The influence of Ted's memories of Springfield can be seen throughout his work. Drawings of Horton the Elephant meandering along streams in the Jungle of Nool, for example, mirror the watercourses in Springfield's Forest Park from the period. The fanciful truck driven by Sylvester McMonkey McBean in The Sneetches could well be the Knox tractor that young Ted saw on the streets of Springfield. In addition to its name, Ted's first children's book, And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street, is filled with Springfield imagery, including a look-alike of Mayor Fordis Parker on the reviewing stand, and police officers riding red motorcycles, the traditional color of Springfield's famed Indian Motocycles.
The Cat in the Hat, perhaps the defining book of Ted's career, developed as part of a unique joint venture between Houghton Mifflin (Vanguard Press) and Random House. Houghton Mifflin asked Ted to write and illustrate a children's primer using only 225 'new-reader' vocabulary words. Because he was under contract to Random House, Random House obtained the trade publication rights, and Houghton Mifflin kept the school rights. With the release of The Cat in the Hat, Ted became the definitive children's book author and illustrator.
At the time of his death on September 24, 1991, Ted had written and illustrated 44 children's books, including such all-time favorites as Green Eggs and Ham, Oh, the Places You'll Go, Fox in Socks, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His books had been translated into more than 15 languages. Over 200 million copies had found their way into homes and hearts around the world.
Besides the books, his works have provided the source for eleven children's television specials, a Broadway musical and a feature-length motion picture. Other major motion pictures are on the way.
His honors included two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.
#S4 - Chuck Jones Enterprises - Dr. Seuss 'Horton Hears a Who', 1970. Horton is rendered in graphite, and blue pencil on a full, untrimmed 12-field animation sheet. Overall image measures 5.00' X 3.50'. COA was provided.
A cartoon adaptation of Dr. Seuss' children's book 'Horton Hears a Who'. Horton, an elephant, hears a small voice and searches everywhere for it until he finds that it is coming from a piece of dust. The voice was from Dr. Whoovy, a microscopic being who is trying to prove to his people that there is life outside of their world. In the end, Dr. Whoovy hears a voice from a piece of dust smaller then himself.
*$655
#S5 - DePatie-Freleng - 'The Cat in the Hat', 1971. The painted Dr. Seuss image measures 4.50 X 7.00, bearing production number C46. Authenticated by Museum Graphics of Costa Mesa, CA.
This was the first Dr. Seuss special to be produced by DePatie-Freleng.
On a rainy day with nothing to do, 2 kids have to watch over the house when their mother leaves to run some errands. Not long after she leaves, a cat appears and winds up turning the home upside down and inside out and then back to normal right before their mother walks in the door.
*$2,100 (MATTED)
#S10 - DePatie Freleng Studio, DR. SEUSS ON THE LOOSE, 1973. Expressive animation cel of one of the two Zax, created by Theodore Geisel in his original story for children and included in this TV special of three animated Seuss tales.
An actual production cel, it was created in the DePatie-Freleng ink-and-paint department and photographed during production of the animated special. The painted cel image measures 6.00' x 4.50', cel sheet is full and untrimmed. Studio notation '2022 Z8 A64' appears along the bottom. In excellent condition with all original paint. COA provided by Howard Lowery Gallery.
A classic Dr. Seuss special featuring three Seuss stories, 'The Sneetches,' 'The Zax' and 'Green Eggs and Ham.'
*$535
S14 - DePatie-Freleng - DR. SEUSS ON THE LOOSE, 1973. The cel is handpainted on an 11.50' X 11.00' Full sheet. The image area measures 4.50' X 4.50', bearing 2022 Title at top. This is the opening title to the CBS special, which has 3 segments. The special tells the stories of 'The Zax', 'The Sneetches', and 'Green Eggs and Ham'.
Music by Dean Elliott ; directed by Hawley Pratt ; produced by Friz Freleng and Ted Geisel ; executive producer, David H. DePatie.
Voices: Allan Sherman, Hans Conried, Paul Winchell, Bob Holt.
The Sneetches: are ostrich-like creatures who live on the beaches. Some have stars on their bellies and think they're superior to their star-less cousins, until a stranger turns the Sneetch community topsy-turvy and makes everyone truly equal.
The Zax: are two stubborn creatures who absolutely refuse to step aside for each other when they cross paths.
Green eggs and ham: the Seuss classic about the wiley Sam-I-Am whose favorite dish is an abomination. Until it's finally tasted, and savored!
* $420
