Thursday
3 days after the inauguration of Euro Disneyland
Paris' newest attraction, the Nautilus, the press was
back in the park to greet the father of Picsou (Uncle
Scrooge). Selected journalists were allowed to meet Mr.
Barks during the afternoon in the Pinocchio suite, one of
the most luxurious of the Disneyland Hotels. The morning
had been dedicated to press pictures featuring the Good
Artist with Donald and Daisy. Strangely enough Scrooge Mc.
Duck wasn't part of the ceremonies. The rumor is that
Scrooge has never really been welcomed at Euro
Disneyland, since its presence in the park is a symbol
some people dislike.
Most journalists who met Carl Barks on that sunny day
came out of the suite amazed at the kindness, good health
and high spirits of this old genius of a gentle man.
During the discussion I enjoyed that afternoon, Carl
Barks admitted with a mischievous smile that while he
found Euro Disneyland Paris a beautiful and extremely
detailed park, there weren't enough Ducks in the shops. 'Mickey
is everywhere', he said, 'but where are Magica
de Spell, Gyro or Uncle Scrooge?' Friday
The official ceremonies were a priority on that
warm Friday. Firstly, a visit to the American Embassy,
where Carl Barks met the American ambassador in France,
officially to settle a visa matter. In reality this was
more thought of as an official honour due to our
favourite artist.
Secondly, Carl Barks was invited by the lord mayor of
Paris and his first deputy to Paris City Hall, where he
was to receive the most important decoration of the city:
La Médaille de Vermeil (The Vermilion Medal). The event
was held in one of the beautiful City Hall's huge lounges
where tapestries added majesty to the place and where a
large series of mirrors gave the feeling of grandeur the
occasion deserved.
Few journalists attended this very private and moving
event reserved to high executives of The Company. Barks
had the opportunity that morning to enjoy 3 very French
traditions: a never ending speech pronounced by the first
deputy, an awful translation of the speech and, maybe to
compensate, a succulent cocktail in the purest French
cooking style.
Saturday
The busiest day of all. It started by a signing
session held from 9.30 to 11.30 at the Disney Store,
Champs-Elysées, for Disney Store and Euro Disneyland
cast members. Hundreds of fans attended the "party"
in what has become today the most successful of all the
Disney Stores worldwide. Carl Barks autographed his
biographies, some brochures presenting his new
lithographs, albums of his most famous comics, his new
creation for the Disney Dimension series of Disney Art
Editions (Scrooge counting his money) and even issues of
the old Donald Magazine that was published in France from
1947 to 1953 and ended with issue 313!
The afternoon was without a doubt the actual climax of
Carl Barks' stay in Paris. From 3.00 to 6.00 P.M., he
inaugurated the 3 day exhibition of 29 of his oil
paintings in the Catto Animation Gallery. Most of the
French TV stations reported on the event. Carl sat for 3
hours in front of some of his most beautiful and well
known paintings to greet his admirers, discuss kindly
with them and sign hundreds of books.
We experienced a few particularly moving moments when a
French craftsman who had been influenced by Barks' work
during all his life presented the Duck Master with one of
his creations (a cat carved in precious stone), or when
the editor in chief of Picsou Magazine offered Mr. Barks,
with shaking hands, an Uncle Scrooge plaster sculpture
made especially for the occasion.
The heat in the Gallery was unbearable but as ever Carl
Barks kept his quiet smile. Some say that the Disney
Magic preserve...
Sunday
After quite a hectic week, one might think that
Carl would relax, but he did not really do that. He first
visited his artistic heirs at The Walt Disney Company
Europe's Noisy-le-Grand Creative Center where Ulrich Schröder,
head of the artists, welcomed him.
Then he eventually concluded his visit to France where it
all started, in the most Magic of all Kingdoms, the one
that has "not enough Ducks yet". And there he
conducted the Parade as Grand Master,... Grand Duck
Master should I say.
And while he sat in front of the firemen car, he probably
heard Donald whispering with his quacking French accent:
'A bientôt et merci, Mr. Barks!' (See you soon
and thank you, Mr. Barks).
Didier
Ghez
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