This weekend, I was researching Walt's short trip to Mexico City in late August 1943 to receive the Order of the Aztec Eagle, when I realized that Walt had not stopped traveling during the whole month of August. On July 25 he had left L.A. to go to New York City and, on August 19, a short notice was sent to some Michigan newspapers that read:

"Walt Disney... is in Detroit conferring with Henry Ford and his staff of soybean specialists. He will make a film about soybean to be shown in South America."

On August 20 Walt, Lillian and Diane visited the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. That night or the night before they dined at Dearborn Inn with the inventor William B. Stout and his wife.

I had never seen any of those photos of the Ford Museum visit (save one) nor the photo of Walt with Stout and I thought you might enjoy them as much as I did.

Walt was back in L.A. on August 22 (he travelled back by train) and on August 24 he boarded a plane to go to Mexico City to receive the Orden del Aguila Azteca (which he got on August 26).

 

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer, authors of the newly released Disneyland on the Mountain. Enjoy!

Didier Ghez: Why, how and when did you decide to write Disneyland on the Mountain?

We are both Disney fans who had heard a bit about Mineral King over the years, but when we visited the Walt Disney Family Museum in 2018, we saw the project mentioned on the museum’s extensive timeline of Walt’s life. What really piqued our interest was that the mention included the fact that Walt’s partner on the project was Willy Schaeffler, a well-known Colorado skier and head ski coach at the University of Denver in the 1960s and 1970s. We were familiar with Willy since Kathryn is a graduate of DU, and we actually met working at the school. That inspired us to look more into the story, and we quickly realized how much there was to it. We were shocked to learn how extensive the story was—from the environmental movement that was taking off at the time to Walt’s death in the middle of the planning for Mineral King and the battle going to the Supreme Court.

DG: Two books have already been released about the Mineral King project, Mineral King: Public Concern with Government Policy by John Harper, in 1982, and, more recently Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, the Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law by Daniel Selmi. What makes your new book different?

Thanks for asking this question! Both of those books are great, and they were helpful resources for us as we wrote ours, but we really tried to set ours apart. Harper’s self-published book came out in 1982, as you mentioned, and is more or less his chronicle of his experience, as a Sierra Club member, fighting against the Disney development. Selmi, similarly, is a legal scholar and professor who did a great job writing about the legal aspects of the Sierra Club v. Morton case and its impact on environmental law. We were writing ours at the same time as Selmi was writing his, and his came out about a year before ours. We were glad after reading his, though, that his book turned out very different from ours.

In Disneyland on the Mountain, our goal was to tell both sides of the story—the Disney side and the environmentalist side—and to give equal weight to both. We also strived to do it in a very narrative way, with characters and dialogue, to make it a hopefully enjoyable and engaging read.

DG: What were the most important new sources of information that you got access to?

We were able to talk to many people on the Disney and the environmentalist side of this battle, including Michael McCloskey, who was the leader of the Sierra Club during the Mineral King fight, and Jean Koch, a Mineral King cabin owner who was a very vocal opponent of the development and who donated all of her Mineral King materials—newspaper articles, legal documents, letters, maps, etc.—to the University of Southern California. We visited that archive for a few days early on in our research.

On the Disney side, we talked with former employees including Frank Allnutt and Frank Stanek, as well as the descendants of several Disney people who were involved with the Mineral King project.

We also tracked down other archival documents, old Disney reports, and letters, among other resources.

DG: What were the most interesting discoveries that you made in the course of your research?

Most interesting to us were Walt’s experiences at the 1960 Winter Olympics, and the fact that he was such a dedicated and award-winning conservationist. We also had no idea, when we started our research, that the Mineral King battle lasted nearly two decades and involved a legal case that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

DG: What were the most challenging aspects of this book project?

As you would imagine, the most challenging part was doing all the research and tracking down people to talk to. Most of our interviews came from simply finding people online and reaching out to see if they would talk to us (sometimes they would point us in the direction of another source). And as you’ll see from our endnotes, our research involved numerous sources, including newspaper and magazine articles, Disney annual reports, book chapters, meeting minutes, government documents, documentary films, and more. It was a lot to go through!

DG: Are you planning to write more Disney-related books?

We would love to! We are big Disney people and are so fascinated by the company’s rich history. We are starting to work on our next project now, and while it’s too early to divulge details, it is in a somewhat similar vein to Disneyland on the Mountain.

I have been waiting and waiting for this book for years and years.

If, like me, you are curious to know who the men and women who are featured on the windows of Main Street are, this book is definitely for you.

Chuck Snyder has written the definite guide to the Main Street windows, complete with photos of all the people featured in the book.

This is a critically important volume and a must-have for Disney historians. 

I love "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and can't get enough when it comes to the history of the making of the movie.

Which is why I am so delighted to have received a copy of Dave Bossert's gorgeous new book on the subject.

Based on new interviews and extensive research, this is a must-have.

By the way, this is really a great year for Dave. First his "House of the Future" masterpiece and now this.

Congratulations!

Not sure if this special issue of Life magazine is worth picking up, but I thought I would give you a heads up about its release.

I wrote the foreword for Jamie Hecker's new book which has just been released yesterday. You can read it below:

[As a teenager growing up in the 1980s, I was already passionate about Disney history.

As soon as I managed to learn enough English to allow me to do, I sought out American magazines which contained good, accessible books and articles about Disney history. Two of the writers whose work I loved were Jim Korkis and Jim Fanning. My understanding of Disney history did not yet run very deep and I needed historians to gently guide me in this gigantic maze of stories about Disney artists and their creations. In other words, the two Jims provided well-written, entry-level pieces about the men and women who made Disney “Disney” and about their fascinating creations.

Thanks to them I discovered who was who, how their operated and how they collaborated. I also learned much more about their boss, the great Walt Disney. The two Jims took me by the hand and helped me understand the big picture, which, years later meant that I was able to dig much deeper and to finally become an actual Disney historian. Without them and without their work, I would never have acquired the fundamental Disney history knowledge that would one day allow me to write Disneyland Paris—From Sketch to Reality, Disney’s Grand Tour, The Origins of Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures or the They Drew as They Pleased—The Hidden Art of Disney art book series.

It is therefore with delight that I discovered the work of Jamie Hecker in the pages of the magazine Celebrations. His profiles of Disney Legends go beyond the short biographies released on the D23 website but are short enough to provide great introductions to the lives and work of these exceptional artists for readers who love Disney history but have yet to become Disney history specialists.

Like Jim Korkis’ and Jim Fanning’s pieces, Jamie’s articles are well-written, well-researched and a joy to read.

It is therefore with enthusiasm that I see some of them collected in this first volume of what I hope will become a long book series.

One, which, I suspect, will inspire quite a few teenagers to one day become Disney historians.

Didier Ghez
Coral Gables, August 2023]

 I am excited to announce that a new volume of Walt’s People has just been released today.

Walt’s People: Volume 28 features appearances by about Mike Bagnall, Richard Berryman, Ray Bradbury, Bill Cottrell, Roy E. Disney, John Drury, Nick England, Don Escen, Al Eugster, Leigh Harline, Dan Haskett, John Hench, Grace Hurt, Brandon Kleyla, Rich Kullen, Fred MacMurray, Mel Powell, Woolie Reiterman, Jim Sarno, John Tobin, and Ray Watson.

My wife and I were in Europe for the past two weeks (The Netherlands, Belgium and France) and that gave me the opportunity to meet quite a few animation artists, historians and collectors with whom I had only corresponded by email until now.

In Groningen, I met with Jan-Willem de Vries. I had both the Dutch and English versions of his biography of Disney comic artist Daan Jippes and loved it.

What I did not know is that Jan-Willem has also written quite a few artbooks about the history of the Dutch animation and comic studio Toonder. Those are not Disney-related but they are so beautiful and so impressive that I have to show some of them here.

If you speak Dutch (or are willing to read those heavily-illustrated books using Google Translate) those books are well-worth buying if you can find copies. I cannot say enough good things about them.

 

VOLUNTEER NEEDED IN CONNECTICUT

I just realized that, as far as I know, no in-depth research has been conducted about the animated sequences that the Disney Studios produced for Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series.

I suspect that some relevant material might be preserved in the Frank Capra Archives at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut and I wonder if one of you would be willing to go there to conduct some research under my guidance. 

If so, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com?

Here is a photo of Walt along with publisher Max Schuster which I had never seen. Palm Springs, 1940s.
 

Right before he passed away, Jim Korkis wrote the following:

[James (“Jim”) Patrick Korkis was born August 15, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He passed away at the age of 72 of stage four colon on July 28, 2023. He is survived by his two brothers Michael and Chris. Jim was divorced and had no children.

When he was five years old his family moved to Glendale, California where Jim grew up attending Edison Elementary School (where one of the teachers was Mrs. Disney, the wife of Walt’s older brother Herbert), Roosevelt Junior High, Hoover High, Glendale Junior College and Occidental College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s Degree with a major in English and a minor in Theater Arts. After graduation he spent two decades teaching English and Drama at Huntington Middle School in San Marino, California. Jim helped pay his way through college by working at the Los Angeles Zoo as a driver and tour guide.

Jim was known as a comics historian writing a column of comics trivia for Amazing Heroes as well as articles for Comic Book Marketplace, Comics Artist and more. He was a vendor at the San Diego ComicCon for several years with the company he co-owned, Korkis and Cawley's Cartoon and Comic Company. He wrote introductions of over three dozen Malibu Graphics collections of vintage comic strips and comic books.

Jim was known as an animation historian who wrote long-running columns for Animation Magazine, Animato!, Animania, Comic Journal, and more. For the last ten years he wrote a weekly column for www.cartoonresearch.com. With writing partner John Cawley he co-wrote four books about animation like Cartoon Confidential.

In California, Jim also pursued a career in theater. He appeared in over 100 theatrical productions, starting with Glendale Center Theater. He directed over 100 stage performances. He did some occasional voice over work.

With his brothers, Jim appeared at The Gong Show, The Dating Game and Family Feud. By himself he appeared on Camouflage (where he won a Cadillac) and the pilot Origins. He appeared on Entertainment Tonight as a Disney historian.

With his brother Mike, Jim developed a comedy magic act as part of a show he wrote and directed at Six Flags Magic Mountain Lucky Louies Roaring ‘20s Revue. They performed at the Variety Arts Theater, Johnathan Clubs, J.C. Penny and more. Jim was a performer in Pelican’s Corner at Magic Mountain and helped design the Halloween Haunted Mountain promotion.

In 1995 he moved to Orlando, Florida to take care of his ailing mom and dad. Jim became identified as a Disney historian and worked as a performer (Merlin in the Sword in the Stone ceremony and Prospector Pat in Frontierland), an animation instructor at The Disney Institute, Guest Relations at Epcot, tour instructor with Disney Adult Discoveries, and coordinator with The Disney Learning Center. He was brought as a special consultant for Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Imagineering and Animation (where he taught different classes for interns) among other departments.

Disney laid off Jim in 2009 along with thousands of others. Jim started writing books about all things Disney and ended up producing over three dozen books. He was a popular guest on podcasts.

Jim's last words: “There are so many books I wanted to read or re-read, so many movies and television shows I wanted to see or re-see and more many food treats I wanted to enjoy again like See’s chocolates. I know God loves me and this is part of his plan. Be happy and kind to each other. When you think of me, I hope you smile. I loved you all and appreciated your generosity, support and hope.”]

Unfortunately I have very sad news to report.

My friend and fellow Disney historian, Jim Korkis, passed away peacefully earlier today.

I will post more about this over the next few days.

My thoughts are with his family and close friends. RIP Jim.

 

VOLUNTEER NEEDED NEAR UC, BERKELEY

Yesterday, I stumbled upon this paragraph in a report from a Mr. Alan Cranston to a Mr. Elmer Davis. At the time Cranston was chief,foreign language division, Office of War Information. He later became a senator.

I wonder what happened of this project and if Cranston interacted even more with the Disney Studios. I suspect he did.

To find out, one would have to dig into Cartons 3 and 4 (Subseries 1.3 -- Office of War Information 1942-1944) in the Alan Cranston Papers, 1914-1993 (BANC MSS 88/214 c) which are preserved at The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

Would one of you be willing to volunteer to do so? If so, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com?

John Musker's caricatures for the cover of Walt's People--Volume 28 just came in. Hurrah! Only a few weeks left until publication.

This just in from Timothy Callaway:

[I just wanted to let you know that Michael Barrier's "The Animated Man" is now available as an audiobook on Audible. I'm spreading the word because it's narrated by my friend and colleague Jack De Golia, a very talented voice actor. ]

A few days ago I had the wonderful surprise of receiving my own copy of Aaron H. Goldberg new book Presenting Disneyland--Forgotten Photos from Opening Day.

This book is pure joy as it present 100 never-seen-color photos of Disneyland on Opening Day, complete with a selection of articles written around the time of the Opening.

This is a must-have for all of us fans of early Disneyland history.

I cannot thank Aaron enough for putting this marvelous volume together. 

This just in:

[I am a historian currently researching the life and work of filmmaker and teacher Alexander Mackendrick. After a twenty-year career as a director, Mackendrick became founding dean of the film school at the newly founded California Institute of the Arts, as created by Walt Disney and constructed after his death (the campus in Valencia opened to students in 1971). Given its importance as an art school, it is surprising that until now, there has never been any serious historical research done on the early years of CalArts. Two manuscripts are near completion: one is about Mackendrick's teaching career, another is a history of the early years of CalArts, which digs into the formation of the place, when Walt was still alive and very involved. Over the past decade I have rummaged through many archives and interviewed hundreds of people who were students or who taught at the Institute ca.1970 - 1980. Much new material has emerged about Walt's school. I wonder if during their own research anyone has come across any mention of CalArts or encountered material and documentation that I might not have seen. If so, I would be in your debt if you were to get in touch. Please email me at pauljcronin@gmail.com or call me in New York (646) 757 0793. My website, which details my work of the past two decades, is here: www.stickingplace.com. Specific mention of my Mackendrick project, including a book I published in 2004, is here: www.alexandermackendrick.com.]

 Now available on Amazon (in French only).

I am really looking forward to receiving this newly released autobiography.
 

Dave Bossert's upcoming book about The House of the Future is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

I am afraid the news is not great when it comes to Jim Korkis.

Please follow this link for more details and information about how you can help.

Great Disney auction coming up on Heritage Auctions in just a few weeks.
 

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Lou Mongello on WDW Radio. Enjoy the podcast at this link!

The last time I went to the cinema was right before the pandemic, which is way too long.

I am finally planning to go back and the first movie my wife and I will catch is Elemental. I loved the clip I saw at D23 Expo last year and sense that this will be a winner.

I just received The Art of Elemental, released by Chronicle Books, and that beautiful volume confirmed my first impression.

I am really looking forward to this!

Two new exhibition catalogs from the Netherlands that I just discovered thanks to artist Henrieke Goorhuis. I am not yet sure about how to order them.

 

 

This book could be interesting. We will see...

 An upcoming book announced this week by Don Ballard. I am looking forward to it.

I just became aware of the release of this new exhibition catalog (in Italian). 

More about this when I receive my own copy in a few weeks.

Looking for something else today, I stumbled upon this great selection of 1930s songs related to Disney that I think you will enjoy!

If you read Italian, this new book by Alberto Becattini is likely to be a must-have!
 

 The Disney Books Network has been updated today.

The 27th volume of Walt's People was released yesterday!
 

Some really, really fun stuff in there. Here is the table of contents:

Brian Sibley and Richard Holliss: Joe Grant

Tadhg Murphy’s 1946 Diaries

Larry Watkin: Leprechaun Land

Tadhg Murphy’s 1947 Diaries

Mary Wilmar: I Love Polar Bears

Anne Papineau: Eyvind Earle

Didier Ghez: Joe Alves

Bob Thomas: Luther Marr

Bob Thomas: Harry Archinal

Bob Thomas: Dick Morrow

Michael Broggie: John Hench

John G. West: Ken Annakin

Jim Korkis: Rock Hall

Jim Korkis: Tom Morris

Didier Ghez: Ron Carman

Didier Ghez: Paul Torrigino

Didier Ghez: Randy Cartwright

Didier Ghez: Ed Ghertner

I just received this new version of Walt Disney -- An American Original and loved reading the commemorative essays written by Walt's grandson Christopher Miller as well as by my friends Becky Cline and Marcy Carriker Smothers.

Finally!!!

This is the Walt Disney quote book that I had been forward to: extremely well-researched by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives and complete with a precise list of the sources where the quotes come from (which for me is the best part of this publication).

Way to go to Disney Editions for releasing this important volume.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED IN MEXICO CITY

We all know about Walt Disney and El Grupo's trip to Latin America in 1941. But did you know that Walt and / or some of his artists went back to Latin America (especially to Mexico) in 1942 and 1943?

JB Kaufman, Ted Thomas and I are slowly starting to dig deeper into those later trips, and for this we need a volunteer in Mexico City, to help conduct some in-person research at the Hemeroteca Nacional and at the Archivo General de la Nacion, where we know that great photos and documents about the 1942 trip are preserved.

If you are based in Mexico City and willing to help, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com? 

Oh no, Rolly Crump just passed away.
 

Fun auction coming up via Heritage Auctions on March 25.

Dust Bowl to Disney - The Lost Memoir of Danny Alguire is now available on Amazon!

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

 I love this new book project and decided to back it.

I spent some time on Friday signing 98 copies of "The Origins of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures." If you would like to pick up a signed copy, I would encourage you to contact Stuart Ng Books ASAP. (https://stuartngbooks.com/)

My good friend David Peake just spotted quite a few upcoming books that are now available for pre-order on Amazon:

- JB Kaufman, Worlds to Conquer: The Art & Making of Walt Disney's Fantasia (Weldon Owen, 2023).

-  Dave Bossert, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual Companion (Disney Editions, 2023).

- Emily Zemler, Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town: The Story, the Characters, and the Legacy (Epic Ink, 2023).

- Disney: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (Canterbury Classics, 2023).

- Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer, Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2023).

- Jim Fanning and Andreas Deja, Drawing 100 Years of Disney Wonder (Walter Foster Publishing, 2023).

- - Simon Beecroft, Disney Museum: Celebrate 100 Years of Wonder! (Studio Press, 2023).