Bob Broughton

Bob attended the University of California at Los Angeles studying chemistry physics math and optics He joined Disney in 1937 delivering mail to Studio offices before stepping into the camera department There he shot test camera on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs a step in production to check the continuous action of animated scenes before photographing the final product Bob quickly graduated to the more technically advanced multiplane camera photographing artwork painted on glass up to six layers deep and giving depth to animated scenes in such features as Pinocchio In 1940 as one of two operators of an advanced camera and crane Bob transferred to the newly formed special photographic effects department shooting effects for Fantasia These included the transparent flying ghosts featured in the films Night on Bald Mountain sequence His technical mind keen eye and steady hand soon won him a promotion to camera department supervisor While in this new position Bob branched out into scene planning developing mechanics for multiplane camera scenes as well as overseeing optical printing on Disneys first movie to combine live action and animation Saludos Amigos in 1942 During World War II Bob left Disney to serve in the United States Army as a cameraman in the field photographic branch of the Office of Strategic Services headed by Hollywood director John Ford Based in Washington DC he photographed an Oscarwinning film directed by Ford documenting the Battle of Midway After the War Bob returned to the Studio as assistant to technical wizard and fellow Legend Ub Iwerks By the 1950s he began contributing effects to liveaction motion pictures and worked with such celebrities as Julie Andrews Maureen OHara and Dean Jones For a time Bob Broughton even photographed Walts leadins for the weekly television series Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color As a talented camera effects artist on both animated and liveaction motion pictures Bobs job was to create spectacular effects in a subtle way For instance in Mary Poppins he helped Dick Van Dyke dance with animated penguins by using color traveling matte composite cinematography an awardwinning technology that combined liveaction and animated actors If it looked like we doctored up a scene Bob later recalled we were a failure Our effects werent supposed to be obvious httpsd23comwaltdisneylegendbobbroughton