June 15: San Francisco: the Presidio
Dear Friends and Relatives,
Another day of clouds and fog rolling in over the city, as well as a fine mist and a wind with a bite in it. The high today was about 61 degrees, and after a breakfast of omelet, sausage and coffee, we headed towards the Presidio, a former army base. Two of its former buildings now serve to house the Walt Disney Family Museum. We began with a tour of nine galleries in the first building. Gallery 1 (1901-1923) detailed the early beginnings of his family’s farm in Missouri and influences from his time in the Midwest and France. He eventually joined the staff of his high school student publication, illustrating short stories, drawing cartoons about campus happenings, and taking pictures as staff photographer. He was almost 20 when he launched his first animation studio, Eventually he worked for the Kansas City Film Ad Company, but felt boxed in by their approach. For that reason he borrowed a stop-motion camera and started testing out his ideas.
Gallery 2 details the years 1923-1928, when he moved to Hollywood and started the “Alice Comedies,” an ongoing series about a real girl in a cartoon world. It is during this time that he married and, professionally, started toying with a mouse called Mortimer, which eventually was changed to Mickey.
The rest of the galleries took us through his subsequent efforts to personify his characters and give them personalities through the way they moved. Through the 30s, the cartoon series “The Skeleton Dance” was his creative testing ground for the advancement of animation. Then there came the groundbreaking “Snow White,” his first feature-length film, and “Fantasia,” one of the studio’s most ambitious cinematic experiences in sight and sound. “Bambi” was featured, as were many of his post-war projects and the building of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Fascinating life, both personally and professionally, and I was able to take some photographs of some of the first drawings he made of Mickey Mouse. There was a special exhibit in one of the other Presidio building behind the museum, which we tackled after lunch: “Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World.” It emphasized his influence on art and entertainment over the past nine decades and the story of his origins, rise to fame and enduring worldwide appeal. So many people were there that we were required to have a timed ticket, which we used after touring the first four galleries of the general collection, then taking lunch, seeing the Mickey Mouse exhibit, and finally backtracking to Galleries 5-9 of the permanent collection.
The Giftshop and their little cafe gave us a chance to unwind from the almost overwhelming amount of material on Walt Disney, his life and his influence. Then at 4:00 p.m. we stayed to watch the film “Bambi,” which was to be shown at the theater there. That film was made in 1942, and, as I saw it at age 5 in 1957, the film was already 15 years old. I didn’t have to be taken out of the theater for excessive weeping this time, but it was like looking into the mirror and seeing a snippet of a former life being flashed before you. Strange experience, but a beautifully tender film nevertheless...and it still moves me!
On the way home we stopped at Trader Joe’s for a few supplies, then arrived home for watermelon soup and pimento cheese on chia seed crackers. As we walked a lot today, I will be ready to call it a night soon. It has been a good day. Tomorrow off to Maureen’s church and a symphony concert of the SF Youth Orchestra, about to leave on a tour of Europe—Isabelle (Maureen’s granddaughter) included. We must spur them on with our loudest shouts of “Bravo.” Since these days I can’t clap properly (ARGHGHGHGH...!!), shouting “Bravo!” is the best I can do! As ever, SV.
Another day of clouds and fog rolling in over the city, as well as a fine mist and a wind with a bite in it. The high today was about 61 degrees, and after a breakfast of omelet, sausage and coffee, we headed towards the Presidio, a former army base. Two of its former buildings now serve to house the Walt Disney Family Museum. We began with a tour of nine galleries in the first building. Gallery 1 (1901-1923) detailed the early beginnings of his family’s farm in Missouri and influences from his time in the Midwest and France. He eventually joined the staff of his high school student publication, illustrating short stories, drawing cartoons about campus happenings, and taking pictures as staff photographer. He was almost 20 when he launched his first animation studio, Eventually he worked for the Kansas City Film Ad Company, but felt boxed in by their approach. For that reason he borrowed a stop-motion camera and started testing out his ideas.
Gallery 2 details the years 1923-1928, when he moved to Hollywood and started the “Alice Comedies,” an ongoing series about a real girl in a cartoon world. It is during this time that he married and, professionally, started toying with a mouse called Mortimer, which eventually was changed to Mickey.
The rest of the galleries took us through his subsequent efforts to personify his characters and give them personalities through the way they moved. Through the 30s, the cartoon series “The Skeleton Dance” was his creative testing ground for the advancement of animation. Then there came the groundbreaking “Snow White,” his first feature-length film, and “Fantasia,” one of the studio’s most ambitious cinematic experiences in sight and sound. “Bambi” was featured, as were many of his post-war projects and the building of Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Fascinating life, both personally and professionally, and I was able to take some photographs of some of the first drawings he made of Mickey Mouse. There was a special exhibit in one of the other Presidio building behind the museum, which we tackled after lunch: “Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World.” It emphasized his influence on art and entertainment over the past nine decades and the story of his origins, rise to fame and enduring worldwide appeal. So many people were there that we were required to have a timed ticket, which we used after touring the first four galleries of the general collection, then taking lunch, seeing the Mickey Mouse exhibit, and finally backtracking to Galleries 5-9 of the permanent collection.
The Giftshop and their little cafe gave us a chance to unwind from the almost overwhelming amount of material on Walt Disney, his life and his influence. Then at 4:00 p.m. we stayed to watch the film “Bambi,” which was to be shown at the theater there. That film was made in 1942, and, as I saw it at age 5 in 1957, the film was already 15 years old. I didn’t have to be taken out of the theater for excessive weeping this time, but it was like looking into the mirror and seeing a snippet of a former life being flashed before you. Strange experience, but a beautifully tender film nevertheless...and it still moves me!
On the way home we stopped at Trader Joe’s for a few supplies, then arrived home for watermelon soup and pimento cheese on chia seed crackers. As we walked a lot today, I will be ready to call it a night soon. It has been a good day. Tomorrow off to Maureen’s church and a symphony concert of the SF Youth Orchestra, about to leave on a tour of Europe—Isabelle (Maureen’s granddaughter) included. We must spur them on with our loudest shouts of “Bravo.” Since these days I can’t clap properly (ARGHGHGHGH...!!), shouting “Bravo!” is the best I can do! As ever, SV.
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