Walt disney

23396 — 3/3/56. <blockquote><p>The father of the boy who secured the autographs - and who signed for his son - was Philip S. Hench of the Mayo Clinic who won the 1950 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for developing cortisone</p><p> </p><p>The boy's uncle John Hench was a Disney illustrator</p></blockquote><p>The <strong>autographs album</strong> of twelve year old John B. Hench 6"" x 4 3/4"" maroon cloth taken on a family trip to California in early 1956. Young Hench has signed dated it March 3 1956 and included his Rochester Minnesota address on the front endpaper. He has also signed the front pastedown as has his uncle John C. Hench who worked for the Walt Disney Company for 65 years. The following leaf is signed by the younger Hench's <em>“momâ€</em> and father ""<em>To my wonderful son John / Dad / April 19 1956/ P. Hench"".</em> The boy’s father was Philip S. Hench of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. He was one of the leaders in American rheumatology and won the 1950 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for developing cortisone.</p><p><img class=""alignnone wp-image-28774 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204112418/IMG-0046-1-e1696364912470-1600x904.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""904"" /></p><p>John C. Hench started with Disney in 1939 as a story artist working in areas such as art direction and special effects and became respected by Disney as one of the studio's most gifted artists and designers. In 1954 Hench was in the studio's live action department as lead developer of the giant squid in 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. The film won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects. Hench was Disney's official portrait artist of Mickey Mouse painting the company's portraits for Mickey's 25th 50th 60th 70th and 75th birthdays. He also led the design team for various iconic attractions: Tomorrowland Adventureland the Snow White Grotto Space Mountain and the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. Hench contributed to attractions such as the Carousal of Progress and It’s a Small World.</p><p>In the album after a few personal signatures there is a full page inscription signature and two sketches by John C. Hench. <em>“With My Best Wishes for John Hench/ John C Hench / Disney Studio / Burbank Calif 1956â€</em>. A sketch of <em>""1 hydrogen atom†</em>Hench was art director for the 1957 episode of the television series ""Disneyland"" describing the benefits of nuclear power below that he has created a pen sketch of Donald Duck. The facing page has the autograph of Bob Carlson Disney Studios. Carlson was part of the team working on classic Disney short and feature films such as the Silly Symphony series animations featuring Donald Duck Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1937 and Fantasia 1940. In the 1950s Carlson was animating more feature films such as The Three Caballeros 1945 Alice in Wonderland 1951 Peter Pan 1952 and Sleeping Beauty 1959. On that page are also autographs of three basketball players Cal Christensen ""Babe"" Pressley Harlem Globetrotters and Andy Johnson Harlem Globetrotters.</p><p>The leaf following the Hench inscription has an inscription and large bold <strong>autograph</strong> of Walt Disney <em>""To John / Best Wishes / Walt Disney"".</em> Thus this album contains the signatures of Disney and two of his foremost artists/designers and a drawing by one.</p><p>The Henches visited 20th Century Fox and John obtained some film star autographs. The first is James Mason a fine leading actor who starred as Captain Nemo in the 1954 Disney film 20000 Leagues Under the Sea. The page after is headed<em> ""Lunch at 20th Century Fox 4-19-56â€</em> followed by the signatures of three members of the Hench family plus six others. One of these is noted Mayo Clinic rheumatologist Dr. Carlos F. Sacara a colleague of Philip Hench so likely these people were Hench friends and along for the trip. On the following page is the signature of California rheumatologist Dr. Edward W. Boland. That table was a virtual medical convention.</p><p><img class=""alignnone wp-image-28295 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204120724/IMG-8851-1-e1693318963162-1600x1509.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1509"" /></p><p>The pages following include signatures of actors and entertainers who were apparently having lunch at 20th Century Fox that day and most had a Disney connection. There is Bob Hope who appeared in numerous Disney television programs; Dennis Day who sang and narrated in Disney productions including Alice in Wonderland and Snow White; Edgar Bergen and Charlie who appeared with Disney on Disney’s very first television appearance; and also Dan Dailey TV actress Dorothy Collins band leader Raymond Collins Ann Blyth Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann musician Julius Julie Ehrenwerth and more. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller rounds out the album. The balance of the book was used by the young Hench as a 7th grade graduation autograph book with the typical rhyming pun-filled poems.</p><p><img class=""alignnone wp-image-23289 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204154825/Folder-site-4-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /></p> hardcover