BAMBI - publicity sketches part 1

Four years ago when I was assigned to work on BAMBI II I started scouring e-bay to find material, I found some 8x10s with what look like Marc Davis drawings, naturally I picked them up. Taking a leaf from Michael Sporn's BAMBI posts I thought I'd share these photos with you.

Recently I've begin to expand the collection, partly to put me into the mood to write my own film but also because I just love these drawings, can anybody confirm that these are Marc Davis drawings? If they are not, then maybe who drew them?

WALT IN ARGENTINA

This is a photo of Walt in Argentina which I recently acquired, the snipe on the reverse side reads:

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA . . . . WALT DISNEY,

movie animated cartoon tycoon, is shown (center)

sampling "yerba mate", the "tea" of South America,

at a gaucho barbeque near BUENOS AIRES. DISNEY

is brewing the mate in the gourd in approved style

while gauchos in working clothes provide the setting.

HAPPY FESTIVE SEASON

I know it's a bit late, but believe me I've been very busy since my last post. I wish everyone all the best for the festive season and all the very best for the New Year!!!

When MICKEY broke the sound barrier

On Monday morning November 19, 1928, THE NEW YORK TIMES appeared on the news stand, none of the headlines indicated that cultural history had been made the night before. Buried amongst the reviews for new films on page 16, is a small paragraph that mentions the name of a man named Walter Disney and a new cartoon character named MICK(E)Y MOUSE .

The Great Depression was barely a year away from starting, and that mouse and his owner would soon shine a light of hope and joy during the dark years ahead.

Eighty years on not much has changed and another difficult time is upon us, but at least we still have the mouse and his friends, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICKEY.

WALT at PARAMOUNT

A photo I recently picked up dated December 10, 1939. Reverse reads:

"CHILLY VISIT - Walt Disney all garbed in furs and galoshes, found the weather chilly when he visited with Patricia Morison, young Paramount actress, on the winter location set of 'Untamed', Technicolor drama of the north woods. Miss Morison plays the feminine lead opposite Ray Milland and Akim Tamiroff."

OBAMA VICTORY

I just had to write about this historic day, and am inspired by Didier's blog of two days ago. Obama's win is America at it's finest, democracy in it's truest sense where anyone can rise to the top. With all the things happening in the world today we all need to see that hope.

For me this is a defining moment in American history if not world history, as important as the war of independence and the end of slavery during the American Civil War. It puts a lump in my throat to be able to witness the tears of joy among African-Americans live on TV, this is their day, and we on the other side of the world are the privileged spectators.

PLANE CRAZY 'storyboard' pages

Back in late 1997 I bought a great drawing from PLANE CRAZY the actual first MICKEY MOUSE cartoon. At the time, the gallery I was dealing with in New York was also selling the PLANE CRAZY 'storyboard' pages (storyboards were not really used until about 1932, but these pages are a precursor) on behalf of the Museum of Cartoon Art which was trying to raise funds to complete construction of the museum itself. The $3.75 million price tag was a little beyond my reach, but I was lucky enough to be sent a prospectus.

The pages are drawn by Ub Iwerks and were originally found amongst the papers of THREE LITTLE PIGS director Burt Gillette. With the 80th birthday of the world's most famous mouse fast approaching, I hope enjoy this glimpse into his origin.

HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY TO THE DISNEY COMPANY

Today marks the 85th anniversary of the founding of THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than to once again remind people of these goodies from the Phil Sears Collection.

NON DISNEY, DISNEY PROJECT

I recently acquired the above three documents outlining a proposed animation sequence to be done by Disney for the 1944 Sam Goldwyn movie UP IN ARMS starring Danny Kaye. I haven't found anything regarding Disney's involvement but to my surprise I found that the Gunther Lessing letter (which I had e-mailed Didier Ghez some time ago for posting) seems to confirm it.

I don't remember ever seeing the movie, does anybody know if the sequence in question was ever produced? or, know where I can find a clip?

1943 fits into the period where Disney's finances were at it's lowest ebb during the war, it would be interesting to know how many non Disney projects the studio was involed in. From the silent days up to the war. We know there were animated titles for Leon Schlesinger (would be cool to find that footage) and THE HOLLYWOOD PARTY. Any thoughts?

SUNDAY DONALD

I thought a change of pace would be good with a few Donald sunday strips by Al Taliafero.

For me Al's work is up there with Carl Barks, Don Rosa and Daan Jippes. Certainly the Sunday Donald is not as developed as the comic book Donald, in fact the strips resemble the Donald of the animated shorts which is where the appeal really stems for me.

Walt Disney - 1933 part 2

Here are a couple more Clarence Sinclair Bull photos which were recently sold on e-bay.

Walt Disney - 1933

I recently acquired this great portrait of Walt by famed 1930s Hollywood photographer Clarence Sinclair Bull, dated September 10, 1933. Through corresponding with Walt's daughter Diane I discovered a whole series of photos were taken of Walt by Bull including the iconic Walt with Mickey's shadow photo.

I know of another photo in Christopher Finch's ART OF WALT DISNEY showing Walt and Lilly at home with their pet chow. Does anybody know what other photos were taken by Bull and perhaps what they were used for? I imagine a magazine article.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT at DISNEY - part 4

This is the last of the Frank Lloyd Wright pages, unfortunately a couple of pages seem to be cut short at the bottom. I have a pile of these transcripts which I hope to share over the coming weeks and months, I find them quite eye opening - - they almost take me there to the day.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT at DISNEY - part 3

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT at DISNEY - part 2

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT at DISNEY - part 1

One of the great things about working at an animation studio, especially Disney are the lectures and people who come in lecture. Even at Disney Australia we had the likes of Glen Keane, Andreas Deja and others from features drop by.

We're all aware of the classes back in the 30s as the studio began to push forward into features, some of the most notable people in their respective fields took the time to visit the Disney studio and give talks to the artist. On February 25, 1939 famed architect, writer and lecturer FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT came to the studio, above is part 1 of the transcript.

Note the person to open the discussion is Pfeiffer, who can only be Walt Pfeiffer, Walt Disney's boyhood friend who worked at the studio for many years.

MICKEY SUNDAY - part 14

It's been a while since I posted one of these, but I've been juggling a few projects lately and have been busy trying to meet deadlines. Sorry for the delay.

DISNEY - 1934 part 4

Finally, here is the final part to this in depth article, note the cost estimate for Snow White towards the end. It's also interesting to consider the fact that Walt and Roy were truly devoted to improving the quality of their product and expanding the business, they could very well have kept most of the proceeds (which seem ample) and lived like rich men. Thankfully for us, that's not what they did . . . nor who they were.

DISNEY - 1934 part 3