On The Tenggren Cover of the Post
The Saturday Evening Post of 11/17/1956, Vol. 229 Issue 20 featured the beginning of the story "My Dad, Walt Disney," by Diane Disney Miller as told to Pete Martin. The cover was masterfully painted by none other than Gustaf Tenggren, the inspiration for the drawing style of (among other films) Pinocchio - but until I stumbled over this article, I only knew the feature story that later was reprinted as the book The Story of Walt Disney (Henry Holt and Company, New York 1957 - and Dell paperback).
Here now is the story of the cover, with a self portrait of Tenggren.
I added a small image of the actual cover, as well...
In the foreword to the latest re-issue of the book, Mrs. Miller tells how she hardly had any hand in the book. Her father would only have Pete Martin do the book if it was in her name. On the other hand, she was present at all the interviews, and interjected some questions, which in itself is not an unimportant contribution...
Read more on Gustaf Tenggren on Robert Cowan's blog here...
Here now is the story of the cover, with a self portrait of Tenggren.
I added a small image of the actual cover, as well...
 |  | < Click on it! |
Read more on Gustaf Tenggren on Robert Cowan's blog here...
Labels: Other Disney
posted by Hans Perk at 11:00 PM
2 Comments:
I have listened to all of the interviews Pete Martin conducted with Walt Disney for that book.
Diane was in attendance for most if not all of the interview sessions. You can hear her in the background asking the occasional question, making the occasional statement and even looking after one of her children.
I was thrilled to have the chance to listen to hours and hours of tape as Walt told his story.
Reading what Walt said is one thing, but to hear him tell his story in his own words, to hear the inflection and tone in his voice, the laughter when he told a humorous story, to hear him retell of his adventures with the Red Cross in France during World War I, or act out a part from one of the features...well that was amazing!
Listening to the interviews confirmed what all who have worked for Walt Disney have stated in the past: he was a great storyteller.
One poignant moment came when Diane brought in one of Walt's granddaughters - to hear him speak to the baby as only a loving grandfather can, gave me new insight into the personal side of Walt Disney that is hard to capture using just the written word.
The Tenggren story is fascinating. Thanks, Hans!
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