I am glad to say that John Musker has just sent me the cover drawing for Walt's People - Volume 17. The book should be released in a few weeks. It contains quite a few treasures :-)

This book is revolutionary. It is the best account of the early days of Disneyland ever. It will be released in March next year and will be one of the great events of the year from a Disney history standpoint. Can't wait!

The blog will be updated again on November 25, 2015.

Heritage's next big auction will take place on December 13 and 14. The quality of the artwork on sale is simply astounding: never-seen-before pieces from Bambi by David Hall (above) and Retta Scott (below), concept paintings by Mary Blair, JP Miller, and Retta Scott, and on and on it goes. This is an event that should not be missed in any way, shape or form, and I will feature it on the blog at least once or twice again in the next few weeks.

My brother just sent me the catalog of this exhibition which recently took place in Beijing and Shanghai. It's a beautiful catalog, but not one that is worth tracking down: 70% of the content is linked to recent animated features and most of the artwork from the "vintage" titles has already been seen often.

And another good read from Theme Park Press is, of course, Secrets Stories of Walt Disney World by Jim Korkis.

According to the publisher:

[The Rosetta Stone of Disney Magic

Warning! There be secrets ahead. Disney secrets. Mickey doesn't want you to know how the magic is made, but Jim Korkis knows, and if you read Jim's book, you'll know, too. Put the kids to bed. Pull those curtains. Power down that iPhone. Let's keep this just between us...

If you've come expecting more of the same Disney trivia, you're in for a surprise. This is not a Disney trivia book. It's a book of Disney secrets, each exactly two pages long, and each brimming with backstage lore. Jim Korkis gathered these secrets when he worked at Walt Disney World as an instructor at Disney University. They're all true. They're all cool. And they include:

- How the popularity of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach meant the doom of an important piece of Disney history

- United Arab Emirates, Equatorial Africa, Costa Rica, and other planned Epcot pavilions that never were

- Disney's original plans for Figment, how corporate politics turned him purple, and why the Dreamfinder shrunk

- Wilderness Junction, the Alpine Resort, the Enchanted Snow Palace Ride, and other abandoned attractions

- Beacon Joe, the character you've never heard of, even though he appears numerous times throughout Disney World]

Here is another extremely exciting new book from Theme Park Press.

The publisher, Bob McLain says:

[The Ogren book (Together in the Dream: The Unique Careers of a Husband and Wife in the Early Decades of Walt Disney World) contains stuff that no one has read before, including interactions by R.J. Ogren (a Disney World artist) with Leota Toombs, Marc Davis, Alice Davis (who wrote the foreword), and others.

R.J. painted Animatronic figures and "plussed" attractions. Suzanne drove monorails, marched in parades, and entertained as Sleepy the dwarf. Together, the Ogrens brought their unique skills to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom during its formative years. This is their story.

R.J. and Suzanne were indeed "together in the dream": their adventures as husband-and-wife cast members spanned the backstage areas of iconic attractions, Main Street parades, and Disney executive offices. They worked with celebrities, Disney artists like Marc and Alice Davis, and the fun-loving, creative geniuses who called the "Animation Art Studio" home.

Among the stories the Ogrens tell:

- Working underwater at the old 20,000 Leagues attraction, aboard the pirate ship in Pirates of the Caribbean, and in the "jungle" of the Jungle Cruise

- How Disney trains its monorail drivers, and the surprisingly rigorous tests they must pass to qualify

- Life in the "Dwarf unit", the tight-knit group of cast members who perform as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the Magic Kingdom

- Why some Animatronic characters don't wear pants

- Repairing bullet holes in the Haunted Mansion, replacing Dopey's stolen head, and other examples of Disney guests gone wild]

This is clearly a "must have" for Disney parks historians and enthusiasts.

Not directly linked to Disney History, but I know that many of you will be interested to know that Think Pink: The Story of DePatie-Freleng by Mark Arnold has just been released. I will definitely pick up a copy.

I am actively working at the moment on research for They Drew As They Pleased - Volume 3. Once of the artists who will be featured in that upcoming volume is the astonishing Ecuadorian Eduardo Sola Franco, who worked at the Disney Studio for a few months in 1939, tackling chiefly on the abandoned Don Quixote project.

Sola Franco's complete illustrated diaries have just been released a few days ago in book form in Ecuador and while browsing through them yesterday I found quite a few drawings of his Disney colleagues, including the two below. The first one shows his friend and fellow concept artist Fini Rudiger. The second one features mostly members of Disney's Character Model Department: Martin Provensen, Fini Rudiger, James Bodrero, Art Heinemann (not a member of the Model Department) and sculptor Duke Russell.

'Lost' Disney cartoon Sleigh Bells to be screened

You probably have heard about this discovery by now. I would not be a surprised if a good friend of mine was at the origin of that great find. In all cases I am glad to see that the long list of "lost" Oswalds is getting much shorter.

A book with an intriguing title and description is now available for pre-order on Amazon:

Disney Villains: Delightfully Evil: The Creation • The Inspiration • The Fascination by Jen Darcy

[The greatest heroes must face the greatest villains. For decades, Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Animation Studios animated features have offered up some of the most iconic and malevolent villains. Disney Villains: Delightfully Evil showcases rare concept art and photographs and explores the villains' creative origins, roles within the stories, and influences on and within pop-culture. The deluxe package collects villains by themes such as vain, family, royalty, instincts, and more.]

This upcoming auction by TCM/Bonhams contains a few truly spectacular Disney-related items, including this extremely rare photo of Walt in France (Red Cross years) and this beautiful Mary Blair painting. (Thanks to Michael Goldberg for the heads up).

Picking up the newly released version of Window on Main Street (Theme Park Press) by the late Disney Legend Van Arsdale France is definitely worth it, even if you already own the original book. Theme Park Press tracked down the uncut version of the manuscript which is full of details that did not make it into the 1991 Laugher Publication version.

I was fairly critical when Marty's previous book was released. I felt that One Little Spark: Mickey's Ten Commandments and the Road to Imagineering was a much better effort. It is still not the book that I hope Marty will one day decide to write: a real, in-depthy autobiography, but it is nonetheless a very good read. Marty gathered stories and thoughts from his fellow Imagineers and One Little Spark therefore contains quite a few stories about WDI's creative process which we had never heard before. The book is fairly short and an easy read, so one I would recommend as a way to relax in-between the more serious and in-depth volumes which I have reviewed over the past few weeks.

You know the day is going to be a good one when Michael Barrier releases the transcript of one of his fascinating interviews. Today is one of these days with Goofy director Jack Kinney.

BOOK SIGNING TOUR

Are you eager to buy a signed copy of They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Golden Age for you or for a friend?

Here is the agenda of my small signing tour in Los Angeles:

Friday, November 20: From 11.00 to 12.45 at the Disney Studio in Burbank

Saturday, November 21: 1PM to 2PM at CTN Expo

Saturday November 21: 7PM to 9PM at Gallery Nucleus

See you all soon!

Two upcoming books from Theme Park Press which might be of interest to a few of you.

From the publisher:

CREATING MY OWN NEMESIS

Everyone knows Disneyland, but few Americans can name a single *British* theme park. Come across the pond to meet the UK's John Wardley, whose exciting career as an innovator of dark rides and roller coasters began with a simple magic trick.

Before he began designing such famous British theme park rides as Nemesis and Oblivion, John Wardley was a young boy brave enough to bring a flashlight onto the Clacton Pier Ghost Train dark ride to figure out how it worked. From there, he became Britain's foremost theme park designer, with over 20 rides to his credit for Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, and other locations.

Hang on tight for:

- John's early years as a magician, and designing special effects for *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, James Bond films, and other productions

- John's early theme park projects, including jungle boat rides, underground mine trains, and the Scream Machine

- John's "meet and greet" with Queen Elizabeth

- John's unique working relationship with Madame Tussauds (the wax museum) to revitalize British amusement and theme parks

- John's later theme park projects, including the world-famous Nemesis and Oblivion coasters, and the revolutionary TH13TEEN wing coaster

With exclusive photos, this is the thrill ride you *read*!

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EPCOT'S WORLD SHOWCASE

No thrill rides. Few characters. Great food and shopping. Alcohol. For many Disney guests, Epcot's World Showcase is *their* kind of theme park, and this first-ever, illustrated, pavilion-by-pavilion guide is *your* passport to everything it has to offer.

The World Showcase can be overwhelming in its variety and detail. Each pavilion is a self-contained "experience", with entertainment, shopping, dining, and even attractions and shows. With so much international flavor on display, it's easy to breeze past hidden gems and miss out on the magic - not to mention overlook that perfect meal or souvenir!

You'll learn all about:

- The history of each pavilion, with helpful tips on finding (and appreciating) its historical and architectural details

- The best places to eat, from table-service restaurants to kiosks, and what you'll find on the menus

- The best places to shop, with descriptions of each store and its unique merchandise

- Shows, "street" performers, fun activities, characters, and other pavilion entertainment

- Plus, the book includes your very own "photo album" with over five dozen shots of the best each pavilion has to offer

Get your passport in order - the "World" awaits!

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There is not that be be said about this book that does not yet already appear on the blurb from Amazon:

[This whimsical, deluxe Art Deco-themed art book showcases Walt Disney characters in a style reminiscent of caricatures from the famed walls of Sardi's and The Brown Derby. Disney Supervising Animator and Director Eric Goldberg drew a little more than 200 stylized images in a collection that first debuted as a display within the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. Now with An Animator's Gallery, the show comes right to you.]

The book is a beauty and Eric's drawings are very enjoyable. That's basically it. Definitely not a "must have" for Disney historians but a great gift for casual Disney fans. Dave Bossert and Eric Goldberg have produced a very good book, but there are so many great Disney books that have been released this year that this one is unlikely to make it on my "top 10 list." I love owning it, though.

For those of you who focus on the history of the Disney parks, do not forget to pick up this new book from Theme Park Press, which contains some fun interviews with quite a few of the men and women who worked on / for Walt Disney World, including Mary Sklar, Bob Gurr, Jay Rasulo, Tony Baxter and various others.

The Disney Books Network was updated over the weekend.