A Sign Its Saturday

Thirty-nine years ago yesterday, the Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World opened its gates to the world. To celebrate, this month A Sign Its Saturday will feature more signs from the Magic Kingdom. This morning we give you, Harper's Mill.

Harper Goff, for whom the mill is named, was an artist, musician and actor best known for his association with the Walt Disney Company, though he did enjoy success with other projects outside of Disney as well. He was a major contributor of concept art for Disneyland and areas of Walt Disney World. He was also a member of the Firehouse Five + Two, playing banjo. He was honored posthumously as a Disney Legend in 1993.

Remembering: Virginia Davis

Before there was a mouse, there was Alice.

In 1923, in Kansas City, Walt Disney began experimenting with the blending of live-action with animation. His experient yielded the "Alice Comedies." Disney made 49 featurettes about the adventures of Alice. Between 1923 and 1925, Virginia Davis helped in this pioneering effort by starring in the first 13 of the comedies. She was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998. Sadly, Ms. Davis died this past Saturday at the age of 90.

The Disney Obsession wishes to extend its sympathy to the family of Ms. Davis.


Photo: Disney Legends website

Happy Birthday Mr. Disney!

Today marks the 107th birthday of Walter Elias Disney. All over the Disney online community people are commorating this day with posts, messages on boards and mentions during podcasts. Instead of posting my own tribute, may I direct your attention to Ryan Wilson's Main Street Gazette. He offers his insight, along with those of others, on words that best describe this American Original.

Happy Birthday Mr. Disney and, thank you!

Here's to Old Men

Many of you may recall that when Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in May of 1989, there was a working animation department on the property. Some of you may recall the film Back to Neverland. In it, Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite provided an overview to the art of animation before guest would tour the studio. Photography was not allowed in those days because you were witnessing the creative process that gave us Mulan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. There was a once a time when you could track the progress of Roller Coaster Rabbit, a Roger Rabbit short, on a larger that life Roger Rabbit on the wall of the Ink and Paint Department.

But that was some time ago. Sadly, Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida was closed in 2003.

It has been years since I visited this part of the park. So this past April I decided to see what became of the production complex. It was sad not to see the animators at work on what would be a new classic Disney film, but I couldn't help but smile as I remembered the (what seemed like) hours I would spend watching them work and wishing I was one of them.

In the courtyard of the studio is a tribute some of the great men that made the tradition of Disney animation something that we all respect and appreciate. There, on three cement tablets, are the names of four of Walt's Nine Old Men. They are Ollie Johnson (1912-2008), Frank Thomas (1912-2004), Ward Kimball (1914-2002), and Marc Davis (1913-2000). Sharing the tablet with Marc Davis are Ken Anderson and Ken O'Connor.

The next time you find yourself in Disney's Hollywood Studio and the lines at Toy Story Mania or the Great Movie Ride are too long, wander over to the animation studio and visit the legends gave us so much magic.

Ollie Johnson, Frank Thomas

Ward Kimball

Marc Davis, with Ken Anderson and Ken O'Connor

The Legends: Marc Davis

It is perhaps fitting that we end this month’s look at The Legends the same way that we started it; celebrating another of the “Nine Old Men.”

“I love them all in different ways.” This was Marc Davis speaking about the women in his life. You will know them as Cruella De Vil, Maleficent and Tinker Bell. His pencil brought them to life.

Marc Davis was born in Bakersfield, California on March 30, 1913. His father worked in the oil business and the family moved frequently as new oil fields were developed. Consequently, Davis attended over 20 different schools growing up. Following high school he attended Kansas City Art Institute, California School of Fine Art and Otis Art Institute.

He started as an apprentice animator with The Walt Disney Studios in 1935 working on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He was involved in character design for Bambi and his studies of animals are still considered to be some of the finest drawings created at the Studios. Like the other “Nine Old Men”, Davis worked on a number of the feature animation classics.

Later in his career Marc joined WED Enterprises and was one of the original Imagineers. His story and design concepts helped to form some of the most beloved attractions in the theme parks. Ask most people and they will admit to Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion and others that Davis worked on as being among their favorite attractions.

Marc Davis retired in 1978 after 43 years with the company. But even in his retirement he would occasionally add his experience to help in the creation of Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland.

Marc was honored as a Disney Legend in 1989. He received his recognition along with Walt’s other “Nine Old Men.” He died on January 12, 2000.

The Legends: Carl Barks

“I want to thank all the kids that bought my comic books for a dime and are now selling them for $2,000.” This was Carl Barks speaking at the ceremony recognizing him as a Disney Legend.

In his “Four Color Fun” Department, Jeff Pepper of 2719 Hyperion, has written extensively about Carl Barks and his comic book creations. I would refer you to Jeff to learn about the life work of Barks. But in honor of his 107th birthday I would like to share just a little about the man.

Carl Barks was born on March 27, 1901 in Merrill, Oregon. Growing up, he held several different jobs. He also developed a hobby of drawing. As a self-taught cartoonist, he sought to improve his skills by copying the drawings from favorite comic books. He was also influenced by a particular Mouse whose cartoons ran in newspaper comic strips.

In 1935 Barks headed to Hollywood to apply at The Walt Disney Studios and was hired for the animation department starting as an in-betweener. In 1937 he moved into the story department and worked on stories for Donald Duck shorts, and played a part in the creation of Donald’s nephews.

By 1942 he was developing comic books for Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck. He continued to do this for the next 25 years. Following his retirement from comic book work he began working in oils and became quite an accomplished fine artist.

Carl was honored as a Disney Legend in 1991. He died on August 25, 2000.

The Legends: Ub Iwerks

We are all familiar with the quote by Walt Disney, “I hope that we never lose sight of one thing, - that it was all started by a mouse.”

Much has been written about Ub Iwerks and at best, I can only rehash what has already been said. So instead of the usual micro-biography that makes up The Legends” series of posts, I simply want to say thank you to Ub Iwerks.

He was with Walt at the beginning. Before there was a Mickey, Ub worked on the Alice Comedies and animated Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. When Mickey arrived, it was Ub that was credited for first sketching him, while Walt shaped his personality. Iwerks animated the first silent Mickey Mouse cartoon, Plane Crazy, on his own. During the three weeks that he worked on the short, he would at times complete as many as 700 drawings in a day.

His career is fabled and legendary. Because there was a man named Walter Elias Disney and he happened to strike up a friendship and partnership with a man named Ubbe Ert Iwwerks, we have Mickey Mouse. And because we have Mickey Mouse, we have so much more magic to enjoy and to dream about. Because after all, as Uncle Walt said, “It was all started by a mouse.”

Ub was honored posthumously as a Disney Legend in 1989. Although Iwerks was not known as one, he was honored along with the other “Nine Old Men.”

(Photos: Ub Iwerks from The Disney Legends website, Iwerks window on Main Street U.S.A. from the author)

The Legends: Milt Kahl

“Aw…you’re full of it!”

That is what Milt Kahl thought of Wolfgang Reitherman’s assessment of his work. Reitherman said, “These things look so beautiful, they could hang in a museum.” This is reference to Milt’s rough drawings of Merlin for The Sword in the Stone.”

Milt Kahl was born on March 22, 1909 in San Francisco. He attended high in there but left school early. His desire was to become a magazine illustrator or cartoonist, and he set about fulfilling that desire. Later, in business for himself, he saw the Disney short, “Three Little Pigs” and became captivated by the art of animation.

He was hired by Disney in 1934 and began work on Mickey Mouse cartoons, including the Academy Award winning “The Ugly Duckling”. Reading through his contributions to Disney feature animation is like reading a Who’s Who of memorable characters. His pencil helped to bring life to Pinocchio, the Fairy Godmother, Alice, Peter Pan, Tramp and others.

Kahl retired from the studio in 1976 and returned to the bay area. Milt Kahl passed away on April 19, 1987. He was 78 years old.

Milt was honored as a Disney Legend in 1989, along with the other “Nine Old Men.”

(Photo: The Disney Legends website)

The Legends: Ken Anderson

He was a good man to have around. If there was a new direction that Walt wanted to go in, chances are Ken Anderson was able to bring one or more of his many skills to bear.

Anderson was born on March 17th, 1909 in Seattle, Washington. He began college at the University of Washington and through a scholarship was able to study in Europe. Upon his return to America, he settled in California and began working for MGM Studios.

In 1934 he started what would be become a 44 year career with Walt Disney Studios. He began by working on Silly Symphonies, including one, "Three Orphan Kittens" which won a best cartoon Academy Award. From there he became an art director for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His ability to wiggle his ears served as inspiration for Dopey’s ability to do the same. He also provided art direction for Pinocchio, Fantasia and others.

Like many of his contemporaries at the studios, Anderson’s contributions to the canon are numerous. In addition to art direction, he created characters, made story contributions, layout and production design. He also provided the occasional technical innovation.

When Walt decided it was time to build a place where both young and old alike could enjoy themselves, he brought in Anderson and utilized his abilities as an architect. Peter Pan’s Flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and others bear marks of his conceptual design.

Ken was honored as a Disney Legend in 1991. He died on January 13, 1993.

(Photo: from the Disney Legends website)

The Legends: Joyce Carlson

“it's a world of laughter, a world of tears.

its a world of hopes, its a world of fear.

theres so much that we share,

that its time we're aware,

its a small world after all.”

These words were written by the Sherman Brothers, but they were very dear to Joyce Carlson. It is played throughout the ride that she helped to create.

Joyce Carlson was born in Racine, Wisconsin on March 16, 1923. When she was 15 years old her family moved to Southern California where she graduated from Santa Monica High School. In 1944 she began work in the traffic department of the Walt Disney Studios.

After six months delivering supplies to animators she was hired for the Ink and Paint department and for the next 16 years worked as an inker. She worked on such films as The Three Caballeros, Cinderella, Peter Pan and others. The use of a new Xerox process at the Studios facilitated Carlson’s move to WED Enterprises. There she worked with miniature prototypes of attractions that Disney planned to install in the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

Of these, It’s A Small World is the attraction most associated with Carlson. She is credited with creating the characters for the attraction. Carlson was one of the team that was sent to New York to install the attraction, and she was involved in the brining it to Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland.

Asked about her favorite scene, she said, “Though I’ve always liked the Europe scene with the balloon kids, can-can dancers and Eiffel Tower, they’re all my kids. I couldn’t choose. You might say I’ve got a big family in ‘It’s a Small World.’”

Joyce Carlson retired in 2000 after spending 56 years with the company. She was the first woman to reach the 50 and 55 year milestone with Disney and continued acting as a mentor to new Imagineers through 2007. She died at her home in Orlando on January 4th of this year.

Joyce was honored as a Disney Legend in 2000. Her window on Main Street U.S.A. reads, “Dolls by Miss Joyce, Dollmaker for the World.”

(Photos: of Joyce Carlson, The Disney Legends website; of the Main Street U.S.A. window, by the author.)

The Legends: Joe Ranft

“I don’t know if people really understand what I do…” Those were the words of Joe Ranft in a 1998 interview. “I do story for animation…I’m kind of a writer…I draw…I’m the voice of Heimlich.”

Joe Ranft was born in Pasadena, California on March 13, 1960 and grew up interested in movies, drawing, theater and magic. Following his graduation from high school in 1978 he enrolled in the California Institute of the Arts. After two years he left Cal Arts and went to work for Walt Disney Studios and set about establishing his credentials as a story artist. Once at Disney he received training from one of Walt’s “Nine Old Men”, Eric Lawson. Of Lawson, he said, “Eric always reminds me of…the fundamental things.” And it was a lesson well learned as his time was spent mostly drawing storyboards. His contributions for Disney included work on Oliver & Company, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, and others.

While at Disney he met John Lasseter. In the early ‘90s, Joe left Disney and joined Lasseter at Pixar where he was story supervisor on Toy Story. This earned him an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay. He played a role in all of the Pixar feature animation projects providing story supervision on Toy Story 2, story material for Monsters, Inc., and story on Cars. He contributed vocal talent to both Toy Story projects, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars.

Joe Ranft died tragically in an automobile accident on August 16, 2005.

In remembering their colleague, John Lasseter said that “Joe had a great passion for telling stories, and he told them better than anyone.” Pete Docter said, “Joe was really a major part of Pixar’s soul…” The movie Cars and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride are dedicated to him.

By now, many of us are familiar with that first preview of WALL·E which begins with the story of four men setting in a café talking about stories. One of those men was Joe Ranft and one of the stories was WALL·E. When we rush out to the cinemas on June 27th, we will witness a portion of the storytelling legacy of Joe Ranft.

Joe was honored posthumously as a Disney Legend in 2006.

The Legends: John Lounsbery

Today, we celebrate another of Walt’s “Nine Old Men”.

John Lounsbery was born on March 9, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Early in his life the family moved to Colorado where he was raised and was introduced to drawing. Following his graduation from high school he enrolled in and received his diploma from the Art Institute of Denver. In 1932 he moved to California to work as a commercial artist while attending courses at the Art Center School of Design. At the School of Design he was introduced to his life’s work.

In July of 1935 Lounsbery was hired as an animator by the Walt Disney Studios. His early days were spent working on “Pluto” shorts and assisting with animating the Witch in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Later he was promoted to directing animator on Dumbo.

His pencil gave life to Honest John in Pinocchio, Timothy Mouse in Dumbo, Ben Ali in Fantasia, Tony in Lady and the Tramp, and many others.

If you review the Disney Canon, you will see the name John Lounsbery attached to almost every film of the first Golden Age of Disney Animation. He was still contributing to Disney, working on The Rescuers, when he died on February 13, 1976. He was named a Disney Legend, along with the other “Nine Old Men”, in 1989.

(Photo: Disney Legends website)

The Legends: Ward Kimball

Ward Kimball was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 4, 1914. Following high school he enrolled at the Santa Barbara School of Art with the hopes of becoming a magazine illustrator. After watching a matinee showing of Disney’s Three Little Pigs, Ward packed his portfolio bound for Hollywood. He joined the Walt Disney Studios in 1934 and rest, as they say, is history.

During his time at Disney he took part in most all of the classic animated features. His contributions include Jiminy Cricket, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Lucifer the Cat, and others. He directed two Academy Award winning short subjects; Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom and It’s Tough to Be a Bird. The latter featured both live action and animation. Ward produced and directed three space films for the Disneyland television show. In the 1960’s he helped to write the story and script treatment’s for Babe’s in Toyland.

Along with a few select others, Ward became known as one of Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men”.

Kimball once remarked that as long as it didn’t interfere with his animation work, Walt permitted his “second career”; that of trombone player for the Firehouse Five Plus Two. Along with Danny Alguire, Harper Goff, Clarke Mallery, Monte Mountjoy, Ed Penner, and Frank Thomas, the group produced at least 13 albums and played various venues between the 1940’s and early 1970’s.

Like Walt Disney, Kimball also had an enthusiastic love of the railroad. He had a full size locomotive that he operated in his three acre backyard. His railroad was called the Grizzly Flat Railroad. He also helped build the Carolwood Pacific Railroad in Walt’s backyard.

Kimball retired from Walt Disney Studios in 1972 and was honored as a Disney Legend in 1989. He died in Los Angeles on July 8, 2002.

(Editors Note: Kimball also worked on one of my favorite extinct attractions, The World of Motion. I did not know this. The next time I am in Epcot and look at the Test Track building, I will pause for a moment and be thankful for people like Ward Kimball. He, and those like him, have given us all so much joy.)

(Photo credit: The Disney Legends website Wikipedia)

The Legends: Claude Coats

When Uncle Walt set out to turn his dream of a place where children and adults could have fun together into a reality, he selected a special group of people from his Studios. These individuals were the genesis of what we now call Imagineering. These were the first Imagineers and among them was Claude Coats.

He was born on January 17, 1913 in San Francisco. In 1934 he graduated from USC with a degree in fine art and architecture. Following some additional studies at Chouinard Art Institute, he joined the company in 1935 as a background painter. His oft heralded work spanned the range of classic Disney films from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 to Lady and the Tramp in 1955.

It was in ’55 that Coats was tapped by Walt Disney to make Disneyland real. Looking back, it is difficult to imagine Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, or EPCOT without Claude Coats influence, as he was involved in the design and development of The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, World of Motion, and Horizons to name a few. He was also involved with bringing the Carousel of Progress and It’s a Small World to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.

True, there are many extremely talented individuals who spent their lives helping Walt to create the magic, but as Marty Sklar said, “Claude…was a genuine one-of-a-kind.”

Claude Coats died just a few days shy of his 79th birthday on January 9, 1992. He became a Disney Legend in 1991.

Next time you find yourself on POTC or exiting the Haunted Mansion, whisper a thank you to Mr. Coats.

Photo Credit: Disney Legends Website

The Legends: John Hannah

I must confess, I have never been much of a Donald Duck fan. No, I am a “Mickey Man”. If you cut me I will bleed red mixed with some yellow and black. But, if you follow The Duck, then you know of Jack Hannah.

Jack Hannah was born in Nogales, Arizona on January 15, 1913. Following his 18th birthday he found himself in Los Angeles enrolled at the Art Guild Academy and designing movie posters to make a living. In 1933 he was hired by Disney as an in-between and clean-up artist. He worked on Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the Silly Symphonies cartoons.

Yet, it is with Donald that he would be best remembered. In all he worked on 65 Donald Duck shorts and in the process collected eight Academy Award nominations. He served as key animator on the Oscar winning short, “The Old Mill” which introduced the multi-plane camera.

In 1939 Jack moved from animation to the story department. He continued to work on Donald and eventually teamed with Carl Barks to create 27 on the Donald Duck shorts. He was also instrumental in bringing his feathered friend to television with titles that include, “A Day in the Life of Donald Duck” and “At Home with Donald Duck”.

He continued as an artist working with oils following his retirement in 1959.

Jack Hannah died at the age of 81 on June 11, 1994. He was made a Disney Legend in 1992.

Photo Credit: Disney Legends Website

The Legends...

Today begins a new series on The Disney Obsession. I call it The Legends. These are the Disney Legends and this series will spotlight those people who have distinguished themselves among those who played a special part in bringing us the magic.

The Disney Legends program began in 1987 and so far it has honored 216 individuals. These are the animators, the vocal talents, the Imagineers, the film makers, musicians, and others who have worked to create the Disney experience for our enjoyment.

During 2008 I will focus on the Disney disciplines of Animation, Imagineering and Attractions, celebrating the birthdays of those people honored for their contributions in these areas. In future years we can explore other areas of creativity, and along the way we may celebrate a few birthdays of future Disney Legends.

Since I will offer only a brief sketch of the individuals celebrated I encourage you to visit the Disney Legends site and learn more about each person.

I can not think of a better way to begin a new series on The Legends than to begin with a Disney. To him, Uncle Walt was truly his father’s brother. Roy E. Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930, the son Roy & Edna Disney. Young Roy enjoyed a life that most of us can only dream of and that was he had the opportunity to grow up around the studio.

Following his graduation from Pomona College he started his career as an assistant film editor and later joined the Walt Disney Studios in 1954 as an assistant editor on the True Life Adventure films.

Roy left the Studio in 1977 after 23 years to pursue other interests but returned in 1984 to serve as vice chair and head of animation. It was during his watch that Disney enjoyed what some call The 2nd Golden Age of Disney Animation with such current classics as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King. He also restored his uncle’s vision for Fantasia with the premier of Fantasia 2000 in December 1999.

Roy Edward Disney became a Disney Legend in 1998.

Photo: Wikipedia, Roy E. Disney article