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. 

Don't miss this new website! Some marvelous material in there. And, of course, I can't wait for the book to be released.

As some of you know, I am in the process of researching and writing a monograph titled The Origins of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures (1938 - 1948). 

While doing this, I am exploring a lot of hidden Disney history nooks and crannies, including the research trip to Maine that Disney artist Maurice "Jake" Day and his friend Lester Hall organized in August 1938.

And while researching that trip I discovered the official Jake Day website which sells some of his non-Disney artwork. I have a feeling that some of you may like to know that it exists. 

This website contains some marvelous documents. Thanks to Michael Goldberg for the heads up!

This just in from Michael Goldberg:

[Didier- Don’t know if you were ever a fan of Motion Picture Special effects, but this short video with Albert Whitlock, who had worked at Disney in the '50s and early '60s, has a nice piece about Whitlock’s work on “Ten Who Dared” an early '60s Disney Film about John Wesley Powell - Explorer of the Colorado River.

Anyway, he talks about one matte painting in the film and how Walt did not like it and his solution.

I have heard the story referenced before, but this is from the Horse’s mouth, as the saying goes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb2RHGYhB54

This link takes you to a wonderful website about Matte Painting by a fellow in New Zealand. This entry is all about Disney Films and contains images that Whitlock refers to in his video.]

This is only indirectly linked to Walt Disney, but one of the relatives of animation pioneer E.G. Lutz (whose book Walt used as reference when he was a young man) just launched a fascinating website about Lutz which is well-worth exploring in detail.

This just in through CartoonBrew and Andreas Deja:

15 Rare Color Photos Of Walt Disney And Artists You Probably Haven’t Seen Before

Good news: Michael Barrier is back online and blogging. Do not miss his latest post at this link.

This just in from Ken Kebow:

[Hi Didier -

I hope this finds you well and you are enjoying your summer.

I was hoping you could share this new website (just put on-line today!) with everyone who follows your web site.  It is exclusively about the ward winning documentary "The Whimsical Imagineer" we've produced about Rolly.

Lots is going on with the film (screening this month at WDI, film festival awards, WDFM Screening) so I want to give all of Rolly's fans and Disney fans updates on what is happening with the film.  And we are slowly making progress with Disney to be able to distribute the film to the general public.

Here is the web address: www.rollycrump.com]

This delightful web site is definitely worth a visit.

Heads up from Are Myklebust about some great Disneyland-related documents that can be found at this link.

The web site "A Lost Film" contains some astounding historical material about the first French version of Snow White and much, much more. Truly a fascinating site. (Thanks to Are Myklebust for the heads up.)

Bob McLain, owner of Theme Park Press, has launched a website for his great new publishing company. As you know, Theme Park Press, now publishes Walt's People, and is handling the upcoming Disney's Grand Tour. I love working with Bob and I have a feeling that Theme Park Press will play an important role in upcoming years when it comes to revitalizing Disney History.

If rare vintage Disneyana fascinates you, then you do not want to miss this new site!

Jerry Beck's website, Cartoon Research, is definitely worth checking every day. I have now added it to the permanent links on the right.

I was excited to find out this week that my good friend and fellow Disney historian JB Kaufman had just launched his web site.

This is slightly off-topic, but Adam Abraham, author of the definitive history of UPA has just launched a web site which is well worth the visit.

A few days ago Gunnar Andreassen discovered this amazing page about Pinto Colvig. I know you will all enjoy it.

Today, don't forget to follow the special events scheduled by Paul F. Anderson and Todd Pierce for Walt's birthday on the Disney History Institute.

This just in from Maxime Bogaert:

[As from October 22, 2011, my “Designing Disney Blog” has been re-imagined and transformed into the “Designing Disney Research Center”.

Please note that the web address has been changed too! The all new “Designing Disney” website can now be found at www.designingdisney.com

Learn more about the new “Designing Disney Research Center” concept here.]