, and remained number one in the ratings for the duration of its four-year run. Ron later wrote the forward to the book Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles[2], where his involvement in the show is also talked about extensively.

Due in part to the enormous success of the program, Ron was hired by Bill Hanna (of Hanna-Barbera fame) and relocated to Hollywood, California. In Hollywood, Ron would go on to work on a wide array of animated television series including, but not limited to: The Smurfs, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Rugrats, Rocket Power, and Ed, Edd n Eddy.

Ron was at a Tulsa mall last month, appearing in the traveling Rock Art Show (http://rockartshow.com/).

He was quite gracious, giving me a handshake and allowing me to take his picture. Seems like a top-notch guy.

Here's his website: http://www.beatlescartoon.com/rcampbell.html

[Rivers End]

Hmmmmm! Don't get to many celebs around here! I see that Country Legend Jimmy Dean passed away. We had him here in our Funeral home several years back visiting a friend.

[wooden slingshot]

I have met a ton of them.  The best is when it's totally unexpected.  Once I remember sharing an elevator with Mike Tyson, during his heyday.  Once I was visiting my Mom at her store and who walked out but Johnny Cash.  That was a thrill for me because I'm a huge fan.  A couple of years ago I was eating lunch with friends and I met the son of legendary Hollywood director Richard Fleischer (and grandson of Max Fleischer who was way more famous than Richard, but I love the film noir that RF did).  And when I first went to my wife's late grandmother's house who was shoveling her snow but her neighbor, John Davidson (remember him?).  Without missing a beat I turned to my wife and said "Now that's incredible!" Of course, being nearly twenty years younger than I, she had no idea what I was talking about.

[baldguy]

Well, let's see...

Shook hands with a totally wasted John Belushi (he had a a short 'fro!) outside the Roxy about two weeks before his death. A bunch of firecrackers went off, I said "What are they doing, John? Reshooting 1941?" He was too fa gone to acknowledge my "brilliant wit."

Spoke with Jack Nicklaus on the practice green at the 1994 PGA at Southern Hills at Tulsa.  I'm still thrilled. 

Spotted Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd on Hollywood Blvd. one night, circa 1982, with their dates. Danny must have been with Rhea Baker. I was in a buddy's highly-jacked 4WD Toyota pickup. I hollered "Hey Danny! What do you think of the ride?" He graciously gave us a thumbs-up.

A few more, equally as boring...

[ziggy2k8]

 I got to shake hands and get an autograph from Neil Armstrong. I was in the US Army as part of an electronic warfare test and development dividion. We were evaluating equipment for a project and AIL had an offering in the evaluation. We had an open day where VIPs visited the testing site and Neil Armstrong was one of the VIPs.
 It took me all day to muster up the courage to approach him and ask for an autograph. Unfortunately my ex-wife made off with his autograph.

[Burt]

My son and I were on the way to VT in late August 2003 and north of Manchester NH, on I93 there are NH State tolls, $1 for passenger cars. I slowed down and approached the toll booth with my dollar in hand and as I stopped to hand it to the toll collector, she informed me that the car in front of me had paid my toll and I was all set.

 I observed the kind soul’s car pulling away at a pretty good clip so I sped after it finally catching up to the car and started passing it about 3 miles up the road. I told my son to show him a dollar bill and wave thanks as we pulled abreast. I honked my horn and when the driver turned to look at us, my son exclaimed “Hey that’s Adam Sandler!!!” (one of his favorite stars) and waved the bill. I said “It couldn’t be” but as I stared at the driver I saw he was a dead ringer for the popular star. He waved, smiled and took off. My son was sure it was he but I thought it was a coincidence and even though he looked like Adam’s twin, I thought it improbable.

Later that year, I was watching him during a TV interview and he told the host that he’d been in Manchester NH that summer as his father was dying and had recently passed away. I remembered the toll experience and now I’m a believer as well as my son.

[Burt]

I see from the 7/15 Tank you are as big a Fan as I of Adam Sandler, but he did save me a buck even though I've never seen any of his films. SNL cured my future fandom (all though I found his Chanukkah Song mildy amusing the 1st time I heard it.)