View source for Ward Kimball

{{Short description|American animator and jazz trombonist (1914–2002)}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Ward Kimball
| image         = Ward Kimball, 1976.jpg
| caption       = Kimball in 1976
| birth_name    = Ward Walrath Kimball
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1914|3|4}}
| birth_place   = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2002|7|8|1914|3|4}}
| death_place   = [[Arcadia, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater    = [[Covina High School]] <br> [[Santa Barbara High School]]<br>[[Santa Barbara School of the Arts]]
| occupation    = [[Animator]], musician
| employer = [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Productions]]
| years_active  = 1934–1980
| known_for = One of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]]
| spouse        = {{marriage|Betty Kimball|1936}}
| children     = 3
| awards        = 2 [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film|Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film]]
}}

'''Ward Walrath Kimball''' (March 4, 1914 – July 8, 2002) was an American [[animator]] employed by [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]]. He was part of [[Walt Disney]]'s main team of animators, known collectively as [[Disney's Nine Old Men]]. His films have been honored with two [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film|Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film]].

Outside of his job as an animator, Kimball was a [[Railfan|railroad enthusiast]] as well as a talented [[jazz]] trombonist. He founded and led the seven-piece [[Dixieland]] band [[Firehouse Five Plus Two]], in which he played the [[trombone]].

== Early life ==
Kimball was born on March 4, 1914, in Minneapolis. His father was a salesman who traveled widely. He grew up in the Midwest, often residing with his grandparents.<ref> {{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1400972/Ward-Kimball.html|title=Ward Kimball|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-07-17|language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Ward Kimball.jpg|left|thumb|Kimball drawing [[Pecos Bill]] from ''[[Melody Time]]'']]
While Kimball was a brilliant [[Drafter|draftsman]], he preferred to work on comical characters rather than realistic human designs. Animating came easily to him and he was constantly looking to do things differently. Because of this, [[Walt Disney]] called Ward a genius in the book ''The Story of Walt Disney''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wardkimball/definitive-biography-animation-icon-ward-kimball-published-2018-152305.html|title=Definitive Biography Of Animation Icon Ward Kimball To Be Published In 2018|date=2017-07-14|work=Cartoon Brew|access-date=2017-07-17|language=en-US}}</ref> While there were many talented animators at Disney, Ward's efforts stand out as unique.

According to Jeff Lenburg's assessment of him, Kimball was a pioneer [[animator]] and a great innovator of his time. He instilled life to diverse Disney characters, such as [[Mickey Mouse]], [[Jiminy Cricket]], the [[Cheshire Cat]], the [[Mad Hatter]], and [[Tweedledee and Tweedledum]].<ref name="Lenburg">Lenburg (2006), pp. 177–79</ref>

Kimball attended the [[Santa Barbara School of the Arts]] in order to become a [[Painting|painter]] and [[illustrator]]. Kimball's instructor at the school suggested to him that his work should be submitted to Walt Disney Productions (later known as the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]]), and that he should pursue a career in [[animation]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> In March 1934, a 20-year-old Kimball applied for a job at the Disney studio. In April 1934, he was hired as an [[Inbetweening|inbetweener]]. He was then promoted to an assistant animator. He served as an assistant to animator [[Hamilton Luske]]. Kimball worked primarily in the ''[[Silly Symphony]]'' series, where his film credits include the animated short films ''[[The Wise Little Hen]]'' (1934), ''[[The Goddess of Spring]]''  (1934), and ''[[The Tortoise and the Hare (film)|The Tortoise and the Hare]]'' (1935). He also worked on ''[[Mickey Mouse]]'' shorts, where his film credits include the short films ''[[Orphan's Benefit]]'' (1934) and ''[[Pluto's Judgement Day]]'' (1935).<ref name="Lenburg"/>

In 1936, Kimball was promoted to an animator in his own right. He continued to work in the ''Silly Symphony'' series. Some of his memorable credits in this position include the animated short films ''[[Toby Tortoise Returns]]'' (1936), ''[[More Kittens]]'' (1936), and ''[[Mother Goose Goes Hollywood]]'' (1938). His first solo effort as an animator was animating a grasshopper turned musician in ''[[Woodland Café]]'' (1937).<ref name="Lenburg"/>

As one of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]], Kimball was tasked with animating on ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' (1937). The film was the first feature-length animated film by the Disney studio.<ref name="Lenburg"/> Kimball spent months working on the scene in which the [[Seven Dwarfs]] are eating soup, prepared for them by [[Snow White (Disney character)|Snow White]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> This scene, however, was ultimately cut to shorten the length of the film.

Kimball was a strikebreaker in 1941, breaking the Disney animators' strike. He was considered a "scab" by many of his peers. "I felt terrible," Kimball wrote in his journal. "Friends on the inside waving to me to come in. Friends on the outside pleading with me to stay out; Jeezus. I was on the spot!"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-revolt-1941-animation-book-1235172968/ |title='How the Hell Can Walt Run a Studio Without Us?': Behind the Disney Animation Revolt of 1941 |last=Friedman |first=Jake S. |date=July 5, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2022-07-05}}</ref>

Following the release of ''Snow White'', Kimball was promoted to a supervising or directing animator. He would remain in this position until his retirement in the 1970s. His employer [[Walt Disney]] was sufficiently satisfied with Kimball's work that he entrusted him with designing the new character [[Jiminy Cricket]] in the Disney Studio's next feature film, ''[[Pinocchio (1940 movie)|Pinocchio]]''. It took Kimball 12 or 14 drafts before completing his final design of Jiminy.<ref name="Lenburg"/> Kimball told one interviewer that he "hated" animating Jiminy Cricket: "I got sick of drawing that oval head looking in every direction."<ref>"[http://cartoonician.com/ward-kimballs-final-farewell/ Ward Kimball's Final Farewell", ''Hogan's Alley'' #11.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614075021/http://cartoonician.com/ward-kimballs-final-farewell/ |date=2019-06-14 }}</ref>) Kimball's next major task was designing the sympathetic Crows in ''[[Dumbo]]'' (1941). Following the example of the Seven Dwarfs from ''Snow White'', Kimball had to give each crow a distinct appearance and character.<ref name="Lenburg"/>

Kimball supervised or directed the animation of several Disney animated feature films. Among them were ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'' (1940), ''[[The Reluctant Dragon (1941 film)|The Reluctant Dragon]]'' (1941), and ''[[The Three Caballeros]]'' (1944). The last film mentioned featured the trio of [[Donald Duck]], [[José Carioca]], and [[Panchito Pistoles]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> According to animation historian Jeff Lenburg, ''The Three Caballeros'' is considered to have a place among the finest work of Kimball's career.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-09-me-kimball9-story.html|title=Ward Kimball, 88; Key Disney Animator|last=SOLOMON|first=CHARLES|date=2002-07-09|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-07-17|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The film was reportedly successful in the American [[box office]], earning about 3 to 4 million dollars.<ref name="Lenburg"/>

Kimball directed the character animation and sequences of the [[Pecos Bill]] segment in ''[[Melody Time]]'' (1948).<ref name="Lenburg"/> He also worked as a senior animator for ''[[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]]'' (1949). In ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'' (1950), Kimball was responsible for the characters [[List of Disney's Cinderella characters#Jaq and Gus|Jaq and Gus]] and [[List of Disney's Cinderella characters#Lucifer|Lucifer the Cat]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> In ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1951), Kimball was responsible for [[Tweedledee and Tweedledum]], [[the Walrus and the Carpenter]], [[the Hatter]] and his mad [[tea party]], and the [[Cheshire Cat]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> His other film credits include the feature films ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (1953), ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964), and ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'' (1971).<ref name="Lenburg"/>

Kimball spent much of his career animating theatrical animated short films. However, he also served as a director for some of them. He and [[Charles August Nichols]] co-directed the animated short films ''[[Melody (1953 film)|Melody]]'' (1953) and ''[[Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom]]'' (1953).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://nightflight.com/escalation-this-1968-anti-war-animated-film-by-disney-legend-ward-kimball-is-as-timely-as-ever/|title="Escalation": This 1968 anti-war animated film by Disney legend Ward Kimball is as timely as ever|website=nightflight.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-17|archive-date=2015-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122103947/http://nightflight.com/escalation-this-1968-anti-war-animated-film-by-disney-legend-ward-kimball-is-as-timely-as-ever/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Melody'' was the Disney studio's first animated [[3D film]];<ref name="Lenburg"/> ''Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom''  won the 1954 [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film]] and was the Disney studio's first [[widescreen]] [[CinemaScope]] animated film.<ref name="Lenburg"/> Kimball also directed the short films ''[[It's Tough to Be a Bird]]'' (1969) and ''Dad, Can I Borrow the Car?'' (1970). ''It's Tough to Be a Bird'' won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.<ref name="Lenburg"/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064504/| title=It's Tough to be a Bird| website=[[IMDb]]| year=2008|access-date=6 January 2008}}</ref>

Kimball served as a screenwriter for the [[featurette]] ''Eyes In Outer Space'' (1959). The film combined live action and animation. It depicted [[weather satellite]]s and explained how the weather is predicted. The film was originally theatrically released. Around 1962, it started being shown in [[Disneyland]].<ref name="Lenburg"/>

During the 1950s, the Disney studio shifted its focus from theatrical animation to television. Kimball wrote and directed three hour-long television shows about [[space exploration]]. They were ''[[Man in Space]]'' (1955), ''[[Man and the Moon]]'' (1955), and ''[[Mars and Beyond]]'' (1957). The consultants for these shows included pioneers of the [[Space Age]], such as [[aerospace engineering|aerospace engineer]] [[Wernher von Braun]]. According to animation historian Jeff Lenburg, the three shows helped in sparking popular interest in [[spaceflight]].<ref name="Lenburg"/> Kimball was also responsible for the science-fiction two-reel cartoon ''[[Cosmic Capers]]'' (1957).<ref name="Lenburg"/>

Kimball also worked (as a writer) on the live-action musical ''[[Babes in Toyland (1961 film)|Babes in Toyland]]'' (1961).<ref name="Lenburg"/> He later returned to television and directed 43 episodes of ''[[The Mouse Factory]]'' (1972–1973).<ref name="Lenburg"/>

Kimball retired in 1973 and left the Disney studio. He continued, however, to serve as a consultant on special assignments.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldman |first1=Ari L. |title=Ward Kimball, Disney Animator, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/10/arts/ward-kimball-disney-animator-dies-at-88.html |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issue=Section A, Page 18 |date=July 10, 2002}}</ref> He worked on the [[World of Motion]] attraction for Disney's [[EPCOT Center]].<ref name="Lenburg"/>

==Other activities==

Kimball was profiled by producer [[Jerry Fairbanks]] in his [[Paramount Pictures]] film short series ''Unusual Occupations''. This [[35mm movie film|35mm]] [[Magnacolor]] film short was released theatrically in 1944; it focused on Kimball's backyard railroad and full-sized locomotive.

Kimball was also a [[jazz]] [[trombonist]]. He founded and led the seven-piece [[Dixieland]] band [[Firehouse Five Plus Two]], in which he played [[trombone]]. The band made at least 13 [[Gramophone record|LP records]] and toured clubs, college campuses and jazz festivals from the 1940s to early 1970s. Kimball once said that Walt Disney permitted the second career as long as it did not interfere with his animation work. Kimball appeared on the March 17, 1954, episode of ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'', in which [[Groucho Marx]] coaxed him into playing his trombone with the house band. He and his partner won $75 in their quiz portion of the show, including one Disney animation question that Kimball answered easily: the answer was ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]''.

Kimball continued to work at Disney until 1974, working on the [[Disney anthology television series]], being one of the writers for ''[[Babes in Toyland (1961 film)|Babes in Toyland]]'', creating animation for ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'', directing the animation for ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'', and working on titles for feature films such as ''The Adventures Of Bullwhip Griffin'' and ''[[Million Dollar Duck]]''. His last staff work for Disney was producing and directing the Disney TV show ''[[The Mouse Factory]]'', which ran from 1972 to 1974. He continued to do various projects on his own, even returning to do some publicity tours for the Disney corporation. He also worked on the [[World of Motion]] attraction for Disney's [[EPCOT Center]].

Kimball also produced two editions of a volume titled ''Art Afterpieces,''<ref>''Art Afterpieces'', {{ISBN|978-0-8431-0366-3}}</ref> in which he revised various well-known works of art, such as putting ''[[Mona Lisa]]'''s hair up in curlers, showing ''[[Whistler's Mother]]'' watching TV, and adding a [[Communist]] flag and [[Culture of Russia|Russian]] boots to ''[[Pinkie (Lawrence painting)|Pinkie]]''. These masterpiece remixes are thought to have been appropriated by the street artist [[Banksy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://art-for-a-change.com/blog/2013/07/ward-kimball-art-afterpieces.html|title=Ward Kimball – Art Afterpieces|year=2013|access-date=14 August 2016}}</ref>

His three acting appearances on film were an uncredited role as a [[List of jazz musicians|jazz musician]] (with his Firehouse Five Plus Two) in ''[[Hit Parade of 1951]],'' an [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] Chief in [[Mike Jittlov]]'s ''[[The Wizard of Speed and Time]]'', and voicing and giving his likeness to half of the vaudeville duo "Ward and Fred" in the [[Mickey Mouse]] short ''[[The Nifty Nineties]]'' (with fellow Disney animator [[Fred Moore (animator)|Fred Moore]]). Kimball served as host of the "[[Man in Space]]" and "[[Man and the Moon]]" episodes of ''[[Disneyland (TV series)|Disneyland]]'' in 1955 and 1956 respectively. He hosted the second season of the 1992 [[PBS]] series ''[[Tracks Ahead]]''. That season has since been repackaged to feature current host [[Spencer Christian]].

As recounted in [[Neal Gabler]]'s biography of Walt Disney,<ref>Gabler, Neal: ''Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination'' (Random House, 2007).</ref> Ward Kimball was a key figure in spreading the [[urban legend]] that Disney had left instructions for his body to be preserved by [[cryonics]] after his death.

[[Amid Amidi]] wrote a biography of Kimball, ''Full Steam Ahead: The Life and Art of Ward Kimball'' that was projected for publication in the fall of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/books/pre-order-full-steam-ahead-the-ward-kimball-biography.html|title=Pre-Order "Full Steam Ahead!," the Ward Kimball Biography|website=cartoonbrew.com|access-date=2012-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405164845/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/books/pre-order-full-steam-ahead-the-ward-kimball-biography.html|archive-date=2012-04-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, publication of the biography was canceled in February 2013, which Amidi believed was due to pressure from the Disney corporation.<ref>[[Amid Amidi]]: [http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wardkimball/whats-up-ward-kimball-78557.html  "Yes, Chronicle Books nixed the publication of my book... Yes, it's my opinion that Disney's pressure caused Chronicle to kill the project... Yes, I am amused by the Disney Company's inept attempt to control the personal histories of its artists...."]</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Credits
! Characters
|-
|rowspan="7"| 1934 || ''[[The Hot Choc-late Soldiers]]'' (Short) || rowspan="10" | Animator ||
|-
|''[[The Wise Little Hen]]'' ||
|-
|'' [[The Flying Mouse]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Orphan's Benefit]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Servants' Entrance]]''||
|-
|''Mickey Plays Papa'' ||
|-
|''[[The Goddess of Spring]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1935 || ''[[The Tortoise and the Hare (film)|The Tortoise and the Hare]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Pluto's Judgement Day]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1936 || ''[[Elmer Elephant]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Toby Tortoise Returns]]'' || Writer / Animation Director ||
|-
|''[[More Kittens]]'' || Animation Director ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1937 || ''[[Woodland Café]]'' || rowspan="5" | Animator ||
|-
|''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1938 || ''[[Ferdinand the Bull (film)|Ferdinand the Bull]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Mother Goose Goes Hollywood]]'' ||
|-
| 1939 || ''[[The Autograph Hound]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1940 || ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' || Animation Director / Supervising Animator || [[Jiminy Cricket]]
|-
|''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'' || Animation Supervisor – Segment "''[[Symphony No. 6 (Beethoven)|The Pastoral Symphony]]''" ||[[Dionysus|Bacchus]] and Jacchus
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1941 || ''[[The Reluctant Dragon (1941 film)|The Reluctant Dragon]]'' || rowspan="3" | Animator ||
|-
|''[[The Little Whirlwind]]'' ||
|-
|''[[The Nifty Nineties]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Dumbo]]'' || Animation Director ||The Crows
|-
|rowspan="5"| 1942 || ''[[All Together (1942 film)|All Together]]'' (Short) || rowspan="17" | Animator ||
|-
|''[[Stop That Tank!]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Saludos Amigos]]''||
|-
|''[[How to Play Baseball]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Der Fuehrer's Face]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="6"| 1943 ||''[[The Spirit of '43]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Victory Through Air Power (film)|Victory Through Air Power]]'' (Documentary) ||
|-
|''Victory Vehicles'' ||
|-
|''[[Reason and Emotion]]'' ||
|-
|''[[Chicken Little (1943 film)|Chicken Little]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1944 || ''The Pelican and the Snipe'' ||
|-
|''[[How to Play Football]] '' ||
|-
| ''[[The Three Caballeros]]'' ||Title Song
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1945 ||''African Diary'' ||
|-
|''[[Hockey Homicide]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|  1946 || ''Pluto's Kid Brother'' ||
|-
|''[[Make Mine Music]]'' || Animator <br>(Segments ''Casey at the Bat'', ''Peter and the Wolf'', ''Willie the Operatic Whale'') || 
|-
| 1947 || ''[[Fun and Fancy Free]]'' || Directing Animator <br>(Segments ''Bongo'', ''Mickey and the Beanstalk'') ||
|-
| 1948 || ''[[Melody Time]]'' || Directing Animator <br>(Segments ''Johnny Appleseed'', ''Blame It on the Samba'', ''Pecos Bill'') ||
|-
| 1949 || ''[[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]]'' || Directing Animator <br>(Segments ''The Wind in the Willows'', ''The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'')||
|-
| 1950 || ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'' || Directing Animator ||Jaq, Gus, Lucifer
|-
|rowspan="2"|  1951 || ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' || Directing Animator / Animator || Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Walrus, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, March Hare
|-
|''How to Catch a Cold'' (Short) || Animator ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1953 || ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' || Directing Animator || John Darling, Chief Indian, Captain Hook
|-
|''[[Melody (1953 film)|Melody]]'' (Short) || Animator / Director ||
|-
|''[[How to Dance (1953 film)|How to Dance]]'' (Short) || Musician ||
|-
|''[[Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom]]'' (Short) || Animator / Director ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|  1955 || ''[[Man in Space]]'' (Disneyland episode) || rowspan="2" | Writer / Director || 
|-
|''[[Man and the Moon]]'' (Disneyland episode) ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1957 || ''Cosmic Capers'' (Documentary short) || Writer / Director / Producer ||
|-
|'' [[Mars and Beyond]]'' (Disneyland episode) || Writer / Director ||
|-
| 1959 || ''Eyes in Outer Space'' (Documentary short) || Writer / Director / Producer ||
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Babes in Toyland (1961 film)|Babes in Toyland]]'' || Writer ||
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' || Animator ||Pearly Band
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1967 || ''[[Scrooge McDuck and Money]]'' (Short) || rowspan="2" | Animator ||
|-
|''[[The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin]]'' ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Escalation (1968 animated film)|Escalation]]'' (TV Short) || Director ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[It's Tough to Be a Bird]]'' || Writer / Director / Producer ||
|-
| 1970 || ''Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?'' || Director / Producer||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]]'' || Animation Director ||
|-
| 1972–73 || ''[[The Mouse Factory]]'' || Director / Producer (43 episodes) ||
|- 
|}

==Railfan==
[[File:Disneyland 200707 Number5 NewOrleansSquare.jpg|thumb|The ''Ward Kimball'' locomotive pulling into New Orleans Square Station in Disneyland]]
{{Quote box|width=28em|align=left|quote=I hope I can hold out for the big one, the great earthquake. Then when California slips into the Pacific Ocean, then me and all my trains can fall into the great abyss and into oblivion.|source=—Ward Kimball<ref name="Amendola2015p120">{{Harvp|Amendola|2015|p=120}}.</ref>|salign=right}}
[[File:Ward Kimball playing with his model train, 1977.jpg|thumb|Kimball operating his model train in 1977]]
Along with his employer and friend [[Walt Disney]], and friend [[Ollie Johnston]], Kimball collected old [[railroad]] ephemera. He was also an avid [[collecting|collector]] of [[model trains]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.readingeagle.com/berks-country/article/treasure-hunt-walt-disney-called-ward-kimball-a-genius-but-he-was-just-a-normal-train-collector|title=Treasure Hunt: Walt Disney called Ward Kimball a 'genius,' but he was just a normal train collector {{!}} Reading Eagle – BERKSCOUNTRY|work=Reading Eagle|access-date=2017-07-17|language=en|archive-date=2017-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315063233/http://www.readingeagle.com/berks-country/article/treasure-hunt-walt-disney-called-ward-kimball-a-genius-but-he-was-just-a-normal-train-collector|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A Centennial Renaissance: 100 Years of Ward Kimball |url=https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/centennial-renaissance-100-years-ward-kimball |website=waltdisney.org |publisher=The Walt Disney Family Museum® - Disney Enterprises, Inc. |access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref><ref>Kimball, Ward.  ''Toys: Delights from the Past,'' pp. 1-32, Applied Arts Publishers, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 1976, 1983.</ref>  Kimball was an avid [[railway enthusiast]] from a young age, having grown up in [[Parsons, Kansas]], near the massive [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad|Katy Railroad]] facilities.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Interesting Railfans No. 28: Ward Kimball|magazine=[[Railroad Magazine]]|volume=76|number=6|date=April 1965}}</ref> One of his first childhood drawings was of a locomotive, and he said that his mother called him a "marked" baby because of his early infatuation with railroads.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ward Kimball - D23 - Disney Legends |url=https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/ward-kimball/ |website=d23.com |publisher=[[D23 (Disney)]] |access-date=2 July 2024}}</ref> 

Kimball donated his {{Track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] collection to the [[Southern California Railway Museum]] (formerly the Orange Empire Railway Museum) in [[Perris, California]]. A full-size [[steam locomotive]], which Kimball ran on his private {{convert|3|acre|ha|adj=on}} backyard railroad known as ''[[Grizzly Flats Railroad]]'' in [[San Gabriel, California]], bears some of his original artwork on the headlamp and cab, and is on permanent display at the museum.<ref name=Broggie>Broggie, Michael, ''Walt Disney's Railroad Story'', Virginia Beach, Virginia: The Donning Company Publishers, 2006 (2nd edition), pp. 52–59, 200.</ref><ref>''Steam Passenger Service Directory, 1967,'' p. 18, Empire State Railway Museum, Inc., New York, New York, 1967.</ref> Kimball's roundhouse also included two small steam engines that had been used on sugar cane plantations, one of which was his and the other was owned by his friend, noted railroad historian [[Gerald M. Best]].<ref>Broggie, Michael. ''Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to the Full-Scale Kingdom,'' pp. 122–124, 150, 335, 2nd Ed., The Donning Company Publishers, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2006. {{ISBN|1-57864-309-0}}.</ref><ref>Smatlak, John.  "Ward Kimball's Backyard Empire," ''Trains,'' pp. 59-63, June 2000, Vol. 60, No. 6, Kalmbach Publishing Company, Waukesha, Wisconsin.</ref>  In recognition of his love of railroading and support of the Southern California Railway Museum, the Perris Transit Center, where the museum's historic trains travel, is dedicated to Mr. Kimball. In a rare deviation from its usually tight copyright policy, the Disney corporation allowed the city to decorate the transit center with Kimball's artwork. The center is currently served by [[Riverside Transit Agency]] buses, with train service as part of the [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] [[91/Perris Valley Line]].<ref>[http://www.cityofperris.org/news/2010_stories/01-05-10_depot.html New Perris Transit Center to Honor Ward Kimball – Phase 1 Grand Opening] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815032247/http://www.cityofperris.org/news/2010_stories/01-05-10_depot.html |date=2010-08-15 }}, Cityofperris.org</ref>

Kimball is credited with helping [[Walt Disney]] for the inspiration to install the [[Disneyland Railroad]] at [[Disneyland]].<ref>"Ward Kimball: Animator who was one of Disney's 'Nine Old Men' and responsible for Jiminy Cricket and the Cheshire Cat," ''The Daily Telegraph,'' p. 27, July 11, 2002, London, England.</ref><ref>Pierce, Todd James.  ''The Life and Times of Ward Kimball,'' pp. 121-2, University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi, 2019.  {{ISBN|9781496820969}}.</ref>  The inspiration for the Disneyland Railroad also partly came from Disney's personal {{Track gauge|7.25in}} gauge, [[live steam]] backyard [[Carolwood Pacific Railroad]], which Kimball had partially constructed. Kimball's Grizzly Flats train station served as the model for the Disneyland Frontierland Train Station. As a tribute to Kimball, Engine No.&nbsp;5 of the Disneyland Railroad is named the ''Ward Kimball''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Broggie />

In addition, Kimball also designed the logo for the Wildcat Railroad in [[Los Gatos, California]], owned by [[Billy Jones (railroader)|Billy Jones]], a friend of Walt Disney who was an engineer for the Disneyland Railroad during its first week of operation.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/5UOavrsdEn8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170727155315/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UOavrsdEn8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=The Beautiful Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad at Vasona Park – 18" Gauge Live Steam in Los Gatos – 60p|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UOavrsdEn8|website=www.youtube.com|publisher=CaptainHarlock999|access-date=27 June 2017|date=31 December 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kimball's talents are also evident in the reproduction steam locomotives built for the National Park Service at the [[Golden Spike National Historic Site]] at [[Promontory, Utah]]. Kimball helped match colors with an engine at the [[Smithsonian Institution]] and painted the artwork for the replicas of the [[Union Pacific No. 119]] and [[Jupiter (locomotive)|Central Pacific ''Jupiter'']] built by [[O'Connor Engineering Laboratories]] for the Park Service.<ref>Dowty, Robert R., ''Rebirth of the Jupiter and the 119: Building the Replica Locomotives at Golden Spike,'' Tucson, Ariz.: Southwest Parks & Monuments Association, 1994, p. 35.</ref> Kimball was also in the 1975 video ''Model Railroading Unlimited'' as the host in the beginning of the movie and was showing parts of his GFRR.<ref>{{cite web |title=Model Railroading Unlimited |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56S9hM2PBW0 |website=YouTube | date=5 October 2014 |access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref> Kimball was featured in the 1987 ''Great Toy Train Layouts of America'' book and in the first installment of the ''Great Toy Train Layouts of America'' video series in 1988, produced by TM Books and Video.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crisp |first1=Marty |title=He created a world of wonder |issue=13 |publisher=The Sunday News |date=December 13, 1987 |location=Lancaster, Pa |pages=37, 38}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=TM Books And Video |title=The Best Videos with the Best Prices |url=http://tmbooks-video.com/ |website=TM Books And Video |access-date=September 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109040914/http://tmbooks-video.com/ |archive-date=November 9, 2004}}</ref> Kimball was a longtime member of the [[Train Collectors Association]], a hobby association with the mission of preserving and promoting the history and enjoyment of toy trains through research, education, and community; setting collecting standards; and fostering appreciation for "Tinplate Toy Trains" and model railroading via museums, libraries, conventions, and local events for hobbyists worldwide. He was the national president of the organization from 1974 to 1975 and personally helped design some of the distinctive features of their national headquarters building in [[Strasburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Athey |first1=Jan |last2=Keck |first2=Tyler |date=April 2022 |title=Ward Kimball's Legacy to TCA |url=https://www.tcatrains.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ward-Kimball.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=December 17, 2025 |website=Train Collectors Association}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==''Escalation''==
{{Main|Escalation (1968 animated film)}}

In 1968, Kimball directed a two-minute animated short called ''[[Escalation (1968 animated film)|Escalation]]'', which criticized [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[Vietnam War]] policy.<ref name=":0" /> The short is unique for being the only animated cartoon made independently from the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney Studios]] by one of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]]. The short is further noticeable for its satirical edge and political and erotic content.<ref name="Vallen">{{cite web |last1=Vallen |first1=Mark |title=Hey, Hey, LBJ |url=http://www.art-for-a-change.com/LBJ/LBJ.htm |website=www.art-for-a-change.com |access-date=12 June 2018 |date=6 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wardkimball/ward-kimballs-escalation-2-2572.html|title=Ward Kimball's Escalation|date=10 February 2007|website=cartoonbrew.com}}</ref>

==Death==
Kimball died in 2002 in Arcadia, California of complications from [[pneumonia]] at age 88. In 2005, the [[Disneyland Railroad]] named its newly acquired locomotive No. 5 "''Ward Kimball''" in his memory.<ref>Mello, Michael,  [http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/11/14/another-generation-on-the-disney-rails/99693/ "New generation works Disneyland's rails"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119210548/http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/11/14/another-generation-on-the-disney-rails/99693/ |date=2012-01-19 }}, ''Orange County Register,'' Local, 26 November 2011, p. 4.</ref><ref>[http://www.ocregister.com/articles/million-64456-wednesday-company.html "Today's Orange County business briefs"], ''Orange County Register'', 16 February 2006.</ref><ref>Eades, Mark, [http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/06/01/disneyland-railroad-engineers-fire-up-the-locomotives/46233/ "Disneyland Railroad engineers fire up the locomotives every morning"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206165336/http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/06/01/disneyland-railroad-engineers-fire-up-the-locomotives/46233/ |date=2012-02-06 }}, ''Orange County Register'', 1 June 2010.</ref>

==Archive==
The [[Academy Film Archive]] houses the Kimball Family Collection which includes over 60 home movie reels, as well as short films, TV spots, and jazz band performances, serving to document Ward's personal interests and moments in his extraordinary career. The collection also includes home movies and shorts by his son, filmmaker and animator John Kimball.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kimball Family Collection|url=http://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/kimball-family-collection|website=Academy Film Archive}}</ref> The archive has preserved several of the Kimball family home movies, including family vacations to Death Valley and Disneyland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Preserved Projects|url=https://www.oscars.org/academy-film-archive/preserved-projects?title=kimball&filmmaker=&category=All&collection=All|website=Academy Film Archive}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]

{{Clear right}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{Cite book|last=Amendola|first=Dana|year=2015|title=All Aboard: The Wonderful World of Disney Trains|edition=1st|publisher=[[Disney Publishing Worldwide|Disney Editions]]|isbn=978-1-4231-1714-8}}
*{{citation | last1=Lenburg | first1=Jeff  | title=Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators | chapter= Kimball, Ward Walrath| year=2006 | publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]]| isbn= 978-1557836717| chapter-url =https://books.google.com/books?id=FVShFCjVzvIC&q=A+Cartoonist%27s+Nightmare&pg=PA179}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Pierce|first=Todd|year=2019|title=The Life and Times of Ward Kimball: Maverick of Disney Animation|edition=1st|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=978-1496820969}}
* Ghez, Didier, Editor (2008). "Interview with Ward Kimball by Richard Hubler." ''Walt's People - Talking Disney with the Artists Who Knew Him'' (Vol.8). Xlibris Corporation. {{ISBN|1441551832}}. {{ISBN|978-1441551832}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0453832|name=Ward Kimball}}
*[http://d23.com/ward-kimball Disney Legends]
*[http://www.animationblast.com/view/wardkimball Animation Blast: Remembering Ward Kimball] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824221320/http://www.animationblast.com/view/wardkimball/ |date=2006-08-24 }}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PZBtWNxlQs View ''Escalation'' on Youtube]
*[http://www.oerm.org/ Official Southern California Railway Museum website] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20060907004544/http://www.oerm.org/pages/GF.htm Grizzly Flats Railroad Page]

{{Ward Kimball}}
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{{Disney Legends Awards 1980s}}
{{Inkpot Award 1980s}}
{{Winsor McCay Award 1970s}}
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{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimball, Ward}}
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