The Walt Disney Family Museum - Part VI

It is Thursday evening, and that means it is once again time to dive into the galleries of The Walt Disney Family Museum. As we kick off our look into the second half of the museum’s ten galleries, I think it is important to stop and take a moment to view these showcases for what they truly are. When open The Walt Disney Family Museum will not allow video-recording or photography within the galleries, therefore, for many of us these glimpses we are receiving may be our first, but also our only peeks for quite a while. That is, unless we find a way out to the Presidio in San Francisco or pick up a copy of The Man, the Magic, the Memories.

For those of you seeking more information on museum’s book, it will include 124 images and is being penned by Diane Disney Miller and J.P. Kaufman. The 96 page tour of the life and times of Walt and his family will use its ten chapters to parallel the museum’s ten galleries.

Thank you, once again, to the amazing generosity of The Walt Disney Family Museum for providing these feasts for the eyes, as well as the always cheerful Andrea Wang, the museum’s Communications Coordinator. The Disney community is grateful for all you are doing for us!

Gallery 6: The Late ‘30s to Mid ‘40sThis difficult period in Walt’s life included the deaths of his parents, a studio strike that threatened the company’s viability, and a period when the U.S. military used part of the studio as a base. The company released Dumbo and produced training films for the military, public service shorts, and morale-boosting films, and Walt embarked on a goodwill tour of South America to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Latin American countries. He later produced two Latin American-themed animated movies based on the trip.Photos and union flyers from the 1941 Disney animators’ strike as well as samples of Disney films in support of the war effort will be among the gallery highlights. Also on view will be original art from Dumbo and insignias that the Studios created for numerous regiments and squadrons.