Disney honors its own at the 2007 Legends induction ceremony

Brian Gaughan — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

In a town that's known for its glitz & glamor (as well as for giving out far too many awards to people who really don't deserve recognition), the Disney Legends is a really nice change of pace.

Photo by Brian Gaughan

Held three weeks ago today, this year's induction ceremony was such a low key, classy affair. Held in the Courtyard of the Legends on the Burbank lot, more than 100 attendees and guests attended this late afternoon event. Where -- as those giant dwarfs that hold up the Michael D. Eisner building looked on -- 12 truly deserving individuals were dubbed Disney Legends.

The courtyard was fully engulfed in shade by the time Disney CEO Robert Iger finally took the stage and welcomed everyone to the event. Iger then presented this year's first Disney Legends award to his old mentor at ABC/Cap Cities, Capital Cities founder Tom Murphy. As he accepted this statuette, Murphy made a point of mentioning how proud he was of Iger.

Disney CEO Robert Iger welcomes everyone to this year's induction ceremony.
Photo by Brian Gaughan

The next Disney Legend award was presented to posthumously to Roone Arledge, that television visionary who helped drive the expansion of ABC News & Sports. His statuette was graciously accepted by his son, Roone Arledge, Jr.

The next and probably most emotional award at this year's ceremony was given to executive secretary Lucille Martin, who started with Walt and became an assistant to everyone who followed him up to Michael Eisner.

Iger presentd the Disney Legends Award to longtime studio employee Lucille Martin.
Photo by Brian Gaughan

Iger then introduced Roy E. Disney, who gave the more surprising awards at this year's Ceremony. The first went to animation legend and JHM contributor Floyd Norman, who accepted this award with his usual humor and grace. Then -- while presenting a posthumous Disney Legend award to animation pioneer Art Babbit -- Roy called Art a "troublemaker, which isn't unwarranted." Which was a somewhat veiled reference to Babbit's involvement in the infamous Disney animators strike of 1941.

Roy E. Disney, Floyd Norman, Chip & Dale.
Photo by Brian Gaughan

As a few people in the courtyard area chuckled at Roy's comment, he remarked "Ah, someone remembered." Art's wife, Barbara Babbit, then accepted the Disney Legends award in her late husband's stead.

Disney then presented another posthumous Disney Legend award to animator/writer Dick Huemer. This particular award was accepted by Dick's son, Dr. Richard Huemer.

Dr. Richard Huemer accepts a Disney Legends award on behalf of his late father.
Photo by Brian Gaughan

The next recipient was dance legend Marge Champion. Who -- as a teenager -- was the live-action reference model of Snow White among other classic Disney characters. She accepted, telling a story that -- because she was a teenage -- she had to refer to Walt Disney as "Uncle Walt."

Marty Sklar was next up to present the awards to the Disney Legends from Imagineering. The first went to past President of Imagineering Carl Bongirno.

The next honoree was Ron Logan. Who -- throughout his career-- was Musical & Entertainment Director at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. As Ron accepted his statuette, he told the crowd how he had been the first trumpet playing "Toy Soldiers" in the Disneyland Christmas Parade.

Bob Schiffer applying make-up to Dean Jones during the production of "The Shaggy DA."
Photo by Brian Gaughan

Dick Cook was next up to present awards to Disney's Entertainment Legends. These included archivist Dave Smith as well as Bob Schiffer, the make-up genius behind such Disney favorites of the 1970s & 1980s as "Tron," "The Shaggy DA," "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Frankenweenie." Schiffer's son accepted this posthumous award.

Last up was the real entertainment of this year's event, Academy Award winner Randy Newman. As he was cheered on by his proud Pixar partner, John Lasseter, Newman talked about his longtime connection with Walt Disney Studios. With one tongue-in-cheek highlight being the moment when Randy turned to the Woody & Buzz Lightyear walkaround characters that had joined him on stage and said "I'm sorry that we had to cut your love scene" out of "Toy Story."

Randy Newman apologizes to Buzz & Woody. Oh, well ... There's always "Toy Story 3."
Photo by Brian Gaughan

After Newman serenaded the crowd with a rendition of "You've Got a Friend in Me," the honorees all gathered together. First to have a group photo taken, then to place their handprints & signatures in cement.

You know what really struck me about this event? The fact that Bob Iger didn't act like your usual Hollywood bigwig. Rather than hogging the limelight, Iger seemed quite content to stand on the sidelines and just enjoy the day. With his arms folded in front of him, looking on like a proud papa at his kid's birthday.

This year's crop of Disney Legends gather for a group photo.
Photo by Brian Gaughan

After all the awards were given out, it was fun to watch this year's Disney Legends rub elbows with such past honorees as Art Linkletter, Richard M. Sherman and Wally Boag.

All in all, maybe a hundred people attend the 2007 Disney Legends induction ceremony. Which may not have been long on glitz & glamor. But -- man -- was it magical !

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Brian Gaughan : Dean Jones

Disney honors its own at the 2007 Legends induction ceremony