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1-14 of 14
- Animation Department
- Actor
- Art Department
Oliver Martin "Ollie" Johnston was an American animator from Palo Alto, California. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, a group of senior animators which supervised production at the Walt Disney Animation Studios from c. 1945 to 1977. By the time of his death in 2008, Johnston was the last surviving member of the group. Johnston co-wrote the reference book "Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life" (1981), where he explained the twelve basic principles of animation. He helped to both preserve and popularize the knowledge of the techniques that were developed at the Disney studio over several decades.
In 1912, Johnston was born in Palo Alto, California. His father was Oliver Johnston, a professor at Stanford University. The younger Johnston attended Palo Alto High School. He received his college education at Stanford University, where he worked on the campus humor magazine "Stanford Chaparral". He befriended a co-worker at the magazine, the aspiring animator Frank Thomas (1912-2004). The two remained close friends until Thomas' death in the early 2000s.
In his senior year at college, Johnston transferred to the Chouinard Art Institute (1921-1970), a professional art school located in Los Angeles. Johnston was hired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios c. 1934. He served as an uncredited inbetweener in several Mickey Mouse short films, and as an assistant animator in the animated feature film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937).
After being promoted to a regular animator, Johnston's first major assignment was to animate the sentient puppet Pinocchio in the feature film "Pinocchio" (1940). Johnston animated the Centaurettes (female centaurs) and the Cupids in the "Pastoral Symphony" segment of "Fantasia" (1940).Johnston animated the key scene of the death of Bambi's mother in "Bambi" (1942). He animated "The Flying Gauchito" segment of "The Three Caballeros" (1944). He animated both the "Peter and the Wolf" and the "Casey at the Bat" segments of "Make Mine Music" (1946). Johnston animated Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear in "Song of the South" (1946). He animated Jiminy Cricket in "Fun and Fancy Free" (1947). He animated both Johnny Appleseed and his guardian angel in "Melody Time" (1948).
Johnston served as a directing animator in "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad" (1949). He also animated most of the film's major characters, including J.Thaddeus Toad, Ichabod Crane, Katrina Von Tassel, and Brom Bones. Johnston again served as a directing animator in "Cinderella" (1950). He was also the supervising animator for Cinderella's bratty stepsisters, Drizella Tremaine and Anastasia Tremaine. Johnston was tasked with animating Alice and the King of Hearts in "Alice in Wonderland" (1951). He animated the inept pirate Mr. Smee in "Peter Pan" (1953), with the character depicted as Captain Hook's first mate and personal assistant. Johnston animated the sentient dogs Lady, Jock and Trusty in "Lady and the Tramp". Johnston animated the heroic fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather in "Sleeping Beauty" (1959).
Jonston served as the directing animator for the sentient dog Perdita "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961). He animated the wizard Merlin, his student Wart/Arthur, and the wizard's familiar Archimedes in "The Sword in the Stone" (1963). Johnston animated the penguins in "Mary Poppins" (1964). He served as the directing animator for Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo, and Mowgli's unnamed love interest in "The Jungle Book" (1967).
Johnston served as the directing animator for most of the major characters in "The Aristocats" (1970), including Duchess, Thomas O' Malley, and the kittens Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse. He also served as a directing animating for most of the major characters in "Robin Hood" (1973), including Prince John, Sir Hiss, Maid Marian, and Lady Cluck. Johnston animated Winnie the Pooh and Piglet in "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" (1977). Johnston served as the directing animator for the co-protagonists Bernard and Bianca, and for the orphan girl Penny in "The Rescuers" (1977).
Johnston served as the supervising animator for the younger versions of the co-protagonists Tod and Copper in "The Fox and the Hound" (1981). This was his last involvement in the production of a Disney feature film. Following his retirement from Disney, Johnston started writing non-fiction about animation and its techniques. He served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute during the 1980s and the 1990s. In November 2005, Johnston received the prestigious National Medal of Arts by the then President of the United States George Walker Bush (1946-, term 2001-2009).
In April 2008, Johnston died of natural causes. He was 95-years-old at the time of his death, and he had survived many of his colleagues at Disney. Theodore Thomas featured biographical information on Johnston in the documentary films "Frank and Ollie"(1995) and "Growing up with Nine Old Men" (2012). Johnston is still fondly recalled by fans of traditional animation.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Fetching secondary actress June Travis was signed by Warner Bros. in 1934 and made her film debut the following year, but would last only three years before leaving Hollywood forever and focusing on marriage. Born June Dorothea Grabiner on August 7, 1914, she was the daughter of Harry Grabiner who was team secretary and/or vice-president of both the Cleveland Indians and (later) Chicago White Sox. Harry would go on to be remembered for his famous diaries of his experiences.
The Chicago-born, green-eyed brunette beauty attended Parkside Grammar School and the Starrett School for Girls while growing up. Spotted by a talent agent while watching a White Sox spring training session, she moved to Los Angeles upon graduation where she studied drama at the University of California. It was not long before her sunny looks and eye-catching figure were noticed by talent scouts.
At age 20 she signed a Warner Bros. contract and paid her dues throughout 1935 apprenticing in decorative extra parts (hat check girl, cigarette girl, party guest, gun moll). She earned her first co-starring role the following year opposite Barton MacLane in the crime programmer Jailbreak (1936). Other actresses of her ilk would appear from time to time in smaller roles in "A" pictures for added exposure, but such would not be the case for June. Such Hollywood escorts around town included Howard Hughes and Ronald Reagan.
Gridlocked in the "B" category for the duration of her career, some of her modest highlights would include the Perry Mason whodunnit The Case of the Black Cat (1936) in which she essayed the role of secretary Della Street alongside Ricardo Cortez's noted crimesolver; Ceiling Zero (1936), a lesser Howard Hawks film about war pilots starring Pat O'Brien and James Cagney; two slapstick movies as the love interest to comedian Joe E. Brown -- Earthworm Tractors (1936) and The Gladiator (1938); the mystery Love Is on the Air (1937) opposite Ronald Reagan, who was making his feature film bow here; two comic features capitalizing on radio personality Joe Penner -- Go Chase Yourself (1938) and Mr. Doodle Kicks Off (1938); and a comic strip film version of Little Orphan Annie (1938) Although June was top-billed in Circus Girl (1937) and Over the Goal (1937), the films came and went with little impression made. All in all, she was usually called upon to divert the proceedings and blandly back up the rugged "B" tough guys at Warners -- a roster which then included Paul Kelly, Dick Purcell, Dick Foran and Wayne Morris. After co-starring in Federal Man-Hunt (1938), she handed Hollywood her walking papers at age 24.
By 1939 she had returned to Chicago and never looked back. In January of 1940 June married Chicago businessman Fred Friedlob and the couple eventually had two daughters, Cathy and June Jr., and settled in the Lincoln Park area. June Sr. filmed only twice more, playing a featured role in the Bette Davis vehicle The Star (1952), and, for reasons completely unknown, agreed to play a role in the bogus horror opus Monster a Go-Go (1965). The middle-aged June became a vibrant member of the social and theater community there. In 1968, she helped inaugurate the Joseph Jefferson Awards to honor Chicago's best in theater. She also appeared in summer stock on the East Coast, and played everything from Goneril opposite Morris Carnovsky in "King Lear" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre to an expectant middle-aged mother alongside Forrest Tucker in "Never Too Late." Other plays included "A View from the Bridge", "Life With Father" (also with Tucker); "The Pleasure of His Company" with Douglas Fairbanks Jr.; "The Philadelphia Story" with Jackie O's sister Lee Radziwill and "I Found April" starring Jeanne Crain.
Long retired, June's husband died in May 1979 after nearly 40 years of marriage. She, who has two children, Kathy and June (Jr.), never remarried but was the companion of Erwin Gruen, a master metalworker in later years. He died in 2006. June herself passed away on April 14, 2008, in a Chicago hospital of complications from a stroke she suffered weeks earlier. She was 93.- Madeline Lee was born on 30 May 1923 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Cocoon: The Return (1988), The Savages (2007) and Big City Blues (1997). She was married to Jack Gilford. She died on 14 April 2008 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Miguel Galván was born on 13 October 1957 in Juan Aldama, Zacatecas, Mexico. He was an actor, known for Codicia mortal (1991), La hora pico (2000) and Ni de aquí, ni de allá (1988). He died on 14 April 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico.- Lorne was born the 12th of 13 children to the black Baptist pastor, Captain Dr. William Andrew White and Izie Dora White, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From early on, Lorne was singing with his brothers and sisters. Dr. White had one of the first national radio broadcasts in Canada, and Lorne and his brothers and sisters made up the choir at church, and provided the music for the broadcasts. His older sister Portia became the first black Canadian singer to become an international singing star and performed for Queen Elizabeth II and in the Town Hall in New York city.
Lorne and his youngest sister, Yvonne, often sang together throughout their lives and were well known and loved in the Maritime Provinces in Canada. They were also part of the cast of "Porgie and Bess" during the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Lorne became nationally known by being on the summer replacement show for Don Messer's Jubilee, "Singalong Jubilee", where Anne Murray was discovered. He was the only member to be on all 13 seasons, and in all that time, he only missed one show. He was a chorus member, soloist and also part of the trio, ironically called "The Dropouts", since his "day job"/vocation was that of phys ed teacher and later, Vice Principal at Bloomfield Elementary & Jr High School.
Performing musically easily led to acting and Lorne was in many productions, most notably, "Showboat", at the Kipaowo Showboat Theatre Company in Wolfville, NS, in which he played Joe and sang the iconic song, "Ol' Man River".
Lorne and his family, wife A. Mary (Hennigar) White, daughters, Holly (White) Roddam, Shelly (White) Price and Lee (White) Case, along with sister, Yvonne White, performed in concert as "The White Family" for 9 years in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island until the Roddams moved out west. But Lorne and Yvonne were still singing and performing until their deaths in 2008. The last time Yvonne sang was at Lorne's funeral, where, with the Anne Murray and the cast of Singalong Jubilee and the White Family, they sang the Negro Spiritual that had been part of both Singalong and the White Family's repertoire, "Live A Humble". Lorne had been asked to speak to the elementary school near his house the week before he went to Texas where he died. He spoke to the children about having people in your life who open doors for you, and how they could be door openers for others. He sang on that last occasion, "Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this Place."
Lorne was well known for his strong Christian faith, and was a mentor and inspiration to many. - Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Production Manager
Mack Bing was born on 20 February 1923 in the USA. He was an assistant director and director, known for Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), Home Alone (1990) and The Exorcist III (1990). He was married to Maria Machado, Judith Bradford and Leon Bing. He died on 14 April 2008 in Portimão, Portugal.- Actress
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Marisa Sannia was born on 15 February 1947 in Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy. She was an actress and composer, known for I ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla (1968), Help Me Dream (1981) and Stasera mi butto (1967). She died on 14 April 2008 in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.- Werner Groebli was born on 21 April 1915 in Basel, Switzerland. He was an actor, known for Lady, Let's Dance (1944), Visiting... with Huell Howser (1993) and The Ed Sullivan Show (1948). He was married to Yvonne Groebli. He died on 14 April 2008 in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Gloria Maigi was born in 1926 into a musical family in Imus, Cavite. She was married early, having eloped at age 19, to composer Josefino Cenizal, who was working for the Premiere Productions. Accompanying her husband to these functions, she often bumped into the filmmakers Santiago brothers. Gloria was beautiful and brainy. At the urging of Cirio H. Santiago, she appeared in the film Palahamak (1955), directed by Artemio Marquez. Premiere, heretofore without a viable female lead, soon found they had a leading lady to rival the other studios' females. She was given the screen name "Olivia" because of her resemblance to Hollywood actress Olivia de Havilland. Her husband's name, she retained. Ms Cenizal was often cast as a princess or deity, although she could prove her dramatic mettle as well. Other film appearances include Minera, Ha Cha Cha, Pangako ng Puso, Pandango ni Neneng (with Rogelio de la Rosa), and Pitong Maria (all 1955); Desperado, Margarita, Prinsipe Villarba and Haring Espada (all 1956); Libre Comida, Bicol Express and Prinsipe Alejandre (all 1957); Man on the Run (1958), with Zaldy Zshornack; Water Lily (1958), with José Padilla; and Obra Maestra (1958). Ms Cenizal sang in her movies too, and in real life she played the cello. She stopped making movies in the 1970s but resurfaced to do cameo roles in 1990s films. In 1989 she joined the cast of Pahiram ng Isang Umaga, starring Vilma Santos and Eric Quizon.- Writer
- Additional Crew
Alena Munková was born on 24 September 1926 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. Alena was a writer, known for Velká sýrová loupez (1986), O neposedném knoflícku (1975) and Poslední lup (1987). Alena died on 14 April 2008 in Prague, Czech Republic.- Horst Bingel was born on 6 October 1933 in Korbach, Hesse, Germany. He was a writer, known for Die Koffer des Felix Lumpach (1967) and Fritz Bauer - Tod auf Raten (2010). He was married to Barbara. He died on 14 April 2008 in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany.
- István Kemény was born on 14 August 1925 in Budapest, Hungary. István died on 14 April 2008 in Budapest, Hungary.
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
Gösta Folke was born on 10 December 1913 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a director and assistant director, known for Maria (1947), Lejon på stan (1959) and Kvinnor i väntrum (1946). He was married to Agneta Prytz. He died on 14 April 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden.- Tommy Holmes was born on 29 March 1917 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was married to Lillian Petterson. He died on 14 April 2008 in Boca Raton, Florida, USA.