Now, I like Mitch Landrieu. I like him a lot. He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever met, and in less than two years, New Orleans has seen more improvement than it did in its eight-year-long love/hate (but mostly hate) relationship with He Who Shall Not Be Named. But given the size of New Orleans’ LGBT population, you’d think Landrieu might be able to come out in support of marriage equality.

New Orleans has a huge gay base, and we’re surrounded by a warm and welcoming straight community (so long as you don’t count parts of Kenner). As a matter of fact, in a recent poll of travelers taken by American Airlines, New Orleans was named one of the world’s top 10 gay destinations, alongside London, New York, Tel Aviv, and Toronto.

Of course, I know Landrieu didn’t ride into office on a platform of LGBT rights. New Orleans’ queer community is so old and entrenched that gay rights might seem like a non-issue. But we’re here, we’re queer, and we would like some support, please. And let’s not make excuses about Louisiana’s state law forbidding gay marriage: mayors from Texas and Alaska and Michigan and Minnesota were on that list, and they’re in the same boat.

So I ask: Mayor Landrieu, where is the gay love?

More troubling than the folks at NOLA.com, though, are the people who comment on New Orleans stories found elsewhere on the web. This piece on CNN.com about the marsh fires generated some fairly representative remarks. For example:

When will the population of NOLA stop looking for someone else to constantly bail them out? When “are they going to do something about it”? When are you going to do something about it? If it is so terrible organize the thousands it’s effecting, give them some shovels and buckets and a ride out to the area. “They” are out of money!

and

The marsh is on fire, no one is doing anything about it. What are they supposed to do? You decided to live in a fish bowl in the middle of a swamp, and the rest of the country is supposed to feel sorry for you every time the wind blows the wrong way. You need to visit a different part of the country where you can actually take a deep breath and not smell swamp gas, you would be amazed.

Which it to be expected, I suppose. It’s easy for folks to criticize us “heathens” in New Orleanians when they think the finer things in life consist of Applebee’s and Calvinist work ethics.

But what’s shocking — I mean, holy-crap-what-the-hell shocking — is to hear Louisiana’s own elected officials making equally fucked-up statements. With FEMA working overtime in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and a summer full of brutal storms that ravaged the Midwest and South, the agency is understandably running short on funds. But House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has said that before Congress will allot any more dollars to FEMA, the allocation will have to be countered by spending cuts.

Is it surprising to hear a Republican legislator from Virginia with a rod up his ass make such a statement? No. It IS, however, entirely surprising that two representatives from South Louisiana are backing him up:

“We should establish priorities that allow us to help those impacted by disasters, and that also means we must eliminate federal funding for things that we can no longer afford to do, just as we did earlier this year in response to the Mississippi River flooding when we identified billions in wasteful government spending to offset the cost of that response.” — Representative Steve Scalise

and

“The need to provide for the recovery from this disaster does not alleviate us of our responsibility to cut federal spending and restore fiscal sanity in Washington.” — Representative Jeff Landry

Mother Nature has left people homeless, jobless, living in shelters, and legislators want to talk about line-items? Seriously: screw those guys.

Alternately, you could send them both a tersely written letter that suggests they stop rimming the Tea Party’s cup and remember the role that recovery dollars have played in their own districts the past six years. We’re dodging a bullet with the current tropical system, but it could’ve been much worse down here.

We are.

That’s not to say that everything’s as it was. That’s not to say that everyone has come home. And that’s certainly not to say that people, communities, and the city we call home haven’t been deeply, deeply scarred by a particularly forceful force of nature.

And yet, we don’t want to talk about it. I certainly don’t. None of my friends talk about it. My family doesn’t. In fact, the only time it comes up in conversation is when I’m out of town, and someone finds out that I’m from New Orleans — as happened while I was paying a visit to my birth mother, Callie, this past weekend.

(The scene: a restaurant in Ellerslie, Georgia, around 2pm on a sunny August afternoon. In addition to a solid meat-and-two-veg lunch, the restaurant sells a small selection of potted plants, and after we eat, Callie decides to purchase an angel’s trumpet. As she goes in to pay for it — a bargain at $5 — a woman of a certain age and bearing stops me.)

WOMAN: Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me what it is you’ve got there?

ME: Yes ma’am. This is an angel’s trumpet.

WOMAN: Do they grow very big?

ME: Well, they do where I’m from, but it may get too cold up here. They really prefer more tropical weather.

WOMAN: Do they, now? Are you from down in Florida, then?

ME: No ma’am, not quite. I’m from New Orleans.

WOMAN: Oh, I see. (WOMAN pauses, considers the fragrance of a flowering vine — which, I know for a fact, emits no scent at all. Then, in a lower voice.) So, tell me: do you think New Orleans will ever come back?

ME: (Trying to process what I’ve heard. It’s as if she just asked, “Do you think people will ever live in New York again, after September 11?”) I’m sorry?

WOMAN: I say, do you think New Orleans will ever come back?

ME: Well ma’am, in my opinion, much of New Orleans was back to normal six months after the storm.

WOMAN: Oh really?

ME: Yes ma’am. In fact, within a year, most of my friends and I weren’t talking about it ourselves.

WOMAN: Well gracious me, I had no idea. That is just so good to hear. (Another pause. Then, even lower.) You know, it seems to me that Katrina might’ve done y’all some good.

ME: Well, like any disaster, I suppose it had some upsides.

WOMAN: Cleaned up the city pretty well, is what I heard. Got rid of some things. You know, unwanted things.

ME: Oh. Well. I…

(WOMAN gives me a knowing wink, then ambles out toward the garden to peruse the potted herbs, calling playfully to the flock of chickens who roam the restaurant grounds.)

And that’s pretty much how it goes.

One of the biggest disruptions is undoubtedly the official dedication of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 11am — almost exactly the time at which Irene will be giving D.C. her most powerful stink-eye. It looks as if the storm will be downgraded to a category 2 by then, but that’s more than enough to flood roadways, knock out power, and force cancellation of all outdoor events.

Which makes me wonder: are gays going to have the shoulder the blame for Irene alone? As you probably recall, asswipes like Reverend John Hagee blamed us for Katrina. Said Hagee to Terry Gross:

All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are — were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades.

Which is ridiculous for a couple of reasons — not least of which is that he makes the Southern Decadence parade sound super-secret, when in fact, it’s widely known as one of the biggest gay events in town, and possibly in the South. Ugh, that man is such a drama queen.

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right: wackjobs like Rabbi Yehuda Levin have already blamed this week’s East Coast earthquake on gays, claiming that god or G-D or yahweh or whatever you wanna call her has said in the Talmud that “You have shaken your male member in a place where it doesn’t belong. I too, will shake the earth.” But given the fact that Irene is set to interrupt the dedication of the nation’s largest and most visible civil rights memorial, are Levin, Hagee, and their ilk going to start blaming African Americans for the storm, too? Or maybe just LGBT African Americans? I’m happy to share the responsibility, I just need to know whom to invite to my debauched, hurricane invocation ceremony of witchcraft and sodomy. (Bring a covered dish, y’all.)

On a serious note, though: if you’re in the path of Hurricane Irene and want to evacuate, don’t do as I did and leave one of your pets behind. Yesterday my friend, Jimbo, send out some great advice and links about storm preparedness. Have a look:

If you have to evacuate, try to take your pets with you if possible. It may not always be safe to get back to your house to retrieve your pets following the disaster. A shelter for pets may be collocated near a shelter for people.

The best source of information for pet preparedness is from Ready.gov.

For animals other than your dog or cat, details about equine, amphibian, parrot, and other animal preparedness tips can be found at the American Veterinary Medical Association’s “Saving the Whole Family” publication (PDF document) located here.

For the backyard flock or small animal herd owner, try to have one or more collapsible wire dog crates or plastic dog crates ready for temporary indoor housing and/or evacuation of multiple fowl or small mammals like goats.

Local, state and Federal officials are working to ensure the safety of pets and companion animals who evacuate with their owners.

Public Shelters cannot always accommodate for pets to stay with people. Check in your local community for shelter locations that can accommodate pets.

If a pet shelter is located near a human shelter, pet owners may be allowed to visit and care for their pets during designated times.

The types of animals for which your community may provide emergency shelter may vary. Dogs, cats, and other household pets are most commonly accommodated, and some communities may make provisions for other kinds of animals, including horses and small livestock.

Pet owners should be prepared to provide the following information to pet shelter workers if possible: name; species and breed; sex; color; distinctive markings; age; microchip identification number; vaccination records; health conditions and required medication.

Other useful items to bring to a shelter are:

· a clear and current photo of you with your pet

· an extra collar, leash, and/or harness that fits

· favorite toys

· any medications and special diets for their pets

· information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets

· and if possible a pet carrier/kennel large enough for your pet to sleep in comfortably.

But I digress.

On August 19, 2009, Nagin stood for a photo op with Spongebob Squarepants and announced that Nickelodeon would be redeveloping Six Flags. But like a good souffle, the deal didn’t keep, and now the city is looking for a new partner to rescue the property.  If you’re the sort of person with a dream in your pocket and several million dollars in a Swiss bank account, you have until October 10 to submit your proposal.

My personal take? There are certain parts of New Orleans that are perfectly fine for habitation and others that should return to their natural state. There were some contentious discussions about which neighborhoods fit into those two categories after the storm, but I don’t think anyone would complain if Mitch Landrieu ripped Jazzland off the map and signed the deed over to Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.

And yet, there were some good things to come out of the 2011 legislative session that wrapped up in June. I’ll start with the bad, though:

• As of today, there are more obstacles standing between women and safe, legal abortion: “Abortion clinics must give more information to women before they can terminate a pregnancy, including new signs telling pregnant women that they cannot be coerced into abortion, that fathers are liable for child support and that adoptive parents may pay for prenatal care and birth expenses.” [AP]
• New Louisiana residents used to be required to wait six months before receiving a concealed handgun permit. Not anymore.
• And of course, Representative Austin Badon’s anti-bullying bill was defeated on the House floor, which tickled the backward-looking Louisiana Family Forum pink (a very butch pink, I assume).

And on the plus-side:

• Nonviolent prison inmates over the age of 60 are now eligible for parole, so long as they’ve served at least 10 years of their sentence and they’ve completed a high school degree. Maybe that’ll lower Louisiana’s sky-high incarceration rate.
• When deciding what to do with their tax refunds, Louisiana taxpayers can now send all or a portion of that money to the Louisiana Food Bank Association.
• And perhaps best of all, Louisiana’s infamous “Crimes Against Nature” law has been de-fanged. “Crimes Against Nature” is an alternate law under which police can charge alleged sex workers. Technically, “Crimes Against Nature” covers oral and anal sex, while the garden-variety prostitution law covers everything else — vaginal intercourse, handjobs, e-stim, whatever. Only problem is that, until now, the prostitution charge has been considered a misdemeanor, while those convicted under “Crimes Against Nature” have had to register as sex offenders. Worse, police haven’t applied the laws consistently, using “Crimes Against Nature” to harass women of color, transgender women of color, and many gay men. As someone who’s had friends from each of those categories prosecuted under the law, I’m happy to hear that “Crimes Against Nature” will now be treated as a misdemeanor. (Let’s hope it’s new status becomes retroactive, too).

And because I can’t write about sex crimes without singing a certain song, here’s the video for the Eurythmics’ 1984 semi-hit, “Sex Crime (1984)“. Happy Monday.

*Being one of those things is fine, I suppose, but all three is a deal-breaker in my book.

Four storms in the Atlantic? When did this happen? Ack.

Also: for those keeping track at home, we’re just four weeks away from the peak of the North Atlantic hurricane season, which is generally considered to be September 10. Fingers crossed, bags packed….

Just head to dinner at one of the many participating restaurants. There’s a range of spots on the list — from the very affordable to the slightly swanky — and a percentage of every sale will go toward the LASPCA’s noble efforts. Plus, it’s a nice break from the daily routine of coming home, playing partypoker cz, and heating up some Soup for One.

No time for a full meal? No problem: even Pinkberry is participating. Don’t tell me you don’t have time to pop in for some yogurt on a scorching hot day like this.

On the off-chance that you’re reading this from afar, though, you can always make a contribution to the LASPCA on the web. Not that we’re pushy or anything, but consider that a hint. Need more info? Visit the LASCPA website.

See you at 8. (Dinner’s always at 8, kids.)

Airfoundia
High school classmate. Wallflower type. Barely heard from before graduation, never heard from after.

Boadicea
Although it would be funny.

Cicciolina
Which would also be funny.

Dick
Which would be hilarious.

Eudora
Though Ms. Welty was pretty feisty in her own right.

Filomena
The name of an in-law and a favorite (name and in-law), but perhaps not WASPy enough.

Gargantua
Probably a shade too literate.

Higgins
No one could live with themselves, knowing that their community had been devastated by a character from Magnum P.I.

Ikebana
Naming a storm after the Japanese art of flower arrangement seems poetic, but highbrow.

Jehoshaphat
Though the headlines would be pretty good.

Kiki
Because “kiki” is a slang term — in both French and Tagalog, I think — for “tiny penis”. Don’t ask how I know such things, just go with it.

Lachrymosia
Seriously: back in the day, I knew a girl who adopted this as her name. She wore a lot of black, which shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Manderley
Though a very good friend has named his house that. I’ve a very good mind to name ours Mrs. Danvers.

Nanook
Because hurricanes are hot, not icy.

Ozymandias
Speaking of highbrow, right?

Pantagruel
Though the idea of the broadcasters trying to get that one out of their mouths makes me smile. “Hurricane Panda…Pantera…Plantagenet…oh hell: storm’s a-comin’!”

Quelea
Because in the entire history of Western Civilization, I don’t think anyone has named a child “Quelea” — even though it’s my favorite bird and the most abundant on Planet Earth (though in flocks of over a billion, they can destroy crops very quickly). If you’ve never seen them in action, behold.

Rococo
Because it’s a brilliant Cocteau Twins song, and who would want to ruin that memory?

Sindy
Even the World Meteorological Organization has a taste level.

Titania
Again with the literate references. Also the humorless Family Research Council would probably whine.

Ulala
Because she can’t be bothered to leave Space Channel 5.

Vendetta
Although it would be badass. And Margaret Orr could draw a little mustache on the hurricane map.

Wilson-Phillips
Because enough is e-freaking-nough.

Xtopher
Because the Xtians would start whining again, and we just got them quieted down after the whole “Titania” debacle.

Yaqueteria
A fictional character from some very early Varla Jean Merman videos.  Hilarious, but fictional nonetheless. (And so “very early Varla” that they haven’t yet made the transition from wax cylinder to YouTube.)

Zed
Because, as Mr. Willis once said, Zed’s dead.

* * * * *

And in case you’re wondering about this year’s official names, they are:

Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney

Apparently, I’ve reached “some point”. I recently sat down with Eva’s letters and started to type, keeping her curious capitalizations, spellings, and punctuation intact.

In the end, I’m sorry to say, there’s not a lot of new information about her or about Disney & Co. In fact, sometimes, she repeats herself, occasionally on the same page. And her story follows a predictable path: an artist working in a medium that’s changed by emerging technology — technology that she finds cold and inferior. She dismisses the computer-animated Disney films of today, and it would be easy to write her off as yet another person who’d rather bash technology than adapt and use it.

Unfortunately, she talks very little about her experience as one of the few women working in a field dominated by men, or about her impressions of Walt Disney’s political/world views. But even though I didn’t get what I was hoping for, the act of writing seems to have been cathartic for her. And so, I kept transcribing. Because I know that when I’m her age (90, I’m guessing), I’d want the chance to be heard.

I haven’t seen Eva on the street in months — maybe a year. I don’t know if she’s still alive, but I can’t find an obit for her. Perhaps she was taken in by her relatives. Or maybe, knowing her, she’s taken them in. She’s kind of spunky.

If you’re interested in what she had to say, the transcriptions are after the jump.

* * * * *

Letter #1 (with attachments)

Richard:

Hereby a complete, timely News Paper observation (I WON’T NEED IT BACK). Do read it very carefully, as it sums up the rapid CULTURAL CHANGE (due to the ever increasing modern technology). WORLDWIDE, not just the U.S.A.

FASTER & FASTER, encompassing MORE & MORE with LESS & LESS individual attention. Impressions coming on fast and getting crowded out fast by ever new fast impressions.

Initial Disney styles…SAME FATE. GONE, and therefore not missed by the unacquainted new generations.

Trying to go back to initially meticulous old styles would be way too slow, and therefor [sic] way too expensive. Life rushes on and on, impressions being glimpsed at and soon forgotten due to onrushing further & new styles. Good or bad – the new generations do not know, not care what had been & what won’t come back. CANNOT COME BACK.

Walt Disney must have reused this in the 1950s. I was a steady employee at the Walk Disney Studio from March 3, 1950 till March 1968 – 18 years. So I left Disney’s some 41 years ago.

I knew everyone by sight (HIGH-UP, or WALT…) by walking by out in the halls or outdoors… (do not greet, just walk by minding your own business – else reprimanded by your own boss, or fired.) And one knew all the Artists & Workers & Laborers, as colleagues. STUDIO GOSSIPS and RUMORS…good people, bad people, and not so bad people, and fakes, and destroyers of colleagues. One had to be careful. Also WALT & UPPER ESCHELON STRONGLY REPUBLICAN (employees NOT to speak up against Vietnam War!). Also they patriotically did hire a whole group of talented young Vietnam War Veterans, graduated from a G.I. Bill at Los Angeles Art School into the Disney Cartoon Department. Our Vietnam War colleagues.

By then, the Vietnam War had started. And young protesters were coming out everywhere in demonstrating masses. Walt Disney & the Executives saw to it, that all ensuing HIPPY CULTURES strictly were forbidden on the Disney Studio lot.

No hippy clothing, no long hair, no beards, no anti-talks [?] or anti-shouts. Walt wanted his enterprise to be strictly conservative. And also because there were GUIDED DISNEY STUDIO TOURS, showing around every work-day for visitors by special appointment from the U.S.A., and people from all around the world. Mostly in relatively small appointed groups, & Disney employed explayning [sic] steady tour-guides. All in all, the Disney Studio and Disney business enterprise had a honorably steady reputation, compareably [sic] with other bad Hollywood Studios, or Some of all of them.

* * *

Being a new PENCIL DRAWING animation employee at Disney’s in 1950, (“PETER PAN”) was already in the middle of production. And also the very foundation of an overall SCREEN CARTOONISTS UNION with raised salaries for every employee: INKER, PAINTER, ANIMATOR, ASSISTANT ANIMATOR, PENCIL INBETWEENER….making them work even HARDER & FASTER (increased production) else their work output cost them too much.

Therefore SHORT-CUTS in PRODUCTION…no more each individual pencil drawing formerly hand-inked (inked by hand) on too a numbered cellophane sheet. THE INKING DEPARTMENT (all woman) therefore got CLOSED for good. Faster, simpler production for studio PROFITS, please!

And it showed awefully [sic], starting with BAD “The Lady & the Tramp) after “Peter Pan”, and from then on. With SOME EXCEPTION (maybe) “JUNGLE BOOK” (Africa & its Musik [sic]). They even had a great song with the huge Chief of the Apes in it. “OOH BE DOOH”, “OOH BE DOOH”, “I WANNA BE LIKE YOOH”. Terrific colors & beat. They especially flew in LOUIS PRIMA from New Orleans for the RECORDING. I did see him on the studio lot. TERRIFFIC!! THAT BEAT & VOICE! NOW L. PRIMA IS LONG DEAD.

Brothers originally from KANSAS City, MISSOURY [sic]

WALT DISNEY

He could not really draw. But it was said, that he was an amazingly to the point DIRECTOR of all Disney Cartoon Films. With a quick eye, he approved or disapproved, or changed lengths and details in every film presentation. And he just about NEVER then changed his mind afterwards. It just SAT successfully, and therefore proved him to be right.

ROY O. DISNEY

Mr. Roy had NOTHING to do with Disney film & entertainment production. Nothing else than the OVERALL FINANCES. Which turned into a fantastically wide field of all the DISNEY ENTERPRISES.

Walt had some years long given the impression of an ageing ailing man. He did not want to be disturbed by employees greeting him. He once (towards his end) did speak to me in the hall, when I worked evening-overtime. And when I walked back to my work-room he still stood in the hall, waiting for the elevator. And HE WAVED TO ME (!) when I walked by. And I just silently smiled & walked on. HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN WAVED TO BY WALT DISNEY?!!! I had not provoced [sic] it, looking straight ahead and walking along.

One day at mid-morning a sudden rumor exploded. Someone had just heard on the radio WALT DISNEY had died at the hospital. LUNG CANCER. One hour later a message from management: EVERYONE GO HOME, WORK-DAY is OVER. It was 11 A.M. The following day was an ordinary work-day (8 A.M. – 5 P.M.) again.

And a vast lay-off of worker’s departments (not artists) started immediately. No public funeral. It already had been attended to privately by the small & immediate family.

Lay-offs in the Animation Department also, I could stay on a little, 1 ¼ year longer, then had to work for FILMATION STUDIO (BILL COSBY T.V. SERIES etc. etc.). I think DISNEY merged with PIXAR by now. And the once beautiful cartoon movies are gone for good, not to return. I certainly would NOT like to work there again. I had been LUCKY with old.

Letter #4

DISNEY CARTOON SHORTS PICTURES (Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, etc. etc.) got eliminated from the Disney Productions, starting around 1951, before & around MID 1950s.

From then on JUST FULL LENGHS [sic] FEATURE LENGTHS PICTURES, each taking a year, or years for full-staff to work on. “SNOW WHITE (1930s) had been Disney’s very first full-length feature in full animation. A world-wide NOVELTY & huge success (great fame, praise, & financial profits). I saw it in ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) when I was about 10 years old. Everyone just knew & started to talk about the name WALT DISNEY!

In March 1950 I started to work at the large Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, Calif. The room I started to work in happened to be only some doors from the old animator FRED MOORE’s work room down our hall-way. He was the designer & sole animator of the SEVEN DWARFS [sic] in “SNOW WHITE”. He kept his door mostly shut while working, so no one saw him only mainly when he came down the hall to the little fountain at its end, where he rinsed & washed his coffee cup.

A short old little man, unfailingly always softly well-meaning & gracious to everyone. That was FREDDY MOORE. Known as an Alcoholic. As such he would have long been terminated at the studio. But I guess for all that fantastic work (design and animation on “Snow White’s Dwarfs”) Walt kept him on and on at the Studio, as long as Fred wanted to.

One morning, only a few weeks after I had started to work in that nearby room, there were sudden startling new around: FRED MOORE had DIED LAST NIGHT!! We then went to his funeral, it was the day before THANKSGIVING 1950. Walk did not attend his funeral, only Bill Anderson (one of his top Studio executives) in honor of FRED MOORE. – Those 7 DWARFS on “SNOW WHITE” were brilliantly designed in individual Looks & individual PERSONALITIES. Of course the STORY DEPARTMENT of a few members had created the DIALOGUE & DEEDS & LOOKS, and then FRED MOORE designed & illustrated to their further approval. It was (IS) MASTERFUL, and cannot be matched, I think.

ADDITION TO “SNOW WHITE”

All MOVIE THEATRES in the CITY of ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) in the 1930s had only 2 shows each day (7 days a week). 3 P.M. and again 8 P.M. Show: (1) GENERAL REPORT, on “WEEK IN REVIEW”. (LIFE ACTION.) (2) Then a “Donald Duck” or “Goofy” short movie of Disney’s. (3) And then THE FULL FEATURE OF THE PRESENT PROGRAM, “SNOW WHITE” this time.

This time (1930s) it was the sensationally brand-new Walt Disney full-length CARTOON FEATURE “SNOW WHITE”. EVERYBODY WENT TO SEE IT. In unusually social light conversation… Everybody asked Everybody “HAVE YOU SEEN SNOW WHITE?” The picture was running at the “CAPITOL” theatre in Zurich. All positive, admiring responses.

But…then right away: Mothers phoned “CAPITOL” theatre: their children cannot sleep & are afraid of the dark, after having watched THAT HORRIBLY MEAN Witch. And to TOTALLY CUT OFF THAT FRIGHTENING SCENE WITH THE WITCH IN THAT 3PM show, when children attend.

Therefore the “CAPITOL” THEATRE decided right away, to exclusefly [sic] run that very part at ONLY THEIR 8 P.M. SHOW when children were in bed & sleeping. Showing it only after 8 P.M.

I now remember another instance while working at the studio: A work man, doing repairs out in the hall near my room, talking with me in a casual way, said to me: “The Disney Cartoon Movies are good & O.K. Exept [sic]…but they in part are so FRIGHTENING (Snow White) etc. and so VERY SAD (Bambi) etc. for CHILDREN (and grown ups)! A work-man’s observation & experience. And I admit: SO TRUE.

Letter #6

Yesterday Sunday, I had meant to close this entire report of my memories. But while cleaning out Today Monday, I happened to come upon hereby enclosed earlier sheet that I had assumed I long had dropped off to you. I am still enclosing it hereby for you.

It really also had been refreshing to myself, digging up from my mind some long almost forgotten memories once more, and in retrospect now even more clear for me to understand!

Looking back I retired at 63 in California, and moved to New Orleans in 1966 to retire for good at 68. That was 43 years ago, never regretting the moving to here.

I had met quite a few great talents at the studios, and so are even famous with screen credits, and had even worked with (under) them. So many interesting & great aqueintences [sic] with people.

But (in closing this report now)…the envies, the intriegues [sic] & backbiting amongst collegues [sic] & other people from other departments one is not even acquainted with. Overall, not just to me. At Filmation Studio in the end I worked with (amongst others) old VIRGIL ROSS (AGE ALMOST LATE 70s, the inventor & animator of BUGS BUNNY at Warner Bros. Cartoons Inc. He told me: he really never cared, he just kept on working in peace, did not react to it & let it roll down his back. (Best advice anyone could get).

But one did see it happen: some less achieved & less conspicuous good workers got squeezed out that way, & got laid off!

Time ago in Europe, when I was young, the program at the movie theatres was

(1) FILMED “WEEK IN REVIEW.”

(2) AMERICAN SHORT CARTOON MOVIE (DISNEY: “DONALD DUCK, GOOFY, PLUTO…” OR: WARNER BROS, “BUGS BUNNY”.” OR: METRO GOLDWYN MAYER [M.G.M.] TOM & JERRY (GREAT STUFF  of many decades ago. NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN…DONALD DUCK (DISNEY) & GOOFY, BUGS BUNNY (WARNER BROS.) TOM & JERRY (METRO GOLDWYN MAYER M.G.M.)

(3) MAIN FULL-LENGTH ADVERTISED FILM.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer M.G.M. always ended their little Cartoon Pic. with letters on screen: “THAT’S ALL, FOLKS”.

Therefore I’m going to say here the very same things on my numerous Disney Reports: “THAT’S ALL FOLKS”.

END.