Miscellaneous Archives - Page 10 of 18

Q : My mother has found in her loft two original booklets, identical, called The Art of Animation. Have you ever heard of it or seen it?

Karen, Colchester, England

A: The brochure you have was created for the traveling Art of Animation exhibit, which utilized Sleeping Beauty to explain the methods of producing a Disney animated feature. The exhibit, which began in 1958, was shown in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

Q : I was wondering if guests are allowed to walk about the Archives and look at the various items there. Probably a silly question, but I was just curious.

Morgan, Portland, Oregon

A: Disney fans can visit the Archives on the periodic D23 Disney Studio tours. Check “Events” on the D23 website.

Q : What would be your advice for someone who already works at Disney and would like to aspire to be a Disney archivist? I majored in History in college. I was also wondering what your advice would be for someone who is looking to write a book about Disney. I would love to do research at the Disney Archives but I don't want to have the book be a problem with the fact that I work at Disney already. Thanks so much for all you do and how much of an inspiration you are to people like me who really care about Disney history!!

Kaitlyn, Orlando, Florida

A: The Walt Disney Archives is a fairly small department, so there are rarely jobs available. All Disney cast members are welcome to use the Archives, but if you are writing a book, there would be special rules. You can contact the Archives for more information.

Q : I am the youngest son of Eustace A. Lycett, one of Walt Disney’s original employees starting on Hyperion in 1937. My father passed away in 2006, just shy of 92. He was a two-time Academy Award® winner, as well as several nominations. I have several items that may be of interest. One item is an original program for the world premiere of Mary Poppins, which is signed by Walt Disney, Julie Andrews, and Dick Van Dyke. I also have a notebook of handwritten formulas for the special effects of some of his films. My question is, do these items have any value?

Victor, Orange, California

A: I knew Eustace well—a very nice and talented man. Your items would indeed have value to collectors. If you want to sell, you might try eBay or an auction house like Profiles in History that specializes in movie memorabilia.

Q : Is Uncle Scrooge a Disney character, owned by Disney or licensed to them? I ask because Carl Barks seems to have created him after leaving Disney for that comic company, where he created him.

Nick, Woodland, California

A: Uncle Scrooge is a Disney character. Carl Barks was hired by Western Publishing Co. to write and draw some of the Disney comics they produced under license from Disney. It was while doing Donald Duck comics that he introduced Uncle Scrooge.

Q : My siblings and I recently helped my parents, now in their 80s, unpack items that have been in storage for many years. We discovered two original hand-painted movie cels. They both have a circular stamp with the written letters “WM” in the middle. The first is of Eeyore and the other is of Mickey Mouse inside a house with a bare-boned Christmas tree on a barrel, wood floors, a wooden chest, and table with a bowl and spoon. Only Mickey is in color.

Leslie, Burlington, Vermont

A: Your second cel is from Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983). During the 1970s and 1980s, when these films were made, Disney was selling cels through art dealers throughout the country. The initials “WM” stand for Wendall Mohler, who was one of the Disney executives in charge of the cel sale program. You can check eBay to find out what similar cels are bringing at auction.

Q : Why didn’t they do Mickey and Oswald together?

Isaac, Avondale Estates, Georgia

A: Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald before any Mickey Mouse cartoons could be released. But you will find both characters in the recent Disney Epic Mickey games.

illustration of Caricature of Dave Smith Holding Donald Duck Doll

Q : I love the caricature of you holding a toy Donald Duck. Who drew it?

Barbara, DeWitt, Michigan

A: That fun drawing was made by Canadian Disney artist and caricaturist Peter Emslie. Besides working for Disney’s Canada office, he also spent some time in the art department at Walt Disney World. He is currently a freelance artist and educator. Peter did that particular drawing after seeing me in a television interview.

Q : What is your fave song in the world?

Grace, Palm Springs, California

A: I love “Little April Shower” from Bambi, and “Golden Dream” from The American Adventure at Epcot.

Q : What is the difference between the Disney Archives and libraries? How many libraries and archives does Disney have?

Patrick, Savannah, Georgia

A: Archives and libraries have some similarities, but the collections of libraries are primarily books and magazines, while archival collections are much broader in scope. Archives are usually related to a single entity, be it a company, church, school, or local, state, or national government. Disney probably has more than a dozen departmental and divisional libraries and archives.