A NEW DHI WAY TO ENJOY
WALT DISNEY HISTORY
By Paul F. Anderson
Check out the new page in our Institute Lineup titled “Walt News.” I’ve been meaning to do this for sometime, and have a few other concepts like this that Todd and I will launch here at the Institute in the coming months. I have scoured the world’s archives and newspaper morgues, all in the search for research and information on Walt Disney. The Holy Grail was always an obscure interview with Walt that had gone unnoticed over the decades. Following this for a close second place (a “Not-Quite-As-Holy Holy Grail”) would be an unknown photograph. As such, I was very excited when two weeks ago my good pal and friend, Didier Ghez, over at the Disney History Blog found a great image of Walt Disney playing the piano with a pair of Rancheros Vistadores pals. When he showed me, I thought, you know, I’ve seen that somewhere. So to launch the new Walt News page, I’ve put a San Francisco Chronicle August 8, 1973 article featuring said photograph along with a nice essay about the Rancheros Vistadores.
The photo as it appeared on Didier’s site is above, and the description is listed below. Enjoy!
I just love this photo. The caption mentions:[John J. Mitchell, Chicago capitalist, and Walt Disney, creator Mickey Mouse, engage in a little close harmony following the completion of the annual Rancheros Visitadores ride when the more than five hundred business, industrial and professional men from all parts of the country relaxed following their week-long trek across picturesque ranches of Santa Barbara County. Mitchell is president of this unique organization, and both Wrigley and Disney are expert horsemen.]
Corbis has posted some very cool Walt Disney images on their site. One of my favorites shows Walt beside a little girl, which was taken in January 1933 at a Lake Arrowhead gathering of theater-based Mickey Mouse Club members. Walt has the huge promotional Charlotte Clark Mickey doll beside him. He has just awarded a smaller version of the doll to the little girl, who won first prize in a Mickey Mouse snowman building contest. I posted an entry on my blog in December 2009 with the photo and highlights from the accompanying newspaper story.
The photo you posted here is also a favorite. The look of happiness on Walt’s face is magnificent. Given that he couldn’t play the piano, I wonder what tune he was attempting to plunk out on the keys.
I picked-up some neat Rancheros Visitadores items off an obscure eBay auction a couple of years back for treks Walt was part of.