Monday, February 27, 2017

This new book by Jim Korkis looks great. I can't wait to read it soon.

From the publisher:

[Blame It on Gremlins?

In the 1940s, Walt Disney had his hands on a new film franchise involving gremlins, little creatures that caused mischief, mostly of the mechanical kind. But no gremlins film was ever made. Walt himself cancelled the project. This is the story of what went wrong. (And it wasn't gremlins.)

Dashing RAF pilot Roald Dahl, best-known as the author of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, wrote his first book on a topic familiar to his fellow pilots: gremlins. These nasty buggers were often held responsible whenever a British plane was damaged or crashed during World War II.

Dahl convinced Walt Disney that a film, equal parts live action and animation, about gremlins, who were essentially Nazi saboteurs, would be a great companion to such Disney classics as Snow White, Fantasia, and Pinocchio.

Disney bought the rights—in fact, they still own the rights— to Dahl's gremlins, but then ran into a problem bigger than any mythic beast: Dahl himself.

As the Disney studio struggled to make heroes out of the malicious gremlins, and labored to write a script that would appeal to an American audience, a wave of "gremlin mania" swept the country, but Disney had no film to take advantage of it, due in large part to Dahl's lack of cooperation and outright opposition.

Americans soon tired of gremlins, and Disney soon tired of Dahl. The incomplete story, art, and animation for the proposed film was chucked deep into the Disney archives, where it remains today.

Best-selling author Jim Korkis presents the fascinating tale of Walt Disney and the gremlins, from Dahl's early involvement to a mini-resurgence in recent years, with the publication of a trio of gremlins graphic novels.]

Thursday, February 23, 2017

I just got this magazine on ebay and will post scans of the articles it contains as soon as I get it.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

This long-awaited book is finally available at this link. Hurrah.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Were you member of The Mouse Club? I am trying to locate old copies of the club's newsletter and would also love to get in touch with its founders, Julie and Kim McEuen.

Please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com if you can help.

Friday, February 10, 2017

The blog will be updated again starting on Monday, February 20.
Looking forward to David Lesjak's upcoming book. The cover was designed by Mike Peraza.

Thursday, February 09, 2017

Once again, this book is not about Disney, but I know that many of you will be excited by its upcoming release (June 2017).

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

I stumbled upon this book last week. This autobiography of Yakima Canutt contains a long chapter about his work for Disney. Pure delight for those of you who are interested in Disney's live-action productions.

Tuesday, February 07, 2017

I LOVE this book! You really should pick it up if you are interested in Disney history.

Monday, February 06, 2017

This just in from Todd James Pierce:

[DHI 035 - Project Spring
In the early 1960s, Walt Disney explored building a tourist attraction in Monterey, California. The story of that never-built project on the DHI Podcast.
iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/j34rl38
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=85297&refid=stpr
GooglePlay: http://tinyurl.com/jurtey3
Libsyn: http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/5054160


Friday, February 03, 2017

Disney Twenty-Three just announced the content of its next issue. A few fun things in there:

- A celebration of the Main Street Electrical Parade’s 45th anniversary, as it returns to its original home at Disneyland Park
- The wonder and beauty of Disneynature’s newest film, Born in China
- A peek at what’s to come during the 25th anniversary of Disneyland Paris
- Eleven cool experiences you may not have known about at Walt Disney World Resort
- A look inside the newly renovated Walt Disney Animation Studios headquarters

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Speaking of Australia...

In the early 1930s, Disney was first represented in Australia (on the Consumer Products side) by the company John Sands Ltd.

In February 1935, Walt Disney Enterprises established a subsidiary in Sidney and soon after contracted Mr. W.R. Granger, former Sales and Promotion Manager at John Sands, to run it.

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

This just in from Todd James Pierce:

[Five years after Disneyland opened, Walt explored building a series of micro parks across the country, parks roughly three to four acres in size and filled with Fantasyland-style attractions for kids. The story of these never-built micro parks, known inside the company as Project Satellite, on the DHI Podcast.

iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/j34rl38
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=85297&refid=stpr
GooglePlay: http://tinyurl.com/jurtey3 ]