Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Socializing with the Social Lion

When the title character from the Walt Disney 1954 cartoon The Social Lion helplessly floundered through the big city, he passed by hidden references to three studio veterans. Two of these individuals can be found in the opening credits of the short itself.

Fergy's Fresh Fillets refers to animator Norm Ferguson. Fergy joined the Disney Studio in 1929 and quickly became one of its most notable and productive animators. He was recruited by Walt to serve as supervising animator on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and was a major creative force in nearly all of the studio's animated features up until his untimely death in 1957.

The Bushman Reality Co. refers to layout artist Bruce Bushman. Bushman began his career at the studio doing layouts for cartoon shorts. He later served as an art director on the original Mickey Mouse Club series and was a key designer for many of Disneyland's earliest attractions.

Less obvious is the proprietor of M. Tebb Custom Millinery. Mary Tebb was a well known member of the studio's ink and paint department.

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