Al Brodax

Brodax grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan but moved to Brooklyn as a teen and attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn, New York.[1] He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[2] At the age of eighteen, Brodax enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in World War II. He was wounded in action, and was subsequently awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, and three battle stars.[3] From 1950 to 1960 Brodax worked in program development for the William Morris Agency, where he helped develop Your Show of Shows, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, and Omnibus. He joined King Features Syndicate in 1960 as the head of their then-newly created film and television development department. After Paramount's contract to produce Popeye cartoons ran out in 1957, King Features acquired the television rights. Brodax oversaw the production of over 200 new shorts in 1960–62, with five different animation studios simultaneously involved. The rapid pace of production, coupled with limited animation due to low budgets, resulted in shorts that are held in low esteem by some Popeye fans. Brodax was also the producer of King Features' animated revival of Krazy Kat, as well as Cool McCool, Beetle Bailey, Snuffy Smith, and Casper the Friendly Ghost (1963–64 segments of The New Casper Cartoon Show). After seeing the Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, Brodax approached the band's management with the idea of producing an animated series featuring the Fab Four. The series, of which 39 episodes were produced, premiered on September 25, 1965, on ABC. He was later involved in the production of the Beatles' animated film, Yellow Submarine, for United Artists, as producer and co-screenwriter. From 1969 to 1980, Brodax worked as a freelance producer, writer, lyricist and director. He supervised animation for ABC's Make a Wish (1971–76), and Animals, Animals, Animals (1976–81).