Time For Some Summer Magic

Here is the cover of the Summer Magic comic book, published by Gold Key in 1963 to coincide with the release of the film. Though the cover boasts a photo of lively Hayley Mills, the interior art is by comic-book legend Russ Manning. To celebrate this "50 and Fabulous" film, D23.com has just posted today a new article written by me all about this Disney live-action classic starring Hayley, Burl Ives and those great Sherman Brothers songs. Check out "The Pink of Perfection: Walt Disney's Summer Magic" by Jim Fanning at D23.com. (This is a Member's only article, but it's easy to become a FREE D23 member at the website.)

Minnie Mouse: Our Gal In Hollywood

For a few years early in the run of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (1941-1944, issues 12-41) there was a text piece (one of the "Stories" mentioned in the publication's titles?) entitled "Hollywood Chatter"—and the byline belonged to none other than Minnie Mouse. This radio show-like report mostly covered news and tantalizing tidbits about Tinseltown's younger set, such as Mickey Rooney, Roddy McDowell (both of whom appeared in Disney live-action productions as adults) and the Our Gang kids, as well as the children of grown-up stars such as the sons of Don Ameche. Interesting that in the 1940s and then in the 1970s, the Disney comics cast Miss Minnie as a Hollywood reporter. The example below is from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (issue 25, October 25); the header art is attributed to prolific Western Publishing artist Roger Armstrong. 

The Lights Of Hollywood

For the past few nights, Hollywood has been wondering why the famous Hollywood sign has been lit for the first time in years.(Surprise: It was for a movie shoot.) It is the 90th anniversary of the iconic sign this year, which hasn't been lit since New Year’s Eve of 1999, when sign was aglow for a Millennial light and fireworks show that caused a major (major even for L.A.) traffic jam. For the story behind the world-famous landmark, let's turn to our gal in Hollywood in a "Minnie Mouse in Hollywood" report from issue 18 (December 1969) of Walt Disney Comics Digest. Come in, Minnie!

Minnie Goes Hollywood

Following up on yesterday's post about Hollywood Mickey, here's a look at Mickey's gal pal turned glam puss in "Minnie Mouse in Hollywood." This charming and informative feature ran in most issues of Walt Disney Comics Digest (published by Gold Key) from Issue # 17 (October 1969) through the final issue, # 57, published in February 1976 (though Minnie's movieland report doesn't actually appear in that final issue). Topics covered included such moviemaking crafts and crafters as Set Designers, Sound Effects, Make Up and Stunt Artists and such Tinsel Town landmarks as Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Boulvard Walk of Fame, to name but a few. Enjoy this example from Walt Disney Comics Digest (published by Gold Key) from Issue # 45 February 1974. I'll post some more of Minnie's Hollywood reports from time to time. 

Mickey Goes Hollywood

Here are a few examples of toys created for the well-made (and now very collectable) line of toys called Hollywood Mickey. Made by Arco Toys (later purchased by Mattel) in 1989, these delightful toys were produced to tie-in with the opening of Disney's Hollywood Studios (the called Disney-MGM Studios) at Walt Disney World Resort. Dig that awesome Hollywood Mickey logo. John Loter, I bet you were behind that logo (and these toys)!

They Were Off To See The Wizard

That all-time classic, The Wizard of Oz, had its world premiere 74 years ago today—on August 15, 1939, to be exact. A deluxe program, the cover of which is seen below, was given out to audience members lucky enough to attend the premiere at  Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. This famed movie palace is about to be renamed the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX —and the first film it will showcase is—what else?—The Wizard of Oz in 3D, on September 15, to kickoff the film’s 70^th anniversary in 2014.

 

The Great and Powerful Francis Phillip Wuppermann

Just who is Francis Phillip Wuppermann, you may ask? You don’t have to gaze into Professor Marvel’s crystal to divine that Francis Phillip Wuppermann is the birth name of Frank Morgan. Though the beloved character actor may never have known the crowned heads of Europe, his humorous, heartwarming performances in many a golden-age movie (mostly for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, his home studio), where, as the title character in MGM’s timeless 1939 classic, he attained motion-picture immortality as Oz, the First Wizard deluxe. Though The Wizard of Oz was not considered his greatest film triumph at the time (none of his 1949 obituaries even mention it), today it is the only film in which he appeared from which most people know this prolific character player. Say what you will about James Franco as the most recent reincarnation of the Wizard (Too much of a 21^st century boy to play the Wizard? The box office business done by Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful belies such objections), he is probably one of the few bankable young actors who knows who Frank Morgan—and his accomplishments beyond Oz—is. In addition to enhancing many hit films such as The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Boom Town (1940) and The Human Comedy (1943), Frank was twice nominated for an Academy Award—as Best Actor for The Affairs of Cellini (1934) and as Best Supporting Actor for Tortilla Flat (1942). (Frank is pictured below with the other Oz leads, sporting the top hat he only holds, never wears, in the film itself.) So the next time you see The Wizard of Oz, take time to also seek out some of the other films (shown frequently on TCM) of Francis Phillip Wuppermann. 

Boston Town Was Loaded With Tea/He Up And Dumped It In The Sea

In honor of this Independence Day, here's the 45 rpm record cover for the songs from Walt Disney's  Johnny Tremain (1957). Even though "The Liberty Tree" is heard as a vocal in the film and has become a somewhat familiar Disney song, the film's theme song is not sung in the movie; it's only heard as part of the movie's score. The songs were written by the film's composer George Bruns (the orchestra and chorus for this recording were conducted by George Bruns) and its screenwriter Tom Blackburn. This follows the pattern of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," which was written at Walt Disney's request by the same duo from the "Davy Crockett" shows, composer (Bruns) and writer (Blackburn). If only the Johnny Tremain songs were as popular as the "Davy Crockett" theme—they deserve to be. You can easily find these songs online to listen to—you already have "The Liberty Tree" permanently embedded in your brain cells and once you hear "Johnny Tremain"—well, let's put it this way, you'll "remember his name." In the meantime, check out the article I wrote about Johnny Tremain on the new-and-improved D23.com. Happy Fourth!

The Lone Ranger: The Forgotten CBS Classic

Disney releases its version of The Lone Ranger today, and already its being attacked for, among things, being too bizarre. But there was another version years ago, an animated version created for CBS as part of their all-new animated superhero Saturday morning block in 1966. Produced by Herbert Klynn and Jules Engel and their famed Format Films, the show reflected the graphic proficiency of its producers, with stylish designs and distinctive scratchy ink work (actually chinagraph pencil) on the cels. The show was credited as a Jack Wrather Production (Jack for many years held the rights to The Lone Ranger; he may be best known to Disney enthusiasts as the creator/owner of the Disneyland Hotel until 1989, resulting in he and his wife Bonita Granville Wrather being named Disney Legends in 2011). The animated Lone Ranger ran on CBS from September 10, 1966, to September 6, 1969.  The evocative narration ("a man who became a legend...a daring and resourceful man who hated thievery and oppression. His face masked...his true name unknown...with his faithful Indian companion at his side, he thundered across the West on his great white stallion, appearing out of nowhere to strike down injustice and outlawry...and then, vanishing as mysteriously as he came") was spoken by Marvin Miller, who among his many other credits was the narrator for UPA and Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959). As opposed to the live-action TV show this animated version had the Lone Ranger and Tonto battling not bandits and desperadoes but rather aliens, monsters and mad scientists—much like CBS's prime-time live-action western/sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk series, The Wild Wild West, which had premiered the year before. Below are model sheet details from this utterly unique and unfortunately all-but-forgotten cartoon gem. 

Some Tiki Room Enchantment at D23.com

Fly on over to D23.com for a just-posted article written by me about Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, celebrating five decades of tasty tiki magic. Go here to read "The Tiki Room Celebrates 50 Years" by Jim Fanning at D23.com. (This article is a Members Only feature but now you can get a FREE D23 Membership at the website--be sure and sing up and you can visit all the Members Only fun at D23.com.) And to give Tulgey Wood a touch of D23 magic, here's a repro of the original 1963 Enchanted Tiki Room, given out to "you lucky people you" (Annual Passholders, anyhow) at Disneyland Park on June 23, 2013, the actual anniversary date.