The Walt Disney Animation Studios ARL on Facebook

If you are a Facebooker you'll want to join a very special group on Facebook—The Walt Disney Animation Studios Animation Research Library. The mission of the ARL is described on the page as "Entrusted to conserve and protect the artistic heritage of Walt Disney Animation Studios, and to ensure the ability of the Walt Disney Company to utilize the collection, 'in-house,' as a creative resource." Even if you are not "in-house" you can join this group and find out about some of the wonderful projects the treasure trove that is the ARL is involved in, such as books, DVDs, the Mary Blair exhibit in Tokyo and the Princess and the Frog exhibit in New Orleans. You will even come across some of the expert, helpful and friendly professionals I work with on my projects, such as Sketches, the Official Magazine of the Walt Disney Collectors Society. Be sure and join the ARL on Facebook.

That Rocketeer Costume

Back here I mentioned the unseen-on-the-book-cover-in-question Rocketeer costume, so here's a chance to see the actual costume as lovingly preserved in the Walt Disney Archives. On the D23 website, Disney archivist Rob Klein has written about the unique costume (complete with rocket back) worn by Bill Campbell in the terrific 1991 Disney film (the original poster is pictured at left), and tells you how you can see some great photographs of this amazing movie artifact (only for the next month or so, so don't delay). While you're there, check out the rest of the D23 website—it's loaded with fun and fascinating content, it's updated every day, and it's free and open to everyone.

Happy Fourth with Johnny Tremain

There's no better way to celebrate Independence Day here in Tulgey Wood than to celebrate Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain (1957). To do just that, let's showcase one of two comic books created to tie-in with the Disney screen adaption of Esther Forbes' superbly researched and written historical novel (still one of the bestselling books for young readers). The comic story itself was drawn by the masterful Alex Toth (he also drew other Disney comic-book adaptations, including his now-legendary Zorro stories) but the striking cover is attributed to illustrator Taylor Oughton, who created other action-adventure covers for Dell-published comics in the 1950s. The comic-book adaptations covers hedged their bets a bit, emphasizing the real Revolutionary War-era people and events over Johnny and his fictional friends. As seen in this cover from Four Color # 822, published in August 1957, the emphasis is all on silversmith Paul Revere, with Johnny (a silversmith apprentice) given a mere "with" billing and a cameo portrait. Incidently, last year, Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain was screened at Boston's Old South Meeting House on July 3. Let's hope that historic city makes a July 4th screening an annual event, for where better to see the movie about Johnny Tremain (Remember His Name) of Old Boston Town than in Boston itself.

Horse Laughs On The Mouse Factory

Back here I promised more on Disney's TV series The Mouse Factory so here's a publicity still from the thirteenth episode of the show starring guest-host Jo Anne Worley. Underrated and underused over the years, the wacky Ms. Worley made a splash as an original cast member on NBC's Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Having guest hosts (or Mickey's Friends, as they were billed) such as Jo Anne was only appropriate as The Mouse Factory was Disney's own sort-of version of Laugh-In. As you can see, this episode focused on horses in Disney animation. I love that zany costumed horse, a character called Cyril, who was supposedly the original horse of a different color. I don't know if Cyril was named in honor of (or was perhaps even supposed to be) Cyril Proudbottom, Mr. Toad's horse pal, pictured here in the lower right-hand image from the "Wind in the Willows" segment of Walt Disney's The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949).

The Rocka-Who?

As you know from reading "This Day in Disney History" on the D23 website, today, June 21, is the anniversary of the release of Disney's The Rocketeer in 1991. As was the norm in earlier eras, Golden Press released a number of tie-in publications for this modern-era live-action film, and this Pilot's Logbook was one of the best and most interesting. Also interesting is the exclusion of any photo of the Rocketeer in his Rocketeer costume. This was probably deliberate to offer variety to the other publications that showed nothing but the Rocketeer costume. This particular book gives us a good look at Bill Campbell, who so perfectly portrayed pilot Cliff Secord, aka the Rocketeer, in or out of the famed Rocketeer helmet and rocket pack.

Johnny Tremain of Old Boston Town

As you know from the excellent daily feature "This Day in Disney History" (written by Scott Wolf) on the D23 website (remember, this terrific continuously-updated website is free), on this date in 1957, Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain was released. Originally intended for the Disneyland TV series, the filmic adaption of Esther Forbes' top-selling account of a young silversmith apprentice being caught up with the Sons of Liberty and their fight for freedom in colonial Boston turned out so well Walt released it in movie theaters instead. Directed by Robert Stevenson (his first Disney effort), this fine film was adapted for the Sunday comics page in one of my favorite comics, Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales. Written by Frank Reilly and drawn by comic-art great Jesse Marsh, here's the June 9, 1957 installment (click on the image above for a larger view) to celebrate Johnny Tremain's anniversary day. (And in case you're wondering, as far as we know, young Master Tremain is no relation to Cinderella's stepmother—she spelled her name with an "e.")

Pre-Historic Flintstones, Historic Hanna-Barbera

From June 1964 (when TV Guide ran actual, in-depth articles), here's a TV Guide story covering Hanna-Barbera, complete with a specially created cover starring TV favorite Fred Flintstone, then at the height of his prime-time popularity. Published just before Jonny Quest (still entitled Jonny Quest File 037 as this article was printed) premiered in the fall, the article includes some interesting tidbits, including the number of Hanna-Barbera comic books published per month (55,000,000) and that film director George Sidney owned 22 percent of Hanna-Barbera Productions. There's also a quote from Walt Disney, who diplomatically says, in essence, they did the best they could with the money they spent. Read on and enjoy this historic article about the creators of the pre-historic Flintstones.