2006 Disney Legends Ceremony
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Joe Ranft: Animation
“Joe was a born storyteller.�? Dick Cook opened the tribute to Joe Ranft with these simple words. Ranft, he continued, worked in two places that prized storytelling, Disney and Pixar. While working at Disney, Ranft was lured to Pixar by John Lassiter to work on the plot of Toy Story. Although the visuals were important in that first fully computer animated feature film, Lassiter knew that the story was most vital. In addition to working on every subsequent Pixar feature through Cars, Ranft also provided a gallery of distinctive voices. In describing his work method, Ranft said, “I have this notion that there’s a story that wants to be told…�? Tragically, Joe Ranft died in an automobile accident in August, 2005.
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Su Ranft and daughter Sophia accepted the award for their husband and father. Fighting tears, Su said, “On behalf of Joe’s family and myself, I would like to thank the Walt Disney Studios for this honor.�? After dedicating the award to Ranft’s mother and father, she concluded, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.�? As she made her way back to her seat, Pixar head John Lassiter rose to embrace her.
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Al Dempster: Animation
Dick Cook introduced the next presenter, Roy Disney. Disney spoke of the often overlooked contribution of the background artists who labored at the Disney Studios during the golden age of animation, saying “This art is more than a series of lovely paintings.�? Background painters must set the stage, establish the mood, and maintain a “visual anonymity�? with the audience.
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Al Dempster contributed his unique talents to this area from Fantasia (1940) through the Winnie the Pooh featurettes (1977). In addition, Al Dempster created memorable art for Disney’s Little Golden Books. Roy Disney added that Al Dempster’s art even graced the walls of his own home. Dempster died in June, 2001 at the age of 89, leaving five children and 14 grandchildren.
Ginny Tyler: Television and Film
Disney began his introduction of Ginny Tyler with her childhood. Growing up with a Native American family, she learned to imitate animal sounds at a very early age. After cutting her teeth in radio and records, she was hired by Disney in the early 1960s as part of the Disneyland Records stock company. Among her numerous recordings were Bambi, Babes in Toyland, Hans Brinker, and More Mother Goose. In 1962 the original Mickey Mouse Club was syndicated, and Tyler was cast as the Head Mouseketeer, hosting from the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland. Later she moved to providing character voices for Disney animated films, including Sword in the Stone and Mary Poppins. She is also heard every day in Disneyland as various South Seas deities on the patio of the Enchanted Tiki Room.
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As the diminutive Tyler took the stage, she leaned in to the microphone and, skillfully switching voices said, “Thank you so much. And in the words of Minnie Mouse, ‘It’s so much fun!’�? She then thanked the crowd as Pinocchio, the little girl squirrel from Sword in the Stone, and an old witch. “It’s been kind of fun,�? she said. She also pointed out that she wasn’t completely retired, and was presently working on voices for a touring Disney production. “This is a thrill beyond compare,�? she concluded. “I thank you so much everyone.�?
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Paul Frees: Television, Film and Parks
Paul Frees, Roy Disney began, was known in Hollywood as the man of a thousand voices. He went on to say that Disney used a couple of hundred of them, from beloved classics to less memorable projects like Hector the Stowaway Dog. Frees, Disney said, was well known around the studio lot. His most lasting contributions were to animation and the theme parks. He created Professor Ludwig Von Drake, just one in his gallery of animated characters. For the theme parks Frees narrated Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Adventure Thru Inner Space, and can still be heard daily in both Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Although Frees died in 1986, Disney concluded, he is still the ghost host.
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Accepting for Paul Frees were his son and daughter. His son recalled watching their father work while growing up. “You’ve given him immortality,�? he concluded. “Thank you.�?