Jack Chojnacki

Jack Chojnacki
Born c. 1941 (age 75–76)[1]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin[2]
Occupation Co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland, AGC's licensing division
Years active 1970s–1980s
Employer American Greetings
Known for Strawberry Shortcake
Care Bears
Holly Hobbie

Jack Chojnacki[nb 1] (born c. 1941)[1] served as the co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland Inc., a division of U.S. greeting card company American Greetings (AGC), in the 1980s. He assisted in the creation of several AGC franchises, including Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears.

Career

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin,[2] Chojnacki graduated from the city's Marquette University High School in 1958.[2] During the 1970s, he was among the staff of American Greetings, a card company based in Cleveland, Ohio;[5] he licensed the Holly Hobbie character early in his tenure there.[6] Later that decade, he set up the company's licensing branch[5] Those Characters from Cleveland[7][8] with another AGC employee, Tim Wilson (the creator of the comic strip Ziggy).[9] Its first franchise, Strawberry Shortcake, made its public debut in 1980.[5]

Beginning in the early 1980s, Chojnacki served as co-president of Those Characters from Cleveland[8] along with Wilson,[10] and vice-president of AGC's licensing operations.[11] Starting in February 1981, he assisted in the creation of another American Greetings franchise, the Care Bears.[12] He served as executive producer of 1985's The Care Bears Movie,[13][14] along with its 1986 prequel A New Generation;[15] he also was a creative consultant for the 1987 follow-up, Adventure in Wonderland.[16] After the Care Bears, Chojnacki helped out with another two AGC properties, Madballs[17] and Popples.[18][19] In 1989, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) inducted him into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame, as a charter member.[20]

Notes

  1. ↑ The surname's pronunciation has been given variously as "hoy-not-ski",[3] "hoy-nof-ski"[1] and "why-nat-ski".[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chiu, Tony; Wansley, Joyce (May 10, 1982). "Who's Red and Sweet and Filthy Rich? Strawberry Shortcake, Toyland's Newest Tyke-Coon". People Weekly. Time Inc. 17 (18). Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Daniell, Tina (April 24, 1985). "Care Bear market is looking bullish". The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. p. 7 (Part 3). Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. ↑ Josephson, Nancy (June 20, 1983). "Get Along Gang gets '84 push". Women's Wear Daily (WWD). Fairchild Publications (145): 14.
  4. ↑ Pauly, Helen (February 1, 1983). "Strawberry sells like hotcakes". The Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. p. 17. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 Engelhardt, Tom (September 1986). "Saturday Morning Fever: The Hard Sell Takeover of Kids TV". Mother Jones. Foundation for National Progress. 11 (6): 40. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ Liebeck, Laura (June 4, 1990). "Transforming a license into a brand". Discount Store News. Lebhar-Friedman Inc. 29 (11): 113.
  7. ↑ Dougherty, Philip H. (November 17, 1981). "Advertising; 825/Strawberry Shortcake to Dancer Fitzgerald". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  8. 1 2 DeWolf, Rose (October 12, 1982). "Out to launch: Is there shelf life after Holly Hobbie? You bet". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 33 (FEATURES). Retrieved August 21, 2010. (Registration required (help)). Jack Chojnacki, copresident of Those Characters from Cleveland, a subsidiary of American Greetings set up just to handle licensing, told a recent meeting...
  9. ↑ Abelman, Robert (1995). Reclaiming the Wasteland: TV & Gifted Children. Hampton Press. p. 88. ISBN 1-57273-014-5. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  10. ↑ McAllister, Liane (April 1984). "Character marketing—competitive and thriving". Gifts & Decorative Accessories. Geyer-McAllister Publications Inc. (85): 120. ...Adds Jack Chojnacki, co-president with Tom Wilson, of Those Characters from Cleveland, 'You see numerous characters, but only few sensible ones; the marketplace really boils down to 20 or 30 good properties'
  11. ↑ Yoshihara, Nancy (September 9, 1980). "A Word from the Sponsor: Holly Hobbie Set to Go Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. E5. Retrieved August 21, 2010. (Registration required (help)).
  12. ↑ Connelly, Sherryl (April 2, 1985). "High 'aaah" factor has meant millions". Boca Raton News. New York Daily News. p. 4B. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ Selznick, Arna (director) (1985). The Care Bears Movie (Animated film). The Samuel Goldwyn Company (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / American Greetings / CPG Products Corp.
  14. ↑ Wyse, Wyndham (March 22, 2000). "Canadian, eh? Take One's unofficial list of 20 box-office hits". Take One. Canadian Independent Film & Television Publishing Association. 9 (27): 20–4, 29–31. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  15. ↑ Schott, Dale (director) (1986). Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (Animated film). Columbia Pictures (distributor) / Nelvana Limited / LBS Communications.
  16. ↑ Jafelice, Raymond (director) (1987). The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (Animated film). Cineplex Odeon Films (distributor, North America) / Nelvana Limited.
  17. ↑ Whitall, Susan (March 8, 1986). "The ugliest toys ever—Madballs!". Newsday. The Detroit News. p. 2 (Part II). Retrieved August 21, 2010. (Registration required (help)).
  18. ↑ "Industry forecast for '86 properties (Licensing Scope)". Playthings. Geyer-McAllister Publications Inc. (83): 50. December 1985.
  19. ↑ Jones, Vicki (November 4, 1985). "Licensed to sell". HFD: The Weekly Home Furnishings Newspaper. Capital Cities Media (59): 15.
  20. ↑ "About LIMA: Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame". Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). Retrieved November 3, 2010.
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