Pieces of the Mural

Seriously. What’s going on with  me? 3 blog posts in the span of a week?! How can this be? Will it keep up? Time will tell. However! I have a post to go with an old post today, which I was inspired to put up since I found photos of my chunks of Mary Blair (which sounds morbid, but I promise it’s not!).

My long time readers might recall a post, which you can find here, detailing the sad destruction, or possibly partial destruction of the fantastic Mary Blair mural in Tomorrowland.

I’m not certain if much of the mural remains, but I know that portions of the destroyed pieces were auctioned off. A friend of mine bought said chunks as a birthday present for me… which, in thinking about it, would be such a bad present for anyone who was not so marinated in Disney as I… and, being a huge Mary Blair fan, I thought they were pretty darn cool! Let’s hope they’re legit. I’ve never heard anything to the contrary about them.

As you can see, they’re relatively thick, seemingly the same thickness as seen in the tiles shown in the photos from my previous post. They’re painted, a bit weathered, but they still have a nice sheen to them. I don’t know what portion of the mural they come from, though I think they probably had residence towards the bottom area.

Here is the backside for anyone interested. It looks like there is some cement or mortar of some sort. I’m not a girl who would know the correct terminology for that. Some goo to make it stick to something else! How about that.

It would please me greatly if they brought the mural back, since they seem to be bringing back everything from our Tomorrowland of the past. Fingers crossed. :) Incidentally, did anyone see the floor in the Mary Blair area of the Walt Disney Family Museum? Fabulous!!! If they made that in rug form, it would be in my house right now!

Today’s lucky strike

Quick blog post today!

Normally, I’m hyper-organized. Yep, the annoying kind. The everything-in-cute-boxes-and-categorized kind. I have not yet approached the dark side of labeling everything, though. If I were the labeling type, (and I probably would be if I had a labeler) I probably would not have placed this guy where he didn’t belong. But, that said… isn’t it fun to come across things you forgot you owned!? Especially Disney stuff, right? Who’s with me!?  

I love the art on this matchbook. Simple lines and easy shapes create a whimsical and retro feel that perfectly illustrates the hotel at the time.

 

 

I am no Disneyland Hotel aficionado, so if anyone out there  can date this little guy for me, do speak up. :) I believe I found it in my mom’s old stuff, so I’m assuming late 60’s?? The design strikes me as older, though.

Wishing a happy Friday to all of my readers!

Back to Blogging with The Peter Pan Tea Set

I think I’ve been collecting Disney paraphernalia for my entire life… which isn’t as long as some collectors have been at it, but for me, it seems like a good while. I started with the easy stuff, collecting things from Disneyland, or preserving the things that my older sister had from her childhood, and eventually it blossomed into something bigger, better, and much older than I.

One of my favorite such blossomings is this miniature Peter Pan tea set from around the time of the film’s release in 1953. Being a massive fan of Peter Pan, it was an amazing gift for me. As you can see, it’s a rather large set, with very colorful graphics on every piece. Completely charming in every way and it looks as sparkling as the day it was made.

Unfortunately, the box and the cute punch out figures don’t belong to me. But, I love the graphics and the usage of the box! I love how, oftentimes, the box was used as some special part of the toy back then- like a colorful background -  instead of being pure waste as it always is now. Great graphics on the box, too.

Now, if only this came in full, adult size! :)

A Fun Find

 

 

There are a few Disneyland photos over at Blonde Episodes- a decidedly non-Disney site (I'm a vintage loving kind of girl!), but still fun to look at. Hop on over to see the others. :)

Walt feeds a penguin

While searching through my growing list of blogs I love visiting, I came across this great photo over at Hollywood Heyday. It's an amusing shot of a young and casual Walt with what appears to be penguin snacks in hand, coaxing some audio out of the little cutie.

The post chronicles the goings on in Hollywood around April 17, 1932. It says this in the photo's caption:

"Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse animated cartoons, will move his bizarre animals from Columbia lots to those of United Artists some time in the middle of July."

I must say, I'm a little curious as to which short this was used for in 1932. If anyone has any idea, do let me know.

Have a great week, everyone! :)

Walt's Macaroni Mickey Mousse

While tripping along a Disney recipe index, I came upon this, which I think is so adorable. It's from a February 1934 Better Homes & Gardens issue. I thought it was too nice to be hidden, so I wanted to bring everyone's attention to it here.

I can't figure out who the blogger is who originally posted it, but here is the source link. It was great of whomever to post it.

Now, I don't know how much cheese had to do with the creation of Mickey Mouse, but it does make for a cute read and references the mouse that scampered around Walt's Kansas City office.

I love the part that reads, "Mr. Disney often serves Macaroni Mickey Mousse to his friends who visit him at his Hollywood bungalow." The recipe variations that follow lead me to believe that perhaps he actually did.

If anyone tries this recipe out, do let me know how it goes.

Bringing Back a Classic

We will call this post, Disney inspired, because it’s not directly Disney, but definitely something Disney brought my attention to; an unexpected topic, that of the Cream Waffle.

Here’s the story… I was looking through some images I had saved on my computer, getting organized, when I came across the breakfast menu from the Disney Studio Commissary. Going through it I began to wonder what some of the items were and being such a freak for all things 30s/40s I began to look things up and discover common products, packaging, and eating habits of the time (lots of meat for breakfast!). One such item on the menu caught my eye, the Cream Waffles of course, priced at 20 cents.

I assumed, perhaps it was a waffle topped with whipped cream, which I suppose it could very well have been, but after a bit of research I discovered the Cream Waffle is a whole type of waffle different from the rest. I found but one recipe for it online, as well as several people looking for the recipe, and decided to give it a shot. I journeyed myself to Trader Joe’s to pick up what I needed and made them for breakfast the next day.

What have I been missing?!? They were amazing! At first bite they’re common like other waffles, but in a few seconds the creaminess really takes hold and you realize just how much better they are in comparison to the old standard… at least in my opinion. I also found them to be faster and easier to make, which could have been a product of my enthusiasm, but there you have it.

I just couldn’t understand that such a great recipe had been lost in time, and so I bring it back here, to those interested, in hopes of reviving a classic and maybe, in some minute way, a little bit of Disney Studio history. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did. J

Below is the recipe. Being a gal who is not into sugar, I replaced the sugar with a couple drops of liquid stevia and added a little extra vanilla because that’s just how I roll. ;) If anyone tries this recipe, do let me know what you think in the comments section.

Cream Waffles

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 3 eggs, separated

· 1 cup heavy whipping cream

· ½ teaspoon vanilla

· 1 tablespoon sugar.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg yolks on low while adding cream and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute. Add to flour mixture; combine on low speed, then beat on medium-high until smooth.

2. In another small mixing bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter.

3. Bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions. Serve with warm maple syrup or fresh fruit in season.

Snow White & the Artists and Others

A family friend of ours, and famous author (we're not name dropping though!), is always going on about "artists and others"; meaning that all humans are divided into these two groupings. Being an artist himself he often sees the difficulties in gaining the understanding of "the others"and experiences their frequent inability to see innovation and comprehend the vast creativity of an artist. I guess it's true in many ways. I know can rattle off several examples of my own, but I find one of the best examples of this theory is Walt Disney; mainly in his two would-be "follies"- Snow White and Disneyland.

I was thinking of this theory and reminded of this article from a Photoplay dated April 1938. In my opinion, it is probably the best vintage spread done on the film in that it is so detailed it actually makes you feel as though you were one of the many artists, so hard at work, creating and dreaming at the Walt Disney Studios. Maybe it escapes many of us now, but at that time, Snow White was really something! A major feat. Any artist would know, especially any who have tried their hand at any of the many complex skills involved in making an animated film.

The theory might very well be true, as all things in life need balance. For all intents and purposes, Walt was the artist, and Roy, the "other". In this case a beautiful balance that produced the things which we all love so dearly. If only we could always find this perfect balance, the world would be quite a different place.

So, for all you "others", (and God bless you, for we definitely couldn't do without you, too!) read on, and I am certain, for just a moment, you'll feel a bit of what it is to be an artist.

Get your sketch books out, everyone!

Hello all! I'm back! (And was finally able to upload!) For the moment, anyway. I seem to have a little problem with saying no to any creative venture I'm presented with, and have now found myself animating... something I haven't done since high school, and it's taking up all of my time! But, wow! I'd forgotten how much fun it was... and back then the best result I had was seeing it in flip book style. Now, I just drop those frames into Flash and see it all come to life. It's easy to get hooked!

In honor of my venture, here's just a little something in the same genre from a couple different issues of Mickey Mouse Club Magazine from the 50s. A nice little how-to I would have loved to have when I was a kid. One for Chip and Dale and another for Goofy. So, everyone get those pencils out and start sketching! :)

Must Checko El Groupo.

A happy recommendation today to check out the El Groupo photos of Walt's goodwill trip to South America on Google's Life photos search here. There are four pages of photos to sift through, all of which are wonderful.

The collection highlights a lot of work by Mary & Lee Blair as well as some really nice Herb Ryman paintings.

As an artist, the greatest thing for me (being such huge fans of these remarkable artists) is that a lot of the photos capture the subject in which you see painted by one or more of the artists. A great compare and contrast to learn more about their style, how they saw objects, and their composition. Just a fascinating tour all around. How lucky to be able to roam around new places with a sketchbook, watercolors, and some fantastic artists in your company. Don't miss it!

Melody Time For Pecos Bill

That title is what Wheel of Fortune would call the "Before and After" topic. Perhaps not a very good one, but I do my best around here! ;)

Here's a nice little layout on Pecos Bill from the Disney classic "Melody Time". I like things like this because it's just not something you'd ever see in a movie/celebrity magazine anymore. Pecos Bill in prose, with cut out photos. Simplicity and sweetness.

Some people aren't big fans of the compilation style Disney feature, but I often find myself watching them. There's something sweet and also quite relaxing about them. I've enjoyed them since I was a kid, and I know I always will. Entertainment and art is wonderful no matter how you slice it.

For a little something extra, just because I really like to showcase how relevant Disney films were back in the day, here is one of Photoplay's many write ups on what to see (and in some cases what is not so bad to miss) in theatres. This Platter Patter encourages you to not miss Melody Time. My only curiosity with this is that The Andrews Sisters are not mentioned regarding "Little Toot" but instead The Starlighters with Don Wilson (of The Jack Benny Show fame) narrating. Why is this? In doing a bit of research I found a YouTube file that plays an old record from 1948 of "Little Toot" completely narrated by Wilson with the backing vocals by The Starlighters. (Incidentally, this is really quite charming and you shouldn't miss it!)

So, to the experts out there, was "Little Toot" originally to be a narrated piece in Melody Time? And if so, what occurred to make it entirely musical and how were The Andrews Sisters brought in on the project? I'd love to find out.

Have a great week, everyone! :)

Tink in the New Year!

I am back! I hope everyone had a truly wonderful and magical Christmas! I had a beautiful time with amazing people, and I'm still holding onto Christmas because I'm not quite willing to let it go yet! I'm a big Christmas fan! But enough about that. Onward to the next post!

Here's a cute prototype piece that someone (not me!) removed from the Studios. I don't know much about it at all besides the obvious and that it is from 1959. The outside looks quite vintage, however the inside looks quite modern, which is interesting from a design standpoint. Does anyone have this book in its entirety? I'd like to know what it was about. If anyone can help me out, that would be great!

Happiest of New Years to all of my readers! Please make yourselves known by adding your cute faces or avatars to the "Followers Who Reside Under the Sacred Tree" section. It always makes blogging much more fun and worthwhile to know that there are people out there who follow it. :)

Annette and the Princess

It's been a while, I know! But what can I say? Christmas has made for a busy few months. Not just one! However, I return with 5 very nice photos from November 23, 1958.

As you can see, they feature one of my favorite (and yours I'm sure!) Mouseketeers, Annnette Funicello. She is serving as a special hostess and accompanying Princess Sophia of Greece. The older woman is Mme. Mary Carolou.

I don't know if there is much to say about the photos, really, but they do appear to be having the most fun on The Jungle Cruise. I wonder if Annette spent the whole visit with the Princess, or just shot a few photos. I would assume the latter, as she does look a bit reserved.

Either way, they are some very nice photos of the castle, with not very much vegetation surrounding it at this early date.

Just to note: all of these photos open quite large.

I hope everyone is successfully preparing and enjoying the holidays so far! :) I will try to squeeze in some holiday-themed posts soon.

Ain't it Ducky!?

So, I have this thing where when people do really good impersonations of Disney characters I get oddly excited like a 5 year old on Christmas day. People say I'm easily amused, yes, but I think it's the coolest thing!
That is part of the reason why I was happy to find this today on YouTube. It's just a little something, but it made me smile- and perhaps clap my hands excitedly. I hope it makes you smile, too. Clapping optional... but good for the soul. Enjoy!

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough

Sleeping Beauty came out (again) on DVD today, so in honor of that (even if I haven't purchased it yet) and the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough comeback, I present to you this nice little piece from Walt Disney's Magazine at the opening of the first walk through.

I'm a HUGE fan of Eyvind Earle and his amazing art, a lot of which depicts the area in which I live and have visited. I've been a fan since the first time I was swept away with Sleeping Beauty, and I keep my eye out for any art pertaining to his backgrounds.

I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about the style in reference to how it was used in an animated film, but as an artist myself, I just think it's magical!

I love the diorama effect of these small sized paintings. They draw your eye in, even in a magazine format.

I look forward to picking up my copy soon and seeing a great film in all its widescreen glory!

For your baby, in 1958

This is a pretty sweet piece from my collection. It's a mobile for your baby's crib with dangling characters from Sleeping Beauty. They include the nameless animal characters, which I think is pretty cute.

I couldn't find a thing to attach this to that would make it stay up, (and wasn't made of nice wood) otherwise I would have taken a photo of how this hangs, but when upright, looks just like the photo, so you'll have to use your imaginations. :)

The plastic pieces that dangle remind me of the "before" state of those old Shrinky Dinks. (Let me hear it! Who loved Shrinky Dinks as a kid? I did!) When I got this, I was slightly tempted to bake it... but don't worry, I won't.

I just found this.

I was going through some photos yesterday and found this adorable photo of my mom and sister at Disneyland in March of 1979. Great little shot of the flower market on Main Street. Not too much more to say about it, except... don't you just love finding Disneyland photos you haven't seen before in your own house?! Good stuff.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! :)

From the "Things That Should Still Be There" files...

I give you, the deconstruction of the Mary Blair mural in Tomorrowland. Sad photos I just came across in my files. The mural was something I loved so much and I was so sad to see it come down. (I have chunks of it... or so they were given to me as. Never knew if they were real and always doubted they were... but one can hope!) There's not much to say about these, except to say the sweetness was sucked out of Tomorrowland when it went. But, I do look ahead to an eventual wonderful Tomorrowland (one day) that actually has everything to do with tomorrow. That'd rock.

In order to lessen the slightly sad nature of this post however, I will supersize today's post with a bright shot of color with this Mary Blair delight! It's lovely, even off of a wall, isn't it?

Oh, Blogger.

Would love to know why Blogger is being a pain about me reposting this image. It used to work, now it doesn't, and it wouldn't let me fix it, then when it would, it still didn't work. So I repost it here for everyone... especially the Major who caught the problem for me. Thanks so much. :)

Gone Hollywood!

First thing's first... Happy 53rd Birthday, Disneyland!!! Back in my OC days, I would make my pilgrimage to The Happiest Place on Earth every July 17... when I wasn't already there working it, that is. It was my thing, and even though I celebrate from afar now, I still try to do a little something commemorative on this day. Some might call me a dork, others (especially those equally into the Disney thing as I am) know far better!

All right, that out of the way, I have a decidedly un-Disneyland post for everyone today. I was just flipping through my large collection of vintage magazines the other day and came across this! It never ceases to amaze me how big of an impact Disney had on film back then. There have been so many times I've unexpectedly come across a great article on something Disney related in Photoplay, which is exactly what happened this time. One of my favorite Disney shorts, being my love of all things old Hollywood, I adore all the caricatures in this film and was stoked to find someone giving props to it with a full layout.

I have left the scans LARGE so everyone can read the fine print under each of the photos. Happy reading!