An Autograph Album Signed by Walt Disney and Two of His Foremost Artists/designers, with a Drawing of Donald Duck by One

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

 

The boy’s uncle John Hench was a Disney illustrator

The autographs album 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 “mom” and father, “To my wonderful son John / Dad / April 19, 1956/ P. Hench”. 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.

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 20,000 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.

In the album, after a few personal signatures, there is a full page inscription, signature and two sketches by John C. Hench. “With My Best Wishes for John Hench/ John C Hench / Disney Studio / Burbank, Calif 1956”. A sketch of “1 hydrogen atom” (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).

The leaf following the Hench inscription has an inscription and large, bold autograph of Walt Disney, “To John / Best Wishes / Walt Disney”. Thus this album contains the signatures of Disney and two of his foremost artists/designers, and a drawing by one.

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, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The page after is headed “Lunch at 20th Century Fox 4-19-56”, 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.

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.