Wednesday, October 25, 2006

A day with Walt

The Disney studio was close to bankruptcy in 1941. European markets had dried up, domestic releases (Bambi and The Reluctant Dragon) were under-performing, and things looked grim.

But after Pearl Harbor, the Federal government rode to the rescue with beaucoup training films. Artists who had been laid off after the strike -- my father among them -- were slowly recalled to work; others went into the service.

Suffice it to say, Walt Disney Productions was soon a beehive of wartime commerce, turning out hundreds of training films along with military insignia and civilian-toon output.

Thanks to James Walker for bringing us this "day in the life" (art by Roy Williams, words by Ralph Parker), from Dispatch from Disney's, vol. 1 number 1, published by the studio for employees in the services.

Click on the images for a larger view

A DAY WITH WALT #1

Left: Walt, arriving at the studio, is greeted by a reception committee bearing messages.

Right: The army and navy join Walt at the conference table.

A DAY WITH WALT #2

Left: Joe Grant, offering an idea to Walt, holds him with his electric eye while Dick Huemer prays hopefully ...

Right: Walt ponders the philosophic values in a script ...

A DAY WITH WALT #3

Left: -- eats lunch, talking to three tables at the same time ...

Right: -- enjoys a quiet cigarette while his mind roves ...

A DAY WITH WALT #4

Left: -- answers fan mail ...

Right: -- speaks Mickey Mouse's voice, an assignment which has always been his exclusively ...

A DAY WITH WALT #5

Left: -- journeys into the hall, where he is approached by persons having problems ...

Right: -- listens to the gang "selling" a gag in Victory Through Air Power ...

A DAY WITH WALT #6

Left: -- gives careful consideration to Donald Duck's comments about his work for the day ...

Right: -- hitches a ride with a car pool.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this. Always love getting a peek into studio history, Disney or otherwise!

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