Walt's Child Stars

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!

We'll Never Forget The Triple-R

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.

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 Walt Disney World

On this day in 1971, Walt Disney World opened to great acclaim and great promise for the future. Note the title: Walt Disney World, not Disney World or Disneyworld, for Roy O. Disney had decreed that this new "Vacation Kingdom" would be specifically named to honor the man whose vision and artistry was responsible for this massive new project and giant step forward in Disney entertainment. How appropriate, then, that this day in 2009 is opening day for another project named for—and directly honoring—the man himself, the Walt Disney Family Museum. This state-of-the-art salute to Walt was created, as its title implies, by his family. Daughter Diane Disney Miller and grandson Walter E. D. Miller have spearheaded this spectacular museum, for which I had the honor of providing some research and writing, thanks to Disney historians and Family Museum team members Jeff Kurtti and Paula Sigman Lowery. The Museum and its opening are being covered all over the internet, and the consensus is that it gives an amazingly intimate and detailed glimpse at Walt the man as he was known by his family and creative associates. Visit the Museum's website for more information. The Walt Disney Family Museum is an authentic Walt Disney world.