Monday, March 25, 2013
Do not miss today:
- Walt Disney and Riverfront Square - Part 2 by Todd James Pierce
- Walt Disney and Riverfront Square - Part 3 by Todd James Pierce
- The Return of Roger Rabbit by Jim Korkis
- Personal Finance: How Disney gets its 'hi-ho' worker enthusiasm by Claudia Buck (Thanks to Michael Goldberg for the link)
Friday, March 22, 2013
[I thought you might like to have this hight resolution scan of a painting of Walt Disney on the cover of The Commentator, October, 1938, which I bought recently.
In my opinion this is one of the nicest magazine covers with him that was made in his lifetime.
I started thinking: How many magazine covers with WD are there ? Certainly not a large number, as most of the magazines with "Disney articles" had something else on the cover. I can't remember having seen a movie magazine with WD on the cover, those were reserved for the stars of the silver screen.
Even if he was depicted in a lot of magazines in the 1930s, his features were probably not well known among ordinary people.
A shift took place in the 1950s when he became a TV celebrity.
Enclosed you'll also find my attempt of making a list of magazines with WD on the cover. I'm sure that I don't know all that were made. Do you know or have magazine covers with WD that have escaped my attention ?
Pictorial Weekly, England, April 5, 1930, Photo of WD with cardboard figure of Mickey
The Tatler, England, 1931 or 1932, Photo of WD with cardboard figure of Mickey
VU, France, 1931, Photo of WD with cardboard figure of Mickey
Der Ansporn, Germany, April 4, 1932, Photo of Walt and six Mickeys
Popular-Films, Spain, August 14, 1933, Photo of Walt and Mickey
La Settima Arte, Italy, 1935, WD at drawing table with M.M. and S.S. figures
(La Perla Della Productione)
Voila, France, June 25, 1935, Photo of Walt and Lillian - Paris background
Time Magazine, USA, Dec. 27, 1937, Color photo of WD with dwarf figurines
The Family Circle, USA, June 24, 1938, No. 25, vol. 12, Photo of WD - two drawings of Donald Duck
The Commentator, USA, October, 1938, No. 3, vol. 4, Painted portrait of WD - small drawing M.M.
Cine-Journal, Portugal, November 21, 1938, Photo of Walt with Mickey and Donald and various Silly Symphony characters
Primer Plano, Spain, 1941, Portrait of Walt (launched the infamous rumor about Walt being born in Spain, thanks to Franco's propaganda machine)
The New York Times Book Review, USA, June 7, 1942, Photo of Walt
Saturday Review of Literature, USA, June 6, 1942, Photo of WD
La Presse, Canada, 1944, Photo of WD
Picture Post, England, March 23, 1946, Photo portrait of WD
Aqui Esta!, Argentina, two issues from April and August 1946, Photo of Walt in Argentina
Showmens' Trade Review, USA, January 17, 1948, No. 3, Vol. 48, Photo of WD "drawing Steamboat Willie"
Guideposts, USA, June 1949, Photo of WD and beginning of his article "There's Always a Solution"
Quick (News Weekly), USA, April 24, 1950, Photo of WD - drawing Cinderella
Epoca, Italy, Dec. 9, 1950, Photo of WD, drawing of Donald Duck
TV Forecast, USA, Dec. 23, 1950, Photo of WD and drawings/photos of his Characters
Electric Trains, USA, Dec, 1951, Photo of WD on Lilly Belle
The Miniature Locomotive, USA, May-June 1952, Photo of WD and passengers on miniature train
Leoplan, Argentine, July 15, 1953, Photo of WD and Goofy doll
TV Guide, USA, October 1954, Photo of WD - and characters art
Time Magazine, USA, Dec. 27, 1954, No. 26, Vol LXIV, Painting of WD by Boris Chaliapin
TV-Radio Life, USA, March 1955, Photo of WD (+ Donald and Mickey)
Newsweek, USA, April 18, 1955, Photo of WD in front of blowups of his characters
Look, USA, July 26, 1955, Photo of WD
The Santa Fe Magazine, USA, August, 1955, Photo of WD, Mickey doll and train
Hudson Family Magazine, USA, 1955, No. 3, Vol. 3, Photo of WD
Saturday Evening Post, USA, Nov. 17, 1956, Painting of WD and his char. On train, by Tenggren
Disneyland, USA, July 1955, Photo of WD and painting of Disneyland
Disneyland, USA, July 1956, Photo of WD and Mickey Mouse
Disneylander, USA, July 1957, Photo of WD
TV Guide, USA, Dec. 14-20, 1957, Photo of WD (+ characters in color)
Disneylander, USA, May, 1958, Photo of WD on Lilly Belle
Walt Disney's Magazine, USA, February 1959, Photo of WD and ?
Wisdom, USA, 1959, No. 32, Photo of WD
Picturegoer, England, March 21, 1959, Janes Munro and small photo of WD and his characters
Continental, Mexico, Nov. 22, 1961, Drawing of WD and his characters
Newsweek, USA, Dec. 31, 1962, Photo of WD, Mickey Mouse and the Castle
TV Magazine, USA, Feb. 24, 1963, Drawing of WD, not caricature
Pictorial Magazine, USA Sept. 1, 1963, Caricature of WD
TV Week, Australia, Feb. 20, 1965, Photo of WD and dolls
TV Times, Australia, March 25, 1964, Photo of WD and drawings of his characters
Disney News, USA, Winter 1965/1966, Photo of WD in Disneyland with characters]
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
[Have you seen this scene from "Die vom Rummelplatz" on Youtube (Anny Ondra as Mickey Mouse in 1930) ?
Are Myklebust just made me aware of a Swedish poster version for this film, and this led me to finding this on Youtube. This was new to me - and a very funny performance.]
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
- JOURNAL OF A DISNEY HISTORIAN~Welcome to Francis, Walt's Apartment, & More by Paul F. Anderson
- Walt Disney and Riverfront Square - Part 1 by Todd James Pierce (outstanding series - not to be missed!)
- 93-Year-Old Cel Painter June Patterson Talks About the Disney Classics by Amid Amidi
Monday, March 18, 2013
- The Secrets of Disney's Visual Effects: The Schultheis Notebooks by John Canemaker
- Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Color Sundays: "Robin Hood Rides Again" edited by David Gerstein
- Walt Disney’s Forgotten “Carrot” Characters by Jerry Beck
- Animation Anecdotes #101 by Jim Korkis
Friday, March 15, 2013
[PEN & INK ILLUSTRATION - Caricature by George Wachsteter (1911-2004) of Walt Disney, for the Sept 1, 1963 season premiere of NBC-TV's 'Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'. This durable family TV staple had its beginnings over ABC in 1954 as 'Disneyland' & later as 'Walt Disney Presents' in 1958. The series moved to NBC in 1961 and was retitled 'Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color' to capitalize on the dominance of color programs on NBC. The series under various names has endured as a fixture on television ever since. On 14" x 22" illustration board, for the cover of the Sept 1, 1963 New York Journal-American TView Magazine, original copies are included. 14" x 10" image. Edge toned and soiled, image is fine.]
Thanks to Gunnar Andreassen for the heads up.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
[I hope you will excuse a little "electioneering" here, but my good friend Terri Hardin has written a memoir about her life and has entered it in a writing contest. Terri is a former Imagineer (she sculpted the dragon that is found in the dungeon under Paris' castle) and puppeteer (Dinosaurs and Captain EO, among others). Her memoir is called "Little Zebra," and it is entry #74 at this link. You only vote once, and the contest ends on March 15.]
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
[ I just got back from the Walt Disney Family Museum; I was fortunate to go right after the photo ban was lifted, so mine are probably some of the first images to be released, other than those from their publicity department. I am doing a 4-part series on my blog this week. The first one from today details the Snow White Exhibit.]
- INTERVIEWS WITH DISNEY "PETER PAN" ... by Todd Garbarini
Monday, March 11, 2013
This seen recently on Facebook: "Music in Walt’s Animated Features: From ‘Snow White’ to ‘The Jungle Book’" is a forthcoming book by James Bohn.
I had a chance to interview the author. Here are his answers.
Didier Ghez: What is the exact focus of your book?
James Bohn: The focus is how music functions in the early Disney animated features ('Snow White' to 'The Jungle Book'), as well as the role that music plays in the success of these films.
DG: When and why did you decide to write it?
JB: Two and a half years ago I started teaching a course at Bridgewater State University entitled "The Walt Disney Company and Music." When I proposed the course, I knew that there was really no suitable book on the topic, so I have been writing chapters for the class to read, and slowly compiling it into a book. In fact, one of the main reasons I decided to teach the class was that I wanted to write the book.
DG: What type of research did you conduct before writting it?
JB: My background is primarily in Music Theory. The bulk of my research involves watching the movies and shorts, and analyzing how the music functions in the film. Some of this analysis involves legitimate music theory, and basic music elements like following leitmotifs in each film. Some if it involves analyzing the lyrics, and considering how they work to relate the narrative of the movie and how they work to establish character. It also concerns how the music and visual imagery work together to create an effective whole.
Unfortunately thus far I have not been able to do much research utilizing primary materials at library archives, as Disney would not give me permission to access any such materials until I procured a publisher, and I have only just done so. I am awaiting word from Disney whether I will be given permission to access scores being held at several different University archives.
I also have not been able to do much primary research regarding interviews, as the individuals involved in making these films are nearly all gone. I have been able to contact a few descendants of Disney composers, and gleaned some information from them.
DG: What were some of the most astounishing things your learned while writting it?
JB: Astonishing? Not sure. One of the things I've enjoyed doing the most is researching early Mickey Mouse novelty songs, and early Disney recordings on 78 rpm records.
DG: Could you open our appetite by mentioning a few things that serious Disney historians will learn while reading your book?
JB: Perhaps the best chapter in the book is the one on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The major point of the chapter is that Snow White is essentially an animated operetta. Furthermore, the techniques used to establish this are used and re-used in numerous Disney animated films.
DG: What will be the chapters of the book?
JB: Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies
[focuses on Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse Novelty Songs, The Skeleton Dance, Flowers and Trees, and The Three Little Pigs]
2 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
3 Pinocchio and Fantasia
[note: my coverage of Fantasia mainly concerns Fantasound and future plans that Walt had for the film]
4 Dumbo and Bambi
5 Cinderella
6 Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan
7 Disney Animated Features from 1955-1961
8 The Sword in the Stone and The Jungle Book
DG: How long is the book and does it contain any illustrations?
JB: Currently, the book is about 53,000 words. It will include illustrations. I am not sure how many. I believe we may only have a budget for around ten images. I am currently in the process for applying for copyright clearance for the images. I am proposing many more than ten. I am waiting to see what Disney gives me clearance to use, and considering alternate ways to increase the budget for images in the book.
- The Colorful Life of Disney Legend Mel Shaw by Rick Wright (Thanks to Michael Goldeberg for the link)
- Tony Baxter and Walt Disney by Jim Korkis
- Carlene Thie: Keeping her grandfather's legacy alive through his classic Disney photos by Chuck Schmidt
- Carlene Thie has made it her business to preserve precious Disney memories by Chuck Schmidt
- What’s Up, Ward Kimball? by Amid Amidi
- Mary Louise Whitham Eastman on Michael Spron's blog
- Treasures of Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas: Part One by Jim Korkis
- Experimental Yzma by Andreas Deja
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