Newsies News: A New Online Jeff Kurtti Feature

Since we can never get enough of Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti, here's some news that's (not so) coincidentally about the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Newsies. As many of you probably already know, Disney Insider has just launched a weekly feature by Disney historian/author Jeff Kurtti. Entitled The Wonderful World of Walt, this will be a weekly must-read for all Disney fans. The first installment, centering on the Tony Award-winning Newsies, was just posted. What does Newsies have to with Walt, you ask? (Well, some of you may be asking... many of you already know there is a connection.) Read this all-new online article and find out, and be sure and check out The Wonderful World of Walt by Jeff Kurtti each and every week. 

Discovering Disney Delights In The Walt Disney Family Museum Newsletter

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Museum and its content—and I was honored to be invited by them to be a part of the writing and research of the Museum's historical content.)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.

A Kurtti Christmas

If you are looking for a perfect gift for someone still on your list, or if you have a gift certificate that's still burning a hole in your Christmas stocking, then you can't do any better than check out the great Disney books now available written by Disney historian Jeff Kurtti. The first book I'd like to reccomend is the most recent, and it's one I'm sure you all know about because it's been reccomended by just about everyone. It's of course the just-published The Art of The Princess and the Frog. Not only does it feature a Preface by John Lasseter and a Forward by directors John Musker and Ron Clements (that are quite interesting in themselves), not only is the book crammed with great artwork of every sort used to create the film (well worth the price of the book in itself), but it also features Jeff's as-always expert and eloquent writing, including a mini-history of Disney animation (hand-drawn, that is), taking us through times both glorious and inglorious right up to this new triumph. I just got this rewarding volume (a gift for me, from me) and I can't recommend it more highly. But the book I truly want to urge everyone to add to his or her library is The Art of Walt Disney World. Like Jeff's equally excellent book The Art of Disneyland, the newer Walt Disney World volume was created with the late Bruce Gordon, and overflows with truly rare conceptual drawings, paintings and other assorted artworks, plus detailed behind-the-scenes information. This is an indispensable book that—like any book by Jeff Kurtti— belongs on the shelf of every Disney lover, now and at any season of the year.