A Mad Men Christmas Party

Since it's New Year's Eve it only seems appropriate to have a party, and not just any party but an office party as only that stylish TV series Mad Men could pull it off. This is the 2007 Christmas card commissioned by actor Rich Sommer (he plays Harry on the show) from artist Dyna Moe. As an extra treat to feast your eyes on between sips of your very dry martini, here's a fascinating interview with Mad Men prop master Scott Buckwald, who crams the show with all sorts of swank 60s swag.

Some About Sleeping Beauty

I can't let 2009 draw to a close without posting something about Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. One of my favorites, this beautiful film celebrates its 50th anniversary this year—that is, the year that's just ending. To celebrate, here's a charming article from the inside cover of the Sleeping Beauty and the Prince comic book issued for the original release of the film. The comic-book story itself is a cut-down version of the story run in the Giant Sleeping Beauty comic released earlier in 1959. The story was drawn by Al Hubbard, as was the front cover. The poster-like back cover is often attributed to Al, but I think it was drawn by Paul Murry. The style is definitely not that of Al's sketchy, illustrative comic art (well-matched to Tom Oreb's angular character designs seen in the film) but rather has the rounded, well-defined "cute" look of Paul's art. Look for more about Sleeping Beauty here at tulgey Wood in 2010.

A Merry Christmas Card from Walt Disney (and D23)

In these quieter December days following Christmas Day I like to focus on quieter activities such as sleigh rides and getting together with friends, all with a Christmasy feel. This vintage Christmas card from Walt Disney meets all those criteria. Orginally sent out by Walt for Christmas 1933, the card features priceless art of Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and their less-often seen friends Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar (and a lean-and-lank horse, perhaps Tanglefoot?). This reproduction was a gift to D23 Members, just one of the gifts sent out through the year with each issue of D23's Disney twenty-three Magazine. Don't forget, Charter Memberships in D23 are available for only a few more days—after December 31, 2009, there's no way to become a Charter Member in the Official Community for Disney Fans, so you'll want to hop on a one-horse sleigh and dash through the snow to D23 with (jingle) bells on.

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.

A Gift Or Two From Chip 'n' Dale

Like you, I imagine, Chip and Dale have opened their Christmas gifts, and in this charming cover from Chip 'n' Dale #12 (December 1957), drawn by Chip 'n' Dale master (and king of the cute) Harvey Eisenberg, the two chattering yet cheerful chipmunks have received exactly what they want for each other. A gentle reminder that it's the simple gifts that are best, this delightful Disney art is itself a simple Christmas gift, perfect for this second day of Christmas.

Fear Not

To celebrate Christmas Day 2009 here's some Golden Book that's pure gold. Published in 1959, The First Noel: The Birth of Christ from the Gospel According to Saint Luke was illustrated with magnificently stylized art by Alice and Martin Provensen. Here's some of that art (click on each image for a larger view) to illuminate this day, this season. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Kris Kringle Comes To Gotham

Here's a Christmas Eve treat from Tom's excellent Batman blog: a clip from the classic Batman 1966 TV series, featuring that colorful and long-lived character actor Andy Devine as Santa Claus. (There's even a Disney connection, as I'm sure you know, as Andy was the voice of Friar Tuck in Disney's Robin Hood, 1973). I've been trying to think of the different character actors who have played Santa Claus on TV and in the movies through the years, without too much luck: there's been Ed Asner, Art Carney (he played Santa at least twice: in the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Night of the Meek" and the all-but-forgotten Muppet special, The Great Santa Claus Switch, from 1970), Fred Astaire, David Huddleston, Hal "Otis Campbell" Smith in the Christmas episode of The Brady Bunch, and of course, as Kris Kringle in the various versions of Miracle on 34th Street, Thomas Mitchell, Sebastian Cabot, Richard Attenborough and (best of all, by far), Edmund Gwenn in the definitive 1947 original. I must say that Andy Devine's brief cameo as Mr. Claus is one of the best, and also—by dint of its appearance on the always-odd (usually in a good way) Batman show—one of the most eccentric. While you're waiting for Santa to visit your home, check out his visit to the inimitable Batman series, originally broadcast ("in Color!") on December 22, 1966.

A D23 Charter Membership For Christmas

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the Disney enthusiast in your life (besides you, I mean)? D23 has announced a discount gift membership for the holiday season. This is the perfect opprtunity to give someone a Charter Membership (including a subscription to disney twenty-three magazine) while they are still available. "Charter Membership will never be available again once 2009 ends, so this is a perfect holiday gift for a Disney fan," says Steven Clark, head of D23. "Being a Charter Member in D23 is a special designation for Disney fans who have been with us from the very beginning, and we think this is a great last-minute gift for the holidays." Visit the D23 website for more info, and in the meantime enjoy this specially created art about this perfect Disney gift. And while you're at it see if you can spot the special touch on Tweedle Dee, and you'll know why we at D23 refer to this bouncy character as Dee 23!

Christmas Fun With Bugs Bunny's Christmas Funnies

It should come as no surprise to fans of Bugs Bunny that the fun-loving critter knows how to throw a party, so there's been many a Bugs comic published over the years overflowing with Yuletide festivities. This cover of the Bugs Bunny Christmas Party comic from 1955 (drawn I believe by Paul Murry) portrays Bugs getting in the spirit of the season by sharing a carrot with Tweety—and the merrymakers also include, you will note, Sylvester, unusually close to his usual prey. The lion shall lay down with the lamb (make that the puddy tat and the baby bird), indeed. For more fun from the annually published (from 1950 through 1958, with only 1955 seeing the publication of Bugs Bunny Christmas Party instead) Bugs Bunny's Christmas Funnies, dance on over here to the excellent Big Blog of Kids' Comics (and I hasten to add these great comics are not for kids only). There, blogmaster Mykal has posted not only this delightful Christmas comic story starring Bugs (from Bugs Bunny's Christmas Funnies No. 7 1956) but also other Christmas comics too.

The Princess, The Frog, and D23

The Winter 2009 issue of disney twenty-three magazine naturally has an in-depth cover story on The Princess and the Frog, Disney's triumphant return to hand-drawn animation. This fourth issue of the Magazine for the Official Community for Disney fans also features a Christmasy article about holiday celebrations by the Walt Disney Archives' Becky Cline and collaborator Graham Allan on holidays at Disneyland Park; a not-to-be missed visit to Walt's (and my) favorite restaurant, the Tam O'Shanter, also written by Becky; an excellent report on Walt Disney's Zorro by Paul F. Anderson (which includes many an awesome photo); and as always the historical column "A Walk With Walt," this time covering the early Silly Symphonies, written by Jim Fanning (that's me). It's still not too late to get a Charter Membership (including a subscription to disney twenty-three) for this first year of D23—head on over here (or here, if you want to buy a Membership as a gift) for more details.