Disney Legend Claude Coats was born in San Francisco, California. Claude was one of many Disney animation artists who were asked by Walt Disney to work on his park project. Claude began working for the Walt Disney Studios as a background painter in 1935. He worked on several prominent Disney films, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Dumb, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, and many others. In 1955, Claude was asked to work on Disneyland, primarily painting Fantasyland dark ride interiors with Ken Anderson. On July 4, 1955, just days before Disneyland’s opening, Claude brought his family, including his 11-year-old son Alan, to a preview party Walt hosted at the park for Studio employees. Years later Alan recounted that Walt greeted their family at the Jungle Cruise, telling them: “Well, thank you for coming! And I hope you have good time! Welcome to Disneyland!” Claude was a tall man, standing at 6 feet, 6 inches, something Walt loved to joke about. On one occasion, Walt wouldn’t let Claude take a test ride on the Disneyland Stagecoach because he said Claude would ruin the scale. In the early years of Disneyland, the first iteration of the Snow White attraction was a much scarier experience. According to Claude, “We got some letters about the witch scene in that ride. Walt never seemed to mind. He thought that children would sometimes have to learn that things were scary, you know.”
Claude would later be involved with painting the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas on the Disneyland Railroad, and contributing to the development of the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Submarine Voyage and many other attractions. Later, Claude was involved in Walt Disney World with the Universe of Energy, Horizons, and several World Showcase pavilions. In 1989, Claude retired from the Walt Disney Company, ending an illustrious 54 year career with the company. Walt Disney Imagineering President Marty Sklar said “Claude paved the way in turning sketches and paintings into three-dimensional adventures. He was a genuine one-of-a-kind.” Claude passed away in 1992. Tiana’s Palace is coming to Disneyland park later this year! Partnering with Disney Animation artists from the film, “The Princess and the Frog,” to bring this story to life. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming. @waltdisneyimagineering
Walt with Santa Fe Railroad Chairman Fred Gurley at the opening of the Grand Canyon Diorama on the cover of Santa Fe Magazine in 1958.
The hag that used to live on Main Street, is from Snow White, she used to live on Main Street in the jewelry shop in the ‘60s and ‘70s. She was moved in the ‘80s to Fantasyland, and in the late ‘80s, she was lost. At some point, it seems the hag was put in a box and sent to a warehouse and then everybody just lost track of it. It took two people, and a little luck more than likely, to actually find the hag in whatever Imagineering warehouse corner she’d been stuck into. Even just a couple of months ago this particular item wasn't planned to be on display because it hadn't been found yet. -cinemablend yahoo
|
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|