MARY BLAIR

Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.

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We all had a favorite Disney movie or cartoon that connected with us as a kid. But that interaction would never have happened if not for the artist behind the art. And while the opening logo does cite Walt Disney, the actual minds behind it are far more diverse than a cigarette toking mustache. And today podcaster Heidi Bennett (VIBRANT VISIONARIES) uncovers one of those individuals in the form of Disney animator and designer, Mary Blair.

Today’s guest HEIDI BENNETT hosts the weekly podcast VIBRANT VISIONARIES available on APPLE PODCASTs and GOOGLE PODCASTS. She is a Certified Professional Coach who assists creatives in achieving their dream projects at www.heidibennett.com.

POP NOTES

  • Mary Blair was born in McAlester Oklahoma on October 21st 1911 (just one day after, and 64 years before Tim’s own birthdate).

  • Following a seven year stint in the animation department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Mary Blair began working for Walt Disney Studios in 1940 with her first release being the short DONALD DUCK VISITS LAKE TITICACA (1942).

  • Mary Blair is the sister of Preston Blair, a noted animator best known for his work on the”Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment in Disney’s FANTASIA (1940) as well as authoring the well-respected text book ANIMATION (1948).

  • She was among the animators traveling with Walt Disney on a three month tour of South America. With her subsequent water colors reflecting the cities and cultures they visited, she was appointed Art Supervisor on the theatrical shorts SALUDOS AMIGOS (1942) an THE THREE CABALLEROS (1944).

  • Mary Blair was key in designing the influential visual styles of such memorable Disney films as CINDERELLA (1950), ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1952) and PETER PAN (1953).

  • In addition to her feature film work, Mary blair also illustrated such classic children’s books as the Little Golden Books editions of I CAN FLY (1950) and BABY’S HOUSE (1950) and THE UP AND DOWN BOOK (1964).

  • In the years since her passing (July 26th, 1978) Mary Blair has been recognized with an induction into the Diney Legend Hall as well as being awarded the prestigious Winsor McCay Award for her impactful contributions the field of animation.

Tune back on Monday when RICK BROOKS, co-host of the BATTLE OF THE NETWORK SHOWS podcast, praises the 1980s station identification campaign of New York’s channel 11 (as part of your regularly scheduled program). .


This episode of MÉNAGE Á POP was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser.    It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.

MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.

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Try to understand the present while living in the past with Tim’s weekly podcast 20TH CENTURY POP! at www.nahpods.com/20popcast

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