Hidden Disney: A Surprising Discovery in The New York Times Archive #

A curious black-and-white photo discovered in the archives revealed an unexpected pairing of cultural icons. The image initially showed only Igor Stravinsky, the renowned Russian composer, holding a pen over an unidentified document. However, a thick layer of gray paint concealed half the photo.

Upon removing the paint, a surprising revelation emerged - Stravinsky was seated next to Walt Disney. The photo captured a moment from Stravinsky’s visit to Disney’s studios, though the exact year remains unknown.

This encounter likely related to Disney’s animated film “Fantasia,” released in 1940. The movie, Disney’s third feature-length animation, included a version of Stravinsky’s ballet “The Rite of Spring.” Stravinsky was the only composer featured in “Fantasia” who was still alive at the time of its U.S. release.

Intriguingly, the photo had been deliberately altered to focus solely on Stravinsky, with Disney painted out of the frame. Annotations indicate the cropped image of Stravinsky was published multiple times over the years.

Despite his participation in “Fantasia,” Stravinsky may have later regretted his involvement. In an autobiography, he reflected on a 1939 screening of the film:

“The order of the pieces had been shuffled, and the most difficult of them eliminated — though this did not save the musical performance, which was execrable.”

This rediscovered photo provides a unique glimpse into an unexpected historical intersection between two influential figures in music and animation.