list_text=          As Disney's continental cinema representative in Paris, France, Wally Feignoux went above and beyond the call of duty. During the 1930s and 40s, not only did he ably represent the Company's interests to its motion picture distributor at the time, RKO, but he made heroic contributions when he kept Disney's Paris office open during the Nazi occupation, between 1939 and 1945.
          As his sister, Jacqueline Vieuille recalled, "Wally had been brought up by our parents that you have to do your duty – no matter the circumstances. He was proud to represent Disney and felt passion for his work. During the Occupation, when it was a danger to stay in the 52 Champs Elysee building, where coincidentally, the German 'Propaganda Stafel' was also located, Wally struggled to keep Disney's office open."
          Born Raoul Wallace Feignoux, on March 26, 1906, in Paris, Wally was the son of a pharmacist and a homemaker. After studying at Nassillon and Lycee Charlemagne in Paris, he entered the import/export business supplying textiles to the women's fashion industry.
          In the early 1930s, he entered the film industry as a sales representative for Fox Movietone. During this time, he met Walt and Roy O. Disney through a mutual friend and subsequently, joined the Company in 1936. With a staff of ten, he was responsible for supervising RKO's distribution of Disney films throughout Continental Europe.
          Three years later, Hitler seized Paris and at great risk to himself, Wally took all of the Disney film prints in his possession, and surreptitiously buried them to keep them out of Nazi hands.
          Fellow Legend and former head of European merchandising Armand Bigle said, "It was a very dangerous thing for him to do. But, Wally made sure the films were safe and that they were returned to the Studio after the war."
          Upon Allied victory, one of Wally's first tasks was to book "Fantasia" at a Paris theater. According to Bigle, this proved to be a challenge because French theater owners thought the movie might be too sophisticated for audiences. Wally, however, proved persuasive, said Bigle, and on November 6, 1946, "Fantasia" premiered at The Empire Theater. Apparently, French audiences enjoyed the film, which featured animation put to classical music because on February 5, 1947, an RKO press release touted that "Fantasia" was enjoying its 10th successful week in Paris.
          Among Wally's other contributions to the Company, he surveyed the translation of all Disney motion pictures into the French language and in 1963, helped establish its own independent distribution arm in France. After devoting 35 years to Disney, he retired in 1971.
          Wally Feignoux died on May 30th, 1981, in Bordeaux, France.&