Dick Kelsey
Dick Kelsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richmond Kelsey May 3, 1905 Ventura, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 3, 1987 (age 82) Camarillo, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Artist, designer |
Dick Kelsey (May 3, 1905 – May 3, 1987), born Richmond I. Kelsey, was an important American early animation art director, pioneer theme park designer, and illustrator of children's books.
Early life and career
[edit]Kelsey was born in Ventura, California, and studied at Otis Art Institute[1] and the Santa Barbara School of the Arts.[2][3] In the 1930s he painted and exhibited in Santa Barbara.[4] He served in the U.S. Marines during World War II.[1]
Kelsey's career spanned several Disney films of the 1940s and 1950s,[5] after which he assisted in the design of Disneyland in 1955. He taught at Otis Art Institute and the Santa Barbara School of the Arts.[6] Translating the screen arts to real buildings, Kelsey was hired by the Marco Engineering firm of Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood to be a lead art director to design Magic Mountain theme park at Golden, Colorado in 1957. Later Kelsey became mentor to another prominent Disney artisan, Ron Dias, whose films include Sleeping Beauty. In time, Kelsey returned to Disney work, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks and illustrating children's books of Disney films. He died on his 82nd birthday, at a care home in Camarillo, California.[1][7]
Filmography
[edit]Art department
[edit]- So Dear to My Heart (1948)
Art director
[edit]- Pinocchio (1940)
- Fantasia ("Rite of Spring" segment) (1940)
- Dumbo (1941)
- Bambi (1942)
Miscellaneous crew
[edit]- Melody Time (1948)
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Writer
[edit]- Make Mine Music (1946)
- Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Architecture
[edit]Art director
[edit]- Magic Mountain (1957)
Assistant designer
[edit]- Disneyland (1955)
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Obituary for Richmond I. "Dick" Kelsey". Camarillo Star. 1987-05-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Kelsey Shows Decorative Watercolors". Santa Barbara News-Press. 1951-11-11. p. 24. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Activities at School of Arts". Santa Barbara News-Press. 1927-12-03. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Richmond Kelsey Brings the Picturesque to Attention". Santa Barbara News-Press. 1937-12-14. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "'Hiawatha' to be Revived in Disney Color Cartoon". Springfield News-Sun. 1948-09-19. p. 12. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Dunn, Bernice (1968-01-20). "Art Gallery-Frame Shop Opened Here". The Napa Valley Register. p. 31. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Richmond I. Kelsey (death notice)". The Los Angeles Times. 1987-05-05. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-11-27 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
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