10 Interesting facts about Joseph Barbera:

1. Joseph Barbera was born in Little Italy, New York, to Italian immigrants Vincent Barbera, born in Castelvetrano, and Francesca Calvacca Barbera, born in Sciacca, Italy. He grew up speaking Italian.
2. During high school, Barbera worked as a delivery boy for a tailor.
3. After years of working as a cartoonist and artist, he left New York in 1937 to work for the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) cartoon unit in California. His desk was opposite that of William Hanna.
4. In 1940, Hanna and Barbera jointly directed Puss Gets the Boot, which was nominated for an Academy Award. From this cartoon, they pursued their cat-and-mouse idea, which resulted in Tom and Jerry.
5. In 1957, Barbera and Hanna reteamed to produce cartoon films for television and theatrical release. To name their new company, they tossed a coin which determined that Hanna’s name would be first in Hanna-Barbera Productions.
6. After a few successful T.V series, the pair created a new animated series, The Flintstones, as a parody of The Honeymooners.
7. Hanna and Barbera created cartoons that revolved around close friendship. This can be seen with Fred and Barney, Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble, Tom and Jerry, Scooby and Shaggy, Yogi & Boo-Boo, The Jetson Family, and more.
8. Hanna-Barbera won seven Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards, including the first Emmy awarded to an animated series for The Huckleberry Hound Show.
9. Hanna-Barbera cartoons have become global icons and have been translated into more than 28 languages.
10. Joseph Barbera passed away at home on December 18, 2006 at the age of 95.

Here is just a partial list of television programs created by Hanna-Barbera:

The Huckleberry Hound Show (1958-1962)

The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Top Cat (1961-1962)

The Jetsons (1962-1963)

Jonny Quest (1964-1965)

Space Ghost and Dino Boy (1966)

Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles (1966-1968)

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio (1967-1969)

The Herculoids (1967-1968)

Fantastic Four (1967-1968)

The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968-1970)

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (1969-1970)

Josie and the Pussycats (1970-1971)

Speed Buggy (1973)

Super Friends (1973-1974)

Inch-High Private Eye (1973-1974)

Hong Kong Phooey (1974)

Clue Club (1976-1977)

Jabberjaw (1976-1978)

The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980-1981)

The Smurfs (1981-1989)

Shirt Tales (1982-1984)

The Berenstain Bears (1985-1987)

The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-1993)

Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)