David Bartholomew, 82, was Ohio animation director
David Bartholomew, an animator, artist and producer of TV commercials, died July 12. He was 82.
Known as Bart to his co-workers, friends, and music-loving disciples, he entered his career in motion picture production in February 1953 at Olympus Film Productions, a division of Avco Broadcasting, as a co-op and later full-time motion/still picture cameraman and animation artist.
Early in 1956, he joined the staff of Film Associates, Inc. in Dayton, Ohio as animation director. There, he gained experience in all aspects of film production, from writing and production design to live-action directing and film editing.
During his 12 years with the Leonard M. Sive & Associates agency, he was a film producer, writer and artist. In addition to producing commercials in Dallas, Chicago, New York and Hollywood, he served as a story and script consultant for the Famous Classic Tales animated TV specials of the 1970s. After two years of freelancing for David Kallaher, Inc., he joined its staff in 1981, serving as an animator, writer, director and editor for seven years.
The son of Harold and Eleanor (nee Scheumann) Bartholomew, he was born in Cincinnati on August 25, 1929. He graduated with Norwood High School's class of 1947, and was also a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
Bartholomew created the radio program Friction, featured on Cincinnati's WMKV. The show celebrates his passion for early American musical recordings from the 1920s. Through it, he infused his listeners with his knowledge and love of the early bands and their histories.
While on active duty in the United States Army from December 1954 to December 1955, he served as a still photographer with the 25th Infantry Division.
In 1960, Bartholomew photographed the first TV commercials for Kenner Toys, beginning an 18-year association with those products. He later joined Kenner's ad agency, Sive & Associates.
During what he termed his "semi-retirement," Bartholomew began creating the Friction radio program for WMKV between freelance art jobs. These popular programs continue to be aired on WMKV. Streaming audio brought Friction to a global audience, and he corresponded with people around the world, happily sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the music he loved.
He was a true student and teacher of media, and enjoyed the hands-on aspect of producing his craft, be it illustrating, filming or producing the radio program enjoyed by thousands. Of particular pride for him was his ability to edit his own Friction programs.
He was an avid collector of 1920s jazz records, particularly early Gennett and Bix Beiderbecke recordings. He set up a small recording and transfer studio in his museum-like basement, "the Pit," home to his treasured collection of over 3,000 78 rpm records assembled over years of excited expeditions to flea markets, yard sales and antique stores.
He loved hosting visits to "the Pit" for his friends and sharing his records. He also looked forward to his monthly meetings with the "Lunch Bunch" at Maple Knoll Village.
David Bartholomew is survived by the former Billie Martin, his wife of nearly 58 years; children Leslie Lambert, David Bartholomew and Nancy Osborne; grandsons David and Michael Lambert and Ben Streicher; and brother Richard.
