Walt was in the midst of creating live action films and hosting television shows that put him right in America’s living room. Soon Walt would chart new waters with his first ever live-action musical, Babes in Toyland.
December 15, 2016 marks fifty years since Walt Disney’s passing. It has been half a century since the world lost one of its greatest visionaries.
The Walt Disney Family Museum has made some exciting new additions to gallery 3. All new Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs artifacts are now on view to showcase various characters, animation art, and merchandise.
Which Disney led the studio? It was a partnership. Both Walt and Roy Disney have been described as the spirit of Walt Disney Productions.
One of Walt's many great talents was stimulating other artists, inspiring them to create stunning works of all types. Explore some work by Walt’s staff, only recently rotated onto display in the museum’s main galleries.
Arguably, one of the most legendary (and possibly the most infamous) of Walt's Nine Old Men was the master draftsman, Milt Kahl. With the exciting presentation of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s special exhibition of Wish Upon a Star: The Art of Pinocchio, we turn our attention to Kahl, the sometimes irascible yet always supremely talented artist behind the design of the lovable little puppet.
Although devastated by his brother’s death in December 1966, Roy mustered the resolve to see through Walt’s plans for the Florida project, which would not be a replica of Disneyland. John Hench recalled Roy saying, “I simply had to do it. Because when I meet Walt again, if I hadn’t even tried to build that thing, I would really catch hell.”
Walt took a swing at a different kind of picture after releasing Fantasia (1941). It was a feature film not as grandiose as those that preceded it, but was perhaps even more effective in emotional impact. The film was Dumbo (1941), now celebrating 75 years since its release.
In the newest addition to our galleries at The Walt Disney Family Museum, we reintroduce the iconic work of the concept artist and designer Mary Blair. With the recent rotation of Blair’s artwork in gallery 7, guests view a selection of Mary’s unique visual development work for the memorable films Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella.
Roy had a knack for naming things. Simplicity and clarity appealed to him. The Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio of 1923 became The Walt Disney Studio in 1926, at Roy’s request.