Disney Studio Christmas card

A Tradition of Disney Studio Christmas Cards

By Steven Vagnini As part of a holiday tradition that began in the early 1930s, Disney studio employees, business partners, and friends could look forward to the yuletide charm of the annual Disney company Christmas card. Originally simple, yet elegant, the holiday cards grew more elaborate over time, thanks to the artistry of such staff …

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D23 Member gift item. Mickey Mouse sketch

From the Office of Walt Disney: A Man, A Mouse, and A Mentor

Walt Disney’s hand-drawn greeting to his first mentor is reproduced as one of the 23 treasures “From The Office of Walt Disney” for the 2016 D23 Gold Member Gift. By Stacia Martin Walt Disney was proud to hail from America’s heartland. Even as achievement and fame made him a citizen of the world, he never …

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Flowers and Trees trade ad D23 gold member gift

This Member Gift Honors A Film that Was Ahead of its Time

By Steven Vagnini With its breathtaking introduction of color to animated films, Flowers and Trees (1932) brought a sense of renewal to the cartoon industry. Walt Disney’s Studio had done it again, pushing established boundaries in the service of creative storytelling—this time in glorious, new Technicolor. As reflected in this trade ad taken out by …

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Favorite Memories from Walt and Lillian’s 30th Anniversary Party

By Steven Vagnini In July 1955, construction on a 160-acre site in Anaheim was picking up at a hurried pace. Disneyland would soon premiere with a grand invitational preview, as national attention was drawn to this first-of-its-kind amusement enterprise. Yet amid the oversight and coordination of tireless designers, carpenters, painters, and landscapers, a restless Walt …

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