Dispatch From Disneyland
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Next on my list is Mary Blair. Her talents as an Imagineer and artistry as a designer have made the world, and Disneyland, a happier, more beautiful place. Working as a concept artist for The Disney Studios in the 40s and early 50s, Blair's work was influential in Alice in Wonderland, Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, and Melody Time. On his Yesterland site Werner Weiss notes that in "the book Before the Animation Begins (Hyperion, 1996), animation historian John Canemaker devotes 29 pages to Mary Blair. No other Disney artist comes close to getting so much coverage."

Walt knew genius level talent when he saw it. Soon Blair was tapped to work on designs for Disneyland and the influential 1964 World's Fair. Her most recognizable work is the facade of "it's a small world," but she worked on many other attractions as well. Blair also designed a pair of large murals for the 1967 reworking of Tomorrowland. Sadly both are now permanent residents of Yesterland. But if you want to see her largest mural work, you still can at the Grand Canyon Concourse in the breathtaking lobby of the Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World.

But hers is also a story of tragedy. After Walt Disney died those who remained to carry on his work began to marginalize Mary Blair. Her disfavor at Disney became a tragic spiral in her personal life and many believe it was a large contributor to her depression and ultimately and early death.

It is such a shame that no provision was made to preserve her joyous Tomorrowland murals. Instead they were drilled into and destroyed to make way for progress. How sad that even in death she is still marginalized by the company. Let us begin to remedy that and honor Mary Blair's contribution to the Disney Company and to Disneyland with her own window on Main Street U.S.A..

My final candidate for a window on Main Street U.S.A. is such an obvious choice, I would not be surprised if plans were already in motion to honor her as soon as schedules allow. In fact, there is a blank window right next to that of her husband, another great Disneyland legend. The emptiness there is screaming in silence to have her name engraved upon it.

I am, of course, talking about Alice Davis. A talented artist in her own right, Alice met her husband and partner while he was teaching her at art school. Alice went to work at the Studios, where she was an ink and paint girl, later moving to WED and the Disneyland project after Marc did. Her contributions to the costuming and staging of such classic attractions as Pirates of the Caribbean and "it's a small world" are well documented, but vastly under appreciated.

Among other accomplishments her ability to bring to life Marc's wonderful drawings was uncanny. I've been lucky enough to view her drawings first hand. Her costume design illustrations, although they are owned by Disney, could be made right now into a gorgeous coffee-table art book, or be displayed at a museum of fine art.

Anyone who knew Marc and Alice knew they were two parts of the same whole. They even earned the nickname, the Siamese Twins. That empty window next to Marc's should be filled right now with a thank you to his other half. It's a shame he isn't around to see it in person, only in spirit.

To people around the world Disneyland is more than a physical setting. It's a carefully crafted community where the sum of it's parts conjures magical and iconic musings. It speaks of a better place that we're always searching for, even if we don't realize it at the time. These three women have played a significant part in its development and history. It is only right to remember them for all time with their own windows on Main Street U.S.A..

-- Indigo

-- Posted May 3, 2000