This just in from Jeremie Noyer:

[You've been waiting for lightyears – some engaging in scientific calculations or drawing up comet plans – wanting to know when the long-awaited book will be published.

Well dear explorers, we won't make you wait any longer. We are pleased to announce “Space Mountain: From Earth to the Stars” will be available starting tomorrow!

Following in the footsteps of “Pirates of the Caribbean - A Treasure of an Attraction” and “Phantom Manor: Attraction Decrypted,” discover the history of this iconic attraction, from its origins all the way to Hyperspace Mountain, including of course From the Earth to the Moon and Mission 2.

Discover the sources of inspiration and the technological challenges that led to its creation, all richly illustrated with concepts and photos stretching over the years.

“Space Mountain: From Earth to the Stars” will be on sale for 22€ starting this Friday, February 12, at the World of Disney Store in Disney Village. As this is not a limited edition, stock will be reordered regularly.

All right, you've got the green light for take-off! Good luck in your intergalactic mission!]

 

My good friend David Peake spotted three upcoming books that have just been announced by Disney Editions. The last two are of particular interest to me considering who their authors are!

Walt's Disneyland - A Walk in the Park with Walt Disney (October 2021)

Walt Disney World: A Portrait of the First Half Century by Kevin M. Kern, Tim O'Day, Stacy Shoff, Steven Vagnini (September 2021)

Not Just a Walk in the Park - The Creation of Disney's Global Resorts by Jim Cora (November 2021)

[The never-before-told, behind-the-scenes story of Disney’s pioneering and triumphant global theme park and resort expansion.

On June 16, 2016, Shanghai Disneyland Park, located in Pudong, Shanghai, opened to great fanfare and acclaim. Disney Chairman and Chief Executive Bob Iger called the world's twelfth Disney park “one of the proudest and most exciting moments in the history of The Walt Disney Company.” But a short three decades before, there were only two Disney parks—both in the U.S. How this unique entertainment enterprise expanded and was embraced all around the world is one of the most ambitious and successful, but little-documented aspects of The Walt Disney Company’s history.

Leading that pioneering and influential initiative was a fascinating man who, like Walt Disney himself, was the right combination of experience, enterprise, curiosity, and cultural complement at just the right time and place: Disney Legend Jim Cora. Part memoir, part cultural history, part documentary—and always fascinating, revealing, candid, and frequently humorous—Not Just a Walk in the Park: The Creation of Disney’s Global Resorts is the first-ever documentation of Disney’s rise as a worldwide powerhouse in destination recreation and cultural export; and the circumstances, events, and individuals who brought it all to life.

Filled with remarkable information, insight, anecdotes, and reflections of places, people, projects, problems, and ultimate successes, this is a one-of-a-kind recollection of a previously unknown aspect of the wide, wonderful world of Disney and how it got that way.]

Two more examples of those unauthorized Japanese publications from the 1930s.

 

I spent some time over the past few days researching Disney and Japan in the 1930s and 1940s.

While doing so, I stumbled upon these unauthorized publications from the 1930s. 

Are there any Japanese speakers reading this post? I would love to get help to locate some of those rare books. There is especially one from 1934 that I am dying to find and buy. If you are willing to try and help, could you email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com?

 

 

I was editing an interview with Disney director Jeff Blyth by Todd James Pierce this weekend and, when conducting some additional research, I stumbled upon this video that I believe many of you will enjoy.

Looking forward to the next issue of Disney Twenty-Three.

 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 ]

A preview of the great caricatures created by John Musker for the cover of Walt's People - Volume 25. 

If all goes well that volume will be released by mid-March at the very latest.
 

 

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.

This just in from my friend, historian Christian Renaut:

[SECOND POLL!  Hi everyone ! First, thanks for the many nice comments after the publication of volume 1 of The Best of Disney’s animated features. Volume 2 is well under way with the analysis of 10 more unforgettable sequences from 1941 to 1951. But now is the time to launch my second poll to already prepare volumes 4 and 5 at least. So, whether you are a Disney historian, a current/former Disney artist, working in animation, a Disney artist’s relative, or a Disney fan, it is time for you to select your unforgettable moments/sequences from the films of the list below (1970 to 1999). Try to stick to a maximum of 12 highlights. The best thing to do is to also justify your choice and come up with anecdotes (in particular if you worked on those films-you might be quoted). Then, like for the films under Walt, I’ll draw my list of the sequences to write about from the results of that poll. To do so, write a mail to this address chpoll.wd@gmail.com    Thanks a lot!

The Aristocats (1970)
Robin Hood (1973)
The Rescuers (1977)
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Who framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Oliver and Company (1988)
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The Rescuers down Under (1990)
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Aladdin (1992)
The Lion King (1994)
Pocahontas (1995)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Hercules (1997)
Mulan (1998)
Tarzan (1999)
Fantasia 2000 (1999)
Sorry, I have not included some films like Pete’s Dragon or a Goofy movie and a few others.]

This just in from Imagineer Chris Runco whom I interviewed recently for a future volume of Walt's People:

[Just wanted to let you know I did a podcast interview recently about the development of Star Tours, and particularly the design of the pilot, RX-24. It was for cartoonstocastles.com.]

Not to be missed.

 I missed the release of this book last year. I discovered it yesterday and ordered a copy today.

Some very interesting books will be released this year by Chronicle Books:

- The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon on March 16, 2021

- The Art of Luca in May 2021

- The Art of Alice and Martin Provensen in July 2021 (not about their Disney work but still clearly Disney-related)

The second book I discovered over the past few weeks over the past few days is the upcoming The Art of Aaron Blaise. It looks as if the book will feature some of Aaron's Disney concept pieces, which is exciting. I have no more details than what is included in the pre-order page.

Happy New Year to all of you!

2021 started with the discovery of two new books: One released at the end of last year, the second one upcoming.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out a few days ago that Lou Mongello has released some of his interviews with Disney legends in book form and I immediately picked up a copy. 

I was not disappointed. If you like Walt's People, this new book is for you. It contains interviews with Ralph Kent, George McGinnis, Alice Davis, Dave Smith, Julie Andrews, Richard Sherman, Charles Ridgway, Marty Sklar, Bill "Sully" Sullivan, Tom Nabbe, Al Konetzni, and Lonnie Burr.

I can't wait for Volume 2!

You will have to wait till tomorrow to read about the second book I just discovered.

 Sadly:

 - Farewell to Mr. Disneyland – Ron Dominguez

I just received my holiday gift. It is pure delight. Here is what I was able to learn about this little gem:

This book was given to all employees at Disney Feature Animation during the time they were making The Princess and the Frog, around 2008/2009. It's a compilation of the caricature show they had once a year. Ed Catmull and John wanted to publish it. Tamara Khalaf designed and curated it. John Musker wrote the foreword.

Apologies for the bad photos below. They are just meant to give you an idea of the content.

 

It is this time of the year again! So many good Disney history books have been released this year that picking the very best ones is a difficult task. In no particular order, here are the books (and one magazine) which I believe really moved the needle in 2020 (Note: I am yet to get Christian Renaut's new book, which therefore cannot appear in this list):

Kurtti, Jeff; Hunt, Vanessa: The Disney Monorail: Imagineering the Highway in the Sky published by Disney Editions; 2020.

Cline, Rebecca; Price, Charles; Allan, Graham: Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: A World of Celebrations from Autumn through Winter published by Disney Editions; 2020.

Ghez, Didier: They Drew as they Pleased Volume 6: The Hidden Art of Disney's New Golden Age published by Chronicle Books; 2020.

Ghez, Didier: Walt's People: Volume 24 published by Theme Park Press; 2019.

Kaufman, JB; Hollifield, Jim (editors): 2020 Hyperion Historical Alliance Annual published by Hyperion Historical Alliance Press; 2019.

Blyth, Jeff: Polishing the Dragons: Making EPCOT's "Wonders of China" published by Bamboo Forest Publishing; 2020.

Lambert, Pierre: Alice Au Pays des Merveilles published by Huginn Muninn; 2020.

Korkis, Jim: Secret Stories of Extinct Walt Disney World: The World That Disappeared published by Theme Park Press; 2020.

 

I discovered this book yesterday on eBay and knew immediately that it would become a Hanukkah gift to myself. The description says that it is 152 pages long. I can't wait to get it.

I had never seen this book before and did not even know it existed. This looks like a special release sold only to members of the Disney Studio in the mid-2000s.

I will report on the book's content as soon as I get it.

 

According to this newly released interview, Don Bluth has written his autobiography and is looking for a publisher. I can't wait to read that book.

This upcoming book could be really interesting.
 

Do not miss today:

- Disney Historian Christian Renaut on The Best Of Disney’s Animated Features

 

I can't wait to read Christian Renaut's new book. It does not contain any illustrations but it relies on hundreds of interviews that Christian conducted with Disney artists since 1985. I have a feeling this will be a "must-have".

I just received a copy of Charles Solomon's excellent new book, The Disney Princess - A Celebration of Art and Creativity, released recently by Chronicle Books.

There is more text and a larger variety of illustrations than in Charles' previous books and this volume will, I feel, satisfy both the wider audience and knowledgeable Disney history enthusiasts.

I am glad to add it to my large collection of reference books (although I probably would have recommended removing the glitter that the publisher decided to add on the book's pages). Paul Felix's caricature of Charles at the end and the dedication to Howard Green at the beginning are the cherries on the cake from my standpoint.

Two spectacular auctions coming up:

Heritage Auctions' Largest Animation Art Sale Ever: https://youtu.be/lV-M5FxNaWo

The Art of Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw: https://youtu.be/l5CopS3WeAM

 

Here is one book I am eagerly awaiting. According to the site of ANAFI (and Google Translate):

[The first tribute volume for Anafi 2021 members will be Mickey Mouse Weekly - The art of Harold Whitaker: 1950-1953, edited by Alberto Becattini, a real gem that will surely meet the favor of the members. Between 1950 and 1953, the animator Harold Whitaker created for the British Disney weekly Mickey Mouse Weekly a series of splendid stories continued with mixed media: pencils and inks for the characters and color paints for the backgrounds. The volume presents, for the first time in Italy in their full version, three adventures (The Reluctant Pirate, The House of Magic and The Hungry Ghost Mystery) with the duo Mickey Mouse-Eega Beeva, plus the comic adaptation of The Magnificent and Fabulous Mr. Toad. All accompanied by an extensive historical philological introduction and by the cards of the authors (Ronald Nielsen, in addition to Whitaker). A volume of 128 pages in color, unique and unmissable, that enthusiasts and collectors have been waiting for for some time. Original cover by Casty.]

 

Do not miss today:

- How Tyrus Wong’s Christmas Cards Captivated the American Public

 

There is one movie this year I would really have liked to see in a cinema (although not under the current circumstances): Pixar's Soul directed by my favorite director, Pete Docter.

A Pixar movie, directed by Pete Docter, about a jazz musician!? There simply could not be a better combination in my mind.

If the art book is any indication, the movie will be as good as I expect it to be. The Art of Soul itself is an absolute delight: it is full of concept art from cover to cover, all of it original and beautiful... Were some of those pieces of artwork inspired by Walt Peregoy's work on One Hundred and One Dalmatians? I would not be surprised if that were the case.

The bottom line is that this book is one of the very best "Art of" books from Chronicle Books to date and that I simply can't wait for the movie to release on December 25 on Disney+

Not to be missed:

Virtual Talk | Imagining the Impossible: The History of Herb Ryman with Former Imagineer Eddie Sotto

The Baum Bugle, the research journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club has just released a heavily-illustrated special issue celebrating 35 years of Disney's Return to Oz. One of the great articles this issue contains (among many others) is an interview with Production Designer Harley Jessup by Disney Archivist Kevin Kern. 

The Baum Bugle is normally only available to members of the International Wizard of Oz Club (to find out more, follow this link).

Fortunately, the International Wizard of Oz Club has a very, very limited number of copies (no more than 25 I believe) that they have agreed to sell to readers of the Disney History blog and to members of the Disney History Institute Facebook page.

The cost is $15 apiece, including postage to US addresses, and interested buyers need to make a PayPal transfer directly to admin@ozclub.org.

With the holidays, right around the corner, quick reminder about these great Disney-history-related books and magazines that have been released in the last 18 months and are worth picking up.

Full disclosure: I contributed in one way or another to all of them.

 

Coming up via Van Eaton Galleries...

 Can't wait!

I just realized that the DVD of Tyrus has been released! According to the director, Pamela Tom, there are two ways of buying it:

[1) Through PBS.org. The cost on their website is 24.99

2) A less expensive option is $19.99 and can be purchased directly through me. The DVD comes in a cardboard sleeve and is signed. For those purchases, people can Venmo me at: pam88tom@gmail.com and should include their name and mailing address.]

 

Jim Korkis is not just releasing one book, but three this holiday season. I mentioned the other two already. Here is the final one!
 

 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.

How I missed the release of this exhibition catalog two years ago is beyond me. I am just glad that I was able to order it yesterday. I can't wait to get it later this week.