Art Babbitt: A Class of His Own
Still, he never forgot that he was Art Babbitt. “Your notes from Dick Williams’ seminar are being passed about here as if they were Galileo’s,” said Canemaker to him in 1975. Babbitt answered wryly, “Just so they won’t burn me at the stake.”[30]
Jake Friedman is a New York-based animator, freelance writer, and the authorized biographer of Art Babbitt.
[1] Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, The Illusion of Life (New York: Disney Editions, 1981), 71.
[2] Frank Thomas, at Art Babbitt’s memorial service, March 28, 1992.
[3] Ward Kimball, interview with John Canemaker, 1975. [Babbit, Art, Canemaker Collection, Accretions 2001, Series 1, subseries B, Box 2, Folder10, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[4] Art Babbitt, interview with John Canemaker, June 4, 1975. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Series I, subseries B, Box 5, Folder 3, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[5] This story has been re-told many times, including: Babbitt interview, 1975.
[6] Their third model was a woman named Doris Harman whose mother’s social activism in Kansas City inspired Babbitt. Art Babbitt, transcript of audio letter to John Canemaker, 1979. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Series I, subseries B, Box 5, Folder 3, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[7] Babbitt’s copy of Graham’s book is inscribed, “To Art – who started me out in the Animation Business / My great appreciation – Graham 1971.” Collection of Barbara Babbitt.
[8] Thomas and Johnston, 538-9
[9] Shamus Culhane, Talking Animals and Other People (New York: Da Capo Press, 1986) 137.
[10] Donald Graham, Composing Pictures (Los Angeles: Silman-James Press, 1970), 375.
[11] Art Babbitt, letter to Bill Tytla, November 27, 1933. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Accretions 2001, Series 1, subseries B, Box 3, Folder 11, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[12] Culhane, 133.
[13] R. C. Harvey, “Only Minor Scathing: The Disney Influence,” Pogo, vol. 3 (New York: Fantagraphics, 1995), v.
[14] Willis Pyle, interview with author, April 14, 2010.
[15] Culhane, 128. (This specific occurrence happened soon after Babbitt’s development of the Goof, but I believe Graham certainly must have discussed this prior, as well.)
[16] Art Babbitt, letter to John Canemaker, February 21, 1979. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Accretions 2001, Series 1, subseries B, Box 3, Folder 11, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[17] Babbitt interview, 1975.
[18] Animation Program and Department of Cinema Progress Report, 1961. [Doheny Memorial Library 220, University of Southern California]
[19] In 1963 at Chuck Jones’ studio, Hal Ambro generously shared information with Bell, as Frank Thomas had done with Ambro. Carl Bell, interview with author, June 29, 2010.
[20] Maggie Julian Wisdom, interview with the author, May 1, 2011.
[21] Bell interview, 2010.
[22] Imogen Sutton, Director, Animating Art, 1987.
[23] Richard Williams, fax to Barbara Babbitt, March 27, 1992.
[24] Tom Sito, Introduction, The Babbitt Notes, circa 1973. Courtesy of Barbara Babbitt.
[25] Art Babbitt, Training Course Lecture Series, Walt Disney Studios, September 23, 1936. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Accretions 2001, Series 1, subseries B, Box 3, Folder 11, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[26] Art Babbitt, Lecture to Richard Williams Studio, July 2, 1973. [Babbitt, Art, Canemaker Collection, Series I, subseries B, Box 5, Folder 4, Bobst Library, New York University.]
[27] Babbitt interview, 1975.
[28] Williams fax, 1992.
[29] Chuck Jones, at Art Babbitt’s memorial service, March 28, 1992.
[30] Babbitt interview, 1975.
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Wonderful explanation of facts avilaalbe here.
Stellar work there evreynoe. I'll keep on reading.
Hey, subtle must be your mdlide name. Great post!
This Article Boost me a lot to do...... Thanks a lot...
It was dark when I woke. This is a ray of siunshne.
Very inspiring article! I knew a little about Babbit, but now I think I understand better what happened.
Can't wait for the next one!
Years later, when worked at H-B as an animator, one old-timer told me"Go home and cook for your husband",
and "Go home and make more babies -you're taking a man's job here".
Sorry... I was the only breadwinner for my family. Yes, I was hurt, but even more sorry for him; he could barely walk at the time.
No, it was NOT Art Babbitt; he was too much of a gentleman.
As a Two-Gun Mickey collector, it is my understanding Art Babbitt was the animator, Ben Sharpsteen was in his first directorial role, and Frank Thomas was an in-betweener. I was well aware of Babbitt's courageous role in the strike. I have yet to see a comprehensive list of his Disney achievements, although one could argue his role at heading up the strike may have been his biggest contribution to his co-workers. Thanks for such a wonderful, and illuminating, article. P.S. I thoroughly enjoyed Didier Ghez's interview with Tom Sito in Disney's People Vol. 9, and eagerly await Tom's presentation at the 2011 Disneyana Convention.
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