Duane Alt
- Art Department
- Art Director
- Production Designer
Duane Alt was born in a small town in Nebraska in 1935. As a young child his family moved to Southern California. From a very young age he felt compelled to imagine and create his own art. His early formative years in art schooling was in his teens at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles.
In late 1955, Alt landed a job working at Columbia Pictures. He got his start in the industry working backstage mixing large quantities of paint from dry color.
While working on set at Columbia with some of the most talented artists of his time, Alt quickly developed a love of film and production. Alt didn't have to wait long for his immense talents to be recognized. Shortly after ascending to backdrop illustrator, his art impressed Academy Award Winning art director Herman A. Blumenthal who quickly offered Alt a better job working as a freelance artist.
During the late 1950's and early 1960's Alt worked extensively as a freelance artist with a small group of talented illustrators under Blumenthal. Alt and his team worked on various projects for Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1957, Alt was again brought in to work on a few design projects alongside Ken Anderson at the Disney studio's in Burbank. He worked extensively with Ken and a small team of other Imagineers on the original design of The Haunted House, which eventually would be renamed to the iconic "The Haunted Mansion". Over most of the next decade, Alt also provided Disney early conceptual drawings for New Orleans Square and beloved attractions including; Pirate's of the Caribbean and The Blue Bayou restaurant located inside the Pirate's of the Caribbean ride.
Alt quickly became one of the most sought after, young, up-and-coming freelance artists in town. It was during this period working with Blumenthal that his talents began to gain attention in the Hollywood studio scene. Some notable early projects for Alt included: Working with Blumenthal and Irwin Allen on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea in 1960.
In 1962, Alt worked as an illustrator on the Alfred Hitchcock classic movie "The Birds". He worked alongside story board artist Harold Michelson, drawing some of the concept art as well as assisting with the background scenery painting.
In November 1965, Walt and Roy Disney announced plans to build an "East Coast Disneyland" called Disney World near Orlando, Fla., with WED Enterprises handling the master planning and design of the 27,500-acre site. Alt continued his work for Disney during this period and provided some early conceptual drawings for sections of the new theme park, helping to bring Walt's vision to life. His last official project working for Walt Disney Studios was in 1968. He was the storyboard artist for the Disney movie "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band".
In the 1970's Alt began his friendship and longtime artistic involvement with renowned filmmaker Irwin Allen. Alt worked on various projects for Irwin spanning the next decade including as an Illustrator on famed Irwin Allen Disaster Blockbusters; "The Poseidon Adventure" in 1972 and "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. Alt also worked on "The Swiss Family Robinson" in 1975. From 1978 through 1983, Alt got official Art Director credits for his work on "The Return of Captain Nemo" (1978), and "Hanging by a Thread" (1979) while working with Allen.
The dawning of the 1980's marked a serious shift in life for Alt. He was still regularly being called for studio work, but his heart and passion were now being focused on his own impressionist art. Alt had recently exhibited at his first fine art show at Galerie Juarez, in West Hollywood in 1978 to a resounding success and was ready to burst onto the 80's Los Angeles fine art scene.
Alt worked on a few more film projects in the early 80's but was quickly growing tired of the demanding studio work schedule. It left him little time to paint his own art and he wanted nothing more than to walk away from it all by this time. Alt went on to have a successful 40+ year career as a fine art painter. He has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe and his original oil paintings hang in exclusive private fine art collections around the world.
In the summer of 2019, Alt was officially recognized by Disney for his artistic contributions as an early Imagineer.
Some of Alt's concept art were featured in a special exhibit titled "Happy Haunts Materialize - 50 Spirited Years of The Haunted Mansion", celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the famed attraction. The exhibit opened on August 9th, 2019, at The Disney Gallery inside the Disneyland Opera House on Main Street USA.
In late 1955, Alt landed a job working at Columbia Pictures. He got his start in the industry working backstage mixing large quantities of paint from dry color.
While working on set at Columbia with some of the most talented artists of his time, Alt quickly developed a love of film and production. Alt didn't have to wait long for his immense talents to be recognized. Shortly after ascending to backdrop illustrator, his art impressed Academy Award Winning art director Herman A. Blumenthal who quickly offered Alt a better job working as a freelance artist.
During the late 1950's and early 1960's Alt worked extensively as a freelance artist with a small group of talented illustrators under Blumenthal. Alt and his team worked on various projects for Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1957, Alt was again brought in to work on a few design projects alongside Ken Anderson at the Disney studio's in Burbank. He worked extensively with Ken and a small team of other Imagineers on the original design of The Haunted House, which eventually would be renamed to the iconic "The Haunted Mansion". Over most of the next decade, Alt also provided Disney early conceptual drawings for New Orleans Square and beloved attractions including; Pirate's of the Caribbean and The Blue Bayou restaurant located inside the Pirate's of the Caribbean ride.
Alt quickly became one of the most sought after, young, up-and-coming freelance artists in town. It was during this period working with Blumenthal that his talents began to gain attention in the Hollywood studio scene. Some notable early projects for Alt included: Working with Blumenthal and Irwin Allen on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea in 1960.
In 1962, Alt worked as an illustrator on the Alfred Hitchcock classic movie "The Birds". He worked alongside story board artist Harold Michelson, drawing some of the concept art as well as assisting with the background scenery painting.
In November 1965, Walt and Roy Disney announced plans to build an "East Coast Disneyland" called Disney World near Orlando, Fla., with WED Enterprises handling the master planning and design of the 27,500-acre site. Alt continued his work for Disney during this period and provided some early conceptual drawings for sections of the new theme park, helping to bring Walt's vision to life. His last official project working for Walt Disney Studios was in 1968. He was the storyboard artist for the Disney movie "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band".
In the 1970's Alt began his friendship and longtime artistic involvement with renowned filmmaker Irwin Allen. Alt worked on various projects for Irwin spanning the next decade including as an Illustrator on famed Irwin Allen Disaster Blockbusters; "The Poseidon Adventure" in 1972 and "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. Alt also worked on "The Swiss Family Robinson" in 1975. From 1978 through 1983, Alt got official Art Director credits for his work on "The Return of Captain Nemo" (1978), and "Hanging by a Thread" (1979) while working with Allen.
The dawning of the 1980's marked a serious shift in life for Alt. He was still regularly being called for studio work, but his heart and passion were now being focused on his own impressionist art. Alt had recently exhibited at his first fine art show at Galerie Juarez, in West Hollywood in 1978 to a resounding success and was ready to burst onto the 80's Los Angeles fine art scene.
Alt worked on a few more film projects in the early 80's but was quickly growing tired of the demanding studio work schedule. It left him little time to paint his own art and he wanted nothing more than to walk away from it all by this time. Alt went on to have a successful 40+ year career as a fine art painter. He has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe and his original oil paintings hang in exclusive private fine art collections around the world.
In the summer of 2019, Alt was officially recognized by Disney for his artistic contributions as an early Imagineer.
Some of Alt's concept art were featured in a special exhibit titled "Happy Haunts Materialize - 50 Spirited Years of The Haunted Mansion", celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the famed attraction. The exhibit opened on August 9th, 2019, at The Disney Gallery inside the Disneyland Opera House on Main Street USA.