A. Film L.A. test

I was wondering what Paul Satterfield had been doing after he left Disney. He was not involved in the infamous strike of 1941, and information is scarce at best: Paul McKinley Satterfield was born 3/27/1896 and died 8/14/1981. Alberto Becattini had this info for Paul Satterfield: Animator: CARLSON 19-21 (The Gumps 20-21); DISNEY c36-38 (Mickey Mouse 38, Silly Symphony 38-39 [Farmyard Symphony 38, The Ugly Duckling 39], Donald Duck 39) Sequence Director: DISNEY c38-41 (Fantasia 40, Bambi 42) Thus I was very surprised to find at a paper show recently a set of cards dated 1949 with 3D drawings on them that show they were made by P & C Satterfield. Am I right in deducing that this "P" may be said Paul Satterfield? The sets include five whole series and two incomplete ones. Some (like the one above) are very cartoony, others are more realistic Lone Ranger-type sets. If there is more interest among you, I may scan a few more... Technically, note that these are not the cross-eye...

Directed by Burt Gillett, music by Frank Churchill. Released thru United Artists on 4/8/33. Sadly the first page is missing on my copy, but what is left shows us the following animators: Ben Sharpsteen (supervising Art Babbitt, Marvin Woodward, Ham Luske, Johnny Cannon and probably more), Norm Ferguson, Dick Lundy, Les Clark, Tom Palmer and Jack King. Sharpsteen was in charge of the up-and-coming animators in this period, which is why so many scenes bear his name. As an example, scene 21 has only his name indicated, but we have seen recently that it was animated by Ed Love. Only with access to more documents like this animation layout can we find the actual credits for Ben's scenes. [Addition:] Seconds ago I was thumbing through the Layout & Background book in the Archives series, and here I see that scene 11 is by "Ben/[Harry ]Reeves, while the layout for scene 33B has "Ben/[Jack ]Kinney" written on it!

Seq. 19.6 - Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Al Zinnen. Animation by Harvey Toombs, Clair Weeks, Henry Tanous and Jack Boyd. Seq. 03.0 Sec "B" - Directed by Special Process (Ub Iwerks' dept.), layout by John Hench. This sequence ends the Toad draft, which continues into the (separate) Ichabod draft . These Final draft pages are dated 5/12/49. This is the end of this film. Remember what I wrote about the historical value of these documents in my "Standard Disclaimer!" Still, they give a great insight into the film. I wish they started to make a separately super-imposable subtitle track for the DVD and Blu-Ray editions. I guess that the Powers That Be do not see any financial benefit in it, but I should also never say never... Back soon with more interesting stuff!

Continued from yesterday: (Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Al Zinnen. This Final draft is dated 5/11/49.) More Reitherman, Sibley and Lusk...

Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Al Zinnen. This Final draft is dated 5/11/49. Animation by Murray McClellan, Henrey Tanous, John Sibley, Woolie Reitherman, Hal King, Harvey Toombs, Don Lusk and Ed Aardal. Ever in need of material to post, and with very little time on my hands, I split this sequence up in two parts, and leave the commenting to you!

Here is another contender for my favorite item at tomorrow's big animation art auction: 502. ORIGINAL CONCEPT ARTWORK BY DAVID HALL OF CROCODILE SNIFFING CAPTAIN HOOK’S CIGARS FROM PETER PAN. (Walt Disney Studios, 1953) Original concept artwork by master concept artist David Hall accomplished in watercolors over ink and dry-brush on a leaf of illustration board measuring approx. 9 ½ in. x 12 in. featuring a crocodile in a swamp sniffing two of Captain Hook’s disposed cigars. Conceived, executed and signed by David Hall in 1939, fourteen years prior to the eventual release of the Disney film. This painting was reproduced in the February 1999 issue of Walt Disney’s Uncle Scrooge in a story titled “The Year that was 1939, David Hall Revisited.” From the collection of Bruce Hamilton. $6,000 – $8,000 [Did not sell.] Now, you'll ask, "What is that crocodile crockery on the right? He certainly isn't part of the auction!" Here is a revelation that I was witness to recen...

Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Charles Philippi and Al Zinnen. This Final draft is dated 5/11/49. Character animation by Marc Davis, effect animation by Jack Boyd. A whole sequence of over 40 scenes by Davis!

One of my absolute favorite items in Saturday's auction ! 272. ORIGINAL PAINTED WOOD MICKEY MOUSE THAT HUNG ON WALT’S PERSONAL 1963 GRUMMAN G-159 GULFSTREAM I AIRPLANE. Original hand-painted Mickey Mouse, doffing his cap and wearing pilot’s attire. This unique sign was mounted on the retractable stairs of Walt Disney’ personal airplane, a 1963 Grumman G-159 Gulfstream. Walt Disney and his Imagineers used this place to scout out the location for Walt Disney World in Florida. The sign is constructed of wood with a tail of rubber, completely hand-painted and detailed. It measures 22 in. tall x 21 in. wide. The “welcome aboard” portion of the sign is no longer present, exhibits slight scuffing and wear; otherwise, remarkable condition. A wonderful piece of Disneyana, certainly one of the most unique items ever to come up for auction. $6,000 – $8,000 [Did not sell.] How cool is that??? The Gulfstream was later also used to fly entertainers like Fulton Burley around the States to differ...

Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Charles Philippi. This Final draft is dated 5/10/49. Animation by Don Lusk (most of the sequence), Hal King (both drew Toad, Rat and Mole) and Hugh Fraser (weasels and Winkey), and one scene each by Clair Weeks, Marc Davis (really?) and Bob Youngquist.

Here are a few more interesting items from Saturday's auction . Pressed for time, I'll let the descriptions speak for themselves. Some very interesting and fun items that I show here only as a sampling of what the auction has in store. If you SHOULD feel the need of bidding and donating these to me, I will not say you nay! (As if...) First, an animation layout that shows the scene is credited to Ben/Love, in other words animated by Ed Love under Ben Sharpsteen's supervision. As we have seen on early drafts on this blog, Ben Sharpsteen was put in charge of new talents, so the credit Ben/[New Guy] is very common in this period. 298. YE OLDEN DAYS ORIGINAL PAN PRODUCTION LAYOUT. (Walt Disney Studios, 1933) Original pan production layout drawing featuring a castle wall and turret from Ye Olden Days. Accomplished in pencil and red crayon with blue pencil images of Mickey Mouse to show his movement on the background. Image measures 8 in. x 15 ¾ in. on a 10 in. x 16 in. leaf of il...

Directed by Jack Kinney, layout by Lance Nolley. This draft named Revised Final is dated 5/19/49. Character animation by Ward kimball and Harvey Toombs, while Ed Aardal, Jack Boyd and George Rowley animated effects (if, in the case of Rowley, Toads hand can be called an effect). Of course we find Ward Kimball at the train sequence! Could this be called autoanimagraphical? The attribution is by no means unexpected on stylistic grounds either, as his drive to do things differently leaves us with some rather typically wild animation, like the cops shooting.

More fun stuff from Saturday's auction ! Number 529 is a very special item. 529. WALT DISNEY SCRIPT AND THREE PAUL BUNYAN DRAWINGS. (Walt Disney Studios, 1958) Very unusual collection of three concept drawings for Paul Bunyan along with the transcript of the story meeting with Walt Disney at which these were drawn. Walt would call together his key story men when working out a production, and during this meeting they would discuss the story and work out some design. The extremely rare transcript gives us a look into the great deal of influence and input that Walt Disney had in his productions. A unique collection. $2,000 – $3,000 [Did not sell.] I have the good fortune to have been allowed to present a few pages to you, so here are the first five (of eleven) of the transcript of 11/5/46 (and not 1958): It is always wonderful to read story notes: you get a good sense of how the films were put together, and especially how HUGE a driving force Walt Disney himself was at these meetings...