Disney Historian Jim Korkis did a presentation Saturday, February 21 for the Orlando local National Fantasy Fan Club entitled “Walt’s Return to Marceline 1956” about Walt Disney returning to Marceline, Missouri on July 4, 1956 for the dedication of the Walt Disney Municipal Park and Pool. Jim was pleasantly surprised to find two ladies who attended his presentation had actually been at that ceremony as children and that they were willing to share their memories.

However, Jim was even more surprised when he was showing home movies of that event and one of the women shouted out, “That’s my brothers!” Two young boys, both in Davy Crockett t-shirts, were patiently waiting for Walt. John and Jeff Neighbors now live in Ohio and their sister Jan, who didn’t make it into the official photos, lives in Florida. Apparently, her grandmother knew Walt quite well and Jan remembers Walt stopping by to visit her.

“We tend to forget how many people Walt knew and interacted with during the course of his short life,” said Jim. “For instance, my good friend and one of the most valuable resources for animation scholarship is animator Mark Kausler and he has a series of black and white photos of him as a child meeting Walt in Missouri. Hopefully, Jan will share more stories with us. Both women who attended the presentation remembered Walt as being genuinely friendly with the children.”

This just in from Bob Cowan:

[That was a great photo of Disney you posted (a few days ago).

Here's one of Walt from Ingeborg Willy's Scrapbook. This was on the second page of her scrapbook that had a starting date of November 1936. I would guess the photo was taken prior to that time.

I thought it was different because of Disney's "Hollywood" pose that was popular during the period.

Walt's face has a similar thin and "young" look -- similar to the photo of them as a couple...]

This just in from Don Hahn:

[Dear Didier,

I am so pleased to announce that for the first time ever, we have assembled all of Walt Stanchfield's amazing handout notes and lectures into a two volume collection titled, DRAWN TO LIFE - 20 GOLDEN YEARS OF DISNEY MASTER CLASSES. Walt was an animator, trainer, mentor and coach for decades at Disney and helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with his teachings. He influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, John Musker, Glen Keane, Andreas Deja and John Lasseter.

To me, DRAWN TO LIFE is one the strongest primers on animation ever written. The material spares no detail on the craft of animation, but also digs deep into the artistic roots of animation. It is a publication that has been anticipated for many years by every artist and student that Walt ever came in contact with. It has been a labor of love for me and I am so proud that Walt's teachings will live on in these two volumes.

You can view a trailer at www.donhahn.com and very soon, this trailer will be available on focalpress.com and amazon.com. Both volumes will be available in bookstores on March 27, 2009.]

I will definitely pick up my own copies of those books when they are released. I also hope that Don will consider trying to publish in the future the conferences on animation given by many top Disney artists during Don Graham's class in the '30s. For an sample of those, check Hans Perk's recent post: Dick Huemer on Timing - Feb. 20th, 1936.

This is one of these rare days in my life when I would really love to be able to read Finnish. A few days ago I mentioned the autobiography (Disney, Aku... Mina) of legendary Finnish editor Markku Kivekas, one of the most serious actors in the world of Disney comics until his untimely death last year.

I have now received this book (edited by Pekka Tuliara) and from the illustrations alone and the fact that it is one long interview with Markku, I know that were I to be able to read it I would love it and would devour it from cover to cover.

But I can't and therefore have to focus purely on the illustrations, like those two rare photos of Markku with Walt (one of which serves as cover for the book) or the large selection of original drawings created for Markku by the best Disney comic artists.

Ah for the day when both "babelfish" and character recognition softwares will both work perfectly! Oh well, maybe my grandkids will be able to read that book someday thanks to new technologies. As for me, I am just grateful for the internet without which I would never have found this book nor been able to get it.

Do not miss today:

- The History of Two Disney Christmas Traditions by Wade Sampson

This just in from Gunnar.

[The painted portrait of Walt will be up for auction on Heritage in March. This is probably one of the best portraits of him that I have seen.

DAVID GROVE (American b.1940)
Walt Disney and Disneyland
Mixed-media on board
23 x 16.5 in.
Signed lower center

Also : A double portrait of Lillian and Walt (above). Was this from the time they married ?]

This just in from Sebastien Durand:

[Romy Schneider was a big star in in Europe (and remained so until her untimely death). While she toured the US to promote her film about Queen Victoria’s Young Years (or The Story of Vicky as it was known there), she visited Disneyland (I have not been ablo to locate pictures of it). Apparently, there were talks at some point of her appearing in Third Man on the Mountain. But she wanted to get away from the saccharine image she had at the time (her three Sissi movies about the life of Austrian Empress Elisabeth had been a huge hit), requested many changes to her character and a star treatment that the studio was not willing to grant a European actress. Talks broke and the role went to Janet Munro instead.]

Do not miss today:

- The Disneyland Art Corner by Jeff Pepper
- The First Disney Annual Report by Michael Barrier
- Adventures in Chicago - 1918 by David Lesjak (outstanding post)

- T. Hee and Friends by Hans Perk
- Dick Huemer in the Penthouse Club 1973 by Hans Perk

Pierre Lambert also sent me recently this photo of French singer and actor Jean Sablon during his visit to the Disney Studio. For a photo of Sablon and Walt posted a few years ago on this blog, click here.

And Hans Perk posted today on his blog a follow-up to the group photo from Les Clark's party that I uploaded here yesterday.

Thanks to Pierre Lambert comes this great group photo taken on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Les Clark's career at Disney, complete with caption.

In a letter to Göran Broling in the eraly '80s, Art Babbitt mentions:

"My 'How To' on animation will be much more than a book... if I live long enough to finalize it. There are many years of work still to be done."

Do anyone of you know if that book was ever completed and if the manuscript survived?

Believe it or not, I learn something about Disney history almost every day. You should not miss today this outstanding post by Jerry Beck on Cartoon Brew. I never heard about those BVD acquisitions and was fascinated by the whole episode.

And the comments on that post point us in the direction of the book below in which we might learn more about little known aspects of Disney history.

If you enjoy art books about Disney and have never come accross Pierre Lambert's, you are missing a pleasure unequaled by any. The three huge books Pierre released throughout the years, about Pinocchio, Snow White and Mickey are astounding objects in themselves. The sheer size of the books is surprising, the quality of the reproductions unparalleled and the document selection perfect (the texts are good too but clearly not the focus or the selling point of the books). Two of the volumes exist today in English: Pinocchio and Mickey Mouse.

I have just spoken to Pierre and he had very exciting news. He has a new French publisher who has agreed to release by the end of the year Pierre's new book about The Jungle Book. The format of that volume will be the same huge one Pierre acustomed us to with his past three books.

In addition, the Snow White book will be re-released with a few new documents and a new cover. Since we are talking about a re-release, though, the format will be smaller.

This might also be exciting news for our English-speaking readers. Pierre's publisher is part of a major US group (Abrams), so there might be soon some editions of the two books in English (this is not yet confirmed).

Do not miss today:

- A Forgotten Walt Interview From 1933 by Wade Sampson

I had just finished updating the Disney Books Network yesterday when I got this great email from David Peake, noticing quite a few new Disney history books-to-come on Amazon, namely:

Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Animation

[With an introduction by John Lasseter-and very little else in the way of words-this second book in The Artist Series lavishly showcases the most brilliant animation created by such luminaries as Ub Iwerks, Norm Ferguson, Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske, Dick Huemer, Grim Natwick, Art Babbitt, Fred Moore, Bill Tytla, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Marc Davis, John Lounsbery, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Les Clark, Wolfgang Reitherman, John Sibley, Bill Justice, Clyde Geronimi, Ted Berman, Glen Keane, Andreas Deja, Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn and Tony Bancroft. The artwork-much of which has never before been published-offers the opportunity to marvel at the those magical lines of pencil that brought life to so many unforgettable Disney characters. Animation represents a rare opportunity to enjoy a glimpse into the truly spectacular trove of treasures from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library.]

The Art of the Disney Princess

[Every little girl has a favorite Disney Princess--and for that matter, every grown-up girl, too! In The Art of the Disney Princess, Disney artists, designers, illustrators, and animators from around the world have re-imagined their favorite princesses and portrayed them in a variety of mediums. Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, and Cinderella are newly incarnated in water color, pastel, oil paint, colored pencil, mixed media, and computer graphics pieces that range from the traditional to the unconventional. This artwork has been created especially for this museum-quality book, which is sure to delight art lovers, Disney collectors, and any prince or princess who ever believed that fairytales do come true.]

Season's Greetings from Disney: Disney Holiday Cards by Jeff Kurtti

[Just in time for the holiday season, Disney Editions will be releasing this mistletoe-bedecked mailable book. From All of Us to All of You will celebrate the unique, imaginative, and colorful art created for the Walt Disney Studios annual season's greetings over the past eight decades. Featuring beloved Disney characters and scenes from contemporary Disney projects, these rarely-seen and never published examples of vintage Disney art were created by such legendary Studio artists as Bill Justice, Hank Porter, and Paul Wenzel. Accompanying this one-of-a-kind collection is erudite and fascinating information about the projects, ideas, context, and people involved in the creation of these festive works-written by Disney historian Jeff Kurtti. Disney fans will delight in sending this unique compilation of holiday cards to friends and family for years to come. ]

Walt Disney's Peter Pan illustrated by Mary Blair

Do not miss today:

- Walt Disney and the Writer's Club, 1933 by David Lesjak
- Comic Starring Jones, Avery and Kimball by Amid Amidi

Once again, in no particular order, here is a series of great photos of Walt and his creations that I found on ebay this morning and that I had never seen before. The first caption reads:

[WALT DISNEY BEING PRESENTED TO GREAT BRITAIN'S PRINCESS MARGARET AND HER HUSBAND THE EARL OF SNOWDON BY JULES STEIN DURING A LUNCHEON AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IN 1965.]

[WALT DISNEY AND MGM STUDIOS STAR SPENCER TRACY AT A POLO MATCH. BOTH MEN WERE AVID POLO PLAYERS. THE ORIGINAL NEWS PHOTO IS FROM ACME NEWS AND IS STAMPED AND DATED 8-4-38 ON THE BACK.]

[WALT DISNEY SHOWING AN ORIGINAL INSIGNIA FOR THE NAVY TORPEDO BOATS "MOSQUITO FLEET TO LIEUT. CLAUDE PEVEY IN THIS ORIGINAL PHOTO DATED 2-28-41.]

[MICKEY, MINNIE, AND DONALD CHARACTERS AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS AT THE CARTHAY CIRCLE THEATER IN LOS ANGELES ON DECEMBER 21, 1937.]

[WALT DISNEY & TWO FOREIGN VIP GUESTS STANDING IN FRONT OF DISNEYLAND'S TOWN HALL.]

[WALT DISNEY & LILLIAN DISNEY IN A RARE OUT OF STUDIO MOMENT, RELAXING AND OBVIOUSLY ENJOYING THEMSELVES AT THE FAMOUS SANTA ANITA TURF CLUB.]

Do not miss today:

- Dennis Books' collection by David Lesjak
- Some Disney Loose Ends by Michael Barrier
- Diana Lai - Original VIP Hostess for Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
- "Selections from the Landmark Collection" offers look at never-built theme parks, shows & attractions by Jim Hill

I just discovered this biography of Markku Kivekas (legendary editor of the Finnish Donald Duck magazine) thanks to the National Donaldistic Magazine.

I would love to get a copy.

Would there be a reader of this blog based in Finland and that could accept Paypal who would be ready to help me?

If so, please email me.

This just in from a reader of the blog:

[Disneyland was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the off season until after the summer of 1985 during Disneyland's 30th anniversary. Remember that Michael Eisner and Frank Wells had just joined us and couldn't understand why Disneyland closed and Walt Disney World didn't need to.

I was there. It was VERY controversial:

HOW were they going to fill the park on those low demand days in the off seasons (this was never a problem - unless it rained, Californians don't like rain).

HOW were they going to keep the maintenance up to DISNEY standards? Telling them that Walt Disney World was able to do it really didn't mean anything to them...

HOW were they going to schedule the full time Cast to a seven day a week operation? Up until then, all full time cast had Mondays and Tuesdays off in the off season. Labor for the larger capacity weekend days was supplemented by CR teachers and college students (like me). There was no way they were going to find enough CR's to work the weekends or weekdays AND - believe it or not - most full time cast did NOT want weekend days off!!!Looks like Disneyland survived it. Change is good. Fun times...]

Those of you who know me well are aware of my fascination with the history of Disney outside of the US. The fact that I have lived all my life in Europe and Latin America has a lot to do with this, of course. Unfortunately, until a few years ago little had been written on the subject. Frankly there are still huge gaps to be filled, but things are getting better.

Want to read about Disney in Italy? Pick up I Disney Italiani by Luca Boschi, Leonardo Gori and Andrea Sani released in 1993. About Germany, get Im Reiche der Micky Maus by Storm and Dressler (1991) or Wie Micky unter die Nazi Fiel (1992) by Carsten Laqua (to be released this year in English by Hermann Press). France has the book Happy Birthday Mickey! by Michel Mandry (1984). For Brazil you will have to wait for Celbi Pegoraro's book on the subject; and for Spain and Portugal you will only need a few more months to discover Jorge Fonte's historical research in book form.

Quite a few of those books exist only in their local language, unfortunately, but they all bridge huge gaps in our Disney history quest. Alberto Beccatini's, David Gerstein's and my work for Tomart's Disneyana Update also help with this very same quest.

But there is always more to learn. Which is why The National Donaldistic Magazine just released by Timo Ronkainen in English, is such a treat. I had wondered for years about the presence of Disney in that country before, during and after WWII and the first two articles in the magazine (Disney Made in Finland and Publishing History of Disney Comics in Finland) fill that gap beautifully (although I have a feeling that some more research on the subject is needed) . Frankly, those two pieces were the highlight of the magazine and justify its cost alone. The articles about comic-book artists Romano Scarpa and especially the little known Gil Turner were an added bonus that delighted me.

In other words, can't wait for more content in English by Timo Ronkainen.

I also hope that someone else will take a similar initiative regarding Norway, Sweden and Denmark. This is still virgin territory for me, still unexplored areas for our quest.

Beautiful caricature of Bill Tytla by Aurelius Battaglia being sold on ebay by Howard Lowery today.

Do not miss today:

- Marceline Faces... by Michael Barrier
- ...And a Marceline Myth by Michael Barrier
- The Great Disney Puppet Mysteries: The Tale of Two Bobs by Wade Sampson

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Enclosed is a photo taken from Lyric Avenue, overlooking the intersection of Griffith Park Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue in 1925.

My arrow points towards the building(s) in 2719 Hyperion Avenue. What we can see is probably the organ factory and maybe the Disney Studio just behind it - while being built ? They moved in early 1926.]

Nice concept art by Mary Blair of John and the Lost Boys being sold at the moment by Van Eaton Galleries.

Two interesting photos of Walt found on ebay today. The caption of the one above reads:

[A YOUNG WALT DISNEY POSES WITH THE THEN BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR OSWALDO ARAHHA IN THIS 1943 PHOTO DURING WORK ON THE DISNEY SOUTH AMERICAN FEATURES.]

Gunnar notes:

[In fact, the photo of Walt and the Brazilian ambassador was taken in his Hyperion office, probably around 1935.] Of course I should have recognized this (if not the date)!

The caption of the one below:

[WALT DISNEY POSED FOR THE GREAT CANADIAN PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER YOUSUF KARSH FOR THE COVER OF THE DISTINGUISHED "WISDOM" MAGAZINE, A 1950s HARD COVER MAGAZINE. OFFERED HERE IS A PHOTO OF WALT WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND HIS WIFE SALAUGE IN 1957 DURING THE COVER'S POHTO SESSION FOR THAT YEAR'S ISSUE.]

This just in from Ben Ohmart:

[I don't know if you know my Paul Frees book which came out 5 years ago, but I'm now working on a 2nd edition, since I have a lot more information on 2 of his missing wives (including some wonderful letters he and his first wife wrote to each other during WWII!), and I'd love it if you could post on your site that I'm seeking people (Disney or not) who worked with/knew him to interview for the book. I'm sure I missed some people the first time around. Thanks much!]

This just in:

[Disney Historian Jim Korkis has been working on a project about the books that Walt Disney read and might have influenced him. In the process, he got to talk with Diane Disney Miller and with the release of “Mary Poppins” on DVD recently, here is a little insight into Walt’s familiarity with the book:

Walt would find books anywhere. According to publicity for the film, he picked up a copy of “Mary Poppins” on the bedside table of his daughter, Diane, and that got him to thinking about adapting that story. “The Mary Poppins book, now an artifact in our exhibit (at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco), was sent to him by the publisher, who inscribed it "Dear Mr. Disney .. This is not Mickey, but we think you'll like our Mary." It had been in our home years before I could read, and I'm certain that he'd read it before he picked it up from my bedside table,” Diane Disney Miller wrote to Jim.]

Do not miss today:

- Recap: Dumbo’s bath by Michael Sporn
- An interview with Walt Disney posted by Jerry Beck
- Hyperion Avenue at Griffith Park Boulevard, 1927 by Michael Barrier
- Disney's Hollywood: The Alexander Theatre by Jeff Pepper

I will be on a business trip on Monday. The blog will be updated again next Tuesday.

I have finally received yesterday the book Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archives Series: Story and this allows me to publish my now traditional "top 5" yearly selection of Disney History related books. Those are what I consider the 5 best Disney History related books of 2008.

I find it particularly interesting that the first two books on my list reflect a clear tendency when it comes to Disney history books: one is all text, the other one only visuals. Both are great books - and commercial as well as legal reasons govern this separation between "church and state" - but one longs for the marvelously balanced Canemaker books where text and illustrations are both of strong value in a single volume.

Working with Walt: Interviews with Disney Artists by Don Peri

I am biased, of course, as this is Disney research at its best and you all know how addicted I am to this.

Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Story

The ARL is finally opening its vaults and is doing it beautifully. This is a "must-have" no question whatsoever about it.

Disney's Lost Chords 2 by Russell Schroeder

Frankly, the three first choices on this list should be sharing the "best Disney history book of the year award".

Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Parks by Jeff Kurtti

As I mentioned in my review, this is not a perfect book (I would have loved to see illustrations that we had not seen before) but it is a critical reference book that should make it on all the bookshelves of serious Disney enthusiasts.

Disney Lost and Found: Exploring the Hidden Artwork from Never-Produced Animation by Charles Solomon

Problematic book, but the illustrations are fascinating and never-seen-before.

To this top 5, I should add two books that have a special, "out of competition" status:

The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company by David Price

The Pixar and Disney stories are obviously linked and have now merged, so this is a "must read".

Working for Disney: 1936-1937, the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook from The Cowan Collection by Bob Cowan

Was in-print for so short a time that we can't really consider it as having been published, unfortunately.

Do not miss today:

- Dick Kelsey, Captain, United States Marine Corps by David Lesjak

Don't miss those two oustanding posts:

- Disney Artists Write Home During WWII by Amid Amidi
- Babies in Color by Michael Sporn

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Enclosed: An article from "The Family Circle", June 24th, 1938. It's reprinted in "Walt Disney Conversations" edited by Kathy Merlock Jackson, page 5.]

This just in:

[National Donaldistic Magazine (in English)

Disney Made in Finland
Publishing History of Disney Comics in Finland
Romano Scarpa The Italian Master of Mice and Ducks
Man Behind the Wolf - Gil Turner
Gaze Upon Barks Oils
Screaming Cowboy - Donaldist Anthem

25 x 17,5 cm (9,8 x 6,9 inch)
36 pagesB/W

Finnish donaldistic fanzine Ankkalinnan Pamaus started in 1998. So, 2008 marked the 10th anniversary of AP-fanzine. To celebrate the anniversary we created this special English issue. The purpose of the issue is to provide some of the articles we have published in Finnish to wider audience outside Finland, but also to present and introduce the history of Finnish Disney publications and comics plus bring forth some Finnish creators of Disney comics.

To USA: $5.00 + postage economy $1.90
To Europe: 4€ + postage economy 1,35€ (1.20 £)
In Finland: 4€ + postage first class 1,10€

Pay required amount to bank account (works for Europeans at least): IBAN FI22 1649 3000 0026 17 BIC NDEAFIHHDo not forget to include your address and other necessary info!

Or send cash well concealed in envelope to:
Ankistit ryc/o Timo Ronkainen
YO-kyla 52 A 26
20540 Turku
Finland

email: timoro2 [at] yahoo.com]

Here are a few photos found on ebay. The one above is a mystery. The one below includes the following caption:

[WALT DISNEY RECEIVING AN HONORARY DEGREE IN CANADA. PICTURED ARE JOHN BARON TWEEDSMUIR OF CANADA AND IRVING LANGMUIR OF NEW YORK ALONG WITH WALT. THE PHOTO, STAMPED 6/28/38 ON THE BACK.]

[WALT DISNEY RECEIVING AN AWARD. THE 7"X8" PHOTO IS DATED 1955 ON THE BACK. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHAT THE AWARD IS OR WHOM THE OTHER GENTLEMAN IS WHO IS PRESENTING THE AWARD. ]

In addition, a while back I posted this photo (click on link) and we could not find the caption. It has just been posted on ebay with the following caption:

[OFFERED HERE IS AN ORIGINAL PHOTO OF WALT DISNEY, ALONG WITH MARY LOU HARRINGTON AND NBC DIRECTOR JOY STORM PROMOTING THE SALE OF DEFENSE SAVINGS BONDS ON NBC'S RADIO SHOW "THE TREASURY HOUR". THE 8"X10" PHOTO IS DATED 12/8/41 AND HAS THE DELL PUBLISHING STAMP ON THE REAR.]

Do not miss today:

- On vacation...in Cuba by David Lesjak
- Once Upon A Time In New York City: Oliver & Company’s Director George Scribner! by Jeremie Noyer
- Once Upon A Time In New York City: Oliver & Company’s Composer J.A.C. Redford! by Jeremie Noyer
- Once Upon A Time In New York City: Oliver & Company Animator Dave Pruiksma! by Jeremie Noyer
- Walt the Bibliophile by Wade Sampson

As you all know, Donald was officially born on June 9, 1934. Or was he? This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Enclosed you'll find two news clippings from December 19th, 1933 about Walt Disney getting medal and a daughter on the same day: December 18th. In the article from the Los Angeles Times: "Walt Disney Gets Medal and Daughter Same Day" there is also mentioned that there was entertainment for the guests, ”performed by the members of the Disney organization, including Donald Duck, Clara Cluck, and members of the Rhythmette Trio who sang as the three little pigs."

In the New York Times under the headline: "Child to Walt Disneys" there is not written anything about the entertainment.

My guess is that Donald Duck was first ever mentioned to the press in this Los Angeles Times’ article. Clarence "Ducky" Nash had been employed by The Disney Studio on December 2nd and perhaps this was his first assignment as the Duck. He probably didn’t have the Duck Doll at this early stage of Donald’s career, but just used his voice.

Florence Gill could have performed as Clara Cluck, as she had the voice for the Wise Little Hen.

Since Walt got his medal from the Parent’s Magazine, I would think that they brought an article about this ceremony in one of their first issues of 1934, but this I haven’t found.]