by Scott Wolf

It saddens me to tell you that Blaine Gibson passed away yesterday at the age of 97. Blaine was a true Disney Legend in every sense of the word. Beginning as an inbetweener on the Pluto cartoon short, “Bone Trouble,” and then on “Fantasia” and “Pinocchio,” an as an assistant animator on “Bambi.” Blaine then sculpted for Disney. He did the carousel horse heads in “Mary Poppins,” the pirates and ghosts for Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean respectively, the dolls for it’s a small world and even the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.

This is a photo of Shani and me with Blaine and another Disney Legend, Harriet Burns at the Disney Studios. Blaine and Harriet were dear friends who both lived near each other in Northern California until Harriet’s passing in 2008.

Blaine was so kind and maybe the most humble person I’ve ever met! It was great fun talking with Blaine about his Disney days, and I’m so grateful he let me record some of those conversations! It is my pleasure to share this conversation with you: http://blog.mouseclubhouse.com/interview-blaine-gibson-haunted-mansion-pirates-if-you-had-wings/