This upcoming book about Milt Kahl by Andreas Deja was just announced by Andreas on his blog and the news was relayed on Facebook by Sandro Cleuzo. 

Needless to say I am very much looking forward to this!!!

Some books change everything. This is the case of The Happiest Place on Earth--The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt.

If you have to own only one book about the creation of Disneyland, this is the one to get.

It is massive, full of artwork and photos that I had never seen before, and the text is meticulously researched and dispels several myths while also telling many new stories.

This is Disney history art its best: incredible illustrations and in-depth research. 

Chris Merritt and Don Hahn are not just immensely talented artists they are also among the best Disney historians alive.

Way to go! More, more!!!

 

This just in from Heritage Auctions:

Join Us!

Reception
Thursday, June 5 | 6 - 8:30 PM
100 Premier Highlights for Preview

Heritage Auctions
9478 West Olympic, First Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

RSVP@HA.com or 310-492-8630

This just in: A new website featuring Disney Legend Marc Davis' personal artwork has been launched by his family and can be accessed at this link. 

I just received my copy of The Art of Elio, and once again this book by Chronicle Books is a winner that deserves to be added to your library.

I was particularly charmed by the concepts for the alien world by Juliette Oberndorfer and Maria Lee and by the designs of the ambassadors Questa and Helix.

The book is pure eye candy and I am hoping that I will also adore the movie itself. Fingers crossed! 

I just received a copy of Adventures in Childhood by Jose Bellido and Kathy Bowrey. It is a very specialized book which deals with intellectual property and children's entertainment.

I am flagging it here because it contains several chapters related to Disney, including a particularly interesting one about the troubled relationship between Disney and the Great Ormond Street Hospital related to Peter Pan.

As always, my friend Jose Bellido and his colleague Kathy Bowrey have really done their homework and I discovered a lot that I did not know in this volume!

 

Back in 2017, Heritage Auctions sold a large collection of documents pertaining to the estate of composer Carl Stalling, including photographs and--most importantly--correspondence between Stalling and Walt Disney.

If you bought this collection at the time and are reading this post, could you please, please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com?

This just in from Amidi Amidi:

- New Biography Of Iconoclast Disney Director And Animator Ward Kimball To Be Published In 2026

Two excellent books to highlight today. One released last week and one which will be released tomorrow:

Animating the Victorians: Disney's Literary History: The author conducted some research at the Disney Archives about Disney's early plans for Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland and it shows. There is very good new material in this volume.

After Disney: Toil, Trouble, and the Transformation of America's Favorite Media Company: A must-read. This will probably be one of the best Disney history books of the year.

 

I am really looking forward to this upcoming book from my friend and fellow Disney historian Todd James Pierce!
 

Two interesting books are now available for pre-order on Amazon:

- Welcome Aboard: A Celebration of Walt Disney's Trains from The Walt Disney Family Museum 

- The Art of Zootopia 2

Looking forward to reading Christian Renaut's new book!
 

Now available for pre-order on Amazon. Hurrah!
 

Oh, this is exciting!!! The draft cover of Mindy Johnson's upcoming book has just been revealed. From what I understand the book will mostly focus on non-Disney artists but it will also contain many Disney connections (Margaret Winkler being one of them, of course).

Can't wait!!!

Tony White apprenticed to such legends as Richard Williams, Ken Harris and Art Babbitt. This new book is for me!
 

My friend David Peake just found out that the cover of the long-waited book about X. Atencio has been revealed. I am really, really looking forward to this upcoming book, which will be released at the end of the year.

 Oh!!! Ron Clements' long awaited autobiography is now available for pre-order on Amazon!

If you like the Disney movie Hercules and / or if you love the art of Gerald Scarfe, do yourself a favor and pick up right away the newly released Disney's Hercules--The Art of Gerald Scarfe.

Written by Gerald Scarfe himself, this is a massive volume that is filled from cover to cover with never-seen-before pieces of artwork and marvelous tales about their creation.

It is one of the very best Disney art books I have seen in years and a clear must-have from my standpoint.

Way to go Insight Editions!

Happy 2025! I am happy to share that Walt’s People: Volume 30 has just been released by Skyway Press!

Walt’s People: Volume 30 features appearances by SHARON BAIRD remembering ANNETTE FUNICELLO, CARL BARKS, BILL BERG, EDIE CARHART, CLAUDE COATS, WILL EYERSON, HAROLD HELVENSTON, RAY JACOBS, PHYLLIS LAMBERTSON-JACOBSEN, BILL SHEPARD, RUTHIE TOMPSON and PETER WOODS. 

Among the hundreds of stories in this volume: Storyman RALPH WRIGHT remembers how he pitched a sequence for Bambi that featured an anthill and which developed into a large series of highly creative storyboards. 

Director DAVID SWIFT recalls how Walt Disney called him at home and admitted he cried after reading his script for Pollyanna. 

Imagineer, CHRIS BROWN gives a fascinating account of life and work in the Show/Ride Mechanical Engineering Department at WED (now Walt Disney Imagineering). 

TREVOR BRYANT explains how he helped set up Walt Disney Imagineering's Research and Development Department.

I can't wait to buy this upcoming autobiography!

By the way: the Disney Books Network has just been updated. 

I was glad to see that Moana 2 is doing really well at the box office.

I have not watched the movie yet, but I just received The Art of Moana 2 released by Chronicle Books and, as always they did a beautiful job.

I especially enjoyed some of the concept pieces by Joyce Lee and the stunning character designs of Kotu by Kenny Leoncito.

Another excellent instalment in Chronicle Books "Art of" series.

 An auction full of stunning treasures is coming up at Heritage.

 I just ordered this. I will let you know what I think when I get it. I am quite excited about it.

I just received my personal copy of Donald Duck--The Ultimate History by JB Kaufman and David Gerstein.

Like it predecessor "Mickey Mouse --The Ultimate History" it is massive and it is a must-have.

I had a chance to read the full manuscript a few weeks ago and, from cover to cover, it is full of new information and illustrations that I had never seen before.

As you can expect, knowing me, the chapters that I found the most fascinating were those about the abandoned Donald Duck shorts, which are extensive and amazingly detailed.

I realize that this is not a cheap book, but owning is really, really worth it. I am convinced that you will not regret it.

I really hope that both Taschen, JB and David have many more surprises of this caliber for all of us.

Is it just me or are Pierre Lambert's art books getting better and better with each new release!!?

I just received my own copy of his Cinderella and I was absolutely stunned by its content. So much artwork that I had never seen before, including a much larger amount of pre-production art that ever before (at least it feels that way).

This is a must-have if there is one this holiday season. My advice: Get it as soon as you can!

 

Now that Walt Disney and El Grupo in Latin America has been released, we are hard at work on the sequel, which should be released in 2026: the monograph Walt Disney and El Grupo in Mexico and Cuba (1942 - 1944). 

In the context of that (absolutely fascinating) research, I just unearthed this photograph, shot on December 17, 1942, when Walt visited the offices of the radio station XEW. 

It features the Mexican artists Toña "La Negra", Pedro de Lille and Sergio Torres. Sadly, it will not be included in the monograph since it was sold at auction in 2017 and I was unable to locate a high resolution scan. But I thought you may enjoy it.

Did one of you purchase those rare photos of the 1941 Disney strike on eBay a few days ago? If so, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com? 

Two great books that none of you should miss just popped up this weekend for pre-order on Amazon:

The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt and After Disney: Toil, Trouble, and the Transformation of America's Favorite Company by Neil O'Brien.

 

Two photos of Walt spotted on Facebook yesterday. The caption reads:

[In this photo you can see the famous Walt Disney with his wife Lilian on the island of Matica (in the Dominican Republic in February 1957), on one of his visits to Mr. Rogers at the Hamaca Hotel, located in the Boca Chica Spa. Mr. Roger was the manager of the Hamaca Hotel and creator of the Matica Zoo.]

 

Great video about the multiplane camera by Zach Tolchinsky, complete with an interview of my friend, Disney historian JB Kaufman.

There is one more Disney history book that you should not miss this year: Walt Disney Treasures--Personal Art and Artifacts from The Walt Disney Family Museum.

This is an absolutely gorgeous art book which highlights some of the best items in the collections of The Walt Disney Family Museum.

My favorite sections are the ones that focus on the artifacts owned by Walt and his family, like items from Walt's miniature collection, the saddles Walt used on his trips with the Rancheros Visitadores, Walt's polo paraphernalia, etc.

I was also delighted to discover quite a few photos that I had never seen. 

And the team of the Museum also really did their homework when it comes to the text which is both accurate and informative.

Way to go! This is a book I am bound to read and re-read often. 

DISNEY HISTORY COMPETITION

Ok, let's do something fun! I am launching a Disney History competition that opens now and lasts until Monday at midnight PST.

If you have a document related to Disney history (photograph, written material, piece of artwork, etc.) that you believe I have never seen before and that will really excite me, please email it at Didier.Ghez@gmail.com (and let me know if you allow me to post it online if you win the competition).

On Tuesday next week, I will select the winner, who will receive from Skyway Press the latest 4 copies of "Walt's People," thanks to Skyway Press' owner, my friend and fellow Disney historian, Joe Campana.

I can't wait to discover new pieces of Disney history!

 

A new book about Tyrus Wong to look forward to! Thanks to Dave Mason for the heads up.

Finally! Taschen's massive volume, Donald Duck--The Ultimate History by David Gerstein and JB Kaufman is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

Each month I check Amazon's list of "best books of the month." Two days ago, Disney High, was part of the September list. Recent history for sure, but now I am curious. 

Very subjective and focused only on Walt Disney and animation, this is the list I created for Sheperd.com. Unfortunately I had to limit myself to 5 books, which is far from ideal.

I just received my copy of the late Richard Williams' autobiography, Adventures in Animation, and, as expected, it is a winner.

My favorite chapters are those about Milt Kahl, Art Babbitt and Grim Natwick, of course.

 

I just received a copy of another extremely important book about Disney history that will be released in a few weeks, Stephen Anderson's Disney In-Between--The Lost Years 1966-1986. Here is what I wrote about it for the back cover:

At long last! This is the book about Disney history I have been waiting for more than 30 years. Stephen Anderson’s year-by-year account of the period between Walt Disney’s death and the Renaissance of Disney animation is researched with care, visually striking, thoroughly entertaining and a page-turner to boot. Thanks to this masterful volume, light is finally shining bright on those years full of drama and promise known to some as Disney’s “dark ages.”

 

Disney Legend Martha Blanding has a fascinating personal story, which is beautifully captured in her autobiography, Groundbreaking Magic.

If you are interested in the evolution of Disneyland since the 1970s against the backdrop of societal changes, the fun and glamour of Guest Relations, the inner workings of Disney fan-tailored events, and the complexity of Disney Parks merchandise operations, this book is for you. 

Of course, I am biased, since Martha's co-writer, Tim O'Day, is a good friend whose writing style I love.

From my standpoint the book was interesting both from a Disney-history angle, but also, of course, due to its focus on growing up black in California at a time where things were finally starting to change for the better.

In summary: If you have to decide and can only buy two Disney Editions books this season, pick up Bob Weis' autobiography and Directing at Disney by Pete Docter and Don Peri. If you have some extra money to spare, definitely add to your list Groundbreaking Magic and Bring the Magic Home.

Let's admit it, when I first saw the cover of Bring the Magic Home by Sunny Chanel I did not think that book was for me.

Yet, when I saw it at D23, I realized that I was totally wrong and that I needed it.

The photos of the themed houses interiors are stunning, but more importantly, the author decided to interview quite a few Imagineers (including Tony Baxter) and to include a good number of Disney concept paintings that I had not seen before.

Which means that the book ends up becoming not just a feast for the eyes but also a very interesting book on the periphery of Disney history.

Well-worth it from my admittedly subjective standpoint. 

 

Disney Editions released 4 excellent Disney history books at the D23 Event earlier this month. I already discussed the groundbreaking Directing at Disney, so let's focus this week on the other three.

I like Bob Weis (Global Imagineering Ambassador and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering) very, very much, not just because of what he helped create while at WDI, but also because he cares deeply about Disney history and is one of the main drivers when it comes to cataloging and preserving Marty Sklar's papers.

It did not come as a surprise, therefore, that I loved his autobiography, Dream Chasing, which is well-written, detailed and honest.

It is a great read; one that really takes you behind the scenes at WDI. The fact that Bob also talks a lot about many of his colleagues makes the book even more valuable from my standpoint.

Definitely a "must-have."

Based on a poster that JB Kaufman spotted this weekend on the Disney Editions booth at D23, it appears that the book he and David Gerstein wrote for Taschen, Donald Duck--The Ultimate History, will be released this year on October 31. I am so looking forward to this! 

I am so looking forward to this new book!
 

This photo of Walt Disney and El Grupo's trip to Latin America in 1941, which I bought 24 years ago while living in Buenos Aires, was not included in the new monograph since I do not know exactly where it was shot and since I cannot recognize the man on the left.

In preparation for our panel at D23 on Friday, however, I thought you would enjoy seeing it.

Remember to come and meet us at Booth 325 to pick up your autographed copy of Walt Disney and El Grupo in Latin America.

Mike Westby was kind enough to send me a copy of his newly self-published book Disney History -- Rare & Unknown.

The books is divided into three sections: Early life of Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, Disney merchandise and Disneyland.

The section of the book that I found the most exciting is the one about the early life of Walt and of Ub Iwerks. There is a lot of new material about Ub's father and about Ub's early business venture, complete with illustrations. And Mike digs quite deep into the environment in which Walt grew up, which is also very interesting. You will not find any really new info about Walt himself but you will about his surroundings (complete with illustrations).

The section about Disneyana did not include anything new to me.

I am not a Disneyland specialist so I cannot give you an educated opinion about the third section of the book, save to say that I really enjoyed the story about the 10 millionth visitor of the park and the 10,000 pennies he was awarded by Walt.

Overall, this book is a good read, but particularly valuable if you are into Disney history minutiae and if you are especially interested in the childhood and teenage years of Ub and Walt.

Stunning auction coming up in two weeks from Heritage Auctions.
 

BOOTH 325: This is the Hyperion Historical Alliance booth at D23 The Ultimate Fan Event.

Please come and meet us there from Friday August 9 to Sunday August 11.

You will be able to buy our latest releases: our 4 Annuals and the three HHA Monographs, including Walt Disney and El Grupo in Latin America and The Origins of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures.

You will also be able to meet many Disney historians and members of the HHA, including Paula Sigman-Lowery, Leslie Smith, Steve and Virginia Reeser, Joe Campana, Todd James Pierce, Mindy Johnson, Tom Morris, Tom Klein... and of course Ted Thomas, JB Kaufman and yours truly. 

Please feel free to bring books that you want to get autographed.

See you all soon!!!