Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
It CLOSED..??
Awww man...!
Awww man...!
-
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Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks (Part II)
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
ABQ
Well-Known Member
I dropped a link to an article on that in the Imagineer section of the forum if you want to read up on it.It CLOSED..??
Awww man...!
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Just had a look...thanks.
I am going to share that article here, as it is well worth checking out.
Some great photos...including a nice one of Eddie !
Article -
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2014/01/lax-airport-encounter-restaurant.html
I am going to share that article here, as it is well worth checking out.
Some great photos...including a nice one of Eddie !
Article -
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2014/01/lax-airport-encounter-restaurant.html
Eddie Sotto
Premium Member
I have not been around in a while but thought this would be appropriate to bring up and post as her work has been such an enjoyable part of the WDW experience.
"It’s with great sadness that I pass on that yesterday at 4:12 pm, my Aunt, ex Disney Costume Designer Marilyn Sotto-Erdmann lost her fight with Cancer at age 82.
As you may know, Marilyn brought us skills she honed after several decades in the film industry working as an illustrator for Costume Designer Edith Head, Jean Louis, Norma Koch and others. Her credits are numerous. Classics like Cecil B De Mille's “The Ten Commandments”, “To Catch a Thief”, ”Rear Window”, "A Place in the Sun”, “White Christmas”, “Sabrina”, and “Hud” to name a few. She received screen credit for her design on “Man of 1000 Faces”, something actor James Cagney demanded on behalf of Marilyn and she got it. As a kid, I’d stop and watch her work on Julie Andrews “flapper" getup for "Throughly Modern Millie", or Diana Ross’ gown for "Lady Sings the Blues", and many others. What an inspiration. Her talents were many and she also transitioned to uniform design to bring her Hollywood touch to the opening look of the Beverly and Havana Hilton Hotels in the 1950’s. She went on to write and illustrate her own book on the subject, “The Art of Costume Design”. The daughter of a portrait and MGM scenic artist, she kept busy in the field of art, till one day in 1986, while working on Euro Disneyland, I suggested that Marilyn consider bringing her cinematic sensibility to the Costuming being designed for the Paris park, “Auntie Mare” was up for the challenge, showed her stuff, and was hired immediately.
Many of you knew her and her "bigger than life" passion for design and flamboyant personality. She brought the company and her peers a great passion for what could be, always “pushing the buttonhole” to make the costumes less “uniform" like and more theatrical to drive the story. It was always about the show. Her work did not stop after Disneyland Paris, she went on to relocate with her husband John to Florida to design WDW Parade costumes, Resort and Cruise Ship attire, Super Bowl spectacles and more. A high point to her was researching ancient animatronic costuming for Spaceship Earth’s recent facelift. She told me that she felt she had come full circle, reminding her of doing the Egyptian garb for “The Ten Commandments” decades earlier. Always working, Mare rose to Senior Costume Designer at WDW, where she could inspire young artists. They can speak to that. One thing that amazed me, was how she embraced technology and never allowed her mind to tell her she was too old for something. When she saw that I had given up paper to "draw" on a Cintiq digital screen, she had to have one and demanded she be the first in her department to draw on one. How many people in their 70’s would embrace digital in order to be on the cutting edge? Only a true “Imagineer". Auntie Mare. Eventually she mastered it, others followed suit, and she shared her tips. She retired from a stellar career at the Walt Disney Company after nearly two decades. Even in retirement, Mare never stopped designing and even at 82 she was setting the tone for the hosts and hostesses of Embraer Executive Jets. I only hope I can stay that active!
I’m not great with exact dates and project titles, but you can fill in the rest, as she touched all of us. Attached are a few pictures of her and her work.. Mare was an original and no doubt we will all miss her positive attitude, vibrant energy and talent. She was always willing to share her skills with everyone. She spoke very highly of so many of you in the Company as her experience at Disney was a career high.
She is survived by her husband John, daughter Cynthia, brother Ed and his wife Adrianne, myself and wife Deena, our twins Brian and Venice.."
Eddie Sotto
"It’s with great sadness that I pass on that yesterday at 4:12 pm, my Aunt, ex Disney Costume Designer Marilyn Sotto-Erdmann lost her fight with Cancer at age 82.
As you may know, Marilyn brought us skills she honed after several decades in the film industry working as an illustrator for Costume Designer Edith Head, Jean Louis, Norma Koch and others. Her credits are numerous. Classics like Cecil B De Mille's “The Ten Commandments”, “To Catch a Thief”, ”Rear Window”, "A Place in the Sun”, “White Christmas”, “Sabrina”, and “Hud” to name a few. She received screen credit for her design on “Man of 1000 Faces”, something actor James Cagney demanded on behalf of Marilyn and she got it. As a kid, I’d stop and watch her work on Julie Andrews “flapper" getup for "Throughly Modern Millie", or Diana Ross’ gown for "Lady Sings the Blues", and many others. What an inspiration. Her talents were many and she also transitioned to uniform design to bring her Hollywood touch to the opening look of the Beverly and Havana Hilton Hotels in the 1950’s. She went on to write and illustrate her own book on the subject, “The Art of Costume Design”. The daughter of a portrait and MGM scenic artist, she kept busy in the field of art, till one day in 1986, while working on Euro Disneyland, I suggested that Marilyn consider bringing her cinematic sensibility to the Costuming being designed for the Paris park, “Auntie Mare” was up for the challenge, showed her stuff, and was hired immediately.
Many of you knew her and her "bigger than life" passion for design and flamboyant personality. She brought the company and her peers a great passion for what could be, always “pushing the buttonhole” to make the costumes less “uniform" like and more theatrical to drive the story. It was always about the show. Her work did not stop after Disneyland Paris, she went on to relocate with her husband John to Florida to design WDW Parade costumes, Resort and Cruise Ship attire, Super Bowl spectacles and more. A high point to her was researching ancient animatronic costuming for Spaceship Earth’s recent facelift. She told me that she felt she had come full circle, reminding her of doing the Egyptian garb for “The Ten Commandments” decades earlier. Always working, Mare rose to Senior Costume Designer at WDW, where she could inspire young artists. They can speak to that. One thing that amazed me, was how she embraced technology and never allowed her mind to tell her she was too old for something. When she saw that I had given up paper to "draw" on a Cintiq digital screen, she had to have one and demanded she be the first in her department to draw on one. How many people in their 70’s would embrace digital in order to be on the cutting edge? Only a true “Imagineer". Auntie Mare. Eventually she mastered it, others followed suit, and she shared her tips. She retired from a stellar career at the Walt Disney Company after nearly two decades. Even in retirement, Mare never stopped designing and even at 82 she was setting the tone for the hosts and hostesses of Embraer Executive Jets. I only hope I can stay that active!
I’m not great with exact dates and project titles, but you can fill in the rest, as she touched all of us. Attached are a few pictures of her and her work.. Mare was an original and no doubt we will all miss her positive attitude, vibrant energy and talent. She was always willing to share her skills with everyone. She spoke very highly of so many of you in the Company as her experience at Disney was a career high.
She is survived by her husband John, daughter Cynthia, brother Ed and his wife Adrianne, myself and wife Deena, our twins Brian and Venice.."
Eddie Sotto
Attachments
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
My sincrest condolences
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
I am so sorry for your loss, We often forget how huge a contribution people like your aunt make to life.
TeriofTerror
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing this information, and I'm very sorry for your loss.
Darth Sidious
Authentically Disney Distinctly Chinese
Sorry for your loss Eddie, what an accomplished women she was! That resume is unbelievable!
KevinYee
Well-Known Member
Eddie, your aunt was an inspiration and a tough act to follow (for everyone). We feel your loss and all of us are poorer now... but it's also right to recognize how she made our (Disney) lives richer, in many ways. Thanks for filling in the details. I'd known your aunt was active for a long time, but this post is way more detail than I'd had before, and now I'm better able to appreciate the big picture. It just makes me lament the loss a bit more.
Eddie Sotto
Premium Member
Thanks to all of you for your kind words...
Magenta Panther
Well-Known Member
What a wonderfully talented lady. How proud you must be of her. My condolences.
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
My deepest condolences. Marie
Steel City Magic
Well-Known Member
My condolences eddie. Pat
michmousefan
Well-Known Member
My condolences, Eddie. What a rich career she had! We should all be so fortunate.
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
What a blessing to have known her, I'm sure! May God comfort you in your loss.
Eddie Sotto
Premium Member
"Surface! Surface"...All hands on deck...
Hope all of you have been well and thanks again for your kind messages regarding my Aunt.. We have been busy in the field of Aviation and I wanted to share a new 90 second inflight movie touring the Skyacht One Aircraft, the project we mentioned about a year ago when it was first published in the Robb Report ultimate gift guide. Since then it has appeared in many magazines and publications and the design has developed with worldwide interest. We now have our own site too. skyachtone.com. This video will premiere publicly at the World SuperYacht Awards in Amsterdam next month, just prior to giving out the grand prize. Hoping to drop a jaw or two...
Not to be left out, Skyacht One is nominated for Best Concept at the International Yacht and Aviation Awards in Venice, Italy 2 weeks later. If you liked what you've seen and want to participate in voting for Skyacht One, you can, and here is the page
http://thedesignawards.co.uk/voting2015/aviation2015.html
and we'd be honored to have your vote. Lots of cool projects to vote for and check out. So fun to play in that sandbox! Thanks!
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