Frank & Ollie - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (May 25, 1982)

"Heeeeeeere's Johnny!!" Actually, here's Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Collectively, they were known as Frank and Ollie to the point many people thought "Frankenollie" was one person.

College friends in art school, the pair formed a lifelong friendship closer than brothers, (they even bought connecting lots where they built their family homes.) Starting at the Walt Disney Studios together in the mid 1930's, both were among Walt Disney's legendary Nine Old Men. They oversaw numerous animated characters over their over five decades with the studio.

After their retirement, they continued to mentor the younger generation starting their own careers at the Walt Disney Studios. They also co-authored several books on animation together so all they'd discovered would be lost. These books are highly sought after animation textbooks today.

Their first book, The Illusion of Life, is what brought them on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show for over 30 years along with his sidekick Ed Mcmahon. This became the definitive late night talk show to this day.

In this short interview, Johnny interviews the pair about their career with Walt Disney, genuinely interested in their book. It's a shame this interview isn't longer.

When the stagehand met Frank and Ollie on this appearance. he looked them over and said "So...YOU'RE the guys who shot Bambi's mother..."

Original air date May 25, 1982

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.