Very much looking forward to the book by James Bohn, Music in Disney's Animated Features: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Jungle Book, which will be released in June next year.

I will be in "survival" mode over the next few weeks in order not to lose my mind. This blog will be updated again around November 22.

This upcoming book has just been announced by David Bossert on his web site. Can't wait!

[OSWALD THE LUCKY RABBIT

The Search For The Lost Cartoons

By David A. Bossert

SUMMER 2017

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Cartoons is an in-depth look at the origins of the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio first major animation success in 1927, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The latest book from author David Bossert will explore the importance of this character from the rejection of the first Oswald short, Poor Papa, to the well-received second short, Trolley Troubles, to losing the rights to the character all together. This book will cover the definitive history of all twenty-six Walt Disney directed Oswald cartoons.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is a seminal part of the early Walt Disney Company history. Without the Disney Bros. losing the rights to Oswald, there may very well never have been a Mickey Mouse created. This new book will track the history of Oswald using rare, never before seen, surviving documentation; letters between Walt Disney and his brother Roy O.; early photos from the Kingswell Road and Hyperion Studio facilities; the film shorts; the repatriation of Oswald to Disney from Universal in 2005; and of course the Sportscaster Al Michaels connection.

This compelling, profusely illustrated volume is targeted to Disney animation aficionados and fans alike with an introduction by author and Disney historian J.B. Kaufman and archival editing by David Gerstein. It is the definitive Oswald the Lucky Rabbit reference for libraries, film schools, and anyone with an interest in the silent film era of early Hollywood and the animation film industry. This newest book by Bossert will coincide with the 90th Anniversary of Oswald and releases in the summer of 2017.]

This just in about upcoming books from Chronicle Books by David Peake:

[THE ART OF CARS 3 Preface by John Lasseter Foreword by Brian Fee Introduction by Bill Cone and Jay Shuster Pixar Animation Studios presents The Art of Cars 3, a behind-the-scenes look at the concept art from the latest film in the popular Cars franchise. Fascinating storyboards, full-color pastels, digital paintings, and more offer a unique perspective into the beloved world of Lightning McQueen and his friends, new and old. With a preface by John Lasseter, foreword by director Brian Fee and an introduction by production designers Bill Cone and Jay Shuster, The Art of Cars 3 is a scenic road trip through a masterfully animated film. Hardcover, $40.00, 28 x 23 cm, 160 pages, plus gatefold, full-color illustrations throughout, 6000 words, Spring 2017

THE ART OF COCO Foreword by John Lasseter Introduction by Lee Unkrich Pixar Animation Studio’s latest film is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. Filled with captivating storyboards, character sketches, and gorgeous full-color digital paintings, The Art of Coco draws back the curtain to provide a fascinating look at the development art that inspired Pixar’s most mesmerizing world to date. Hardcover, $40.00, 28cm x 23cm, 176 pages, full-color illustrations throughout, 6,000 words

THE COLOR OF PIXAR Introduction by Tia Kratter This eye-catching new hardcover collects more than 300 images from the Pixar Animation Studio archive, arranged in a stunning spectrum of color. Using gorgeous final frames from iconic feature films that focus on hidden moments and unexpected color palettes within beloved films, this colorful cross section of work from more than 30 years at Pixar is elegant in its simplicity and bold in its vision. Eye-catching and in a gift-friendly package, this book will be a centerpiece for any Pixar fan. Hardcover, $29.95, 20 x 15 cm, 352 pages, full-color images throughout, 500 words, Fall 2017]

The catalog of the upcoming Van Eaton Galleries auction is now online.

Really looking forward to finally ready this book.

I have now received this book and I LOVE it. This is an extremely important reference volume. Finally a book full of "real" Walt quotes and not invented ones. (Of course some of the quotes come from articles that Walt only signed - but as long as he allowed for his name to be featured at the end of an article, even if an article was not actually written by him the words became his.) Finally a book in which Jim lists his sources carefully.

This is a "must have".

Do not miss this wonderful homage to Mitsuo Natsume: The Forgotten Imagineer!

The new Hake's auction is now online. The most spectacular piece it features is this beautiful Kay Nielsen which I had never seen before.

The blog will be updated again next Monday.

I can't stand the cover of this book but apparently, from what I hear, its content is excellent. According to the publisher:

[On the Road with Walt

British university professor and Disney scholar Lee Brooks chronicles the road trip he took with his family from Anaheim to Orlando, and all "Walt" points in between, in search of how America molded Walt Disney, and how Walt gave voice to our values, our dreams, and a big slice of our pop culture.

The best way to understand Walt Disney is to follow in his footsteps—literally. And the best way to understand his "mythical America" is to look at it through the perspective of someone foreign to it. On a road trip! In the passenger seat of a rented blue Ford Fusion, Lee Brooks attempts to unravel the skein of history, fantasy, and pop culture that for a few decades took the guise of Walt Disney.

Watch for the exit signs to:

- Anaheim, California, where the trip begins, and where the spirit of Walt Disney is seen reflected in the windows along Main Street, USA

- Kansas City, Missouri, where the McConahay Building, home to Walt Disney's first studio, Laugh-O-Gram, still stands, in derelict grandeur

- Marceline, Missouri, where the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, in the stillness of an old railroad depot, opens for a few hours each day to reveal its preserved relics from Walt's past

- Orlando, Florida, where the Magic Kingdom that Walt inspired but didn't live to visit still evokes much of what's mythical about America, and about Walt himself

ARE WE THERE YET?]

The catalog of Van Eaton's upcoming Disneyland-related auction is now available for pre-order.

This just in from Disney historian Jake Friedman:

[I'm looking for a volunteer in LA who would make use of the public library and send me scans from within 4 months of Daily Variety.  Or someone who has online access to their archives. [The volunteer would get] research credit in my book [about Art Babbitt]. This would not take more than part of a day.]

Could somebody help? If so, please email me (didier.ghez@gmail.com) or Jake (jakefriedmantoons@gmail.com)

One more interesting book just released by Theme Park Press. According to the publisher:

[Jay Stein Builds a Better Mousetrap

After years of sitting fat and happy atop the theme park totem pole, Mickey Mouse discovered a big cat in his backyard named Jay Stein. Against stiff odds, corporate politics, and fierce opposition from Michael Eisner's Disney, Jay Stein founded Universal Studios Florida. This is how he did it.

Starting in the mailroom of MCA (now NBCUniversal), where his duties included delivering messages to stars like Alfred Hitchcock and Ronald Reagan, Jay Stein soon found himself in charge of the Universal Studio Tour, reporting directly to MCA chairman Lew Wasserman. He became a keen observer of what Walt Disney had accomplished in Disneyland—and how one day he might do even better.

That day came when Wasserman gave Jay the go-ahead to build a Universal theme park in Orlando, Florida. With help from Steven Spielberg, Jay got to work, in Jay style: no excuses, no retreats, no failures. Despite Disney's relentless attempts to sabotage the project, and ruinous infighting among members of his own team, Jay did not give up.

When the new theme park opened in 1990, it was full of Jay's patented "JayBangs"—rides and attractions that stunned, shocked, and surprised guests, dousing them with water, blasting them with air, heat, or cold, and giving them what the Disney parks of that time lacked: fear and visceral delight.

It was beating Michael Eisner at his own game. It was catching Mickey in a trap he couldn't aw-shucks his way out of. It was Jay Stein's triumph. But the man who went from delivering messages to building theme parks wasn't done yet...]

This just in from Theme Park Press:

WALT'S WORDS by JIM KORKIS

[Did Walt Really Say That?

Now you'll know for sure, in this comprehensive collection of Walt Disney's wisdom, as delivered through interviews, articles, speeches, TV appearances, and more. Each of the over 800 quotes in this book is authoritatively sourced as well. You'll be surprised by what Walt said—and what he didn't say!

Disney historian Jim Korkis has devoted a lifetime of research into assembling the most complete, most accurate, most useful compilation of Walt Disney's quotes ever put into print. For fans, it's a deep dive into the wisdom of Walt; for authors and researchers, it's an invaluable reference, as Korkis also provides the source of each quote—something you won't find anywhere else.

Walt Disney had a lot to say, about many different topics, including America, animation and films, art and music, books, business, Disneyland, education, fear and failure, Mickey Mouse, money and work, religion, storytelling, television, and women. It's all here, uncensored and unedited.

The best way to learn about Walt Disney is to read what he said, not what others have said about him. Walt's Words is the closest we'll ever get to an autobiography of Walt Disney.]

Theme Park Press is releasing a great amount of new books this week. I will be mentioning some of them on the blog over the next few days, starting with this one. John G. West's book about Disney's live-action features is a classic and one that any serious Disney historian should already have on their bookshelves. This reprint includes a large amount of never-seen-before photographs, which makes it even more exciting. The publisher wrote:

[Beyond Animation

In this definitive guide to Walt Disney's live-action output, Dr. John G. West explores an often overlooked but important chapter in Disney cinematic history: the live-action films and television shows released by the Disney studio during Walt's lifetime.

From blockbuster movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mary Poppins, and Treasure Island, to such lesser-known efforts as Savage Sam and Monkeys, Go Home!, West describes the production of each film in detail, with backstage stories and complete cast and crew information.

The small screen output of the Disney studio is given similar treatment: over 70 episodes of Zorro, Texas John Slaughter, Davy Crockett, and other TV series are described and catalogued, along with in-depth analyses of the shows themselves.

Plus, the book features over 80 photos, many of them never seen before, including candid shots of Walt Disney in his office.

In addition to his detailed coverage of Disney's live-action films and TV shows, West devotes several chapters to a fast-moving but comprehensive history of the Disney studio's live-action productions, from the producers, directors, writers, composers, and set directors involved, to the meanings behind Walt's live-action films and the values he sought to impart on American culture.]

Projects update

What am I working on these days? Here is a quick summary:

1. They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Late Golden Age

The third volume in the They Drew As They Pleased book series focuses on the artists from the Story Research and Character Model Departments: Eduardo Sola Franco, Johnny Walbridge, Jack Miller, Campbell Grant, James Bodrero, and Martin Provensen.

The text is now finalized and all the illustrations approved by Disney. I will see the first layouts in November. Exciting! This will be a huge volume (248 pages long vs. the usual 208).

2. Walt's People - Volume 19

The manuscript has been finalized and sent to the contributors for comments. If all goes well it will be released before the end of the year.

3. The Wilfred Jackson correspondence and diaries

As you know, I helped historian Ross Care put together a book which, among its exciting content, includes Wilfred Jackson's diaries, and letters from the set of Song of the South. The book will be released in December this year.

4. The Snow White interviews - Part 1

I also had the pleasure of editing the interviews with artists who worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by David Johnson. Those will be released in two separate volumes, the first one of which should be released this year.

5. They Drew As They Pleased - Volume 4

The volume will focus on the 1950s and 1960s. It will include artwork by (and chapters about) Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Tom Oreb, John Dunn, and Walt Peregoy. I have written the first drafts of the chapters about Lee Blair and Walt Peregoy and will be hard at work researching at the Disney Archives and Animation Research Library next month.

6. Walt's People - Volume 20

I am starting to work on the different chapters for that volume.

7. The autobiography of Leo Salkin

After 6 years of intense research, the lost autobiography of storyman Leo Salkin has been located by yours truly. It is a fascinating document and I am working with Leo's granddaughter to get it released next year in book form.

8. The Ward Kimball diaries

This is a long term project, but I am still working on it along with a few other Disney historians.

I may pick up this book when it comes out.

Quick heads up from Garry Apgar about this new French book which might interest a few of you (I think I will pass).

Thanks to my good friend and fellow Disney historian, Mindy Johnson, I have recently discovered the only known photo of Bela Lugosi posing as Chernabog to guide the animators of Fantasia (especially Bill Tytla). If all goes well that photo will be released in the third volume of They Drew As They Pleased.

The filming session with Bela Lugosi took place at the Disney Studio on November 12, 1939. Now, thanks to Aaron Goldberg, author of The Disney Story, here is a clipping from the February 1940 issue of the magazine Modern Screen about that session.

Not to be missed:

- The Story of Walt Disney’s Final Official Visit to Disneyland by Dave Mason.

Interesting Goofy sketch by Thelma Witmer discovered on this website. I would love to find out more about it.

Thanks to Garry Apgar I ended up picking up a copy of this book last week and after having glanced at its content, I have to admit that I was totally wrong. This is a good book and the author has really tried to include newspaper and magazine articles that have not been seen anywhere else. There is even an article about Roy Williams and a short interview with Mary Blair that I had never seen before. Nothing earth-shattering but a good read in all cases.

This came as a total surprise to me last week: The first volume of my They Drew As They Pleased book series has just been released in Japanese!

Despite the fact that it contains extremely little text (which was my only disappointment),
Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai is an excellent book which does beautifully what it intends to do, i.e. showcase the maps that were created for the Disney parks around the world by the likes of Sam McKim and Paul Hartley. The layout is great and it is full of little surprises which made me want to study each page carefully.

If you love the Disney parks and the Disney park maps, this is without a doubt a "must have".

This is not a book that I will pick up but some of you might be interested in the fact that it exists, hence this post.

I just picked up on ebay a copy of the British magazine Illustrated from July 30, 1949, which contains this marvelous  article about the Disneys' visit to the United Kingdom from around June 15 to August 15, 1949. I have a feeling that many of you will enjoy it. You can click on each of the pages to enlarge them.

One more book released for Disney comics enthusiasts who are also fluent in Italian.

This just in through CartoonBrew and Andreas Deja:

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

This just in from Theme Park Press:

MORE SECRET STORIES OF WALT DISNEY WORLD BY JIM KORKIS

[Oh, You Didn't Know...

Just when you think you *do* know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World, here comes Jim Korkis with a new book full of stuff you won't easily find anywhere else. From the theme parks and resorts to "beyond the berm", this is the Disney that Disney forgot.

Coming on the heels of the bestselling original "Secret Stories", Korkis has declared no secret off limits in this new volume. Delving into his treasure trove of lore compiled over the decades from sources both inside and outside the Disney company, and from official Disney documentation long since lost or destroyed, Korkis mainlines the most potent blend of mouse tales this side of Main Street, USA, including:

-  Haunted mahjongg, mermaid statues, handprints, and rock stars: a VIP tour through the back roads of Hollywood Studios

-  The hidden narrative of Liberty Square, and why Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe is much more than meets the eye

- The Native American mythology behind the totem poles at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge

- Where to find vestiges of Roger Rabbit Toontown at Hollywood Studios, and why Roger himself isn't there

- Plus, Florida theme parks that never were, Disney's aborted airport, Snow White's secret house, the Mickey Mouse tax, and dozens more

NO DECODER RING REQUIRED!]

If you live in Miami: I will be autographing They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years at Books & Books on Wednesday this week at 8PM.

Dave Lee has posted a review of the book on YouTube.

And Matt Hunrichs has posted a review of Volume 1 on Scrubbles.net.

The blog will be updated again on September 19.

If you have received and liked They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years, please remember to post a review on Amazon! Thanks in advance for your support.

If you already own The Art of Mickey Mouse, which was released many years ago, you know exactly what to expect with the upcoming The Art of Minnie Mouse. This is not a book for historians, but it is a beautifully produced volume, which features some fun re-inventions of Minnie. I particularly enjoyed the pieces by artist Jeffrey Thomas (especially Minnie as Disney villainesses) and those by Kim Raymond (Minnie inspired by Edgar Degas) and Leo Oliveto.

Clearly not a "must have" but a great gift for Minnie Mouse enthusiasts.

With the upcoming release of the updated edition of the seminal book Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series, I took time last week to interview one of its authors, my good friend, Disney historian J.B. Kaufman.

Didier Ghez: Could you tell us about the genesis of this new book?

J.B. Kaufman: The first edition of the book was published in 2006, but there were distribution problems and it didn't reach a very wide audience. Russell and I always thought it would be nice to give the book a second chance -- and, at the same time, rework the text and upgrade the illustrations. We got our chance when the Disney company launched a fresh initiative involving the Silly Symphonies. Those live Silly Symphony concert presentations, with full orchestra, are exciting, and the big "Silly Symphony Collection" LP set, released last year by Walt Disney Records and Fairfax Classics, is even more exciting. Tying in with those projects, Disney Editions offered us an opportunity to produce a new edition of our book. Of course we jumped at the chance.

DG: What were the major changes, additions and corrections?

JBK: Mostly details. You may remember that the main body of the book is a Silly Symphony filmography. In most film books the filmography is a little appendix tacked on at the back, but we wanted to make this one as exhaustive and thorough as possible, documenting every bit of information we could find on production and exhibition of each film. That means lots and lots of detail, and as you know, an author can fuss endlessly over details. We've done a good deal more research since 2006, and were able to add new information, and fine-tune the information that was already there. In addition, Russell rewrote his part of the essay. And the design has been reworked by Tamara Khalaf, who did a tremendous job with it.

DG: Any surprises we should expect if we already own the first version of the book?

JBK: For me, it's tremendously exciting to see all the new information in the filmography. Animation credits on the early Symphonies, in particular, were very difficult to research the first time around. We've learned a lot since then, and we also had a lot of new assistance from the wonderful folks at the Walt Disney Archives and the Animation Research Library. Now we've been able to document those early titles much more thoroughly, and that information -- along with loads of other new material throughout the book -- can be preserved for posterity. Also, I mentioned that Russell rewrote his part of the essay. He's one of the most brilliant film historians in the world, and his part of the essay already featured some invaluable observations and insights, but now he's added even more. And Tamara's work with the design is brilliant in its own right. I always loved the original design by our friends at La Cineteca del Friuli, and now Tamara has enhanced it even further. And she's added a good deal of original production art and other graphic rarities. We were really fortunate to work with her.

DG: What are you most excited about when it comes to this new version of the book?

JBK: All of the above! I was always proud of the first edition, and now we've been able to polish it still further and "plus" it from beginning to end. Needless to say, I'm excited about that! I also love the fact that Disney Editions is getting behind it. Along with the chance to work with the great folks there, especially editors Wendy Lefkon and Laura Hopper, that gives us the advantage of Disney Editions' distribution network. I'm confident that the book will have a chance to reach a wider audience this time!

 

Needless to say, this model sheet created by Johnny Walbridge for the planned remake of Mickey's Man Friday will not be included in They Drew As They Pleased - Volume 3, which will focus on the art and careers of Eduardo Sola Franco, Johnny Walbridge, Jack Miller, Campbell Grant, James Bodrero and Martin Provensen.

As we celebrate the release of They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years, I also spent time this week finalizing the text for next year's volume (which will be huge) and working on the caption file. All done. I am exhausted. But it is definitely worth it!

From what I hear this long-awaited book will be released very soon.

Quite a few reviews were released yesterday about The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years, but I particularly enjoyed this one which beautifully shows the interior of the book and really "gets" what I am trying to achieve.

I am juggling too many balls at the same time and therefore make mistakes from time to time. John Canemaker noticed one of them today.

[The photo of Benchley, Walt, and a young Ken Anderson are sitting with an Asian woman  who, I believe, is mis-identified as Gyo Fujikawa.

According to the original press book of The Reluctant Dragon, she is "Bo Ling" who appears in the "art school" segment of the feature.  Though she did not receive an on screen credit  in Reluctant, a "Bo Ling" is credited in the 1940 feature Calling Philo Vance.]

 

 John is totally correct, of course!

I am glad to announce that They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years was officially released this morning.

NPR Marketplace conducted a short interview with me about the book yesterday. Some of you might enjoy it.

I love this candid behind the scenes shot from The Reluctant Dragon. Robert Benchley and Walt Disney on the left, of course and Disney artist Gyo Fujikawa on the right.

Quick reminder: Tuesday next week will mark the official release of They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years, the second volume of the They Drew As They Pleased book series, which contains even more never-see-before artwork than the first volume and which explores areas of Disney history that have never been discussed before. As you can tell, I am particularly proud of this book and I have a feeling that all of you will really enjoy it.

It features 5 fascinating Disney concept artists: Walt Scott, Kay Nielsen, Sylvia Holland, Retta Scott and David Hall and hopefully will soon be considered a "must have" by most of you.

Would any one of you know personally and wellformer Disney-director and talented artist Pixote (Maurice) Hunt? If so, could you please email me at didier.ghez@gmail.com? I need to interview Pixote about his friend Walt Peregoy but I have not managed to get through to him yet.

September 6 will see the release of the long-awaited book The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember. This is the first book written by the director of The Walt Disney Archives, my good friend Becky Cline.

I have been looking forward to this book about the history of the Burbank Studio for a very long time and I am not diappointed. Yes, I would have loved to see even more photos and more text but that is true when I discover any good book about Disney history.

This volume is full of great illustrations that I had never seen before and when it comes to the text Becky made sure to tap into sources that have not been exploited often (like a great early interview with Bill Garity). The book is aimed at a fairly large audience so by its nature it has to cover some ground that was already covered in many books before, but there is a conscious effort to also explore little known facts and events.

This is a "must have" and a book most of us will thoroughly enjoy for years to come.

I wish a similar volume existed about the Hyperion Studio.

I just ordered this new DVD this weekend on the advice of my friend Todd James Pierce and am looking forward to watching it when it arrives.

This just in from Garry Apgar:

[A copy of the bilingual Italian-English edition of Walt in Wonderland by Russell Merritt and J.B. Kaufman once owned by Ollie Johnston was sold during Howard Lowery's most recent auction ().

It was inscribed: "For my good pal, Ollie, Merry Christmas — and a Happy '94! With much affection, and all best wishes — Mark." 

One can't help but wonder who the "Mark" in question is. The names of Mark Mayerson and Mark Sonntag come to mind. Walt in Wonderland (long out of print) was published in 1992. So that rules out Mark Twain or Marcus Aurelius, a man of many parts, who for all we know, may have been a fan of fumetti centuries before they were even invented.]

The Disney Books Network was updated yesterday.

I am about to pre-order this Blu-Ray.

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

Disney Comics - The Whole Story has finally been released in English thanks to Theme Park Press.

Alberto Becattini is THE worldwide Disney-comics expert (along with David Gerstein) and his book is THE definite history of Disney comics around the world. A "must have" which fills a huge Disney history gap.

Dave Lee from Australia conducted a long interview with me this weekend by Skype about They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years and posted it on YouTube.

I found the format really fun and enjoyed the experience tremendously. This will provide you with a view about the making of the book. Enjoy!

Only two weeks until the release of They Drew As They Pleased - The Hidden Art of Disney's Musical Years.

If you want to have a look inside, follow this link.

And I just granted an interview to Mousetalgia about the making of the book which you can listen to by following this other link.