Category Archives: Illustration

The Prolific Print Cartoonist

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Art Babbitt

Before joining Disney in the 1930s, young artists might carry a portfolio of drawings and reels of animation to Walt’s office.  Art Babbitt was only 24 when he went in for an interview with Walt in the summer of 1932.  … Continue reading →

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Disney on Unfair List

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Art Babbitt

On this date in Disney history, the Walt Disney Studios was spotlighted for the U.S. government’s list of companies with Unfair Labor Practices (ULP).  As the Daily Worker trumpets, “Los Angeles Labor Council Places Products of Disney Firm on Unfair … Continue reading →

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 8

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Art Babbitt

In this, the final installment of snippets from the June 20, 1931 issue of Motion Picture Daily, I had to composite some various images together to doctor a complete caricature of Walt and Frank Churchill.  Enjoy this glimpse at Walt … Continue reading →

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 7

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Now, here are some people who worked especially closely with Walt: Carolyn Shafer knows Mickey a little too personally, Dick Lundy is a jack of all trades, and Wilfred Jackson is staying out of trouble.

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 6

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Almost at the end now, folks!  But first – Bill Garity is an ethnic stereotype, Earl Duvall plays dirty politics, and Emil Flohri belongs in a museum!

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 5

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Here in the continued auto-bios of the Disney staffers, Bert Lewis lists his creds, Floy Gottfredson touts his own good looks, and Burt Gillett name-drops.

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 3

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Next up from Motion Picture Daily: Jack Cutting recognizes his nanny, Norm Ferguson pays homage to his New York roots, and Ben Sharpsteen shrugs his way through success.  

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Disney, Illustration, Mickey Mouse, New York | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 2

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Johnny Cannon loves sex, Hazell Sewell makes no bones about her job, and Frenchy de Tremaudan self-depricates.

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 1

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Half by accident, half by definite purpose, I stumbled upon an auction of Disney memorabilia and in it was included a page of a magazine called Motion Picture Daily.  It had caricatures of Disney staffers from the early ’30s.  After … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Illustration, Mickey Mouse, Nine Old Men | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disney Subversives: Ward Kimball and Walt Kelly

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Of all the real-life characters in Disney history, Ward Kimball (b. 3/4/14) is one of the most fascinating.  Among the “Nine Old Men” of Disney animation, i.e. the company loyalists, Kimball was the only one who unequivocally felt that the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, 1941: The Disney Strike, Animation, Disney, Illustration, music, politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment