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.

 

Do not miss this spectacular article by Jim Korkis on CartoonResearch. It is full of wonderful surprises.

This just in from Jim Korkis (Do not forget to pick up Vault of Walt Volume 2 and The Book of Mouse!):

[The slogan for the 1935 version of the “Mickey Mouse Magazine” was “A Fun Book for Children to Read to Grown-ups.”   Roy O. Disney told publisher Hal Horne that the slogan was accurate because his young son (Roy E. Disney) spent an entire evening at a polo match reading the first issue and pestering his father by reading him the jokes.

“On the walls inside the (Hyperion) studio, in private offices as well as in conference rooms, are framed drawings of Mickey Mouse in every conceivable pose.  Painted on one door in red and gold is a shield bearing Mickey’s Coat of Arms.  The mystic words ‘Ickmay Ousmay” are inscribed on this heraldic emblem and they have puzzled studio visitors a good deal.  But guests who recall a jargon almost universal among American children grin and translate the gibberish into ‘Mickey Mouse’.  This was the language whereby dark secrets were kept from inquisitive adults.”  McCalls magazine  August 1932.
On November 17, 1978, the White House President Jimmy Carter’s daughter, Amy Carter hosted Mickey Mouse’s 50th birthday party for handicapped Washington, DC children. President Carter was there and joined in the singing of Mickey Mouse Club theme song.  Also in attendance was Disney animator Ward Kimball who whipped out seemingly endless drawings of Mickey Mouse for the President, Amy, other guests and even Secret Service agents dressed as clowns.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan was a huge fan of Mickey Mouse. He was given a Mickey Mouse watch as a gift during his special tour of Disneyland in 1975. For years, even on formal occasions, His Majesty was observed wearing the watch. In 1979, there was panic when the watch stopped ticking, and a concerned palace chamberlain rushed it to Tokyo experts specializing in American timepieces.  Fortunately, the watch merely required a new battery.   When Hirohito died in 1989, he was buried at his request with the Mickey Mouse watch.
In 2012, Disney donated more than 100,000 Mickey Mouse plush to the Red Cross to give to children affected by disaster, who have lost everything. “The Mickey Mouse plush bring comfort to those impacted by disaster, which brings a sense of normalcy back into children’s lives,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the Red Cross.]

This just in from Jim Korkis (Do not forget to pick up Vault of Walt Volume 2 and The Book of Mouse!):

[On September 13, 1929 at the Fox Dome Theater in Ocean Park, California (managed by Harry Woodin who was the originator of the Mickey Mouse Clubs in the 1930s), it was announced that at the noon matinee “In Person.  Mickey Mouse’s Daddy, the man who originated the world’s most popular sound cartoon character: Walt Disney assisted by Carl Stalling at the piano and U.B. Iwerk (sic), cartoonist.  They’ll show you how they do it, and introduce ‘The Mickey Mouse Theme Song’.  Mothers and Fathers are urged to attend this program.”   Yes, this was just a children’s matinee.

Since 2006, Janet Esteves of Celebration, Florida has held the Guinness World Records book honor of the largest documented Mickey Mouse memorabilia collection in the world.  In 2006, it was 2,100 items and in 2013 the collection was officially 4,127 items that filled her 1,900-square-foot condo. Esteves actually estimates her collection at nearly 6,000 items, but many of them were packed away and unavailable for the final official count.

A survey of American children during the Great Depression uncovered that many kids thought Mickey was a dog or a cat, even though his last name was Mouse.  A 1935 “Time” magazine article stated: “Anyway, a current survey shows that children don’t think of Mickey as a mouse.  A good many of them were asked whether Mickey Mouse is a dog or a cat.  Almost half of the tots answered brightly, ‘A cat.’”

In 1969, it was reported that comedienne Carol Burnett once refused an offer of $500 for her classic 1930s Mickey Mouse watch, a gift from her husband Joe Hamilton.

The 1935 Romanian authorities banned Mickey Mouse films from cinemas after they feared that children would be "scared to see a ten-foot mouse in the movie theatre".

In the film "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), when Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn are mistaken for bank robbers and ordered to name their accomplices, Grant replies: "Mickey-the-Mouse and Donald-the-Duck".]

 This just in from Jim Korkis. (Do not forget to pick up Vault of Walt Volume 2 and The Book of Mouse!)

From Jim Korkis (Do not forget to pick up Vault of Walt Volume 2 and The Book of Mouse!):

[A witch doctor in the Belgian Congo reportedly used a homemade mask of “Mikimus” to provide a little extra magic.  When actor Doug Fairbanks went on a world tour, he showed Mickey Mouse movies to head-hunters of the South Seas Islands to keep them friendly. 

At the 1939 New York World’s Fair, A.W. Robertson, Chairman of the Board of Westinghouse, and Grover Whalen, President of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, placed a Mickey Mouse wristwatch into a sealed time capsule not to be opened for five thousand years (the year 6939) and buried fifty feet deep.  Also included were a kewpie doll, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Gillette safety razor, a dollar in change, copies of “Life” magazine and more.

Excerpts from Mickey Mouse cartoons appeared in movies from other studios. A short clip from Mickey Mouse’s “Ye Olden Days” (1933) is seen at the beginning of the Fox Films, “My Lips Betray” (1933). Republic Pictures Corporation film “Michael O'Halloran” (1937) features an excerpt from “Puppy Love” (1933).  In Paramount’s “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941) is an excerpt from “Playful Pluto” (1934).

When a United States commemorative stamp was released in 1968, it featured the smiling face of Walt Disney but not Mickey Mouse.  Postal regulations at that time prohibited the placing of a Disney copyright notice on its stamps.  However, other countries around the world did not have similar restrictions so Mickey first appeared on a ninety lira stamp from the tiny republic of San Marino in 1970 with an appropriate copyright notice.

The October 7, 1932 “San Antonio Light” reported that one of Mickey Mouse’s birthday parties (celebrated that year on October first) was held at the prestigious Coconut Grove nightclub housed in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, with "Walt Disney cutting Mickey's birthday cake."]

In celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 85th birthday coming up next Monday (November 18), our good friend Disney Historian Jim Korkis, a long time fan of Mickey Mouse, went deep into his personal archives and  will be supplying some “mouse-sized” anecdotes over the next few days (Do not forget to pick up Vault of Walt Volume 2 and The Book of Mouse!):

In 1932, there was a “Mickey Mouse Birthday Party of the Air” celebrated on NBC radio on the night of September 29.  The morning of September 30, George Rector, internationally known restauranteur, went on WJZ and NBC network to announce in honor of Mickey Mouse’s birthday a special (cheese) sandwich that would be featured in all A&P stores.

Mickey's fifth birthday was celebrated on September 30, 1933 with a Hollywood testimonial party where the speakers included Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Will Rogers.
On Mickey’s eighth birthday in 1936, it was released to the press and printed in “The Literary Digest” (October 3, 1936) that 468 million tickets were sold to his cartoons in 1935.

In 1937, on his ninth birthday, The Boy Scouts of America bestowed upon Mickey membership in the Cub Scouts.

In 1953, Capitol Records produced a "record-reader" entitled "Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party" (DBX 3165) to celebrate Mickey's Silver Anniversary of being twenty-five years young.

A "record-reader" was a two-record set accompanied by a storybook and some cue, like the sound of a bell or a horn, to let a child know when to turn the page so that the sounds on the record would match the story in the book (in this case, Mickey Mouse coaxed Donald Duck to give the signal to turn the page). The voice of Mickey Mouse was provided by... Stan Freberg.

Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 13, 1978 in honor of his 50th birthday that year.  It is located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

UDATE: [I'm Bob McLain, the publisher of the book. Jim and I had planned to have it available on Amazon today - but a last-minute snafu (on Amazon's part) has caused a short delay. Please feel free to email me for details and to ensure that you get a link to the book as soon as it's available: bob@themeparkpress.com]


Needless to say this new book by Jim Korkis which will is being released today is a must have. While it does not contain any illustrations, the stories Jim tells are priceless. Here is the complete table of contents:

Part 1:
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE
SONG OF THE SOUTH?

Song of the South: The Beginning

Song of the South: The Screenplay

Song of the South: The Cast

Song of the South: The Live Action

Song of the South: The Animation

Song of the South: The Music

Song of the South: The World Premiere

Song of the South: The Controversy

Song of the South: The Reviews

Song of the South: The Conclusion

Part 2:
MORE SECRETS OF THE
SONG OF THE SOUTH

Song of the South Credit List

Story Summary of the Film

Short Biography of Joel Chandler Harris

Song of the South Dummies

The Brer Characters

Song of the South Actors That Never Were

Disney Uncle Remus Comic Strip

The Disney Uncle Remus Comic Strip That Never Was

The Song of the South Song

The Power of Words

Song of the South Book

That’s What Uncle Remus Said

Splash Mountain

Saturday Night Live Parody

Part 3:
THE OTHER FORBIDDEN STORIES:  SEX, WALT, AND FLUBBED FILMS

Whatever Happened to Little Black Sunflower?

Disney’s Story of Menstruation

Disney Attacks Venereal Disease

Disneyland Memorial Orgy Poster Story

Jessica Rabbit: Drawn to Be Bad

Mickey Mouse Attempts Suicide

Walt’s Owl Nightmare

The Mickey Rooney Myth

J. Edgar Hoover Watches Walt

The Myth of Walt’s Last Words

Walt Liked Ike

Disney’s Secret Commercial Studio

The Sweatbox: The Documentary Disney Doesn’t Want Seen

Tim Burton’s Real Nightmare at Disney

Disney John Carters That Never Were

Ward Kimball and UFOs

Walt’s Fantasy Failure:  Baum’s Oz

A question from Jim Korkis:

[What colleges teach Disney related courses and what is the descrption of those courses?   I know Western Illinois University does one.  I know Paul used to teach one in Utah.   Is there a listing somewhere?]

MERLIN MONDAY BY JIM KORKIS

“Walt [Disney] never knew that I patterned Merlin the magician (in the animated feature Sword in the Stone) after him when I wrote the script," remembered Disney storyman Bill Peet.

At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, in front of Cinderella Carousel, from 1993-2006, Merlin came to life to perform the “Sword in the Stone Ceremony” several times a day where he sought out a new temporary royal ruler of Fantasyland while good King Arthur took a brief vacation.   An adult was unable to draw the mighty sword from the anvil but up to six times a day, a young child with a little magic from Merlin always accomplished the feat.

Since Merlin is a real person and there is only one Merlin, a Disney entertainment performer is not Merlin but might be a “friend of” Merlin or “assist in the portrayal of” Merlin.  Over the years, Merlin has had many friends at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.

I had just completed performing as a “friend” of Prospector Pat in Frontierland as Summer ended and in September 1995, I found myself “assisting in the portrayal” of Merlin several days a week.   In early 1996, I became part of the Opening Team for the Disney Institute as a salaried animation instructor and bid a sad farewell to my old friend.

In the Fall of 1995, my parents visited me several times and took photos and video of the performance.  I even arranged for my dad (who passed away a few years ago) to actually pull out the sword and receive the special medallion and certificate that he displayed proudly over his desk at home for many years.

I haven’t seen a lot of photos of Merlin so here are a few that mom and dad took, except for the one that has both of them standing next to their son and wondering why they paid all that money for a good college education for him.

[Jim Korkis is still looking for a permanent job or for freelance writting or speaking assignments. If you need a great Disney historian, writter, speaker, etc. Please keep him in mind and more importantly email him at jkorkis@aol.com to hire him ASAP.]

This just in from Jim Korkis:

[Here are two illustrations by Ward Kimball.

The first one that is a thumbnail illustration of the life of Ward Kimball was done by Ward as a gift for me in the Eighties.

The second one is an illustration that Ward did when he attended the Disney Institute at Walt Disney World in April 1996. As an animation instructor, I helped prepare a large sketchbook (about three foot by three foot) and invited visiting lecturers to draw a sketch or sign their name. The book was filled with artwork by Marc and Alice Davis, John Culhane, John Canemaker, a NEW YORKER cartoonist, actors, and many, many others. When Disney laid off half of the animation staff and then shortly after that, other people had access to the animation studios, some things went "missing". Shortly before the physical location closed, someone had taken a razor blade and cut out pages from the book that used to be under lock and key. Fortunately, I took photos of some of the artwork and this is my photo of the page that Kimball did that is now missing. So beware if you ever see it or Marc's self portrait or Alice's sketch of an Eskimo girl from SMALL WORLD for sale among others. I sat there and saw Ward draw it in the backstage green room at the Cinema about a half hour before he was to go on stage and be interviewed. Yes, the light was absolutely terrible (hence, Ward's remark about drawing in "candlelight"), the space was cramped without a table so he balanced it on the sofa, and yes, he hated the result....which I think is pretty wonderful.]

Walt Disney World Marketing needed an authority to promote the "Magic Behind the Steam Trains" tour at the Magic Kingdom so Disney Historian Jim Korkis was brought in to write and narrate a short video about the wonders of trains at the Magic Kingdom. Here is the link.

Jim Korkis will be doing a presentation on the Creation of Walt Disney World with Jim Hill on Wednesday July 13 at the Disneyana Fan Club convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Anaheim followed by an appearance on a Disney author panel.

Disney Historian: Jim Korkis

I have a feeling you will love those two videos.

This just in.

This just in from Jim Korkis: [Just because I wrote about Walt Disney's love of miniatures in The Vault of Walt doesn't mean I stopped researching that topic (or any of the other topics I included in the book). Here is something I just ran across. It is an article from the February 1953 issue of Popular Science magazine and yes, that is Kathryn "Alice in Wonderland" Beaumont sticking her head into the Granny Kincaid Cabin that Walt personally built for his Disneylandia project. The cabin was exhibited at the Festival of California Living at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles from November 28 to December 7, 1952. A press release announced that it represented the beginning of Walt’s new miniature Americana exhibit, entitled “Disneylandia.” I suspect since this article appeared roughly two months later that these photos are publicity shots from that exhibition.]

This just in from Jim Korkis:

[I was looking through some stuff to possibly sell and was distracted by skimming through ANIMATION BLAST #2 by Amid Amidi from Fall 1998. It has two interviews with Warner Brothers animators (Bob Givens and Pete Alvarado) that you might want for Bugs' Buddies. However, from a Disney History standpoint, in the Bob Given interview he admits that in his Warner Brothers cartoon "Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt" that the feisty little Indian giving Bugs Bunny trouble was a caricature of Disney Legend Ward Kimball. In the Pete Alvarado interview is a sample of his artwork for a Sunday Mr. Magoo newspaper strip written by Disney storyman Dick Kinney. In it, Magoo and his nephew go to "MagicLand" that looks a lot like Disneyland and in fact there is a Jungleland Boat Ride where the myopic Magoo ends up talking to audio-animatronic animals (and we know they are mechanical because Alvarado puts a "Click! Click!" sound effect by the rhino, elephant and monkey.)]

VERY IMPORTANT

Disney Historians Michael Lyons and Jim Korkis were both among the hundreds let go from Walt Disney World last week. If any of you know of job possiblities for them, please let me know and I will forward the information.

This just in:

[Disney Historian Jim Korkis has been working on a project about the books that Walt Disney read and might have influenced him. In the process, he got to talk with Diane Disney Miller and with the release of “Mary Poppins” on DVD recently, here is a little insight into Walt’s familiarity with the book:

Walt would find books anywhere. According to publicity for the film, he picked up a copy of “Mary Poppins” on the bedside table of his daughter, Diane, and that got him to thinking about adapting that story. “The Mary Poppins book, now an artifact in our exhibit (at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco), was sent to him by the publisher, who inscribed it "Dear Mr. Disney .. This is not Mickey, but we think you'll like our Mary." It had been in our home years before I could read, and I'm certain that he'd read it before he picked it up from my bedside table,” Diane Disney Miller wrote to Jim.]

This just in for our readers in Florida:

[If you are going to be in Walt Disney World Area around February, you won't want to miss the next World Chapter's Meeting. It will be a night to remember with our special speaker and guests.

Well we have a great meeting planned for you! And look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Let's all try to turn out and show our support for our chapter and our special guest speaker! Our speakers always have lots of funny, informative and great stories to tell us ....

The next World Chapter meeting for Disney EnthusiastsIS Saturday, February 21, 2009!

Our Very Special "Be Our Guest" Speaker will be …

Disney Historian.... Jim Korkis

Internationally recognized Disney Historian Jim Korkis is a published author with several books and hundreds of articles on Disney history to his credit, a former Disney Institute animation instructor, and a contributor to the popular “Walt’s People” book series.

RETURN TO MARCELINE. Disney Historian Jim Korkis talks about Walt Disney's love of Marceline, Missouri and its impact on Disney films and parks. Then he will share very rare home movies of Walt and Roy returning to Marceline in 1956 to dedicate the Walt Disney Park in that city. Another once-in-a-lifetime experience for NFFC members as Jim talks about this sometimes forgotten moment in Disney history.

This promises to a very special night as we always have a few surprises planned as well!

LOCATION: QUALITY INN AND SUITES
8700 S Orange Blossom Trl
Orlando, FL 32809-7912
(4 miles east of I-4)

DIRECTIONS: Florida Turnpike Exit 254, N on Hwy. 17/92/441 (Orange Blossom Trail), 1/3 mile on left; or I-4 E Exit 72 (Beachline Exp./528 E). Take Exit 4, make right on ramp, then left onto Orange Blossom Trail (Hwy. 17/92/441), 1/2 mile on left.

Click on this link for MapQuest Location

Special World Chapter Room Rates: Contact David Schiller; Director of Sales at: 407-996-1872 or his email address at: ds@qualityinnandsuitesorlando.com

Doors open at 6:00 PM, Meeting starts PROMPTLY at 6:45 PM

Admission: $1.00 for current NFFC Members, $5 Prospective Members.

For more information, call our Club Phone Line: 407-ASK ARLO (407-275-2756)Or Contact us at: worldchapter@magicalmountain.netAlso visit the Magical Mountain.net for the official World Chapter Web Site and Forum at: http://www.magicalmountain.net/worldchapter/worldchapter.asp]