‘Sorcerer’ Director

A caption in your Oct. 7 story on Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” says Bill Roberts directed “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence. In fact, Roberts was one of two directors of the “Rite of Spring” sequence (Paul Satterfield was the other).

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence was directed in 1938 by my father, James Nelson Algar, who spent 42 years with the Disney Studios as animator, director, writer and producer.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was originally intended to be released as a stand-alone short subject to showcase Mickey Mouse, whose popularity was suffering at the hand (and webbed feet) of “rival” Donald Duck. This was before “Fantasia” as a feature-length work was conceived at a fortuitous meeting between Walt Disney and conductor Leopold Stokowski.

It was then decided that “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” with Stokowski conducting the 1897 Paul Dukas composition, would be incorporated into the feature-length “Fantasia” as one sequence among many.

My father retired from the Disney Studios in 1976 and is living in Carmel.

JAMES DRAKE ALGAR

Valencia