The 1967 Premiere of The Jungle Book was a Swinging, Star-Studded Safari

August 23, 2016August 22, 2016

By Beth Deitchman

A “swinging safari that will amuse the young and old.”

That was how Disney’s 1967 animated musical, The Jungle Book—the last animated feature to be personally supervised by Walt Disney—was described by Mrs. Reese Hale Taylor, president of the Los Angeles Zoo Association, in a letter inviting friends and zoo supporters to the film’s gala premiere on October 18, 1967. The spectacular evening served as a fundraiser for the Los Angeles Zoo—now an established and beloved institution for local families, but which had only been founded the year before, in 1966. Fittingly, all funds raised would be designated for enhancements and additions.

The nighttime event, which Mrs. Taylor promised to be a “glittering” occasion, was actually the cap on a very special day at Hollywood’s famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Earlier in the afternoon, more than 1,200 lesser-privileged children attended a festive screening of the film, arriving at the theater on buses that were named after famous Disney characters—each of whom rode to the premiere with the children, on their namesake bus. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were among the Disney character luminaries who turned out for the magical day.

Famed television host Art Linkletter—best known for the book and subsequent TV series Kids Say the Darndest Things!—interviewed some of the children for segments that aired during local station KTTV’s “live, color coverage” of the premiere. The evening was truly a family affair for the guests, who included Hollywood stars such as Bob Hope, Charlton Heston, and Fred MacMurray, along with their families. Mrs. Taylor promised her invitees, “By 9:30 you can be on your way home, laughing all the way.”

Nearly 50 years later, The Walt Disney Studios’ live-action reimagining of The Jungle Book mesmerized audiences in theaters, and fans will be able to experience it again: The Jungle Book will be available early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere beginning August 23, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On-Demand beginning August 30. The Jungle Book is also returning to select IMAX locations for a limited time only, from August 26 through September 1.

“We saw The Jungle Book and are swinging with enthusiasm,” Mrs. Taylor effused about the 1967 title, and her words ring just as true for fans today.

Walt Disney’s Record Collection Revealed

August 19, 2016August 23, 2016

By Greg Ehrbar

When the Walt Disney Archives restored Walt’s office at the Walt Disney Studios earlier this year, they placed every available item just as Walt left it 1966 (thanks to Dave Smith’s meticulous documentation). In his private office, on a shelf to what would be Walt’s right, is a selection of vinyl LP records, including these:

Summer Magic* (Buena Vista STER-4028, 1963)
It’s no surprise to find an album from Walt’s own Buena Vista Records record company—with music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. With a few more songs than 1961’s The Parent Trap, Summer Magic was another step toward the full-scale musical form of Mary Poppins.

The Famous Ward Gospel Singers* (Buena Vista BV-3318, 1963)
In the book The Gospel Sound, historian Anthony Heilbut stated, “The Ward Singers have to be counted as the most influential Gospel group.” Recorded at Disneyland park, this is one of the earliest live albums recorded by the label.

Love Letters from Maureen O’Hara* (RCA Victor LPM-1953, 1958)
She hummed the Sherman classic “For Now, For Always” in The Parent Trap, but if you heard the complete version on Tutti Camarata’s album of that score, you know that Ms. O’Hara’s talent and beauty were vocal, as well as visual. She also recorded the Broadway Cast LP of Christine for RCA Victor.

My Favorite Songs from Mary Poppins—Ray Walston (Vee-Jay VJ-11110, 1965)
Mary Poppins—Lawrence Welk (Hamilton 152, 1965)
Music from Mary Poppins*—Ray Conniff (Columbia CS- 9166, 1965)
Disneyland-Vista Records president Jimmy Johnson may have brought these albums to Walt’s attention, as he aggressively sought out “cover versions” like these to maximize music publishing profits. In addition to Ray Walston (of TV’s My Favorite Martian), numerous stars recorded Mary Poppins tunes, including Mary Martin, whom Walt considered for the title role. An LP of Duke Ellington’s version (Reprise, 1965) was located in Walt’s secretarial office.

More Hit TV Themes—Nelson Riddle (Capitol T-1869, 1962)
The Rogues: Music from the TV Series—Nelson Riddle (RCA Victor LPM-2976, 1964)
We may never know whether Walt listened to these albums by Nelson Riddle (arranger/composer for Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others) to consider him for film or TV work, if Mr. Riddle was a friend, or Walt just liked the music.

Mama Sang a Song—Walter Brennan (Liberty LRP-3266, labeled WDP Record)
This Oscar® winner played dual roles in one of Walt’s last films, The Gnome-Mobile. He recorded several albums in which he narrated and “talk/sang” songs and verse—similar to the way he performed the Sherman song, “Drummin’, Drummin’, Drummin’” in 1968’s The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.

Other LP’s on Walt’s shelf include: Duchin Plays Cole Porter (RCA Columbia 36541); Paris: Its Sounds and People (Capitol T-10142); and The Benny Goodman Show (private pressing, BGTV-1), which was the soundtrack of a Disneyland-based TV special. Walt stored other records in drawers and boxes. One of these was a 1944 Decca album of music from Victor Herbert’s Babes in Toyland (with The Red Mill)*, starring Kenny Baker (The Jack Benny Program), possibly reviewed by Walt during the planning stages of his own 1961 version of the musical).

In a cabinet near the records is Walt’s record player. What did Walt have on the turntable? “Blue Rain” by Glenn Miller.* (RCA Victor 20-1536-A, 1939).

Want to experience Walt’s playlist for yourself? The above records marked with an asterisk (*) are still available as digital purchases. Pre-owned copies of the others pop up every so often in record stores and online.

To learn more about treasures from the office of Walt Disney, visit D23.com/OfficeofWaltDisney.

Did You Know? Swinging Stories from Disneyland’s Carnation Plaza Gardens

August 18, 2016January 29, 2018

By Greg Ehrbar

Aglow with idyllic charm suggesting the “Shipoopi” bandstand in The Music Man, Carnation Plaza Gardens brought a variety of joyous entertainment to Disneyland park beginning in 1956.

We asked Tim O’Day about the beloved location, since he was a Stage Manager there as a young Cast Member, as well as a PR executive for the Resort. (And don’t look ahead, but there’s a celebrity guest in this article too. You looked, didn’t you? I probably would have, too.)

“Carnation Plaza Gardens was the site for a great many shows and events,” O’Day recalls. “There were Disney Character greetings and shows—including one called ‘Fantasy Follies’ that ran for years. Its biggest claim to fame was that it was one of the places that kept the big band era alive.”

Here are a few factoids O’Day shared with D23:

· On one occasion, Walt presented each bandleader with an inscribed miniature piano as a special thanks for his or her Disneyland performance.

· The plaza was a location in the April 15, 1962 episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, Disneyland After Dark. Hosted by Walt, it starred Annette Funicello (pictured above), Louis Armstrong, Bobby Rydell, The Osmond Brothers, the Dapper Dans and the Elliott Brothers Orchestra. The episode was also released as a theatrical featurette.

· A TV dance show originating from Plaza Gardens was broadcast locally on Los Angeles station KHJ Channel 9, which is now KCAL.

· One year, on Count Basie’s (pictured above left) birthday, Sammy Davis (pictured above right), Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald visited for a surprise visit with cake at Plaza Inn.

· Before Plaza Gardens was built, there was a gazebo on the site where the first incarnation of the Candlelight ceremony took place in 1958 (known then as the Christmas Bowl).

· In June of 1958, Disneyland Records released an album of music from the Plaza called “Date Nite at Disneyland,” with the Elliott Brothers Orchestra, a favorite among patrons of the Plaza in the 1960s. The title track, “Let’s Dance at Disneyland,” was used for commercials and a 1962 Grad Nite 45-RPM record. .

· In the Winter of 1983, it was a setting in a TV special celebrating New Fantasyland called Believe You Can… and You Can!, starring Morey Amsterdam (The Dick Van Dyke Show) and Heather O’Rourke (Poltergeist). Morey played a leprechaun named “Jiffy.”

· On May 5, 2005, during the Disneyland 50th Anniversary celebration, film composer Alan Silvestri (Who Framed Roger Rabbit), who had composed a special suite for the occasion, conducted a live orchestra at Plaza Gardens to underscore events at Sleeping Beauty Castle featuring Julie Andrews, Christina Aguilera, and LeAnn Rimes.

Plaza Gardens also holds a special place in the heart of four-time Emmy® winner Peter Marshall (Hollywood Squares), who hosted the 1984 Disney Channel series Big Bands at Disneyland.

“I was more than thrilled to do the show,” Marshall told us. “Basically, I would introduce the performers and then do an interview. It was fun because most of them were already good friends. We had Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton (pictured above), Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Bob Crosby and the Bobcats, Bob Eberle, and Helen O’Connell, all the greats. They were all terrific.”

A few more fun facts: Marshall’s sister, actress Joanne Dru, was married to C.V. Wood, a key figure in the early days of Disneyland Park! He describes himself as a “boy singer” and still appears in concert, on CDs, and daily on the long-running radio show The Music of Your Life. Last March, hundreds of fans and friends (including Hollywood Squares co-star Rose Marie) celebrated his 90th birthday with an event held at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California.

And the beat goes on… on select nights, members of big-band royalty still entertain for your listening and dancing pleasure in Fantasy Faire’s Royal Theatre which stands on the site of Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Swing on over to the Disney Parks Blog for more archival images of Carnation Plaza Gardens.

Main Street Electrical Parade Returns to Disneyland Park—Plus More in News Briefs

August 17, 2016

By Courtney Potter

Main Street Electrical Parade Returns to Disneyland for a Limited Time!

Look! See there? Those twinkling lights on the horizon? They’re not a mirage… They’re part of the truly legendary, positively world-renowned Main Street Electrical Parade, which is returning to Disneyland park early next year!

It’s been two decades since the parade last wound its glittering way down Main Street, U.S.A.—and now, it’s returning for a limited-time encore engagement. Most recently, this “spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination” has been dazzling guests at Walt Disney World Resort.

Fans of the equally luminous Paint the Night, take note: That popular parade, first introduced as part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, will continue nightly performances before the Disneyland Forever fireworks through September 5—plus, it’ll return on select nights during the 2016 holiday season! So keep your eyes peeled to the entertainment calendar at Disneyland.com for more information… and stay tuned for more details about the Main Street Electrical Parade’s return as they become available.

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Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
August 20
The Reluctant Dragon 75th Anniversary on the Lot
August 22
D23 Presents Aloha Aulani!
September 23
Lunch with a Disney Legend: Bill Sullivan
September 24
D23 Presents Bedknobs and Broomsticks: 45 Bewitching Years (Florida)
October 5
D23’s Sip & Scream
October 5
D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience: A Midnight Soirée at the Tower of Terror
October 8
D23’s Age of Believing: 45 Years of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (California)
November 19–20
D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures
July 14-16, 2017
D23 Expo 2017
Studios
August 12, 2016
Pete’s Dragon opens in theaters
September 23, 2016
Queen of Katwe opens in theaters
November 4, 2016
Doctor Strange opens in theaters
November 23, 2016
Moana opens in theaters
December 16, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters

Parks
September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30; October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World Resort
September 23, 26, 28, 30
October 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort
September 2–October 29 (Friday and Saturday Nights, plus October 31)
Club Villain, special ticketed event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
September 14–November 14, 2016
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World Resort
Television
September 18
68th Emmy® Awards broadcast on ABC at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Elena of Avalor Gets a Second Season on Disney Channel and Disney Junior

Great news regarding our favorite new Disney Princess! A second season of Elena of Avalor—a story inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore—has been ordered, after its amazingly popular premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior just last month. Additionally, the Princess Elena character recently debuted at Walt Disney World, with her Disneyland Resort debut coming soon.

Elena of Avalor stars Aimee Carrero, Jenna Ortega, Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown, Carlos Alazraqui, and Emiliano Díez, with recurring guest voices including Constance Marie, Lou Diamond Phillips, Gaby Moreno, and Justina Machado. The show was created by and is executive produced by Craig Gerber; Silvia Cardenas Olivas is the story editor, and will also serve as co-producer for the second season.

New Christmas Cheer at Tokyo Disneyland Resort

Sure, we’re in the throws of August—and many schools around the country have just kicked into their fall semester—but it always pays to plan ahead… especially when it comes to the holidays! If a jaunt to Tokyo is on your radar, we’ve got some cheer-full news: Tokyo Disney Resort is set to host a slew of fun Christmas-themed special events, programs, and activities from November 8 through December 25.

As part of its “Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary: The Year of Wishes” celebration, Tokyo DisneySea will offer its annual special event, “Christmas Wishes”; in keeping with the theme, this holiday event will glimmer with even more symbolic Crystals of Wishes, adding extra-special sparkle. Additionally, after dark, “Colors of Christmas: Nighttime Wishes” will be presented on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor, and the S.S. Columbia (as well as the American Waterfront) will be decorated for both the holidays and the park’s big anniversary.

Over at Tokyo Disneyland, guests will enjoy “Christmas Fantasy,” a special event themed to “pop-up storybooks full of the Disney Friends’ Christmas fun.” And along the park’s parade route, “Disney Christmas Stories” will bring to life pages from storybooks—showing the Disney characters having fun at Christmastime.

Deck the halls, indeed!

Disney Theatrical Productions’ Newsies Coming to Movie Theaters in 2017

Soon, you’ll get to “seize the day” in a whole new way! Recently, Disney Theatrical Productions and Fathom Events announced that the Tony® Award-winning musical Newsies will make its worldwide cinema debut in early 2017, starring Jeremy Jordan, reprising his Tony Award-nominated performance as Jack Kelly.

He’ll be joined by fellow original cast members Kara Lindsay (Katherine), Ben Fankhauser (Davey), and Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Crutchie)—plus Newsies North American tour stars Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer) and Aisha de Haas (Medda Larkin). Additional cast from the Broadway and North American tour ensemble will also return, filling the stage with more “newsies” and more (ridiculously acrobatic) dancing than ever before.

Jordan and the returning original Broadway cast members will join the cast of the North American tour for one performance only that will be filmed on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre… in front of a very lucky invited audience!

Sounds fantastic, right? Look for more info on the Newsies 2017 in-cinema release later this year.

New Queen of Katwe Featurette

Opening across the country this fall, Disney’s Queen of Katwe is an amazing and totally heartwarming true story based on Tim Crothers’ best-selling book of the same name. A young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda finds her world rapidly changing when she’s introduced to the game of chess—and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, she’s instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.

This new featurette, from our friends at Oh My Disney, introduces us to the characters of chess prodigy Phiona (played by newcomer Madina Nalwanga), her mother, Harriet (Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o), and her supportive coach Robert (Golden Globe® nominee David Oyelowo). The film, directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding), comes to theaters on September 23.

Freeform’s Latest Funday Programming Event: September 17 and 18

Nothing says “relaxation” like a weekend spent watching some of your favorite movies… thankfully, over the weekend of September 17 and 18, Freeform will help you kick off those proverbial shoes and settle in for some comfy, cozy time on the couch.

Highlights of this latest Funday programming event include Disney’s Tarzan (2:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 17); Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (4:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 17); Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles (9:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 17); and Aladdin (9:45 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 18). Pop up some corn and enjoy!

For Pete’s Sake: The Long Road to Pete’s Dragon

August 16, 2016August 17, 2016

By Max Lark

With Pete’s Dragon charming audiences and critics in theaters, we Disney fans can’t help but be reminded of the 1977 film of the same name. Although the new film portrays a completely different adventure, it shares the central premise of the earlier film—telling the unforgettable story of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend, Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon.

It may surprise you to learn, as we did during a recent visit to the Walt Disney Archives, that the story of Pete’s Dragon and Disney begins decades before the 1977 film, extending all the way back to 1957 and Walt Disney himself. In December 1957, Walt Disney Productions hired author Seton I. Miller [who, incidentally, has a “based on a story by” credit in both films] as a film writer to write Pete’s Dragon and the U.S.A. (Forever After), based on an unpublished short story of the same name that Miller had co-written with S.S. Field. “Story #1791,” as the project was identified by the studio then, is the first record of the Pete’s Dragon property in the Archives, but records also indicate that this early work on the property ended soon thereafter. An interesting note the dragon is named “Gabriel” in the early drafts.

In March 1958, productions #5815 and #5816 were opened for Pete’s Dragon and the U.S.A., Part I & II—this time envisioned as a Fantasyland-branded two-episode entry for the Disneyland television show. Records pertaining to that production date to spring 1958, when writer Noel Langley was hired to craft a screenplay, a work which he completed that April. Although he was drawn to the story and its potential, Walt was still deciding the best way to approach the property, and Pete’s Dragon was soon put away to mellow. Work would not actively continue on the project again during Walt’s lifetime.

During the waning months of 1968, writers Bill Raynor and Myles Wilder were hired to further workshop the Pete’s Dragon story. They completed their outline in October 1968 and submitted it to the studio for review. Even after this brief developmental work, the story remained within the Burbank studios’ walls, again holding the project back from pressing toward production.

Fast forward to 1975 and work on the eventually released film—now called Pete’s Dragon—reignites. After producer Jerome Courtland rediscovered the tale, the studio hired Malcolm Mamorstein to write a screenplay based on the story by Field and Miller, and later brought on the talented songwriting duo of Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn to help give the project additional musical weight. All in all, this creative combination proved to be the curing “potion” to the property’s long gestating development. The film would finally be released on December 16, 1977, delighting crowds with its “brazzle dazzle” warmth and humor.

“It may have taken 20 years to come to life the first time around,” says Kevin Kern, senior archivist, the Walt Disney Archives, “but the production history of Pete’s Dragon provides a fascinating look into the film development process and shows how at Disney, a good story is never truly forgotten.”

Nearly 40 years after the release of Pete’s Dragon in 1977, that premise still holds true.

6 One-Of-A-Kind Disney Coasters From Around the World

August 16, 2016August 15, 2016

By Tyler Slater

Click click click… moment of silence and then… well, we all know what happens next. There are few experiences more thrilling than reaching the peak of a roller coaster. To celebrate National Roller Coaster Day, D23 is sharing fun facts and distinct details about attractions found at Disney Parks around the world. We know that Disney fans love iconic attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain, so today we are showcasing roller coasters unique to individual Disney resorts.

Walt Disney World Resort:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Date opened: April 7, 2006

Fun Facts:

At 199 feet, Expedition Everest is the tallest mountain at any Disney park.
The largest drop throughout the attraction is approximately 80 feet.
Vehicles reach top speeds of around 50 miles per hour while trying to escape the Yeti.

Disneyland Resort:
Disneyland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Date opened: June 14, 1959

Fun Facts:

The Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction was the first tubular steel roller coaster in the world. It was also the first roller coaster to use a block zone system, which allows for multiple vehicles to be on the track at the same time.
Towering 147 feet above Fantasyland, the Matterhorn is a 1/100th scale snow-capped version of Switzerland’s most famous mountain.
The Fantasyland side track of Matterhorn Bobsleds is roughly 100 feet longer than the Tomorrowland side track.

Tokyo Disney Resort:
Tokyo DisneySea:
Raging Spirits
Date opened: July 21, 2005

Fun Facts:

The design of the attraction’s fire idol was inspired by the look of Emperor Kuzco’s temple from Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove (2000).
The hands of the pocket watch inside the archaeologist’s field office are set to the time 7:17 to commemorate the opening day of Disneyland (July 17, 1955).
Raging Spirits is the first and only looping roller coaster at the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Disneyland Paris:
Walt Disney Studios Park:
Crush’s Coaster
Date opened: June 9, 2007

Fun Facts:

Guests board giant turtle-shell ride vehicles, facing forwards and backwards. All early scenes of the attraction are designed to delight both forward- and backward-facing guests. Then, once in the East Australian Current, the shells begin to spin freely, swooping and diving along the twisting track.
The underwater world of Finding Nemo (2003) is created by special “illusioneering” effects that use absolutely no water. Through other special technologies, Nemo and Squirt talk and move right along with guests.
The English-speaking Crush guests hear in the attraction is voiced by Andrew Stanton, the writer and director of Finding Nemo.

Hong Kong Disneyland:
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
Date opened: July 14, 2012

Fun Facts:

A crate near the ride track is labeled “M. Davis & Co., Est. ’79” as not only a reference to Disney Legend Marc Davis, but also 1979, the year Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened at Disneyland.
The ride track is almost one mile in length.
Much of the architectural detailing of Grizzly Gulch was inspired by Columbia, CA, one of the best-preserved towns in the “Mother Lode” area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Shanghai Disney Resort:
Shanghai Disneyland
TRON Lightcycle Power Run
Date opened: June 16, 2016

Fun Facts:

TRON Lightcycle Power Run is one of the fastest roller coasters at any Disney park.
Guests ride atop individual, two-wheeled Lightcycles for a unique roller coaster experience.
The cable and wiring for this attraction could circle the city of Shanghai 37 times.

“Walt’s Great Adventures” Coming to Destination D: Amazing Adventures

August 15, 2016August 12, 2016

By D23 Team

D23 Members will explore the travels and adventures of the “Showman of the World” as the Walt Disney Archives presents “Walt’s Great Adventures” at Destination D: Amazing Adventures, November 19 and 20 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This special exhibit, created exclusively for the event, will feature rare photography, models, and props that showcase Walt’s personal journeys, from his famous trip to South America in 1941 to some of his most memorable projects on film, television, and at Disney theme parks.

Here’s a sneak peek at what members will see in the exhibit:

Walt Disney with actor Dick Van Dyke and “Floyd,” the chimpanzee, on the set of Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966).

Walt captures some of his South American travels on his personal camera during his famous visit to the continent in 1941.

A hand-crafted Gaucho doll presented to Walt during his trip to South America.

Walt and actor Robert Newton (Long John Silver) in England for the filming of Disney’s first all-live-action adventure, Treasure Island (1950).

Actors Maurice Chevalier, Wilfrid Hyde-White, and Hayley Mills with Walt Disney on the set of In Search of the Castaways (1962).

The crown worn by Jimmy O’Dea (King Brian) in Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959), a project for which Walt traveled to Ireland to research.

Walt on the set of The Moon-Spinners (1964), which was shot on location in Greece.

Click here to learn more and purchase tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures, a celebration of Disney adventures past, present, and future!

Top 10 Pivotal Platters from 60 Years of Walt Disney Records

August 12, 2016August 15, 2016

By Greg Ehrbar

As Walt Disney Records celebrates its 60th anniversary, there are literally hundreds (or thousands!) of Disney sounds that could easily fill dozens of Top Ten lists. Rather than a “best of” or “all-time favorite” list, these are great albums selected for their impact on popular culture, the entertainment industry, and The Walt Disney Company. The original catalog numbers are included in case you’d like to track down the first editions, though all are still available on CD and/or for download. It’s a chronological list, so one isn’t necessarily better than another. Isn’t that refreshing?

1. WALT DISNEY TAKES YOU TO DISNEYLAND (aka A Musical Tour of Disneyland)
WDL-4004 (May 1, 1956)
This was the first release to originate completely (music, script, production, manufacturing, and distribution) from Disney’s record company—and the only album Walt Disney recorded for his own label. It was reissued as A Day At Disneyland with Cliff Edwards as Jiminy Cricket.

2. ANNETTE
BV-3301 (February 1960)
The first of more than a dozen Annette albums, it includes “How Will I Know My Love,” from the Mickey Mouse Club serial “Annette,” and “Tall Paul,” the song that launched the Sherman brothers’ legendary career—leading to their Disney TV, movies, and theme park work—and item number three…

3. MARY POPPINS Original Cast Sound Track
BV/STER-4026 (mono/stereo) (March 1964)
Disney’s record division was firmly established as a “player” in the recording business with their skillful production and marketing of this crown jewel. In its first year alone, it topped the Billboard charts for 14 weeks and sold nearly a quarter million copies.

4. DICKENS’ CHRISTMAS CAROL with The Walt Disney Players
STER-3811 (September 1975)
TV and film star Alan Young wrote and directed this recording with Disney characters in the famous roles. It inspired the Oscar^®-nominated 1983 featurette, Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Alan became the official voice of Uncle Scrooge for four decades.

5. MICKEY MOUSE DISCO
#2501 (July 1979)
Thanks to lavish production values, great Disney songs, fresh new tunes, and an aggressive national sales campaign, this was the first children’s record to go double platinum (two million copies sold). It was even made into a theatrical short.

6. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
#60618-7 (November 1, 1991)
It’s nearly impossible to choose between the iconic Ashman/Menken soundtrack albums, but Beauty and the Beast was the first animated feature nominated for a Best Picture Oscar^®, was a smash on Broadway, and is coming to the big screen again in live action.

7. THE LION KING
#60858-7 (May 31, 1994)
The first Disney album to get the Diamond Award from the Recording Association of America (10 million sold), this towering Elton John/Tim Rice/Han Zimmer masterwork also became one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and on stages around the globe.

8. TOY STORY
#60883-7 (October 24, 1995)
Randy Newman’s influence on both Disney and Pixar music began with the now-instantly recognizable opening notes of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The range and depth of Randy’s music for both studios stand alongside the all-time great animation scores.

9. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
#61426-7 (January 20, 2006)
Ever since Annette, The Walt Disney Studios has had a knack for encouraging young talent, and the hits—and superstars—keep on coming. One of the most spectacular successes was this Disney Channel Original Movie that became an international sensation with numerous sequels (and a reboot on the way).

10. FROZEN
D001931102 (November 25, 2013)
“Let It Go” is lightning in a bottle, the kind of song that takes on a life of its own. That alone would make Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez’s Frozen score a landmark, but the work as a whole proved that the great Disney animated musical is alive and well and winning awards, box office dollars and millions of lifelong fans.

9 Questions with the Director of Pete’s Dragon

August 11, 2016

By Jim Frye

Disney’s reimagined Pete’s Dragon, from director David Lowery, hits theaters tomorrow. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Karl Urban, newcomer Oakes Fegley and screen legend Robert Redford in an all-new original story about an orphaned boy who befriends a lovable dragon. D23 caught up with Lowery to discuss his new film.

D23: Is this a remake of the original 1977 Pete’s Dragon?
David Lowery (DL): We took the name and the initial concept of a boy whose best friend is a dragon, but I love that we were not asked to re-create the original. All the other characters are completely different. To me that’s what is exciting. We get to tell an entirely original story.

Was it hard to reimagine such an iconic film?
DL: I had to cast aside the weight of expectations when dealing with such an iconic property, and treat it as if it’s not iconic, and treat it as if it’s a brand-new thing that no one has seen before. A lot of people have seen the original movie and value it and have incredibly fond memories of it, and that’s beautiful and wonderful. The original is great, and there’s no need to re-create it. I felt that in this case, the best thing to do was just start from scratch.

What will fans of the original film like about this new version?
DL: There are things in our film that fans of the original might value, but the great thing about it is that it’s not going to step on the memories that people have of the original. The original still stands on its own. This movie is hopefully going to please them, but also enchant an entire new generation of audience members.

What’s different and what’s the same?
DL: There’s a boy named Pete, and he has a dragon friend named Elliot, but beyond that there aren’t that many similarities—although those are two big similarities. But once you get past that, we’re in a completely different world, a different time, and all the other characters are different. We take the idea of a boy and his dragon and run with it in a completely different direction. It’s just as good, just different. And I think that’s something that audiences will respond to. This is a fantastic new adventure that I think everyone will love.

What can you tell us about the setting of the new Pete’s Dragon?
DL: We never quite say where it is, and we never quite say when it is. It’s sometime vaguely in the past. In my movies I love to do the whole ‘timeless’ thing, and this movie definitely plays into that. So it’s set roughly in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s.

What made you want to do this film?
DL: The idea of taking that title [Pete’s Dragon] and applying it to a blank slate had such tremendous potential. Together with my co-writer, we came up with a version that we liked, but we never assumed anything would come of it. We didn’t expect that Disney would hire us to write it. But we pitched it to the studio and sure enough, they liked it! We spent a year writing the story, and it eventually became a directing job when they asked me to direct it. The story had become so personal that it seemed like a natural thing to do.

Compared with your other films, can you discuss the challenges of filming a giant, computer-generated dragon?
DL: There was definitely a difference. I’m used to distilling the filmmaking process to a camera and the actors. No matter how big a movie is, it always boils down to that—except when one of the actors isn’t there. In this case, our lead character was never there so we had to figure out ways to make it feel like he was there for us—for me as a director, for the camera operator and for the actors who had to perform opposite him. It was a little bit of a learning curve, but you surround yourself with technicians who know how to do this and have done it before. Also, when you as a director have grown up watching behind-the-scenes documentaries on DVDs like Lord of the Rings, you kind of get an idea of how these things are done.

Oakes Fegley, who plays Pete in the film, is a brand-new actor. How did he do playing opposite Robert Redford, a respected veteran actor?
DL: He did great! One of the fun things about young actors these days is that they don’t have the same sense of legacy that someone like myself would have. I think maybe Oakes had seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid by the time we started shooting, so he didn’t have that same legacy and hadn’t matured enough to appreciate how big a star Robert Redford is, which was probably pretty refreshing for Mr. Redford, who got the chance to act with someone who didn’t have any preciousness about acting with him. And Robert Redford is known for doing some pretty serious dramas, and it was really fun to see him get to act with kids. That was so delightful on all parts and I think he had a lot of fun with it as well.

What’s one of your favorite classic Disney films?
DL: Pinocchio. It will always be near and dear to my heart. Plus, I had a massive crush on the Blue Fairy.

See Pete’s Dragon in theaters tomorrow.

How Disney Dragons are Drawn to Life

August 10, 2016August 11, 2016

By Jonathan McMullen

As you can probably gather from our recent stories here and here, we absolutely love Disney dragons. So when our friends at Disney Editions gave us the opportunity to get a closer look at their new book, The Art of Disney’s Dragons, we jumped at the opportunity to share it with Disney fans!

Cover art for The Art of Disney’s Dragons featuring Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty — Cover art for *The Art of Disney’s Dragons* featuring Maleficent from *Sleeping Beauty*

Imagine if a single sketchbook had been passed down through the decades from one Disney artist to the next, with each making a contribution before leaving it in the talented hands of another. That idea was the inspiration for The Art of Disney’s Dragons. The drawings contained within this volume represent the entire range of dragon-themed development art from animators, live-action studio artists, and Imagineers. Inside readers will find playful pencil studies of Mushu; color concepts on Figment (who was green before he became purple!); bold pencil layouts on Maleficent; and the latest character explorations of Elliot from the new 2016 live-action film Pete’s Dragon. Tom Bancroft, often recognized in Disney circles as being lead animator on Mushu the dragon in Mulan, writes the book’s introductory essay.

Elliot from Pete’s Dragon (2016) — Elliot from *Pete’s Dragon* (2016)

Flipping through the book was like discovering a dragon’s treasure trove! We encountered one breathtaking piece after another—many of which we had never seen before, such as concepts of sea serpents from World of Motion by Disney Legend Marc Davis and Charlotte’s knight-and-dragon-themed daydream from a never-produced sequence within The Princess and the Frog. Disney fans will not want to miss adding this book to their collection.

For your viewing pleasure, we were able to assemble an enticing morsel of the exquisite art found in the book. In addition, we sat down with the supervising animator for Mushu from Mulan, author, character designer, and animation director Tom Bancroft and Jennifer Eastwood, senior editor at Disney Editions, an imprint of Disney Book Group, to learn all about the new book and what it took to put it all together.

D23: Do you wish you had The Art of Disney’s Dragons while you were developing Mushu?
Tom Bancroft (TB): Oh yeah! To have a nicely curated book of amazing images from the Disney archives of all of the best dragons from the Disney films would have been the first thing I would have picked up for reference! I could have quickly seen what things each dragon has in common and what was different about them, which was one of the earliest parts of my discussions with the directors of Mulan. Once we knew most of the elements we wanted in Mushu, then the job became a question of how do we make him different from all the other dragons in the Disney canon—and elsewhere.

Various concepts of Mushu from Mulan — Various concepts of Mushu from *Mulan*

Which pieces in the book did you recognize from your research while developing Mushu?
TB: To see some of this art from The Art of Disney’s Dragons was a real stroll down memory lane from that year of researching and designing Mushu. I had looked at many of these dragons—from watching the final films to requesting some of this same artwork from the Walt Disney Archives—during that search for Mushu. Hercules was just coming out around that time so I looked at the Hydra from that. Elliott from Pete’s Dragon (1977) is a favorite of mine from childhood. I looked at The Reluctant Dragon to see how the animators of the 1940s handled a simplified and humorous dragon. And Maleficent’s dragon is probably the MOST iconic version of a dragon throughout the world.

(top left) Genie, as a dragon, and Aladdin from Aladdin, (center) Genie as a dragon from Aladdin — (top left) Genie, as a dragon, and Aladdin from *Aladdin*, (center) Genie as a dragon from *Aladdin*

Are there any pieces in The Art of Disney’s Dragons that you wish you had seen while you were developing Mushu?
TB: For sure. When I moved into animating Mushu, the great Disney animator Eric Goldberg was a big influence on me. He is known for creating some of the best, cartoon-y animation in the second Golden Age of Disney—highlighted by his creation of the Genie in Aladdin. It’s funny, but when I went through this book, I realized that he—and his team of animators—had a scene where Genie briefly becomes a dragon. I’ve seen that scene many times, but I had completely forgotten that he had already created his version of a dragon!

Which piece in The Art of Disney’s Dragons is your favorite?
TB: There are a couple of pages of beautiful, large images of clean-up drawings of Elliott from Pete’s Dragon (1977) that are breathtaking. Additionally, some of the model sheet sketches of the Reluctant Dragon are worth the purchase of the book on their own!

Elliott (Pete’s Dragon 1977) and firefighter clown from a never-produced area called Dumbo Circus at Disneyland, planned for opening circa 1976 — Elliott (*Pete’s Dragon* 1977) and firefighter clown from a never-produced area called Dumbo Circus at Disneyland, planned for opening circa 1976

Other than Mushu, who is your favorite Disney dragon?
TB: It’s a tossup between Elliott (from the original Pete’s Dragon) and the Reluctant Dragon. The former for nostalgia reasons (I saw the film in the theaters when I was a child) and the latter because of his wonderful design and animation.

Dragon (The Reluctant Dragon) from a never-produced area called Dumbo Circus at Disneyland, planned for opening circa 1976 — Dragon (*The Reluctant Dragon*) from a never-produced area called Dumbo Circus at Disneyland, planned for opening circa 1976

Which Disney dragons most influenced Mushu’s design?
TB: All of them. I can’t pick one that he’s a direct descendant of, but, that said, he may be a cousin of the Reluctant Dragon.

D23: How did you decide which images to include in the book?
Jennifer Eastwood (JE): I started the book’s pitch by making a list of my favorite Disney dragons. As I showed the list to friends and colleagues in publishing and the various Disney libraries, the list grew and grew. I knew we had something special in the works because everyone seemed to really get into the search for rare art. I was so impressed when Fox Carney at the Animation Research Library (ARL) pulled clean-up animation by Ub Iwerks from a 1929 Silly Symphony, and Vanessa Hunt at Walt Disney Imagineering practically danced with joy at the idea of including Rolly Crump’s concept art (with his notes!) that he had made for the Tower of the Four Winds structure at the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair.

Any fun stories from curating the images? Did you find things you weren’t looking for?
JE: Yes, the archivists found so many images I had no idea even existed. That’s what made it so great! Though perhaps one of my favorite moments was when we found images in an unexpected location. I have a nostalgic sweet spot for the original Journey Into Imagination ride at Epcot, and I fondly remember an old television set that played a loop of Figment animation where he’d do all sorts of wacky things. The Walt Disney Imagineering team had TONS of gorgeous Figment pieces—but nothing from that animation sequence. I talked myself into not being too disappointed about that, and then, Doug Engalla from the Animation Research Library found story sketches, character model drawings, and painted cels from the cartoon in their collection! Turns out, it had all been created at the feature animation studio at Walt Disney World, and the materials were then shipped over to the ARL for preservation afterwards.

Anything you learned about the characters or the animation process while researching?
JE: With this and really every book I edit, I’m continually amazed at the breadth of work that goes on behind-the-scenes to create the final characters we all love in the Disney films and parks. So many people put so much detail into every consideration in order to get it just perfect—and very Disney.

Figment from Journey Into Imagination at Epcot — Figment from *Journey Into Imagination* at Epcot

Which piece in the book is your favorite?
JE: That’s difficult. I’ll say the twin dragons silhouette on the book’s end sheets because that design is from the interior of Hotel Hightower, which houses the Tower of Terror attraction at Tokyo DisneySea; it’s a place I haven’t been to yet and really want to go to someday—and it made for fabulous end sheets. That, or Figment drawn in the style of the Mona Lisa painting… too much fun.

The Art of Disney’s Dragons, published by Disney Editions, is now available in bookstores everywhere.