Monday, August 17, 2009

Walt Disney Classic Collection- The Magic Mirror from Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"



This is a limited edition sculpture of the Magic Mirror from Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". This mirror is number 1293 out of an edition of 5000 pieces. When my friend Bob who owns the store Fantasies Come True told me about this piece, I thought that I had to have it, because it seemed so unique. Once I got it out and displayed it a while, it was just OK. I mean, I like the sculpture, but the mirror wasn't doing it for me. Then, when taking THESE pictures, I discovered that, with proper lighting, this can be one heckuva cool piece! Don't you agree? Definitely would dress up Halloween pretty good!

Walt Disney Classic Collection- Ariel from "The Little Mermaid"



This is Ariel, from Disney's "The Little Mermaid", in a sculpture from the Walt Disney Classic Collection. This was a piece that came with your Membership in the Walt Disney Collector's society for Members in 1996. It was sculpted by Kent Melton. I really like the colors on Ariel here.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Walt Disney's The Three Caballeros on VHS



This is Walt Disney's classic film from 1945, "The Three Caballeros". This film combines live action with animation (in the Disney tradition), and is a sequel to Walt Disney's other classic film from 1943, "Saludos Amigos". In "The Three Caballeros", Donald Duck is reunited with his friend from Brazil, Jose Carioca. He is also introduced to Panchito, the rooster from Mexico. This is a fun film, and has one of the best performances from characters in animation with the song, "The Three Caballeros".

I have this movie on DVD also, but my VHS still works, and I will still play it! This is one of my favorite Disney films.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Peter Pan Flying Over London- Limited Edition Hand-Inked and Hand-Painted Cel by Disney Art Editions



This is a limited edition, hand-inked and hand-painted cel, of a scene from Walt Disney's "Peter Pan". It features Peter, Wendy, Michael, John, and Tinker Bell flying over London, heading to Never Land. This particular piece is number 491 out of an edition of 500. This was one of my favorite cels that I had seen from Disney Art Editions, but it was sold out. One day years ago, when I was still working at The Disney Store in the Crenshaw/Baldwin Hills Plaza, I happened to go to The Disney Store at the Westside Pavillion, where I was looking for something else. I happened across this piece hanging on the wall. "Where did that come from?", I asked, amazed that it was there in their store. "Somebody returned it yesterday", they said. "I want it", I said, plopping down my VISA credit card. The sales tag said $1,500, but I got a slight discount, so with the tax factored back in I still paid slightly under $1,500. This piece hung in my apartment in Hollywood, along with all the other nice framed pieces that I had, until I could no longer afford to live there. This piece sat in my storage for a while, until recently, when I took it out and hanged it on the wall in my current bedroom. Alas, we have placed a television on a wall mount, which was too close for me to be near this cel, so I took it off the wall, and it's going back into a safe place. It was fun having it out for a month, though. Look at the background of London- you can imagine yourself there! The colors on this thing are truly amazing. Taking the photo with flash really brought the colors out!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Art of Walt Disney by Robert D. Field





This is a very old, and very collectible, book that I was so lucky to get. I got it for free, too. How? Well, my friend Clyde knew that I was a big fan of Disney, and he was living with an old former executive from United Artists who happened to have a large collection of art books. My friend saw this book and commented that I might love to have that book. He called me up and told me a little about it. I had never heard of it, and I wasn't looking for it for that reason (I have since found out that it is one of the top books about Disney animation to have, since it's the oldest one published on the subject!) I met Clyde's friend, who asked me if I had ever seen that book before. When I replied, "No, I haven't. Wow!", he told me, "You can have it". "What?" , I asked. I was really surprised. This book, it turns out, it from the third printing in 1947 (the first edition was printed in 1942, and the second in 1945). It was made and printed in Great Britain by Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Norwich. This book talks about the process of animation, and specifically talks about the films that Walt Disney Productions had already produced at the time of the printing, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Bambi", "Dumbo", "Pinocchio", and a few of the animated shorts. It also talks about the make-up of the Disney Studio at the time- its divisions. In simply skimming the book, I am so tempted to read it (in fact, I will, as soon as I finish the book that I'm reading by Whoopi Goldberg!)

Friday, August 7, 2009

Disneyland Records "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House"


This is the 1964 Disneyland Records album, "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House" (Disneyland Records DQ-1257). It's a recording of sound effects from not just a haunted house, but other fun sound effects, such as: "the very long fuse", "the dogs", "timber", "your pet cat", "shipwreck", "the unsafe bridge", "chinese water torture", "the bitrds", "the martian monsters", "screams and groans", "thunder, lighning and rain", "cat fight", "dogs", "a collection of creaks", "fuses and explosions", "a collection of crashes", "birds", "drips and splashes", and "things in space". I just added this record to my collection (someone threw away a whole bunch of records- I guess someone died, but anyway, this records was in there- what a find!) I just have to get a record player now and play this sucker!

Photo from Wally Boag's Table at the 2009 "Be Our Guest Dinner"


This picture was take at my friend Cinde's annual "Be Our Guest Dinner", which took place at Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel last month, with several Disney legends in attendance. I sat at Disney legend Wally Boag's table. Wally worked in vaudeville for a long time, starred in a few films, and was personally chosen by Walt Disney to star in "The Golden Horseshoe Review" at Disneyland, which ran from 1955 til 1985 (I believe, which made it the longest running stage show ever). Wally also starred in several Disney films. Wally told us a few stories about his career, and kept us all entertained. Wally's still got it, let me tell you! (Wally is the one wearing the white cap in the photo.)

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Michael Jackson and The Jacksons Victory Tour Program



Whether or not you liked him or hated him during his lifetime, you must admit that Michael Jackson truly created and delivered magic. This Tour Program is from the Jacksons " Victory Tour" in the mid-1980's, was when Michael was nearing the height of his superstardom. This is the tour that was sponsored by Pepsi- the one where Michael and his brothers were filming a Pepsi commercial and his hair caught on fire from the fireworks. Still, Michael survived and went on to do the tour. It was a great show! An earthquake happened during the show on the night I went. I still have this Victory Tour Program from the show, which I saw that the Los Angeles Coliseum. I also remember that singer George Michael was walking to his seat for the show, and so many fans crowded around him that security had to take him off somewhere. Anyway, Michael was so good in that show! It was the one and only time that I ever got to see Michael perform live.

If you would like to purchase this item, I will part with it for $150.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Do You Like Disney Music? Have Some Fun With These Songs

Listed here are some classic songs from Disney that are available in iTunes. You can preview them for free by clicking on the buttons below. This one is from "Walt Disney Records Archive Collection- Volume 1", which provides a really cool selection of songs from classic Disney movies.



Disney Characters - Walt Disney Records Archive Collection, Vol. 1





Also available is the "Walt Disney Records Archive Collection- Volume 2", with more classic Disney tunes sung by contemporary artists:



Lebo M - Walt Disney Records Archive Collection, Vol. 2





This last one that I'll list today is from an album entitled, "Musical Highlights From The Mickey Mouse Club TV Show". It has original music from the classic TV show, "The Mickey Mouse Club". I actually have this old Disneyland record on vinyl, and I believe I've even shown it on this blog before! Anyway, preview it here:

Disney Characters - Musical Highlights from the Mickey Mouse Club TV Show

Leave comments on whether or not you like this!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Eeyore (from Disney's "Winnie The Pooh") Plush Character


This is a plush Eeyore from Disney's version of "Winnie The Pooh" (which was created by A.A. Milne). I think I received this 2 years ago at a my friend Cinde's annual "Be Our Guest" dinner at Disneyland. Notice how blue he is (in color and in mood), and notice the ribbon tied around his tail! Look how sad his eyes are!