Thursday, April 28, 2016

The blog will be updated again on May 31.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Here is an article published in Brazil in the magazine O Cruzeiro around the time of the release of Saludos Amigos. Quite a few photos that I had not seen before and that I thought you might enjoy.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Amazon France has listed in pre-order a book that will be released by publisher Taschen in October this year. Titled Walt Disney Archives - The Movies, Vol. 1, the book is huge (500-page long). I know a lot more about it than I can reveal. All I can say at the moment is that despite the hefty price tag, this is likely to be a "must have." More about this as soon as some additional official information becomes available.

Friday, April 22, 2016

The same editorial team which publishes the wonderful Carl Barks Fan Club Pictorial magazine has launched a new series of magazines, focused on everything related to Mickey Mouse. The first issue was released this week. I loved it, as it includes a long article about Mickey Mouse postcards from the '30s, some of which I had never seen before.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Walt Disney and Peruvian painter Jose Sabogal in 1941.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

While researching something different, I stumbled upon this great photo of Walt in Peru in 1941. He is visiting the School of Fine Arts in Lima, Peru.

There is a caption and another great photo at this link.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

This just in from Theme Park Press. Some of those books might be of interest to some of you:

[Follow the Pixie Dust Path

FastPass times. Crowds. Meet and greets. That's what you think when you're at Walt Disney World. (And how much everything costs.) Next time, shoot higher. Packed in with all those souvenirs, leave the park with a philosophy, a guide to a better, Disney-driven life.

Former cast member Jeff Dixon draws upon his degrees in sociology and theology, coupled with a deep understanding of Disney history, to deliver a fun, engrossing mash-up of trivia-dense Disney stories and motivational life lessons, from Main Street to Fantasyland, and everywhere in between.

You'll be enriched by motivational magic from little-known Disney stories about:

- The importance of 18 seconds in the Enchanted Tiki Room, and how a lifetime of hard work can pay off in moments.

- Two Walts and a Wendy, and how mistakes can sometimes bring out the best in us.

- The hidden history of Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, and how the act of giving defines us.

- The perpetual motion of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and how it symbolizes Walt's admonition to never stand still.

START YOUR DISNEY-DRIVEN LIFE TODAY!]
 [Learn from the Disney Imagineers

Creativity. Innovation. Success. That's Disney Imagineering. It was the Imagineers who brought Walt Disney's dreams to life. Now *you* can tap into the principles of Imagineering to make *your* personal and professional dreams come true.

Even if you're not building a theme park, the Imagineering Pyramid can help you plan and achieve any creative goal. Lou Prosperi designed the pyramid from the essential building blocks of Disney Imagineering. He teaches you how to **apply** the pyramid to your next project, how to **execute** each step efficiently and creatively, and most important, how to **succeed**.

The Imagineering Pyramid is a revolutionary creative framework that *anyone* can use in their daily lives, whether at home or on the job. Prosperi shares with you:

- How to use "The Art of the Show" to stay focused on your mission.

- Practical tutorials for each of the fifteen building blocks that make up the pyramid.

- Creative Intent, Theming, "Read"-ability, Kinetics, Plussing, and other Imagineering concepts.

- Imagineering beyond the berm: how to apply the pyramid to fields as diverse as game design and executive leadership.

- An "Imagineering Library" of books to further your studies.

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY WITH THE DISNEY IMAGINEERS!]
[Put Walt to Work for You

How do you go from dreaming of a theme park to building one? Walt Disney laid the blueprint. Learn how he did it, and how his wisdom can guide you toward achieving the things that *you* dream of.

The experts told Walt it'd never work. A giant theme park, where parents and children could play together? Crazy! So Walt put all of his money into this crazy dream of his. He put his reputation on the line. Anyone else would have quit, discouraged and disillusioned, but Walt built Disneyland. How did he go from dreaming to doing? And how can you do the same, no matter what your goal?

In *The Wisdom of Walt*, Professor Jeffrey Barnes distills Walt Disney's vision, his knowledge, and his methods into a series of actionable lessons. Through historical vignettes about Disneyland, as well as plentiful examples and exercises, Barnes creates a framework through which you can apply Walt's wisdom to improve your career, your company, and your life. Learn to:

- Listen to your "Walter ego" and start trusting yourself

- Go "beyond the berm" with the secrets of Disneyland's success

- Make a "Main Street impression" on everyone you meet

- Create "E-ticket experiences" that keep them coming back for more

WITH THE WISDOM OF WALT, YOUR SUCCESS IS JUST A DREAM AWAY!]

Monday, April 18, 2016

I love Dave Smith's trivia books. I always learn a few things through them and this one is no exception. I just got a review copy and it did not disappoint. Worth picking up when it is officially released in a few weeks.

Friday, April 15, 2016

I just received a copy of the newly released Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland: An Illustrated Journey Through Time by Mark Salisbury. This is typically the type of book I would have loved to get as a kid to introduce me to Disney history and to Disney concept art. Disney historians will find very little new in it (although there are a few pieces by Mary Blair that I do not remember having seen elsewhere and there is one page on the Hudson commercials that did attract my attention) but the book is very nicely produced and quite comprehensive. A really handsome gift for any son, daughter, niece or nephew who enjoys Alice and is starting to develop an interest in Disney history.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

This just in from Tim O'Day:

[Thought you might want to highlight the two attached (currently available) magazines on the Disney History blog.

The LIFE special publication focuses solely on Walt Disney and features a beautiful array of stunning LIFE magazine photography of Walt and his many projects through the years.

The May issue of Orange Coast (the official magazine of Orange County, CA) foucuses a little bit on the past but mainly on what’s new and upcoming at Disneyland Resort.]

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Granted, this book does not focus on a Disney venture, but so many of the people who worked on Magic Mountain are connected to Disney (CV Wood, Dick Kelsey and quite a few others) that I am certain that many of you will be excited about this new volume by historian Robert McLaughlin.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Do not miss today the interview of Brice Mack by Harvey Deneroff on Cartoon Research.

Monday, April 11, 2016

In Garry Apgar's great article about Walt Disney's connections with Connecticut in the April issue of Connecticut Magazine there is a rich array of illustrations (about 20 in all), including this never-before-published group photo of Walt's Red Cross training unit in Connecticut, generously supplied by the Walt Disney Family Foundation.

Anyone interested in ordering a copy may contact Dave Martin, the publication's circulation manager, at: dmartin@connecticutmag.com 



Walt Disney (top row, center, dwarfed by two men standing to his immediate right) in a photograph of his unit at Camp King, Sound Beach, Connecticut, circa early to mid-November 1918. Courtesy, The Walt Disney Family Foundation, San Francisco, Calif.

Here's a detail, highlighting Walt's position in the picture:


Thursday, April 07, 2016

As some of you may have noticed, the Disney Books Network is currently offline. It should be back up by tomorrow morning. Apologies for the trouble.

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

This just in from Ken Kebow:

[Hello Didier -

I hope this finds you well.  Several years ago we connected about an audio tour I produced with Rolly Crump entitled "A Walk in the Park with Rolly Crump".  You were kind enough to mention the program in your blogs and let Disney fans  worldwide know it was available.  Thank you!

I am happy to report the "second half" of that endeavor is complete and the World Premiere of "Rolly Crump: The Whimsical Imagineer" documentary will take place on April 26th at the
Newport Beach Film Festival.  I have included a link below that covers the premiere as will
as includes a link to the trailer for the documentary:

I am hoping you will be willing to let your on-line fan base know about the completion and premiere of the program and hopefully some of the folks based in Southern California can attend the premiere. I believe Rolly himself will be attending the premiere and will participate in a Q&A after the screening.]

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

This just in from Mary Costa (click on the image to enlarge).

Monday, April 04, 2016

This delightful web site is definitely worth a visit.

Friday, April 01, 2016

Finalizing the editing of Mel Shaw's long awaited autobiography. Expected release in a few months... Really exciting after all this years trying to get the project off the ground. More soon.