Adolph Zukor and the Fleischers?

[PudgieDParrot]

With a second Popeye set on the way, I thought I should ask this:

Those of you farmiliar with the Fleischer cartoons have noticed film pioneer Adolph Zukor's (1873-1976) name on the opening title pages. By the Popeye cartoon Customers Wanted (1938), Zukor's name was removed (coincidentally, according to CN/Boomerang's The Popeye Show, the short's subject matter has to deal with what got Zukor into the motion-picture industry in the first place: The Penny Arcade).

THE QUESTION IS: How exactly was Zukor involved with the Fleischers?

[Detroiter]

Adolph Zukor was the Chairman and what would today be called the chief executive officer of Paramount since the teens. He had been the prime mover and public face of Paramount/Famous Players/Lasky company that dominated the movie industry. As Paramount descending into financial troubles in the early 1930's, Zukor was sort of bumped upstairs. When Paramount went into equity receivership (that's Chapter 11 bankruptcy for you kiddies) in March or April of 1933, Zukor again came to the fore. After about 1933 or so, all Paramount films were released with titles reading "Adolph Zukor presents." I think this was a little like Lee Iaccoca out their pitching Chrysler in its dark days. By the late 1930's, the films were being presented by Paramount.

[Ray Pointer]

Detroiter has covered the issue. In addition, Max Fleischer made a appeal to Zukor's ego with the cartoon, PUDGY PICKS A FIGHT. In this late BETTY BOOP/PUDGY cartoon, BETTY is admiring a new fox stole with a clasp in the mouth. This was made to flatter Zukor, who previously was a successful furrier who invented this type of fox fur with the self-clasping feature.:betty:

[Dave Mackey]

Detroiter has covered the issue. In addition, Max Fleischer made a appeal to Zuko'rs ego with the cartoon, PUDGY PICKS A FIGHT. In this late BETTY BOOP/PUDGY cartoon, BETTY is admiring a new fox stole with a clasp in the mouth. This was made to flatter Zukor, who previously was a successful furrier who invented this type of fox fur with the self-clasping feature.:betty:
The other burning question is that Fleischer had in his employ an artist named Louis Zukor - was he a relation? (Lou Zukor eventually became a director for Filmation in the 1970s.)

[Ray Pointer]

The other burning question is that Fleischer had in his employ an artist named Louis Zukor - was he a relation? (Lou Zukor eventually became a director for Filmation in the 1970s.)

I've heard no indication that Lou Zukor was related to Adolph. If he were, do you think he would have continued working in the Animation Industry as a "Blue Colar Worker, ending up at Filmation?

[Bobby Bickert]

Someone here (Sogturtle?) said that Lou Zukor worked at the Romer Grey studio before working at Fleischer.

[Ray Pointer]

Someone here (Sogturtle?) said that Lou Zukor worked at the Romer Grey studio before working at Fleischer.

Yes, that is true.