October 26, 1985...

...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 magazine 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

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

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)

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

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

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

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!

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

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"

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.)