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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.