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!

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!

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!

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!

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!