Articles on Animation &Bill Peckmann &Comic Art &Disney &Illustration 20 Aug 2009 07:20 am
Good Housekeeping 1
- From 1934 continuing into the late 1940′s, Good Houskeeping Magazine printed four-color full page previews of newly-released Disney shorts. These illustrations were, at first, painted by Tom Wood, and later by Hank Porter.
Here’s information from the book on Wood and Porter:
- Tom Wood came to Disney Studios in 1932 from his position as a Los Angeles daily newspaper artist. A quiet, hardworking individualist, he was well liked and highly regarded by those who knew him both personally and professionally. He worked at the Studio until his untimely death in 1940 and, as publicity artist, assumed primary responsibility for the monthly Good Housekeeping page as well as the creation of publicity stills for the theater. Since Good Housekeeping was the only magazine for which Disney produced these monthly watercolor sequences, we recognize their scarcity.
Wood typically worked on each of these pages for a full week. Beginning with sketchy, pencilled drawings which he would then ink himself, he also created the final watercolors which represented a 7-minutc Disney film short. Assisted by an “idea man” and a third person who wrote the story or dialogue, the publicity artist had the final approval on the finished version. After Wood’s death Hank Porter would continue working with the magazine well into the late 1940′s. Thereafter, production of these shorts was discontinued as costs became prohibitive and the Studio refused to compromise on quality.
The Alexander Gallery collected these illustrations in 1987 for an exhibition, and they published a book of them. Bill Peckmann has kindly loaned me his copy of the book, so I’ll post the illustrations over a number of posts.
Here are the first group of pages:
1
Donald Duck in “The Delivery Boy” 1938
2 
3
(L) Donald Duck – Antarctic Troopers 1938
(R) Silly Symphony – The Practical Pig 1938
4 
5
(L) Mickey Mouse – Society Dog Show 19389
(R) Goofy and Wilbur – Goofy and Wilbur 1939
06
Mickey Mouse – The Pointer 1939
7 
8
(L) Donald Duck – Donald’s Date 1939
(R) Donald Duck – Officer Duck 1940
9 
10
(L) Mickey Mouse – Ice Antics 1940
(R) Donald Duck – Donald’s Elephant 1940
11
Donald Duck – Billposters 1940
12
13
(L) Donald Duck – Donald’s Vacation 1940
(R) Donald Duck – Window Cleaners 1940
14
15
(L) Donald Duck – Fire Chief 1940
(R) Donald Duck – Put-Put Troubles 1940
16
17
(L) Mickey Mouse – The Little Whirlwind 1941
(R) Mickey Mouse – Big-Hearted Pluto 1941
18
Donald Duck – Timber 1941
on 20 Aug 2009 at 9:40 am 1.Stephen Macquignon said …
Wonderful, too bad things like this are no longer around
on 20 Aug 2009 at 10:51 am 2.Pete Emslie said …
I am fortunate enough to actually have this book in my Disney library, as I have turned to it often for painting inspiration. I knew of Hank Porter, of course, through his wartime insignia, but finding out about Tom Wood was a real revelation. I just love the sheer craftsmanship that went into producing these panels. None of the digital painting of today can ever measure up to the warmth and charm of these delicately executed ink and watercolour cartoon illustrations. It is indeed becoming a lost art, sad to say.
on 20 Aug 2009 at 11:50 am 3.Jerry Beck said …
All the Good Housekeeping Disney pages are collected in a large (but low-priced) volume called MICKEY AND THE GANG, CLASSIC STORIES IN VERSE, compiled by David Gerstein. This is an absolute must have book for your animation history/illustration bookshelf. http://www.amazon.com/Mickey-Gang-Classic-Stories-Verse/dp/1888472065
on 20 Aug 2009 at 1:58 pm 4.Michael said …
I have the book Jerry.
Although the new publication gives some great informantion about the shorts, the older catalogue prints the actual art from the illustrations with more delicacy. The watercolors in the new book are printed with great contrast and cheapens the art. Hence my decision to post art from the earlier source. The newer book includes many more of the earlier Good Housekeeping magazine pages.
on 20 Aug 2009 at 6:26 pm 5.Jonah Sidhom said …
Thanks for posting these! I really like the design of Mickey in 4 & 6. I wish he kept that look.
on 23 Aug 2009 at 8:41 am 6.Arnaud said …
Just amazing ! Thanks a lot for those wonderful pictures.
on 29 Aug 2009 at 4:29 pm 7.Ricardo Cantoral said …
Thank you so much for posting these. The colors, the construction, it’s just SOOOOO beautiful !