A complete book should be written about Disney shorts; another one about Disney directors. Don Duckwall gives us insights into both worlds.
Don Alva Duckwall was born April 2, 1916, at Clay Center, the son of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Duckwall. The family moved to Abilene when he was a small child. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1934 and Kansas State University in 1938.
On April 17, 1939, Don joined the Disney Studio and worked as an assistant director in Gerry Geronimi’s shorts unit until the strike. He left the Studio on September 12, 1941, launched an export business, then rejoined Disney on March 14, 1955, again as an assistant director. Over time he became Director of Animation Administration, a position he still held when he retired in 1981.
Don Duckwall passed away on March 3, 1986, at his home in Studio City, California. […]
