Animation Fun Facts for May 29th, 2012 Tues.

May 29th,1941- THE WALT DISNEY STRIKE- this morning a picket line of 350, and campsite went up across the street from the studios main gate where Saint Joseph’s Hospital is today. Chef's from nearby Toluca Lake restaurants would cook for the strikers on their off time and the aircraft mechanics of Lockheed promised muscle if any ruffstuff was threatened. Picketers included Hank Ketcham (Dennis the Menace), Walt Kelly and Margaret Selby (later Kelly) (Pogo), Bill Tytla (Dumbo), Bill Melendez (A Charlie Brown Christmas), Steve Bosustow and John Hubley (Mr. Magoo), Maurice Noble and Chuck Jones (What's Opera Doc?), George Baker (Sad Sack), Dick Swift ("the Parent Trap") Frank Tashlin (Cinderfella) and four hundred others. Animators from Warner Bros. MGM and Walter Lantz marched with their Disney brothers and sisters, because they knew this was where the fate of their entire industry would be settled. Celebrities like Dorothy Parker and John Garfield gave supportive speeches. The strike was eventually settled in September by Federal arbitration and a little arm twisting on Walt by his chief creditor, the Bank of America. Many of the artists who left the studio afterward set up U.P.A. and pioneered the 1950's style. Walt Disney had a nervous breakdown over the strike and a federal mediator was sent by Washington to arbitrate. The Chicago mob got involved. In later years, Uncle Walt blamed the studio’s labor ills on Communists. The studio unionized completely, but the hard feelings remained for their rest of their lives.