Ben Hardaway

Joseph Benson 'Ben' (a.k.a. 'Bugs') Hardaway (May 21, 1895 – February 5, 1957) was an American storyboard artist, animator, voice actor, gagman, writer and director for several American animation studios during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. While at the Leon Schlesinger / Warner Bros. studio during the late 1930s, Hardaway, in 1938, co-directed Porky's Hare Hunt, the first film to feature a rabbit. When this unnamed, embryonic rabbit was given a new model sheet for a later short, since, according to Chuck Jones, Hardaway "didn't draw it very well", designer Charlie Thorson inadvertently offered a permanent name by titling the model sheet "Bugs' Bunny" since it was meant for Hardaway's unit. By the time the rabbit was redesigned and refined for the film A Wild Hare, the name was already being used in relation to the character in studio publicity materials. In 1940, Hardaway joined the staff of Walter Lantz Productions, where he helped Walter Lantz in creating the studio's most famous character, Woody Woodpecker. Hardaway wrote or co-wrote most of the stories for the 1940–1950 Woody Woodpecker shorts, as well as supplying Woody's voice between 1944 and 1949. [biography (excerpted) from Wikipedia]

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Gold Rush Daze (1939)

A hound dog drives to the hills to dig for gold. However, a gas station hound explains that, in 1849, there was a major gold rush in the hills at the first sight of gold, and he didn't have any success digging, mining, or panning any gold. When a horseman reports a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST: 

A hound dog drives to the hills to dig for gold. However, a gas station hound explains that, in 1849, there was a major gold rush in the hills at the first sight of gold, and he didn't have any success digging, mining, or panning any gold. When a horseman reports a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST: 

Hare-um Scare-um (1939)

Facing high meat prices, a man decides to take his dog and go hunt for his own. But the crazy rabbit they are after is not very easy to catch.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST:  Mel Blanc

Facing high meat prices, a man decides to take his dog and go hunt for his own. But the crazy rabbit they are after is not very easy to catch.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST:  Mel Blanc

Porky's Hare Hunt (1938)

Porky goes after a rogue rabbit who manages to frustrate him at each turn. He is unsuccessful and the rabbit comes to visit him just to make recovery tougher for him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Mel Blanc

Porky goes after a rogue rabbit who manages to frustrate him at each turn. He is unsuccessful and the rabbit comes to visit him just to make recovery tougher for him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Mel Blanc

The Barber of Seville (1944)

Woody is standing outside the Seville Barber Shop looking at the ads. Wanting a "victory haircut", he decides to enter the shop only to find the owner has stepped out for a physical. Woody decides to cut his own hair ("I cut my own teeth") but unfortunately is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Kent Rogers

Woody is standing outside the Seville Barber Shop looking at the ads. Wanting a "victory haircut", he decides to enter the shop only to find the owner has stepped out for a physical. Woody decides to cut his own hair ("I cut my own teeth") but unfortunately is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Kent Rogers

Count Me Out (1938)

Egghead decides his road to riches is through a boxing correspondence course. When he graduates, he takes on champion Biff Stew. Biff pummels him mercilessly (the correspondence course record continues to coach him during the match), but by accident, he knocks Biff ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST:  Tex Avery  •  Mel Blanc  •  Cliff Nazarro  •  Dave Weber

Egghead decides his road to riches is through a boxing correspondence course. When he graduates, he takes on champion Biff Stew. Biff pummels him mercilessly (the correspondence course record continues to coach him during the match), but by accident, he knocks Biff ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST:  Tex Avery  •  Mel Blanc  •  Cliff Nazarro  •  Dave Weber

Love and Curses (1938)

An aging hero is looking through the photo album and remembering the Gay 90's, and in particular a picnic interrupted by villainous Roger St. Clair, who tries to tempt Emily to the big city and away from Harold; when that fails, he takes her by force. Six months ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST: 

An aging hero is looking through the photo album and remembering the Gay 90's, and in particular a picnic interrupted by villainous Roger St. Clair, who tries to tempt Emily to the big city and away from Harold; when that fails, he takes her by force. Six months ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway  •  Cal Dalton
CAST: 

Buddy in Africa (1935)

Buddy is a traveling salesman in Africa. On the way to a native village he refuses to give a ride to an ape. At the village, he sells items ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy is a traveling salesman in Africa. On the way to a native village he refuses to give a ride to an ape. At the village, he sells items ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Woody Woodpecker and Friends (1982)

A compilation of ten classic Walter Lantz cartoons: Knock Knock (1940), The Bandmaster (1947), Ski for Two (1944), Hot Noon or 12 O'Clock for Surf (1953), The Legend of Rockabye Point (1955), Wet Blanket Policy (1948), To Catch a Woodpecker (1957), Musical Moments ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Daws Butler  •  Paul Frees  •  Walter Lantz

A compilation of ten classic Walter Lantz cartoons: Knock Knock (1940), The Bandmaster (1947), Ski for Two (1944), Hot Noon or 12 O'Clock for Surf (1953), The Legend of Rockabye Point (1955), Wet Blanket Policy (1948), To Catch a Woodpecker (1957), Musical Moments ...  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Daws Butler  •  Paul Frees  •  Walter Lantz

Buddy of the Legion (1935)

Buddy gets a new job in a book shop, but spends his work hours daydreaming about leading the Foreign Legion and fighting Amazons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy gets a new job in a book shop, but spends his work hours daydreaming about leading the Foreign Legion and fighting Amazons.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy's Theatre (1935)

Buddy is a projectionist in a movie theatre where the 'coming attractions' trailer promises '15 features for 15 cents.'  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy is a projectionist in a movie theatre where the 'coming attractions' trailer promises '15 features for 15 cents.'  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy's Pony Express (1935)

This is another cartoon from Warner Bros. that stars forgotten character Buddy with his girlfriend Cookie. This time they're in the old west with Buddy playing the piano while Cookie sings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

This is another cartoon from Warner Bros. that stars forgotten character Buddy with his girlfriend Cookie. This time they're in the old west with Buddy playing the piano while Cookie sings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

Buddy's Adventures (1934)

In this one, Buddy and girlfriend Cookie are in a hot air balloon but they get forced to come down by some angry clouds with one of them being a rattlesnake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

In this one, Buddy and girlfriend Cookie are in a hot air balloon but they get forced to come down by some angry clouds with one of them being a rattlesnake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Hardaway
CAST:  Jack Carr

The Hollywood Matador (1942)

The bull is watching through a knothole as the great bullfighter, Woody Woodpecker, is showing off for the spectators. Unable to take it no longer the bull dashes into the arena and charges Woody so hard that he makes a shambles of the stadium. Woody, as always, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Lantz
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Kent Rogers

The bull is watching through a knothole as the great bullfighter, Woody Woodpecker, is showing off for the spectators. Unable to take it no longer the bull dashes into the arena and charges Woody so hard that he makes a shambles of the stadium. Woody, as always, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Lantz
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Kent Rogers

Fair Weather Fiends (1946)

After a storm strands them on a deserted island, Woody Woodpecker and his wolf friend end up battling themselves in a quest to find food.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Will Wright

After a storm strands them on a deserted island, Woody Woodpecker and his wolf friend end up battling themselves in a quest to find food.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Will Wright

Woody the Giant Killer (1947)

Out of work, Woody complains about his not having any living quarters. A slick talking con man convinces him to buy some "magic beans" promising they will guarantee him a home. Sure enough, Woody climbs the resulting beanstalk and finds a huge castle at the top. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Harry Lang  •  Jack Mather  •  Mel Blanc

Out of work, Woody complains about his not having any living quarters. A slick talking con man convinces him to buy some "magic beans" promising they will guarantee him a home. Sure enough, Woody climbs the resulting beanstalk and finds a huge castle at the top. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Harry Lang  •  Jack Mather  •  Mel Blanc

The Dippy Diplomat (1945)

A newspaper announces that Ivan Awfulitch, the famous ambassador, is due to have a barbecue with local resident Wally Walrus. Unfortunately, while Wally is preparing the barbecue, the scent of the steaks he is cooking attracts an unwelcome guest in the form of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Jack Mather

A newspaper announces that Ivan Awfulitch, the famous ambassador, is due to have a barbecue with local resident Wally Walrus. Unfortunately, while Wally is preparing the barbecue, the scent of the steaks he is cooking attracts an unwelcome guest in the form of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Jack Mather

Wild and Woody! (1948)

Woody Woodpecker gallops into a wild western town, which can't keep a sheriff very long due to the notorious outlaw (and sheriff-killer) Buzz Buzzard. Woody volunteers for the position but barely has time to shine up his badge before Buzz rides in with intent to do ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Pinto Colvig

Woody Woodpecker gallops into a wild western town, which can't keep a sheriff very long due to the notorious outlaw (and sheriff-killer) Buzz Buzzard. Woody volunteers for the position but barely has time to shine up his badge before Buzz rides in with intent to do ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Pinto Colvig

The Loose Nut (1945)

Woody Woodpecker goes to the park for a game of golf, and quickly gets at odds with some city-workers who are laying a cement walk. His hooks and slices keep landing into the wet cement. But he smooths everything out by putting a couple of cement-trowels on his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Will Wright

Woody Woodpecker goes to the park for a game of golf, and quickly gets at odds with some city-workers who are laying a cement walk. His hooks and slices keep landing into the wet cement. But he smooths everything out by putting a couple of cement-trowels on his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shamus Culhane
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway  •  Lionel Stander  •  Will Wright

Smoked Hams (1947)

Wally Walrus is a day sleeper and requires daily rest while his neighbor in the adjacent apartment, Woody Woodpecker, is a night sleeper who does his chores during the day. Needless to say, Woody's noisy chores tend to keep the hapless Wally from getting any ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Jack Mather

Wally Walrus is a day sleeper and requires daily rest while his neighbor in the adjacent apartment, Woody Woodpecker, is a night sleeper who does his chores during the day. Needless to say, Woody's noisy chores tend to keep the hapless Wally from getting any ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dick Lundy
CAST:  Ben Hardaway  •  Jack Mather

Ace in the Hole (1942)

Woody Woodpecker is a stable boy. The stables are located right in an airfield, and the sound of airplanes droning around only fuels his lust to fly. "I want to fly like the birds!" declares the woodpecker. But the only thing the bulldog sergeant on the airfield ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alex Lovy
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway

Woody Woodpecker is a stable boy. The stables are located right in an airfield, and the sound of airplanes droning around only fuels his lust to fly. "I want to fly like the birds!" declares the woodpecker. But the only thing the bulldog sergeant on the airfield ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alex Lovy
CAST:  Mel Blanc  •  Ben Hardaway
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