Fred Quimby

Fred Quimby was an American animation producer. He served as the executive in charge of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio from 1937 to 1955. He worked with prominent directors, such as Tex Avery, Joseph Barbera, and William Hanna. His studio won 8 Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film. He is chiefly remembered as a producer for the original "Tom and Jerry" film series. In 1886. Quimby was born in Minneapolis, the largest and most-populous city in the US state of Minnesota. Early in his life, he worked as a journalist, before starting a career in film. In 1907, Quimby became the manager of film theater in Missoula, Montana. He later joined the staff of the film production company Pathé. He became a member of its board of directors, but left in 1921 to try his lack as an independent producer. From 1924 to 1927, Quimby worked for Fox Film. In 1927, he was hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He served for a time as the nominal head of its short films department. In 1937, Quimby became the head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio, MGM's new animation subsidiary. His name became well known due to its prominence in the cartoon credits. He had a difficult relationship with his staff members. He was not an animator himself, and had no previous experience in animation. He served chiefly as a liaison between the animators and MGM executives. He consistently turned down requests for bigger budgets, raises and special dispensations of funds. His employees considered him humorless. In 1939, Quimby approved the production of " Puss Gets the Boot" by directors Barbera and Hanna. The film introduced the characters of Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Quimby was at first not interested in producing more Tom and Jerry films, but changed his mind due to the first film's critical and financial success. As a producer, he claimed sole responsibility for the success of the new series. In May 1955, Quimby retired at the age of 69. Barbera and Hanna replaced him as the new heads of the studio. The studio did not long survive Quimby's departure, as MGM shut down its animation subsidiary in 1957. Quimby lived in retirement for 10 years. In September 1965, Quimby died from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California. He was 79-years-old.