Q : My grandfather Paul Heinig was an artist. Two of his watercolors are featured in the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute. Our family has always believed that he was employed by Walt Disney as an artist sometime between 1940 and 1960. Do you have any information that could help me to unlock this family history? Any help you may be able to offer would be appreciated!
Sue, Dubuque, Iowa
A: We have no listing that he was ever employed at the Disney Studio in California, though it is possible he could have worked in the art department at Disneyland. The Archives does not have their personnel records.
Q : I have always heard that Mickey’s birthday was November 18th, but I have a vinyl album in my collection that celebrates Mickey and on the back it reads that Steamboat Willie‘s big debut was actually September 19, 1928, at the Colony Theater in New York. The album was made by the Disney Company. So why am I hearing two different dates?
Alex, Fortville, Indiana
A: Mickey’s birthday has always been determined to be the date that Steamboat Willie opened at the Colony Theater. We have a program from that theater in the Archives from the actual date. It was November 18, 1928, not September 19.
Q : I’ve been fortunate to meet Disney people like yourself at Disney events. Nearly 25 years ago, I met Disney animator Harry Holt at Disney World where he was signing pictures. I have his scene from Bambi framed on my wall. I’ve read where some people say that these are pencil drawings, some say they’re photostatic copies, and others say a combination of the two. Could you please clarify?
Lou, Rego Park, New York
A: I passed this question on to former Walt Disney World artist Russell Schroeder, who worked with Harry Holt, and here is his reply: “When Harry Holt first started drawing in the park, he did completely original pencil sketches for guests. Because of the high demand and to reduce guests’ wait time, he soon created an assortment of original sketches that were then printed on quality paper, but he left a space for something hand-drawn to be added. Guests could also get the art framed at that location. If Lou’s copy has multiple characters in it, it is likely one of those combination printed and hand-drawn pieces.”
Q : One of my favorite songs out of the Disney songbook is “What, No Mickey Mouse?” written by Irving Caesar in, I believe, 1932. I have only heard two recordings, one featuring a male vocal ensemble from the 1930s and another by Phil Harris. Are there any other recordings of this song, and what is the history behind it.
Jared, Terre Haute, Indiana
A: Those are the only two recordings of which I am aware. The 1932 78-rpm recording (Brunswick 6389) featured Ben Bernie & All the Lads; the Phil Harris recording was put out by Buena Vista Records on a 45-rpm record, F-477, in 1970. The song was also published on sheet music.
Q : If you could, do you think you could put together a list of everyone who has ever voiced Mickey Mouse? Possibly a list of how long they voiced him to go with it?
Krista, Hillsboro, Oregon
A: There have, up to now, been four people who were the official voices of Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney was the first (1928-1946), followed by Jim Macdonald (1946-1977), Wayne Allwine (1977-2009), and Bret Iwan (2009-  ). Additionally, composer Carl Stalling did Mickey’s voice in a few early cartoons when Walt was busy.
Q : Now that the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast has closed, would the Disney Company consider releasing a filmed version with the original cast (Susan Egan and Terrence Mann) to DVD? I saw clips of it on TV when Disney was originally promoting the Broadway show, so I hoped they had filmed the entire show for future opportunities. We attended the traveling Broadway in Casper showing of Beauty and the Beast and between the poor seats (the best that we could get) and my poor eyesight, I would like to both see it better and purchase a copy!
Laura, Casper, Wyoming
A: There are usually legal barriers to releasing Broadway shows on DVD. It would depend on how the original contracts were drawn up. I know of no plans for a release.
Q : I’m looking for historic prices for Walt Disney stock, symbol DIS.
Paul, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
A: It is difficult to compare the price of Disney stock through the years because it has had stock splits in 1956, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1986, and 1992. When it was first listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 12, 1957, the opening price was 14 7/8. In 1965, the price ranged from 44 to 60 3/4.