This has become a tradition. Here are the Disney history books I consider as the best ones of the year. The competition was really tough in 2011, which is excellent news.

1. Timothy Susanin, Walt before Mickey: Disney's Early Years, 1919-1928 published by University Press of Mississippi; 2011.

2. David Gerstein (editor), Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: "Race to Death Valley" and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: "Trapped on Treasure Island" published by Fantagraphics Books; 2011.

3. Don Ballard, Disneyland Hotel 1954-1959: The Little Motel in the Middle of the Orange Grove published by Don Ballard; 2011.

4. William Kallay, The Making of Tron: How Tron Changed Visual Effects and Disney Forever published by William Kalley; 2011.

5. Don Peri, Working with Disney: Interviews with Animators, Producers, and Artists published by University Press of Mississippi; 2011.

6. Lella Smith (editor), Walt Disney Animation Studios The Archive Series: Layout & Background published by Disney Editions; 2011.

I stumbled recently upon this document designed by the Disney Studio in 1939 on the request of the Missouri Conservation Commision and I thought you would enjoy seeing it.

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Recently I bought an issue of Collier's from 1934 with a short story with "Illustrations by Walt Disney Studio". I immediately recognized one of the illustrations, but it was a bit different from the sketch I remembered having seen earlier.

The sketch for this drawing is found in Canemaker's "Before the Animation Begins" It's rather grotesque, and I have thought that this was a drawing that had never been used. See enclosures. The dog sketch by Hurter has a somewhat "Mickey Mouse" looking animal as the lower jaw, and this probably didn't make it through the sensorship. Since Hurter was an inspirational sketch artist, other artists made the finished ones, here probably by someone in the Publicity Department.

I will guess that the other drawings also were based on sketches by Hurter, as all of them really do look Hurteresque.

There's reason to believe that Collier's also published another story where Hurter's sketches were the inspiration for the illustrations.]

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[This illustrated chessboard that was sold at an auction some days ago.

It was sold at Bonham's - here's the description:

Lot No: 4400
A chessboard illustrated by various artists from the Disney Studios
1940s, paper adhered to wood, each black square on the chessboard is a reproduction of a drawing done by a Disney artist, representing their artistic style, a key on the reverse identifies each of the artist which include Kay Nielson, Bob Majors, Sola Franco, Gin Herwig, Jack Miller, Gustave Tenngren (sic), Dick Huemer, Martin Provensen, Fini Rudiger, Bill McKee, Dunn Roman, Shirley Soderstrom, Ward Kimball, Berk Anthony, Art Babbitt, Campbell Grant, Albert Hurter, Dick Kelsey, Bill Martin, Martin Provenser, Ford Moore, A.H., Bill Wallert, T. Hee, Jim Bodrero, Milt Kahl, Ernie Nordil, John Walbridge, Tony Rivera and Phil Dyke.

On the reverse is typed In 1940, while working in the story department of the Walt Disney Studio, Campbell Grant wheedled sundry fellow inmates into doing a picture chess board. The lower right picture of a weather vane by Phil Dyke is the key to the other names.18 x 18 in
Sold for US$375 inclusive of Buyer's Premium]

This just in from Ed Mazzilli:

[I was on your blog this morning and the post triggered a thought. Here are a couple of pictures. One of Walt, two of the Disney Day in Levittown schedule and one of the crowds waiting for Walt with a lot of signage. This was the dedication of the Walt Disney Elementary school in Levittown, Pa.

I came across these pictures while doing some research for a blog post I put up about a year ago about schools named after Walt.

I had found a lot of other schools using his name, but the one in Pa. was the only school Walt ever made the trip for the dedication. Note the artwork on the walls in the background. Artists from the Studio had come out to add the finishing touches. The pictures can be found on the PA Sate Museum Web site.

Do not miss today:

- The Disneyland Paris Book "From Sketch to Reality" is Back, and in the Limited Collector's Edition! by Alain Littaye

Jim Korkis recently stumbled upon this music sheet, supposedly illustrated by Floyd Gottfredson.

Merry Xmas to all of you!

Do not miss today:

- Bible Storyland - Some Clips by Todd James Pierce
- Disney History Stocking Stuffers by Jim Korkis
- What's My Crime? by Andreas Deja
- Early Mama Odie by Andreas Deja
- 1935 Mickey Mouse stocking stuffer on Vintage Disneyana Collectibles
- Snow White's premiere - 74 years ago tonight on Vintage Disneyana Collectibles

Help Needed

Would one of you be able to send me a scan of the following document?

[Hamilton, Bruce, "Carl Barks and John Stanley" / transcribed by Milo George. Comics Journal No. 250 (February 2003) p. 159-162. Barks & Stanley are interviewed together by Bruce Hamilton in 1976 during a joint panel at New Con.]

Thanks in advance

This just in from Gunnar Andreassen:

[Babes in Toyland (also called March of the Wooden Soldiers) has previously been mentioned on your blog as a movie with "Disney contents", but I haven't seen a link to it. It's found on Youtube - even the full version. It can also be bought as a DVD or blu-ray. Here's a link to the colorized version, see "Mickey Mouse" and "The Three Little Pigs" from 01.26:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBKgh7LfiT0

The question is: The actor playing "Mickey Mouse" is he a monkey or a kangaroo ?]

This just in from Ralph Eggleston:

[My friend William Kallay put a LOT of effort into the Making of Tron book--and personally interviewed virtually all of the key players. It is, by far, the most informative book on the subject, and a quite intriguing look into Disney Studios in the late '70s-early '80s.]

This just in from Göran Broling:

[As you know I have a lot of Ollie's Christmas cards. I guess I received every one from 1978 until he had to quit making them himself just a couple of years or so before he passed away...

For the Christmas card in 1999 Ollie chose to use a photo of a Pinocchio bronze figurine, and pasted in a drawing of himself instead of Jiminy. His dear wife Marie became the Blue Fairy, always drawn with Mickey Mouse ears(!)

As a bonus Ollie also included a very interesting photo of himself and the sculptor, Disney artist Bruce Lau. The photo is from Ollie's home, and it seems that Ollie together with the sculptor are discussing the final approval look on the model used for making the figurine. As a mather of fact I even recognize what the model is standing on. It is Ollie's cookie box, because I have had cookies from that very same box at the same place with Ollie in 1998. :) Bright memories, I can tell you that!]

Last year, a U.K. group decided to do MouseVent...an audio Advent calendar relating to Disney Christmas with contributions from people like Jim Hill and Jim Korkis. They were so successful that they are doing it again this year. It is on line at www.mousevent.com and each day a new Christmas ornament is highlighted for a four to seven minute selection. You can go back and click on previously highlighted ornaments to hear any that you may have missed. (Jim Korkis will be heard today, December 21.)

I just stumbled upon this newly released book today and will order it extremely soon. Clearly a "must-have" as far as I am concerned.

Jim Korkis saw this posted at Mark Evanier's site www.newsfromme.com and felt that Disney fans might enjoy seeing this Movietone newsreel of musician Spike Jones performing Der Fueher's Face during wartime.

Do not miss today:

- Dorse Lanpher (1935-2011) by Jerry Beck
- The Season of Giving: Walt, Kay, and Disney Gifts by David Lesjak
- OSWALD AD - June 25, 1927 by Mark Sonntag
- 1932 - MICKEY MOUSE TRADE AD by Mark Sonntag
- In Memorium by Mark Sonntag
- More Early Walt by Mark Sonntag

I just discovered this book through the Laughingplace site and thought some of you might want to know that it exists.

Do not miss today:

- Ward Kimball’s 1958 Holiday Card Photo by Amid Amidi
- Remembering Pres Romanillos Through his Artwork by Amid Amidi
- An interview with author Amid Amidi by Jérémie Noyer

Beautiful concept painting created by Walt Peregoy for The Jungle Book and being sold at the moment by Van Eaton galleries.

Do not miss today:

- Disneyland Hotel History: Bonita's Scrapbook (Thanks to Jim Korkis for the link)
- A Carousel of Progress Christmas by Jim Korkis
- Walt Disney, the maverick: A guest essay by Jon Favreau (Thanks to Jim Korkis for the link)
- A Very Merry Musical: Walt Disney’s Babes in Toyland by Jim Fanning