One Small Step for Man...

On this day of the 40th anniversary of the landing of the first man on the moon, I would like to offer the patent to the Rocket to the Moon attraction as it was installed in Tomorrowland in Disneyland in 1955 and lasted until 1966. It bears Walt Disney's own name as the inventor, and was filed - just as the Circarama patent - on July 17th, 1956, one year to the day after opening day, the day we celebrated on Friday. For more info see on Yesterland.

I do not know if one of the attorneys was related to Ken Mattingly, the Flight Commander of Apollo 16. Coincidence?I, too, was glued to the tv that day (night!) in 1969 in Holland...

Disneyland 54 Years Today

Congratulations to Disneyland on it's 54th birthday!

Here is a little in-house article from May/June 1964 about the preparation for Disneyland's "Tencennial" celebration in 1965, when a year was still 12 months...

<< Click to enlarge!

This morning also marks the retirement of Disney Imagineer Marty Sklar after 54 years with Disney, with a window on City Hall in Town Square. Marty will continue his work for the Ryman Foundation.

Screenland Contest - Feb.1935

Here is one contest that I would not want to win the first prize in!'

Seeing that a pair of large Mickey dolls sold for some $144,000 at Hake's recently, and with even the 11th prize, an uncut Waddle Book being near unaffordable, the $100 first prize is at this time a laugh, to say the least. Any single one of the prizes (except the Hinds products, I would think) is now worth at least several times that. One should, of course, put it in the context of the Great Depression. But still. Look at the three fourth prizes! Suitably framed!

<< Click to enlarge!

This February 1935 Screenland magazine also includes an article on Walt Disney, which I will return to shortly.

Happy Bastille Day to all the French readers (if any)!

Prod. UM3 - The Whoopie Party

One of my favorite fun Mickey shorts is the abundantly musical The Whoopee Party, released 09/17/32. Directed by Wilfred "Jaxon" Jackson, it was animated by Hardie Gramatky, Eddie Donnelly, Les Clark, Dave Hand, Johnny Cannon, Norm "Fergy" Ferguson, "Frenchy" de Trémaudan, Ben Sharpsteen (and unnamed crew of trainees), Tom Palmer, Jack King and Dick Lundy.

IMDb mentions Maude Nugent as composer of "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" as part of the score in this upbeat short, which can be found on the 2002 Treasures DVD set Mickey Mouse in Black and White...Happy Fourth of July to all who celebrate it!