As Lantz used to tell the story of Woody Woodpecker, he and his wife were on their honeymoon at a lakeside cottage when Woody first pecked his way into their lives.

'We kept hearing this knock, knock, knock on the roof,' Lantz told The Los Angeles Times in 1992. 'So I went out and looked, and here's this woodpecker drilling holes in the shingles.'

Lantz's wife, Gracie, suggested adapting the bird as a cartoon character and Lantz wisely took his bride's advice.

#WL1 - Walter Lantz - 'Woody Woodpecker', 1993. The Limited Edition titled 'Green Eyed Woody', number 250 of 500 has a facsimile signature and Original signature by Walter Lantz. The image area measures 12.00' X 10.00'.

With arguably the most famous laugh of any cartoon character in history (ha-ha-Ha-HA-ha), Woody Woodpecker pecked his way into our lives through a 1940 Andy Panda theatrical short entitled Knock Knock. Woody continued to appear in short films throughout the 40s and 50s, and in 1957, the Kellogg's company packaged these theatrical works into the syndicated package The Woody Woodpecker Show.

*$690(MATTED)

#WL3 - Walter Lantz - 'Woody Woodpecker', 1972. The cel is hand painted measuring 3.00' X 2.50'. The background is the Original Handpainted Key-Master Background, bearing the official Walter Lantz stamp.

*$750 (MATTED)

#WL2 - Walter Lantz - 'Woody Woodpecker'. The painted image area measures 2.00 X 2.75', bearing production number W81.

WOODY FROM THE 1991 ACADEMY AWARDS...In 1991 at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards, Woody Woodpecker was the presenter for the Oscar for best Animated Short. This production cel is from the sequence where Woody reads the list of Nominees.

*$255

#WL8 - Walter Lantz - 'Charlie Beary', 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in graphite pencil. The image area measures 2.75' X 5.75' - bearing number 121. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$190

#WL10 - Walter Lantz - 'Charlie Beary' 'Bessie Beary', 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in red and graphite pencil. The image area measures 7.00' X 4.50' - bearing number C35 with graphite animator notes. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$215

#WL21 - Walter Lantz - 'Charlie Beary', 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in red and graphite pencil. The image area measures 3.25' X 4.75' - numbered B53. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$190

#WL11 - Walter Lantz - 'Unknown character', 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in red, yellow and graphite pencil. The image area measures 4.00' X 3.50' - bearing number C-3. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$290

#WL22 - Walter Lantz - 'Charlie Bear', 1950's. This full sheet cel is hand painted - image measuring 4.75' X 5.75' - bearing number 7. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$290

#WL20 - Walter Lantz - 'Smedley', 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in yellow and graphite pencil. The image area measures 5.50' X 4.50' - bearing number B7. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*$170

#WL20 - Walter Lantz - 'Unknown character' (Mrs. Meanie?), 1950's. This full sheet original woody woodpecker drawing is rendered in blue and graphite pencil. The image area measures 3.00' X 6.00' - bearing number D11. Purchased from the Lantz family estate.

*170

The original production animation art cels, drawings, and sketches seen here are the property of WALTER LANTZ and other studios. They are intended only as illustrations of the cartoon artwork being offered and may not be reproduced in any form for any other purpose without the permission of their respective owners.

Walter Lantz created the famed bird, and in the shows early days, the animator would host from his office, demonstrating how cartoons were made by showing the viewers at home such essentials as painting cels and drawing storyboards. Woody, an obnoxious mischief-maker, would usually star in the shorts, occasionally taking a backseat to his friends Andy Panda, Wally Walrus, Gabby Gator, Buzzy Buzzard, Oswald the Rabbit, and Arctic penguin Chilly Willy.