Evelyn Kennedy

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, 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". The Absent-Minded Professor The Parent Trap Nikki, Wild Dog of the North Babes in Toyland

Moon Pilot Bon Voyage! Big Red The Legend of Lobo (Documentary)

Son of Flubber Summer Magic Savage Sam The Incredible Journey The Three Lives of Thomasina The Sword in the Stone

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones A Tiger Walks Mary Poppins

Those Calloways That Darn Cat!

The Ugly Dachshund Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (Short) Uncredited Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Follow Me, Boys! 1963–1981 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series) Archive footage

Monkeys, Go Home! The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin The Gnome-Mobile The Jungle Book The Happiest Millionaire

Blackbeard's Ghost The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band Never a Dull Moment The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Short) Uncredited The Love Bug

Rascal The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes

King of the Grizzlies The Boatniks The Aristocats The Wild Country The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV series)

The Barefoot Executive Scandalous John The Million Dollar Duck Bedknobs and Broomsticks The Biscuit Eater

Napoleon and Samantha Now You See Him, Now You Don't Run, Cougar, Run Snowball Express

The World's Greatest Athlete Charley and the Angel One Little Indian Robin Hood Superdad

Herbie Rides Again The Bears and I The Castaway Cowboy The Island at the Top of the World Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (Short) Uncredited

The Strongest Man in the World Escape to Witch Mountain The Apple Dumpling Gang

No Deposit, No Return Treasure of Matecumbe Gus The Shaggy D.A. Freaky Friday

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh The Rescuers A Tale of Two Critters (Documentary) Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo Pete's Dragon

Return from Witch Mountain The Cat from Outer Space Hot Lead and Cold Feet The Small One (Short)

The North Avenue Irregulars The Black Hole

The Last Flight of Noah's Ark Herbie Goes Bananas 1981 The Fox and the Hound 1982 Tex Supervising music editorCredited as Eve Kennedy 1983 Never Cry Wolf Supervising music editor 1984 Splash Supervising music editor