Evelyn Frances Kennedy Myers (1915 – 1990) was a music editor for the Walt Disney Company, where she contributed to over 100 movies, including Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Mary Poppins (1964), and The Jungle Book (1967).
Biography Early life Evelyn Kennedy was born in Amarillo, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. E.T. Kennedy and studied at the Amarillo School of Music. There, she became a pupil of Lila Austin, who had studied under E. Robert Schmitz and Joseph Lhevine. On July 12, 1936, Kennedy married Austen Myers.
Kennedy was an accomplished pianist and accordionist, and began teaching at her alma mater. Kennedy held recitals for her students performing keys on stage. During World War II, Kennedy joined the United States Navy and was hired to be a stenographer typist for Walt Disney Productions, where they were commissioned to provide wartime propaganda.
Career at Disney Because of World War II, the gender shift in the workforce had changed with women taking a larger role in the workplace. Breaking into the film industry, which was heavily male dominated, was difficult; however, Kennedy's skill solidified her position. She was hired by Walt Disney Productions in 1954, with her first film being Lady and the Tramp (1955). The film earned an estimated $6.5 million in distributor rentals within the United States and Canada. Over the next three decades, Kennedy collaborated with several musical composers, editing and compiling recorded dialogue, sound effects, and instrumental score music to match every visual cue for over 100 films.
In an interview with Richard Sherman (of the Sherman Brothers), he talks about his work-relationship with Evelyn Kennedy. "She was a bit older than me, so I was kind of like 'the kid' wandering around, but I was so interested in how she did it. She never let anybody [else] into her editing room where she worked with the Moviola – switching and pushing the film around to make it work. She had a little sign that said, 'Nobody can enter except Richard Sherman.' I was the one guy she would let come in. I was not supposed to talk, so I could just stand there and watch how she worked and how she did it. I was fascinated by it.... It was 'lessons' for me. I was learning so much in those days."
In 1977, when discussing her job as a film music editor, Kennedy's only lament was that she "there were more openings for young people looking for a career".
Filmography Year Title Notes1955 Lady and the TrampThe African Lion (Documentary)Men Against the Arctic1956 Secrets of Life1957 Public Pigeon No. 1Perri (Documentary)Old Yeller1958 The Light in the ForestWhite Wilderness (Documentary)Tonka1959 Sleeping BeautyThe Shaggy DogDarby O'Gill and the Little People1960 Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a CircusPollyannaJungle Cat (Documentary)The Hound That Thought He Was a Raccoon (Short) Ten Who Dared1961 One Hundred and One DalmatiansThe Absent-Minded ProfessorThe Parent TrapNikki, Wild Dog of the NorthBabes in Toyland1962 Moon PilotBon Voyage!Big RedThe Legend of Lobo (Documentary)1963 Son of FlubberSummer MagicSavage SamThe Incredible JourneyThe Three Lives of ThomasinaThe Sword in the Stone1964 The Misadventures of Merlin JonesA Tiger WalksMary Poppins1965 Those CallowaysThat Darn Cat!1966 The Ugly DachshundWinnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (Short)UncreditedLt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.Follow Me, Boys!1963–1981Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)Archive footage1967 Monkeys, Go Home!The Adventures of Bullwhip GriffinThe Gnome-MobileThe Jungle BookThe Happiest Millionaire1968 Blackbeard's GhostThe One and Only, Genuine, Original Family BandNever a Dull MomentThe Horse in the Gray Flannel SuitWinnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Short)UncreditedThe Love Bug1969 RascalThe Computer Wore Tennis Shoes1970 King of the GrizzliesThe BoatniksThe AristocatsThe Wild CountryThe Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV series)1971 The Barefoot ExecutiveScandalous JohnThe Million Dollar DuckBedknobs and BroomsticksThe Biscuit Eater1972 Napoleon and SamanthaNow You See Him, Now You Don'tRun, Cougar, RunSnowball Express1973 The World's Greatest AthleteCharley and the AngelOne Little IndianRobin HoodSuperdad1974Herbie Rides AgainThe Bears and IThe Castaway CowboyThe Island at the Top of the WorldWinnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (Short)Uncredited1975The Strongest Man in the WorldEscape to Witch MountainThe Apple Dumpling Gang1976No Deposit, No ReturnTreasure of MatecumbeGusThe Shaggy D.A.Freaky Friday1977The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohThe RescuersA Tale of Two Critters (Documentary)Herbie Goes to Monte CarloPete's Dragon1978Return from Witch MountainThe Cat from Outer SpaceHot Lead and Cold FeetThe Small One (Short)1979The North Avenue IrregularsThe Black Hole1980The Last Flight of Noah's ArkHerbie Goes Bananas1981The Fox and the Hound1982TexSupervising music editorCredited as Eve Kennedy 1983Never Cry WolfSupervising music editor1984 SplashSupervising music editor
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