All posts by mouseclubhouse

Interview

Interview: Blaine Gibson (Haunted Mansion; Pirates; If You Had Wings)

by Scott Wolf

Blaine Gibson at the Walt Disney Studios, 1993
Blaine Gibson at the
Walt Disney Studios, 1993

Blaine Gibson began his Disney career as an inbetweener on a Pluto cartoon short film “Bone Trouble,” and then on “Fantasia” and “Pinocchio” and as an assistant animator on“Bambi.” Blaine eventually began sculpting for Disney, creating the pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean, ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, all the president before Barrack Obama for Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, Mark Twain and others for the American Adventure in Epcot, and much more. Blaine also sculpted the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

AUDIO INDEX
1:52 The Haunted Mansion; Developing three dimension characters from Marc Davis’ drawings

3:18 The inverted concavity busts whose eyes seem to follow you; Sculptor George Snowden and Yale Gracey, special effects wizard; Working on Disneyland and animating; the first Mickey Mouse head

6:35 Yale Gracey and the technique to create multiple sea gulls from Blaine’s animation for the If You Had Wings attraction in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

8:30 Sculpting the head for Leota Toombs (the Imagineer who appears in the crystal ball in the Haunted Mansion) and a problem with the materials used to capture her life mask

10:13 Basing his sculptures on people – a worker at Disney Studios had a great head

 

Interview

Interview: Jeff Hoffman (The Disney Legends Awards)

Jeff Hoffman was responsible for the Disney Legends Awards for more than two decades
Jeff Hoffman was responsible for the Disney Legends Awards for more than two decades

Jeff Hoffman’s began his Disney career selling merchandise at Disneyland shop and ultimately becoming vice president of Disney Worldwide Outreach. He was largely responsible for the Disney Legends Awards for more than two decades. (See below for more photos and audio index)

This beautiful Disney Legends Award belongs to animator/Disney attractions writer X Atencio
This beautiful Disney Legends Award belongs to animator/Disney attractions writer X Atencio
Jack Lindquist was Disneyland's marketing genius since 1955 and the first president of Disneyland
Jack Lindquist was Disneyland’s marketing genius since 1955 and the first president of Disneyland
Not even the rain dampened the excitement when Annette Funicello became a Disney Legend
Not even the rain dampened the excitement when Annette Funicello became a Disney Legend
Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman wrote some of Disney's most popular songs such as "It's a Small World" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"
Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman wrote some of Disney’s most popular songs such as “It’s a Small World” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”
The Sherman Brothers handprints after a reporter stepped in it the first time
The Sherman Brothers’ second handprints after a reporter stepped in it the first time
Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas - the four remaining of the group Walt Disney dubbed his "Nine Old Men"
Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas – the four remaining of the group Walt Disney dubbed his “Nine Old Men”
Marc Davis' handprints next to Ward Kimball's "six-fingered" handprints gag
Marc Davis’ handprints next to Ward Kimball’s “six-fingered” handprints gag
Peter Ellenshaw painted realistic matte backgronds for films and masterminded special effects in films such as "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" and "Mary Poppins"
Peter Ellenshaw painted realistic matte backgronds for films and masterminded special effects in films such as “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” and “Mary Poppins”
Two onscreen Disney Legends, Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) and Fess Parker (Davy Crockett)
Two onscreen Disney Legends, Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) and Fess Parker (Davy Crockett)
President of Buena Vista Distribution (a division of Disney), Irving Ludwig was key to the successful releases of many Disney films such as "Mary Poppins" and "The Parent Trap"
President of Buena Vista Distribution (a division of Disney), Irving Ludwig was key to the successful releases of many Disney films such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Parent Trap”
Sterling Holloway, the voice of Mr. Stork in "Dumbo," Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland," Winnie the Pooh and much more
Sterling Holloway, the voice of Mr. Stork in “Dumbo,” Cheshire Cat in “Alice in Wonderland,” Winnie the Pooh and much more
Thurl Ravenscroft, Wathel Rogers, Angela Lansbury, Fulton Burley, Betty Taylor, Wally Boag, Dean Jones
Thurl Ravenscroft, Wathel Rogers, Angela Lansbury, Fulton Burley, Betty Taylor, Wally Boag, Dean Jones.  What a thrill it was for to me to instigate the inclusion of Wally, Fulton, Betty and Thurl as Disney Legends

AUDIO INDEX
1:15 The start of the Disney Legends Awards; the first Disney Legend ceremony, Fred MacMurray

6:52 The original committee to choose the Disney Legends; Choosing the term “Disney Legend”

11:43 Continuing the Disney Legends Awards after the Fred MacMurray ceremony; choosing the next Disney Legends; Walt’s “nine old men” honored; Ward Kimball’s “six-fingered” handprints

18:06 Annette Funicello’s handprints in the rain; the Sherman Brothers’ handprints mishap

21:09 The Disney Legends Award statuette; Award sculptor and designer Andrea Favilli; a large scale Award sculpture and the Legends Plaza; the 75th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company; Roy E. Disney’s award

Interview

Interview: Jack Gladish (His career; Walt Disney; Disneyland and World’s Fair attractions)

Jack works on a caveman for Disney's Magic Skyway attraction for the World's Fair, working Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and a 2014 visit to Walt Disney World
Jack works on a caveman for Disney’s Magic Skyway attraction for the World’s Fair, working Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and a 2014 visit to Walt Disney World

Jack Gladish worked as an engineer, responsible for submarines, dinosaurs, railroad locomotives and much more. Attractions include the “Carousel of Progress,” “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room” and much more.  During his career he headed the plastics and fiberglass shops at the MAPO department of Walt Disney Imagineering.

AUDIO INDEX
:56 How he got his start with Disney in the late ‘50s; Precision camera machinist, including work on the multi-plane camera; Mary Poppins’ robin for “Spoonful of Sugar”

3:06 Audio Animatronics; Abraham Lincoln’s head, including tongue, smile and expressions; Programming the movements;

9:50 The atmosphere at WED; Walt Disney; Walt making money

14:00 Roger Broggie; Troubleshooting at Disneyland; skins for Jungle Cruise animals; problem with zebra stripes

18:02 Railroad locomotives and submarines for the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World; how we became stationed permanently in Florida

21:12 World’s Fair; Primeval World; Carousel of Progress

Golden Horseshoe Revue, Interview

Interview: Wally Boag (Golden Horseshoe Revue; Tiki Room; Absent-Minded Professor)

Wally Boag at home
Wally Boag at home

Wally Boag starred in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue stage show from 1955 to 1982. During that time, some of his other contributions include appearing in some of Walt Disney’s movies, entertaining the troops in Iceland, performing in a Walt Disney stage show at Radio City Music Hall, writing Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room attraction and providing the voice of that show’s emcee macaw, Jose.

The original cast of the Golden Horseshoe Revue (Donald Novis, Judy Marsh, Wally Boag)
The original cast of the Golden Horseshoe Revue (Donald Novis, Judy Marsh, Wally Boag)
Wally receiving a Disney Legends Award at the Walt Disney Studios
Wally receiving a Disney Legends Award at the Walt Disney Studios
Fulton Burley and Wally Boag in the Golden Horseshoe Revue
Fulton Burley and Wally Boag in the Golden Horseshoe Revue
Wally (with mask) filling in as stuntman for Fred MacMurray in The Absent-Minded Professor
Wally (with mask) filling in as stuntman for Fred MacMurray in The Absent-Minded Professor
Publicity photo for tour with Wally Boag to promote the Walt Disney film, The Jungle Book
Publicity photo for tour with Wally Boag to promote the Walt Disney film, The Jungle Book

AUDIO INDEX

2:35 His start in showbiz

9:26 Donald Novis; Golden Horseshoe Revue audition for Walt Disney

11:59 Fulton Burley; writing Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room; under contract with MGM; bring Fulton to the Horseshoe

14:03 History of “spitting out teeth” as Pecos Bill

16:33 More about the Tiki Room and writing for WED (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering); the Tiki Room in Tokyo Disneyland; the barker bird in Disneyland; his involvement in the Haunted Mansion

19:43 Stunt double for Fred MacMurray in the Absent-Minded Professor

Interview

Interview: Marcia Miner Phillips (1967 Disneyland Ambassador to the World)

2 Comments
Marcia hosting an episode of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," at the grand opening the "new Tomorrowland," and with Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie
Marcia hosting an episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” at the grand opening the “new Tomorrowland,” and with Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie

 

Marcia Miner Phillips was a Disneyland tour guide, VIP hostess and the 1967 Disneyland Ambassador to the World.

AUDIO INDEX

2:03 Her start with Disney as a tour guide; memorizing the script; about the tours; a tour for a sight impaired Guest

6:35 Walt Disney; the grand opening of “it’s a small world”

8:43 A finalist for the 1965 Disneyland Ambassador, and that ceremony at Sleeping Beauty Castle; Walt Disney’s passing; Honorary Ambassador of Orange County

15:08 Re-release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs press tour

16:50 Her Ambassador year; Working at home without a Disney office

21:06 The opening of Pirates of the Caribbean and getting into photos; Roy O. Disney

23:49 Ambassador description; Walt Disney; Hedda Hopper; Peter Ustinov

27:08 “A day in the life of” the Ambassador; President of Turkey, Cevdet Suney; Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie

Interview

Interview: Kathryn Beaumont (Being a child actress and becoming a school teacher; “Alice” in later years)

1 Comment

 

Kathryn Beaumont at the studio school
Kathryn Beaumont at the Disney Studios

Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively

AUDIO INDEX

:55 Being a child actress; becoming a school teacher

2:35 The students’ awareness of Kathryn’s voice work and a funny related story

4:22 Performing the voice of Alice as an adult; Alice’s voice for Disneyland and Disney park shows

6:30 Remaining involved with Disney

8:00 Appearances for the original release of Alice in Wonderland

 

Interview

Interview: Kathryn Beaumont (A unique visit with Walt Disney; Live action reference for animators; Tea Party sequence)

Kathryn Beaumont interview
Kathryn Beaumont, performing live action reference for animators

Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively

AUDIO INDEX

1:00 After recording the voice for the films, Kathryn filmed live action versions of the live action footage of the films for the artists’ reference, the live action reference process including lip syncing the voice

4:08 Filming the “tea party” sequence for Alice in Wonderland with Jerry Colona and Ed Wynn, and scheduling around Kathryn’s schooling

6:08 A unique visit with Walt Disney and some Japanese dignitaries, and Walt’s small train

Interview

Remembering Page Cavanaugh

Page CavanaughBorn on January 26, 1922, jazz pianist Page Cavanaugh was the special guest in a concert I went to at the Greek Theater back in the 1980s. They mentioned that he performs at a club in Burbank, and that began a wonderful friendship. Every week I would go see Page, listen to him play and talk with him about music, learning about the great composers and performers of American music.

Page worked with everybody! Frank Sinatra, Chico Marx, Louis Armstrong and on and on. I miss Page and I miss his stories.

I had known Page for awhile before I learned that he provided his musical talents for a Disney cartoon short entitled “The Truth About Mother Goose.”

Page Cavanaugh - The Truth About Mother Goose

This animated short, featured segments explaining the story behind Mother Goose stories. Page and his trio introduced each segment in song. Here’s a clip from the opening of the film:

Although “The Truth About Mother Goose” was the only animated film Page appeared in, he was in a number of other movies including “A Song is Born,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and “Romance on the High Seas.” In the latter, he accompanied Doris Day on piano and in voice for the song, “Put ‘Em in a Box.”

In that same film, Doris Day also sang “It’s Magic,” written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. That song was nominated for an Academy Award that year.

One of the last times I saw Page, I recorded him singing this parody, “It’s Tragic.”

Page Cavanaugh - Romance on the High Seas

 

Interview

Interview: Jack Lindquist (The opening ceremony for “it’s a small world”)

(Jack Lindquist on telephone at left) Grand opening of "it's a small world," as children pour water from their native lands, Walt Disney prepares to pour American water from Davy Crockett's canteen into the moat. Chuck Corson, whose interviews you can also hear on here, is in the background with the walkie-talkie.
(Jack Lindquist on telephone at left) Grand opening of “it’s a small world,” as children pour water from their native lands, Walt Disney prepares to pour American water from Davy Crockett’s canteen into the moat. Chuck Corson, whose interviews you can also hear on here, is in the background with the walkie-talkie.

Jack Lindquist came up with the idea for the opening ceremony for the classic “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland. He was also Disneyland’s first advertising manager, beginning in 1955. He continued with the company in marketing for Disneyland. Walt Disney World and international Disney resorts. His many accomplishments include the creation of the Disneyland Ambassador program, the creation of the Walt Disney Travel Company, the international waters ceremony for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction, Disney Dollars, and in 1990 Jack became the first president of Disneyland.

THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR IT’S A SMALL WORLD

AUDIO INDEX
1:23 Needed something special for the opening of the it’s a small world attraction at Disneyland; Jack came up with the idea of having Disney reps all over the world send water from their native countries to pour into the attraction moat; got kids representing those countries to pour the water

Disneyland Ambassador Ceremony, 1991, Suzanne Palmiter, Jack Lindquist, Jill Ornelas
Disneyland Ambassador Ceremony, 1991, Suzanne Palmiter, Jack Lindquist, Jill Ornelas
1967, Roy O. Disney, Jack Lindquist, and 1967 Disneyland Ambassador Marcia Miner stand by a model of the new Tomorrowland
1967, Roy O. Disney, Jack Lindquist, and 1967 Disneyland Ambassador Marcia Miner stand by a model of the new Tomorrowland
1992 "Pigskin Bash" for the Disneyland Pigskin Classic football game
1992 “Pigskin Bash” for the Disneyland Pigskin Classic football game
Former Disneyland presidents Matt Ouimet, Jack Lindquist and George Kalogridis
Former Disneyland presidents Matt Ouimet, Jack Lindquist and George Kalogridis

 

Interview

Interview: Kathryn Beaumont (How the Disney staff involved her in the film process; working with other voice actors)

 

Kathryn Beaumont interview
Kathryn Beaumont, with Alice in Wonderland co-stars Jerry Colonna and Ed Wynn 

Kathryn Beaumont was a child actress at MGM and went on to voice Alice and Wendy in Walt Disney’s animated versions of “Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Pan” respectively

AUDIO INDEX

:56 Working for MGM and then Disney

1:39 Already familiar with Alice in Wonderland

2:34 The audition for Alice, getting a contract with Disney

3:25 Remembering Walt Disney, the atmosphere at the Walt Disney Studios

6:05 Storyboard conferences with artists, writers and Winston Hibler; Ink and Paint and other departments sharing the progress of the film

9:05 Involvement in Peter Pan vs. Alice in Wonderland

11:55 Working with other actors such as Hans Conreid