Where in the World is The Walt Disney Family Museum?!

This month's "Where in the World is The Walt Disney Family Museum" submission comes from none other than Disney Legend Tony Anselmo—animator, Disney Historian, and the voice of Donald Duck. Tony (left) is seen here on The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank with Bret Iwan, the newest voice of Mickey Mouse!

 

Do you have WDFM logo wear? Do you wear it proudly? The next time you are donning your logo wear (tee-shirt, sweatshirt, hat, etc),  snap a picture of yourself. Going on vacation? Take your logo wear with you and snap a pic of yourself wearing it next to a famous landmark. Either way, email those photos our way (storyboard@wdfmuseum.org) and we will post them here at Storyboard!

THE FAUNTELROY FOLLIES: The Continuing History of Donald Duck

In light of the Donald Duck Contest we held last month, Disney Historian Paul Anderson has uncovered new information about our favorite duck's middle name that will have you quacking "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!" 

May I be the first to congratulate all the Trivia Scholars that successfully answered the three Donald Duck questions. I think Donald’s middle name is one of the perennial Top Ten Disney trivia questions of all time, as it routinely shows up in contests (for many decades now). All I can surmise from this is that there must be a great deal of interest in the fine-feathered fowl’s middle name.

As a Disney historian, I wanted to share a little bit about the origins of the name as well as a previously unpublished and unknown anecdote. Yes, this is not your dad’s Walt Disney history, this is brand new, breaking news right here and now on Storyboard (alert the media!).

As you glorious, gifted masters of minutiae winners know, the answer to this trivia question comes from the short film Donald Gets Drafted (1942). It is in this cinematic achievement that we first see the name “Fauntleroy” as it is manifest on Donald’s Order to Report for Induction. It has always been suggested that the name had its origins from the 1886 book Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett. A Fauntelroy garment often consisted of a sailor suit and hat, and Little Lord Fauntleroy himself was a well-known spoiled brat (does this sound like somebody we know?).

I recently came across a story transcript from the film Donald Gets Drafted from April 9, 1941. In attendance at this meeting were Walt Disney and a handful of storymen. Early on in the discussion Walt comes up with the idea of zooming in on Donald’s draft notice and showing the particulars.  Walt declares: “Could we come down on this draft paper and it says ...” And now, here, for the first time, we hear Walt’s idea for Donald’s middle name ... (drum roll please), it is “something funny.” Okay, I know, that’s not funny. It’s not a name, but Walt throwing out a suggestion to his storymen. Storyman Harry Reeves states that it should be “Donald Swansdown Duck,” to which Walt replies, “it ought to be some dopey, silly name.” And there it is left. So now you know, the very first ever incarnation of Donald’s middle name is: Swansdown! It is just one more, small piece of Donald S. Duck’s celebrated history.

Of particular interest to Donald Duck fans, is that also present at the story meeting was Carl Barks, who, of course, became Donald Duck’s best pal and champion (along with Clarence “Ducky” Nash and Tony Anselmo!). Carl did not suggest a middle moniker for Donald, which is unusual because he was legendary when it came to creative and imaginative character names for his comic book stories. So making the leap of faith that Walt’s storymen were well known for stashing unused ideas for future use, and Carl was in the meeting, we discover that Barks  did just that! In his Donald Duck story for the April 1946 issue of Walt Disney Comics and Stories #67, we find a flirtatious Donald with a “Miss Swansdown-Swoonsudden.” Coincidence? I think so! But a cool story, nonetheless!

Congratulations to Jessica Peterson who was drawn at random to win a personal audio birthday message from Tony Anselmo. A round of applause to all who participated in the contest and knew that Donald's birthday was June 9, 1934, Clarence Nash was the first person to voice The Duck, and Donald's middle name is indeed Fauntleroy!

Look Closer: Charlotte Clark Donald Duck Doll Recap!

Although Walt Disney often said he personally identified with the character of Mickey Mouse, many fans would pick Donald Duck if they really thought about it.  With his optimistic outlook on life yet temperamental nature and tendency to overreact, Donald’s a character we feel sympathy for and can understand.  He often displays those aspects of our personalities we’re not always proud of but which certainly make us human.  Donald Duck is like us, and for that reason we’re drawn to him.  

For the month of January, the Museum celebrated this expressive duck, who was one of the Disney Studio’s famed Fab Five, a group of animated characters who were most prominent in the Studio lineup, and included Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, and Goofy.  Donald Fauntleroy Duck made his first appearance in the Silly Symphony, The Wise Little Hen, on June 9, 1934, and then went on to star in 128 cartoons of his own, while continuing to join his friends in other animated shorts.

During the 1940s, the character of Donald Duck increased in popularity, garnering such a fan base that for a time, more cartoons were produced and released featuring Donald than his pal Mickey.  Again, it was that impulsive, hot-headed personality that appealed to audiences, who enjoyed seeing such a flawed but basically good-hearted character. The irascible duck also rated his own daily comic strip and an extensive line of Donald Duck merchandise, including Charlotte Clark dolls, one of which is displayed in the Museum’s Gallery 3. 

It was this prized doll that was the focus of our January Look Closer presentation. Standing 17 inches tall and made of cotton fabric, kapok stuffing, buttons and satin ribbon, the doll was fashioned by one of the many influential Disney character designers from the 1930s and 1940s, Carolyn “Charlotte” Geis Clark. Clark was an American seamstress who created the first line of Mickey Mouse and other Disney character dolls, all approved by the company. Initially, these dolls were made just for the Disney brothers to give to friends and business acquaintances or for Clark to sell to retail outlets in Los Angeles. But later, in order to satisfy the growing demand for the dolls, the Disneys approved contracts with select novelty companies for large-scale manufacturing and distribution. Mrs. Clark’s sewing craftsmanship and attention to character detail were highly valued by both Walt and Roy and set the standard for Disney merchandise in later years. Today, Charlotte Clark dolls are among the most coveted treasures in the Disneyana collecting community.

In addition to the Donald Duck doll, the Museum brought attention to the famous sound of the character, namely his unmistakable voice, which was originally provided by Disney Legend Clarence Nash. For more than 50 years, Mr. Nash fulfilled this role for which he was given the endearing nickname of “Ducky.”  Currently, Disney Legend and artist, Tony Anselmo, who was personally mentored and trained by Nash, is the voice of the temperamental duck. 

Join us next month as Look Closer highlights Lilly Disney's Oscar® bracelet!

 

Mary Beth Culler

Museum Interpreter at The Walt Disney Family Museum 

Look Closer!

Each month at The Walt Disney Family Museum, our museum interpreters share in-depth information about specific artifacts from our galleries in our Look Closer series. This weekend, our series features the Charlotte Clark Donald Duck doll from our collection.

To give you a glimpse of our Look Closer program, here is a short video of from our anniversary weekend last October highlighting the Steamboat Willie wall in Gallery 2.

So, stop by the Museum this weekend and learn more about the Donald Duck doll in Gallery 3!

Friday through Sunday, January 28, 29, and 30 only!

3:00 pm

From the Mouth of the Duck: Designing a Voice with Tony Anselmo -- RECAP!

In the 1940s, Walt Disney once referred to Donald Duck as the Clark Gable of his stable, meaning that the irascible duck was as important a talent to the Walt Disney Studios as Clark Gable was to MGM Studios. Donald’s importance to the Disney “stable” is evidenced by his starring role in more cartoon shorts (128) than any other Disney character, including Mickey Mouse.

On Saturday, January 22, The Walt Disney Family Museum hosted an event featuring the man behind the voice of Donald Duck for the past 27 years, Disney Legend, Tony Anselmo. Director of Visitor Experience and Interpretation, Donna Tuggle, served as moderator for this rare opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes to hear what goes into the creation of one of Walt Disney’s most enduring and beloved characters.

Donald’s first appearance was in the 1934 Silly Symphony, The Wise Little Hen. As with Mickey, his physical appearance changed over the years from a thinner more elongated figure into the wonderfully rounded Donald we know today. One thing has not changed however, his instantly recognizable voice. The cantankerous duck has been voiced by just two men in his 77 years. There is a poignant link between these two men as we learned during this interesting and entertaining event.

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