Geek-End Update, Saturday, January 31, 2009

• Honor Hunter at Blue Sky Disney posts a Buzz on the Oriental Land Company.
• Drew at insane playhouse offers a book review of Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson.
• Ryan at The Main St. Gazette has a post about the construction of Epcot...with some great photos! He also posts some fantastic vintage WDW photos!
• Michael Barrier discusses the 1941 animation strike, current legislation and what might have happened.
• Dean at My Disney Blog posts about Cliff Edwards, Disney voice actor.
• Tom at My Disney Collection shares a 1965 Disneyland book that looks great.
• Spokker at Red Sky Disney posts about Lasseter , Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
• Kevin Kidney shares some artwork from Disney On Parade.
• Big Brian at Mousin' It Up answers some postcard questions.
• Daveland posts a wonderful tribute to the People Mover.
• Jack Spence has some fantastic photos of the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Paris entrance.
• 5Kingdoms takes us on a trip to four Haunted mansions.
• Richard at Photos From the Parks looks at the Emporium on Main St., USA.
• Major Pepperidge at Gorilla's Don't Blog posts Posterama 4. I love the attraction posters!
• Outside the Berm finally posts some Walt Disney World-related photos! Yay!

Way Back Pete's Dragon

We head Way Back again, to check out another float in the Main Street Electrical Parade. This time it is a full-frontal version of Elliot from Pete's Dragon.

Why do I get the feeling that he is trying to hypnotize me?

For those of you following along at home, Doc Terminus has released the initial teams for Survivor: Passamaquoddy! Make sure you head over and give a shout-out for your favorite team!

Geek-End Update, Saturday, January 24, 2009

• Jack Spence shares some pictures from Disneyland Paris' PanoraMagique. What makes this really interesting is that is is supposed to come to Downtown Disney.
• Didier at The Disney History blog shares an interview he did with Don Hahn about some new and future books (and a movie).
• Foxxfur at Passport2Dreams presents a glossary of terms on the elements of themed design.
• Wade Sampson at MousePlanet has an update from Bob Gurr and an interview with the youngest Disneyland employee!
• Stephen at ASIFA-Hollywood Animation posts an article on T.S Sullivant, considered to be one of the fathers of modern cartooning.
• Cheribibi at 5 Kingdoms takes a look at The Canopy over World Bazaar at Tokyo Disneyland.
• Progress City has posted a look at concept artwork and information for a "Lost Horizons".

This edition of the Geek-End Update is number 53.

I just wanted to thank all of the amazing bloggers that have spent so much time over the past year writing such incredible posts. With an average of 10 posts per update, that is well over 530 blog posts we have featured. Lots of geeky goodness!

Communicore Carpeting

Communicore Carpeting
Originally uploaded by Jeff B.

Jeff B offers up this shot of the Commmunicore Logo carpeting that was located in the Character Connection area of Epcot.

You can see other Jeff B photos here.

Don't forget to stop by Jeff's Flickr site and leave him some Disney Geek love!

Way Back Japan

Let's take a stroll past the Japan Pavilion in this shot from 1985. Notice the lack of growth on the trees and the amazing fashions! I wish I had a time machine to go back and get pictures of all of the changes to the signage and the interiors.

You can view all of the Way Back posts here.

Update!

Two more items arrived last week!

• Disney's California Adventure Detective: An Independent Guide to Exploring the Trivia, Secrets and Magic of the Park Dedicated to Californiaby Kendra Trahan
  

• Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Geek-End Update, January 17 2008

• Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park posts a picture of a Kodak Picture Spot from Disneyland. I love the Picture Spots!
• Gareth at You Learn Something New Every Day posts a picture of the Hyperion Bungalow on the Disney Studios lot.
• FoxxFur at Passport2Dreams has a stunning photo essay on the Polynesian Village.
• MyDisneyCollection shares an image of a beautiful postcard.
• Ryan at Main Street Gazette posts a great find he scared up!
• Princess Fee at DF'82 posts some pictures of Frontierland at Disneyland Paris. She also takes us on a ride of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Did you know you actually go under the river to get there?
• Daveland takes us inside Snow White's Scary Adventures.

Book Review Posted!

Walt's People - Volume 2: Talking Disney with the Artists who Knew Him, edited by Didier Ghez. 375 p., 2006.

Didier Ghez is an author, blogger and prolific Disney researcher. Didier runs the Disney History blog and Disney Books Network site. He is known for his exhaustive interviews that have been featured in various magazines. In addition to editing the Walt's People series, he is the co-author of the amazing book Disneyland Paris - From Sketch to Reality.

I reviewed Volume 1 here.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. The sheer volume and scope of the interviews will provide fodder for Disney enthusiasts for many years to come. It is easy to look at a book of interviews and pass on it, but this is a title worth owning. You may not read it cover-to-cover (although, I did) but you will find yourself looking for interviews with specific artists--for the observations and anecdotes.

...

Jump over to 2719 Hyperion to see the whole review.

Don't forget that Jeff Pepper and I have added all of our media reviews to 2619 Hyperion, the official Library of 2719. You can use the labels in the left column to search by author, subject and title.

Way Back Skyway

We find ourselves making the journey over the Grand Prix raceway in this shot from 1985. In the distance, you can see the Tomorrowland Terrace (with the geo-dome on top) and the Enchanted Grove (behind it).

You can see the other pictures in the Way Back series here.

New Post at 2719 Hyperion.

I posted a revised and expanded an article from Imaginerding at 2719 Hyperion.

Head on over and check it out!

Walt and the Kansas City Public Library.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, January 10, 2009

• Bob Cowan shares some images and information about Disney animator Harry Holt.
• Michael Sporn posts some screen captures from Snow White. Great historical images!
• Foxxfur at Passport2Dreams lets us take another look at her collection. Some great ephemera this time.
• Amid at Cartoon Brew shares a list of upcoming titles related to...animation!
• Didier at Disney History reviews a very interesting new title. He shares an amazing aerial shot of the Franklin Hill/Los Feliz area from 1932. Lots of Disney history.
• Wade Sampson at Mouseplanet takes us on a fascinating look at why Pleasure Island celebrated New Year's Eve every night.
• 5 Kingdoms takes a look at the estimated capacity for the Magic Kingdom-style parks.
• Daveland has some amazing pictures of the Flying Saucers and the show building for Rocket to the Moon.
• Daveland does a guest spot at My Disney Blog on the Disneyland Skyway. Great photos!

Polynesia Sunrise

Polynesia Sunrise
Originally uploaded by Jeff B.

Jeff B has posted another stellar image on his Flickr collection. This time, it is a shot from the pier of the Polynesian Resort.

Click on the image to load a larger version; it is worth it!

Make sure to stop by Jeff's picture page on Flickr and leave him some Disney Geek love.

Other Jeff B images have been featured here.

Way Back King Leonidas

Originally, when I posted this shot, I assumed that it was Prince John (from the 1973 animated film Robin Hood). Eagle-eye visitor Snipe posted a comment that it was King Leonidas (from Bedknobs and Broomsticks). After doing some more searching, it was clear that King Leonidas did appear in the Calliope float as part of the Dumbo's Circus section of the original run of the Main Street Electrical Parade. This shot is from our 1985 Way Back series.

Introducing 2619 Hyperion!

I would like to welcome everyone to 2619 Hyperion, the address for the library branch of 2719 Hyperion.

The Los Angeles Public Library operated the Hyperion Station Branch from 1927 to 1952 at 2619 Hyperion--one block from the Walt Disney Studios.

All of the book reviews featured at Imaginerding are now part of 2619. All future reviews will be archived there as well.

When you visit 2619, you will need to use the Card Catalog on the left side of the screen. Major topics include: author, subject and title. With one click, you can see all of the books on animation or theme parks that we have reviewed.

Welcome! This library is always open for business.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, January 3, 2009

• Richard at Photos From the Parks presents a photo mystery. Check out the comments for the answer and more! He also posts a tribute to Yale Gracey.
• Foxxfur from Passport2Dreams shares a small part of her Disney stuff...and some history to boot!
• Daveland has a wonderful series he has started on the early years of Tomorrowland: the Monasanto Hall of Chemistry, the Dutch Boy Paint Gallery, the Dairy Bar, the Crane Bathroom of Tomorrow, The Kaiser Hall of Aluminum, and the World Beneath Us by Richland Oil.
• Ryan at the Main Street Gazette posts some details from MuppetVision. He also has a special guest reporter who waxes about MouseFest.
• Didier at the Disney History blog shares information about several upcoming titles.
• Kevin Kidney posts pictures of the models of the 1977 Disneyland Christmas parade.
• David at My Magical Collection shares an image of his 1972 GAF Talking ViewMaster reels. Wow.
• Honor at Blue Sky Disney posts some movie-related art posters.
• Cheribibi at 5 Kingdoms shares some pictures of the Main Street, USA Arcades in Disneyland Paris.

Special Mentions:

• My good friend Cory (the Raven) from Voyages Extraordinaire has posted about the past year at VEx and all of his favorite posts. Make sure to send him some Geek Love!
• Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park has just hit 1000 posts! Congratulations!

That Way to Splash Mountain

That Way to Splash Mountain
Originally uploaded by Jeff B.

Another great shot from Jeff B's Flickr collection.

Click through the photo to get a larger view. Make sure to notice the details on the sign markers.

You can see the other photos featured at Imaginerding from Jeff B here.

Don't forget to stop by his photo collection and leave Jeff some Geek Love.