When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Classic Treasures from the WaltDisney History Vault... from the Worldwide Disneyana Specialists of Saturday'sToys
Item: Vintage black and whiteproof photo featuring Walt Disney on a film set at the Walt Disney Studio inBurbank, California.
Date: 1958
Description: This rare imageof Walt Disney was captured by renowned celebrity photographer, Bob Willoughby,as contracted to provide still photography for "Walt Disney - The Art ofAnimation - the story of the Disney Studio contribution to a new art" byHollywood columnist and historian Bob Thomas (1922 - 2014).
The image was prominently featured on "page 103"of the Simon & Schuster first edition of "The Art of Animation."(1958)
Notably, Bob Willoughby (1927 - 2009)was at theforefront in capturing the mystique of Hollywood's most identifiable names inthe 1950's and 1960's, including:
- Walt Disney
- James Dean
- Marilyn Monroe
- Audrey Hepburn
- John Wayne
- Judy Garland
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Frank Sinatra
- Julie Andrews
- Richard Burton
- Elizabeth Taylor
- ... and dozens more
This particular image was captured in a series ofphotographs taken on asound stage at the Walt Disney Studio as well asthroughout the studio'sAnimation Building and other productionfacilities.The camera pictured behind Walt appears to be a MitchellNC/BNC 35mm film camera as was used during production onDarbyO'Gill and the Little People(1959)and several other Disneyfilm projects of that era, both for the early anthology series on ABCtelevision and also for major motion pictures released theatrically.
We note that there is a member of the Disney productionteam located behind Walt (at right), though that individual has not yet beenidentified.
Photograph was printed on high quality double-weight studiopaper for black and white images; similar toa "proof photo"that would have beenproduced during selection of the specific images tobe used in the book project. The upgraded paper has a grain to it thatcan be viewed in the third image offered with our listing.
In reality, a Bob Willoughby photograph of Walt Disney israrely made available for sale, likely due to copyright or trademarklimitations within Willoughby's contract. However, this particular imageis consistent with studio prints made in Hollywood throughout the 1950's.
Measurement: 5" x7"
Condition: Good; no writingor imprints on reverse of photograph; very small spot noted in lower rightquadrant on reverse side of photo.
