James Algar and Walt Disney
1934-1977
Laurie Algar, daughter of Disney Legend, James Algar, presents "Growing Up Disney" about her father's 43-year career as Animator, Producer, Director with Walt Disney Studio: winner of nine Academy Awards and Director of such classics as Bambi and Fantasia.
Laurie's talk features vintage photos, original animation model sheets, memos from Walt, Disney memorabilia, and personal letters (never seen before by the public) written during the creation of Snow White, Bambi, Fantasia, and the True Life Adventures.
Walt brings in live animals for Bambi and recognizes the potential of filming animals in their natural element for entertainment and education, and the True Life Adventure series begins with Seal Island wining an Oscar in 1948.
The True Life Adventures are now in full development and my summers are spent catching up with my father on location shoots.
Leaving the galaxy for the New York World's Fair for more special projects!
My father wrote, " I remember the last time I saw Walt, the mark of death was upon him, though I only knew that later...he looked terrible, white, drawn, haggard. The eyes were burning, there was no smile. Did Walt know he was going to die? I don't know. That last series of meetings had a certain desperate air. I think maybe he did, but I'll never know, we were told nothing about his illness and the seriousness of it. We weren't prepared for the shock that mid-morning when the news came that Walt had died...grown men stood around and cried."
We accept my father's Disney Legend's Award posthumously.