Narrated by Buddy Ebsen, The Disney Family Album television series premiered on the Disney Channel on June 9, 1984 and would eventually consist of 20 episodes spotlighting the individuals who made The Walt Disney Company so special. On this day in 1984, an episode on Disney Legend Ollie Johnston — one of Walt’s Nine Old Men — no doubt delighted anyone who admires the very best in animation. The episode traced the life of this great animator, which for all intents and purposes began when he joined the Disney Studio on January 21, 1935, working as an apprentice animator on early Disney shorts such as The Tortoise and the Hare, which won an Academy Award® for Best Cartoon.
Animator and directing animator on more than 24 feature films
He went on to work as animator and directing animator on more than 24 feature films including, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Cinderella, and Lady and the Tramp. In his spare time, Ollie created a backyard railroad at his home — passion he shared with Walt.
