"Disney Artists' Holiday Wis hes," a special collection of personal Holiday Greeting Cards—created by Disney Studio animators, comic strip artists, story men, a "Mooseketeer," and even the creator of the voice of Donald Duck—is our special holiday exhibition, and will run through December 31 this year. The delightful holiday exhibit features more than 50 hand-drawn cards, created from 1937-1970, by many of the most creative and well-known Disney talent.
“Now, to tell you the truth,” Walt Disney said, “I was never a good artist. I was never satisfied with what I did, but it was a means to an end.” For a man who maintains a reputation as one of the world’s great artists, that thought is both a humble one, and an explanation of the place of art in his life.
“One reason the Christmas season appeals to me is that it makes us suspend business-as-usual routine and lets our minds soar for a while… It is natural, of course, that I should think of Christmas in terms of imagination, for imagination is my business.” –Walt Disney
You might have seen it on TV, or own the DVD, but for the first time ever, you can now watch Walt: The Man Behind the Myth on the big screen, uncut and in HD with surround sound, in our state-of-the-art digital theater. The documentary feature screens daily from 10:30AM to 12:30PM, and the screening is FREE with paid general admission.
In the fall of 1929, when Walt was in New York City meeting with his then-distributor, Pat Powers, he was repeatedly approached by a man with an unusual request. As Walt told the story, “… a fellow kept hanging around my hotel waving $300 at me and saying that he wanted to put the Mouse on the paper tablets children use in school.
Walt Disney, artist Salvador Dali told Time magazine in 1954, “is innocence in action. He has the innocence and unselfconsciousness of a child. He still looks at the world with uncontaminated wonder.” This wondrously childlike outlook helps illuminate both Walt’s interest in spinning filmic tales centering on children, as well as his uncanny knack for finding young actors who became stars. Many of his productions, silver screen and small screen alike, featured children as main characters. In filling these films with handpicked young talent, Walt gathered a group of youthful performers many of whom made good acting, on-camera charisma, and audience appeal look like child’s play.
On Saturday December 3, join San Francisco’s favorite movie reviewer, film historian—and woman of many hats—KRON TV's Jan Wahl, for a fantastic presentation on fabulous females in film. From Mae West to Meryl Streep, Jan will discuss—through numerous classic film clips, a multimedia-packed presentation, and a lively Q&A session—women’s roles in Hollywood history. Get the scoop on and watch clips from The Women, Soapdish, The Thin Man, Adam's Rib, Meet Me in St. Louis, Calamity Jane, Some Like it Hot, and 9 to 5…with a special chat about Lady and the Tramp's Peggy Lee!
The inspiration of and appreciation for Walt Disney knows no boundaries. The Membership at The Walt Disney Family Museum certainly reflects this diversity. Each month, we introduce you to one of our Members, so you can see the varied and frequently fascinating people who have come together to learn and experience more about the life, work, philosophies, and ideals of Walt Disney. This month, we’d like you to meet two of our Members, Dave and Gloria Froines.
On December 10, Pixar's Academy Award®-winning director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera, and Walt Disney Animation Studios' Andreas Deja will visit The Walt Disney Family Museum for an examination of the way Walt Disney's perspectives and passions forever impacted the entertainment industry around the world and across the media.