John Hench: Celebrating All the Colors of His Rainbow
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Marty Sklar then introduced “Disney brat�? Maggie Elliott. She began by saying, “I knew John my whole life. It was difficult to come up with only a few minute’s worth to talk about.�? After meeting Hench at the age of twelve, she referred to him as her “Aura man,�? one who sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow. In later years, when she joined WDI, he was a “friend, a boss, and a sounding board.�? She said, somewhat helplessly, that a thesaurus couldn’t describe John Hench, but she did throw out a few words: honesty, integrity, sincerity, and storyteller. She closed with a quote, noting that Hench knew the author well. “Always be in a state of becoming.�? The author? Walt Disney.

X Atencio gets some assistance on the script for “Pirates of the Caribbean.�?

To discuss John Hench as the official portrait artist of Mickey Mouse, Marty Sklar introduced X Atencio, who admitted, “I’m going to talk off the top of my head.�? He noted that he had joined Disney a year before John Hench, but they didn’t meet until they were both in Imagineering. He added, “John inspired all these wonderful people here.�? He then flatly stated, “I never agreed with how he drew Mickey Mouse.�? As he calmly surveyed the surprised crowd, he added, “But I figured if it was good enough for Walt…�? As the official portraits were shown on screen one by one, Atencio commented on each, noting, “Herbie [Ryman] and I used to kid John about the way he drew Mickey.�?

Mickey Mouse’s official 50th birthday portrait

He pointed out that Ryman always said that in the 50th birthday portrait (in which Mickey stands before an early rendering of EPCOT), Mickey’s cupped hand behind his back makes him look like he’s waiting for a pay off.

Mickey Mouse’s official 60th birthday portrait

Of the 60th birthday portrait, he said, “That’s a pretty good Mickey Mouse. Except he made the head too round.�?

Mickey Mouse’s official 25th birthday portrait

And of the classic 25th birthday portrait, Atencio first noted that Hench had placed Mickey in Walt’s office, then chuckled, “He’s got two left feet.�? He mischievously added, “John, forgive me please.�? As X Atencio finished his comments, he quietly noted that the most touching moment he spent with his old friend John Hench was the day Walt Disney died. He concluded, “As we left the studio when they dismissed us, I went home and balled my eyes out.�? Searching for words, Atencio finally said, “John Hench…was John Hench.�? And of the official portraits, he concluded, “That was Mickey Mouse, according to John Hench.�?

John Hench greets old friend Mickey Mouse

John Hench and Mickey Mouse are joined by Imagineer Tony Baxter and the Disneyland Ambassador at the 10th Anniversary of the Disney Gallery.

Sandy Huskins, John Hench’s assistant of thirty years, then entered with Mickey Mouse himself. Marty Sklar greeted Mickey, saying, “Do you realize you are the only one at Disney who has had a career longer than John Hench?�? He asked Mickey about the gray temples that Hench had included in his 70th birthday portrait. “What about that?�? Mickey leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Black shoe polish!�? exclaimed Sklar. “We’ll keep your secret.�? As Mickey prepared to leave, Marty Sklar announced “We can all break the rule and applaud for Mickey Mouse.�?

Mickey Mouse’s official 70th birthday portrait