Kay Kamen Remembered

There are many references to Kay Kamen in all of the major Disney biographies. He is, understandably, a very important person in the history of the Disney Studio. His business acumen and marketing genius generated tens of millions of dollars in merchandise revenue, which was in turn used to fund the many projects Walt Disney envisioned.

I thought it would be interesting to see what Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, remembered about Kay Kamen. I sent her an email recently and what follows was her reply back to me. Her recollections detail a different side of Kay and his wife Katie that is often overlooked:

"David: I read with great interest all about how Kay Kamen came to dad with his ideas and how his merchandising savvy helped the company grow and prosper, but I knew him and his wife Katie as some of my very favorite people who came to our home, who were friends of my parents and of my Uncle Roy and Aunt Edna.

Kay was a very witty man. There was always laughter when he was around. Laughter was an important ingredient in our family, but Kay was really funny, in a low key way.

Katie was warm, generous, and always made me feel very important. When I was about ten I went to New York with my parents for the first time. I was in the 4th grade at Immaculate Heart, a Catholic girls' school near our home in Los Angeles.

I don't know the purpose of the trip, but dad was very busy every day and mother and I were taken around the city by Katie. She was a wonderful companion. We had lunch at the Automat because I wanted to, having heard about it from dad. We had ice cream at Howard Johnson's, because Katie said we must, 'because they have such high mounds of ice cream.'

My one year in a Catholic school had filled me with awe at the beauty and mystery of the Church and I had become an avid collector of Holy Cards. Katie sought out places where I could purchase some.

They invited me to spend a night with them, and I did, but I had a stomach ache, which lasted for several days. I don't think it had anything to do with being away from my parents. I was very comfortable with [the Kamens].

Everything about that trip was important and memorable...we spent a weekend at Major Alexander de Seversky's beach home on Long Island and dug clams, which we had for supper. I didn't care for the supper, but loved the digging part. This makes me wonder if we were in N.Y. for the premiere of Victory Through Air Power, and that is why I was invited to the Kamen's for a night.

Kay Kamen's relationship with Walt and Roy Disney...was much deeper than a business relationship...[it] was also a very important friendship."

On October 26, 1949, Kay Kamen sent a letter from Paris, to Ruth Ivener, Vice-President of Kay Kamen Ltd. in New York, in which he joked about his fear of flying. In a very sad, ironic twist of fate, Kay Kamen, his wife Katie and 46 others were killed two days later, when the Air France Constellation they were aboard crashed into a mountain peak in the Azores, while returning to the U.S.

Diane remembered hearing the news of Kamen's death:

"For some reason I now forget, I was driving down Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles...in my dad's grey Oldsmobile convertible with the top down when I heard the news of the plane crash on the radio. I burst into tears. I knew well that Kay never flew anywhere because of his fears and found the irony extremely cruel. It was a great personal loss for our...family and for many others."

I would like to publicly thank Diane for taking the time to reply to my questions. She is extremely busy with many projects right now, including the construction of The Walt Disney Museum at the Presidio in San Francisco. I appreciate her time and generosity.

Kay Kamen - Playthings magazine

This blog talks a lot about Kay Kamen and the impact he had on Disney merchandise in the 1930s and 1940s. For those of you who have never seen a photograph of Kamen, I present this image, which was featured in the April 1937 issue of Playthings magazine.


Playthings called itself, "the national magazine of the toy trade." Kamen often bought the rights to the advertising space on the magazine's front cover. There are many issues where Disney merchandise, a special promotion or publicity illustration appeared on the cover, complete with great Disney graphics.


Kamen was the self-styled "king ot toyland." He used this magazine to his full advantage, promoting Disney product to the hundreds of retail store buyers who subscribed to the publication.

Images courtesy Hake's Americana.

General Foods Post Toasties Cut-Outs

In early 1932, Herman "Kay" Kamen left his home in Kansas City for a business meeting in Hollywood, California. The man he was going to meet had made a similar journey west almost a decade earlier. The purpose of Kamen's trip west was to discuss merchandising ideas with Walt and Roy Disney.

At their first meeting, Kamen presented his ideas for increasing the Studio's revenue stream through the sale of character merchandise. The brothers were suitably impressed and on July 1, 1932, they awarded Kamen his first contract. After the agreements with the George Borgfeldt and William Levy B. Levy companies expired, Kamen assumed control of all Disney merchandise licensing agreements.

Through a well thought out and brilliantly executed marketing plan, Kamen quickly established Disney characters as the dominant product on the shelves of toy departments across America.

At the height of the Great Depression, Kamen negotiated deals with some of America's largest manufacturers including Ingersoll and Lionel. In 1934 Kamen inked an unheard of 1.5 million dollar deal with General Foods. The agreement gave the cereal producer the right to reproduce Disney characters on boxes of Post Toasties. Adjusted for inflation, that contract would be worth almost $24 million dollars in 2008.

Counter top or window point of sale display sign. Courtesy Hake's Americana.

The so-called cereal "cut-outs" were huge hits. After children finished their box of cereal, the images printed on the box were cut-out and became instant playthings. At a time when thousands of Americans found themselves out of work and with no disposable income, these cut-outs were undoubtedly the only toys some children had.

This newspaper advertisement announced the Mickey Mouse Cut-Out promotion. The ad appeared in hundreds of newspapers across America - the only part of the copy that changed was the insertion of the name of the city. This particular ad appeared in the Paris News on May 11, 1934.

In mid-May 1934, Kamen and General Foods launched a nationwide newspaper advertising campaign announcing, "Post Toasties with Mickey Mouse Cut-Outs." The ad stated in part:

"What marvelous toys for children! - these new Post Toasties Cut-Outs. What fun for boys and girls to cut them right off the boxes...to play with these beloved 'movie stars!' On some boxes you get Mickey Mouse and his pals - Minnie Mouse...Pluto the Pup...Horace Horsecollar...or the Goof. On other boxes there are dandy Cut-Outs of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. Get some Post Toasties today. Eat it often. It's full of quick, new energy. And remember - Post Toasties is the only cereal that gives you, absolutely free, these wonderful Walt Disney Cut-Outs for the youngsters."

This shipping box was recently offered on eBay.

Besides Mickey, Minnie and Donald, many of the Studio's Silly Symphony characters also appeared on the cereal boxes. Here is a representative sampling of just a few including Old King Cole, Little Red Riding Hood, Max Hare and the Pied Piper:





A short article in the May 18, 1934, the Chillicothe Constitution Tribune announced Mickey's new role:

"A mouse with your breakfast food? Sure- but it's Mickey Mouse, and that makes a difference! Mickey - yes and Minnie - have figured in many pleasant episodes and somehow are always mighty welcome visitors. And one of their newest and most pleasant jobs is posing on the new Post Toasties boxes along with other Walt Disney cut-outs...the kids are in for a great time cutting out their favorite Disney characters."

Detail from circa 1934 General Foods stationary. Courtesy Hake's Americana.

Kamen often wrote press releases, which were run by many media outlets as factual news stories. These articles carry no by-line, but their style and substance is pure Kamen marketing at its best. One such "story" ran in the September 20, 1934 Oakland Tribune:

"Walt Disney seems to be the only producer in Hollywood who realizes the importance of by-products, or at least he is the only producer who, having realized it, made an effort to capitalize on the knowledge. Through summarization in the Film Daily, it is disclosed that merchandise to the extent of more than $20,000,000.00 has been sold in the last year through the use of the Mickey Mouse trademark.

This figure is exclusive of the work done by the Disney characters in recent months for General Foods and National Dairy Products. At present Mickey is working for 142 manufacturers including 75 in the United States, 45 in England, 20 in Canada, six in France, six in Spain and Portugal. It should be a long time before the Big Bad Wolf effects entrance to the Disney house of bricks."

The Chronicle Telegram, June 15, 1934.

Characters from the Academy Award winning film Three Little Pigs were also printed on boxes. A June 15, 1934 Chronicle Telegram ad featured a box with all of the pigs and the wolf. The ad copy stated in part:

"Here they are - right on the sides of Post toasties packages. The famous 'movie stars' of Walt Disney's Silly Symphony...the characters the whole country has been singing and talking about!"

Perhaps the most interesting ad campaign associated with the Disney / General Foods agreement came out of the state of Texas. On June 10, 1935, G.S. Robison, General Foods' Texas district sales manager, announced a $250 dollar cash prize to the Texan who originated the best new name for Mickey's pal "the Goof."

A "name the Goof" contest advertisement. Paris News, June 1935.

Robison stated, "The contest is unique in that it is limited to residents of [Texas] - Walt Disney thus honoring Texans in his search for a better name for poor old 'Goof'." More than 100 prizes were offered for a new name for "the lanky dog catcher who has tickled the ribs of millions in Mickey Mouse comedies."

The contest's second place winner received a $100 prize, while 100 other entrants were given $5 each. As an incentive to grocers to stock more product during the contest, prizes of between $5 and $50 were awarded to stores.

General Foods ran several large newspaper ads over the course of the contest, which lasted from June through September. One ad stated, "Walt Disney calls him the 'Goof,' but Mickey wants a better name. Here are some suggestions: Dizzy McMutt, Boppo, Mr. Tousle, Snoozle. You can beat these easily!"

The September 9, 1935 Paris News announced the contest winner: Captain W.H. Scott of Corpus Christi suggested "Nobby Noddle," and was awarded the first prize of $250.

General Foods association with Disney lasted until 1941. Over the course of their partnership, hundreds of thousands if not millions of boxes of cereal imprinted with Disney character images were sold.

As far as I know, there is no complete record of how many different images were printed. The cut-outs and the occasional cereal and packing box do appear from time to time for sale on various internet sites.

Cut-out images courtesy the collection of Dennis books.

1930s Mickey Mouse Club

Coming in the month of April:


I'll explore the history of the 1930s Mickey Mouse Club.

From my collection, the image in this post is from the header of a 1936 theater door hanger, which promoted several movies the theater was showing as well as the Mickey Mouse Club.

Walt Disney autograph

This great 8 x 10 inch Clarence Sinclair Bull casual portrait of Walt Disney sold recently on eBay. The photo dated from July 25, 1933 and was inscribed, "To Ruth Ivener, With best Wishes, Sincerely, Walt Disney."

Here's a little game...no mention was made in the auction listing as to who Ivener was. I recognized her name instantly...do you recognize her name?



Ruth Ivener was the Vice-President of Kay Kamen Ltd. She worked out of Kamen's upscale art deco offices in New York's Rockefeller Center on Sixth Avenue.

Herman "Kay" Kamen was the sole representative of Walt Disney Enterprises' merchandise division. He held that position from 1932, until he was killed in an airplane crash in 1949. Kamen published several special Christmas Promotion manuals which instructed retail toy department managers on how to mount impressive Disney-themed displays. Kamen also published several great merchandise catalogs.

An interesting bit of trivia: according to the October 21, 1933 issue of The New Yorker magazine, if you dialed Kamen's switchboard at Bryant 9-1990, "a lady with a schoolgirl inflection says, 'Mickey Mouse'."

The photo sold for under $600.

Studio strike

I recently located the following images while surfing the net and thought I'd share them. They are associated with the strike at the Disney Studio. My friend "matterhorn1959" over at the blog Stuff From the Park has been posting some very interesting photos related to the strike. Click here to get to his blog.

The first image shows the Studio parking lot during the strike.

The next two images promote a street dance and carnival held across the street from the Disney Studio. The first image is of a ticket stub for June 28th, while the second is a flier promoting a carnival that was held on July 26th. Proceeds from both events went to support the striking workers.

The next two items are fliers that were printed to dispel any rumors that the strike was over.



The next item is a flier that asked strike supporters and moviegoers to boycott Disney films including Fantasia and The Reluctant Dragon.


The following image of Mickey Mouse was reproduced on a Screen Cartoon Guild newsletter printed during the strike.


We close out this post with two photographs taken on the picket line.


All of the images in this post are courtesy the Delmar T. Oviatt Library Urban Archives Center, San Fernando Valley Issues Digital Library.

Now that winter is behind us...

How about we get out and enjoy nature? Well, in most areas of North America spring has finally sprung. What better way to celebrate the arrival of warm weather than a canoe trip on calm waters? The Donald Duck toy is composed of celluloid, while the Mickey Mouse toy is made of bisque. Both are courtesy Hake's Americana.The one of the two pals together is made of celluloid and comes our way courtesy my friend Dennis Books. Notice that in this one Mickey seems uncertain of the Duck's intentions or skill level and appears to be hanging on for dear life! This toy still bears the original sticker, visible on the tip of one of the oars.
All three toys are from the early to mid-1930s.

Donald Duck celluloid wind-up

Another great Donald Duck mechanical celluloid toy with the box.

I'm truly amazed when toys in this great condition show-up complete with their boxes. Notice that the front of the box is marked with the early copyright notice: "c Walt E. Disney." This celluloid toy was made in Japan circa 1934-1935 and sold recently through Hake's Americana.
Another example of just a lovely rare toy with a great box in primo condition.

Mickey Mouse newspaper pin

This pin was offered recently either through Hake's Americana or eBay - I can't recall which one now. Regardless, this particular pin is a hard one to find.


The horse depicted in the illustration is none other than Mickey's trusty steed Tanglefoot, who curiously enough never made an on-screen appearance. Tanglefoot came to life at the hands of the great newspaper strip artist Floyd Gottfredson, making his first appearance in a Mickey Mouse daily comic titled His Horse Tanglefoot. The story began on June 12, 1933 and ran some 102 strips in length.

Mickey's horse was also showcased in several children's books including Whitman's 1934 six set Wee Little Books series, seen here in a previous post, Blue Ribbon's 1934 The Mickey Mouse Waddle Book, and David McKay's 1936 title Mickey Mouse and His Horse Tanglefoot.

Donald Duck Carousel

This great toy sold recently on eBay.

I love the wind-up mechanical action of the actual toy as well as the early long-billed Donald Duck graphics depicted on the box. This toy would have been made in Japan circa 1934-1935.



Just a super celluloid item with a great box in nice minty condition!

Oak Hytex toy balloons

I purchased the poster and catalog in this post about 15 years ago.


The poster measures approximately 27 inches wide by 10 inches tall and represents the only example I have seen in 25 years of collecting vintage Disney memorabilia.

The introduction in the catalog states:

"The Oak Rubber Company started the manufacture of toy rubber balloons in 1916. Oak Balloons quickly established a reputation for a new degree of toughness, greater elasticity, brighter colors, attractive designs and novel variety."

The company used "milled," virgin, liquid latex rubber in their production process. Given the fact most of the rubber used in America at this time came from the South Pacific, I am not sure how this company fared during the war, when rubber was rationed and the Japanese occupied many rubber producing regions.

The 48-page catalog contains nine full-page Disney related advertisements and six additional pages where a Disney product is featured with other balloon products. Besides the following images, there are also two full-page ads featuring Snow White themed balloons.

Cover

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Package for the Stratosphere novelty.

The Stratosphere Balloon novelty consisted of a balloon (9 - 10 inches tall when inflated), and a cardboard die-cut balloon basket. The basket featured the likenesses of Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Pluto. Hard to see in the scan, but Donald is reading a book about air sickness.

The Wedding Party of Mickey Mouse

The sheet music in this post was published by Bibo-Lang Incorporated in 1931. This company held a Disney merchandise license between 1930 and 1932. The firm also published the first Mickey Mouse book, which can be seen here.


The cover illustration for the sheet music was first used as the back cover illustration on the Mickey Mouse Book - the only difference is that Minnie wears a wedding veil in the sheet music art.

A nice, early item courtesy the collection of Dennis Books.

Header

My thanks to fellow blogger Cory the Raven for the new header. I love the pie-eyed mice. Cory runs an interesting blog titled "Voyages Extraordinaires." You can get there by clicking here. Thanks again Cory for taking the time to design the banner...I appreciate it!

Same illustration, different use

In my 25 years of collecting I have come across several examples of illustrations that have been used multiple times for different purposes. Here is one such example.



The October 1939 issue of Valley Progress magazine with an in-depth article on the new Walt Disney Studio in Burbank. This issue featured a great cover illustration of the so-called "fab five" showing off their new digs. The magazine's accompanying article can be read here.

The same illustration used in an advertisement that appeared in a 1941 - 1942 RKO exhibitor's booklet. The only difference, as pointed out by loyal blog reader and ardent observer Are Myklebust, is that Donald's head has been rotated to the right.

If anyone has an extra copy of Valley Progress for sale, please let me know. I have a friend who is looking for a copy for their collection. Thanks!

Anyone up for a movie?

It took me a while to track down the two items in this post, but I was very happy when they arrived on my doorstep a few years ago.

Both pages appeared in the New York Times newspaper. The first item dates from November 18, 1928, while the second, a review by a film critic named Mordaunt Hall, dates from the next day and could possibly be the first review ever published in regards to the film in question. (Please note the spelling error in Hall's review).

Enjoy.

Anatomy of a mid-1940s Walt Disney photograph

The image in this post arrived on my doorstep several weeks ago in a package sent to me by the family of one of Hank Porter's children. I assume Porter kept a copy of this image as it contained examples of two pieces of combat insignia art he created.

The photograph is unique and interesting on so many different levels. I believe the montage was created in either 1944 or 1945. Over the course of the next couple of weeks I will take one item or a group of items shown in the photo and explain their significance, which in turn will explain why I think this is a mid-1940s photo.

One of my first observations was that Walt Disney is not in the photograph. For some reason, a photo of Disney was used in the creation of the photograph. Why is this? I'm not sure at this point in time. Perhaps a magazine requested a montage at the last possible moment and Walt was away on business, precluding his appearance in person? Speculation on my part, but perfectly feasible.

There are so many interesting items to talk about, so for this first post I'll single out two.

The first is the Academy Award statuette seen in the left margin. That Honorary Special Award was given to Disney in November 1932, in recognition of the creation of Mickey Mouse. To read more about that particular Academy Award ceremony click here. The statuette is unique in that the base is quite stubby. The size of the base actually varied until the present standard was adopted in 1945.

The next items that interested me were the three medals seen in the lower right corner. It turns out these are three very important medals. Here's the story of the medal seen on the far right of the photo.

January 8, 1936 was a special day in Hollywood. On that day, Walt Disney was decorated with France's highest award: the Legion of Honor. Jean-Joseph Viala, the French Consul in Los Angeles, pinned the medal to Disney's left lapel in a ceremony held on the grounds of the Hyperion Avenue Studio. The event was attended by a large group of family, friends and well wishers.

One of the earliest reports of the French decision to make Disney a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honor, appeared in the December 17, 1935 edition of the Nevada State Journal: "It was reported today that Walt Disney, creator of the popular Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony movie cartoons, has been named for the French Legion of Honor. However, a decree to that effect has not yet been published." A second story appearing 10 days later confirmed the first report.

In this newspaper publicity photo, Walt Disney is about to receive the customary kisses. The award can be seen pinned to his left lapel.

At the ceremony the French Consul general said the award was made, "in recognition of Disney's work in creating a new art form in which good will is spread throughout the world." One reporter added the award "was made in recognition of [Disney's] contribution to the screen, as the French people feel that his use of animals to interpret human comedy has made him a modern Aesop."

At least four different Associated press photographs were taken that day. Two show a very serious Walt Disney receiving the customary kisses from the French Consul, while the other two show both men smiling and joking as the French Consul interacts with a huge Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse doll Disney is holding in his hands.


The award was established in May 1802, by Napolean Bonaparte. The decoration is divided into five degrees ranging from Chevalier, or Knight, on up to the highest degree of Grand Cross. The front of the medal features the head of "Marianne," the country's symbolic figurehead and the words, "Republique Francaise" (French Republic), while the reverse bears the inscription, "Honneur et Patrie" (Honor and Fatherland). The award is in the shape of a five-sided, double-pointed star, encircled by a green wreath of oak and laurel leaves.


An editorial in the Charleston Daily Mail stated:

Probably the French had no particular thought for such ponderous matters as cementing foreign relations or stretching hands across the sea, when they awarded the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor to Walt Disney, which means, of course, to Mickey Mouse. But how better could they have stirred a feeling of appreciation in the hearts of Americans than by that sterling gesture?

It is upon such understandings that mutual regard is built. The incident has proper comic value. When one pictures the sedate gentlemen, usually in full beards , top hats and long coats, who wear the decoration in France, the award to the mouse (by proxy) may move one to laughter. But will anyone say that it was undeserved?

With a proper regard for and familiarity with the fables of La Fontaine, the French nation has taken to Mickey in a body with enthusiasm. The flexibility of the Legion as a method of recognizing public service, whether civil or military, French or foreign, was never better illustrated. Was it not a Frenchman who said, 'I hurry to laugh at everything, for fear that I may weep'?"

Unfortunately there was at least one article that reported some felt Disney's award was undeserved. Under the headline, "French Dispute Walt Disney's Title as Dean of Animated Movie Cartoons," the February 15, 1936 issue of The Havre Daily News reported: "The French press as adopted an air of injured dignity in regard to the naming of Walt Disney...as Knight of the French Legion of Honor. Several French journalists have banded together to right this 'injustice'."

The perceived sleight by the French government involved 80-year old Emile Cohl, a French artist who claimed to be the "real creator of animated screen drawings." Cohl did in fact create one of the first fully animated films. In August 1908, the French artist released Fantasmagorie, a cartoon made-up of 700 drawings, which told the story of the adventures of a clown. Click here to view a copy of that film.

Cohl explained, "I had been successful in newspaper work and fell into cinema work by a streak of luck, having got my inspiration for cinema cartoons from an advertising billboard I happened to pass in the street. I had much success between 1908 and 1912. I shall protest to the last against those who refuse to admit that I am the first to create animated drawings for the cinema."

Walt Disney never made any claim of being the first to create animated pictures, so Cohl's negative comments seem misdirected and regardless of how a scant few in the French media may have felt at the time, Walt Disney, his family and friends were extremely proud that January day. Walt Disney had been involved with animated films for many years prior to receiving the medal.

The Legion of Honor was just one of several awards presented to Disney since Mickey's debut in 1928. In the years to follow, Walt Disney would garner close to 1,000 awards, making him one of the most recognized and decorated personalities of the 20th Century.

I'll pick another interesting item out of this photo for another post in the coming days.

American Dental Association

The April 1936 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association featured an article titled "Mouth Hygiene in Kern County, California." Not the most endearing of topics to be sure, but a quick scan of the magazine's pages reveals an interesting Disney connection.

Kern County is located in central California, taking in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert. In the mid-30s the Kern County Board of Supervisors employed one dental hygienist to spread the word amongst youngsters the value of brushing their teeth.


As part of the promotion children were examined and if they passed inspection, they were awarded either a Mickey or Minnie Mouse "Good Teeth" pin.


Classes scoring 100% "good teeth" by the end of the school year were also awarded a hand-tinted picture of Mickey Mouse and the Three Little Pigs. In 25 years of collecting I have never seen an example of this particular certificate.


There was also a Kern County dental Roll Call of Honor that was hung in classrooms. While that item also had Disney character graphics, the illustrations were not done by a Disney Studio artist.

There were at least two other Disney / American Dental Association campaigns: one featured Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the Big Bad Wolf, while the other featured characters from Pinocchio.

Here are examples of premiums associated with the second campaign: A reminder card and close-up detail of the back flap of the mailing envelope, a certificate of merit and a pinback button. All three items feature outstanding graphics. It's interesting to see the Wolf once again resurrected as the villain.



One item I have never seen and have never been able to confirm the existence of, is the "Mickey Mouse Merit Medal," an illustration of which can be seen behind the Wolf in the background of the certificate.



Enjoy the images and keep those pearly whites clean and shiny - if you're lucky maybe your dentist will give you a pin.

United Artists merchandise catalog

This fantastic 48-page publication was produced in 1932 and is widely considered to be the very first, pre-Kay Kamen, Walt Disney character merchandise catalog.


The booklet's pages are strewn with ads for many of Disney's earliest licensees including George Borgfeldt, Hall Bros., and David McKay.

There are also great full page ads featuring Mickey Mouse Club items produced by Fisch and Company, as well as display items made by Old King Cole.

Just a beautiful, fantastic, rare item.

Photo courtesy Hake's Americana.

The Plow Boy - animation drawing

From the collection of Dennis Books, an animation drawing from the Mickey Mouse short The Plow Boy, which was released on June 28, 1929. The film's plot features Mickey flirting with Minnie in a farmyard setting. The short is notable for two reasons - Horace makes his screen debut and Minnie Mouse sings for the first time.


Between 1929 and 1942 Horace appeared in 31 Mickey Mouse short cartoons. As time progressed Horace appeared with less frequency, until he eventually faded into obscurity.

The drawing in this post was purchased from the Les Clark estate, however it's not known at this time if Clark actually drew this piece, or if it was perhaps done by Jack Cutting.

Walt Disney - the first Academy Awards

November 1932 was the hottest on record in Los Angeles. A cold snap would follow in December, but that month, those living in the Los Angeles area endured daily temperatures in the mid-80s.

On Friday, November 18, 1932, Walter Elias Disney and his wife Lillian traveled from their home on Lyric Avenue, down to the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. The four mile journey would normally take about 15 minutes, but on this day, the traffic would be much heavier.

Four years to the day of the release of the first Mickey Mouse sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie, Walt and Lillian were on there way to the 5th annual Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' banquet, being held in the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel.

The Ambassador Hotel as shown on an early postcard.
In addition to hosting several Academy Award ceremonies, the Hollywood landmark was also home to the famous Cocoanut Grove nightclub. The hotel was demolished recently to make way for a public school.

In front of hundreds of film notables, including movie stars, directors, studio executives and state and city politicians, Walt Disney would collect the first two of his many Academy Awards. One newspaper article stated, "It was a glittering ceremonial, attended by more than 900 of the great and lesser-great of the film world."

The Fiesta Room circa 1940s.

According to another newspaper report, "The event drew thousands of spectators who blocked traffic for more than a block in front of the hotel. The crowds parted as sleek limousines drew up and discharged the feminine stars, many of them with great puffed sleeves, high neckline and fur-trimmed gowns, and accompanied by the immaculately groomed escorts."

November 18, 1932 - four Hollywood luminaries pose for a photo at the 5th Academy Awards banquet. L-R: Stan Laurel, Walt Disney, Hal Roach and Oliver Hardy.

Walt Disney socialized that evening with several of his Hollywood friends. As testimony to Disney's acceptance in Hollywood social circles, one year later he would attend a party given by fellow producer Hal Roach. Held in a sound stage at the Roach Studio, the gathering of Hollywood's who's who celebrated Roach's 20 years as a filmmaker. Besides Walt Disney, those in attendance included Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, Harold Lloyd, John Weissmuller, Jean Harlow, Darryl Zanuck, Jesse Lasky, Louis B. Mayer, Will Rogers and Sid Grauman.

The ceremony in the Fiesta Room was hosted by Conrad Nagel, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, an organization he and 35 other like-minded industry insiders founded in May 1927.


At some point in the banquet, a short color cartoon produced at the Disney Studio was played for those in attendance. Parade of the Award Nominees featured caricatures of those nominated in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories.

Several internet sites indicate artist Joe Grant was hired specifically to work on this short, however no production records for this film exist at the Disney Archives to confirm this. Some historians suggest Grant's first work at the Studio was on the film Mickey's Gala Premiere.

Parade of the Award Nominees is notable for the fact the film marks Mickey's first on screen appearance in color, preceding the color Mickey Mouse short The Band Concert by several years. As Mickey Mouse led the procession the actors and actresses walked down a carpet dressed as the characters they portrayed.

Wallace Beery, (with child actor Jackie Cooper in tow holding on to Beery's coattails), was nominated for his portrayal of an alcoholic boxer trying to get his life back in order on account of his son in The Champ.


Fredric March was nominated for his dual screen appearances as Dr. Jekyll,


and Mr. Hyde.