Mintz died in 1940, his production manager, Jimmy Bronis became his successor and after Bronis came Mintz's brother-in-law, George Winkler. Later Columbia got rid of Winkler and brought in former Disney storyman and Warner Bros. cartoon director, Frank Tashlin. Under Tashlin, the studio experienced a considerable talent boom. However, Tashlin was ousted and replaced by Dave Fleischer. Later Fleischer too would depart and his other successors would make little impact on the studio. Probably the most successful characters to emerge from the "Screen Gems" period were the Fox and the Crow, a duo consisting of a refined, sophisticated Fox and a chiseling, street-wise Crow.

      The "Screen Gems" studio closed in 1946 and Columbia was soon looking for new talent. So, Steve Bosustow and his creative staff of "United Productions of America," came to Columbia. Columbia agreed to let UPA produce cartoons through them and it proved to be the smartest decision, animation-wise, that the studio would ever make. Throughout the late 1940s and the 1950s, UPA would earn several Oscars for the fruits of their efforts and would introduce such endearing characters as the nearsighted Mister Magoo (voiced by Jim Backus) and Gerald McBoing Boing. In 1959, UPA would cease distributing cartoons theatrically through Columbia. Its new head, Henry G. Saperstein decided to venture into the new medium of television. The studio would close its doors permanently in 1964.

      So now, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to "The Columbia Crow's Nest" on Golden Age Cartoons.com, an in-depth analysis of the cartoons of Charles Mintz, Screen Gems and UPA. Browse around and enjoy!