The blog will be updated again on March 11.

Two great books are already available for pre-order on Amazon:

- Tinker Bell: An Evolution by Mindy Johnson [I have seen the first layouts and this is a "must-have" if there is one and a great candidate for "best Disney History book of 2013"]

- Remembering Roy E. Disney: Memories and Photos of a Storied Life by David Bossert.

Do not miss today:

- Gary K Wolf updates AICN regarding THE STOOGE starring Roger Rabbit & Mickey Mouse!!! (Thanks to Jim Korkis for the link)
- Getty, Disney partner on study of animation cel artwork (Thanks to Emmanuel Bourmalo for the link)
- Jungle Book Recording Session Break by Andreas Deja
- Debunking Disney Stories by Jim Korkis

Exceptional photo of Mary Blair by George Hurrell being sold at the moment by Howard Lowery.

This just in thanks to Gunnar Andreassen: Great ad found inside front cover of Photoplay, June 1934.

If you just bought this magazine on ebay today and are reading this blog, would you be kind enough to send me a high resolution scan of the article it contains about Walt? I was stupid enough not to bid and am having terrible second thoughts. I would be very happy to pay the full $40 to get it the scan.

Beautiful ad released in the December 28, 1933 edition of the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

This small and cheap ebook is definitely worth picking up. Full of photos I had never seen before (about 50% of them) and a short, but excellent text. The book is also available as a hardcover, but while I would happily pay $40 for this short 96-page volume, due to the rare photos, most of you will definitely want to stick to the ebook.

Not sure how good this upcoming book will be, but I am certain that most of you will at least want to have it on your radar.

The cover of Marty Sklar upcoming autobiography, Dream It! Do It! (The People, The Places, The Projects): My Half-Century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdoms has now been released. Can't wait!

This just in from Jack Lindquist:

[2012 was a busy, lifestyle-changing year for Belle and me. We decided that the time was here for us to give up our 4000 square foot, half-acre home of nearly 40 years and look into the potential of moving into an "assisted living" facility. After much research and investigating we finally selected Walnut Village, a wonderful Community in Anaheim, just a few blocks from Disneyland; sort of like completing the whole circle. We have been here almost 7 months now and are very happy with our l250 sq. ft. apartment, our wonderful and caring neighbors, the delightful food services and the wealth of activities available to us and now that we are finally settled in our new home I am finally seriously starting to work on my next book. After much soul searching, discussions, arguments, and many questioning my ever growing senility I have decided to attempt to write, "Before, During, And After The Mouse...A Maverick's Look At A Pretty Amazing, Exciting, Lucky Life." A personal look, comments and observations on Los Angeles in the 30's when it was changing from a pueblo into a city...the War Years of the 40's...50's through today when it has evolved into the economic, social, political, entertainment, lifestyle leader it is today. Along the way, my personal involvement with Hollywood and the Movie Making industry plus a few more untold tales from my days at Disneyland. Same sort of stuff you seemed to enjoy with "In Service To The Mouse" but with a broader background. I would love it have it finished by the end of the year, but I am making no promises. But what I will do is put bits and pieces of the story on our website and Facebook page as they come along so you will have a chance to get the feel of what "Before, During, And After The Mouse" is going to be like and I will also put a pre-publication offer on the website at least 90 days before it will be available to the public. So if you think you will like it, you can get your copy first and at a reduced price. Anyway, that's the plan.]

Do not miss today:

- Milt Kahl's Black Cauldron by Andreas Deja
- Walt and Walt Disney World by Todd James Pierce
- Don Rosa’s Comics and Stories by Mark Evanier (Thanks to Jim Korkis and Michael Goldberg for the link)
- When Walt Laid a Golden Egg by Jim Korkis

I missed this incredibly rare Mickey Mouse book from Iceland on ebay recently. Aaargh.

Here are three great Serbian ads from the magazine Politika, sent by my friend Sasa Rakezic.

[The first one, from 22.11.1940, was probably made by a local artist (I would guess Djuka Jankovic), and it says: "The Goofy - After the return from Africa with his inseparable companion Mickey, will go through many new adventrures in the upcoming issues of Politikin Zabavnik".

The second ad (26.11.1940.) says, obviously stating Goofy's words: "Hello Mickey! I'm not late, I'm just running to bring my latest manuscript regarding my latest adventure, which comes out in... Politikin Zabavnik". The new issue came out toda, price 1 dinar" - it's written "Staff of Politikin Zabavnik" at the entrance of the house.

The third one (08.11.1940.) says" "Walt Disney is the favourite artist of the US and the world. All his characters appear in every issue of Politikin Zabavnik. The new issue came out today". There is also a signed Disney's photo, it says - "za Politiku (for Politika)- Sincerely Walt Disney".]

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Photo taken outside The Rivoli, NY 1932.

From the ad in “Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies Exhibitors Campaign Book” (United Artists 1932):

PUT MICKEY MOUSE IN YOUR LOBBY

And Children Business in Your BOX-OFFICE!

Every wise showman knows that the backbone of his gross is dependent on the volume of childen business he does.  Children talk about the picture, drag their parents in, and are the greatest movie audience in the world.  The MICKEY MOUSE sculptured figure shown on this page, and illustrated as well in the lobby display section of this pressbook, is the official MICKEY MOUSE lobby fixture.

25 % discount on each display

Though a special arrangement with United Artists Pictures Corporation we are offering this figure direct to the exhibitors at a saving of 25 %, - our regular price is $ 4,00 per display, 25 % discount bringing the net price down to $ 3,00 each.

MICKEY MOUSE relief statuette is a startlingly attractive figure.  The pants are red, buttons blue, shoes are orange, gloves a vivid yellow.  There is an easel on the back so that you can stand it up in the lobby of your theatre or if desired, you can remove the easel and mount it against the wall.

Laminite . . .

Exclusive Paper Mache

This MICKEY MOUSE figure is made of Laminite (exclusive paper maché), perfected by Old King Cole, Inc.  It will stand the onslaughts of rough wear and hard usage.  To even further preserve the life of this display it can be varnished so that it can be used in front of your theatre or on the marquee.

OLD KING COLE, Inc. 

Canton . Ohio]

Astounishing magazine cover found on ebay recently.

I just stumbled this weekend upon this clip of Walt arriving in the UK in 1935 and thought that many of you would enjoy it.

You may remember a post from a few years ago about Walt and the cat from the Isle of Man. Here is another photo from that same day, sent by Gunnar Andreassen and found in the Spanish magazine Films Selectos from October 28, 1933.

This just in from Sam Gennaway:

[I am pleased to announce that my next book - The Disneyland That Was, Is, and Never Will Be - is coming out this July on Clerisy Press.

Walt Disney said, “Disneyland is the star. Everything else is in the supporting role.”

The Disneyland that Was, Is, and Never Will Be is the story of how Walt Disney’s greatest creation was conceived, nurtured, and how it grew into a source of joy and inspiration for generations of visitors. Despite his successors battles with the whims of history and their own doubts and egos, Walt’s vision maintained momentum, thrived, and taught future generations how to do it Walt Disney's way.]

I just got some news from Ross Care, famous among Disney historians for his in-depth pieces about Disney music history.

The book Music in the Western: Notes From the Frontier edited by Kathryn Kalinak contains Ross Care's surprising piece connecting Walt Disney's Pecos Bill and John Ford's Wagonmaster and is therefore worth checking out.

Also of strong interest is the long article Disney Unlocks the Music Vault by Ross.

And if you enjoy all of this you may also want to check out Ross' non-Disney articles.

Do not miss today:

- PROMOTING OIL WITH OIL~The Beginning by Paul F. Anderson
- Walt Kelly Disney Related Artwork (Thanks to Jim Korkis for the link)
- Purple Martins of Epcot by Jim Korkis
- Tony Baxter to transition from being a full-time Imagineer to becoming a WDI consultant by Jim Hill

The new issue of Disney's Twenty-Three will be released on February 12. Among the highlights is the article about puppeteer Bob Baker (whom Jim Korkis interviewed a few years back for a future volume of Walt's People).