Sun, 6 April 2014
This week, Mousetalgia offers some timely Disneyland summer trip planning tips. Splurging on special tours or fine dining - which is the better choice? Fastpass schemes - which attractions should you hit first? We also offer our opinions on World of Color dining and viewing options, Fantasmic dessert seating, and choosing a tower at the Disneyland Hotel or a room at other Disneyland Resort hotels. Plus bonus advice on taking a trip up to San Francisco to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum - where to stay? What to eat? What other attractions are nearby? Also, the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet announces its special guest line up for the June 28 event, which promises to be another spectacular fan gathering with the chance to meet and hear from Imagineers, a Disney Legend, and a legendary Disney producer! Plus, Tiny Klien's memoir, Q&A with Kristen, a Muppets review, and Marc Davis' art comes to a special exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum.
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Sun, 30 March 2014
Disney Legend Jim Henson founded a "Creature Shop" in 1979 to create mechanical creatures and whimsical beasts for various productions. That shop, now led by Henson's son Brian, is the basis for a new reality competition on SyFy. Team Mousetalgia welcomes Joseph Freed, Executive Producer and co-creator of the new SyFy series Jim Henson's Creature Shop Challenge, to this week's episode to share behind the scenes stories and secrets from this exciting new show in which amateur contestants vie for a dream job working for Jim Henson's Creature Shop. We also welcome Kirk Thatcher, former Imagineer, creature designer, veteran Muppets director, and judge on the show, to join Joseph in describing the challenges and surprises waiting for viewers of the first season of the show. Also, we answer some listener questions about lost Disneyland attractions, villains' origin stories, and maintaining a healthy relationship with a non-Disney-lover. Plus - if Disneyland hosted a eating contest, which food item should they use? We explore the options!
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Sun, 23 March 2014
Mousetalgia welcomes WED Imagineer and Disney Legend Rolly Crump to this episode of the podcast to talk about his time working for Walt Disney in the creation of Disneyland Park. Crump talks about his time with WED Enterprises, including his work on "it's a small world," the Adventureland Bazaar, and his relationships with the model makers, Imagineers, and other studio artists during his career at Disney, including candid details about his contentious relationship with WED head Dick Irvine. He also includes a "cute little story" about his contibution to the film "Mary Poppins." Also, Mousetalgia talks to Don Morin, founder of the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, about this upcoming fan convention (of which Mousetalgia is a sponsor) held outside of Seattle, WA. Plus - our favorite wish-we'd-been-there moments from the 1964-'65 World's Fair, a report from previews of Aladdin on Broadway... and more!
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Sun, 16 March 2014
This week, Team Mousetalgia takes you behind the scenes at the world premiere of Magic, Color, Flair: The World of Mary Blair - an exhibit that opened March 13 at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, CA. We share our favorite highlights from the new exhibit, join WDFM president Ron Miller in a dedication of the exhibit hall to the late Diane Disney Miller, and then join the VIP opening night gala and capture impressions from Kirsten Komoroske, WDFM Executive Director; Alice Davis, Disney Legend; Pete Docter, Director of the upcoming Pixar feature "Inside Out"; Charles Solomon, author of the upcoming "The Art of Disney Golden Books"; Joseph Titizian, WDFM representative; and Don Hahn, producer of the upcoming feature "Maleficent." Then, Jeff takes us across the Presidio to Lucasfilm to report on a WDFM event about women in animation, which featured four accomplished female artists who spoke on the work they currently do and the challenges they find today in the workplace. Plus - Elsa and Anna; "The Adorable Couple" - and more!
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Sun, 9 March 2014
Mousetalgia welcomes Academy Award-winning animator, author and historian John Canemaker to the show to talk about Disney Legend Mary Blair and the exhibit opening this week at the Walt Disney Family Museum called "Magic, Color, Flair - The World of Mary Blair." The exhibit, which is curated by Canemaker, has been eagerly anticipated for nearly a year, and Canemaker gives us an exclusive sneak preview of the show, some history of Mary Blair, and information about his two new books about Blair, one a re-release and one a brand new catalog. Also this week, Jeff reports on a conversation with WED Imagineer Paul Saunders on working for Walt at WED in the mid '60s. Saunders talks about his time helping to create the "new" Tomorrowland, Haunted Mansion, Inner Space, and more. Also - Frozen and the Muppet Movie soundtracks on vinyl, Sheriff Callie's Wild West - and more!
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Sun, 2 March 2014
Mousetalgia talks Dapper Day, dining, and Docter on this week's show! First, Jeff reports on his trip to Disneyland Resort for Dapper Day on February 23, discussing the variety of styles, costumes, Disneybounding, and people-watching opportunities afforded by this increasingly popular unofficial event held in Disney parks around the world. Next, we discuss dining at Disneyland, focusing on the Storyteller Cafe dinner buffet at the Grand Californian and the Harbour Galley at Disneyland Park. Next, the whole team reports on a talk held at the Walt Disney Family Museum held on March 1 about Walt Disney's Animation Directors by Academy-Award-winning director Pete Docter (Monsters Inc., Up) and author/historian Don Peri. Also - we interview Disneyland Ink and Paint artist Eric Scales about the newest release in the Ink and Paint program, and we host a giveaway and celebrate a recent sweepstakes winner. Plus - D23 delays WDW's Destination D event, and more!
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Mon, 24 February 2014
This week, Team Mousetalgia takes a look at various aspects of Walt Disney's Fantasia, the classic animated feature that was a great leap forward for the Walt Disney Studio in terms of technical accomplishment and artistic endeavor, but didn't achieve great commercial success upon its release. We discuss Fantasound, Leopold Stokowski, Fred Moore and Mickey Mouse, and some of the fascinating musical selections incorporated in this anthology film. Next, we speak with Research Supervisor Rob Schneider from Disney about how the studio's original cue sheets and music is archived, and how the business side of music is incorporated into the day to day operations of the studio today. Also, Kristen concludes her "Lost Chords" series of performances with a little-known Sherman Brothers tune sung by guest vocalist Michele Johnston. Plus - Vanity Fair looks at some famous CalArts grads, a book review of John Canemaker's "Before the Animation Begins," Time looks at the cult of "Frozen," Netflix to broadcast "The Clone Wars" - and more!
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Sun, 16 February 2014
Team Mousetalgia reports on "Disney Goes to the Opera" at the Walt Disney Family Museum, and takes an in depth look at "Make Mine Music," Walt Disney's post-war animated anthology. As part of a rebuilding effort for the feature film division of the studio, Make Mine Music was a package film featuring many different musical pieces, and we take a brief tour of the music used in the movie in this episode. Next, the team reports on "Disney Goes to the Opera," a presentation that featured opera performances at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Also, Kristen arranges and performs "Boogedy Boy," a lost work originally composed for Make Mine Music that never made it into the film; we answer a few listener emails, and we present an exclusive report on the filming of Brad Bird's Tomorrowland at Disneyland!
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Sun, 9 February 2014
Disney producer and author Greg Ehrbar joins Team Mousetalgia this week to discuss the history of Disneyland Records and the new book "Inside the Whimsy Works," an autobiography of Disney Legend Jimmy Johnson which Ehrbar co-edited. Johnson created Disney's record division, and Ehrbar provides a wealth of information about the early days of Disney recordings, discussing Little Golden Records, See Hear Read Records, and stories about some of the behind the scenes players like Tutti Camerata, the producer who set the early vision for Disneyland Records in place. Dave also discusses his extensive Disney vinyl collection and offers tips and tricks to anyone interested in starting a record collection. Plus - Kristen discovers some lost Pinocchio music, a listener reports on the new home of the Hillbillies, and we offer a special Valentine's week report on finding romance at the resort!
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Sun, 2 February 2014
Mousetalgia welcomes Mine Train expert James Keeline to the show to help us reminisce about the history of Frontierland's trains in anticipation of the newly renovated Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction. James discusses the history of Rainbow Ridge and the Mine Train attraction, and describes the scenes, special effects, and set pieces that made the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland such a memorable ride for Disneyland guests. James also discusses Mineral Hall, the souvenir shop next to the Mine Train that sold fluorescent minerals and black lights to guests. Also, February is Mousetalgia Music Month, and we start our musical features by discussing our personal favorites in the world of Disney musicians, including Hazel George, Buddy Baker, Randy Newman, and Dave Brubeck. Kristen unveils a new collection of "lost" music that she is bringing back to life. Plus - favorite Disneyland songs, a Tinker Bell Half Marathon engagement... and more!
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