Report: Cinderella's 50th Anniversary Royal Celebration
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As we concluded our main course a herald announced Tim O’ Day, the director of Communications and Synergy for Walt Disney Art Classics who would be acting as the moderator for the panel of special guests.

 
Tim O' Day

After welcoming the audience he announced the evening’s panel discussion. The orchestra struck up a majestic rendition of Cinderella’s main theme as the curtain rose.

A "sleeping" Bill Justice

As he passed Bill Justice he awoke him from a brief catnap. O'Day introduced Bill Justice, John Hench, Lucille Bliss and Rhoda Williams but there was a vacant chair. A radio announcement played over the ballroom speakers announcing the recent selection of Ilene Woods as Cinderella.

The voice of Cinderella, Illene Woods

Then two footmen escorted Cinderella’s singing and speaking voice Illene Woods onto the stage. She wore a beautifully sparkling blue dress and tiara. She began to sit by the stepsisters’ but Tim quickly reminded her that she may end up doing dishes if she gets too close to them.

The panel (l-r): Animators Bill Justice and John Hench,
The stepsisters, Lucille Bliss (Anastasia), Rhoda Williams (Drizella)
moderator Tim O' Day and Illene Woods (Cinderella)

O'Day began the discussion with John Hench who worked on the film’s sets and art design. O'Day asked how he became involved with the Cinderella project. Hench replied simply, “Walt suggested it.” With a large grin he explained that Walt would say you’re gonna work on that project and your going to like it!

John Hench

Hench explained that in designing the film’s sets he was impressed by the Baroque period and felt it offered a lot of opportunity for exaggeration. The film’s colors set a mood. That color had to be distributed and had to re-establish a color balance through time and they couldn’t use the entire spectrum in one scene. In the scene where Cinderella’s dress turns from rags to her ball gown they used blues so that the pumpkin coach would really stand out. In fact Walt once came by the department and asked the staff if they had any other color but blue.

In wrapping up his remarks Hench spoke about Mary Blair the colorist who designed the costuming colors and the endless appeal of Cinderella. He attributed the longevity of Disney’s Cinderella to its unforgettable animal characters.

Bill Justice

Next, O’ Day asked Bill Justice how he came to be involved in the project. Justice replied, “If I told you the truth I’d be very boring so I made up a little story.” Once the audience laughter died down Justice spoke about Freddy Moore who worked across the hall. Bill loved to watch him work. While Justice was working on some chipmunks one day he offered to pick up some of Moore’s work so he could take a long lunch. Justice would often finish his quota of animation work by noon on Wednesday. So one day Moore took Justice up on the offer and that is how he ended up working on the mice in Cinderella.

Art and scenes from Cinderella
was shown on video screens during the discussion.

Justice obviously loves the mice. He chuckled as the model sheets he had worked on 50 years ago appeared on the large video screens around the room. He explained that he enjoys drawing the mice on restaurant napkins. He even considered drawing on the tablecloth that night but decided, “I thought I’d better behave myself. Martha [one of the event coordinators] wouldn’t like it!” The audience erupted in laughter. During the laughter he interjected “Anything else you’d like to know?” O'Day replied cautiously, “I’m almost afraid to ask but what is your fondest memory while working on Cinderella.” Bill thought for a moment and then stated, “Freddy [Moore] would go home for lunch and he’d make the best sandwiches.” Once again laughter filled the ballroom.