MOVIES - July 17, 1989

Walt Disney’s key group of animators and the designer of Mickey Mouse will be honored in a special ceremony Wednesday morning at Disney studios in Burbank. Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner and vice chairman Roy E. Disney will present the Disney Legends Award for “significant creative contributions to the Disney legacy” to the animators, known as the “Nine Old Men,” and to Ub Iwerks, Mickey’s designer. The four living recipients, Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball and Frank Thomas, will place their handprints in cement in front of a theater on the studio lot. Family members will represent Iwerks and the other artists (Les Clark, Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery and Wolfgang Reitherman). The presentation coincides with the re-release of the 1953 animated feature, “Peter Pan.” All 10 artists worked on that film.