Welcome to Disney, Baxley, and Oz! As a Disney fan, travel specialist, and Oz author, author in general, and fan, I,
Ron Baxley, Jr., hope to have many amazing periodic posts about the
aforementioned topics here, including my going past 27 years as a published
author. I also hope to have posts about my Disney-related travels. Oz festival adventures, and trips to cons as well. (By the way, if you are interested in booking any Disney-related trip with me, contact me at ron@madhatteradv.com .)
I am leading off my postings with a huge exclusive interview which
was going to be divided into smaller interviews for a Disney blog of which I
was a group of contributors and may still contribute to from time to time. However, I decided to start this new blog with this gigantic interview of over 60 questions and am honored to have a great Disney author to interview.
Caption:
Chris Lucas, Disney expert and author of Top Disney: 100 Top Ten Lists of
the Best of Disney, from Man to the Mouse and Beyond (to be released by
Lyons Press in April of this year), is shown with Timon from “The Lion King” at
Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Kissimmee, Florida recently. Photo contributed by author.
Disney,
Baxley, and Oz welcomes Christopher Lucas, an expert with at least 30 years of
experience with Disney, who has a book which will be in stores in April but is
available now for pre-sale at Amazon, “Top Disney: 100 Top Ten Lists of the
Best of Disney, from Man to the Mouse and Beyond” (Lyons Press).
Cover
of Mr. Lucas’ extensive reference book on which this interview is focused. Photo courtesy of author.
Before
beginning the interview, we would like to share Mr. Lucas’ bio. to give a
better perspective on his background with Disney:
Christopher
Lucas, is an actor, author, motivational speaker and a lifelong fan of all
things Disney. His admiration for Walt led Christopher to create a one person
show about Disney called “Of Mouse and Man,” which has been performed in
schools, theaters, museums and other venues around the country since
2001.
He is also the co‐author of Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story, the critically acclaimed best-selling book about his father released by Simon & Schuster and Derek Jeter Publishing in April 2015.
A professional actor for over thirty years, Christopher has been seen on the big screen and in television shows in featured, supporting, and recurring roles. As such, he's been profiled in People Magazine, USA Today, Newsweek, Soap Opera Weekly, the New York Times and several other national publications.
The father of two teenage boys, Christopher promises to one day take them on a vacation that doesn't involve a visit to a Disney park. He can be reached at MouseTopTen@Gmail.com.
He is also the co‐author of Seeing Home: The Ed Lucas Story, the critically acclaimed best-selling book about his father released by Simon & Schuster and Derek Jeter Publishing in April 2015.
A professional actor for over thirty years, Christopher has been seen on the big screen and in television shows in featured, supporting, and recurring roles. As such, he's been profiled in People Magazine, USA Today, Newsweek, Soap Opera Weekly, the New York Times and several other national publications.
The father of two teenage boys, Christopher promises to one day take them on a vacation that doesn't involve a visit to a Disney park. He can be reached at MouseTopTen@Gmail.com.
Christopher Lucas,
author of “Top Disney: The Best of the Man, the Mouse, and the Magic Kingdom”,
is shown at Disney’s California Adventure several years ago. Photo contributed by author.
1)
What made you want to write this book?
One of
the big questions you ask yourself when setting out to write a book about a
subject like Disney, where there already already thousands of titles to choose
from, is “what do I have to say about it that’s original?” In this case, I
discovered that nobody had really put together a compilation of top ten lists
covering the entire history of Disney as a whole, so I made it my mission, beginning
in 2001. Dave Smith, the founder of the Disney Archives, told me that he’d
thought about such a project himself years ago, but never got around to it. If
he had, I wouldn’t have written mine. I was happy to get his blessing on this
project.
Note: The late Dave Rollin Smith died on Feb. 15 of this year after this interview was conducted.
Graphic contributed by Christopher Lucas
2)
What makes this book different than other guides to the Disney Studios and
their work?
While
most guides focus on a particular area of Disney, mine tries to cover the whole
company, from Walt’s personal history to the media assets and the parks and
beyond. That’s a lot to put in one book and, hopefully, it lends itself to repeated
reading.
3) Why
do you think it was necessary to compile lists of Disney information?
Whenever
I go to Disney gatherings, or just have casual conversations with Disney fans,
we often wind up listing and debating our favorites, just out of habit. I
thought it might be fun to compile some of these lists, as a jumping off point
for future conversations about the best of Disney.
Note: Christopher
Lucas had been working on this project for at least 17 years before acceptance
for publication and had an endorsement from the late, long-time friend of Walt
Disney and Disney collaborator Art Linkletter for it over a decade ago.
Linkletter, among many accomplishments as a media personality, was well-known
as the emcee for the live broadcast by ABC of Disneyland’s opening day on July
17, 1955 which was also broadcasted nationally on a Sunday. Graphic contributed by author.
4) How
did you exclude certain film titles from your lists and why?
It
wasn’t easy, I can tell you that. While some personal favorites made it to my
lists, I tried my best to weigh the lists with consensus choices from critics,
experts and fans. In some cases, the lists came together without much wavering;
in others, it was harder to narrow down to ten.
5) I knew there was some Disney connection to the Kissimmee, Florida area decades before Walt Disney was eyeing the property there. I did not know specifically that his father and mother lived there. How did you find that out? I had read somewhere or heard from a Disney source somewhere that a postal employee from the Kissimmee area had some connection to Walt Disney, but perhaps I was mistaken. Is there any validity to that?
Most of the information about Walt himself in my book comes from three sources, Disney A to Z by Dave Smith, and the biographies of Walt by Bob Thomas and Neal Gabler. Dave Smith and the Disney Archives confirmed a lot of the more obscure bits of information. Disney experts like Jim Korkis, Jim Hill and Didier Ghez also have contributed greatly to the Disney history cited in the book.
5) I knew there was some Disney connection to the Kissimmee, Florida area decades before Walt Disney was eyeing the property there. I did not know specifically that his father and mother lived there. How did you find that out? I had read somewhere or heard from a Disney source somewhere that a postal employee from the Kissimmee area had some connection to Walt Disney, but perhaps I was mistaken. Is there any validity to that?
Most of the information about Walt himself in my book comes from three sources, Disney A to Z by Dave Smith, and the biographies of Walt by Bob Thomas and Neal Gabler. Dave Smith and the Disney Archives confirmed a lot of the more obscure bits of information. Disney experts like Jim Korkis, Jim Hill and Didier Ghez also have contributed greatly to the Disney history cited in the book.
Walt’s
parents – Elias and Flora - lived in
Acron, Florida, a town that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s about 30 miles north of
Walt Disney World, close to where Clermont is now, part of the greater
Kissimmee area. They ran a cattle farm, orange grove and bed and breakfast.
None of these ventures worked out (ironic since the resort their sons built
almost 100 years later is now the busiest tourist destination in the world.)
Walt’s uncle and brother were both postal workers, as was Walt for a time, and
parts of Flora’s family remained in Florida, so it’s possible other distant
family members might have gone into the profession but I can’t confirm that.
6) I knew Disney had tried to build a resort area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains but was shot down from environmental groups from what I read. I did not know that he had planned to build a theme-park in Marceline, Missouri, where he spent a large part of his childhood. Where did you read this or how did you find out about it? Does the Walt Disney Hometown Museum there have information about it?
6) I knew Disney had tried to build a resort area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains but was shot down from environmental groups from what I read. I did not know that he had planned to build a theme-park in Marceline, Missouri, where he spent a large part of his childhood. Where did you read this or how did you find out about it? Does the Walt Disney Hometown Museum there have information about it?
Yes,
the Hometown Museum in Marceline has information about the proposed farmland
museum/theme park there, which would have been like a Midwest turn of the 20th
Century version of Colonial Williamsburg. Even without the unbuilt park,
Marceline is still an amazing place to visit for fans of Disney history.
(Left and Above) Some of the
many displays at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. Photos contributed by Christopher Lucas
7) You
mention in the biographical section about Walt about his not liking critics. I
had read that elsewhere too. Why do you think this was?
I
won’t presume to speak directly for Walt, but almost every quote he gave about
critics implied that he didn’t hold much value in their opinions. He respected
them professionally and as people, but preferred to hear from the folks who
actually paid to see his movies and bought Disney products. He responded to the
public’s suggestions faster than those from critics. One of my favorite quotes
was when a critic called Disney films “corny” and Walt said, “So what? I happen
to like corn!”
8) I
knew about Walt's and Lilly's daughter Sharon and, of course, first-born Diane,
but I did not know Sharon was adopted. (I may have read it and forgot it
through time.) Was this common knowledge? Why was she adopted? Was Lilly unable
to have a second child? Was the adoption for charitable reasons?
Lilly experienced
several miscarriages and was advised to not have any more children after the
birth of Diane. Nevertheless, Walt and Lilly wanted Diane to have a sibling. At
the time Sharon joined the family, there was still a bit of a stigma in society
about adoption and adoptees. Walt and Lilly tried hard to protect Sharon from
that, guarding her privacy. They never denied her adoption, or made her feel
like she wasn’t wholly a Disney, but they also didn’t speak openly about
it.
9) I knew The Golden Horseshoe at Frontierland was of great
importance to Walt and Lilly and knew how much they liked to go there, but I
had forgotten about their 30th Wedding Anniversary there until I was reminded
of it by your book. Was that what always made that place so special to the two
of them or were they also enamored with the time period of the Old
West?
It
wasn’t so much the Old West that Walt loved, it was just a nostalgia for the
simpler days of America – before the advent of the Twentieth Century – when the
world moved a bit slower and entertainment was on a more intimate level, with
showrooms and dining halls. The Golden Horseshoe was his homage to such places
on the frontier, where settlers would be treated to a variety of acts, from
showgirls to Shakespeare. Though he lived in the Midwest, Walt got to see many
of these traveling acts in person before they headed out to the frontier by
rail or wagon. Walt – who ate there as often as he could - had a favorite stage
side box at the Golden Horseshoe, people can still there enjoying a meal and
occasional show.
(Top,
modern Golden Horseshoe Review; Bottom, anniversary gift from Walt to Lillian
and couple shown at Golden Horseshoe Review)
The
Walt Disney Family Museum has an exhibit about the evolution of
audio-animatronics, including the original New Orleans bird in the cage. The
story also been mentioned in books by Thomas and Korkis, among others.
Snip-it of photo from digital page in Top Disney. -Used with permission of author.
11) I
always heard the stories about Walt having different individuals secretly buy
up land in central Florida for his proposed Walt Disney World. I did not know
that a reporter, Ms. Bavar, broke the story, not through investigation into these
sales but through directly confronting Walt and saying he was the buyer. She
found out he knew too much about the area, according to your book, and
“methinks he doth protest too much” came to mind. How did you discover how she
retrieved the information?
There’s
a great book called “Project Future” which has a comprehensive history of the
events leading up to the creation of Walt Disney World. Emily Bavar’s story,
and her amazing journalistic tenacity, is chronicled there in detail.
12) I
had ready many of the direct quotes from Walt, but I had never read this
one:
“Animation
can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive. This facility makes it the
most versatile and explicit means of communication yet devised for quick mass
appreciation.”? What was the context of this quote?
He was
addressing an audience of admirers at an awards ceremony in Hollywood in the
early 1960s, where they were specifically honoring him for his accomplishments
as a pioneer in the field of animation.
13)
How did you research the bibliography of over 10 books about Walt? How about
the listing of 11 films about him/his life? Where did you research that? What
basically helps you decide what “makes the cut”?
Most
of the books and films listed in my book were already in my personal library,
so I was familiar with them and had read and re-read them. This was one of the
toughest lists to compile, as there are so many books and films about Disney.
The ones that made the cut either broke new ground on the subject or were so
illuminating that they couldn’t be left out. Even so, those lists could have
included more than 25 entries and still have been just scratching the
surface.
14)
There were at least 8 people I did not know who you listed were experts on
Disney’s life. I did not know them despite having read a lot of books and
articles about Disney and the studio (sometimes, I am bad with names). I
hesitate to state which ones I did not for fear of offending them, but I did
know one prestigious critic, one animator, perhaps one other individual, and
one you listed as an Honorable Mention who is a Facebook friend and who I have
interviewed before for Disney Avenue, David Skipper. Have you met all of these
experts in person? How many of them were interviewed for your book?
I’ve
not met all of them, but have been in direct contact with most of the experts listed
in my book.
15) Of your places to visit listing, the only one I did not know
was The Tam O'Shanter, but I may have read about it in passing somewhere. Summarize
for my readers its significance.
The
Tam O'Shanter is one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles. It was close to
Walt’s various studios and homes, so he and his animators often ate there. The
menu appealed to Walt’s simple tastes (steak and potatoes.) The look of the
restaurant and its staff also influenced Walt in that the small cottage design
showed up in several cartoon shorts and films like Snow White and Pinocchio and
the tartan uniform inspired similar outfits for Disneyland cast members. The
restaurant still has the table where Walt sat, and illustrations and photos
from Walt and his staff on the walls. Every true Disney fan should eat there at
least once.
Two above photos from Tam O'Shanters contributed by Christopher Lucas
16) I was well-aware of everything in your extensive summary of
the history of the Walt Disney Company from previous readings and viewings of
specials and films about the studio. You did a great job on that summary.
However, given Michael Eisner’s controversial aspects, as discussed in the
James B. Stewart’s book “Disney War”, for example, I am surprised you did not
mention those. Why did you not discuss Eisner’s controversial aspects when you
did discuss other controversies such as the one in early Disney history with
Mintz over Oswald the Rabbit?
My style as a writer is to keep things upbeat and not to dish dirt, even if it is verified and documented dirt. Walt’s situation with Mintz and Oswald happened ninety years ago, so nobody will be offended if they are cast in an unflattering light. With people who were around during Eisner’s tenure, however, the case is different. I didn’t get into any of those issues because they weren’t necessary in telling the story. Eisner had hits and misses during his time, as did Walt, Bob Iger and others. I gave the facts as they were, but tried not to drift into personal opinions or speculation. I cover some of the blemishes on the Disney Company’s reputation (the 1940 strike, almost falling prey to corporate raiders, etc.) but for the most part the book is a valentine to Walt and the culture he created.
17) I
understand many of the classic characters (the Fab Five of Disney and
characters from early studio films) and even a few of the renaissance
characters from the 90s making your list of Top 10 iconic Disney characters and
even Jack Sparrow as a modern one given his film and Disney Parks influence as
a character. (He has even been put as an audio-animatronic figure into the
iconic “Pirates of the Caribbean” dark rides at the Disney Parks.) However, why
put Hannah Montana in that list? Perhaps some might see her as more of a footnote
of the new millennium.
Disney’s
biggest profit stream still comes from their many television networks and on
demand services. There’s no way that’s the case without Hannah Montana. She may
be a footnote to future generations, but many kids today couldn’t tell you who
Annette Funicello was, even though she had a big impact on Disney’s bottom line
in the 1950s and 60s. Hannah Montana was the early 21st Century
version of Annette (though Miley Cyrus did not follow Funicello’s pattern of
consulting Disney before making career moves that might tarnish her wholesome
image.) The Hannah Montana character and TV show accounted for billions in
merchandise and album sales. She was everywhere for years and was the gateway
to music for many kids of that era. Hannah Montana also lifted the fortunes of
Radio Disney, which was struggling, and the Disney Channel, which saw rapid
expansion, leading to even more billion dollar franchises like High School
Musical, Phineas & Ferb and The Descendants. That’s why I felt she was
worthy of inclusion.
SnipIt of photo from Top Disney. Used with permission of author.
18) I
was looking at your list of Disney CEOs and their small bios. I knew quite a
few from past readings but a few seemed obscure. Do you think CEOs can be like
presidents of a country with some being more memorable? Why/why not?
That’s
an excellent analogy. If you ask people to name U.S. Presidents off the top of
their heads, they will go to the big ones, like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln,
Roosevelt, Kennedy, etc. and completely skip over ones like Van Buren, Polk,
Cleveland, Coolidge and Taft. It’s not that those guys didn’t do a good job,
it’s that they mostly kept the ship afloat and didn’t move the rudder in a big
direction, one way or the other. The same holds true with CEOs. It’s the ones
who make bold moves that the public knows best.
19) As
per your section on the classic animators and on “The Nine Old Men” animators
of Disney, though I knew of the others, my favorite was Ward Kimball because of
his personality and animation style. Ub Iwerks was very familiar to me as a
historical figure connected to Walt and the studio’s early beginnings. Some of
the other animators’ names, save for Mary Blair and Freddie Moore, did not
stand out to me as much. Do you think more of an emphasis in Disney history and
pop culture has been placed on “The Nine Old Men,” Ub Iwerks, Mary Blair,
Freddie Moore, and a few others versus your list of about 20 total? Why/why
not?
A lot of it has to do with all of the early productions having the name “Walt Disney” on the title card. Animators and artists were largely unknown to the public in the beginning; it was the studio or director’s name that got the attention. This was one of the underlying causes of the 1940 strike, some animations felt unappreciated. That started to change in the era of television, when individual animators (and voice-over actors) became brands unto themselves. Increased curiosity about the Disney studio led to more attention for the core of animators and artists who remained (like The Nine Old Men) to work on the films, TV shows and Disneyland attractions but some of the others who’d departed the studio were forgotten. Thankfully, more and more is being written about these previously unheralded men and women, so they are finally getting their due.
20) As
per the animators from your modern era section, Mark Dindal was one who I was
not familiar with. Was he a stand-out? Why/why not? I did not see Don Bluth
mentioned. Didn’t he start at Disney Studios before starting his own
note-worthy animation company and even revolutionary animated arcade
games? (There are so many other lists involving films about the animators
and people who were not given enough recognition (by others, not you) that I
cannot possibly address all of them with summary questions. The resource you
have created if quite exhaustive, thorough, and excellent.)
There
are many lists I would have liked to include in the book, but I had to cut them
to get to 100. One of the ones I hated to lose was “Artists whose careers began
at Disney.” That list would have included Walt Kelly, Chuck Jones, Bill
Melendez, Tim Burton, and – yes – Don Bluth. As for Mark Dindal, he is one of
those people who had a hand in many of the classic animated films people love,
from 1980 until the 2000s, yet isn’t a household name. He bridged the gap from
the retirement of the Nine Old Men until today’s computer generated animation (His
“Chicken Little” is an underrated film, in my opinion.) Because of his
longevity, and his influence on today’s young animators, I felt he deserved
inclusion. It’s people like Mark Dindal who inspired me to write this book, to
shed light on folks who were crucial in Disney history, but who don’t get as
much credit as they should.
21) Of
the many Disney animated films (musical and non-musical) and live action,
non-musical classic films you mentioned early on in the book, the few ones I
have never seen included part of Kurt Russell’s Dexter Riley series: “Now You
See Him, Now You Don’t” (1972) and “The Strongest Man
in the World” (1975). I was born in 1975 and saw most every Disney
film and short from the late 1920s on forward via the aforementioned methods.
Why do you think I may have missed those two sequels on satellite television or
VHS? Were they popular? I actually vaguely remember seeing “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes” (1969) and
Russell’s character coming across as a know-it-all. Were the sequels as
successful as the original? Why/why not? I read something somewhere that toward
the middle of the 70s that the studio was really in trouble and that outside
interests were trying to control it/ buy it out. Do you think this affected the
quality of these sequels? How about other films of that period?
“The
Love Bug” was the biggest film of 1969, so Disney’s live action division was in
good shape going into the 1970s. Kurt Russell was a bankable star for them, and
they continued making films featuring his character, Dexter Riley. They did
well, too. Somewhere around the mid 1970s, Hollywood started to change. Directors
became more powerful than the studios, making their own deals and calling the
shots. The contract player system started dissolving, and edgier and more
thrilling films (like “The Exorcist”, “The Godfather”, and “Jaws”) dominated
the box office. Disney passed on “Star Wars” and other films that might have
gotten them into that new blockbuster game. Their live action films were still good,
just not what audiences were looking for. Ron Miller made shrewd decisions to
bring the studio in line with the times, but the change came too late to save
his job. By the time Disney got their footing back, by establishing Touchstone Pictures,
Miller had been moved aside and Kurt Russell had already become an
international blockbuster superstar with films for other studios. His Dexter
Riley films were overlooked by fans for years in favor of his 1980s action-adventure
movies.
22) I
take that back about seeing every classic Disney animated short. I’ve never
seen the following you mentioned in one of your lists in the book: “TOMMY
TUCKER’S TOOTH (1921) Made by Walt for a dentist in Kansas City, it was the
first Disney educational film… or THE FOUR METHODS OF FLUSH RIVETING (1942)
Walt’s test to see whether the military would accept Disney versions of training
films.”
Though
one was a very early film Walt made in Kansas City and the other was a military
training film, are they available for viewing anywhere? Have you seen them?
Both
films are actually available to view on YouTube.
23)
These were two, modern Hollywood Pictures films (under ownership of Disney)
that I had never seen as shown in your book:
“CRIMSON
TIDE (1995) directed by Tony Scott A blockbuster film, with Gene Hackman and
Denzel Washington co-starring as naval commanders facing off in a battle for
control of a nuclear submarine during a crisis. THE ROCK (1996) directed by
Michael Bay Another blockbuster, this time with Nicolas Cage trying to stop
rogue Army personnel from launching a deadly nerve gas attack on San Francisco
from their base on Alcatraz Island.”
Many
of the films done under these other brand names for want of a better term, were
great departures for Disney, weren’t they? Why do you think this
was?
Ron
Miller, Walt’s son-in-law, said that after they watched “To Kill a Mockingbird”
together, Walt lamented that Disney couldn’t make a film like that – as great
as it was - because it didn’t fit what people expected of a Disney movie.
Miller used that thinking when he established Touchstone Pictures in the early
1980s, to give Disney an arm to release such “un-Disney” films. Hollywood
Pictures was a second extension of that. For the most part, people have now accepted
that Disney films can be darker, with deeper themes. Still, there has yet to be
a film with the world “Disney” in the production banner to be rated R. (And
Disney is also the only Hollywood studio left from the golden age to never have
won Best Picture at the Oscars. The two might be related.)
24)
Looking over the list of Disney/ Pixar films, I have loved many of them. The
“Cars” films did not always appeal to me, but I have friends with children who
loved them and loved watching them with their young kids. Do you think they had
the appeal of the characters and story development that the other Pixar films
had? Why/why not? Do you think there is a way to further sub-categorize Pixar
films into categories of even more juvenile interest versus more cross-family
appeal? Where would you categorize “Inside Out” for example if you created
sub-categories of Pixar films?
Pixar
was another difficult subject for me to approach in the book, because it
started as an independent studio but is now part of the Disney family. I
didn’t, for instance, include any Pixar shorts in my list of Disney shorts. Some
Pixar films are pure masterpieces, and some are just pure entertainment; some –
like “Inside Out,” “Wall-E,” and “Toy Story 3” - are a combination of both.
They all have merit, and could certainly be broken into sub-lists. “Cars” had
great appeal because it was Pixar’s spin on certain movie tropes. It was a
buddy comedy with heart, but also about the slick know it all character who
realizes – after a dose of small town living – that he really doesn’t know it
all. Disney certainly got what they wanted from the film, with memorable
characters who will stand the test of time.
25)
Despite watching a lot of classic Disney films on The Disney Channel in the 80s
and in other ways, I had never seen these Disney westerns from your one of your
listings:
“TONKA
(1958) directed by Lewis R. Foster The tale of a wild stallion, Tonka, who is
tamed by a young Native American boy, taken by the U.S. Cavalry to ride for
them in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and then reunited with his
master. THE
ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN(1967) directed by James Neilson A
stuffy British butler (Roddy McDowall) is mistaken for a rowdy boxer in this
western comedy. SCANDALOUS JOHN (1971) directed by
Robert Butler A modern rancher who fancies himself a cowboy hero goes on one
last cattle drive with his portly Mexican companion to stop a greedy land
tycoon. Loosely based on Don Quixote.”
Do you
think that is more to do with my having been born in the mid-70s and a
childhood that extended through the 80s where interest had waned in westerns
and continued to wane? (The Buzz versus Woody phenomenon if you will) I do not
recall some of those titles even being on The Disney Channel alongside such
fare as “Davy Crockett” for example.
The
films you mentioned were buried in the Disney vaults for decades, not because
they weren’t good but because – as you point out – it was hard to market
westerns in the 1980s and 90s. They are being rediscovered now, and I hope they
will be made available on the new Disney+ streaming service.
26)
Though I love science fiction and classic films, of your listing of live action
Disney science fiction films, I have never seen the following: MOON PILOT (1962)
directed by James Neilson An alien girl falls in love with a U.S. astronaut in Disney’s
first outer space feature film.
Is it
fairly obscure? Where can one find it?
Though
it is a little known Disney film, “Moon Pilot” was available for a time on VHS
and DVD. It can be found online as well.
27)
Another obscure one in the super hero film genre I had never seen, though I
really enjoy comic book films, was the following: “CONDORMAN (1981)
directed by Charles Jarrott A worthy entry into the comic book genre, this
mostly forgotten Disney film stars Michael Crawford as the title
character, a comic book artist and inventor who gets mixed up with spies and
has to pretend to be a superhero. Filmed all over Europe, with beautiful
cinematography, cool cars, and incredible gadgets.” Have
you seen it and how was it?I loved “Condorman” when I saw it the year it was released in theaters. This was Disney’s answer to both Superman and James Bond, franchises that had folks lining up at the box office at that time. Unfortunately, it never captured the audience like the other films did. It all but vanished by the time the whole superhero genre started to explode in the late 1980s with Tim Burton’s “Batman” but is still worth watching.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas
28)
It’s amazing that though I was born in the mid-seventies and had access to
older films than the 80s in the early 80s Disney Channel and on VHS that I had
never seen the following Disney sports-themed film:
“THE WORLD’S
GREATEST ATHLETE (1973) directed by Robert Scheerer Disney’s first pure sports
movie, a “fish out of water” slapstick comedy about a missionary’s kid from
Africa being recruited to compete in NCAA decathlon events in Los Angeles.”
How was this film?
-Any thoughts? Were there any stereo-types within this film?
It’s
good film, but definitely one that’s dated. Some of the jokes and situations
used in 1973 might cause a bit of cringing in 2018, but it’s another one worth
watching.
29) I have seen many of the live-action nature films by Disney on
their channel and elsewhere – the ones in your listing. Did ecologists /
biologists become hyper-critical of, for example, these two films from your
list (the only ones of this type I had not seen): “…PERRI (1957) directed
by N. Paul Kenworthy Jr. and Ralph Wright Walt’s weirdest live-action nature
film, based on a story by Felix Salten, the author of Bambi. While it uses
scenes shot in the wild, the footage was edited and manipulated to tell a
scripted story about a brave squirrel who protects his home from predators and
falls in love…
THE INCREDIBLE
JOURNEY (1963) directed by Fletcher Markle Not a pure nature film like the
others, this movie actually has human actors in it. It’s the story of two dogs
and a cat who travel 200 miles across Canada together looking for their owners.
Remade by Disney in the 1990s. ..NEVER CRY WOLF (1983) directed by Carol
Ballard Charles Martin Smith plays an intrepid scientist sent into the frozen
tundra by the Canadian government to study a pack of wolves that seem to be
killing off the caribou there. During the course of his work, he bonds with the
innocent wolves and becomes part of their pack”?
“Perri”
absolutely received criticism, because Disney manipulated natural shots of
animals to tell a fictional story (even though they were doing the same thing
in their nature documentaries.) No animals were harmed, of course, but it was
the one and only time they attempted such a project. “The Incredible Journey”
was well received, and “Never Cry Wolf” was one of the films that Ron Miller
developed which moved Disney closer to the more serious subject matter. That
one was the first be released under the banner of “Walt Disney Pictures” and
won several awards from critics and film professional groups.
30)
Though I like musicals, as per that listing, I have only seen “Evita” in its
entirety recently. Of great note is that Tim Rice co-wrote it with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Explain the chicken and egg scenario with Rice’s work on this and then on
Disney animated scores. Which came first, the chicken or the egg, in this case?
The
chicken definitely came first, as Sir Tim Rice’s reputation was well
established before Disney came calling. It was Disney’s return to Broadway
style animated musicals in the 1990s that helped to draw major talent like Tim
Rice to their company.
31)
Was “Step Up,” the Buena Vista release in the musical category, a lot like
“Fame”?
“Step
Up” is a quasi-musical. It only made the modern live action musical list (and
just barely) because Disney hadn’t made many live action musicals in the modern
era before this book was completed at the end of 2017. In the next edition,
“Step Up” will definitely fall off the list to be replaced by one of the newer
live action entries like “Mary Poppins Returns”, “Aladdin”, and “Mulan.”
32)
The songs from Disney classics listings were all recognized by me. Wasn’t “The
Lord is Good to Me” used in the Johnny Appleseed part of “Melody Time”? If not,
where was it used?
It
was, and that’s how most people know it. In fact, my son’s grammar school used
that segment to help teach the kids about Johnny Appleseed.
33)
“Feed the Birds” was given a Special Mention by you, which I understand is much
better than an Honorable Mention. I agree that this Sherman Brothers classic
from “Mary Poppins,” a song that was so beloved by Walt, deserved a Special
Mention. Does the song hold any special meaning to you personally?
I
share the same affinity for the song as Walt did, for the same reason. It’s a
simple song that delivers a powerful message – it doesn’t take much to show
kindness to your fellow man, rather than being so wrapped up in yourself that
you ignore the concerns of those around you. “Feed the birds, tuppence a bag…”
34)
The only modern song you listed that does not stick out in my head and that I
cannot hum or sing is “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc. Why did this
make your list? (I did go back and listen to the song on YouTube and did
remember it after I had already asked this question. It is fun and reminds me
of an old Vaudeville routine coupled with modern jazzy songs. Lucas’ book does,
indeed, serve to provide reminders of the vast universe that is Disney.)
One of
the main reasons this song made the list is that it marked Randy Newman’s first
ever Oscar victory, after coming close many, many times. For a lot of the lists
in the book, a key tie breaker was “did it win an Oscar or break records?” In
this case, “If I Didn’t Have You” did. It’s also a fun, bouncy, jazzy song.
35) I
was well-aware of all of your soundtrack mentions. Then, I arrived at the
Underrated Disney Films and thought I might not know some of those. I may have
seen “Johnny
Tremain” on Disney Channel in the 80s at some point (but cannot
remember) as well as perhaps the equally obscure or underrated “Scarecrow of
Romney Marsh” (is it mentioned in the book?... I think it might be under a
different title) I knew and had seen all the other underrated ones, including
“Midnight Madness.” I saw it when I was a kid on the satellite and have been
trying to find it on VHS or DVD ever since. I liked the scavenger hunt aspects
of it and the funny clues throughout, but I had less discerning tastes as a
young kid. I remember Michael J. Fox was in it in a quite early role. Is it
still available to buy? I had no idea it was a Disney film. I still remember
there being a red herring on the scavenger hunt that involved melons, but I
cannot discuss it for a family audience. How did you figure out it was if
Disney did not attach its name to the film? What source did you use?
There’s
been debate over the years about “Midnight Madness” and whether it was Disney’s
first PG film, a title that is officially claimed by “The Black Hole.” According
to many film historians, Disney didn’t know what to do with “Madness” so it sat
on a shelf for a while until finally being released by Buena Vista, a few weeks
after “The Black Hole.” Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman) John Fielder (voice of
Piglet) and Dirk Blocker from “Brooklyn 99” also make appearances.
36) I
know I did not see the “health film” you had listed or even the war training
film in your “Most Unusual Film” listing. Those do not need a lot of
explanation, but tell me about the more Disney-esque of the following two, “Bon
Voyage”, and the least Disney-esque, “Miracle of the White Stallions.” How do they
compare as being Disney films? How do they differ? “Trenchcoat” was another one
from this list I had never heard of. What makes it so non-Disney-esque versus
Disney-esque?
It’s
hard to qualify what is a “non-Disney-esque” film. That is in the eyes of the
beholder. Some things, like cursing or nudity, are obvious. Some, like theming
and situations, are a little fuzzier. “Trenchcoat” is one of those films that
falls in the grey area; it’s too tame to compete with edgy adult films, but too
mature (violence, murder, espionage) to have appeal to kids. That’s why Disney
had no idea what to do with it. (A few years later it would have been released
as a Touchstone film.)
Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas
37)
All the animated leading men and ladies were very familiar to me, and I agreed
with all of your choices. As per the villains, I do not know how I did not know
this, but I never knew the old hag version of the Evil Queen had a name, Queen
Grimhilde. How did you find his out? All the other Disney female and male
villain names were very familiar to me. Walt saw a traveling stage production of “Snow White” as a child, which stayed with him. In that version, the Queen was known as Grimhilde. He used that name when describing the story to his animators. She was called Grimhilde in internal memos and script notes, as well as in some Disney comics, but never on screen. In recent years, Disney has used the name officially in several media properties.
38)
The live action leading men and lady lists were all well-known to me. I knew
most of the male and female live action villains too save for one. Tell me
about Carla Santini from “Confessions of a Teenaged Drama Queen.” I was not
aware of this villain. Do mostly millennials know her?
Megan
Fox played Carla in the 2004 film “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.” She
was the stereotypical mean bully girl who antagonizes and ostracizes Lindsay
Lohan’s character. This was Disney, so the story never got too mean, but Fox
played the role to perfection, making Carla – who eventually gets her
comeuppance - one of the most memorable modern Disney live action villains.
39)
The Disney side-kicks lists were delightful! I remembered all of them save for
Philoctetes because I became so used to the satyr being called by his nick-name
“Phil” in “Hercules” that I had forgotten the longer Greek name. I do not
remember his full name being used much in the film. Was the full name used at
least once in the film – perhaps when he introduced himself?
The
name was used a few times in the film, but Danny DeVito, who voiced him,
preferred to call him “Phil.”
40) I knew all the Disney canines from your list. But I did not know one of the felines, Julius, from the 1920s Alice shorts. Explain his role in those shorts and the significance of those shorts in general.
Before there was a Disney Studio, Walt had a company called Laugh-O-Gram films. The most popular cartoon character in the world at the time was Felix the Cat. Walt’s Laugh-O-Gram distributor urged him to come up with his own cat, and Julius was born. At first, the little cat didn’t have a name. He was used as a comedy sidekick for the live action Alice in early Disney shorts. Then, Walt christened him Julius, and he is officially credited as the first Disney named character, appearing in 47 shorts. Julius even got to battle Pete, Disney’s first named villain, years before Mickey did. Criticism of Julius as just another Felix clone caused Walt to drop him by 1927, in favor of newer characters. Two stores in Disney’s California Adventure are named for Julius the Cat.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas
41) As
per the Disney critters list, I knew about the raccoon from “Pocahontas” but
had forgotten he was called Meeko. How many times do you think that happens
with a character, remembering details but not remembering the name? Do you
think your book facilitates people re-grasping lost knowledge?
It’s
another of the reasons I wrote the book, to re-introduce some characters to the
public, and refresh memories about details like names.
42)
The couples in the couples list were all very memorable to me. The Disney Duos
list duos were too. The trios list would have been well-remembered by me too
were it not for three hyenas from “The Lion King.” I remembered Ed’s name
perhaps being used in the film, but I did not remember Shenzi and Banzai of the
main hyena trio being called by their names. Why do you think they did not
stand out to me? All of the Disney groups listing were very memorable to me as
well, by the way.
Ed’s
name is mentioned in the film more often than Shenzi and Banzai because he is
largely mute, so they refer to him again and again by name for exposition
purposes. In some cartoons based on “The Lion King”, they do use all three
names. “The Lion King” is so full of rich and powerful characters that the
hyenas are easily lost in the shuffle.
43)
As per underrated Disney characters, I did not know about Oswald until I was at
least in my late twenties or early thirties, and I am in my forties now. Not
much was stated about the loss of the character – even up until the 70s and 80s
when I was a kid and even well through the nineties (and may even part of the
new millennium). Explain why.
Oswald
was almost like an orphan character for decades. Universal had the rights to
him, so Disney never really mentioned him. Historians and journalists would
bring Oswald’s name up in stories about the early days of Disney, but it wasn’t
until Disney got back the rights to Oswald in 2006 (in a swap for broadcaster
Al Michaels, one of the craziest trades in entertainment history) that the
public paid attention to him again.
44) I knew a lot about Uncle Remus from excerpts from scenes from
“Song of the South” that used to be played on early 80s Disney Channel and from
some mentions of him by my Southern family members. I have only ever been able
to see excerpts from the film, though, because of its lack of availability / it
being sealed in the Disney vault permanently so to speak. You have Uncle Remus
listed as an underrated Disney character, but with the censorship of “Song of
the South”, do you think it’s more like he is intentionally unremembered?
Why/why not? Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom both have Splash
Mountain attractions that use the animal characters Uncle Remus discussed (or
that author Joel Chandler Harris had discuss) in his tales. However, one will
not find Uncle Remus there or mentions of the film. Do you care to discuss
this? Why do you think this is?
Walt loved the Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris and fought hard to bring them to the screen. James Baskett played the role of Uncle Remus brilliantly. Even in Walt’s time, however, there was some backlash to “Song of The South.” Walt was stung by the criticism, but also encouraged the Academy to give Baskett an Oscar for his work, one of the first African-Americans to receive the honor. The film was re-released in theaters, on television and on home video for years until the tide started to turn against it in the late 1980s. It’s become too much of a hot button issue now for Disney to touch (though much of the criticism comes from people who’ve never actually seen the film.) Ironically, Splash Mountain is one of the most popular theme park attractions, even though it’s based on the film Disney has hidden. Baskett’s vocal interpretations of the characters are the basis for the audio-animatronics on the ride, though Uncle Remus himself does not appear. That’s a shame, because Baskett deserves more attention.
James Baskett receiving an Oscar for his work
in “The Song of the South” (Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas)
45)
Because of my having the Disney Channel in the very early 80s, I was well-aware
of all of your listing of forgotten Disney characters (and, yes, they are
forgotten to many for the most part). However, one I was not aware of was Clara
Cluck. Explain about her. (I later recalled seeing her after seeing the
submitted photo of her after the interview.) State one or two other of the most
obscure ones our audience may not know and give a one sentence description of
them.
Clara
was a parody of the faux operatic musical stye of the 1930s. She was supposed
to be a one-off character in a Mickey short, but became so popular that she
began recurring in other shorts, crossing over to Donald Duck’s universe, too.
She’s often portrayed as a stuffy, high society dowager type. She’s obscure,
but known just enough to have made appearances in the parks and in parades.
Photo
above courtesy of Christopher Lucas
Here
are two others that are fairly obscure:
Ortensia
The Cat – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’s wife. She appeared in several shorts and is
now being used in new Disney projects with Oswald.
Morty
and Ferdie Field Mouse – Mickey’s nephews, the mouse counterparts of Huey,
Dewey and Louie. They last appeared in Mickey’s Christmas Carol.
46)
Your actors who found a home at Disney listing was quite thorough, and I
remembered all of those. The list of actors who bloomed at Disney was very
memorable too. As per the child stars of Disney list, I did not know it was Virginia
Davis who played Alice in the Alice comedies. I also did not know Luana Patten
at all. Why do you think that might be? Christy Carlson Romano was another one
I was not as aware of, but I think it may be the generation I fell in / my age.
Do you think 90s Disney child stars stand out as much as classic ones? Why/why
not?
Until
the advent of DVD, the early Alice shorts weren’t as well known to the public,
so Virginia Davis (who was the first, but not the only young actress to play
Alice in those early films) wasn’t as recognized as she should have been. Luana
Patten is another one who didn’t get the attention that, say, Hayley Mills and
Karen Dotrice got later. Many of the 1990s Disney TV stars went on to have
successful recording careers. Christy Carlson Romano semi-retired after her
shows ended, so she’s fallen out of the spotlight a bit.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas
47) As
per your list of classic voice-over actors for Disney animation, I did not know
or did not remember Pinto Colvig did the early voice of Goofy. As he was
brought back to do Goofy’s voice even after leaving the studio, why do you
think more is not discussed about him?
Colvig
is a Disney Legend, and is an inductee in the International Clown Hall of Fame
(he was the first Bozo) but he, like many voice artists of his era, worked for
several studios and was the anonymous person behind the characters. Since the
public only knows the character, his name never reached household status. Colvig’s
vocal contributions to Goofy (the “hyuk, hyuk”, “gawrsh” and “Ya-hoo-hooey!”
scream) do live on, however.
SnipIt of illustration from Top Disney. Used with permission of author
48) As
per the classic voice-over list, I did not know Sterling Holloway, one of my
favorites, was one (if not the only) of the voice-over actors to be named a
Disney Legend. I loved all of his work. As he is a Southerner like me, I often
found him to be a source of inspiration. Some of the roles he played, including
Pooh and the Cheshire Cat with their distinct voices, make him a personal favorite
of mine. Why do you think others like him and his work and respect him so much?
Why do you think he was chosen as a Disney Legend?
Sterling
Holloway was already a well known star before he began lending his voice
talents to Disney in the 1940s. His unique soft spoken southern tinged vocals
are unmistakeable. Since Pooh is an icon of the Disney company, and the voice
he gave to Pooh is as well, that’s why Holloway was given Disney Legend status.
49) I
did not know the voice of Droopy Dog (please refresh my memory about his name)
did character voices for Disney (from the classic Disney voice-over list). I
should have guessed because some of them sound so similar. Was it easy for
voice actors to “jump studios” back in the 40s? Was it easier for them to do so
than live action actors? Why/why not?
Radio
was king in the 1930s and 40s, so many actors in Hollywood at the time were
used to creating memorable performances with their voices alone. Walt and the
other studio moguls were smart enough to tap in to all of that talent for their
cartoons. Bill Thompson, who voiced Droopy, was one who hopped from project to
project. Even the great Mel Blanc (best known for Bugs Bunny and 1,000 other
Looney Tunes voices) worked for Disney at one time. Live action actors were
usually under contract and associated with only one studio back then.
50)
From your modern Disney voice-over list, I knew more about Clarence Nash than
his “feather apparent” Tony Anselmo as the voice of Donald Duck. Tell me more
about Anselmo.
Tony
actually started as a junior animator at Disney back in 1980. He struck up a
friendship with Clarence Nash, who began teaching him the finer points of
performing Donald. When Nash passed away in 1985, Anselmo took over as the
voice of Donald. Since then, it’s his voice you hear most of the time you’re
listening to Donald squawk.
51) As
per your list of Disney character actors, I did not know the three from the
Golden Horseshoe Review, which, as a venue, I did grow acquainted with during
my visit to Disneyland in 2015 (I am a life-long visitor to Walt Disney World
but only in recent years was able to travel to Walt’s “original vision.”).
The
three entertainers you referenced, Wally Boag, Fulton Burley and Betty Taylor, performed
that show in Disneyland over 30,000 times, which was officially listed in the
Guinness Book of World Records as the most ever for any show. That’s why they
were given Disney Legend status.
52) As
per the Disney songwriters, why do I know the Sherman Brothers better than
Oliver Wallace and Frank Churchhill? I know what each did, but why do you think
the Sherman Brothers stick out more for me and perhaps others?
The
Sherman Brothers had the good fortune of being Walt’s songwriters just as
television was becoming more and more popular, and Disneyland records was
established. In addition to their many film and TV scores, they wrote pop songs
for Disney performers like Annette Funicello and then later theme songs for
attractions at the Disney parks. That helped them become household names,
almost as famous as any of Walt’s characters.
53) I
watched reruns of the 50s Mouseketeers on early Disney Channel in the 80s (I
was a toddler in the late 70s and child of the 80s), but I had no idea the
leader of the 50s Mouseketeers, Jimmie Dodd, was a minister and composer. I
knew he played and sang many songs on the show, etc. Do you think there are
similarities between him and the late Mr. Fred Rogers from “Mr. Roger’s
Neighborhood” on PBS?That’s another great analogy. Jimmie Dodd was a definite forerunner for Fred Rogers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter took some inspiration from Dodd when putting together his long running children’s program.
SnipIt from Top Disney. Used with permission of author.
54)
George Bruns and Buddy Baker were two composers that I knew little about
biographically. Tell my audience more about them.
Bruns
and Baker both joined Disney after World War II. Between them and the Sherman
Brothers, they account for almost every Disney song from the 1950s to the
1980s. Bruns and Baker’s work includes TV theme songs like “The Ballad of Davy
Crockett,” film scores like the bouncy theme to “The Love Bug” and orchestral
compositions for rides like the Haunted Mansion (yes, the creepy organ music.)
When Baker retired from Disney in the 1980s, he was the last studio staff
composer left in Hollywood. He continued consulting on musical projects for
them until his death, at age 84, in 2002.
Your
book continues with various forms of media through the years and Disney’s role
in them, which I have a broad familiarity with, so I will continue on to other
topics…
56) As
per your live action T.V. series listing, the only one I have not seen is “The
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” I like comics and comics films/shows at times. What am
I missing with this one?
This
show is a small screen extension of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with some
tertiary characters from the films showing up and moving plot lines along that
spill over into the movies. It’s an interesting show, which gives a little more
depth to the mysterious organization run by Nick Fury in the movies.
57) As
per your Made for TV film listing, I had no idea Disney made films for
television about seeing-eye dogs. Why do you think Disney made these
films?
Walt was
active in many charities for the disabled, and was a supporter of the Seeing
Eye, the oldest guide dog operation in the U.S. Disney made not one, but two
films about the Seeing Eye, filmed on location on their actual campus in New
Jersey (the only time that’s ever happened.) I have a soft spot in my heart for
those films, and the Seeing Eye, because my Dad is blind and had four Seeing
Eye dogs throughout his life.
58) I
don’t think I ever saw a couple of the 70s made for television films Disney
did. Did they ever make it to the early Disney Channel?
In the
very beginning of the Disney Channel, from about 1983-1989, they used to show
old episodes of the Wonderful World of Disney, including the 1970s movies. Due
to residual and rights issues, many of those films are no longer aired or
available, but you can usually find them posted on You Tube if you look hard
enough. They are fun films, very high quality.
59)
Having had Disney Channel in my childhood and youth and having been an educator
for 15 years as well as being an uncle to a youth who is now 15, I knew most of
the Disney Channel series from your list but did not know anything about “Lab
Rats.” What was so special about that series?
Lab
Rats is about a scientist who creates bionic superheroes and has them living
under the same roof as his new wife and stepson. It’s a good example of the
high concept sitcoms (“Dog With A Blog” is another one) that helped the Disney
Channel and its spin-offs, like Disney XD, to big ratings.
60)
As per live-action Disney t.v. characters, I was not as familiar with the ones
from the old Disney westerns. Were they shown much as re-runs? Why/why not? I
had vague recollections of the non-western Swamp Fox and that series maybe
being talking about or shown on Disney Channel. It may have been the historic
connection to my home state. I loved re-runs of “Zorro” and watched them often.
Zorro
and The Swamp Fox (South Carolina hero Francis Marion) were probably the two
most famous Disney live action TV heroes early on, after Davy Crockett. Their
memorable and catchy theme songs helped them stick in the mind and to be
requested as re-runs on the Disney Channel and on home video. There were a few
others, like Texas John Slaughter and Elfego Baca, who did not last as long in
collective memories, so they haven’t been seen as much since.
61) By
the way, Dr. Syn, in the classic live-action Disney show from your listing,
scared me nearly to death as a youth in his Scarecrow costume, though he was
more of a “dark knight” on the side of good, etc. How about you?
Dr.
Syn, or the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, was very much in the tradition of Zorro
and Batman; dashing heroes with a dark double identity. You are right, in that
the image of the Scarecrow roaming the British countryside for justice in the
middle of the night was absolutely terrifying. It still gives me chills.
62)
Stanley Griff was one of the few Disney t.v. animated characters I knew nothing
about. Others were ones young relatives had watched or that I had seen in
passing. Why do you think Stanley Griff does not stand out?
Stanley
was a kids cartoon that mixed a bit of education in each episode. His “Great
Big Book of Everything” was like a magic encyclopedia that could transport
Stanley and his pals to any place or time to give some historic facts to kids.
A similar show, “Little Einsteins” stole a bit of Stanley’s plot line and thunder
a few years later and became more notable.
63) I
had never heard of Disney’s touring / theatrical production “Total Abandon” in
one of your lists? Was it because it was not successful? Was it a good
production?
I did
not see it live, so I can’t give a personal opinion as to the quality of the
show, but I can say that it was not a big hit. In fact, it was one of
Broadway’s biggest flops ever, closing on opening night, only running for one
performance. Richard Dreyfus starred as an abusive father, in an unsympathetic
role, which might have kept ticket sales down. Critics also roasted it. Disney
didn’t come back to Broadway for another decade, and then it was with a safe
version of one of their biggest animated hit musicals, “Beauty and the Beast”, which
ran for years.
64)
“On the Record” was another touring show I had never heard of. Did it get much
publicity?
“On The Record” was a 2004 jukebox style musical, like “Mamma Mia,” with a story built around pre-existing songs. In this case, it was 71 songs from the Disney canon. It never made it to Broadway, but traveled to 25 cities around the United States, where audiences and critics gave it high marks. It’s still being performed by repertory, community and high school theater groups. It sometimes plays in an abridged version, with another title, “When You Wish.”
Photo
courtesy of Christopher Lucas
65) I
was very familiar with the Disney Parks chronology in the book but somehow had
a lapse about Ronald Reagan’s historic connection to the Disney Parks. Care to
elaborate on this?
Ronald Reagan was a friend of Walt Disney, and co-hosted opening day ceremonies for Disneyland on television, years before he entered politics. For his second Presidential Inaugural in January 1985, the temperature in Washington D.C. was 15 degrees below zero. They cancelled all outdoor celebrations, disappointing the thousands who’d traveled there to see the historic event. Michael Eisner made the offer to host the Inauguration ceremonies in May at Epcot Center. The President accepted. On Memorial Day, 1985, the Secret Service took over Epcot as 60,000 people showed up to see the President and First Lady. The official Presidential Inaugural Parade was held around the lagoon in Epcot, marking the first time since the 1780s that such a ceremony was held outside of the nation’s capital.
66) I
mentioned Eisner earlier in one of the interviews and some of the criticisms of
him. Do you think Eisner made the Disney Parks better? Why/why not?
The
parks were in danger of turning into well maintained museum pieces in the mid
1980s. Eisner made it his mission to reinvigorate and expand the parks and
resorts world wide. He even dubbed the 1990s “The Disney Decade.” He had some
great triumphs and some great failures, but he has to be given credit for his
ambitious plan, which changed the way the world looks at theme parks going into
the 21st Century.
SnipIt of photo from Top Disney. Used with permission of author
SnipIt of photo from Top Disney. Used with permission of author
67)
What do you think about the direction Bob Iger is taking the parks in? I
thoroughly enjoyed your listing of parks-only characters, by the way.
Bob
Iger is a little more cautious than Michael Eisner, who was a “dream big, worry
about money later” guy, like Walt. Iger sees the big picture of the Disney
Corporation, where the parks make up only about 35% of the annual revenue.
Nevertheless, his moves – like adding two new Star Wars lands, modern thrill
rides, an award winning Avatar land, and technology to help improve guest
experiences – haven’t been a splashy as Eisner’s, but are leading the parks in
the right direction for the next CEO to inherit.
68)
In the listing of “dead attractions” (well, “The Haunted Mansion” is dead
in a different way), you mentioned “If You Had Wings.” Was air travel just not
that much of a novelty any more once it had died out?
Eastern
Airlines was the official carrier of Walt Disney World for years, the two were
synonymous. They sponsored “If You Had Wings.” When more airlines started to pop
up, air travel became cheaper and competition fiercer, Eastern faltered. Once
they were gone, the attraction’s days were numbered. The coolest part of the
ride, the tunnel that made it appear that you were swooshing through
hyperspace, is still there. It’s now part of the finale of the Buzz Lightyear
attraction in Tomorrowland, which replaced “If You Had Wings” in that same
building.
You
have many nice bibliographies within your book as well.
Your reference book is a very comprehensive book of lists that any Disney fan would treasure having upon his or her shelf. Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for this series of articles based on your book, Christopher.
Your reference book is a very comprehensive book of lists that any Disney fan would treasure having upon his or her shelf. Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for this series of articles based on your book, Christopher.
Shown is part of Christopher Lucas’ large VHS collection of Disney films as well part of his collection of mouse ears from the Disney Parks. He also has many books related to Disney on separate shelves. Photo courtesy of Christopher Lucas.
