Sunday, March 06, 2016

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR....



Two Acrylic paintings done by me, which are self-explanatory.; characters recognisable..I hope! (Both of which I have posted previously somewhere along the line).

While recalling certain memories as I was in my previous post I’d better remain on subject in case I forget what it is I intend to write.

Reading a post on River’s blog last week I was reminded of a couple of things. 

During December, 2015 on SBS-1 TV a four-part documentary on the life of Walt Disney was shown. It was a fascinating insight into the man. My attention was grabbed and held from go to whoa....

No doubt the timing of the documentary was because 5th December was the unforgettable Walt Disney’s birth date.  On 5th December, 2015 Walter Elias Disney would’ve celebrated his 114th birthday.  Walt, as he preferred to be called by everyone he met, passed away 15th December, 1966.  What a wonderful, magical, marvellous, on-going legacy Walt left us.

The documentary told the story of a clever, determined, inspiring, loving family man.

Walt, in reality, was not unlike the boy he immortalised on screen in his 1953 animated film “Peter Pan”.   “Peter Pan” or “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” – the play, written by J.M. Barrie, was one of Walt’s favourite stories. Disney had wanted to turn “Peter Pan” into an animated film way back in 1935; for it to be his second film after “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. 

His plan was thwarted. Other factors came into play, along with other projects he had on his plate, and then, the bombing of Pearl Harbour on 7th December, 1941 intervened.  The United States joined the Second World War after the attack by the Japanese.  Many undertakings and dreams were put on the back-burner until after the war was over, and, also, until the studio’s financial situation began to improve.

Walt Disney’s four-part documentary is filled with priceless, archival footage. From beginning to end and all in between I was enthralled; as captivated as if watching any of Disney’s animated features.  It is a brilliant documentary. It’s one I would recommend to everyone.

Walt had dreams...millions of dreams.  To the best of his abilities and time spent on earth he fulfilled many of those dreams, more than one normal person could ever hope to do; but then, Walt wasn’t a “normal” person. Walt was determined to not let anything deter him from his path; his dreams. He succeeded so often, with the help of his older brother, Roy, who stuck with him through thick and thin; through the good times and the bad.  Roy Disney was the “financial” man of the two.  Roy passed away 20th December, 1971, almost five years to the day of his younger sibling.

Walt allowed himself to be free – to be who he truly was – the boy, the dreamer within. He allowed his dreams to come true. He gave every one of us, young and old much to enjoy.  He gave willingly and happily.  We should, one and all remember the lessons he taught us - of how to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts and to believe - to not be afraid to do so. In honour of Walt Disney’s brilliance and in gratitude for the gifts he bestowed, the least one can do is try...

Throughout his life Walt had a youthful love of steam trains. An avid railroad enthusiast, he built a miniature railroad in his own backyard; and then later, he built the Disneyland Railroads, which feature in Disney entertainment parks throughout the world.

I was four years old the first time I watched the picture (as we called “movies” or “films” when I was a little girl), “Bambi”. 

Like millions of other I fell in love with Bambi and his friends, Thumper, Flower and Faline.  And like millions of others, I shed a torrent of tears when Bambi’s wise, loving mother was killed by a heartless hunter.  If I watched the movie again at the age I am now, I would still shed tears; and not be ashamed or embarrassed by doing so.

One Saturday morning about four or five years ago, by accident, when flicking through TV channels I stumbled across “The Fox and the Hound”.  The movie had just begun and I immediately got sucked in.  Dropping everything else, I watched the wonderful movie through to the very end, a smile permanently on my face.  I’d not seen the film before that particular morning.  I’m glad I took the time to watch it. It wasn’t wasted time, in my opinion.  Housework or whatever else needed doing that morning wasn’t as important, to me, as experiencing the feeling of light-hearted warmth and love.  Life should always be that way.

In 1965 shortly before I left Gympie to live and work in Brisbane I was asked to help choreograph and produce a segment for a combined stage production to be put on by the local Musical Union and Drama Group.  At the time I was a member of the Drama Group (I’ve mentioned this minor fact previously); but why I was asked to choreograph a musical segment had me baffled at the time...it still does.  However, being one who doesn’t like to back off from a challenge...in most instances...I grabbed hold of the offer and ran with it.

The first of the two acts I planned and worked on was based around “When You Wish Upon a Star”.

My idea was to have a half moon hanging centre stage surrounded by flickering, silver stars.  Swinging on the half moon the “star” of the show (not me, I was the director and producer, not the singer or dancer) would sing and dance to “Jiminy Cricket’s” Academy Award winning song from Walt Disney’s wonderful 1940 animated production of  “Pinocchio”.  I planned for a spotlight to be focussed upon the sole performer. The stars and the moon would subtly glow against a dark blue almost black backdrop.

The other musical segment was to be based around a gypsy campfire...a fiery song and dance around a fire.  I had everything planned out down to the finest details, and rehearsals for both performances were well underway. For the life of me at this present moment in time I can’t remember the song I’d chosen for the second act! 

But life outside the fantasy world had to carry on. My debut into musical stage productions was rudely interrupted. I was unable to escape its clutches.  I never completed my stint as choreographer, producer and director because just as I’d started swinging from a star, I left Gympie behind to live in the big city of Brisbane!  The city lights were impossible for me to ignore.

Bob Fosse, Martha Graham, Busby Berkley, Debbie Allen, Gene Kelly et al; and Walt Disney had nothing to fear. 

Upon hearing of my departure from the show they let out a collective sigh.

Our dreams, like our memories should be cherished....they're ours to keep....ours to dream and wish upon....

28 comments:

  1. Goodness you have LIVED a busy and varied life. Which is lovely.

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    1. Hi EC...it was just the small local amateur theatre group...but it was lots of fun. Thanks for dropping by. :)

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  2. I understand the Bambi thing. Every time I watch Anne of Green Gables I cry every time Matthew dies. My hubby is amazed and asked me, Do you think it will change? I say, I can hope.

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    1. Hey there Gail...I'm a big sook! There's always something that makes me cry, no matter how many times I've watched it. "Roman Holiday" never fails to make me cry at the end of it...same with "Breakfast at Tiffanys" and thousands of other stories/movies/articles etc; you name it and I'll have cry!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. You left before the performance?? You didn't see it through? :(
    I'm sure your reasons were good, but I bet the performers were sorry to see you go. I hope whoever replaced you did as good a job.
    I haven't seen many Disney movies, never seen Bambi, but I have seen Peter Pan. mostly I've seen Disney cartoons, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck etc. my kids loved them too.
    When Hungry Jack's burger restaurants released a Mickey Mouse collector's glass four weeks in a row, with a different Mickey Mouse on each one, I collected them and still have them. They were released to celebrate Mickey's 65th birthday and I wish I'd had the foresight to collect four sets, one for each of my kids.

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    1. Hi River...well, a new job and a new life in the city was kind of more important at the time. I couldn't turn down the job to work in my leisure hours on a local amateur concert. I'm sure they survived very will without me. Earning a living was more important! :)

      If any of the Disney animated movies come on TV, River...or you have access to them on DVD, do watch them. I'm sure you will love them. They're are quite magical and wonderful.

      Thanks for coming by and for your comment. :)

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  4. I loved Disney movies as a kid, we never know what turns in life happen and what might have been; Disney would be turning over in his grave since here in the USA recently the Disney company hired foreign visa workers putting their computer technicians out of jobs after working there for 20 years and even worse forcing them to train the foreign workers or loose their severance pay and telling them they had to keep quiet about it. One of them broke their silence and recently spoke in congress, not sure what came of it all.

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    1. That's sad to learn, Linda. A sign of the times, isn't it? It's the way everything seems to be going, unfortunately.

      Thanks for that info and for coming by. :)

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  5. Growing up my parents would not allow me to attend a "moving picture show" unless it was a Walt Disney production.

    My goodness friend Lee, you have certainly done it all haven't you?

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    1. Hi Annie...fortunately Mum and Nana never put that restriction on my brother and me. We went to every Saturday afternoon matinee...and often Mum or Nana took us to the movies due the week, too, if there was a picture on that they thought we should see.

      I've been fan of movies/films since I was a wee child.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  6. What a delightful piece to read tonight before bed Lee. I shal go and wish upon a star now I think.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Carol. Sweet dreams...thanks for popping in. :)

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  7. Well, I think you would have been a Big Star! You never know what might have happened had you stayed...
    hughugs

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    1. It was just a little local amateur production, Donna! I don't believe the lights of Broadway would've been calling me! lol

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  8. You have done so many things! I'll bet that was fun.

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    1. Hi Lynn....it was fun. But I had no idea why I was asked to do it. Sure...I could dance, but I wasn't a trained dancer. When I was a little girl I had ballet lessons for a short while. And my mother, who could dance and had had years of lessons, every so often throughout my childhood taught me some tap and other methods, but I was a rank amateur! lol

      My claim to dancing fame was I just loved to dance at the local dances, balls and record hops! I couldn't/can't sing to save my life! :)

      I did have a good imagination, though...and I loved and still do love...music.

      It was all a bit fun...and got the creative juices flowing, even if I had to turn the tap off and leave for Brisbane! :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  9. You are so talented! I have not seen these before. I assumed they were stills from the cartoon movies.

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    1. Hi there, RK...my two acrylic paintings were compilations; and I copied them from the Disney animated movies. Drew the characters/subject first with graphite pencils...and then did the painting using tube acrylics...on canvas.

      Alice and the rabbit are there looking on at the frolics of the fox and the hound. I painted them for the young daughters of a couple of friends of mine.

      Thanks for popping in...it's always good to see you. :)

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  10. I doubt Lizzy will make it to competition but she may have more fun this summer than last.

    Thanks for visiting. Have a great week.

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    1. She's a sweet little thing...and bit by bit she's obviously got past her fears. :)

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  11. Okay, here's the thing...you MUST make a movie! There you go, this is my challenge to you! When I see you onstage accepting your Oscar, I will be very happy to hear your Aussie accent!
    I also love Walt Disney. Did you see the movie where he war portrayed by Tom Hanks? "Saving Mr. Banks", I thought it was great! "Uncle Walt", I still think of him in that way and we always watched "The Wonderful World of Color" on Sunday nights....it was changed to "The Wonderful World of Disney" later, I think. xx

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    1. Hahahahaha, Kay!

      Yes, Kay, I did see "Saving Mr. Banks"...only a couple of weeks back, actually...it was on TV so I recorded it and watched it at a later date. I loved it. But I did find a glaring error in part of it.

      Maryborough where the family were living before they headed out to Allora is a town a little north of Gympie where I spent my childhood, teenage years and another four years just before I moved here to Tamborine Mountain where I presently live. The Mary River that runs through Gympie, also runs through and ends up at Maryborough.

      When the family arrived at the railway station there was a sign listing the towns the train would be travelling through en route...and one town is "Yandina" which is south of Gympie...and in the movie, on the sign, it was spelled incorrectly with a capital "V"...not a "Y"! I think I'm the only person who picked that up! lol

      Walt Disney was wonderful character, of that there is no doubt. If you get a chance to watch the four-part documentary I refer to in my post...do so...I'm sure you will be as captivated as I was. I loved it!

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  12. Your enthusiasm is frequently infectious Lee. Was the song chosen for the campfire scene "Fire" by Arthur Brown?... Ha! Ha! Only kidding. My all time Disney favourites were "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Greyfriars Bobby". Special cinema experiences from the long ago sixties. Oh, and more recently the "Toy Story" films were quite brilliant. Have you seen them?

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    1. Hi Yorkie...I will recall the name...it'll probably come to me out of the blue when I'm not trying to remember it. It was a song from the 40s, thereabouts. One my mother often used to play on the piano. Music played a big part in my childhood (and in my late brother's childhood).

      Mum and Nana encouraged our love of music and film. They succeeded because I still am a huge fan of both. :)

      I've not seen the "Toy Story" films, but next time they come on TV, I will make a point of watching them.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  13. No child should miss those famous films, Jungle book being the best.

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    1. I wish we'd allow the child within us to always remain, Adullamite. For that special spirit within to never grow old...to always enjoy the simple, good, innocent things in life.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. wow you are really an amazing lady dear Lee and you have done lots of interesting thing in life that one can just think about ,

    hope and pray that may god bless you even more love of life and make you inner child play ,god bless

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    1. Hellow there, baili...welcome to my blog. We've not "met" before. Thanks for coming by. :)

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