Todays Birthdays: Rembrandt van Rijn, Inigo Jones, Sir Thomas Bullfinch, St. Mother Cabrini, Clemont Moore, Julian Bream, Linda Rondstadt, Alex Karras, Jan Michael Vincent, The Sultan of Brunei, Lola Davidovich, Forrest Whitaker, Brigette Neilsen, Jesse The Body Ventura

Feast of St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

1938- Popeye cartoon "With the Jeep" introduced Eugene the Jeep. The funny little character later gave it’s name to the army’s new General Purpose Vehicle, the G.P. or Jeep.

1941- President Franklin Roosevelt sent federal mediator Stanley White to try and solve the labor strike between Walt Disney and his cartoonists.

1953- The film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes premiered starring Marylyn Monroe and Jane Russell.

1971- Producer Steve Krantz announced the production of the first X-rated cartoon, Fritz the Cat, to be directed by newcomer Ralph Bakshi.

1982-Coca-Cola intoduces Diet Coke. Mainstay for animation studios everywhere.

courtesy Everypicture tells a Story
One other terrific website currently available for your delight and edification is www.BillPeet.net
Bill Peet 1915-2002 is acknowledged as one of the greatest animation storyboard artists who ever lived. He was one of the main reasons the classic Disney Features were classic. Bambi, Fantasia, Dumbo. Older Disney artists told me he was one of the only people who could scream in Walt Disneys face and not fear to lose his job. Walt appreciated his talent and passion so much that at times they went at each other like an umpire and team manager over a bad call. He later became a famous illustrator of childrens books. This website is put together by Bill Peet Jr and has many wonderful images done by his dad. Go to the Disney people section and check out the caricatures of other Disney artists. I love the one he did of Milt Kahl.

I met Bill Peet in the mid 1990s when I helped put on an ASIFA/Hollywood program for animation authors. Bill came but asked not to stay long because his throat was bothering him. I said he could sign some books and was free to leave whenever he wished. Instead he had so much fun talking to his many fans that he was one fo the last to leave. I had to finally click the lights on and off to get to close up.