As discussed here some time ago, there are plans afoot to tear down the old Hanna-Barbera building on Cahuenga Boulevard and replace it with one of those shopping malls that Southern California can't have enough of. Hey, yesterday I actually drove five blocks without passing a Victoria's Secret.
Over at Animation Blast, Amid Amidi expresses his ambivalence on whether the structure should be preserved for its historical and/or architectural value. As I mentioned, I feel much the same way. I worked in that building for years and I love the early H-B cartoons. But the early H-B cartoons weren't made in that building, and it seems to me that if it's worth preserving, it should have been worth not selling it to the current owners.
Nevertheless, I just added my signature to this online petition that urges the preservation of the place. (At the moment, my name is ten above that of "A. Sphincter Sayswhat.") I'm not sure I want to see public funds used for the purpose but the petition doesn't call for that. Perhaps if there's enough light on the matter, someone will come up with a creative way to preserve the birthplace of Jabberjaw.
Thanks to Bob Bergen — a nice Jewish boy who grew up to be Porky Pig — for e-mailing me the link. Here's a link to Bob's website. He's one of the best voice guys in the business and if you're interested in that field, the advice he has posted over there will be very valuable.