Keitz & Herndon

Keitz and Herndon was an American television production company that made cartoons, advertisements, short educational films, and commercials founded in 1952 in Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas, Texas.[1] Most notably they created the "Frito Kid" mascot for Fritos; and the animated television series, JOT.

History

The partnership was formed by Rod Keitz (né Roderick Keith Keitz; 1927–2016),[2] and Larry Herndon (né Lawrence Fred Herndon; 1926–2014).[3] The firm was established in Oak Cliff in 1952;[4] and later worked from their 4409 Belmont Avenue office in Belmont Park, Dallas.

Keitz and Herndon represented various national and Texas-based brands.[5] They produced advertising in 1955 for Lone Star Gas;[6] by 1956 the company worked on car sales, bus transportation, and oil ads;[7] and in 1957 they produced ads for various food companies.[8] Donald E. Wills joined the firm as an animation artist.[9]

One of the former employees filmed President John F. Kennedy's visit to Texas on November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade.[10]

The company partnership was honored by the Dallas Producers Association in 2008.[11]

Filmography

• "State of Alabama" (1965), a propaganda film made for the Alabama State Sovereignty Commission on the 1965 civil rights march in Alabama (ASSC project)[12][13][14]
• "Atmosphere for Learning" (1965), for Austin College[15]
• Animation short for the theater snack bar Dr Pepper advertisements[16]
• JOT, a television cartoon series sponsored by Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission that ran from 1965 to 1974, and 1980 to 1981[4][17]
• Burleson Honey advertisements[18]
• Lone Star Brewing Company ads[19]
• "Frito Kid", the official mascot of Fritos corn chips[18][20]
• Quality Dairy Company ads[21]