WALT & LILLY
by Paul F. Anderson
I was pleased with the commentary on the Disney History Institute Facebook page these last two days in regards to Walt and Lillian Disney and their relationship; as such, I wanted to follow up a bit as the topic seemed to be of interest. As mentioned in the previous DHI essay, the Marc Eliot book portrayed a completely unfair, dishonest, and idiotic fabrication (at least in this Disney historian’s opinion) of the relationship and marriage between Walt and Lillian. My purpose in posting the last photograph of the loving couple was to showcase the two in various candid moments “caught in time” that show the true relationship they had. With photographers hounding the stars during the golden age of Hollywood just as much as they do today (albeit with an infinite amount more of respect in the “old days” than now), there are numerous little glimpses of the Disney couple.
I decided upon the above picture as a follow up for several reasons: first, it has never been seen (well for maybe 70 years or so); second, I am keeping with the theme of “Walt in Bow Ties”; and finally, and frankly the real reason, there are several different shots from various news agencies of this particular “photo shoot,” each with their own distinctive flavor.
The occasion is the 5th Annual Academy Awards where Walt Disney is picking up the Honorary Special Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse as well as an Oscar for Short Subject (Cartoon) for the Silly Symphony “Flowers and Trees.” The event was held on November 18 (sound familiar?), 1932 at the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel. Attired in smashing formal wear, the Disney’s were asked to rise from their seated position at the Biltmore banquet table for photographs with the Studio’s newly won prize. |
| Life Magazine Photo. |
By this time in his career, Walt was receiving a lot of positive publicity, but he was not used to having his photograph taken on a regular basis, or being followed or hounded by the Paparazzi. With that in mind, some of these early 1930s photographs Walt can seem a bit stilted, perhaps a bit uncomfortable with the added attention (even in this earlier, more rakish and dapper incarnation of Walt, he was still art over adulation). And in looking at the photographs I have pulled, one can see how an author like Marc Eliot can manipulate a few pieces of “evidence” to skew a story to a pre-conceived notion (which you already know how I, and frankly, 99% of the entire Disney history world, feel about). Take the first photograph (at right), which comes from the Life magazine archives (courtesy of Hulton Archives/Getty Images). While Walt has a sort of sophisticated man-about-town look, Lilly, frankly, looks upset.
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| Photo #2 |
The second photograph (at left), which is the image that has found its way into the official Disney photo publicity files (and also shows up mostly on the vintage Hollywood and Cinema sites), also has a more posed, stilted look, but again, where Walt and Lillian are not used to this kind of attention, they have a feel of trying to hold still for the camera for a good shot; the fact that both are looking directly into the camera suggests that!
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| Photo #3 |
The third photo (at right), which I do not have a news service credit line for, but I have it documented in quite a few early Hollywood pulp, movie, and fan magazines, seems to have caught the couple off guard… perhaps preparing for another shot (or more than likely taken seconds after the Life magazine photo where they had a moment to relax). But obviously, compared to the Life photo above, they are more at ease and seem to be enjoying themselves.
The photograph that heads this essay, is by far my favorite. Obviously caught in a completely candid moment where, once again like the third photo, they were probably between poses. However, I think it truly represents their relationship the best of the four photographs. While Lillian’s eyes are partially shut, she is looking to Walt with great affection. Moreover, Walt is pleased and at ease. This original photograph (actual Sepia, not Photoshopped!) is from the International News Photo Service (according to the attached wire) and includes the description “Look What Mickey and Minnie Mouse Did For Their Pal.” I find it amazing that this photograph was even released, as to be honest any photo/news service worth their weight in, well, photo chemicals would realize it is not a good photograph (so much for my theory of “kinder, gentler); yet for our purposes it is one more piece of the puzzle to further refute Eliot’s insinuation that the Disney’s had a volatile and distant (and every other negative adjective he could conjure up) relationship.
Lest anyone point out the fact that I am using the Institute photograph in the same way I suggested Eliot might use a piece of evidence to manipulate a story (go up two paragraphs), and thus accuse me of the same thing; well, in theory, they would be correct. But to present this case, I would use this image as just one in a massive number of images representing my case … that is, the preponderance of the evidence, which clearly disputes Eliot’s apparent fairy tale. I have viewed tens of thousands of photographs of Walt over my career (seriously!) and there are hundreds of candid photos showing Walt and Lillian as the happy couple they really were! More to come, I’m sure!
(One final note that just occurred to me as I was finishing this essay: look who is holding the Oscar in all four photographs! I think if I had it in for my spouse, and if I was as selfish as a lot of authors try to make Walt out as, I would be holding the Oscar … not my wife! Just a thought! Your thoughts? You can always post them over on our Facebook page: Disney History Institute on Facebook).
Enjoy!
Hi, Paul –
With respect to your position that the photos display a different take compared to the Eliot book which you seem to feel is biased or slanted in its approach to Walt/Lillian’s relationship and marriage:
Historically, making your point utilizing photos can be a valid methodology on this – just not a very convincing one overall on the topic. The complexities of any relationship, the anecdotes, the eye-witness accounts and even domestic documents would, of course, really need to be combined in a meaningful cocktail if you’re seeking a valid and reliable accuracy on this topic.
Each writer will have their own view and it can only ever be subjective. Perhaps instead of making it sound like your view is less subjective because there are a lot of photos with a smiling Lillian, you might consider stating that, despite Eliot’s slant, there happen to be a whole big buncha pics to seem to contradict a less-than-blissful relationship. We will never really know what actually happened behind closed doors and actual feelings…the photos can possibly indicate … but there’s really so much more to consider. Either way…. thanks VERY much for the photos!! Nice enhancement to what I got to see at the SF Presidio exhibit at couple of years ago.
– AA