It is with immense sadness that I wake up this morning to the news of the passing of Don Iwerks, an exceptional human being and an outstanding Imagineer and historian.

I had the chance of meeting Don a few times and I greatly cherish those memories. 

My thoughts go to his family and especially to his daughter, Leslie.

Sad news:

Disney Legend Bill ‘Sully’ Sullivan Passes Away

Very sad news:

- Remembering Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman

Remembering Disney Legend Dick Nunis

Oh no, Rolly Crump just passed away.
 

Oh, no! Burny Mattinson just passed away. He was a few months shy of celebrating his 70th anniversary with Disney Animation.
 

 Sad news: Alice Davis (1929 - 2022)

At 101 Ruthie was still answering my emails from her iPhone. I am saddened at the news of her passing at 111, but what a wonderful life!

The long-awaited book about Imagineer Claude Coats by Dave Bossert is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Dave sent me the following yesterday:

[Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer—The Making of Disneyland:

From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond

 

By David A. Bossert

Preface by Alan Coats

Foreword by Tony Baxter

The Old Mill Press

ISBN- 9781735769127, 264 Pages, US$65.00 

Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer—The Making of Disneyland: From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond is the story of artist and designer Claude Coats who, for more than half a century, was one of the most prolific creative talents at The Walt Disney Company and, arguably, the most accomplished.

An unpretentious man of strapping stature, Coats was the artist behind some of the stunning backgrounds produced at the Disney studio during the Golden Age of Animation before being handed-picked by Walt Disney, to start the fabled WED Enterprises—now known as Walt Disney Imagineering. Working side by side with Walt Disney, Claude Coats is considered a significant influence in creating the first theme park, Disneyland, and a new form of creativity called Imagineering. He forever changed the worlds of global entertainment, technology, architecture, and popular culture.

This book explores Coats’ first fifteen-years designing and building some of the most iconic and enduring attractions at Disneyland including Alice in Wonderland, The Submarine Voyage, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and so many more. This 264-page book is profusely illustrated with many never-before-seen photographs and artworks.]

Can't wait to read this book when it is released later this year!
 

Some very, very sad news:

- Jim Cora, Disney Legend Who Helped Found Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea, and Disneyland Paris, Passes Away at 83

 This just in:

[Ken Kebow (producer of Rolly's "The Whimsical Imagineer") here.  I hope this finds you and your family safe and well during these challenging times.

I thought your audiences and readers would be interested to know that we are making "A Walk in the Park", Rolly's audio tour of Disneyland, available to listen to for free for the entire month of February 2021!  Rolly used to actually give walking tours of the Park many years ago and his stories and observations in "A Walk in the Park" are one-of-a-kind and unforgettable.  And told in a way that only Rolly Crump can do!

Here is a Vimeo link to the audio file:

Link:  https://vimeo.com/503845284
Password:  CRUMP2021 ]

Very sad news :-(

- Disney Great Dale Baer, An Animator For Five Decades, Has Died At 70

 My interview with Dale Baer was released in Walt's People - Volume 8.

 Sadly:

 - Farewell to Mr. Disneyland – Ron Dominguez

 Oh no!

Marge Champion, Actress, Dancer and Model for Snow White, Dies at 101

I had the pleasure of interviewing Marge a few years ago. The interview appears in Walt's People - Volume 14.

Roman Arambula, R.I.P.

I thought you would all enjoy those drawings by Virgil Partch about the early days of his Disney career, courtesy of Richard Shaw, Lucas Seastrom and Jenna Benton.

At the beginning of last year, at the Annie Awards ceremony, the wonderful Russi Taylor was the one who introduced me to the audience. I can't believe that she is gone. This is a very sad day. R.I.P. Russi.

I was very sad to hear that artist Milton Quon, who worked on Fantasia and Dumbo passed away on Tuesday. He was 105 years young.

This just in from Michael Goldberg:

[Didier- Don’t know if you were ever a fan of Motion Picture Special effects, but this short video with Albert Whitlock, who had worked at Disney in the '50s and early '60s, has a nice piece about Whitlock’s work on “Ten Who Dared” an early '60s Disney Film about John Wesley Powell - Explorer of the Colorado River.

Anyway, he talks about one matte painting in the film and how Walt did not like it and his solution.

I have heard the story referenced before, but this is from the Horse’s mouth, as the saying goes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb2RHGYhB54

This link takes you to a wonderful website about Matte Painting by a fellow in New Zealand. This entry is all about Disney Films and contains images that Whitlock refers to in his video.]