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Monday, January 02, 2006

COATES, Claude

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posted by Stephen Worth @ 8:57 PM   Read Comments Or Post Yours

1 Comments:

At 2:00 PM, Anonymous Jeff Kurtti said...

CLAUDE COATS, DISNEY LEGEND, DIES

Los Angeles, CA -- Claude Coats, renowned background artist for The Walt Disney Studios and concept designer for the Walt Disney Imagineering subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, died January 9 of cancer. He was 78.

Coats began his career with The Walt Disney Company in 1935 after earning a B.A. degree in architecture and fine arts from USC and studying at the Chouinard Art Institute. As a background painter at the Disney Studios, he contributed to the background and color styling of such celebrated Disney film classics as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio," "Fantasia," "Dumbo," "Saludos Amigos," "The Three Caballeros," "Lady and the Tramp," "Song of the South," "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan."

With the dawning of Disneyland in 1955, Coats joined WED Enterprises, now Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney's master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production and project management subsidiary, responsible for the creation of Disney Theme Parks and their expansion.

A key designer from Disneyland's inception, Coats created attraction concepts including "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Haunted Mansion," the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas, and "Submarine Voyage." For the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, he added the "Mickey Mouse Revue" to his repertoire, and helped create numerous attractions for EPCOT Center, including World of Motion, Horizons and several World Showcase pavilions. When Walt Disney created show pavilions for the New York World's Fair 1964-65, Coats was at the center of "Magic Skyway," "Carousel of Progress," and "It's a Small World." After 54 years with The Walt Disney Company, Coats retired from Walt Disney Imagineering on November 30, 1989.

On October 22, 1991, Coats was honored by The Walt Disney Company in a special Disney Legends Award ceremony along with eight of his colleagues who, in the words of CEO Michael Eisner, "helped create the happiest place on earth." Coats was presented with the bronze Disney Legends Award and placed his hand prints and signature in concrete outside the Studio theater as a symbol of the permanence of his contribution.

"Claude paved the way in turning sketches and paintings into three dimensional adventures like 'Pirates of the Caribbean,'" said Martin A. Sklar, president of Walt Disney Imagineering. "His energy, curiosity and drive to create new experiences for our Disney park guests made him a leader and a teacher for all of us. He was a genuine one-of-a-kind."

Coats is survived by his wife of 54 years, Evie, his sons Alan and Lee, and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on January 24 at 1:00 p.m.

Filmography

Fantasia/2000 (1999) (background artist) (segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice")
... aka Fantasia 2000 (Philippines: English title) (USA: alternative spelling)
Hooked Bear (1956) (background artist)
Up a Tree (1955) (background artist)
Lady and the Tramp (1955) (background artist)
Little Toot (1954) (background artist)
How to Sleep (1953) (background artist)
How to Dance (1953) (background artist)
Peter Pan (1953) (color and styling)
Uncle Donald's Ants (1952) (background artist)
Alice in Wonderland (1951) (color and styling)
Motor Mania (1950) (background artist)
Cinderella (1950) (color and styling)
The Wind in the Willows (1949) (background artist)
Cat Nap Pluto (1948) (background artist)
Johnny Appleseed (1948) (background artist)
... aka Legend of Johnny Appleseed
... aka Presenting Dennis Day Portraying the Characters of the Old Settler, Johnny Appleseed and Johnny's Angel (USA: complete title)
Melody Time (1948) (color and styling)
Pecos Bill (1948) (background artist)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947) (background artist)
Peter and the Wolf (1946) (background artist)
Make Mine Music (1946) (background artist)
Dog Watch (1945) (background artist)
Tiger Trouble (1945) (background artist)
The Three Caballeros (1944) (background animator)
Victory Through Air Power (1943) (background artist)
Dumbo (1941) (background artist)
Fantasia (1940) (background artist) (segments "Sorcerer's Apprentice, The" and "Pastoral Symphony, The")
Pinocchio (1940) (background artist)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) (background artist)

 

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