Jack Chojnacki

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.

Jack Chojnacki
Bornc. 1941 (age 79–80)[1]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin[2]
OccupationCo-president of Those Characters from Cleveland, AGC's licensing division
Years active1970s–1980s
EmployerAmerican Greetings
Known forStrawberry Shortcake
Care Bears
Holly Hobbie

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
  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. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  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. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. Jafelice, Raymond (director) (1987). The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (Animated film). Cineplex Odeon Films (distributor, North America) / Nelvana Limited. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  17. Whitall, Susan (March 8, 1986). "The ugliest toys ever—Madballs!". Newsday. The Detroit News. p. 2 (Part II). Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  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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