Tulgey Wood

A Happy New Year, Toyland Style

2012-01-01T03:43:00.000-08:00

New Year's Day is a time of new beginnings and new calendars—and since we have been celebrating Babes in Toyland this Christmastime, here's the 1962 calendar from the 1961 Christmas card "from Walt Disney and staff." The fun, cartooney art is just right for the highly stylized live-action film, even though you can't use this calendar for 2012. You can read all about the playful film in the article written by me for D23. As for 2012, put on your best smile, set free your imagination, and come with us into a Happy New Year.

Under The Christmas Tree

2011-12-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

What did Mickey and Donald and Pluto find under the Christmas tree for Christmas 1961? Toys, toy soldiers to be exact, marching their way straight out of Babes in Toyland, Walt Disney's big holiday release for that year. This art adorned the front cover of the annual Disney Christmas card for that year, and since we are celebrating all things Babes in Toyland here at Tulgey Wood, I thought I'd include it here in honor of any treat large or small we might have found under our own trees Christmas. For another Yuletide-type treat, don't forget to read my Babes in Toyland article on the free D23 website.

How Beautiful Upon The Mountains Are The Feet Of Him Who Brings Glad Tidings

2011-12-25T13:44:00.000-08:00

I have already posted some of the art from the deluxe program for Ben-Hur (1959), Painted by Ben Stahl, the distinguished artist who both wrote and illustrated Blackbeard's Ghost, this glowing artistic interpretation (click on the image for a larger view) of the Nativity adorned the Ben-Hur program, and now here it is to celebrate this Christmas Day. As you enjoy this art, consider the words of the prophet Isaiah: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, "Your God is King!" Merry Christmas.

Have You Seen A Child The Color Of Wheat...The Color Of Dawn?

2011-12-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

"Amahl and the Night Visitors" has already been featured here in Tulgey Wood but Christmas calls out for another look at this wondrous TV special. In December 1953, one year after the opera (the first ever to be commissioned especially for television) was presented as the first installment of the Hallmark Hall of Fame, Life magazine ran this spectacular full-color spread. Posted here at the right is a unique glimpse (in color yet) of the original production. Since its first live telecast on Christmas Eve 1951, Amahl had been re-presented on NBC once again, broadcast live with the original cast on Easter Sunday (April 13) 1952. That same month Rosemary Kuhlmann (Amahl's mother) and Chet Allen (Amahl; the boy soprano was proclaimed a star on the historic page-one New York Times review of the original broadcast) reprised their roles in a New York City Opera production, conducted by Thomas Schippers and sets by Eugene Berman (both from the first telecast); it was this stage production of which Life took the photographs for the article reproduced at the right. Enjoy these historical and very rare photos (click on the images for a larger view) of Gian Carlo Menotti's TV opera as a Christmas Eve treat.

Karloff The Uncanny

2011-12-18T02:08:00.000-08:00

As mentioned back here, Boris Karloff brought his considerable acting skill to his vocalizations in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which made its debut on CBS this night, December 18, in 1966. The great Karloff was born on November 23, 1887, so the Grinch special debuted less than a month after the master actor's 79th birthday. (By the way, Karloff's star-making triumph, Frankenstein, turned 80 in 2011.) To celebrate Karloff's uncannily good voice performances in this Christmas classic here's the TV Guide Close-Up listing celebrating its December 1966 debut. (Click on the image for a larger view.) It's interesting to note that Thurl Ravenscroft is credited here whereas he is not in the special itself. Both Dr. Seuss and producer-director Chuck Jones felt terrible about this accidental omission so we can assume they made sure Thurl received mention in TV Guide. (And by the way, watch Tulgey Wood for more about Frankenstein—or at least one of its many related productions—sometime in the future.

Just A Toy

2011-12-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland (1961)not only inspired toys; it also featured toys such as the pretty doll Annette and Tommy Sands play with in one of the film's loveliest numbers, "Just a Toy." The doll seen in this charming scene was designed by Uneeda Doll Company. A Disney licensee of the time, Uneeda created the doll as both as a prop and as a toy that would be available in retail stores. Crowned with not only with, well, a crown but also with pink (not blonde) hair and wearing a tutu and ballet shoes (for isn't every princess a dancer?), the Princess doll had the same body as the Disney Pollyanna doll Uneeda issued just a year earlier. (Interestingly, the Princess doll hangtag was was designed as an alphabet block, in keeping with the Toyland theme, and the letters shown are "U" (often the only "name" stamped on Uneeda's toys along with the trademark info) and "D" (for "Disney," we can assume). Wonder how many children received the Princess doll for Christmas in 1961? As the Disney Character Merchandising Division said through one of its signature "Hustlegram" news releases, "Every little princess will want to own the 'Princess' doll."

A Babes Premiere

2011-12-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

On this day, December 14, in 1961, Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland was released to theaters nationwide. The movie musical played at the "Nation's Showcase" Radio City Music Hall as part of the mammoth theatre's annual Christmas spectacular. To commemorate the date, the D23 website features today in its daily This Day in Disney feature the Babes in Toyland debut. You can read the D23 article above; click on the image for a larger view. And while you're at it, don't forget to read the article I wrote for D23 all about Walt Disney's first live-action musical.

Toyland, Toyland!

2011-12-13T02:10:00.000-08:00

When Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland was released in 1961, it was accompanied by what the Disney Character Merchandising Division described as "the best co-ordinated merchandising effort that we have ever staged at Christmas"—and no wonder, for Babes in Toyland is all about, well, toys. The promotional campaign for the musical fantasy started in September with $718,000 with of TV commercials publicizing the film, including those broadcast as part of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (then its first season on "the color network," NBC). There were 367 separate Babes in Toyland playthings and other merchandise manufactured by 45 companies in what Disney called "the giant Christmas promotion." These licensees included Dolly Toy Co., Parker Brothers, Louis Marx and Company, and Hassenfeld Brothers (now known as Hasbro). Colorforms was also in on the action, presenting an Annette Dress Designer Kit (available in two sizes, including the deluxe version seen here). The spread at top from the 1961 Sears "Wish Book" Christmas catalog also boasts some Toyland toys (naturally Sraers was part of the big push), including the classic Gund hand puppets. To read more about Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland check out my article on the D23 website.

Classic Christmas Cards From Hallmark

2011-12-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's post I mentioned Christmas cards as big business, and there's no bigger greeting card business than Hallmark. The Hallmark website has a slide show of some charming Christmas cards featuring Santa Claus —not the one here, from 1945 featuring a feather for Santa's beard, but an amazing se;action from the 1920s through 2010. See them here—and for vintage Hallmark cards you can actually obtain vintage Hallmark cards here, the website at which I found the Santa card pictured here.

A Fortune Magazine Christmas Cover

2011-12-11T02:02:00.000-08:00

We may not think of beautiful covers when we think of Fortune, but years ago, the famous finacial magazine featured elaborate covers that were often art for art's sake. Here's a seasonal example from Dcember 1936 by influential designer and illustrator Erik Nitsche. Though the Fortune holiday covers often have nothing to do with Christmas, this one more than qualifies, as Christmas cards are big business.

Christmas In (The) New York(er)

2011-12-10T01:11:00.000-08:00

The New Yorker magazine has a long tradition of delightful Christmas covers, and here's one from Abe Birnbaum. This prolific artist painted nearly 150 covers for the magazine from the 1940s through the 1970s, with an additional 500 black-and-white drawings and paintings for the interior starting in the 1930s. Enjoy this cozy Birnbaum charmer from December 23, 1961.

A Green Christmas For Uncle Scrooge

2011-12-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

What better time than Christmastime to feature some Christmas art from Carl Barks? Here's a classic cover from Uncle Scrooge # 16 December 1956. In creating the character of Scrooge McDuck, Barks of course was inspired by Ebeneezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, using the Dickens character's last name as Donald's uncle's first. The difference between E. Scrooge and Uncle Scrooge is that, as seen in this cover art, Uncle Scrooge enjoys Christmas as long as it's done right. Speaking of Carl Barks, Peter Kylling's extensive Barks website has posted an interview I conducted with the "Good Artist." It's not necessarily Christmastime reading but then again 'tis always the season for the creator of Uncle Scrooge.

Babes In Toyland, Sunday Comics Style

2011-12-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

To both celebrate and promote the release of Walt Disney's Babes in Toyland (1961), the Sunday comic page Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales showcased an adaption of the film. However, unlike most installments of the Sunday newspaper comic in that era, the Babes in Toyland pages were not drawn by regular Classic Tales illustrator Jessie Marsh but by veteran Disney artist Joe Hale. Joe spent more than 35 years at Disney, as an animator, special effects artist, story artist, layout man, and producer, spanning everything from Sleeping Beauty (1959) to The Back Cauldron (1985). Apparently Joe was enlisted as the artist for the Toyland installments of Classic Tales because the broad fantasy of the film called for a cartoony style for the strip. Enjoy this fanciful installment (click on the above image for a larger view) from November 12, 1961—and don't forget to check out the Babes in Toyland article, written by Jim Fanning, on the D23 website.

An Eyvind Earle Christmas

2011-12-07T00:49:00.000-08:00

Here is the album cover the original soundtrack recording (in stereo, no less) from the television holiday "spectacular" The Story of Christmas, originally broadcast (or colorcast, I should say) over NBC on December 22, 1963, this was one of the few (in fact, it was reportedly the first) network specials ever broadcast without commercial interruptions. The very special TV special was sponsored by General Mills, which opted to dispense with commercials entirely so as to avoid interrupting the content—especially the magnificent eighteen minute animation segment retelling the Gospel Nativity accounts (the Christmas story, in other words) conceived and produced by Eyvind Earle, the artistic mastermind behind the styling of Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959). Eyvind's distinctive art adorns this album cover, making a fine reminder of what the season is all about. The recording itself boasts the stirring vocal arrangements written and conducted by choral master Roger Wagner, and the vocal stylings of "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, whose lifelong dream this reportedly was. The Story of Christmas is as regarded one of the highest rated, critically acclaimed Christmas specials ever broadcast, and although all but forgotten today, we can glimpse a bit of the Eyvind Earle magic here...and long for the days when great showmanship even extended to take-home treasures such as this soundtrack LP.

The Anti-Santa

2011-12-06T00:19:00.000-08:00

What better way (in a sort of opposite way) to celebrate St. Nicholas Day (today, December 6) than to spotlight that outrageous anti-St. Nick himself, the Grinch? The fake-Santy Claus of the classic animated TV special Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is everything good ol' St. Nicholas is not—until of course his Scrooge-like conversion at the end of the tale. Can we take a moment and appreciate how creatively impressive it is that Dr. Seuss created his own character and his own story, rather than doing something lazy and lame like doing another adaption/parody/version of A Christmas Carol—and in so doing, created a character that is equally well-known as Dickens' Grinch? This article from the December 1966 issue of Jack and Jill both celebrates and illuminates the creation of the then-new animated special. What color should the Grinch be in a sparkling new color TV special? The Grinch had been nobly portrayed in black-and-white book, published in 1957—but, as this article reveals, the ant-Santa could only be portrayed as a Grinchy-green.

Walt Disney Meets Santa Claus

2011-12-05T04:09:00.000-08:00

Originally broadcast on December 23, 1962, "Holiday Time at Disneyland" is one of the most delightful Disneyland-centered episodes of the Disney anthology series. First shown on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, this colorful (naturally) episode showed off holiday celebrations at Walt's Magic Kingdom, kicked off with a simultaneously surreal and altogether appropriate meeting between Santa Claus and Walt. Did I say "meet"? Walt and Santa greet each other as if they are old friends. Well, why wouldn't they be? First off, Walt made Santa into a Disney character in two Silly Symphony cartoons, Santa's Toy Shop (1932) and The Night Before Christmas (1933). Secondly, in the conversation between the two magic-makers, Walt clearly expresses his dominion by stating that while Mr. Claus has one day a year, Walt has the other 364—an incredible statement when you think about it. Even Santa is impressed when Walt calls upon Tinker Bell to turn off the unusual Southern Californian snowfall and she obliges with a flick of her magic wand. After all, who is more important in the world of childhood than Walt Disney? I say this as someone who firmly believes (as I'm sure anyone who regularly reads this blog also believes) that Walt Disney is not just for the kids. And neither is Santa. I post all of this (including this still from "Holiday Time at Disneyland" taken from the Storyboard blog of the Walt Disney Family Museum) as a birthday tribute to Walter Elias Disney, born this day in 1901. Surely a bit of Christmas magic must have rubbed off on this December-born baby who would grow up to rival even Santa Claus as a master magic-maker.

Spotted At A Recent Visit To Disneyland

2011-12-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

It's the Disneyland Challenge book (written by me) I mentioned back here. Still available, still on sale, I'm proud and thrilled to say, at the Disney Gallery on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom (in other words, Disneyland).

The Grinch On The Record

2011-12-03T02:16:00.000-08:00

The witty, tuneful songs composed for Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! are one of the many reasons the TV holiday special has been a Christmas classic since its premiere on CBS on December 18, 1966. The Seussian lyrics are authentic Seuss, written as they were by the good doctor himself; the wonderfully melodic music, a perfect match for Seuss' satisfyingly strange lyrics, were composed by Albert Hague, who later gained onscreen fame as the music teacher in both the movie and TV-series versions of Fame. The songs were recorded with a thirty-four-piece orchestra and twelve-voice-chorus—and surely lyrics such as "Fahoo fores yahoo dores" from "Welcome, Christmas" were the most unusual words those studio singers were ever asked to sing...except for the rest of that song's lyrics...and the lyrics to the other Grinch songs. (Dr. Seuss later explained that the "Welcome, Christmas" lyrics were penned to resemble a Latin chant.) As with the ultra-popular A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special, the first half-hour prime time animated special ever (and the success of which CBS obviously hoped to duplicate by bringing the classic Dr. Seuss book to the small screen in half-hour animated form) an original soundtrack recording was released by the time the special aired, as evidenced by this ad (above; click on the image for an enlarged version) for the LP that ran in TV Guide the week in which Grinch made its debut. The soundtrack album was released on King Leo Records (a subsidiary of MGM Records, MGM having produced the special) in 1966, the same label incidentally on which the You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown concept album (which inspired the 1967 off-Broadway stage hit) was released that same year. The Grinch LP was issued in mono (LE-901) and stereo (LES-901), and featured the complete soundtrack of the special (approximately 15 minutes per album side). No surprise that Seuss's own favorite of the Grinch songs was "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." One can only speculate at the delight Dr. Seuss would have taken in how that tune, with lyrics expressing how appalling the anti-Christmas creature is, has been adopted as a Christmastime standard.

It's a Babes in Toyland Christmas!

2011-12-02T05:01:00.000-08:00

What's Christmastime without Babes in Toyland? Walt Disney's 1961 classic has become a Yuletide classic over the years, and to celebrate this "50 and Fabulous" fantasy film, I've written a behind-the-scenes article that's now up on the D23 website. There's Annette and Ray Bolger, Ed Wynn and Henry Calvin, Tommy Sands and Tommy Kirk... and of course those unmistakably Disney Wooden Soldiers. Be sure and read "A Very Merry Musical: Walt Disney’s Babes in Toyland" by Jim Fanning. It's marching your way on the FREE D23 website.

What's Green And Fuzzy And Mean All Over?

2011-12-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

We've seen lots of Kermit the Frog lately here at Tulgey Wood, but now it's time to let someone else of a different shade of green entirely take center stage... and I'm afraid he's not quite as warm and fuzzy (though he is fuzzy) as Kermit. Check in here at Tulgey Wood all through Christmastime and find out just who this guy (who would be the first to agree it's not easy being green) is.

A Pooh "Speshal" For Christmas

2011-12-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Tulgey Wood's Christmas celebration gets off to a merry start with this rarely-seen ad from 1970. Once upon a time, Sears was the sole purveyor of just about everything related to Winnie the Pooh—and it was their desire to promote their Pooh line of merchandise and (especially) clothes that led Pooh to become a television star. as you can see from the newspaper ad reproduced here, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day made its television debut on Monday November 30, 1970. "Pooh-tes" everywhere rejoiced as this Oscar-winning featurette brought Pooh's "frolics, songs, and fun, fun, fun, fun" (that last bit of the list undoubtedly a nod to Tigger's line from the Sherman Brothers' "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers") came to TV, just in time for Sears (the sole sponsor of this Disney special) to display all their wares for the Christmas season. Disney animation on TV in 1970 was rare indeed (especially when broadcast outside the regular Disney Sunday night showcase), as was the elaborate newspaper announcement. (Click on the image for a larger view. This unique advertisement, with its charmingly somewhat-off-model drawing of Pooh was, I would guess, not prepared by Disney but by Sears, which was the Pooh powerhouse behind this holiday treat.

Muppet Month Merriment

2011-11-30T03:19:00.000-08:00

It's been Muppets Month all November long here at Tulgey Wood, and to mark the last day, here's the first page of one of the articles I wrote for the latest edition of Disney twenty-three magazine. (Look closely and you can see my byline; click on the image for a larger view.) Does this mean that the Muppet madness is over? Of course not—there will be more Muppety goodness in Tulgey Wood's future, so be sure and check back. In the meantime, be sure and pick up your own copy of the special Muppets issue of Disney twenty-three magazine, on sale now. I was very honored to write an article about the history of the Muppets and especially to author the tribute to one of my heroes, the great Jim Henson.

Welcome To The Muppet Theatre

2011-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

Tulgey Wood's Muppet Month brings us this wonderful piece of Muppet merchandise. As always, Hallmark created some beautiful products and this elaborate Muppet Show centerpiece is no exception. This three-dimensional table decoration (which stands over a foot tall when assembled) not only wonderfully features many Muppets, but it also showcases the Muppet theatre (stage and back stage) itself —an appropriate theme for this centerpiece, for the theatre is the centerpiece of both The Muppet Show and the new Muppets movie. This 1978 Hallmark gem is a true celebration of Jim Henson's Muppets.

The Password Is "Fuzzy"

2011-11-27T03:34:00.000-08:00

Back here I mentioned the recreation of the classic 1960s TV game show Password that is occasionally seen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. So what did Jimmy do when his guests were Martin Short, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy on November 16? He had them play Password, of course! Just in time to promote the new Muppet movie—and to be part of Muppets Month here at Tulgey Wood. It was as you can imagine a fun and fantastic game—even though Miss Piggy was not happy when one of the passwords turned out to be "bacon."

Miss Piggy: Post-Thanksgiving Shopping Pro

2011-11-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

We couldn't have Tulgey Wood's Muppet Month without putting Miss Piggy front and center, and the Divine Miss P would have it no other way. (In fact, she would say, "It's about time!"). Miss Piggy graced the cover of this recent issue of New York magazine to usher in the holiday shopping season, for there is no bigger (or plumper) shopping pro than Piggy. Of course for many shopping is a big part of the post-Thanksgiving fun, but be careful out there—there are shoppers who want to make pigs of themselves.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Sesame Street Songs

2011-11-26T01:43:00.000-08:00

Back here I posted the cover of a Captain Kangaroo record to illustrate that show's Thanksgiving celebration. Did you happen to notice that the credit "Words and Music by Jeffrey Moss"? After composing a number of charming songs for Captain Kangaroo (on which he started as a production assistant), Jeff became one of the leading creative forces on Sesame Street, which debuted in 1969 (a year after the Captain Kangaroo record was released). In addition ti being head writer, Jeff composed many songs for the show, including "I Love Trash" and most famously the Sesame Street standard "Rubber Duckie," which became a mainstream hit (sung by Jim Henson as Ernie). A winner of 14 Emmy Awards for his Sesame Street work, Jeff Ross created many memorable music Muppets moments, including the Oscar-nominated score and songs for The Muppets Take Manhattan. We just couldn't have Muppets Month here at Tulgey Wood without the Sesame Street songs of Jeff Moss.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Poster

2011-11-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

Each year there's an artful poster prepared to publicize the "Macy's Day Parade" (as some call it, no doubt to Macy's delight). Here is this year's poster promoting Macy's main event. As compared to the last ten years or so, this year's edition takes the emphasis off the licensed character balloons. As I've pointed out before, when so many properties are displayed, there must be a great many approvals...and maybe Macy's just grew weary of it. The giant balloon versions of the characters were in the parade though, and that's all that counts. Disney was certainly well represented, what with all the properties they now own: besides Mickey Mouse, there was Buzz Lightyear (Pixar), Spider-Man (Marvel) and Kermit the Frog (The Muppets), all owned by Disney. And Tim Burton had a ballon this year, and Tim of course came from/still occasionally makes films for Disney. Anyhow, this year's parade poster has quite a story behind it. It was painted by illustrator Melissa Sweet in the style of 1920s Macy's artist Tony Sarg. Melissa also wrote and illustrated a book Balloons Over Broadway, in the same style...for the book tells the story of Tony Sarg, “the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade.” You can read more about Melissa, her work and the book at the Macy's website and at MelissaSweet.net.

Let Us Give Thanks

2011-11-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a heartwarming artwork created by Disney artist Russell Schroeder (author of Disney Lost Chords, which you can purchase here) that was published on the cover of the November 24, 1983 issue of Walt Disney World Eyes & Ears (the cast member newsletter). (Click on the image for a larger view.) Leave it to heartfelt Mickey Mouse—and of course Minnie—to so cozily, so simply, yet so profoundly remind us that Thanksgiving Day is all about counting our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Thanksgiving At The Treasure House

2011-11-24T00:24:00.000-08:00

Hospitality and welcoming. These qualities were a big part of Captain Kangaroo, the classic TV series that ran for decades every weekday morning on CBS, and I think this photo is an illustration of some of those attributes, in both setting (the most charming, most "real" version of the Treasure House, seen on the show circa 1961 through 1971) and cast (both people and puppets). Some associate the Thanksgiving holiday with Captain Kangaroo because from 1959 through 1965, Captain and his friends hosted the Thanksgiving Day parade coverage on CBS. But in what was an annual tradition for a good number of years, Captain would celebrate Thanksgiving within the show broadcast on that particular November Thursday. The conclusion of the Thanksgiving show was particularly powerful: To illustrate that for which we as a country should be grateful on this national day of thanks, Captain would display Norman Rockwell's famed series of paintings, The Four Freedoms. Then, as the Perry Como version of the hymn "Prayer for Thanksgiving" (We Gather Together)" played, the Captain, Mr. Green Jeans, Dancing Bear, Bunny Rabbit and Mister Moose (the very characters seen on this record cover) gathered at a festive Thanksgiving table and reverently bowed their heads in prayer. The hymn ended with Perry and chorus powerfully singing the compelling lyric "Lord, make us free." Silence. Fade to black. There were no credits and no theme song... just a dramatic reminder of what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about: giving thanks.

The FIRST Muppet Movie

2011-11-23T21:49:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Muppet Month here at Tulgey Wood... and to honor the release of the new Muppets movie to theaters today... here's the LP album for the the first Muppet movie, which was entitled... The Muppet Movie (1979). The charming album-cover artwork was created by master Muppet artist Michael K. Frith. The designer of such characters as Fozzie Bear and Dr. Teeth, Michael was an important creative force for the Muppets, as his ultimate title, Executive Vice President and Creative Director for Jim Henson Productions, indicated. The LP cover art seen here is Frith at his most delightful and Muppet-licious; the album itself won a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children.

Walt's Child Stars

2011-11-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

Doesn't So Dear to My Heart just seem like a Thanksgiving kind of a movie? For you to enjoy as you prepare for the big day, here's the poster from the 1949 film's 1964 re-release featuring Bobby Driscoll. To discover more about Bobby and the rest of Walt's child stars, check out the newly posted article, written by me, on the Walt Disney Family Museum blog. You'll read about Hayley Mills, the Mouseketeers and of course Spin and Marty. Be sure and read "Childhood Personified: Walt's Child Stars"by Jim Fanning at the Walt Disney Family Museum's blog. And if you like the article, please leave a comment!

Kermit The Frog Flies Again

2011-11-21T01:50:00.000-08:00

Since it's Muppets Month all November long here at Tulgey Wood, it seemed like a good time to pint out that the lovable leader of the Muppets will be once again seen as a giant balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kermit first flew in America's favorite Thanksgiving spectacular in 1977. If you want to know more about the Macy's parade as it celebrates its 85th performance this year be sure and check out this great story on the D23 website written by Sarah Smith. And on Thanksgiving evening, there's a special all about the parade on NBC. It's a veritable feast of facts about Macy's annual Turkey Day parade, this year featuring once again everyone's favorite frog.

What's Green And Fuzzy And "Read" All Over?

2011-11-15T04:45:00.000-08:00

Back here I asked what else is green and fuzzy besides Kermit the Frog? Now it's time to reveal the answer: it's the new Winter 2011 issue of Disney twenty-three Magazine! It's true that the cover and many articles therein feature Kermit and his puppet pals... but thats not the reason I had in mind. You see (or feel), the back cover of each issue is covered with green and fuzzy felt, as are the words "twenty-three" on the front cover. That fun touch of green fuzz is just the beginning, as there is Muppets madness a-plenty between the covers, including two Muppet articles written by me. This warm and fuzzy issue hits the stands today— so if you aren't a D23 Member be sure and get your copy at select Barnes & Noble bookstores, DisneyShopping.com or at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Kermit Goes To The Head(s) Of The D23 Expo

2011-11-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Muppet Month continues here at Tulgey Wood! Kermit the Frog not only turned heads at the D23 Expo in August 2011, he topped heads. That's right, this Kermit the Frog "crown" was given out by Muppet licensee Mighty Fine, utilizing the simple yet dynamic design of Kermit's happy face (a design from Muppet founder and creator Jim Henson that's right up there with Mickey Mouse in terms of uncomplicated but enormous appeal). This happy headwear was given out free and many D23-ers must have felt it was easy to be green after all because a good number of the Expo attendees must have decided it's pretty easy being green after all because a good number were proudly wearing the Frog above their foreheads. Be sure and check back here at Tulgey Wood all month for more Muppet madness.

At Precisely 10:04 p.m....

2011-11-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

...the Hill Valley clock tower was struck by lightening on November 12, 1955, in Back to the Future. To celebrate that day (and by the way, check out the time of this post), here's a glimpse of the Hot Wheels Back to the Future DeLorean that was made exclusively for the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con in a limited edition of 500. The model DeLorean was cased in a plutonium container fashioned after the one Doc Brown has in the film, also contains a diorama of Hill Valley town square, complete with courthouse and clock tower. More Back to the Future to come, so be sure and check back...in the future.

Happy November 12 (1955)

2011-11-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

As every Back to the Future fan knows, November 12, 1955, is the day on which the clock tower was struck by lightning in Hill Valley, California—and Doctor Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) used that (for him) future knowledge to harness the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity to send Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) back to, well, back to the future. Here for your enjoyment is the flyer from the film, which reproduced the historic Hill Valley Telegraph front page story about the lightning strike on...on what date? I don't know if you can tell from the flyer, but the filmmakers decided not to put a date on the newspaper (even though another use of the newspaper in the film clearly shows the paper prints the date on the front page). Why did the filmmakers decide to replace the date with the words "Published Daily"? My best guess is that this edition wouldn't have published until Monday, November 14 (even if the paper was published on Sunday November 13, the clock tower incident probably happened too late for the story to make a Sunday morning edition) and the filmmakers didn't want to confuse the audience by featuring a date other than November 12...as that's the date the viewer needs to keep in their heads in order to follow the film's story. So Happy November 12...which by the way, in 1955 was also a Saturday, as here in 2011.

Kermit Went Green Before Going Green Was Cool

2011-11-10T04:29:00.000-08:00

Muppet month practically demands a salute to the color green in honor of the fuzzy green guy himself. But what else besides Kermit the Frog is green and fuzzy? Stop by later this month and find out.

We'll Never Forget The Triple-R

2011-11-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the Walt Disney Family Museum has a blog? It's entitled Storyboard and it's free and accessible to everyone. All sorts of fascinating articles have been posted by such Disney historians as Jeff Kurtti, Paula Sigman Lowery, Jim Korkis and others. Now I have the great honor of having an article I wrote posted on the Walt Disney Family Museum blog. It's all about one of my favorite Walt Disney productions, "The Adventures of Spin and Marty" from Mickey Mouse Club. In the article I mention the excellent comic book published in conjunction with the TV serial about the dude ranch duo, so I thought I would include one of the nicely done, specially photographed covers here, featuring Tim Considine (Spin) and David Stollery (Marty) from Issue 6 published in 1958 (also pictured on the Storyboard blog). Check out the new Spin and Marty article, "Spin and Marty…and Walt: Nice Guys Finish First," written by JIm Fanning... and while you are there, be sure and check out the many fine articles also posted there.

It's Muppets Month...

2011-11-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

...here at Tulgey Wood. In celebration of the new Muppet movie being released at Thanksgiving, and all the accompanying Muppet frenzy, I'll be posting some Muppet fun that I hope you will enjoy. To get things started here are the front and back covers to the program for The Muppets Take Manhattan. Released in 1984, this third Muppet movie was directed (and co-written) by master Muppet-teer Frank Oz. Part of the appeal of this film was the introduction of the Muppet Babies, so it makes sense that these fuzzy toddlers were featured on the movie program's back cover. (Click on either image for a larger view.)

Happy Halloween with Blackbeard's Ghost

2011-10-31T03:27:00.000-07:00

What could be better for Halloween than ghosts and pirates? How about a ghost who is a pirate, or vice versa? One of the most striking things about Walt Disney's sly-and-spooky comedy Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) is the magnificent painting of Blackbeard (seen below in a still from the film). Many Disney fans are well aware that the full-length portrait (painted by David Jonas) was for a time featured in the climax of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Park, but many folks know that the painting was reproduced on the back cover of the Blackbeard's Ghost coloring book? Looking for a Halloween (or anytime) treat that's not a trick? Check out the article written by me all about Blackbeard's Ghost on the free D23 website. Be sure and read "Blackbeard Haunts Again" written by Jim Fanning.

Disney References (And Fans) Are Everywhere

2011-10-29T02:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you ever watch financial advisor Suze Orman on CNBC. If you do (or if you have seen Kristen Wiig's impersonation on Saturday Night Live)) then you know that she not only gives good finacial advise but she's also quite a character. On tonight's installment of The Suze Orman Show , her "Financial Fright Night" show, a major fan of Disney's Herbie from The Love Bug (1969), called into for the "Can I Afford It?" segment to see if had enough money to throw a $4000 Herbie-themed Halloween party. (Suze thought he could not afford the party and he was "Denied.") Just goes to show there are Disney references—and Disney fans of one kind or another—everywhere.

Another Determined Production: Crabby Costume

2011-10-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun Halloween item: you can be the queen of crabbiness herself, Lucy Van Pelt, with this Peanuts Costume, created by the Peanuts licensee supreme, Determined Products. Released in the 1970s, this perfect-for-Great-Pumpkin watching (or scorning) outfit originally cost $3.18 according to the price tag from Rinks department store (which was apparently in Ohio) on the suitably pumpkin-orange box. (Also available: Charlie Brown and Snoopy costumes....but no Linus. Linus is of course waiting in the sincere pumpkin patch, waiting for the Great Pumpkin.)

October 26, 1985...

2011-10-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

...was the date in Back To The Future (1985) on which Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) accidently time-travelled to 1955. In honor of that date's anniversary (and since I completely missed all the fun of the Back to the Future 25th anniversary last year) here's the cover from the 1985 souvenir magazines. The cover art—painted by poster-ace Drew Struzan—is one of the most recognizable (and best) movie posters ever. I have a great affection for movie programs and souvenir magazines and I'll be posting more of them here at Tulgey Wood, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Art Prints Premium

2011-10-07T04:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted about the 1971 Walt Disney World sweepstakes sponsored by Nestle's Quik to celebrate the opening of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Today, here's the accompanying premium offer (seen on the front and back of the Quik package) of six "full color frameable art prints" based on the film's animated segment. 25 million one pound-and two pound cans of Quik carried the offer. Wonder how many sets of these "custom desgined by Walt Disney Studios" prints were given away? Interestingly, the art works shown on the cans were apparently prototypes, as the prints themselves were more "finished" and painterly than the more cartoony art shown on the packages. I acually prefer the style shown on the cans, but who's complaining? The Bedknobs and Broomsticks prints were free.

Bazinga, Richie Rich

2011-10-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

There seems to be at least one reference to Disney in every episode of The Big Bang Theory, and tonight's installment was no exception. Since the Big Bang guys are all comic fans it seemed inevitable that a Disney comic book reference would pop up sooner or later, and tonight's was a good one. In this episode entitled "The Wiggly Finger Catalyst," Sheldon used the often-discussed question of whose fortune is larger, Richie Rich's or Uncle Scrooge's, to describe Raj's wealth. (The answer is, needless to say, Uncle Scrooge.) Sheldon simply explained that Raj's family is "Richie Rich rich" or "about halfway between Bruce Wayne and Scrooge McDuck.' Leave it to Dr. Sheldon Cooper to put it all in perspective in such a colorful comic-centric manner—a way which even the non-geniuses among us can understand. (and in case you are wondering, the Uncle Scrooge cover pictured here was published in 1961, and the Richie Rich cover was issued in 1976. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who stands the tallest between these two diminutive financial giants.)

Walt Disney World Celebrates 40 Magical Years (And So Does A Certain Magical Film)

2011-10-01T03:25:00.000-07:00

Today marks 40 years since Walt Disney World firs opened its gates in 1971.. and just a few days later, on October 6, 1971, Disney's musical-fantasy film Bedknobs and Broomsticks had its world premiere in London. So it was only natural that one opening was used to help promote the other, and vice versa. As you can see from this image from the Bedknobs pressbook, Nestle's Quik sponsored a tie-in sweepstakes with a prize of a free trip to the newly opened Vacation Kingdom—all to promote Disney's lavish new film. 10 families won the grand prize (the Quik sweepstakes was promoted in more than 25,000 supermarkets throughout the U.S.) of 3 days-2 nights at Walt Disney World, plus transportation and meals for the winners (it was required they be 18 years or less, as this promotion was aimed at children, or "Hey Kids!" as the Quik can front had it) and two parents or guardians. Did anyone reading this win one of these trips? If so let's hear from you so you can tell us about your experiences.

Picnic On With The Muppets

2011-08-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

Over the years, Hallmark has done a wonderful job designing all kinds of imaginative goods true to such licensed characters as Looney Tunes, Peanuts and of course Disney. For a time beginning in the late 1970s, Hallmark also boasted some truly creative products featuring the Muppets. This wonderfully produced Muppets Picnic Cookbook was available in the summer of 1981, and features such hot-weather recipes as Muppet Labs Vanilla Ice Cream and Miss Piggy's Precious Pink Punch. (Click on any image for a larger view.) Hungry for more Muppet fun? Be sure and visit Tulgey Wood in November for more Muppet mania to celebrate Disney's new Muppet movie.

A Ticket Book To Ride For Disneyland's Anniversary

2011-07-17T00:50:00.000-07:00

July 17, 1955 was Disneyland's Opening Day—and to celebrate that significant date on its anniversary, here's a glimpse of a Disneyland Ticket Book I am lucky enough to own. Aside from being nearly intact—only the B Ticket is missing—this wonderful piece of Disneyland history also includes a "welcome" message from Walt Disney. The Ticket Book, issued sometime between 1959 and 1966, was a practical item but in those days Walt and his Park never missed an opportunity to make guests feel more welcome and to make a better show—this warm and classy "welcome" is an awesome example of showmanship. Enjoy this bit of unpretentious and highly effective bit of welcome to Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. Click on the image of the front or the back of the book for a larger view.

Discovering Disney Delights In The Walt Disney Family Museum Newsletter

2011-07-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

Wondering if you should become a Member of the Walt Disney Family Museum? Consider this: Members get a specially produced Members Newsletter. This 8-page quarterly publication showcases, among other features, articles written by Disney historians. The most recent issue (Volume 2, Number 2), for example, boasts an excellent article about Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin. Entitled "Hollywood's Two Authentic Geniuses," this exploration of the relationship and mutual admiration of the two legendary filmmakers is written by Jeff Kurtti, and Jeff's as-always excellent writing makes this Newsletter a must-have. This same issue also includes an article by Disney historian Paula Sigman Lowery about Walt Disney's So Dear to my Heart (1949). (Both Jeff and Paula were instrumental in the creation of the Walt Disney Family Museum and its content—and I was honored to be invited by them to be a part of the writing and research of the Museum's historical content.) So even if you live far away from San Francisco, home to the Walt Disney Family Museum, consider becoming a Member—the Newsletter alone is worth it, thanks to contibutors like the illustrious Mr.Kurtti. See the Museum's website for more Membership info.

It's Fireworks with America On Parade!

2011-07-04T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July brings out the fireworks, so the timing is perfect for a firecracker of an article about America on Parade. This was Disney's Bicentennial salute to the history, people, achievements and amusements of America on her 200th birthday, a patriotic-plus pageant presented at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in 1975-1976. To celebrate Independence Day I wrote "A Fourth of July Salute: Disney's America on Parade" and it's on the D23 website. There have been Disney Theme Park parades before and since of course, but there's never been anything quite as unique as this Bicentennial bash with its specially created band organ score, mammoth float-like mobile stages and—most memorable of all—those towering People of America costumed characters. So in the spirit of '76 (both 1776 and 1976) go to D23.com (it's a FREE site for everyone) for a look at the fascinating fireworks behind America on Parade, written by Jim Fanning. (Above is the FanFare email sent to D23 members. Click on the image for a larger version.)

From The Peanuts Gallery: Shermy

2011-07-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

It's July and that means it's Christmas in July here in Tulgey Wood, for that jolly season is just a half-year away. To get things off to a truly true-spirit-of-Christmas start, let's turn to that most famous of TV holiday specials, A Charlie Brown Christmas. One of the most interesting things about this endlessly fascinating TV special from 1965 is that it's a snapshot of the strip as it was then (for example, the special shows Snoopy performing impressions but he had not yet regularly taken to wearing costumes or walking upright as a usual habit yet). So the special features Frieda, Violet, Patty, and even 5—and Shermy too. In fact this apperance in one of the most widely-seen Christmas specials ever produced (it's been shown on network TV ever since its debut on December 9, 1965, to huge ratings each year) is one of the main reasons Shermy is remembered, if at all. Poor Shermy deserves better if only because this mild-mannered crew-cut sporting boy was not only one of the strip's original cast of characters in the first installment published on October 2, 1950, along with Charlie Brown and Patty (Snoopy joined the strip two days later), he's also the first character to speak, and also the first (again) to not only mention Charlie Brown by name but also the first to utter the famous line "Good Ol' Charlie Brown," which Schulz immortalized as the unofficial title of the comic strip. Thankfully Shermy himself is immortalized in A Charlie Brown Christmas for he both dances up a storm in the famously free-form dance sequences so well-remembered by most everyone whose seen this animated film and has his very own line: "Every Christmas it's the same: I always end up playing a shepherd." This is Shermy's lament upon being handed his script and costume for his role in the pageant. Perhaps this was some unconscious or even deliberate commentary on Shermy's own position in the strip: he is perennially as a bit player. Personally I have always considered Shermy the Zeppo Marx of the Peanuts gang, and I don't mean that as an insult. Only Zeppo, as a full-fledged Marx Brother, could get away with some of the actions and dialog he was afforded in his few films, even though the lion's share of the laughs and onscreen action was given to Groucho, Chico and Harpo. And so it is with Shermy: he may not have had much face time in the strip or specials, but only a full-fledged Peanuts cast member would be allowed such wry observations. See this little-known Charlie Brown booklet for another Christmas-related example of Shermy's prescience.

The Password is "Betty"

2011-06-15T03:20:00.000-07:00

A lot of games are played on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, but nothing has been more fun that the show's recreation of the classic TV game show Password. Included is a spot-on reconstruction of the show's set, and Jimmy and friends play the game just as it was in the 1960s. The theme music is the same and even the introductory ritual—each celebrity introduces his or her playing partner (chosen from the studio audience), with the second star then saying, "...and we're all here to play... Password!" Then the game's title is superimposed over a shot of the audience applauding. I assume Password was brought aboard the Fallon show because of the appearance of Betty White. In a previous guest shot Betty played Beer Pong with Jimmy, but how long could fan-of-classic-TV-and-show-biz-and-games Fallon resist playing Password with Password maven White right there in the studio? Not long, as tonight's show proved. Betty was as sharp as a tack, as always, but I have to say it was a thrill to see Jimmy (no slouch himself at any game) guess "Facebook" on the first clue, "like." Betty White's Password connection goes beyond her expert playing or her many appearances on the show, of course. Betty married host Allen Ludden in 1963 and they remained together until his death in 1981. In fact, in a touching moment, White told Fallon that her appearance on his version of Password marked what would have been her and Ludden's 48th wedding anniversary (The show was taped on June 14 for broadcast today at 12:37 am June 15)

Break A Leg, Spidey (I Don't Mean That Literally)

2011-06-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight, after many delays and, famously, injuries (as immortalized by the January 17, 2011 New Yorker cover at right by Barry Blitts) the multi-million dollar musical Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark at long last opened on Broadway. In honor of the show's opening Broadway.com today posted an excellent timeline that untangles the tangled web of creative personnel turnovers, escalating budgets, closings and previews, right through Sunday's Tony Awards and tonight's opening. Although I haven't seen this production, the obviously talented Reeve Carney isn't my idea of Peter Parker, though I feel the same way about Andrew Garfield, who is Spidey in the forthcoming new film—though I wouldn't be surprised to be proven wrong when (and if, in the case of the Broadway show) I see these actors in action in the role. (Disney fans, you do know that Disney paid $4 billion to buy...oh never mind, you all know that by now.)

Happy B-Day, DD

2011-06-09T03:39:00.000-07:00

Now that it's actually Donald's birthday (his 77th), here's a classic Carl Barks cover from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (#153 June 1953, which was the month of the Duck's 19th birthday) that's centered on cake if not specifically birthday cake. Speaking of covers (and Donald and birthdays), did you read my Donald Duck cover story in Disney twenty-three magazine? It was published in the Summer 2009 issue to commemorate Donald's 75th. If not, you can get a back copy of that ducky issue at DisneyStore.com.

Happy Unbirthday, Donald Duck

2011-05-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

Today being Friday the 13th, it seemed appropriate to say Happy Unbirthday to Donald Duck. As a tribute to the wacky quack's penchant for not so much finding trouble as trouble finding him, the Disney Studios for many years stated (tongue in beak) that Donald's birthday was on Friday the 13th—March 13, in fact. Through the years, the Disney Studio reportedly celebrated their fine feathered film star's whenever that unlucky (if not unducky) Friday rolled around, whether it was in March or not. In 1941, Random House gave Donald the star treatment by publishing a "tell-all" biography, The Life of Donald Duck. Random House's co-founder Bennett Cerf always said he wasn't interested in publishing children's books (he changed his mind in the 1950s when Dr. Seuss created The Cat in the Hat) but of course this wasn't a children's book. This hardcover (complete with dust jacket) volume was created for adults (though child friendly), the main audience for Donald's onscreen antics. As Walt Disney so frequently pointed out his films (and related products) were created for everyone, not just kids. This "authorized" biography continues the conceit that the squawking star was hatched on Friday the 13th. But since we all know Donald's official birthday is June 9, 1934, let's wish our lucky Duck a happy unbirthday today, and hope he he has many more unbirthdays filled with of comedic chaos. And if you would like to read a biography of Donald Duck written by me (as well as the bios of nine other favorite Disney characters, also written by Jim Fanning), check out the D23 website.

Old News Is Good News

2011-05-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, on May 13, 2011, I had the honor of giving a presentation at the Walt Disney Archives on the Disney Studio lot all about Walt Disney's "Gallegher." This was my second talk for the Archives' "The Walt Disney Archives Presents" series of presentations. Above you can see the page (click on the image for a larger view) from the official in-house website of The Walt Disney Studios that promoted the event. Film clips, rare behind-the-scene photos, print ads, newspaper and magazine clippings all helped to tell the unknown saga of the excellent but almost-forgotten TV mini-series. You can read all about it (extra, extra) in the resulting D23 article by Jim Fanning on the D23 website. And watch this blog for even more of the behind-the-scenes story about Walt Disney's "Gallegher" in (I hope) the not-too-distant future.

Free Mickey Mouse Comics Today!

2011-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today is May 7, 2011, Free Comic Book Day, and one of the no-cost-to-you goodies is a Mickey Mouse comic book from Fantagraphics Publishing. Fantagraphics is of course the publisher of many primo comic strip collections, and upcoming is one of the most eagerly awaited: Mickey Mouse by Floyd Gottfredson, Voulme One. The comic-book is a preview of sorts, featuring as it does one of Gottfredson's great Mickey newspaper comic-strip stories, Mickey Mouse and Pluto the Racer (though this 1935 story won't be in Volume One). Check out the preview or better yet visit a comic-book shop today and get a free copy of your own. There's also much more than Mickey—from Archie and the Green Lantern to John Stanley and Darkwing Duck, there's a comic book for everyone, and it's all FREE on Free Comic Book Day. So head on over to your local comics shop (bring a friend or relative, especially a young one who may not have been exposed to the joy of comics) and grab yourself some free Gottfredson.

Disney Bought Marvel, You Know

2011-05-06T23:39:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, May 7, 2011, is Free Comic Book Day, and there's an intriguing selection of Free Comics to be had. From all appearances, one of the best promises to be the funnybook starring my favorite superhero, The Amazing Spider-Man. I really enjoy the stylized art of Humberto Ramos—take a look for yourself at this preview. Better yet, head out to your friendly neighborhood comic-book shop tomorrow, preferably bringing a young relative or friend with you, and get this Marvel-ous free comic book for your very own. Free? Of course it's free—tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day! (And by the way there's a spectacular article all about Marvel written by Jason Surrell in the hot-off-the-press Summer 2011 issue of Disney twenty-three, the Official Magazine of D23.)

A Paas-sical Disney Celebration

2011-04-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

During many periods of its history, the Paas Easter Egg Coloring Kits have boasted some wonderfully whimsical art, including the charming illustration on this box (left) from the 1960s. The brand name "Paas" was chosen by the late-1800s inventor of the original Easter egg dye, William Townley of Newark, New Jersey, from “Passen,” the word that his Pennsylvania Dutch neighbors used for Easter. ("Passen" from "Pasch" used for both Passover and Easter.) Over the years, Paas has also licensed Disney characters and art, as in the second image at left of transfer art (used to decorate the colored eggs) featuring Mickey, Minnie, Bambi and other Disney favorites from Easter 1944. Happy Easter (make that Happy Pasch)!

Considering The Lillies Of The Field For Easter

2011-04-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

Here is another evocative painting from the "program" (actually a hardcover book) for MGM's epic Ben-Hur. Ben Stahl—an acclaimed artist and illustrator for such publications as Esquire and The Saturday Evening Post who used layered and glazed acrylics and oils to striking effect— was commissioned by MGM to paint several pieces as a promotion/celebration of their screen spectacle. Included in the series of paintings was this powerful portrayal of the Sermon of the Mount. The painting's staging is consistent with the portrayal of Jesus in the film, for Ben-Hur famously never shows the face of the Christ; instead, the audience is most often shown only the back of Jesus, portrayed by the uncredited Claude Heater. (The 1902 stage version of the story took an even more stylized approach by portraying Christ with only a beam of light.) Though this dramatic artwork does not specifically portray a Resurrection scene, its simple yet dynamic beauty is more than appropriate for Easter Sunday.

A New Issue Is On Its Way In May

2011-04-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

May 3 will find the Summer Issue of Disney twenty-three magazine on the stands. Featured is a cool article about Stan Lee getting all "Excelsior" about Marvel joining forces with Disney ('nuff said!), a talk with George Lucas, and of course my latest "A Walk with Walt" column, continuing the story of Walt Disney through 1940. Look for this official magazine of D23 at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Disney Stores and at Disneyland and Walt Disney World on May 3—and look for more info here.

Good Art For Good Friday

2011-04-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

To celebrate this solemn day, here is a piece of art created for the "Making Of" book all about MGM's Ben-Hur (1959). To call this hardcover book (published by Random House) a "program" is akin to calling Ben-Hur itself a slideshow, but this volume was issued in 1959 in conjunction with the film's first theatrical release, and was sold in the lobbies of the theaters showing the film in its roadshow presentation. (I wonder if the "program" was also sold in bookstores?) Part of this deluxe volume is a series of beautifully rendered artworks, perforated and "suitable for framing," which as the book states, are illustrator Ben Stahl's conceptions of scenes from the epic film. Being "A Tale of the Christ," Ben-Hur features a dramatic portrayal of the crucifixion, and Stahl's powerful painting captures its drama with an emotional punch. (Since Ben-Hur focuses on reactions of witnesses to this public execution, so does the painting.) Believe it or not, Disney fans, there's a Disney connection: Ben Stahl wrote (and illustrated) the 1965 book Blackbeard's Ghost on which Walt Disney's 1968 film was based.

Valentine's Day, Disney Style

2011-02-14T23:23:00.000-08:00

Where's the love? Right here, with these vintage Disney Valentine cards, circa late 1960s. Two of them feature two of my favorite characters—Winnie the Pooh and Ludwig Von Drake—and one has Pluto, who I picked in honor of all the great friends I have who have great dogs. The artwork is so charming that I hope these cards help make your Valentine's day more lovely.

An All New Issue

2011-01-25T03:58:00.000-08:00

As reported on the D23 website, the new issue of Disney twenty-three magazine will be available on February 1. As usual, this issue will contain a new edition of the "A Walk with Walt" column, written by me. This time around "A Walk with Walt" expands to three pages instead of the usual two. Be sure and check out the Spring 2011 issue of Disney twenty-three when it hits the stands at Borders, Barnes & Noble's, and at DisneyShopping.com, Disneyland and Walt Disney World on 2/1/2011. (If you are a D23 Member you get your own copy in the mail complete with a bonus collectable gift.) Look for it, and check out "A Walk with Walt" column, written by Jim Fanning, in every issue.

No Mallets, No Watermelon

2011-01-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

On January 24, 1965—46 years ago today—"Gallegher" made its debut "in living color" on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. This multi-episode comedy-adventure about the go-getting boy reporter was a hit the moment it hit the airwaves in early 1965. The other two episodes of that first batch of "Gallegher"s aired on January 31 and February 7, and led to three more sets of sequels, including the Emmy-nominated "The Further Adventures of Gallegher," which premiered in September 1965. The debut of the nonstop exploits of the copy boy who always followed his newsworthy nose tracking down headlines was in itself big news, as evidenced by Gallegher's prominence in the 1964 Walt Disney Productions Annual Report. As you can see in this detail from the "Television" portion of the 1964 Annual Report (click on the image for a larger view), which touted "Gallegher" as part of the "bright array of stellar programming" resulting from "the public response to more fully developed stories such as last season's three-parter 'The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.'" Unfortunately the Gallegher photo is flopped, as you can see from the part in star Roger Mobley's hair, which is actually on his left. (Even odder is the flopped image of NBC's trademark peacock. One wonders why it was necessary to have even the very symbol of Disney's then-home network facing the wrong way.) Ready to read more about Walt Disney's "Gallegher" as so ably portrayed by Roger Mobley? Then be sure and check out "Walt Disney's Forgotten TV Classic" at the D23 website (it's free), written by me. P.S. "Gallegher"'s January 24 premiere came just eight days after star Roger Mobley's birthday. Happy belated birthday, Roger!

Walt Meets The Mustache

2011-01-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Over at his always interesting Institute of Disney History Paul Anderson has published one of my favorite photos of Walt Disney, featuring Hollywood's most unlikely Studio head aboard a rider mower on the lawn of the Disney Studios in Burbank. The truly intriguing detail about the photo is that Walt's mustache has been drawn in—that is, Walt was sans his signature mustache when the photo was taken and the image was retouched to add the missing under-the-nose appendage. Walt grew his mustache in April 1924 (the photo seen here was taken when Walt was nineteen) as a way to make the twenty-three year old filmmaker seem older and he was rarely seen without it for the rest of his life, so one wonders why Walt was clean-shaven in the photo. Perhaps it was taken after the infamous incident in which legendary Disney artist Ken Anderson accidentally singed the facial hair off while trying to light Walt's cigarette with a faulty lighter. At any rate head over to Paul's blog and see the drawn-in mustache for yourself.

Seventy Years of Disney Comics on D23

2011-01-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

As regular visitors to Tulgey Wood know I have started a series of posts about that classic comic book Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, as it's celebrating its 70th anniversary (the title's original publication date being October 1940). To read more about this historic comic magazine head on over to the D23 website (remember, it's free) and read the article written by me, covering the imperishable comic book since its earliest years to its current promise to return to the classics. It's all in "Seven Decades of Disney Comic Delights" written by Jim Fanning exclusively for the D23 website.

Fantagraphics To Publish Carl Barks

2011-01-02T23:50:00.000-08:00

This news has been all over the internet since early this morning but it's worth repeating: After already announcing this past summer plans to publish Floyd Gottfredson's classic Mickey Mouse comic strip in hard cover volumes (the announcement was the news of the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con), that fantastic publisher of comics Fantagraphics got 2011 off to a ducky start by announcing today that they will publish the complete Disney comic-book work of master comics writer/artist Carl Barks. In a very wise move, Fantagraphics will start with Barks' top-of-the-crop work (rather than starting with Barks' still-evolving first stories), with Volume One (to be published this fall) spotlighting some of the epic Donald Duck book-length adventures and Volume Two to showcase Carl's first epic Uncle Scrooge adventures. For more details and an in-depth interview with editor Gary Groth about the Barks project hurry on over to Robot 6. This of course fits right in with my current Walt Disney's Comics and Stories postings, the past and future home of Carl Barks' Donald comic stories. More to come!

1/1/11

2011-01-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

We're celebrating this first day of the New Year here at Tulgey Wood in style with the very first issue of Disney's flagship comic book Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. Issue Number 1 was published in October 1940, and what was inside? In addition to the latest episode of Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comic strip reprint serial "Mickey Meets Robinson Crusoe" (originally published in newspapers in 1938 and 1939, and started serially in Walt Disney's Comics' predecssor Mickey Mouse Magazine), there were reprints of Al Taliaferro and Bob Karp's Donald Duck newspaper comic strip, "stories" about the Silly Symphonies The Robber Kitten and Water Babies, puzzles, riddles and even "Mickey's Hints" about such matters as table manners. The cover with that mischievous Duck giving a sly wink as he opened up the "Opening Number" might be an indication Donald knew he had not only taken over for Mickey on the cover of Mickey Mouse Magazine (Donald was on the last four Mickey Mouse covers of that Magazine, of which the new comic book was a continuation) but would also appear on almost every Walt Disney's Comics cover from 1940 through today (although in recent months Mickey has been spotlighted on the cover). On the back cover was a list of winners for the drawing contest from the July issue of Mickey Mouse Magazine, another indication that Walt Disney's Comics is a continuation of Mickey's mag. After you enjoy this primo Disney art (attributed to premier Disney artist Hank Porter), check out my online article about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories at the (free) D23 website. The 1st issue of the number 1 best selling comic book in history just seemed appropriate for 1/1/11—stop by for more about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the following days.

Santa(s) Love Winnie the Pooh And Tulgey Wood Too

2010-12-31T22:47:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year Eve's surprise— Santas Working Overtime, that tireless collector of all things Christmas all over the Internet today recommended the special Sears art of Winnie the Pooh and his whirlwind tour of worldwide Christmas customs. Check out all the other Christmas goodness at Santas Working Overtime, and if you haven't already done so, feast your eyes on Winnie the Pooh's International Christmas starting here.

Happy New Year (Almost)

2010-12-31T20:05:00.000-08:00

To ring in 2011 what else would we possibly do but look back to 1942 (or 3)? The classically cute cover (attributed to Carl Buettner) of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories # 28 (January 1943) bid farewell to 1942 and welcomed 1943 as only Unca Donald and his nephews could. Stay tuned for more about Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the New Year.

Christmas In Jellystone And Bedrock

2010-12-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

Back here I posted a Yogi Bear comic book cover but Yowp—home to all kinds of classic Hanna-Barbera animation treasures—has given us some truly rare gifts: Yuletide themed Sunday comic pages from the Yogi Bear and Flintstones newspaper comic strips from the 1960s and 1970s. These fun and finely drawn comics (click on the above example from December 24, 1967 for a larger view) are rearely reprinted so these are a real Christmas present. Check out these Christmasy comic strips and while you're there, delve into Yowp's pic-a-nic basketful of Hanna-Barbera treats.

Christmas in New York

2010-12-26T20:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas and New York City just seem to go together—witness the festive department store windows, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and of course New Year's Eve in Times Square. No wonder then that The New Yorker has run many Decembers' worth of holiday covers since it was first published in 1925. This year's double issue dated December 20 and 27 2010 brought a double cover One Small Step at a Time by Christoph Niemann designed around Rockefeller Center's famed Atlas sculpture, a New York landmark almost as well known as The New Yorker itself.

A Merry Christmas in Walt Disney's Wonderland

2010-12-25T23:56:00.001-08:00

60 years ago today, Christmas Day, the world was introduced to Walt Disney's first television production, a Christmas special on NBC (not ABC, as is sometimes reported) entitled One Hour in Wonderland, co-starring the wonderfully gifted Edger Bergen and his ventriloquist dummies Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Much has been made of the fact that Walt was friends with Edger Bergen and that friendship being the reason Bergen and his characters appeared on the special (Disney producer/writer Bill Walsh who produced this special had at one time written for Edger Bergen as well) but it was more likely Bergen & McCarthy's association with Coca-Cola that led to their guesting on the show; The Charlie McCarthy Show radio program broadcast on Sunday evenings over CBS starting in October 1949 was sponsored by Coca-Cola, and earlier in 1950, Bergen and his dummies had headlined at least one TV special for Coke. (By the way, the guests on the December 24, 1950 broadcast of The Charlie McCarthy Show were Disney stars Bobby Driscoll and Kathryn Beaumont, who were to appear with Edgar and Charlie the next day on the Disney TV special.) The Coke influence is seen not only in the Coca-Cola announcements at the beginning and end of the special and the commercial break halfway through (Walt insisted there only be one commercial) but in One Hour in Wonderland's main title music, which incorporates Coke's theme song. Although it really didn't have a title (it was usually called The Coca-Cola Theme Song although was sometimes known as "Coca-Cola Signature"), this tune would have been quite familiar to 1950 audiences as Coke had been using the theme since 1930 when it was composed by orchestra leader Leonard Joy. (The song continued on as the theme for the soda's very popular TV program Coke Time starring Eddie Fisher). The colorful detail shown above is from a grand poster, given to Coca-Cola distributors and bottlers. The full poster overflows with Disney art (I agree with those who think it looks like the style of Disney artist Al Dempster who illustrated the Alice in Wonderland Golden Books around this time) and is from the collection of Matt who just published the poster in all its glory on his awesome blog all about Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Hurry on over and you'll also see a lot more about that amazing Disney first, Walt's original TV production One Hour in Wonderland, broadcast on Christmas Day 1950.

Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing

2010-12-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

One of the "Party Planner" items Hallmark has issued over the years has been a variety of centerpieces, some of which have featured Disney or Peanuts or other characters. Though I don't know if this is still happening, for many Christmases Hallmark also published a cardboard Nativity scene, such as the one pictured on the left, circa 1980. Though these cardboard creches were undoubtedly used for parties and as decorations, they were also used by poor households who were unable to afford even the most inexpensive figural Nativity. Though I have seen some elaborate and exquisite Nativity scenes in churches, homes and museums, this humble Hallmark somehow seems most appropriate to celebrate the birth of the Child born into poverty. This post is dedicated to my mother and father who, often at sacrifice for themselves, never failed to help someone in needs, whether it was Christmas or not. Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad...and Merry Christmas to all.

The Wonder(Land) Of Christmas

2010-12-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a wondrous way to kick off Christmas Eve—a rare and glorious Disney artwork by Russell Schroeder that was published in two cast member newsletters: Disney Newsreel (Walt Disney Studios) and Eyes and Ears (Walt Disney World). I love how it incorporates so many Wonderland characters (and the King). And if you have ever wanted to celebrate Christmas in Wonderland, check out this charming non-Disney comic-book story from 1943.

From @Disney To All Of You On Twitter

2010-12-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

Starting today @Disney on Twitter is spotlighting Walt Disney's Christmas TV perennial "From All Of Us To All Of You" which originally was broadcast in 1958. @Disney is bringing to you a transcript of and photos (black-and-white, as was the show as originally aired) from Walt's rarely-seen introduction to the TV show. Pictured at right is one of the images you will see on Twitter as well as a color image from the show as found on the Animation Background blog. Be sure and sign up for @ Disney on Twitter so you can follow each day's Disney festivities. In the meantime, don't forget to read my online article all about "From All Of Us To All Of You" over at TV Party.

Yogi's Jolly Christmas

2010-12-16T00:19:00.000-08:00

Yogi Bear's back in the minds of at least a few folks this holiday season as he appears in a new computer-generated movie but many moons ago that smarter-than-the-average bear made Christmas a little merrier by appearing in a holiday-themed comic book. The Christmas-centric Yogi Bear Jellystone Jollies # 11 was cover-dated January 1963 so was on the stands for Christmas 1962. Featuring a festive cover (I like the way the art tells a sequential story rather than just a single gag), this Jellystone jam-packed holiday extravaganza was a incredible 80 pages long (and cost a then pricey 25 cents)! You can read at least one of the interior comic stories at the Magic Carpet Burn blog, so get that Thermos bottle of hot cocoa out from your pic-a-nic basket and have a few sips as you enjoy some more Hanna-BarBEARa Christmas goodness.

Christmas Fun With Snagglepuss And Others

2010-12-14T01:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas 1965 brought a holiday treat in Merry Christmas with The Hanna-Barbera Organ and Chimes—not so much with the record itself which features Christmas music that doesn't include the characters singing nor even narrating, but in the artwork, which is a Hanna-Barbera Christmas delight. Put on some favorite Yuletide tunes (if you would like to hear the album itself, which is actually very nice if pretty generic, you can visit the Check The Cool Wax blog, where you'll find many other Christmas music goodies) and gaze at its glories. How many of the H-B characters pictured in this album art can you name (the Flintstones don't count)?

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh, Part 6

2010-12-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

For this final installment of the grand Winnie the Pooh artwork for the 1972 Sears Christmas Catalog, we follow Pooh to Mexico for more "BEARin' of the Gifts"—and I hope you agree that this rare Disney art is a true Christmas gift, simple but festive. This is the concluding installment but please go back and enjoy the first five as you celebrate the holidays according to your own Christmas customs and traditions.

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh, Part 5

2010-12-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Here's Gopher again and the rest of Pooh's true blue friends too to celebrate Christmas in Germany. I seem to remember hearing the art is by Disney Legend Burny Mattinson, who worked on Walt Disney's original Pooh featurettes as well as the all-new Pooh due in 2011. Come back tomorrow for conclusion of this special Pooh art from the Sears Catalog for the 1972 Christmas Season.

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh, Part 4

2010-12-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

Time for a small smackeral of something sweet for Christmas, and that must mean Winnie the Pooh. Feast your eyes on this sweet treat that takes us to Christmas in Sweden. (Click on the image for a larger image.) I like how the artist incorporated some of the smaller characters, such as Piglet ( A Very Small and Timid Animal, indeed) to let the catalog reader know there's more. In Part 1, back here, we even had Gopher, that Disney-created critter who was included in the catalog even though he's not in the book, you know. Stop back tomorrow for another Yuletide sweet treat from Winnie the Pooh.

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh, Part 3

2010-12-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Today we follow Winnie the Pooh and his friends to Italy for more Christmas celebrations. In the introduction to this sweet-as-hunny artwork, the Sears Christmas Catalog for 1972 stated that the childlike Pooh characters are a perfect match for the wonder of Christmas, and I think you'll agree. Come back for Part 4 tomorrow, and in the meantime click on the image for a larger view.

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh, Part 2

2010-12-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Here's Part 2 of that splendid Winnie the Pooh art created especially for the 1972 Christmas catalog. Sears was the first Disney licensee to create Pooh merchandise, and their agreement with Disney was exclusive for many years. Sears occasionally ran Pooh art but it was usually just a spot illustration here and there. To my knowledge, Sears never before or after published anything as spectacular as this Pooh Christmas art. Part 2 covers Christmas in Spain, so enjoy, and remember to click on the image for a larger view.

Christmas 'Round The World With Winnie The Pooh

2010-12-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

Back in July I promised more about that very special Christmas art featuring Winnie the Pooh, and starting today, I will post it all for Christmas. This rarely-seen Disney artwork was created for the Sears catalog for "the 1972 Christmas Season," and is a holiday delight as I'm sure you will agree. Here's part 1, all about Christmas in Holland. Be sure and click on the image for a larger view... and be sure and check back for the next five days so you can feast your eyes on all six Pooh views of Christmas customs and traditions 'round the world.

Sweet Tweets From Disney

2010-12-06T23:25:00.000-08:00

Disney has officially started tweeting from its Twitter account, @Disney, yesterday, December 5, 2010, in celebration of Walt Disney's birthday. And that's appropriate because the tweets are to be very Walt-centric. Disney's tweets are planned to include links to, art, video clips and photos. Disney started its tweets with a look at Walt and his Tomorrowland (ready for a rare color image of Walt playfully interacting with GARCO the robot?), and soon will segue to Christmas. If you hook up with only one Twitter account, make sure you sign up with Disney's. To celebrate @Disney on Twitter, here (above) is a detail from a piece of Retta Scott Worcester's exquisite art for the 1950 Cinderella Big Golden Book, immortalizing the second Disney princess's bluebird friends. After all, a bluebird is the symbol of Twitter, promising tweets that offer the sweet treat that only Disney can deliver.

Happy Birthday, Walt: A View On Art

2010-12-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

To honor Walt Disney on this, the 109th anniversary of his birth, here's a rarely-seen 1964 photo from the Los Angeles Times of Walt visiting an early version of the California Institute of Arts (CalArts), the famed arts school founded by Walt. 1964 was also the year Walt threw the Hollywood premiere of Mary Poppins on August 27, 1964, as a benefit for the burgeoning school, at which Walt screened a short film entitled The CalArts Story. In 1966, Walt had this to say on the subject of the Disney Studio producing "art": "An artist who consciously goes about producing art can become inhibited. It's always easier to talk about art, or to strike a beatnik pose, then it is to create. My artists are asked to 'let go'. We encourage a free-flow of ideas. It is always interesting to me how many people can vividly recall a sequence from a favorite Disney film—they can even tell you the colors! Thus may be nostalgia, or it could be that these films and their creative ideas are becoming a part of art history."

Fascinating Fantasia

2010-12-03T02:19:00.000-08:00

Christmastime is "Nutcracker" time so here's some unique Disney art from a 1963 release of "The Nutcracker Suite" as conducted by Stokowski and performed by his 100 Men, the Philadelphia Orchestra from Fantasia (1940). Back here I said I'd announce some Fantasia writing I'd been working and now, in honor of both the 70th anniversary of Fantasia (it debuted on November 13, 1940) and also its release on Disney Blu-ray, "15 Fascinating Facts about Fantasia" is now live on the D23 website. Be sure and visit D23 (it's free) and read all about Walt Disney's Fantasia in this article written by Jim Fanning.

Archie Gets Wrapped Up In Christmas

2010-12-02T00:51:00.000-08:00

As always, we can turn to America's Favorite Teenager for some good old fashioned Christmas fun...and by that, we mean slapstick. Entangled in wrapping and ribbon (maybe he tripped over the ubiquitous and ugly UPC code), Archie effortlessly steals the scene even when he's on the cover of Betty and Veronica's title. (Actually, Jughead is really the one who's the scene stealer by underplaying it.) At least Veronica gets the punchline, which proves you can always rely on Archie and his Pals and Gals for some timeless Yuletide yocks. This cover is from Betty and Veronica Christmas Spectacular (Archie Giant Series # 489) December 1979, and was penciled by Dan DeCarlo and inled by Jim DeCarlo. There will be more Archie fun later this month so check back and see if you agree with Veronica as she says (and Betty obviously concurs),that nobody gets as wrapped up in Christmas as Archie.

Christmas Comic Covers: Dennis vs. Donald's Nephews, Halos For Hoops

2010-12-01T05:19:00.000-08:00

Let's kick the month of Christmas off with a holiday-themed comic-book cover showdown between some master mischief-makers. Both Dennis the Menace and Donald Duck (and his nephews) regularly celebrated Christmas in their comic books, so perhaps it was just a matter of time before they ended up sharing a seasonal situation, as in Dennis the Menace Bonus Magazine Christmas Special #87 1970 (drawn perhaps by Ron Ferdinand) Walt Disney's Comics and Stories # 207 October 1957 (drawn by Paul Murry). Rather than call this a swipe, let's assume that it's a case of great minds thinking alike.

More Colorful

2010-11-30T04:38:00.000-08:00

Both last season and this, NBC has returned to its "living color" roots from the 1950s and 1960s (the phrase was first used for NBC's then-few color broadcasts in 1953) with a campaign promoting its shows and their characters as "More Colorful." This naturally makes me think of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, which at the start of the 1966-1967 TV season (when NBC finally became the "The All Color Network," as 100% of NBC's programming—from Today in early morning through Tonight at late night— were colorcasts) was promoted with this artwork, along with the rest of the Sunday prime time lineup. Featured are Bryan Russell and Roger Mobley starring in not "Gallegher" but instead the 1964 theatrical release Emil and the Detectives, which was the World of Color season premiere. (By the way, thsi art comes to us from Rankin-Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt's must-see blog, a fun visit anytime but especially during the holidays.)

Reflections On Goofy

2010-11-28T16:12:00.001-08:00

As I'm sure any regular visitor to Tulgey Wood already knows, the ever-prolific Mark Evanier has posted on his always-updated blog about the classic "mirror scene" scene in which a look-alike character tries to convince that character he is looking at a reflection of himself and not another person. Among others, Mark lists Groucho and Harpo in Duck Soup (1933) and Harpo and Lucille Ball in the famed 1955 "Lucy and Harpo Marx" episode of I Love Lucy. Not mentioned, however, is Goofy and a mischievous spook playing out their own version of the mirror scene in Walt Disney's Lonesome Ghosts (1937). It's truly one of the best versions of the mirror routine—all the more so because it's animated, brilliantly, by veteran Dick Huemer. You can see a glimpse of it above (click on the image for a larger view) thanks to an animator identification mosiac created by Mark Mayerson for his excellent blog. PS Patty Duke did a version of the mirror bit too on her 1960s TV series The Patty Duke Show in which the Oscar-winning actress famously portrayed identical cousins.

Happy Birthday, Sparky

2010-11-26T16:55:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the birthday of Charles M. Schulz, here's a cover he drew for Liberty magazine, in its "nostalgia" reincarnation (hence the "Then & Now" appendage). Schulz must have been pleased to draw the cover of this issue celebrating the comics, as he had always been an avid reader and appreciator of the comic-strip art form. (Even his nickname was inspired by the racehorse Sparkplug in the Barney Google strip—that's right, "Google" once referred to something other than a search engine) In addition to including Schulz among the "Great Cartoonists of the Century," this issue also included an article about Sparky and Peanuts, which during this time—the cover date of this magazine is Winter 1973 —was an ever-expanding, unbelievably popular phenomenon. The article features the following observation: "There is no doubt in my mind that drawing a comic strip simply has to be the best job in the world. People send you wonderful letters. the syndicate for which you work sends you enough money to live on, and you are allowed to draw all of the pictures that you have been wanting to draw ever since you were a little kid." Typical Schulzian understatement, with none of the bitterness ascribed to him by recent biographers. What better way to celebrate Sparky's birthday than reveling in this specially drawn art (click on the image for a larger view.)

The Buzz About The 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2010-11-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

Did you watch the 2010 edition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade yesterday on NBC... and if so, did you see John Lasseter as one of the volunteer handlers at the end of one of the Buzz Lightyear balloon's tethers? I wasn't even sure it was actually John but I rewound the DVR to double-check and sure enough, it was Pixar (and Disney's) own chief creative officer. I had no idea he was to be part of the parade in any capacity, but Reuters was, as they published the Disney press release here. Here's a photo of the Buzz balloon from NYDailyNews.com Also, about my post regarding the new Virginia balloon being the only Macy's parade balloon to be based on a real person: further research reveals that there was an Eddie Cantor balloon in 1940, in honor of the then-famous, now almost-forgotten Broadway-radio-movie star Eddie Cantor (whose public-awareness may be on the rise, however, as he's a character in the HBO mini-series Boardwalk Empire.)

Thanksgiving In Wonderland

2010-11-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a rare Thanksgiving treat—a piece of seldom-seen Disney art that graced the November 27, 1981 issue of Disney Newsreel, the Disney Studios' in-house newsletter. I couldn't find a credit but I'm quite sure this whimsical bit of Wonderland insanity was created by Disney artist and author Russell Schroeder. It's a feast for the eyes, so be sure and click on the art for a bigger helping. Happy Thanksgiving! (PS I see that Matt over at his Wonderland blog already ran this art in 2008. Be sure and check out Matt's blog, it too is a feast of madness any day of the year.)

Super Fun!

2010-11-24T04:23:00.000-08:00

It's time for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and also time for the equally fun and colorful annual poster. I love the cut-out style art—it also has a sort of felt-board feel—and as always this annual artwork conveys the excitement of the world's most famous parade. (Click on the poster for a larger view.) Greg, the title character of the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, makes his debut as a giant balloon, and I say anytime a character from a book joins the lineup of Macy's balloon characters it's a good thing. A writer also joins the pageant's inflatable array this year, believe it or not —it's Virginia, the star of the animated Yes, Virginia Macy's-sponsored CBS special. Virginia is of course the author of the famed 1897 "Is there a Santa Claus?" letter-to-the-editor. So is Virginia the first Macy's balloon to be based on a real person? She may well be... not that I don't think that Spider-Man and Snoopy aren't real—or at least they seem be. (Update: See this post for the only other "real" person to be represented as a Macy's balloon. No, it's not Buzz Lightyear.) Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, tune into NBC for the parade, featuring as it did last year Jimmy Fallon and the Roots. It will be, as Jimmy said a couple of nights ago on his show, "Super fun!"

Why? Because We "Like" You On Facebook

2010-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the anniversary of Mickey Mouse's debut in Steamboat Willie (1928), Mickey's "birthday," so it seemed like a good opportunity to point out that the birthday boy is on Facebook. Yes, Disney has an official Facebook page for Disney characters, movies and parks, and it's a lot of fun. So many favorite characters are listed as having their own official pages, everyone from Mickey and Minnie (it's her birthday too!) to Edna Mode, from Dopey to Dr. Facilier, from Aurora to Tangled. Celebrate the Mouse who started it all and all that he started (Walter Elias Disney has a Facebook page too) by "Liking" the official Disney Facebook page. (Once there be sure and click on the tab that takes you to the individual Disney Pages.)

Fantasound: Not Just For Fantasia Only

2010-11-16T02:34:00.000-08:00

I've been writing a lot about Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940) lately, and that magnificent film is being released as a Diamond Edition Blu-ray later this month...so what better time than now to take a look at Fantasound. I don't exactly mean the Oscar-winning multichannel sound system created for Walt's animated masterpiece but rather a little-known series of recordings released in the late 1960s by Disney's prestige label, Buena Vista Records. Promoted as a sophisticated adult listening experience for the serious audiophile, and recorded mostly in Europe, these specialized LPs were first issued in 1967. The Fantasound albums featured classical selections and the scores of Broadway shows (and The Happiest Millionaire, the Disney musical in release at the time). Billboard magazine reported that Vista launched a major promotional campaign for this internationally-distributed adult-oriented series, elements of which included posters, counter displays and special discount rates to retailers. Another promotion was included on the inner sleeve included in all Vista albums, the Fantasound detail of which is pictured above (click on the image for a larger view). Plus watch this blog for news of some of my upcoming writing about Fantasia.

Conan Takes To The Skies Over Burbank

2010-11-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

Living in the center of Hollywood (well, it's really Burbank) one gets to see a lot of things some people living in some other parts of the country might not. For example, I have seen overhead on numerous occasions the Goodyear blimp and the Fuji blimp. (Sadly, I have never seen the MetLife blimp, featuring the famous World War I Flying Ace.) Today I saw the new Conan blimp. It seemed to be basically flying over the Warner Bros. lot, which would make sense as Conan does his freshly-minted late-night show from that lot, which is right here in Burbank. I imagine Conan will make reference to his blimp being directly overhead. I'll soon know as his show starts in less than a half-hour as of this writing. (I'm not surprised Conan has a blimp as he has always seemed to like them... if memory serves, I think he had Andy Richter spend an entire episode of his first NBC series aboard the MetLife blimp. Some people have all the luck.) You can find out more about the Conan blimp and even track its travels (so you will know when its over your city) here. (Even though the graphic above says the Conan blimp will be in flight through October 31, its flight has been extended trough November.)

60 Years Of Crashed Kites And Disrespectful Dogs

2010-10-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Today, October 2, 2010 marks the 60th anniversary of the comic strip that surely needs no introduction, Peanuts, for it was on this date in 1950 that the initial entry in what would become a worldwide phenomenon was first published in a mere seven newspapers, a marked contrast to the 2,000-plus papers in which the comic would eventually appear. To mark the occasion, here's a rare bit of art—a 1967 letter sent out by comic-strip artist/writer par excellence Charles M. Schulz in response to a fan apparently requesting original art. It would be interesting to know if Mrs. Jones of Parsons, Kansas ever received an original strip from United Features Syndicate. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this example (click on the image for a larger view) of special art created by Schulz outside the strip itself as we celebrate sixty years of happiness with Peanuts.