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Biographies
WALTER E. DISNEY
Walter E. Disney, producer of animated sound cartoons and live action pictures, is the son of Elias and Flora (Call) Disney. He was born December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois.
His education was obtained at the Benton School (Kansas City), 1910-17; and McKinley High School, Chicago, 1917-18. Received an honorary M.S. degree from University of Southern California in 1938, M.A. degree from Yale University in 1938 and M.A. degree from Harvard University in 1938.
Mr Disney began his career in 1919 as a commercial artist; cartoonist for Kansas City Film Ad, 1920-22; produced the Alice Comedies, a combination of a live girl and animated cartoons, for M. J. Winkler, New York, 1923-26; produced Oswald, The Rabbit, for Universal, 1926-28. He has been chairman of the Board of Walt Disney Productions, Ltd., producers of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony Cartoons, since 1928.
Received a certificate from Academy of Motion Picture Arts in 1933 for “Three Little Pigs”; the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award in 1938 for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”; the plaque from Dowling Foundation, Plymouth, Michigan, in 1939 for “Ferdinand the Bull”; scroll from New York Critics, New York City; medal from New York Schools of Music in 1940; also medals for “Pinocchio,” 1940; “The Reluctant Dragon,” and “Dumbo,”1941; “Bambi,” 1942; “Saludos Amigos,” 1942; “Victory Through Air Power,” 1943; “The Three Caballeros,” 1944; “Make Mine Music,” also “Song of the South,” 1946; “Fun and Fancy Free,” 1947; “Melody Time,” 1948; “So Dear to My Heart,” 1949; “Ichabod and Mr. Toad,” 1949; “Cinderella,” also “Treasure Island” 1950; “Alice in Wonderland,” 1951; “The Story of Robin Hood,” 1952. Also True-Life Adventure series of wildlife and nature features, continuous since 1948. He has received numerous other awards and decorations for his work.
Mr. Disney served as Red Cross ambulance driver with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, 1918-19.
Member of Order of De Molay; American Society of French Legion of Honor; Art Workers’ Guild of London (honorary); and Hollywood Authors Club.
On July 13, 1925, Mr. Disney married Lillian Marie Bounds. They have two daughters, Diane Marie and Sharon Mae. They made their home in Los Angeles, California.
Office: 2400 West Alameda Avenue, Burbank, California.
Transcribed: 7-26-14. Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Eminent
Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 399-400, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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