Between Books - Walt’s Utopia: Disneyland and American Mythmaking Second Edition

If you read enough Disney books, there are a few different formats which you find recurring. One common format is the park walk around, where the author strolls from land to land sharing secrets and history. It is a familiar book type to Disney fans, where if you have read five Disney books you’ve read this format at least twice. Honestly, I have read the walkthroughs enough, I’m not sure one could add a new flair to it. But I am willing to give an academic version of this style a chance.

Walt’s Utopia: Disneyland and American Mythmaking Second Edition by Priscilla Hobbs provides a new take to a familiar format. Hobbs takes readers through Walt Disney’s original park, Disneyland, with a look not to fun facts, but discussions of myth making in the park. Hobbs declares that Disneyland is one of America’s most mythic spaces as a location where reality is often surplanted by imagination. Here the American myths of exceptionalism can be built out and explored by guests on a physical canvas, allowing guests to create their own connections and personal myths about the park. Hobbs adopts an interdisciplinary approach to explore Disney myths. Hobbs uses textual analysis to break down the stories that Disney offers guests to reach their foundations. Additionally, Hobbs relies on contextual analysis to better understand the symbols and metaphors that guests are immersed within. Often what Hobbs finds are stories that provide guests reassurance, not lost on me as a goal of Disney Legend John Hench. In a world that may not have always seemed orderly, Disneyland often bolsters the myth of human progress even going so far as allowing one to buy into the myth through the purchase of items tying guests back to the park. With an approach set to review the myths of Disneyland, Hobbs walks readers through the park from Main Street USA to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, discussing not just the history of the attractions and lands, but also the myths the lands communicate to guests as they immerse themselves in the themed environments.

I found Hobbs’ discussions to be interesting and enlightening. I would remind us all that theme parks are often seen as a setting for children and play. Therefore, you may wonder if one really needs to analyze the messages an myths that the park is projecting. But Hobbs helps us to understand the power of the myths and why they are so attractive to audiences like Disney adults, who seek a more ordered world, let’s be honest working isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and why the parks are able to make individual connections that foster return visits and return spending. For example, I love the Adventureland’s of the world. I think of them as places where one can explore and have fun. Hobbs notes that placemaking here is attempting to establish a world that was seen as exotic by mid-century Americans. The plants, sounds, and smells all created a hyperreality of an unspoiled world. Where, myself and my own studies of the British Empire has made it clear that what I am seeing is fiction. But I find myself returning to enter the myth Disney storytellers have crafted for me.

Along with Hobbs’ argument, I also appreciate Hobbs’ viewpoint. I don’t feel like Hobbs is ever anti-Disney. We have all seen or heard about academic Disney books with only one goal, burn it all down! Hobbs is a Disney Parks fan and I believe quite comfortable in the explored lands. Hobbs is just able to separate from the placemaking to step outside and review the story being told. And while Hobbs may show some fandom, the author especially with this edition is still able to hold Disney accountable by noting the connections between their mythmaking and the consumption and consumerism it encourages. As I often say, Disney doesn’t leave a dollar on the table. So I think even the most ardent Disney defenders must admit that while we love the parks they are quite good at separating us from our money. I also appreciate that Hobbs is very transparent on their academic approach, not leading me to believe that I am reading a history book when I am really reading a literary deconstruction of a physical place.

Walt’s Utopia: Disneyland and American Mythmaking Second Edition by Priscilla Hobbs is a unique way to walk through a Disney park. Hobbs reminds us that Disneyland is a myth, one that creates reassurance about the world and human progress. Additionally, this created deep individual attachments to the park, even for adults playing in a land seen as childish by others. These attachments support Disney corporate goals as guests become consumers and consume beyond park tickets to further their personal attachment. Overall, I found Walt’s Utopia to be well-written and thought provoking, a good read for Disney fans who want to think about their park visits intellectually. 

 

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Between Books - Groundmaking Magic: A Black Woman's Journey Through the Happiest Place on Earth

I have blind spots. I enjoy Disney history, but that doesn’t mean that my Disney knowledge is endless. Disney Legend Martha Blanding was one of the important figures in Disney history that I didn’t know a lot about. But now I feel like I have been welcomed into her life.

Groundbreaking Magic: A Black Woman’s Journey Through the Happiest Place on Earth by Martha Blanding with Tim O’Day recounts in Blanding’s own voice her life story, focusing on her 50-year career with the Walt Disney Company, largely at Disneyland. Blanding shares her family history, with her parents moving out west to settle in South Central Los Angeles, or Watts. In 1971,the California State University Fullerton student looked for a nearby job and was encouraged to apply at Disneyland, an employer that at the time didn’t have a history of hiring employees of color. Initially rebuffed, she would later find herself being recruited and hired for an illustrious and very public position as tour guide and VIP Hostess. In this role, she was trained to represent the best of Disneyland as she interacted with the rich and famous. However, she looked for additional professional opportunities and transferred into a management program where she worked at the Emporium and also served as a candy buyer. This role in merchandising would evolve into a role with Special Event Merchandise, where she would again be charged with interacting with the famous and talented. Blanding discusses throughout the book the challenges of being a woman of color in the 70s and beyond in the park, which includes incidents of intentional and unintentional racism and the growth of multicultural representation at Disneyland.

I think the most important reaction that a reader will gather from reading the book is becoming familiar with Martha and her work. Martha, I’ve read your book. Are we friends now? It is a real achievement that Blanding and O’Day capture her voice and tone. She talks in depth about family members, ones that are not connected to Disneyland. But what one feels is love and appreciation for who they are and how they impacted her journey. Also, I know Martha’s work and found it very interesting. I’ve not been inside the merchandise buying team or Disney’s special merchandise program. But Blanding and O’Day make these fields interesting to me and help me better understand those roles. And these are not even the role that is front and center and brings readers to the page with tour guide and VIP hostess roles.

Martha appears to have a generally positive view of life. But that does not mean that she runs away from retelling painful stories from her life and those that she loves. One of those pains that she directly addresses is racism. Blanding had a career at Disney filled with joy and colleagues that she enjoyed working with. She was also treated unfairly at times due to her being a Black woman in a workplace that was largely filled with White employees. Martha retells several of these stories and how she negotiated through them. She doesn’t paint a story of a faultless workplace, but instead shows us one containing imperfect people.

I'm really glad that Martha Blanding and I are friends now. She is a caring and thoughtful Disney legend who has been a pathfinder for employees of color and experienced the bad and good of working at the Walt Disney Company. Groundbreaking Magic: A Black Woman’s Journey Through the Happiest Place on Earth by Martha Blanding with Tim O’Day isn’t just a Disney history, but a memoir that pays tribute to moments that Martha has loved, including Disneyland cast members, celebrities, and family. 

 

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Between Books - Contested Kingdom: Fan Attachment and Corporate Control at Disneyland

 

Congratulations Disney Adults, you’ve caught academia’s attention.

Contested Kingdom: Fan Attachment and Corporate Control at Disneyland by William McCarthy provides two discussions. First, McCarthy explores the sense of place attachment developed by Disney fans at Disneyland. Second, the text provides an examination of three decades of fan social media relationships with the power including power dynamics. As part of this evaluation, McCarthy provides insights into the relationship between fans and the Walt Disney Company. The author completed a longitudinal study of fans and media that ranges from the use of discussion boards to the more current Instagram and YouTube influencers. McCarthy demonstrates that the creation of the Annual Passholder program combined with message boards gave fans who had increased access to the parks additional thoughts of ownership and a platform to share their increasingly strong thoughts of ownership. However, with increasing costs and diminished access, many fans have found themselves disenchanted with Disney corporate and limited access to a place they see as their own. But in the current age, many of the expressed fan thoughts are strongly positive as key social media influencers need to maintain positive messages to gain access to Disney resources for content creation. As a reader, we observe a transformation as online outlets were originally a place to state strongly one’s own opinions to today where many of the loudest voices require Disney support to feed their streams.

I totally understand the need for support to create content, right here on this blog. Not to speak out of school, there once was a publisher I had a fantastic relationship with and numerous review copies. But in my promise to be honest, I had some problems with one of their books, which led to a curt email and the end of a relationship! Could I have been softer in my criticism? Well, no! But honesty came with a cost. I understand in a small way how those in the online space creating content need external support to lower the economic cost of creating. A true rock-and-hard place situation is occurring in these online settings. McCarthy does an excellent job of showing how the increased cost of content creation and access online, and the need to pay for the content, has created a situation where even unintentionally, some of the top Disney and Disneyland content creators have been coopted to the Disney publicity machine. I bet the late Jack Linquist would be proud!

I’ve made some observations in the past about serious academic works and largely Disney history intersecting. This is another example of a serious academic study, with McCarthy completing a survey and interviews while employing an academic model to construct an argument. However, in this case, it’s not history but media studies and sociology taking Disney fandom seriously. This could be intimidating to some, with academic language and models attempting to explain relationships. I at times struggled with how to review this text, do I use a more formal academic tone or slide into more casual language? This is the type of study that will gain the attention of researchers and other academics. However, I would urge those interested in Disney influencers and social media, Disney’s corporate relationships with these media outlets, and those with a general interest in the growth of 21st Century social media to consider this monograph an interesting read.

Contested Kingdom: Fan Attachment and Corporate Control at Disneyland is an academic study of the relationship between fans and the location they feel they just not own but also love. McCarthy demonstrates how fans have come to be attached to the park. McCarthy also details through surveys and interviews the changing relationship between fans and the Walt Disney Company’s views of the park on online platforms. While academic, the main points of the study are accessible to non-technical readers, especially for those who consume Disney social media content as part of their fandom. 

 

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Between Books - 3D Disneyland: Like You've Never Seen It Before

 

Do kids use Viewfinder's anymore?  For me, growing up in the Midwest they were one of the few ways I could experience faraway places, like Disneyland!  Maybe I could immerse myself in animals long gone, like dinosaurs!  I loved my Viewfinder, and as an adult I recaptured a little of that magic recently.

3D Disneyland" Like You've Never Seen It Before by David A. Bossert shares the stereoscopic, 3D photography, of Disney animator Ted Kierscey.  The photos in Kierscey's personal collection cover two distinct time periods, 1955 to 1958 and 1980.  Additionally, there are some additional photos from Patrick Swinnea that cover more recent years.  The pages follow a simple pattern.  On the left side, the page is largely intentionally left white with a caption taking a small bit of space towards the bottom left of the page.  The right side is 3D photo centered and taking the majority of the page.  The photos, all of Disneyland, flow geographically from Main Street USA to Tomorrowland, with different eras mixed in with each other.  The book is all about the photos and displaying them for easy reading with the enclosed 3D glasses. 

Let's jump back to childhood.  About once a year, one of the local TV stations would have a older monster 3D movie promotion.  They would hand out 3D glasses through gas stations and spread the joy of 3D.  It may have been the poor definition of my TV, but it never worked.  So I was a little worried these fuzzy pics, pre-glasses, would fail for me.  This fear was not false.  The photos work great!  Yes, I had to ensure enough and proper lightening to get my best experience, but the glasses worked wonderfully.  The older photos may not have been as immersive as the newer ones.  But there are quite a few that I felt drew me in and took me to a place, just like the old Viewfinder.

3D Disneyland" Like You've Never Seen It Before by David A. Bossert showcases the stereoscopic photograph collection of Ted Kierscey.  It is a delight, and took me to a place that I love often in eras that I beyond my ability to travel in time in visit.  The read is all about images, and can be quick and breezy.  But I recommend a slow read, in the morning sun, with coffee so you may enjoy every moment and image!

 

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Between Books - Not Just a Walk in the Park

Do you want to talk about the Disney navy? Did you hear about the time Disney almost bought an aircraft carrier?

Not Just a Walk in the Park: My Worldwide Disney Resorts Career by James B. Cora with Jeff Kurtti outlines the late Disney Legend’s life and career. Cora begins his tale with a story of immigrants. Cora’s family immigrated from Lebanon before his birth. This resulted in a circumstance where his complexion and culture made him feel out of place. Cora entered the Air Force after high school, and post-service balanced school (which he struggled with), and a job at Disneyland (which he flourished with). Cora would be noticed by Van France and Dick Nunis for his ability to train and organize. After ten years that saw Cora move between Disneyland and Retlaw, he was asked to help oversee the on-site development of Walt Disney World with an eye toward operations. This established Cora as a Disney projects expert which launched him into decades of international adventures with roles overseeing development at Tokyo Disneyland, Euro Disney, Tokyo DisneySea, and unbuilt concepts as the leading executive for Disneyland International. Cora would retire after 44 years of Disney projects, but in his later life, he continued to make himself busy mixing his project, operations, and storytelling expertise to continue to delight his audience despite significant health problems.

Honestly, I was not aware of much of Cora’s career. And his writing is clear, and to the point, and I imagine his tone. He writes a book that is not just about Disney, but also his family's legacy in the United States, his personal failures, and his attempts to hold to a strong operational standard. I found myself amused by stories that were best told by him, like a pitch to purchase a scrap aircraft carrier to create a mobile Disney park. Cora also had a great vantage point to compare the creation of Disney parks in Japan and France. Spoiler, he found the Japanese to be the superior group of managers to work with going so far as suggesting their staff and not Americans may be the best trainers abroad. His life gives us a view from the middle of the hierarchy in getting Disney projects made abroad and lessons on managing up. As someone who grew up in the Eisner era, I enjoyed the stories of Michael Eisner asking for medical advice, while neither Cora nor Eisner should have been working. And the tales of the supportive Frank Wells just help to make him even more endearing.

I recently had a conversation about networking. I don’t like it. I am just a little too introverted. And I would like to think that my work and effort are what I should be evaluated against. I really get the sense that this is how Cora saw life too. He was raised by his parents to be hardworking. He was proud of what he did. Cora points out Disney Legends, such as Marty Sklar, who knew better than him how to be political in the office. But I think it is likely this what you see is what you get, and what is get is pretty darn good, which led figures like Dick Nunis to rely on him. And Cora himself did not suffer fools. His text has several references to organizational tendencies that he felt lacked efficiency. And there are stories of executives who lacked the proper work ethic or Disney spirit. Not everyone liked Cora, he at one point was key in corporate layoffs. But at least in his writing he also showed a very human side of himself.

Not Just a Walk in the Park: My Worldwide Disney Resorts Career had been on my to-read list for around a year. I’m really glad that I added it to my Between Books. Sure, it’s not a book filled with excitement and artistic lessons. And there is a lot about operations and career building, which I appreciated. But most of all while I am getting older in Betweenland, it reminded me that I have a lot to still contribute. And that everything behind me, can lead me to situations where I can still give to others.

Thank You, Mr. Cora!


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Between Books - Walt's Apprentice

It is a harsh reality that Walt Disney passed away over 55 years ago. And sadly it means that many of Disney’s close colleagues and acquaintances have been taken from us. Dick Nunis represents one of those colleagues who worked with Disney over half a century ago, who we have heard others talk about but who had not yet captured his memories working at Disney until now.

Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive by Dick Nunis collects Nunis’ memories. Nunis outlines his youth including his college football career at the University of Southern California. After suffering a significant injury, Nunis moved into education, then training and development where Disney hired him as part of the Disneyland opening day training team. After a successful launch, Nunis found himself in operations where he oversaw lands within the park. His focus on capacity, efficiency, and maintaining Walt Disney’s standards led to his oversight of park operations. Working closely with Disney, Nunis would find himself added to projects as assigned. This would include participation in a World’s Fair, an Olympics, and eventually Disney’s move to the east coast with Walt Disney World. Nunis would successfully lead operations on both coasts until his retirement. Nunis then describes his post-Disney years as ones where he remained active and shared Walt Disney’s standards with others.

Nunis was assisted by a book team that created an outline for his recollections. Chapters tend to be topical and do not fully link to each other. The writing is clear, his team likely included editing skills, and he is easy to understand. Nunis has a reputation for being gruff. And his writing at times leans into this image with one section including phrases that support the story of the taskmaster general. The value is to see and hear these stories in Nunis’ voice. For example, he clearly was proud of his actions during the Yippie invasion of Disneyland. The text allows him to share his thoughts on this historical moment instead of letting others describe his actions for him. The pages allow him to tell the story in his voice and as he would shape it. The interesting piece to me however was how little was new. So many writers and colleagues have talked about the man that stories are not generally new information. Instead, they are about Nunis, by Nunis, and all of them are collected in one volume. Each chapter ends with a business lesson from Nunis, Disney, or other colleagues. I found these quotes somewhat unneeded as I read the volume less as a business book than a memoir. And some of these lessons seemed a little stretched to fit.

Walt’s Apprentice by Dick Nunis paints the former executive as a student of Walt Disney. And for some who see Disney as creative or affable may not take to the imagery. But we must also remember that Walt Disney was not a man who issued praise, worked hard, and demanded high standards. And while Disney may not have seen himself as a general like Nunis is willing to do, in many ways Nunis learned much from Disney. We must never forget that people are complex and do not always fit the stereotypes we place within our heads. The great benefit of Walt’s Apprentice is this book captures Nunis’ memories in Nunis’ words including his impressions of Walt Disney and himself.


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Between Books - Imagineering An American Dreamscape

I spend a lot of time between Disney dreaming about a good Disney Parks day. But, I have rarely explored the parks between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. And I hoped Imagineering An American Dreamscape could better inform me about regional parks and perhaps even get me excited to visit one.

Imagineering An American Dreamscape: Genesis, Evolution, and the Redemption of the American Theme Park by Barry R. Hill details the history of the American theme park from the late 19th century to the recent past. Hill describes the types of parks that existed before Disneyland, how they influenced Walt Disney’s park, and how Disneyland would then impact regional entertainment after its popularity grew. From early rides like steeplechases to high-speed roller coasters, Hill describes the economic measures needed to attract and then retain visitors to an audience familiar with larger national parks. The tale is one of copying Disney’s and other successful models, followed by a need to change due to the economics of the market. And much of this is followed by economic shifts as parks closed and consolidated as economics pressured the local park owners who could not retain growth or saw the need to add big-ticket attractions to their parks outstripped their pocketbooks.

I enjoyed Imagineering An American Dreamscape. It is well-written and engaging. It is extensively referenced, showing that Hill has deeply researched his topic. Sometimes, he does move from the historian's tone to one of nostalgia. But these tone shifts show his deep love of this topic. Hill introduced me to parks like Astroland, Great America, King’s Dominion, and so many more. He also does an excellent job of showing how regional parks like Six Flags Over Texas impacted the Disney experience today, moving from attraction tickets to a single admission.

Hill notes that the entertainment experience is becoming blurred. Regionally we may not be able to determine what is a theme park, amusement park, mall, or museum in the future. Hill shows us clearly how economic factors have impacted the history of these experiences, their need for them in our regions, and the excitement of enjoying these venues.

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Between Books - Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks

 

I love the holidays!

I love Disney!

And when I have been able to celebrate a holiday in a Disney park, it’s been wonderful.  Though let’s admit it, all of us Between Disney’s are finding a way to bring the park to us.

Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter by Graham Allan, Rebecca Cline and Charlie Price is a wonderful book that will put in into the holiday spirit.  This massive coffee table book is just full of holiday merriment and images.  The text focuses on two distinct holidays, Halloween and the Christmas season, with Christmas/winter holidays dominating the book.  The authors sell the book on the massive number of images, which work best listening to the appropriate holiday music as one dives into the pages.  But there is still quite a bit of text that provides history and background.  Overall, this is currently the premier Disney holiday book on the market.

This book is gorgeous. The images are full color, and often big and well framed.  It really is a treat on the eyes as they gathered images from throughout time and the world of Disney celebrations.  But honestly, I was most surprised by the text.  The authors present a nice history of the Disney holidays including narratives about historical celebrations, like pumpkin carving contests and pumpkin parades, I had never been introduced to. 

Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter by Graham Allan, Rebecca Cline and Charlie Price is a book you want for your Between Books shelve.  No matter how Between Disney you are, this massive book will help you celebrate your holidays in a very Disney way. 

 

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Between Books – The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky

 

The monorail is truly an iconic symbol for Disney parks.  Since this transportation option has not taken off globally, for most of us we only get to access this unique vehicle at a Disney park and when we run into one in the wild we naturally begin to think of times at Disney.  So it only makes sense for Disney to offer a mostly comprehensive history of Disney monorails.

The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky by Jeff Kurtti, Vanessa Hunt and Paul Wolski provides Disney fans a detailed monorail history.  The authors open the book with a look at early monorails in the 19^th century including the wide variety of construction options for these vehicles.  They follow discussing Walt Disney’s history with innovation and monorails culminating with his decision to build an Alweg style monorail in Disneyland.  This discussion includes studying the use of trains and pseudo monorails like the Viewliner at Disneyland.  The book discusses the growth of the monorails into other Disney global parks such as Walt Disney World and the Toyoko Disney Resort.   And the authors spend time exploring Disney monorail culture with merchandise and monorail themed non-monorail attractions.  The book ends with a listing of monorails out of the parks and Between Disney.  The book is illustrated throughout with Disney concept art and photos.

First and foremost, this is a beautiful book.  You likely cannot find one volume filled with so many wonderfully illustrated concept paintings and sketches from artists like Herb Ryman that have been terrifically framed and displayed on the page.  It is visual candy to the Disney fan.  Second, the book is a largely comprehensive history of Disney monorails.  It really felt as if very generation and major event of monorail history was outlined…but one.  The 2009 tragic collision with Monorail Blue and Monorail Pink at Walt Disney World is ignored.  Charts in the book mention these two monorails and their retirement but not why.  I really feel this is a missing event that should have been noted especially since the book talks about safety.  Since the young cast member pilot who passed away was a acknowledged monorail fan, a dedication would have seemed appropriate.  I wonder if this text had been published by someone other than Disney Editions if it would have included this sad incident?  But then the authors would have likely lost access to the rich art and images found throughout the book.  It is a balance, but it feels a little more like a promotional piece than a history due to this missing historical moment.  Even with this absence, the history really does a nice job of drawing out the evolution of monorails.  Readers will be left with an understanding of different styles and their usefulness over shorter distances and in industrial settings. 

In the end, The Disney Monorail is a beautiful book that most Disney parks fans will want in their Between Books library.  The images are just incredibly striking and one can get lost in them especially during a time when so many of us have between visits.  And the text provides a nearly complete and interesting discussion of Disney monorails.  I can think of many other Disney attractions that I would have to see Kurtti, Hunt, Wolski complete a similar treatment of which would delight parks fans.  

 

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