Ron Clements Part 3

PART 3 – CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

While working on the Ron Clements exhibition at the Disney Studios
Nicholas Mahon and I were able to meet many of the interesting and
talented people there, in animation, management and elsewhere. The
Animation Research Library was awe-inspiring in its organization and
the knowledge and dedication of the many staff members we met. The
photo library was similarly impressive, with what seemed like a
million photos of all things Disney to choose from.

We saw many things at the studio, the back lot, the fa-mouse street
sign, even the original multiplane camera on display. We had lunch
with old friend Dave Smith, who founded and had led the Walt Disney
Archives since 1971. He was always as friendly as he was a source for
all Disney information and history.

We went to Disneyland, of course, and were able to spend some time
with longtime friends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and their wives
Jeanette and Marie. We took them to their favorite lunch restaurant,
then we all went back to Ollie and Marie's home. The lunch was
leisurely and there was lots of chatter and laughing. Frank was using
a walker at this time and as a young man held the door open for him as
he left, Frank thanked him. Taking a line from the superb feature
documentary FRANK AND OLLIE, I asked Frank if the man would have held
the door open for him if he had known he had killed Bambi's mother. He
laughed hardest of all at that one.

I was able to see other old friends in the film industry while there,
most of whom had their first job with Disada and kept in touch over
the decades. One works in television and we got to go to a taping of a
leading comedy series. We saw the Golden Globe Awards in a restaurant
filled with film people who would applaud or boo at each winner on the
huge screen telecast. We met some die-hard animation fans who we knew
by email and phone but had never met in person before.

Nick was very interested in puppets so we arranged to go to the Jim
Henson studios for an afternoon, They were very nice and accomodating.
We learned how they were computerizing the craft and Nick got to
manipulate and play with Kermit and others, includingThe Aflac Duck!

Soon it was time to go back to Sioux City and map out the final show.
TO BE CONTINUED.