Joe Grant, a writer, artist, character designer, and head of the fabled Disney Model Department, who joined the Company in 1933 and was still working four days a week at the Disney Studio when he passed away in 2005, was born in New York City on this day in 1908. One of the Company’s great …
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On this day in 1905, Disney Legend Eric Larson was born in Cleveland, Utah. Although he had originally come to Los Angeles in 1933 to become a writer, at the suggestion of a friend, Eric submitted some of his sketches to Disney and was hired as an assistant animator. He went on to animate on …
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Born in Cedartown, Georgia, Disney Legend Sterling Holloway was a bear of very little brain, a snake with hypnotic powers, and a cat who could disappear leaving his smile behind, among the many other Disney characters he voiced. Having appeared on stage by age 5, appearing in silent movies and moving in to sound film …
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After the birth of four sons, Ruth Flora Disney was born to parents Elias and Flora Disney, just two years after brother Walt was born. Kaye Malins got to know her well after Ruth made a trip back to Marceline, Walt’s hometown. Kaye told us, “We talked frequently and she was just this amazing, gracious …
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On this day in 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born to Elias and Flora Disney, in Chicago, Illinois. Walt was the fourth of five children. He had three brothers and one sister, Herbert Arthur, Raymond Arnold, and Roy Oliver. Sister Ruth Flora was not born until 1903. When Walt was born, the average annual income …
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On this day in 1901, Carl Barks born, not in Duckburg, U.S.A., but in Merrill, Oregon. In 1935, after applying for a job at Disney, Carl fit the “bill” and was hired as an artist. Things were just ducky for Carl and in just a few months he moved to the story department, collaborating on …
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Ub Iwerks came to Hollywood in 1924 and joined Walt Disney at his upstart studio, working quickly and efficiently on the “Alice Comedies.” Although his drawings were simpler than the work of today’s animator—who can create 80-100 drawings a week—Iwerks was renowned for dashing out as many as 700 drawings a day! The future two-time …
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Walt Disney’s older brother Roy was born on this day in 1893. He was not only a co-founder of the Disney company in 1923, but the financial genius behind it. When former Chief Disney Archivist Dave Smith was asked about his favorite memories working at the Company, he recalled, “I think some of my favorite …
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A goofy man by the name of Vance DeBar “Pinto” Colvig was born on this day in 1892 in Jacksonville, Oregon. A master of sound effects, Pinto appeared in a number of Disney animated films and shorts, providing sounds for spitting grasshoppers, belching bugs, and grunting hogs amongst other things, but today he is best …
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On this day in 1890, Raymond Disney was born to Elias and Flora Disney. Raymond was the second of four boys and one daughter. Brother Walt would not be born for another 13 years. Kaye Malins, who currently lives in the Disney house in Marceline, Missouri, recently told us more about Raymond. “Most what I know about …
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