Between Books - Disneyland: the Nickel Tour

 

$683 used! I get it. This book cannot land in everyone’s Between Books library. It’s $683 (today) used. I am being dramatic, there is a copy listed for only $295.99! It is acceptable condition, so it’s acceptable! When I got my copy, they typically ran for about $400. I got lucky. I purchased my copy off Amazon from a Friends of a Library group. I had a pile of gift cards, but still under $100. I reached out and said, this is what I have, I will cherish this book. I will respect this book. And I know what this book is. There is no other owner who will love this volume as much as me! And the friendly friends struck me a deal.

It’s 1995 and Disney fans and postcards hobbyists Bruce Gordon and David Mumford gave other fans a look into their extensive postcard collections in Disneyland: The Nickel Tour. From there, this book became mythical to Disney books fans as it has been cited in numerous Between Books sitting on the shelf. The flow is simple, and one we have seen many times since. Gordon and Mumford work through the park and provide the history of the park and its evolution using primarily postcards purchased at Disneyland and found in their collections. Those cards were often affordable souvenirs costing just a nickel. The hobbyists start with founding and they walk us through the decades up until the 1990s. The cards are supplemented with additional images not captured on postcards to provide us with additional context. They also offer fellow collectors checklists of cards that were offered in the parks.

Gordon, Mumford…which one of you is the funny one? Maybe it’s both. There are a fair share of dad jokes in this book that made me unexpectedly chuckle. Honestly, the light and friendly tone combined with images provide a very easy to engage with text. Throw in some additional background on attractions that we may not see mentioned in a lot in books and some images, like a bulldozed Fantasyland, to help one understand how this book has been referenced heavily. This is especially true as one asks how many Disney history books were offered in the 1990s.

The late authors often provide a tone that makes you believe that they are friendly with many of the figures they are discussing. When they talk about Tony Baxter for example, it comes off as their pal Tony, not some third party who they are simply chronicling. This is because they are bringing across in their tone the actual relationships they held. Gordon was an Imagineer who contributed to Splash Mountain, a project led by Baxter. Mumford worked on the Land and Star Tours in Tokyo Disneyland, a project that Baxter helped to design in the United States. This gave them the perspective as a pair of not only chronicling but in some cases making Disney history. It also can help explain their access to some photos not found in postcards. And despite their years at WED and WDI and vast achievements, it is in their role as Disney historians that they are often best known for, helping found a tradition of Imagineer historians with this being seen as one of their most important contributions.

I do need to warn those of us with collector personalities, this book can be addictive. And I’m not just talking about collecting this hard-to-find volume. As you read, you may find yourself saying, “One postcard isn’t a collection, and I like that image. It’s vintage!” Gordon and Mumford are enthusiastic not just about Disneyland but also about postcard collecting. I found myself putting the book down to shop on eBay several times. I have a little bit of an addictive personality, so one card could easily become 30. It does compliment the authors that 3 decades later, readers are excited not just about the Disneyland park that brought them to the volume, but also the hobby that helped extend their fandom.

Disneyland: The Nickel Tour by Bruce Gordon and David Mumford for many Disney fans may be unobtainium, a book that is priced well outside our price range. But keep your eyes open as you may never know what you will find. The volume itself is visual, fun, insightful, and best of all engaging. It helps us uncover a Disneyland that many of us never saw. It also binds us together in our shared fandom and excitement in our various hobbies. 

 

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Between Books - Jungle Cruise (a Little Golden Book)

I laugh at Jungle Cruise jokes, and so should you…and your kids!

Jungle Cruise a Little Golden Book by Brooke Vitale, illustrated by Paul Conrad and the Disney Storybook Art Team, and designed by Winnie Ho, is a delightful homage and tribute to the world-famous attraction. The book follows a family guided by Skipper Albert on the Amazon Belle through the jungle. Albert spiels as he passes familiar scenes. Conrad and the art team's images are fun and delightful original depictions of show scenes. The book is a true tribute to the ride, with even dock jokes provided to readers.

This book is a delight for Jungle Cruise fans. First and foremost, Vitale adapts traditional Jungle Cruise jokes to a younger audience, and most importantly, the essential jokes are there. And like any good skipper, Vitale makes sure to include the most essential jokes, like the Backside of Water! The team understood the assignment!

The ride featured here is clearly the Magic Kingdom, due to the inclusion of a temple. But the featured boat is Disneyland Park exclusive. In the end, the visuals are definitely Florida, but both coasts are included. Skipper Albert, that can't be important, right? It is if you listen to the radio broadcasts as you travel through the queue.

The book is a time capsule, as the scenes are kid-safe versions of the pre-2021 attraction. Alberta Falls and the Society of Adventurers and Explorers are not present in this edition. But I would argue this is just a good reason to update the Little Golden Book!

Jungle Cruise a Little Golden Book by Brooke Vitale and illustrated by Paul Conrad with the Disney Storybook Art Team, is a delight. When this grown adult says he laughs at Jungle Cruise jokes…well, I chuckled and smiled. I think this is a great introduction to the attraction for the youngster or a way to bring a favorite Disney experience home!

 

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Between Books - The House of Tomorrow

 

David Bossert gives Disney fans a tour of an attraction that graced Disneyland with Walt Disney’s spirit of innovation for a decade, but that he never experienced. The Monsanto House of the Future ended its run in a Disney park over fifty years ago. But it still is hailed by Disney fans as giving us a snapshot of how Walt Disney may have seen his EPCOT’s role in educating and entertaining.

David A. Bossert in The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto’s Vision of Tomorrow provides a visual history and tour of the extinct Monsanto House of the Future which demonstrated the power of plastics in our near future from 1957 to 1967. Bossert starts by giving readers a history of plastics and the story of how Disney, MIT, and Monsanto came together with the idea to build a showcase home using primarily plastics as a building material and furnishings. This history is followed by a visual tour of the home, using archival pictures that show readers the layout and furnishing of the showcase, complete with renovations that occurred during its decade of existence. The book ends with legacy, with Bossert balancing a discussion of plastics and their impact on the environment, with an overview of the House of the Retro Future Suite down the street from Disneyland at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel.

I never visited the Monsanto House of the Future, it was gone well before I was born. And I think this is probably the closest I can get. The House of the Retro Future Suite is a fantastically designed tribute to the extinct attraction, but it is not a reproduction. The sequence of photos that Bossert provided gave me the sense of a walking tour. His written narration made me feel like I had a researched in-person guide weaving me through the rooms of the home… especially since I don’t know anything about architecture or the chemical composition of plastics. The experience also reminded me of the Imagineering books that give us the behind-the-scenes, story overview, concept art, and images of the final attraction all in one package.

I will say as Disney fans, we have visited Pixie Hollow and debated walls and stones which may have been part of the Monsanto House of the Future. Bossert uses images, his walkthrough, and other experts to attempt to put to rest what of the house remains. This discussion gives us the blueprint to be able to do our fieldwork during future visits to see Tinkerbell.

I’ve never visited the Monsanto House of the Future. With it being extinct for 50 years, there is a chance you haven’t either. David A. Bossert through The House of the Future: Walt Disney, MIT, and Monsanto’s Vision of Tomorrow gives us a path to visit this attraction through the page. It also gave me an experience, I would love to have for other attractions that I can no longer visit. 

 

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Between Books - Santa Stops at Disneyland

Santa Stops at Disneyland written and illustrated by Ethan Reed is a Little Golden Book that depicts a moment that everyone who is young at heart would love to imagine, Santa Claus spending an evening at Disneyland. The words and images depict an evening trip for Santa and his sleigh at Disneyland Park. Reed shows his young audience a jam-packed day that includes both fun and work. Reed takes his readers through a truly joyful evening.

I am just starting to gather up Disney Parks-themed Little Golden Books. Many of us had them when we were kids. The Between Kids are now too old to be the target audience. But even as a Disney adult the book was still very fun for me. The images are cute and Reed illustrates Kris Kringle visiting the entire park, including my favorite rides. And Santa in a bobsled just looks right! We get to see Reed’s vision of the entire park. And plot-wise, Reed lets us know that Santa is a Disney adult! No seriously, he is a full-on Disney fan. If you are reading this review, you likely would believe that the Spirit of Christmas could be your pal. You read guide maps, Santa reads guide maps, clearly, we should all be holiday friends!

Santa Stops at Disneyland by Ethan Reed put me in the Christmas mood. And I love the idea of a cute illustrated journey through Disneyland at Christmas. Maybe Little Golden Books are not just for the young, but also the young at heart.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that Between Disney receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site.

Between Books - Faith and the Magic Kingdom

I have often said that for me one of the most spiritual places in the world is a Disney theme park.  I know that it sounds silly between the crowds and the expense.  But for me and my family it is truly one of the few places in the world where my mind and soul find rest.  Now I know that I am not the only one finding spiritual lessons in theme parks.

Faith and the Magic Kingdom by Randy Crane connects Disneyland to lessons in Christian living.  Crane walks his readers through a tour of the park from front to back and through each land, writing on the history or theming of attractions, shops and other park elements.  He provides 2 to 6 pages at each stop giving both history and a connection to the Bible.  Overall, Crane gives the park a thorough walk-through visiting every land and every major location, though not all shops.  Wait, Crane totally missed churro carts and worse of all the Tiki Juice Bar.  In his over 100 plus entries along with Disney history, Crane makes a connection to Christian life and the Bible.

I have actually read a fair number of devotional books in my day.  And I would say Faith in the Magic Kingdom stands up well in that market.  Like most devotional books it attempts to link a story with a lesson from Christian life.  Crane's lessons include Christian salvation, living in community, what does Christian freedom mean, and integrity.  Though this list is just the tip of the iceberg.  There are 100 plus entries and the lessons do not generally overlap.  The key to me with a devotional is not the lesson but the hook.  Can the author's point of view draw you in, especially since the devotional market is quite crowded and the majority of big name Christian authors have a devotional title.  As a Disney fan Crane's hook of Disneyland worked well for me.  And I think that Christians who love Disneyland and use devotional reading to deepen their faith will enjoy this title.  And a Christian believer who has a fan who is a Disney fan with faith-based questions could look at this book as a resource. 

Crane does admit that some of his Disneyland to faith connections are not as strong as others.  Though I found his writing to be clear and well thought out.  I personally read it at a time that was somewhat a crisis event in the Between Family.  And his words generally helped uplift my spirit during some worrisome moments.

But I will also say I read Faith and the Magic Kingdom mostly wrong.  During the crisis event I would read an entry and then mull it over as the events of the day also crashed against my mind and what I had read.  In short I thought about my reading for a small percentage of the book.  But the majority I blasted through because I needed to get a review ready and I needed to make it to the end.  This title is really not meant for that type of full-speed reading.  Most will want to take one entry at a time, perhaps one a day, and contemplate the text.  Those who journal would likely find material to add to their meditative log.  But when one is charging through the reading, if they are like me, the reader will likely take notice of the Disney facts while not really mulling over the spiritual content.

I was concerned that Crane's Disney facts would be light or too generic.  Overall his facts rely in his vast experience within the park.  And they are chosen to help support the spiritual theme of the entry.  A stand out entry for me provided background on Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, which I do not believe I have ever stumbled on before.  So even for the most read Disney fans there are likely new gems in the text.    

With a Kindle price of around $9, Faith and the Magic Kingdom is competitively priced in the devotional space.  Likewise it also is priced fairly for a guide book.  But the advantage that it has over devotionals with much bigger named authors is the ability to borrow the title through the Kindle Unlimited program.  I think the question of print or Kindle version comes down to how one prefers to use a devotional, especially considering note taking.

I do know that it sounds silly, but my spiritual life always feels fresher after I have visited a Disney theme park.  And Faith and the Magic Kingdom shows me that I am not the only stranger in a strange land with this experiences.  Therefore I am glad to see a writer connect spiritual lessons to my favorite place on Earth especially as I read during the holiday season.  I think my real big question is when does the volume on Disney California Adventure get released? And how will he work the Tiki Juice Bar into that volume?

Between Books - The Deadliest Cast Member: Season Two

I often judge an episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. by my tension level.  The more tense I am by the end of the episode the more I liked it due to the action and suspense.  So when I received my review copy of the latest installment in the Deadliest Cast Member saga I shot off an email to the author noting my worry he would kill off a character or two like he has done in the earlier offering. Before I even cracked the cover I was worried!

The Deadliest Cast Member: Season Two by Kelly Ryan Johns takes hero Jack Duncan and his partner Kendall Shepherd back to 2005.  Johns walks his readers through the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland, the day in which Duncan lost his wife and became a true national hero when former Soviet spy Nikolai Grusov held the park hostage.  Readers follow Jack throughout his day as he attempts to both protect the park and his family.  And as readers know the price is high since Duncan's life was changed forever this day.  The conspiracy against the park and the Duncan family is more complex than one might believe.  Along with following our heroes, readers also join guests and media being held hostage in the park.  While Jack and Kendall try to protect Disneyland and its guests, two pairs of time travelers also work to impact the final outcome.  One pair, Jack's father Stan and a companion close to the history of the park worry that changing the events of the fateful day could leave a larger scar on the timeline.  And the others, a pair of highly trained operatives from the future use futuristic gadgets and weapons to make a change that could have ramifications for the Duncan family in the far off 2035.

Early in this installment of the franchise the science fiction element is laid out.  While there is an action story being played out in front of us, there are time travellers in the park which are attempting to change or not change the story.  One of these characters is an adult version of one of the kids from the Voyageers' series of books by Johns.  And you do feel like this could be the grown-up character as you watch their personality and determination in action.  The other is one you start to believe has a more complex back story than time traveling criminal, and of course he does!

Really it is Jack and Kendall that I find myself most attracted to when I grab this book.  And this Jack seems more violent and less fatherly than the version that we met in the first installment set in the future.  That Jack is a father who has been raising his kids alone as a widower.  This Jack is freshly out of the military and just now starting a new job at Disneyland.  He literally has no idea who he can can trust other than a close circle that includes Kendall and his father.  He is focused and willing to do everything he can to protect his family and his beloved Disneyland.  Basically you can see this Jack as a earlier version of what we saw in the first volume.  One can see how the Jack we were introduced to grew from this man.  Of course Kendall is Kendall, he is solid, caring, and the best friend one can have.

Overall the book is easy to read and clear.  The story is written as an hourly log of events.  It did take me awhile to get myself into the book, or would that be hours as one reads it.  I was distracted by trying to keep track of who was who and trying to remember who I was introduced to before.  Though even when this was happening I was still able to enjoy the book while reading it at a fast pace.  But by the time I got into the last 40 percent, tension had risen.  I found I could no longer put the book down without being frustrated by my need to end the tension and find out what was happening next.  For a book that should have a set outcome I knew was going to happen, Johns found ways to bring me doubt to my certainty.

Will Jack Duncan return?  Johns makes it clear that is up to the fans and how they receive the story.  I for one hope to see a sequel to The Deadliest Cast Member: Season Two as Johns has some unfinished business for all his characters.  And I would really like to see if Jack Duncan or the man from 2035 is the greatest warrior of all time! 

Oh and yes, look for the post-credit scene Marvel Cinematic Universe fans!

Review Copy Provided By Author

Between Books - The Disneyland Story

I loved Sam Gennawey's Walt and the Promise of Progress City.  So I was pretty excited about the idea of him writing a Disneyland history.  When I got my hands on The Disneyland Story, it looked small from the outside and thought it would take me less than 10 days to plow through this text.  Instead, it took me around 3 weeks (maybe more) because this exhaustive book is not one that a reader can or should blow through quickly.

The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream by Sam Gennawey is as promised an exhaustive history of the Disneyland resort including origins, evolution, trends and important figures.  Gennawey argues that Walt Disney had three children; Diane, Sharon and Disneyland.  And like all children, Disneyland grew up!  And it is the progress of the resort from a dream of a small park across the street from the Disney studio lot to a vibrant two parks, three hotels and a shopping district that it is today that Gennawey captures.  Gennawey discusses not just the pieces of Disneyland that made it from concept to implementation, but the stalled and failed plans like WESTCOT. And most of all, what Gennawey captures is a fluid changing park that was constantly on the move as it grew from infant hood to adulthood. 

The Disneyland Story is a strong historical monograph.  It is well researched, cited and structured and demonstrates the maturity that Disney history has reached.  This book would feel comfortable sitting within a history classroom or in the history section of the library.  It is not a guidebook, though it is connected to The Unofficial Guide.  It is a serious and thoughtful history down to its thesis that Walt Disney had three children with one being a theme park.  And as a work of history, it easily could be used as a guide in teaching a course on the history of Disneyland or the life of Walt Disney.  And I expect that it will be used to help support future Disney historical projects, even if it is only to examine the large bibliography. 

The writing itself is clear, but dense.  The book's size is misleading, as every page is packed with type.  And because of its density I would not call it a easy vacation read.  This is a book, an essential Between Book, for serious fans and researchers of the Disneyland Resort.   I found that my reading pace slowed as I took in the entire story of the park, and that pace was due to the amount of information presented to me.  But though it was a slow read, Gennawey's writing was quite clear and did not hinder the large amount of information bombarding me.   

If anything, based on my own academic background, I wish that Gennawey had reminded us more frequently of his thesis of Walt Disney's three children.  I can see how after Walt Disney's death that the thesis may have weakened due to a lack of involvement by the creator.  However, children, including Disney's own, do lose parents and continue to mature and grow as they reach reach middle age and beyond.

Yes, if you are familiar with Disney history there are plently of facts that you already know.  However, there are more you do not.  I found myself amused over some of the little things, such as the compensation that Art Linkletter received for hosting opening day.  And I am sure he was well compensated for years after (like a decade).  Additionally, having all of Disneyland history in one volume really underlines the vast amount of change that has occurred within Disneyland.  Disneyland really is a living organism and it is far from a monument.  It changes constantly, which makes it difficult to complain about future changes.  Additionally, Gennawey provides a history of something often neglected, the story of the Park's relationship with the city of Anaheim itself.  The addition of Walt's Park greatly changed the sleepy rural community into the metropolitan area it is today.   

If you have a Between Books library, you will need a copy of The Disneyland Story.  It is the most affordable and complete Disneyland history currently available.  Basically if you read books about Disney history, well you need this volume. 



Review Copy Provided for Purposes of Review

Walt's Windows - Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir

When the Between Family first visited the Disneyland Resort we picked up a DVD in Adventureland that I have not seen since. Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir provides a glimpse of the full resort including Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) as it was named at that time, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels. Our tour guides Karen and Mile provide a land by land, park by park tour of the Disneyland resort with video and narration highlighting the attractions and features of the park. Additionally, facts about the current topic of discuss graphically pop onto the screen as the video plays. Honestly, it is a pretty straight forward promotional tour of the park. And this fact can somewhat be found in the special features which includes “Making the Video Guide”, “The Twilight Tower of Terror Time Lapse”, “Two Great Shows” which provides information about the Snow White and Aladdin stage shows, and “Traveling with Preschoolers”. Many of these would be useful to someone planning a trip.

The presentation is set around 2005. There are references to the Disneyland 50th anniversary, the Parade of the Stars which ran from 1999 to 2005, and Snow White an Enchanting Musical which ran from 2004 to 2006. For me this is a Disneyland that I never saw, despite that fact that it is relatively modern. For me that most interesting portion of the video is Disney’s California Adventure still in its youth. With a Sun Wheel, the Orange Stinger and the Maliboomer all prominently featured, it show me how much DCA has changed and greatly improved. It is amazing how quickly this park has matured.

I do not know if I would advocate purchasing this video. We picked it up in the park for a reasonable price and do not know if it is still available. A search on Amazon uncovered copies for $50. Now I will admit that the Between Kid really likes this title. But he likes it just as much as the most current Disney Parks Planning video, which is free. The value in trip planning is also limited since it almost a decade old. So, as much as I enjoy the early DCA video, financially I would not spend a lot on this window to the past.

Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir provides a peak at Disneyland in the years before I visited. I am sure for many of you, you remember this Disneyland Resort well. Viewing this again and again and again over the last three years has helped remind me that these parks do change quickly and for some of us a window looking a few years back is the only way we will see an era of the parks.

Between Books - Walt Disney's Railroad Story

Let me be honest, Walt Disney’s Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination that Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom by Michael Broggie is one the best Disney history books that I have ever read. It is clear, informative, exhaustive and wonderfully illustrated with photos. If you are able, you should consider adding this volume to your Between Books library.

Michael Broggie, the son of Disney Legend Roger Broggie, masterfully details Walt Disney’s love of trains, their emergence in his life as a hobby, their inspiration for the Disneyland Park, and their presence globally in Disney parks. Detailed is an understatement, with 400 pages of Disney train history and photos. Broggie starts his history with Walt Disney’s boyhood train experiences including selling newspapers and concessions as a news butcher. Broggie then jumps to the 1930’s when the successful Walt Disney sought a new hobby to replace the physically tasking polo to help release his stress. A 1932 visit to the Chicago Railroad Fair with animator Ward Kimball helped reinvigorate Disney’s interest in trains. This inspiration leads to Disney becoming interested in miniature railroading, building an extensive track for his miniature engine Lilly Belle behind his Holmby Hills home in the Los Angeles area. Disney’s backyard became a weekend retreat for family, friends, fellow rail fans and even business contacts. But after an accident with a child, Disney began to question if his backyard setup was ideal and began to look to bigger endeavors. This new challenge would be the Disneyland Park, which had to have a train. Broggie outlines the history of the Disneyland Railroad, originally known as the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad, including the track layout, the construction of the engines and passenger cars, and train stations. Broggie then follows with a history of the railroads of all the Magic Kingdom parks. He also includes brief histories of train inspired attractions such as the Monorail. The book closes with appendices sharing information about the Disney trains including a complete roster of the Disney trains at the time of publication.

For me one of the highlights of the book really was the story of Disney’s Lilly Belle. Broggie’s detail of Walt’s personal train is extensive, detailed and fascinating. One comes to understand how much Walt loved this hobby set with him hand building much of train himself. And one can see the connections to Disneyland as his personal railroad became more ambitious and drew greater attention. One’s heart almost breaks as you read of Disney’s decision to quit operating at home, but it is quickly replaced by excitement as you realize the next step of Walt’s imagination is Disneyland.

Walt Disney is not the only Disney legend highlighted in the text. Ward Kimball is profiled extensively, including a description of his full size railroad in his backyard. Additionally Broggie details the at times rocky relationship with Walt Disney, including over train issues. Ollie Johnston’s full size and miniature collection is also discussed. And of course Broggie’s father Roger who ran the machine shop within Walt Disney learned the skills needed to build the Lilly Belle and who’s watchful eye helped Disney bring his personal engine to life is featured extensively throughout the book.

The text is clear and easy to read. And it is illustrated beautifully with numerous photos. But I will admit I read this book slowly, enjoying it’s content instead of running through it. A true advantage to Broggie as a writer is his personal experiences. When he writes about Walt Disney, he does not write about Disney from a distance. Instead, Broggie was a boy who grew up around Walt Disney as he enjoyed his hobby and visited the Holmby Hills railroad. Many of the text’s pictures are from the Broggie family collection. He writes from experience as he enjoyed Disney’s hobby firsthand.

The only drawback to Walt Disney’s Railroad Story is the price. With the first edition out of print it can be found used well over $100 in the secondary market. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad Society, formed to help preserve Disney’ railroad legacy, currently sells the third edition of the book for $69.95, for those looking to avoid the markup of used editions. It is truly a delightful book that has already inspired in me to start at least one future project and a trip to a local train museum.

Michael Broggie’s Walt Disney’s Railroad Story is one of the finest Disney history books I have read in the last year. It is easy to read, dives deep into an important aspect of Disney history and is enjoyable. I feel like it is one of the real gems in my Between Books library and anyone who has a copy should feel themselves lucky!


Postscript: I have to admit; I really did not think I would ever own a physical copy of Walt Disney’s Railroad Story. But it was through the efforts of a friend of a library a 1,000 miles from my home that I was able to find an affordable copy. Please remember to support your local libraries. You will likely be surprised by the Between Books you can find on their shelves. And if you have the opportunity to support them financially through book sales and other donations, I highly recommend it, as library holdings are a true resource for book fans.

Between Books - In the Shadow of the Matterhorn

Before my last vacation to the Disneyland Resort I desperately was looking for a book to help put me into the vacation mindset. I wanted a memoir. But not any memoir, I sought a Disneyland memoir. I wanted it to be by someone who had an affiliation to the park, either as a designer or a cast member. And I wanted it to be fun, perhaps in the Mouse Tales tone. I found some books that I enjoyed for that vacation, but honestly nothing that hit the nail on the head for the exact book I was looking for. I should have looked harder. Because In the Shadow of the Matterhorn: Intimate Stories about Life, Love, and Laughter at Disneyland by David W. Smith was the exact book I was looking for!

Smith spent six years as a part-time cast member. He worked a number of attractions during his tenure including The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, the Mike Fink Keel Boats, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Monorail. Smith details to his readers how he was hired on, the training he received and numerous stories of working the attractions. Smith recounts both the humorous experiences with guests, and the horrific ones. As one of a handful of Keel Boat operators he was asked to help search the Rivers of America during the June 4, 1983, Grad Night for a young man who had taken a joy ride with a Disney rubber raft. Sadly, Smith was on hand in the discovery of the body of 18 year old Philip Straughan. Along with tales of staffing attractions, Smith also provides tales of cast member life. These stories include romantic encounters and mostly harmless rebellious actions. But the highlight of these cast member tales are recounts of Smith’s years participating in the famed Disneyland cast member canoe races.

I found Smith’s reading light and easy to read. I cruised through this book and read it with only limited interruptions. To be blunt, I found no reason to end my literary Disneyland adventure in the middle of the Betweenland snows. Smith made it easy for me to join him in the park and share warmer ice free days. Additionally, he made we want to ride the canoes, a ride that I have always planned later in the day when I have found it closed. And he placed me with him on the keel boats and helped me understand this extinct attraction before my day. Smith also helped me understand why for some the Monorail may not be the attraction of choice! The only hiccup for me was referring to the Walt Disney World Resort as Disneyworld later in the book.

I found David W. Smith’s In the Shadow of the Matterhorn fun and enjoyable. Smith is a former cast member who enjoyed his days as a cast member and in his writing conveys his enthusiasm for his memories. Readers who enjoy the writings of David Koening will likely enjoy In the Shadow of the Matterhorn, which includes many of the types of stories one would find in Mouse Tales, just in this case shared by one man and typically not as risqué. I think the best compliment I can give is for a few hours, David W. Smith made me feel like I was at Disneyland and not living in the frozen tundra!


Review Copy Provided by Synergy-Books Publishing, U.S.A. 

Between Books - Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland

One of my critiques of independent publishers of Disney themed books is the pictures. Due to resource limitations these photos can be grainy, often black and white and difficult to interpret. Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland is one of the best efforts that I have seen to date in making Disneyland pictures the star in a non-Disney published book.

Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland: What You See at Disneyland, but Never Really See by Russell D. Flores highlights for readers the visual treasures of the Disneyland Park that guests often overlook. Flores details his own self-discovery of the depth of design within the Disneyland Park triggered by a trash can. From that moment, Flores began to collect pictures of the non-hidden treasures within the park. He presents his findings within his text. Flores takes his readers on a tour that includes extinct ticket booths, trash cans, manhole covers, popcorn carts, and restroom signs amongst others. Flores also provides a light narrative text and notes that provide interesting facts about the featured design elements. Additionally, Flores provides an extensive list of notes and bibliography.

The pictures really are the highlight of the text. With 374 pictures in a lightweight and easy to manage text, Flores has created a great visual reference. There are many items within the book that I have honestly overlooked during my vacations, and several times Flores left me wanting to visit the park to find the item in person. I found it fun to compare different bathroom sign styles, and attempting to guess their in park locations. I can see dropping the book into a backpack and using it as a guide within Disneyland due to its manageable size. For me, I really enjoyed learning more about tributes and reused pieces of extinct attractions especially those I never enjoyed. Additionally, the glossy pages really make the pictures pop off the page. When comparing the pages to other picture-centric books with regular paper stock, the pictures of Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland stand out and are very visually pleasing.

I often flip immediately to the notes and bibliography of new books that enter my Between Books library. I also did that with this book. I was impressed with the depth of the bibliography and saw leads for future readings. But the notes and bibliography show the book’s biggest error, in my opinion. Let me first digress quickly. Once I wrote a multi-chapter project on military history. I kept typing the word solider instead of soldier. I had worked for months on this project, and read over it several times never seeing my error. Others had read it for me! Likewise I believe something similar has happened here, as Kevin Yee’s name has been mistyped as Kevin Lee numerous times. Sadly this is not a one-time error, but every time his name is mentioned, 7 times on page 166 for example. Like my solider, I believe this was a simple error but one that pops out to the reader familiar with Between Books.

Have you ever noticed the details on top of the manhole covers in the Disneyland Park? Do you know what the Viewliner station is currently being used for? Have you found all the survey markers within the park, not just the one near Sleeping Beauty’s castle? If the answer is no, Russell D. Flores in Seen, Un-Seen Disneyland will help you explore the park in a new and interesting way.



Review Copy Provided by Synergy-Books Publishing, U.S.A.

Between Books - Latitude 33

“I postulate that some arcane technology was built into Disneyland, specifically Fantasyland – the area of the park most associated with fairy tales and such.  It is also the part of the ‘happiest place on Earth’ most associated with pure joy (Bosley, Loc 1033).”

I think there is a good chance I have your attention now!  Amazon won.  Placed amongst the recommended titles for me recently was Walter Bosley’s Latitude 33: Key to the Kingdom.  The description hinted at magic fairies, time travel and my favorite vacation location all in one.  And for 99 cents on Kindle, it was worth a chance.

Walter Bosley in Latitude 33 theorizes that something wonderful and supernatural was included in the original plans for the Disneyland Park.  He writes, “Maybe Fantasyland was designed to serve as a literal gateway between dimensions by virtue of what populates it (Bosley, Loc 1119).”  Walt Disney welcomed his guests to enter a new and different land when they entered his theme park but Bosley argues that a real gateway existed from the parks opening in 1955 until 1982.  Bosley believes that he himself experienced the effects of this gateway as he met a gentleman he believed was Alfred Watkins, the discoverer of geographic lines of power called ley lines, in 1980.  Watkins had died 45 years earlier!  How could something magical be happening in the beloved theme park?  First, the theme park falls within latitude 33, well known for reports of the supernatural ranging from ghosts, fairies, aliens and more.  Additionally, someone realized that the location of Disneyland included the intersection of three ley lines.  And that someone created a supernatural portal within Fantasyland, which Watkins used to enjoy the park in 1980 years after his own death.  A kinetic device, the King Arthur Carrousel, sat upon the intersection of the three ley lines in the park, powering a portal that could have allowed time travel or journeys between dimensions.  In 1982, the portal was ruined when the carrousel was moved in the Fantasyland remodel.

Where does one begin?  Bosley’s theory is not going to be convincing to many readers.  Though it may be a fun concept to mull your mind over.  There is a certain charm about a book that argues that there are real fairies, at least until 1982, wandering around Fantasyland.  But skeptics will probably not buy into Bosley’s theory.  Additionally, the writing itself using a vocabulary around ley lines and other supernatural theories that may be an obstacle for some readers.  I admit it, during some of the descriptions of how the Fantasyland machine was built and used, my reading pace quickened.  But it appears there is an entire group of speculative literature that this would fall within and share a common audience with that I do not read.  And I am guessing many Disney history buffs will be in the same position.  I think one’s final opinion on Latitude33 will be based on your reading objective.  If you hope to be persuaded, you likely will keep your skeptical position.  But if you are looking for a flight of fancy, allowing yourself to believe that real magic exists within Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom, you will enjoy the imaginative trip.

I do have some thoughts on the whom behind the Fantasyland machine.  Bosley argues that C.V. Wood, who helped build the park to the extent he bragged he not Walt Disney should take credit, was aware of the ley line intersection and intentionally built the machine.  First, I think C.V. Wood would be delighted that such a theory would exist about his work at Disneyland.  From reading books including Buzz Prices’s memoir, one who may have actually been a friend to Wood (it is tough to know if Wood truly had friends), it becomes clear that Wood was little bit of a scoundrel and would have loved being labeled magical.  It seems to me that in many ways C.V. Wood was an excellent self-promoter, and this theory would have only added to his legend.  If he were alive today I could actually see him making statements supporting the book.  Second, much of Bosley’s reasoning for why Wood would have most likely been the architect of the machine is because Disney has stated little of him in their corporate history.  Bosley argues this proves something atypical was occurring because why would Disney be hiding the memory of such an important employee.  But I think the answer has simple non-supernatural answers.  Walt Disney and C.V. Wood clearly had a falling out, and Disney was not one to celebrate the efforts of those he was no longer on speaking terms with.  Disney as a company is notorious for hiding the legacy of out of favor past employees even today.  For example, we rarely hear Disney say anything positive or negative about from CEO Michael Eisner.  Disney has long used silence to their benefit.  And there was no Walt Disney Archives until after Walt Disney’s death and over a decade after Wood was fired.  In short, nothing of Wood’s contributions may have been kept!  This was a time when keeping materials lacked the urgency we see today. 

Bosley does take the opportunity to bash the Eisner Era and beyond, “It seems the hunger for money from the park may have undermined its whole purpose (Bosley, Loc 1343).”   I have heard many a Disney fan express similar thoughts on Disney magic.  Bosley of course means that those responsible for moving the carrousel ruined the real magic for the love of money.  Many other Disney fans would argue that the not financially supporting maintenance and upkeep during eras of the park history has ruined the Imagineered magic.  If Wood is the hero of Latitude 33, then Eisner and those who worship money, in Bosley’s opinion, are the villains!

Latitude 33 has been poorly formatted for Kindle devices.  Some pages are largely blank after a line of two, with the ending sentence concluding on the next page.  Additionally some text blocks are oddly shaped.  In the end you get what you pay for at 99 cents.  But for a book trying to persuade you to accept a theory the formatting is a major detriment.

Latitude 33 by Walter Bosley for me was a flight of fancy and fun reading near Halloween.  I enjoyed the idea of real fairies within my beloved theme park.   The idea that Disneyland is built on a true magical intersection is truly fun.  But for me, it was just that, a flight of fancy.  It is enjoyable to believe in a little magic.  Perhaps I will be convinced in the future if the King Arthur Carrousel is every placed back on top of its proper home!  Who knows, maybe if the portal opened again, we could interview those Legends that we have lost! 

       

Between Books - Walt's Revolution!: By the Numbers

“Never tell me the odds!”  - Han Solo

I would like to add the median, mode and range.  Numbers typically do not translate to story for me.  And I prefer to go on feelings in many of my decisions.  So in fantasy baseball I am more than willing to ignore a numerical trend if I have a feeling or belief that the player has tools that are not being demonstrated but will in the future.  In short, I am allergic to numbers. 

At the same time when I discovered that the late Harrison “Buzz” Price had written a memoir about his experiences with Disney and other entertainment companies, I began to covet it.  I needed it, wanted it, and had to have it.  So as soon as it arrived in the mail, I tore it open and began what turned out to be a slow stroll through Price’s life work.  He told me about the odds, and how he determined them; which made me slow down my typical reading pace.

Harrison “Buzz” Price recounts his life and vocational career in Walt’s Revolution: by the Numbers.  Price theorizes that Walt Disney began a revolution in the entertainment industry and the perception of what amusement attractions were with his Disneyland Park in 1955.  He discusses the initial impact of Disney’s original park and attempts to copy Disney’s success in world’s fairs, regional theme and amusement parks, museums, indoor attractions and within the gambling industry.  To start his story of Disney’s impact, Price states with his own story from his education to first working with Walt Disney when the firm he was working for, Stanford Research Institute, was asked by Disney to determine the best location for his new theme park.  Price led this effort and made the recommendation of the Anaheim location where it was built.  Disney called on Price again while leading his own company Economics Research Associates to research sites for an East Coast site which would eventually become the Walt Disney World Resort.  Truly it is Price that helped establish the location of the beloved theme parks today.  Along with his work with Disney, Price also discusses his decades of research within the entertainment industry which saw him partnering with almost every major amusement and theme park company as Price and his associates were considered the foremost consulting firm for completing economic and impact studies.  Along with the story of the studies he completed he also discusses the formulas and statistical tools he used to complete his typically highly accurate predictions.

I have a history background, not a statistical background.  And Walt’s Revolution is full of numbers!  Still I was able to find sections that delighted me.  I really enjoyed his discussion of working with Walt Disney.  His firsthand accounts give you a glimpse into the working relationship of a key consultant with Walt Disney.  As Price recounts stories of becoming the impromptu bartender in the Disney plane on a cross country trip, one feels as if you are a fly on the wall in the talks that made Walt Disney World happen.  And he does an excellent job of explaining how to work with Walt Disney; a philosophy of responding “Yes, if” and not “No, because” when needing to respond negatively.  In fact at my workplace many of us have discussed the “Yes, if” philosophy and are attempting to incorporate it into our vocational lives.

But for me and I believe many readers this book will also be a slow walk through Price’s life.  He discusses in depth a number of statistics, economic principles, and mathematical tools.  Economists and statisticians may find this discussion second nature, but others (like me) likely will read it as a foreign language.  Price is a man who literary developed his own statistical formulas, which he explains in depth in providing background.  But for someone who thinks words and not numbers these can be hard to push through.  Additionally at times the narrative becomes a list, projects that Price supervised with some background on them.  And for me lists can become uninteresting to read as they tend to come off the page with little life.

Harrison “Buzz” Price’s Walt’s Revolution: By the Numbers is a mixed bag for me.  I loved the firsthand accounts of a Disney legend, especially his stories of working with Walt and Roy O. Disney.  On the other hand the use of lists and numbers made the read difficult for me.  In short, he told me the odds!  This book will fit best in the Between Books library of completists, researchers and statisticians.  But the casual reader should likely consider borrowing a copy first if they want to dive into this book, especially if the price tag is above $25.   

Between Books - Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers

There is a chance that you have never heard of Arrow Development.  But if you have ever visited the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort you probably have experienced their work.  While you are likely aware of the legendary Imagineers who designed and themed the early attractions introduced by Disney, it was Arrow Development Co. which manufactured and built many of the classic rides we still love today.

Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers: The Story of Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon Ride Inventors of the Modern Amusement Parks by Robert R. Reynolds documents the growth of Arrow Development from a start-up company to the premier manufacturer of theme park attractions.  Reynolds alternates between narrative sections on the background and history of Arrow Development and founders Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon and transcripts of interviews with Morgan and Bacon.  The author and interviews chronicle how Morgan and Bacon started a small machine shop after World War II, with a truck as one of their most valuable assets and grew their successful business.  Their early jobs included contracts with the U.S. Navy, Stanford Linear Accelerator and a crop dusting company, not entertainment companies.  Morgan and Bacon decided to bid on a merry-go-round in San Jose, California, their first steps into the amusement industry.  Arrow’s later small scale paddle boat, the Lil’ Belle, caught the interests of Disney which was making it own strides into the amusement industry in the early 1950’s with a project called Disneyland.  Arrow would be contracted to build the creations of Disney’s talented designers including King Arthur’s Carousel, Casey Jr., Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Snow White’s Scary Adventures for Disneyland’s opening day.  With the success of these attractions and the successful contributions Arrow Development provided, they became a highly influential ride manufacturing firm within the growing amusement industry.  Reynolds outlines the continued successes with both Disney and other companies.  Reynolds’ narrative discusses continued successes such as it’s a small world, the Monorail, and Pirates of the Caribbean working with Disney and other clients.  The author also outlines Morgan and Bacon’s relationship with Arrow Development and Arrow’s legacy today including the roller coaster design firm D.H. Manufacturing led by Ed Morgan’s son Dana.       

I had heard of Arrow Development, but reading Bob Gurr’s Design: Just for Fun hit home for me the key role this company had in the early days of Disneyland.  Gurr made it clear that Arrow delivered what Imagineers dreamt.  And Gurr’s book led me to pick up Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers.  Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers pays off in providing greater detail in Arrow Development’s early and ongoing role with Disneyland and later the Walt Disney World Resort.  What are especially gratifying are the long sections of Morgan and Bacon in their own words discussing Walt Disney, other Disney personalities and the complexity of designing the attractions and ride vehicles tasked to them.  Their stories literally go into the underside of many of our favorite Disney rides and provide explanations of how they were engineered.  Though Reynolds’ commentary is readable and helpful, it really is the words of the founders of Arrow Development that catch the reader’s attention.  I have seen some reviews that have noted the text is highly technical and unreadable.  I am allergic to math and though some of their explanations were above my head I never found them so distracting that I had to stop reading.  Instead I found the book easy to read and the technical aspects are just a small detour.            

In many ways my thoughts on Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers are a value question.  To buy a used copy on Amazon.com at the moment is a minimum of $40 with some copies over $100.  This is collector book territory for me and I expect rarity or a bonus to make the purchase worthwhile.  I honestly could not see ever paying $20 for this book.  I would need a specific research reason to pay this much for a non limited edition autographed collectible book.  Luckily the Between Wife is introducing me more and more to eBooks.  While I cannot see spending $40 for this book, I think the $4.99 for the Kindle version is a steal. 

However, I do want to add that for me there were issues with images reading this text on Kindle apps across several devices, none of them an actual Kindle.  The text includes a number of black and white images.  However, for me they were difficult to see.  They were not scaled well typically not taking up the full screen.  And they did not enlarge well, making it difficult for me to look at the fine details.  I am sure in the print version the pictures are very beneficial but in the electronic form they were almost distracting at times. 

Who is Arrow Development, Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon and why as a Disney fan should I even care?  Roller Coasters, Flumes, and Flying Saucers makes it clear that they were key partners in the foundation of Disneyland and the later expansion into Florida.  Robert P. Reynolds provides us a useful commentary of this relationship, one that relies heavily on the words of the Arrow Development founders.  And at $4.99 for an electronic version readers can add a useful book to their Between Book library.