I had the pleasure of picking up this very rare photo of Mary Blair and Kay Kamen (left) on HowardLowery.com last week and had to share it with all of you.

Not to be missed if you are in LA in September.

This movie seems to be so different from anything that preceeded it at Disney that I am actually looking forward to seeing it and to getting the Art of book, of course.

I am very much looking forward to Andreas Deja's upcoming book, The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Greatest Animators which will be released by Focal Press in February and is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

I am back and in great shape. I really needed that break.

No better way to start blogging again than with this upcoming book from Theme Park Press.

This just in from Bob McLain, Theme Park Press's owner:

[The book is written by Art Adler, a former Disney executive who got wind that "Walt's Garage", the building once owned by Walt's uncle and where Walt did some of his earliest animation in California, was coming up for auction. He found out that Disney wasn't interested in bidding for it. Disney had no interest whatsoever in the garage. Art didn't want the garage to fall into the hands of someone who might demolish it or who wouldn't be aware of (or appreciate) its historic value. So he bought it himself, and then spent a considerable amount of time and money attempting to convince local/state/national government to recognize the importance of the structure. Adler was also the person responsible for "Walt Disney Recognition Day" (December 5), which Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1986 (crediting Adler as its proponent). More information here:

The book deals not just with the history of Walt's Garage, Adler's acquisition of same, etc., but also with the inner workings of Disney corporate in the 1970s.]

As we say in French: "The more things change, the more they stay the same..."

Temporary shutdown

There are days when trying to preserve Disney History is really not fun. Unfortunately the last two months have been full on those on my end. It looks as if I need a break. The blog will be closed until August 25 to allow me to regain faith and stamina Disney-history-wise.

Two web sites which are definitely each worth several visits:

- Passport to Dreams Old and New about Disney live-action movies (Thanks to Andrew Toffoli for the link).

- Alberto Becattini's fantastic blog

I had a chance to start reading Bobby Burgess' autobiography, released recently by Theme Park Press. I loved the two chapters about Bobby's career as a Mouseketeer. The other sections of the book are of less interest to me, but you will thoroughly enjoy them if you are also interested in  Bobby's non-Disney career which is quite fascinating in itself.

I had the pleasure of making a very cool discovery last week which involves Disney and Dr. Seuss. I do not believe anyone knew about this and I therefore decided to write a small essay about it for the Disney History Institute. Enjoy!

Interesting photo uncovered online recently while looking for something else. The caption seems to be:

[February 13, 1942. Walt Disney and others posing at the head table of a South Central Business Association luncheon at the Blue Bird Cafeteria. The individuals are, from left to right: Homer L. Blackwell of the National Screen Service Corp.; Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck; Mrs. Lillian Bounds Disney, Walt Disney's wife; Kansas City Mayor John B. Gage; Walt Disney; SCBA President Edwin J. Barnes, Sr.; Frank S. Land, founder of the Grand Council of DeMolay; Mrs. Joseph C. Wirthman; Keith Martin, Director of the Kansas City Art Institute; and three of Disney's classmates from Benton School--George L. Williams, Louis G. Lower, and Donald Monroe.]

[UPDATE: I had a nagging feeling that I had already seen this photo somewhere. David Lesjak reminds me that it was in one of his posts :-)]

An other very intriguing book just released by Theme Park Press. I have a feeling this one will be excellent. More in a few weeks when I get a copy.

http://themeparkpress.com/books/haunted-mansion.htm
http://blog.themeparkpress.com/author-jeff-baham-on-the-haunted-mansion

This documentary about Marceline seems to be quite interesting. I have not yet seen it but have just ordered the DVD.

This wonderful photo of Walt with George McManus was recently unearthed by Are Myklebust. Pure delight.

Help needed in Washington D.C.

Any volunteer based in Washington D.C. who would be willing to conduct some research in the Archives of American Art? If so, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com?

Jim Korkis recently reminded me that the magazine The Atlantic Monthly commissioned writer Paul Hollister to do a series of articles on Walt (just as Pete Martin did later for The Saturday Evening Post) which would be released as a book.  Apparently, the manuscript was completed but never released. The Paul Hollister papers are preserved by the Archives of American Art and I am wondering if the manuscript might be there.

Theme Park Press just released a paperback version of Disney's Grand Tour. The three differences with the hardcover version: a) The price is $17 instead of $34; b) It does not have a dust jacket; c) all the photos that are in color in the hardcover are in black and white in the paperback.

I do enjoy very much the magazine Disney Twenty Three and am looking forward to the recently announced Fall issue, especially the rarely seen concept art from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that it will contain.