Geek-End Update, Saturday, July 31, 2010

• Geekdad at Wired interviews the creators of Phineas and Ferb.
• DisneyShawn...coconuts in Tomorrowland!
• Melissa at Makin' Memories shares the second course of her Great Movie Ride Dining experience.
• Parkeology...they had me at hello: The Ugly Duckling and The Richard Simmons Dining Plan.
• Have you been keeping up with Michael Crawford's fantastic Herb Ryman series at Progress City, USA?
• SamLand shares Part Four of the RCID Plan and Day 3 of the Disneyland 55 Celebration at the Walt Disney Family Museum.
• Jack Spence tours Tom Sawyer's Island for us!
• Donnie at I'm a Blogger takes us for a visit to Walt Disney's Elementary school.
• John Frost at The Disney Blog announces his new project!
• The Walt Disney Family Museum announces their acquisition of The E-Ticket Magazine.
  
• Jamie at Only WDWorld looks at Rosie at the Disney Hollywood Studios.
• AJ at the Disney Food Blog enjoys the Blue Bayou at Disneyland.

Hot Off the Presses!

Didier Ghez from The Disney History Blog just sent me a review copy of Volume 9 of his monumental Walt's People series. I have previously reviewed Volume 1, Volume 2 and Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality.

The Walt's People series is truly indispensable for the Disney enthusiast.

Walt's People - Volume 9: Talking Disney with the Artists Who Knew Him, edited by Didier Ghez.

Interviews:
Foreword: John Culhane
Dave Smith: Thurston Harper
Ray Pointer: Berny Wolf
John Canemaker: Fanny Rabin about Art Babbitt
John Culhane: Art Babbitt
Tom Sito: Bill Melendez
Mark Langer: Ken O’Connor
John Canemaker: Thor Putman
John Culhane: Art Scott
Dave Smith: Ken Anderson
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Ken Anderson
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Les Clark
Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz: Jack Cutting
Robin Allan: Jack Cutting
Robin Allan: Bob Jones
Robin Allan: Joe and Jennie Grant
Floyd Norman: Three Disney Story Guys (Pete Young, Fred Lucky and Vance Gerry)
Jim Korkis: Margaret Kerry
Paul F. Anderson: Jack Ferges
Paul F. Anderson: Fred Joerger
Jim Korkis: The Secret Walt Disney Commercials
Michael Mallory: Paul Carlson
Didier Ghez: Paul Carlson
Floyd Norman: Just Finish that Darned Thing!
Didier Ghez: Victor Haboush
Julie Svendsen: Walt Peregoy
Floyd Norman: Disney’s “B” Movie
Alberto Becattini: Frank McSavage
Klaus Strzyz: Jack Bradbury + Mary Jim Carp
Klaus Strzyz: Bob Foster
Alberto Becattini: Bob Foster
Didier Ghez: Julie Svendsen
Göran Broling: Correspondence with Ollie Johnston
Clay Kaytis: Burny Mattinson
Didier Ghez: Tom Sito

As a caveat, Didier only publishes a limited number of each title--due to initial publishing costs. They go out of print fairly quickly.






You can also buy the Kindle version:

A Merry Crew of Ragtag Fuzzie-Wuzzies

The music, magic and creative talents of Michael Jackson. George Lucas, Francis Coppola and the Walt Disney Company are combined in Captain EO, the 17-minute 3-D motion picture space adventure that is being shown at only two locations in the entire universe-at the Magic Eye Theater in Disneyland and at the Journey Into Imagination Theater in Epcot Center. 

Involving a three­-dîmensional process that breaks new ground with technology developed by Eastman Kodak and Walt Disney lmagineering, the space fantasy stars Michael Jackson complete with original songs written, produced and sung by him. The film was produced by George Lucas who made film history with Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Academy Award­winner Francis Coppola of Godfather fame directed Captain E.O. 

During the filmed space journey, Captia EO (Michael Jackson) and his merry crew of ragtag fuzzie-wuzzies and robots with dual personalities crash land on a colorless inhospitable planet where they are confronted by the hideous Black Queen (Anjelica Huston) and her force of ruthless henchmen. 

The colorful new Disney-created characters making up EO’s crew include: Hooter, the dwarf green elephant who sneezes wild musical notes through his flute-like trunk; Fuzzball, the orange-haired space monkey with butterfly wings; the Geex, a golf-encased tow-faced personality with two left feet, one right foot and two shaggy heads; Major Domo whose mirrored silver costume becomes a complete set of drums, traps and string bass played by Fuzzball; Minor Domo with his sparkling purple torso that turns into an electronic synthesizer played by Hooter.

Using the power of music, dance and light to fill the planet with all the shades of the rainbow, the EO crew overcomes the evil witch by turning the white land into a magical world of color and happiness. 

The super-realism of the 3-D, 70mm process makes it seem that Michael Jackson dances right out of the screen and into the theater. Spaceships hover over the audience while lasers shoot past their heads in state­ of-the-art staging.

Captain EO is a world of fantasy, an irresistible musical adventure that is certain to dazzle your senses and have you cheering the film’s every twist and turn.
--Disneyana Collector, page 2 (Fall 1996. Volume 5, Number 2)

George Lucas, Angelica Huston, Francis Coppola, Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, Space Hostess Minnie

The Legend of the Three EPCOT Center books...

A few weeks ago, AmyBethCombs posted the following image on twitter:

I noticed that she had two of the three Walt Disney's EPCOT Center books by Richard Beard. It has long been an integral part of my Disney library and it is a title that every Disney enthusiast should own.

When I mentioned that she had two of the three, she questioned me about how to tell the differences between them.

There are three different version of the book:

• A 1982 pre-opening title-239 pages (Walt Disney's Epcot Center),
  
• A 1982 post-opening title-239 pages;
• A 1985 shorter version-127 pages (Walt Disney's EPCOT Center: Creating the new world of tomorrow).

The 1982 editions are similar except for some of the photos. The pre-opening version often has photographs of models instead of photographs of the pavilions. There will also be some differences in the interior shots. Scott Otis (fellow librarian and Disney book fiend) provided the following two shots for me from his personal collection, as I have three copies of the pre-opening version.

In this instance, you can see that the pre-opening version is on top. It has a picture of the model of the Living With the Land boat ride and another photograph of castmembers and Imagineers on the not-quite-finished attraction. The post-opening has a shot of the pavilion during a balloon release and shows guests on the finished ride.

There is not a discernible difference if you are hunting the 1982 books online. I would suggest contacting the seller to see if they will verify which edition they are selling.

Either way, the 1982 edition is a must have title for every Disney fan!

An older shot of Scott's Disney library. Thanks for the help, Scott!

Geek End Update, Saturday, July 24, 2010

• Shane at Parkeology ruminates on peanut butter in the Magic Kingdom. Not to be outdone, but Teevtee pitches a massive tent.
• Michael Crawford continues his celebration of Herb Ryman.
• Ryan Wilson from the Main Street Gazette posts a photo if the First Family.
• DisneyShawn shares something new!
• SamLand continues his look at the Reedy Creek Improvement District comprehensive land plan. He also details his attendance at the Disneyland 55 Celebration at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Check out Part Two of the Disneyland Celebration.
• Melissa at Makin' Memories recounts her Great Movie Ride Dining Experience.
• Jeff from Wedway Radio tells us about a time he was a bad boy.
• Jeff Kober at MousePlanet looks at Disney University and the Workplace.
• Didier Ghez at the Disney History blog gives us a sneak peek at the forthcoming Volume 10 of the amazing Walt's People series.

Book Update and a Blu-ray

A new shipment of books arrived yesterday. Kurtti's latest masterpiece on Disneyland is truly stunning! I can't wait to finish it.

Disneyland Through the Decades: A Photographic Celebration by Jeff Kurtti

The Art of Toy Story 3 by Charles Solomon

My review copy of James and the Giant Peach arrived today. I can't wait to watch it on Blu-ray!

James and the Giant Peach (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]

Five Cheesy Pieces

During my last visit to Disneyland, I spent close to an hour wandering around Mickey's House in Toontown. The details were amazing! 


Fans of Imaginerding are used to the many book updates that I do, especially the new Disney-related titles. In this case, the Imagineers have added some special titles to Mickey's home library. We have seen books in many of their attractions and restaurants over the years and sometimes they are real titles and sometimes they are riffs on literary classic --with a dash of cheesy humor.

It is obvious from Mickey's shelves, that he is an avid reader.

Five Cheesy Pieces

Ben Fur

Little Mouse on the Prairie

Of Men and Mice

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Mouse

See You Next Squeak

Happy Poems

A Tree Grows in Toontown

Color My Mouse by Ginni Barr-Ruscio

Mouse of Cards

Pluto's Better Bones in Gardens

A Trip to the Toon by H. Cheese Wells

Gadgets 'N' Gizmos by J. Shull

2001: A Mouse Odyssey

The Great Goofby

Cheese and Peace

Mice Station Zebra

Random Mouse Dictionary Edited by A. Verity

Moby Duck

The Toon Almanac 1954

Toons Along the Mohawk

The Whole Mouse Catalogue

Minniean's Rainbow

Waiting For Pluto

Mouse of Wax

Directions in Tooning

The Information Cheese Almanac

Oh No, Chrono! by E. Kicken

Great Stories, Amazing Facts

The Mouse That Roared, A Novel by C. Bothi

The Great Mouse Detective

Mousetrap: Friend or Foe: 101 Ways Around a Mousetrap, A Guide by J. Crouch

Book Update

• The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom

• Who Was Walt Disney? (Who Was...?)
  

One Million Balloons Can't Be Wrong! (Or Can They?)

One Million Balloons Rise To The Occasion

The Anaheim sky came alive with a flurry of rainbows on Thursday afternoon, December 5, when one million balloons were released on Katella Avenue adjacent to Disneyland. The event was "Skyfest," the city of Anaheim's celebration honoring the 84th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth and commemorating Disneyland's 30th year. The balloon release also placed Anaheim in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest such event in the world. 

To achieve that record, more than 3,000 volunteers filled the million balloons with 550,000 cubic feet of helium. At the same time that the city of Anaheim’s balloons were filling the sky, Disneyland released 90,000 balloons from the Park. Schools and fire stations in the area participated by releasing lesser numbers of balloons. 

Collectors and souvenir hunters were not forgotten by the city of Anaheim. The "Skyfest" logo, which features a group of muItì­colored balloons and Mickey Mouse riding in a hot air balloon, has been reproduced on T­shirts, visors, pin-back buttons and flashlights. A special commemorative lithograph has also been produced for the event from an original painting by Disney artist Charles Boyer. Disneyana Collector, Winter 1985-86

Somehow, I don't think that Disney's Environmentality Program would approve of this today...

Geek-End Update, Saturday, July 17, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DISNEYLAND!

• Foxxfur at Passport2Dreams takes us back to the early 1970s for gander at some early lodging choices.
• Designing Disney looks at the inspirations for the Market House Deli in Disneyland Paris.
• Michael Sporn takes a look at a new Mary Blair book from Japan.
• Michael Crawford at Progress City USA continues his amazing celebration of Herb Ryman.
• SamLand presents Part Two of his RCID Comprehensive Plan.
• ZannaLand offers up her thoughts on her favorite restroom in all of Walt Disney World.
  
• Dider Ghez at the Disney History blog interviews the amazing John Canemaker about his new book.
• Dick Tracy, the Musical over at Disney on Parole.
• Robert at a Filmic Light gives us a peak at the Art of the Disney Princesses.
• Amid at Cartoon Brew interviews John Canemaker about his new book.

Walking Around the World...

During the Disney Decade, a program was offered that you could purchase a hexagonal brick paver to be placed around the Seven Seas Lagoon, creating a walking path starting at the Magic Kingdom and closely following the monorail route. Obviously, there are some inlets that would need to be crossed as well as the holding area for the Electrical Water Pageant. Not to mention some roads, a waterway and a lot of marshland.

The plan never panned out and Disney stopped halfway to the Grand Floridian. There are bricks at the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Contemporary and at the Polynesian.

Depending what the letter is on the brick, it could be in one of five places:
W: West of the Magic Kingdom towards the Grand Floridian
E: East of the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary
C: The Contemporary
H: The Transportation and Ticket Center
P: The Polynesian

I don't have a confirmation if they sold them by the Grand Floridian, yet. Nothing that I've read points to a finished path, though. Anyone have a paver at the Grand Floridian?

Two different types of pavers were sold until the year 2000: a traditional brick paver ($85 - $125) and larger gray ones ($250). No one really knows why Disney stopped selling them, but the most prevalent thought is that it was competing with the Leave a Legacy program at Epcot. Occasionally, more bricks have been sold (some in 2006), but they are for special occasion or sold only on a first-come, first-served basis outside of the Magic Kingdom.

As a surprise, my wife bought this one for us after our 1994 trip. The date on our certificate is from July 31, 1996. It was even signed by Roy E. Disney...or a reasonable facsimile! We have only visited our paver once--during our 1997 trip.

The next time you step off the monorail at the Magic Kingdom or find yourself walking from the TTC to the Polynesian, make sure you take a look down. Occasionally, you can find pavers for celebrities. Whoopi Goldberg has one not too far away from ours!

It's all about the details!

More Lost Potties!

Michael Crawford at Progress City, USA first brought the Lost Potties of Denmark to our attention back in December 2009. Disney nerds all over the world sighed a collective gasp when Michael pushed publish. As most readers of Imaginerding know, I do have an obsession with Disney restrooms.

One of my favorites video-relatede sites is Martin's Videos Online:

Non commercial, fan made videos available here and at Mousebits.com for free, as always. Keeping the magic of past and present Disney park attractions alive.

He puts together some amazing video tributes filled with rare images and historical information. When he debuted the Norway Tribute video, I was thrilled to see footage of the Lost Potties!




Norway at Epcot - Ultimate Tribute HD from Martins Videos on Vimeo.

Travel back to 1982 to see the origins of the parks 11th pavilion as it almost became the 10th as Denmark. Follow the development of the Scandinavian Showcase and see how it changed to Norway, its design and construction and finally the 1988 dedication. Next, take a full tour in HD of the pavilion, ride Maelstrom with multi angle video and a clean audio mix, then settle down for The Spirit of Norway shot in HD on a tripod with a clean ALD audio mix.

Geeta v. Dumbo!

Dumbo, who presides over "Dumbo's Circus" on the Disney Channel proved he has a heart as big as his ears when he presented a check for $500 to the Los Angeles Zoo's Wildlife Saver program, which helps protect endangered species from extinction. Geeta, a 28-year old resident Asian elephant at the Zoo, was on hand to greet Dumbo.

From the Winter 1985-86 Disneyana Collector.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, July 10, 2010

• Robert from A Filmic Light takes a gander at some fascinating (and retired) collectibles!
• Michael Crawford of Progress City, USA continues his look at Herb Ryman.
• SamLand posts Part One of his series on the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
• Matterhorn1959 at Stuff From the Park says goodbye to Betty Kimball.
• AJ sees our Harryhausen tribute and raises it!
• Jack Spense takes us on a tour of Port Orleans: French Quarter: Part One and Part Two.
• Hedy at Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids looks at one of my family's favorite collectibles!
• Meet the World introduces us to the caves and waterfalls of the Disneyland Hotel. He also shares information about the Koi pond.
• Parkeology tangles with a Sea Serpent...
• Princess Fee at DF'82 shares a photo of a wonderful seat!
• Donnie at I'm A Blogger... drives onto Lyric Avenue for some photographs!
• Kevin Kidney. WOW!
• Michael Barrier takes us a step closer to the origins of Mickey Mouse.
• Wanna work at Disney? Jeff Kober at MousePlanet offers some thoughts.
• Ryan at the Main Street Gazette takes a gander at an unfinished project.

Victory Through Hair Power!

Walt had been given galleys to Victory Through Air Power; a soon to be book, by Major Alexander de Seversky, and became convinced of its strategy, "only air power can carry an offensive war to the enemy, and only the offensive can win the war."

On weekend that was seeing, worst August rainfall in fifty-three years, Herbert was paired with Ken Anderson, to prepare storyboards. Given subject, one would have thought, the added outside thunder, would have aided, imagination.

But, no flash was to be had, from any clash.

They dulled at a movie, that seemed mostly of maps, with animated arrows. To keep themselves amused, they clipped pictures from girlie magazines, and tacked them all along the wall; such new, improved project, now proclaimed, in bold banner:

Victory Through Hair Power.

Walt did not find the humor. 

--Warp and Weft by John Stanley Donaldson

A small excerpt from Donaldson's memoir/lyrical biography of Herbert Ryman. It is not the first time that I laughed out loud while reading this distinct work. It is quite the eye-opener! The book can be purchased directly from John's website.

Marketed this Spring as a New Attraction, Not a New Movie

From the Winter 1985-86 Disneyana Collector:

This billboard at Disneyland publicizes Captain EO, the 3-D musical narrative film that will play exclusively at the new Space Stage Theater at Disneyland and at the Magic Eye Theater at Epcot Center. The 12-minute space fantasy features original songs written, produced and sung by superstar Michael Jackson and alien creatures produced by WED "lmagìneers." Captain EO will be marketed this spring as a new attraction, not a new movie. George Lucas is the executive producer of Captain EO; Francis Ford Coppola is the director.

Book (and CD) Update

• Disneylander July 1960 (A Club 55 reprint from 1977)

I love that the book still has the original Disneyland price sticker on the inside front cover!
 Notice that the tax was already included on the sticker to make checkout quicker and easier.

• Walt Disney's Disneyland1964 Edition

• Richard Sherman's Forgotten Dreams Audio CD
  

Solid Air Records sent a review copy of Richard Sherman's latest audio project. You can read my review of their earlier Sherman Brothers release.

I'm A Yankee Noodle Dandy!

Let's celebrate the Fourth of July with some good old-fashioned treats from Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Cookbook: Favorite Recipes from Mickey and His Friends!

First up is Jiminy Cricket's Yankee Noodle Dandy, a mixture of chicken noodle soup and hot dogs. Talk about an all-American fare.

Rounding up our meal are two desserts that help carry the Red, White and Blue theme of the day. Jiminy Cricket returns with a Cherry Vanilla Freeze that is sure to cool you off on a hot July day.

Scrooge McDuck shares his award-winning recipe (how he really got all of that gold) for Blueberry Crunch. Of course, he is giving a discount to all of his nephews!

Geek-End Update (Festooned Edition), Saturday, July 3, 2010

• Foxxfur from Passport to Dreams makes a case for the Florida Pirates.
• Princess Fee at DF'82 shares some fantastic artwork from Toad Hall at Disneyland Paris: Part One and Part Two.
• Dider Ghez at Disney History looks at Dave Smith and his retirement from the Archives.
• Michael Barrier salutes Dave Smith on his retirement from the Disney Archives.
• Kevin Kidney looks at concept art for the Casa De Fritos.
• Michael Crawford at Progress City, USA takes a look at some fantastic artwork by former Imagineer Tim Delaney. Michael is also celebrating the life of Herb Ryman.
• SamLand takes a stroll through Future World and Urban Design.
• Jack Spence takes a seriously in depth look at Splash Mountain. Check out Part two!
• Robert at A Filmic Light explains how they trained animators back in the day.
• Meet the World shares some information on the WESTCOT Preview Center at the Disneyland Hotel.
• John Frost at The Disney Blog posts a concept drawing for a Blue Sky roller coaster. 
• Ryan from the Main Street Gazette invites us to wander (and wonder) a bit. 

The Progress City, USA boys have released their THIRD Progcast. Make sure you check it out!