I think of one of my favorite part of my Disney journey of discovery is having the Walt Disney Family so close. The Museum has regular monthly events, or as I call them sessions, where various Disney luminaries, legends and expects come and speak for about an hour, then answer some questions, and finally if time allows sign memorabilia, or books. Thanks to Ms. Donna for all her hard work creating an amazing visitor experience
The Museum is an incredible collection of Walt Disney artifacts currently arranged in 10 galleries that take you through Walt’s life during defined periods. No matter how many times I tour the galleries, I always discover something I hadn’t seen to before, and Gallery 10 is now, and probably always will be, the hardest gallery for me to transit. But that is not the subject of this blogisode, which, by the way, I checked and so much for copy writing.
This last weekend my oldest, who normally accompanies me on these excursions, and I had the opportunity to listen to Tommy Kirk talk for an hour about his years as a Disney movie talent. Tommy has starred in over 30 films in a career that spanned 6 decaded, and I believe more than half of them for Disney, including one that was the subject of this month’s movie at the WDFM Theater – The Swiss Family Robinson, hence the name of this session, “Inside the Tree House.” There is a great write-up of Tommy on Wikipedia that provides his complete filmography, if you are interested. However, who, over the age of, never mind, doesn’t remember with tearful eyes, the young boy with tears in his eyes forces to pull the trigger of the rifle that ended his cherished friend and companion – “Old Yeller”? There is a tear in my eye as I write this sentence.
As the session started, Donna, the Director of Visitor Experience introduced the afternoon’s moderator – Jeff Kurtti. Jeff is a Disney luminary in his own right. Author or contributor of several (an understatement) books on Disney, Renowned Disney historian, and as we were told, very involved with the creation of the Museum. He has this member’s eternal gratitude for his effort at the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Tommy is as personable today, as his characters he portrayed. After giving a few opening remarks about our guest, Jeff surprised us and turned the floor over momentarily to another well known guest and benefactor of the Museum – Ron Miller. For those not aware, Ron Miller is the husband of Walt’s daughter Diane, and a former Director, Producer, and Executive at the Walt Disney Company.
Ron told us how he came to be employed at Disney. In the 50’s, after servicing in the Army, Ron play a season as a tight end for the Los Angeles Rams, and anyone who has played football (high school running back here) will tell you, the tight end is one of the positions which takes the most punishment on the field. As Ron told us he was no exception, and got laid out on a couple of occasions. He explained that on play he was knocked unconscious in the 1st quarter and didn’t wake up until the 3rd. This happened to be a game that his father-in-law was in attendance. After the game Walt came to him and told him that he(Ron) was going to get himself killed if he continued to play, and he(Walt) did not want to be raising Ron’s children. Walt suggested that Ron come to work for him at the studio, and Ron agreed. Walt arranged for Ron to join the Director Guild, and Ron started as an assistant director. Now you may be wondering what all this has to do with Tommy Kirk? Well, Ron first job as an assistance director was to collect a young Tommy Kirk from the studio and escort him as the sole human actor for the day to a shooting location. They were filming “Old Yeller” and that was the first meeting between the two. They worked together many times after that and became close.
While the session was called “Inside the Tree House” we didn’t hear a lot about “Swiss Family Robinson.” Tommy did talk about not knowing who John Mills was and wonder why they did get a more famous actor. But, admitted afterward, he couldn’t imagine anyone else playing the father better than John. He also talked about being on location on an island in the West Indies for 7 months, and being terribly home-sick. One of the things Tommy really missed while on location was brownies. He spoke warming of his movie Mom in Swiss Family Robinson – Dorothy McGuire, who also played his Mother in “Old Yeller”, and you could truly hear the affection for her in voice. He said how he really liked her and felt she like him. Whereas, Jane Wyman, who played his Mother in “Bon Voyage”, he said, while she was nice and professional, he got the impression she didn’t like him all that much.
Tommy worked with Fred MacMurray (Disney 1st Legends inductee in 1987). We were told how Mr. MacMurray was always such a professional on the set, and how when off camera, he’d sit quietly off to the side, read his newspaper and drink his coffee, when he was needed on camera, he’s fold his paper, come onto the set and slip into character and perform his part. He told a funny story about one movie the two work on together. I don’t recall all the particulars, but they want someone on the set who would do Groucho Marx impressions, and that kind of stuck with Tommy. During one scene, the camera angles for the shot were changed, and Tommy, in his best Groucho voice, claimed jokingly that they changed the angle to shoot the back of his head to give the star more camera time. Tommy said that was the only time he ever saw Fred get really mad. Fred told him when he’d been doing this along as he had, he could worry about who got the most camera time. Tommy did say that after the incident, Fred didn’t appear to keep it with him or hold a grudge. They worked on several films after that one. Tommy also commented that Fred had great toupees. He and Jeff talked about the fact that Fred, Bing, and Frank all had great hair pieces. As the session went on, Tommy talk about acting with then Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, and how she got more fan mail than Marilyn Monroe. He talked about being in “The Monkey’s Uncle” and how it was not one of his favorite films, in fact he really hated it. He was also not fond of “Bon Voyage” either.
At the end of session we had an opportunity for few audience questions. One question from a younger member of the audience asked how Tommy liked working with the animals on “Swiss Family Robinson”? Tommy told us how he had to be careful around the ostrich and make sure that he stayed to the side or behind the animal because when they kick, and they can kick very hard, they do it to the front. The same young audience member followed up with a question asking if he got the play much with the baby elephant. Tommy said no, the baby elephant was pretty much Kevin (Moochie) Corcoran’s animal. The two most notable questions came at the end. A certain audience member from the top row of the theater ask Tommy if he’s reconsider his position on “The Monkey’s Uncle”? The audience member happened to be the movies producer and none other than Ron Miller, and received a resounding laugh throughout the audience. The final question asked a similar question for “Bon Voyage” from the associate producer, also Ron Miller and receiving a similar laugh from the audience.
After the session, Tommy, as is the case with most session guests, agreed to sit a sign autographs and memorabilia for audience members. As we waited in line, I notice a pin on the lady standing in front of me. It was a Club 33 pin, and I had to comment on it. She smiled so brightly at the recognition at I was sure she in got while actually dining at the Club. That’s pretty cool, and one of my dream goals for the future. As we continued to wait in line she noticed that my daughter had nothing to be signed and produces a “Swiss Family Robinson” postcard from her bag and handed to Sam. I am, now days not surprised, grateful that there are so many friendly Disney devotees. We have met many at the Museum, and continue to meet them at various Disney events. It is one of the reasons I looks forward to going to Museum as often as I can. If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it.
Edited: August 30, 2010
I had to come back and make a quick addition that I missed in my initial posting, because I thought it was important tidbit and insight into Walt Disney the man.
Tommy told us of a very special event in his career with Disney. One day he happened to be at a local establishment and ran into Walt Disney, who was having lunch that day with Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, two well known Hollywood columnists of the day. Walt introduced young Tommy to his lunch guests as Tommy Kirk, his lucky charm. Even to this day, you could hear the pride and joy in his voice, at hearing such praise from Walt Disney.
Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
Mousetalgia link
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Disney Brothers Studio is Created
Originally posted August 23, 2010
I think it was Horace Greely who said, “Go West Young Man!” Well that is exact what Walt Disney did after the failure of his Laugh-O-Grams animation studio. Some have claimed that he went to Hollywood with the intention of starting another studio, but I cannot find any real data to support this claim. Quite to the contrary, and by his own words (which can be found in gallery 2 at the Walt Disney Family Museum), Walt feeling the sting from the what he thought scheming distributors, felt that he had missed his opportunity in animation, and so went to Hollywood to find work as an actor or director. He really thought his work at FilmAd qualified him to direct, but none of the studio in Hollywood at the time agreed. Finding no opportunities to direct, Walt’s brother Roy suggested that he re-examine his chances in “that” cartoon business.
During the life of Laugh-O-Grams, Walt and his animators had begun development of a story based on “Alice in Wonderland” using a combination of live-action performance with animation, called the “Alice Comedies.” He began shopping the idea around to a couple of distributors in New York, using a partially completed reel of the first story that he managed to arrange permission to use as a demo. You see, because of the bankruptcy of Laugh-O-Grams, he no longer actually owned the footage. When Margaret (M.J.) Winkler expressed an interest in distributing “The Alice Comedies”, Walt immediate went to his Brother Roy’s bedside at the VA Hospital to ask his advice. Roy left the hospital, against doctor’s advice, the two young men pooled their meager resources; and along with some seed money they receive from their Uncle Robert, they form a new company. The Disney’s arrange for Virginia Davis, the young star of the “Alice Comedies, and her family from Kansas City to Hollywood. Ub Iwerks and his family also moved from Kansas City at this time, and the Disney Brothers Studio was born, later to become Walt Disney Productions, and even later the Walt Disney Company.
Everyone knows about Disney and animation, there are dozens of books on the subject. I quite honestly possess only a cursory understanding of animation. I will say that I have learned a great deal more on the subject in the last year, and have a new found appreciation of animation of all kinds. It is an expensive, painstakingly laborious, and time consuming process even to do a mediocre job, but, to accomplish the quality that Walt demanded, even more so. Hence my new found appreciation for the ‘cartoons’ I have always enjoyed. I now more readily recognize and appreciate the intricacies of the animation process and the adoring touch of the artist as I view these films. A recent example of the caring and thoughtful efforts of the artist occurred to me while watching Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.” There is small and really inconsequence scene where Sully has just come to rest at the bottom of a snow covered slope, after crashing the makeshift sled he had just moments before been careening downhill on. Lying there on his stomach in the snow recovering for his harrowing ride, the animator had the presences of mind and care for his craft to show the breeze blowing through the valley by showing the hair on Sully’s back bristling in the wind. It is this attention to detail that I believe Walt himself would have appreciated. But, animation was only one aspect of the man’s talent. I’d like to focus more on those other talents.
As is the providence of many famous figures in history, I think Walt Disney is a personaliy who has been excessively romanticized by many of his fans and admirers, and likewise overly demonized by his critics and detractors. Enthusiastic fans claim he was a masterful artist, animator, and the brilliant businessman responsible for success of The Walt Disney Company, critics would have you believing his success was solely derived from his egotistical drive to exploit the talents of those around him for his own gratification. As is the case with most historical accounts, the story is jaded by the views and experiences of the teller, and truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Walt was neither a masterful artist nor animator. He was not a bad artist, as I don’t think anyone is a bad artist, as art is truly in the eye of the beholder. I have seen many ‘artistic’ pieces lauded be my contemporaries as spectacular for which I wouldn’t pay a dime, so I don’t think anyone can say who is or isn’t good. Walt’s genius, from what I’ve been able to discern, was in his ability to visual and construct a story that others would want to see. Walt was truly visionary in this area, early on in animations infancy, he saw more and explored techniques no one else considered. He smart enough in beginning to realize his limitations and to foster relationships with individuals that could help make his vision come to life. He would guide them toward the end product of that vision, now with genius come a certain degree of ego, the greater the genius, normally the bigger the ego.
Listening to and reading many accounts of both admirers and detractors, I think is safe to say that Walt was not immune to this condition. Many have said in vary degree of frustration that it always came down to Walt’s answer, that he would not listen to or consider other ideas. Yet, I have heard as many say that yes it was always Walt’ way or no way, but, that if you understood Walt, you could present your ideas in way that didn’t not challenge his vision, and he would listen. I have had the opportunity to work with a few different artists in different disciplines and that experience has left me with the feeling that most artists are very possessive of their work. I would imagine that Walt would not have gotten much real work done if he’d had had to salve all the egos that work on his productions. So, I would posit that if you had an idea that fit within Walt’s vision and did not directly challenge him as the boss, you did okay. Those who could deal with this position you did okay, if not, you probably moved on. While even the great Walt Disney had his failures, his ideas and visions were “on the money” more often than not.
Walt Disney, a brilliant businessman? Understanding his craft, and leading in a way that manages to get the most out of the people that work for you, in that aspect he was masterful. He always seemed to know how to put people together that would produce well, but, Walt as the fiscally responsible business administrator, not so much. Walt made any number of comments indicating his distaste for jobs of the “sharp pencil boys.” While he understood that he had to deal with limited budgets, he considered the quality of the end product over the costs.
We’ll leave it here for this blogisode, as my last was quite long and the last paragraph is liable to evoke some emotion from the fan base. Next we’ll start exploring the real financial master of the Disney operations, and relationship between the brothers and how I think it played in the success of the company.
Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
I think it was Horace Greely who said, “Go West Young Man!” Well that is exact what Walt Disney did after the failure of his Laugh-O-Grams animation studio. Some have claimed that he went to Hollywood with the intention of starting another studio, but I cannot find any real data to support this claim. Quite to the contrary, and by his own words (which can be found in gallery 2 at the Walt Disney Family Museum), Walt feeling the sting from the what he thought scheming distributors, felt that he had missed his opportunity in animation, and so went to Hollywood to find work as an actor or director. He really thought his work at FilmAd qualified him to direct, but none of the studio in Hollywood at the time agreed. Finding no opportunities to direct, Walt’s brother Roy suggested that he re-examine his chances in “that” cartoon business.
During the life of Laugh-O-Grams, Walt and his animators had begun development of a story based on “Alice in Wonderland” using a combination of live-action performance with animation, called the “Alice Comedies.” He began shopping the idea around to a couple of distributors in New York, using a partially completed reel of the first story that he managed to arrange permission to use as a demo. You see, because of the bankruptcy of Laugh-O-Grams, he no longer actually owned the footage. When Margaret (M.J.) Winkler expressed an interest in distributing “The Alice Comedies”, Walt immediate went to his Brother Roy’s bedside at the VA Hospital to ask his advice. Roy left the hospital, against doctor’s advice, the two young men pooled their meager resources; and along with some seed money they receive from their Uncle Robert, they form a new company. The Disney’s arrange for Virginia Davis, the young star of the “Alice Comedies, and her family from Kansas City to Hollywood. Ub Iwerks and his family also moved from Kansas City at this time, and the Disney Brothers Studio was born, later to become Walt Disney Productions, and even later the Walt Disney Company.
Everyone knows about Disney and animation, there are dozens of books on the subject. I quite honestly possess only a cursory understanding of animation. I will say that I have learned a great deal more on the subject in the last year, and have a new found appreciation of animation of all kinds. It is an expensive, painstakingly laborious, and time consuming process even to do a mediocre job, but, to accomplish the quality that Walt demanded, even more so. Hence my new found appreciation for the ‘cartoons’ I have always enjoyed. I now more readily recognize and appreciate the intricacies of the animation process and the adoring touch of the artist as I view these films. A recent example of the caring and thoughtful efforts of the artist occurred to me while watching Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.” There is small and really inconsequence scene where Sully has just come to rest at the bottom of a snow covered slope, after crashing the makeshift sled he had just moments before been careening downhill on. Lying there on his stomach in the snow recovering for his harrowing ride, the animator had the presences of mind and care for his craft to show the breeze blowing through the valley by showing the hair on Sully’s back bristling in the wind. It is this attention to detail that I believe Walt himself would have appreciated. But, animation was only one aspect of the man’s talent. I’d like to focus more on those other talents.
As is the providence of many famous figures in history, I think Walt Disney is a personaliy who has been excessively romanticized by many of his fans and admirers, and likewise overly demonized by his critics and detractors. Enthusiastic fans claim he was a masterful artist, animator, and the brilliant businessman responsible for success of The Walt Disney Company, critics would have you believing his success was solely derived from his egotistical drive to exploit the talents of those around him for his own gratification. As is the case with most historical accounts, the story is jaded by the views and experiences of the teller, and truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Walt was neither a masterful artist nor animator. He was not a bad artist, as I don’t think anyone is a bad artist, as art is truly in the eye of the beholder. I have seen many ‘artistic’ pieces lauded be my contemporaries as spectacular for which I wouldn’t pay a dime, so I don’t think anyone can say who is or isn’t good. Walt’s genius, from what I’ve been able to discern, was in his ability to visual and construct a story that others would want to see. Walt was truly visionary in this area, early on in animations infancy, he saw more and explored techniques no one else considered. He smart enough in beginning to realize his limitations and to foster relationships with individuals that could help make his vision come to life. He would guide them toward the end product of that vision, now with genius come a certain degree of ego, the greater the genius, normally the bigger the ego.
Listening to and reading many accounts of both admirers and detractors, I think is safe to say that Walt was not immune to this condition. Many have said in vary degree of frustration that it always came down to Walt’s answer, that he would not listen to or consider other ideas. Yet, I have heard as many say that yes it was always Walt’ way or no way, but, that if you understood Walt, you could present your ideas in way that didn’t not challenge his vision, and he would listen. I have had the opportunity to work with a few different artists in different disciplines and that experience has left me with the feeling that most artists are very possessive of their work. I would imagine that Walt would not have gotten much real work done if he’d had had to salve all the egos that work on his productions. So, I would posit that if you had an idea that fit within Walt’s vision and did not directly challenge him as the boss, you did okay. Those who could deal with this position you did okay, if not, you probably moved on. While even the great Walt Disney had his failures, his ideas and visions were “on the money” more often than not.
Walt Disney, a brilliant businessman? Understanding his craft, and leading in a way that manages to get the most out of the people that work for you, in that aspect he was masterful. He always seemed to know how to put people together that would produce well, but, Walt as the fiscally responsible business administrator, not so much. Walt made any number of comments indicating his distaste for jobs of the “sharp pencil boys.” While he understood that he had to deal with limited budgets, he considered the quality of the end product over the costs.
We’ll leave it here for this blogisode, as my last was quite long and the last paragraph is liable to evoke some emotion from the fan base. Next we’ll start exploring the real financial master of the Disney operations, and relationship between the brothers and how I think it played in the success of the company.
Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
Mousetalgia Podcast
Originally posted August 24, 2010
This blogisode is another side trip on the Disney trail. I decide to do a shout out here because the Crew at Mousetalgia shamelessly asks for reviews on iTunes, and I don’t have an iTunes account. The podcast is free, so I don’t have to sign up to get it, and I am trying desperately not to open an iTunes account. I want to give them a good review, because I’ll really like the podcasts, and I (being equally shameless) hope they might plug my blog sometime.
So here’s to Mousetalgia crew, I’ll write you a review on my blog.
I recently met a group of characters (I didn’t just how much at the time ) at the Disneyland 55th Anniversary celebration at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Dave, Becky, Jeff, and Kristen, collectively known as Mousetalgia, run a weekly podcast (which can be found on iTunes) or their website @ http://www.mousetalgia.com/.
We were sitting in the row in front of the crew for the Saturday presentation by Tony Baxter, Jack Lindquist, and Matt Ouimet, moderated by the incomparable Marty Sklar. As sat waiting for the presentation to start, I heard a comment behind me that I just had to respond to… I don’t even remember what it was, but, as my daughters will tell you, if it Disney, I’ll strike up a conversation with anyone. So as we sat there waiting and talking about Disney, I had the most fortunate experience of being “penned” by Kristen, and it’s not as painful as it might sound.
I’ve since started listen to the weekly Mousetalgia podcast. I just finished listening to episode 95, and I’m working my way back previous episodes, current back to #87. I’ve got to say the podcasts is great, and it is a lot of fun to listen to Dave, Becky, Jeff, and Kristen discuss the current week’s topic. They are funny and informative, and provide a lot of current and historical information. But, even if I am (some times) not really tuned into the topic of the week (I’m going to catch hell for that one), the podcasts are worth the opening sequence, and updates, and the closing sequence. I don’t know how anyone can listen to the music and come away feeling anything but HAPPY. GREAT Music!
So if you are a Disney junkie, I highly recommend the Mousetalgia Podcast. And if you get a chance to meet Dave, Becky, Jeff and Kristen, all or individually, so much the better. As I have gotten the opportunity to meet more people in the Disney community, I am always pleased and no longer amazed that Disney fans and luminaries are so friendly.
Thanks guys and keep up the great work.
Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
This blogisode is another side trip on the Disney trail. I decide to do a shout out here because the Crew at Mousetalgia shamelessly asks for reviews on iTunes, and I don’t have an iTunes account. The podcast is free, so I don’t have to sign up to get it, and I am trying desperately not to open an iTunes account. I want to give them a good review, because I’ll really like the podcasts, and I (being equally shameless) hope they might plug my blog sometime.
So here’s to Mousetalgia crew, I’ll write you a review on my blog.
I recently met a group of characters (I didn’t just how much at the time ) at the Disneyland 55th Anniversary celebration at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Dave, Becky, Jeff, and Kristen, collectively known as Mousetalgia, run a weekly podcast (which can be found on iTunes) or their website @ http://www.mousetalgia.com/.
We were sitting in the row in front of the crew for the Saturday presentation by Tony Baxter, Jack Lindquist, and Matt Ouimet, moderated by the incomparable Marty Sklar. As sat waiting for the presentation to start, I heard a comment behind me that I just had to respond to… I don’t even remember what it was, but, as my daughters will tell you, if it Disney, I’ll strike up a conversation with anyone. So as we sat there waiting and talking about Disney, I had the most fortunate experience of being “penned” by Kristen, and it’s not as painful as it might sound.
I’ve since started listen to the weekly Mousetalgia podcast. I just finished listening to episode 95, and I’m working my way back previous episodes, current back to #87. I’ve got to say the podcasts is great, and it is a lot of fun to listen to Dave, Becky, Jeff, and Kristen discuss the current week’s topic. They are funny and informative, and provide a lot of current and historical information. But, even if I am (some times) not really tuned into the topic of the week (I’m going to catch hell for that one), the podcasts are worth the opening sequence, and updates, and the closing sequence. I don’t know how anyone can listen to the music and come away feeling anything but HAPPY. GREAT Music!
So if you are a Disney junkie, I highly recommend the Mousetalgia Podcast. And if you get a chance to meet Dave, Becky, Jeff and Kristen, all or individually, so much the better. As I have gotten the opportunity to meet more people in the Disney community, I am always pleased and no longer amazed that Disney fans and luminaries are so friendly.
Thanks guys and keep up the great work.
Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com
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