Between Books - The Vault of Walt: Volume 3 Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told

The Vault of Walt: Volume 3 Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told by Jim Korkis provides another installment of this popular series.  This volume, like the others, consists of essays of five to 10 pages in length.  There are four main sections; one on Walt Disney stories, one of Disney film stories, one of Disney parks stories and finally one collecting stories from other parts of Disney history.  Part One on Walt Disney addresses firsthand somewhat recent attempts to characterize Walt Disney as a bigot and anti-women.  Also Korkis examines Walt Disney's World War I service and his smoking habits.  The second section on Disney films also contains a chapter with a more recent hook, the truth behind the movie Saving Mr. Banks.  The Disney Parks section includes an look at the creation of Star Wars 2.0 and the first Disneyland Christmas Parade.  And the final section captures the sad biography of Jiminy Cricket's original voice Cliff Edwards and a remembrance of the late Diane Disney Miller, who Korkis knew personally.  

I think it is fair to say that Walt Disney has received some bad press, and bad biographies, over the last few decades.  But in this volume Korkis appears to go on the offensive against those who would like to put labels on the late Disney.  Korkis provides his readers with the facts to challenge those who would like to label Disney with racist or bigoted titles.  And Korkis does make some strong points, especially about the people that Disney worked closely with.  It is hard to imagine Walt Disney without the Sherman Brothers at his side, two Jewish gentlemen.  This image makes it difficult to call Walt Disney anti-Semitic knowing how much support he provided these two legendary songwriters.  And the Sherman example is just one of many.  Korkis makes it clear that Walt Disney raised up creative people, regardless of race or creed.  Now that is not to say that Disney was a perfect man, he was flawed like all of us.  He did follow the same hiring practices of other studios, leading once to Marc Davis not being hired as an animator since it was believed by a screener that he was a woman.  But Korkis' work helps to breakdown uneducated generalizations. 

I will admit that I really like Saving Mr. Banks.  And having a historical background I understand that movies take liberties with historical facts to make a story that an audience can enjoy.  So I very much enjoyed Korkis' laying out what was false, P.L. Travers did not pull her mother out of a river though the senior Travers did attempt suicide in this fashion, and what was true, Travers did once go to Disneyland it just was not with Walt Disney.  This is the sort of chapter that anyone who enjoyed the movie would likely want to dive into just so they can find out if Aunt Ellie really had the parrot-headed umbrella.  

The Vault of Walt: Volume 3 Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told is typical of Korkis' writing style and easy to read.  For Disney fans there are likely plenty of nuggets to keep one entertained.  I for example knew nothing about the short Off His Rockers and though I had heard the name Cliff Edwards I found myself very saddened by reading his life story.  For more casual Disney fans, it would make a nice vacation read...especially if heading off to a theme park and preparing for touring by reading about Disney Parks' attractions.   For either audience it is easy to pick-up, read an interesting tale and then return to later in the day with a completely fresh chapter and topic.  I myself read it in this style.  

The Vault of Walt: Volume 3 Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told by Jim Korkis continues to touch a variety of topics from those you thought you knew to those you have never heard about.  And one expects that volume 3 will be far from the last time Korkis opens his Disney vault. 

Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press

Mousey Movie Review - The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger must be horrible!  Seriously, it was a box office bomb so it must be really really bad.  Estimates say that for Disney it was a loss of anywhere between $160-190 Million (capital M). But box office success does not mean good.  And I can thing of plenty of movies that were not good that were huge successes financially.  And others that the box office was a disappointment but a personal hit for me.  As many of you can guess, John Carter for me is a movie that I loved despite receipts.

So I was not out to get The Lone Ranger.  And I was willing and wanted to go see this western starring Armie Hammer as the masked lawman and Disney golden boy Johnny Depp as the Native American warrior Tonto.  But the summer schedule kept me out of the theater and by the time the summer was over we decided financially it made more sense to buy the movie instead of rushing into the theater while the film was on its way out (very quickly). 

• Mrs Banks: Someone at Central Casting must really like English actress Ruth Wilson.  I first saw her in a theatrical release in Saving Mr. Banks as Margaret Goff.  And though I thought her character was very understated, I did feel sympathy for her as we experienced the Goff family troubles through her oldest daughters eyes.  What I did not realize is that Wilson had made her Disney debut earlier in the year as Rebecca Reid, wife of Texas Ranger Dan Reid, in The Lone Ranger and served as the primary romantic interest in the movie.  As both characters, Wilson in effect plays pioneer women who work on the edges of modern society.  And Wilson brings to both roles brings the air of someone who longs for a more civilized life.  

• The Disneyland Railroad:  One of the reasons I did not see The Lone Ranger in the theater was because I was traveling to Disneyland for my summer vacation while Depp's newest film was released. When we arrived at Disneyland we entered the park for the first time on the Sunday after and sitting in front of the park right after the bus loading area was The Constitution the train from the film.  Two cast members dutifully guarded the train.  And it was really impressive to see the size difference between this train and the ones in the park.  Now I really had not listened to box office reports, because I was too busy with my family.  And I took some pictures in front of the train with my kids. But I have no family free pictures to share with you. Because on Wednesday the train was gone.  The way I remember it was we went into the park and the train was there.  And then we came out after lunch for a nap and the entire train was gone.  Seriously, it was a huge engine.  But it was gone.  It was like it never existed!  Then I knew it had not gone well for Mr. Depp and I figured The Lone Ranger was getting the John Carter treatment!   

• Family Friendly: I do not want to sound like I am a grumpy guy, but I really do wonder if Walt Disney would have released The Long Ranger under the Walt Disney name.  I did enjoy the action adventure that the movie provided.  And I thought the moral compass was true to a Disney family film with the Lone Ranger being a champion for justice.  But, it has a huge body count!  It has to have more deaths that any of the Pirates films, maybe more than the four combined.  And this is not the A-Team where shooting happens but bullets only hit non-living things.  No, this is a movie that I would question before showing a youngster.  A day before I watched The Lone Ranger I received a text asking if it was kid approved.  I said it was Disney so how bad could it be!  I may have been wrong.  And Disney may have done their core audience a favor be releasing this film under Touchstone instead.  

• The Old Mill:  The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini has been used in a number of media pieces.  These include the Disney classic short The Old Mill which uses the "Ranz des Vaches" or "Call to the Cows" segment to open the morning.  But probably the most famous use is in the classic television show The Lone Ranger, which used the "Finale" as its theme song.  As a kid who grew up with four television stations, I saw a ton of the Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels program despite the fact it entered production nearly 30 years before I was born!  The Hammer and Depp collaboration pays homage to the classic show by using the Overture throughout the final big action segment (maybe it should be BIG ACTION).  And because of the use of this musical tribute it makes the ending sequence even more enjoyable.  Honestly, it really does show how a piece of music can set a mood.  For someone like me, I knew something exciting was happening.  For the Between Kids who have no idea who Clayton Moore is, they knew something fast paced was breaking out in front of them.  

• Infinity: Okay, it is not part of the movie, but the Disney Infinity Lone Ranger Play Set is really really fun.  The Between Kid and I crushed it over our holiday break.  And even for me as a fairly mature adult I enjoyed playing cowboys and robbers, occasionally going out on our own two man posse on missions.  You may have overlooked this Play Set if you play Disney Infinity.  If you have I recommend grabbing it since it may be my favorite Play Set to date.  

• John Carter: Everyone is going to compare The Lone Ranger to John Carter.  I will admit they did get the same post-release treatment.  Disney quickly washed their hands of both.  And I do not expect Disney to try a Western again soon.  But let us remember they did not get the same treatment before their releases.  John Carter was marginalized.  The Lone Ranger was included with the release of Disney Infinity!  John Carter did not have a big name actor.  The Lone Ranger had the Disney golden boy Johnny Depp.  Yes, Disney wanted this film to succeed, so its failure is even more disappointing than the film Disney wanted to forget! 

Like John Carter I enjoyed the escapist adventure in The Lone Ranger.  I still prefer  Andrew Stanton's sci-fi film on a critical level.  Which did not lose quite as much for Disney as Depp did in this adventure.  But like Stanton, Depp has a good Disney track record so he is allowed a Disney stumble, though the relationship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer is effectually at an end for new intellectual property.  I would say if you have not seen The Lone Ranger, grab some pop and popcorn and give it a chance some Friday night.  It might just be fun. 

Mousey Movie Review - Saving Mr. Banks

To say I liked Saving Mr. Banks is an understatement.  I have  seen it twice now, and on my dime each time.  And both times I thoroughly enjoyed this story about P.L. Travers the author of Mary Poppins and her struggles, both spiritually and creatively, in bringing her famous nanny to life.

The film stars Emma Thompson as Travers, an accomplished actress who has taken a turn in a Mary Poppins like role in the delightful Nanny McPhee and its sequel(s).  Tom Hanks, Woody of the Toy Story franchise and cough cough future Disney legend, plays Walt Disney himself.  The film jumps between two settings.  The first is a two week period in 1961, where Disney's team of the Sherman Brothers and scriptwriter Don DaGradi worked directly with Travers to flesh out the script for a possible Mary Poppins at the Disney Studio.  The second is flashbacks to Travers' childhood in Australia, where the audience learns that the Mary Poppins' story has a deeper meaning to Travers.  This story is based on real events, so audiences need to keep the perspective that some scenes in this Mousey Movie are either fictional or occurred at another time:

• The Evil Queen: Emma Thompson is wonderful!  She makes you forget that she is an actress.  She makes you hate Travers (okay I may have been pre-disposed to that), and she is also able to make you feel for the Travers' character.  She really should receive the accolades that she has been receiving for this role.  But Tom Hanks does an excellent job also.  I know many have mocked his mustache, but I have looked at this role as Hanks the actor not mimicking Disney but portraying Disney.  So I did not need or want Hanks to be a body double, I wanted him to act.  And he does a great job researching the role and portraying a Missouri born business mogul.  But it is likely Paul Giamatti as the chauffeur Ralph who steals the movie and provides it heart.  Honestly, this entire cast does a great job!

• King of the Forest: There are plenty of moments that will thrill the Disney fanboy.  These include a ton of Disney plush, pretending to be with the Sherman brothers as they compose their classic works and reproductions of concept art for Mary Poppins.  My favorite moments are digging around Walt's working office.  Here my favorite item is a picture from Marceline from Walt and Roy O. Disney's visit to their hometown.  My other favorite moment is when DaGardi announces to the boys that Walt is coming using the Bambi based code phrase for the boss is coming, after Disney gives his warning cough of course.  Really a lot of this story is about a culture clash, between the very proper Mrs. Travers and call we Walt, Mr. Disney.  And the film does a great job of showing that culture including the use of first names, which Walt insisted on.  

• Let It Go:  Okay Disney fans to quote Princess Elsa, "Let it go!"  Yes, when Disney and Travers go to Disneyland, you can see the computers of the modern ticket machines.  And yes, the Mickey walk-around character is vintage, but Pluto looks a little too modern.  Yes, it's true, you should not see the sign for Pinocchio's Daring Journey as they ride the King Arthur Carousel.  I do have a background in history, so I am the guy who bored all my friends and family with facts about Braveheart instead of just enjoying it.  So if I can let it go, you can too.  Seriously, the cold never brothered me anyway.          

• Daddy Day: An emotional touchstone of this movie is that Walt Disney explains that bringing Mary Poppins to light is to fulfill a promise to his daughters, a promise that he had spent 20 years pursuing.  In his office there are pictures of both Diane and Sharon Disney, and he uses their images to underscore his desire to make this film.  I have decided in the movie premiere scene at the end that the young lady walking with a tall handsome man is Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller and husband Ron Miller.  In my mind, I have decided this closes the circle on the promise.  Additionally, those who wait until the very end will see this film is dedicated to Diane Disney Miller who passed away shortly before the release date of this film.  And yes, I shed a little tear as I wondered what she would have thought of Hanks' portrayal of her father. 

• Fathers and Daughters: The story of P.L. Travers is really not about her struggle with Walt Disney, it is her struggle to remember her father.  As a dad, this story was very meaningful for me as I tried to imagine what my own children will remember about me.  I did take the Between Tween to my second showing, and the movie lead to plenty of discussions about childhood, creativity and familial love.  Oh, and there were tears, so many tears!  This movie is not fluff!  It gives you something to mull over.

Saving Mr. Banks is a wonderful story that Disney and non-Disney fans should see.  Of course, as a Disney fan I fully supported Walt on the screen in his quest to create his classic.  But I feel this story based on the real events were fair to both Travers and Disney.  Even Walt Disney expresses support for Travers' position at one point.  And as a Disney fan, I smiled as I watched them depict Richard Sherman singing to Walt his favorite song, "Feed the Birds" for the very first time.  The Disneyland scenes and studio scenes created huge excitement for me, especially since I visited both during the summer of filming.  Honestly, I as a Disney fan wanted and needed to like this film.  But as a movie fan, I love Saving Mr. Banks.

Honestly, this short review barely touches all my thoughts on this Mousey Movie, which you need to go see if you have not taken it in yet!

I should warn you, you will want to go straight home and watch Mary Poppins!

Dreaming Disney - Mickey Through the Decades

I live Between Disney. And in Betweenland there are some things that are just not going to happen. Though I will admit that I have lucked out and been able to schedule our family vacation to Disneyland over the last few years, so I ask for no fan pity. Some things are just pipe dreams for me. For example, I doubt I would ever be able to go to a D23 Studio Tour. I simply cannot imagine timing my vacation perfectly to match up with the schedule. But hey, I am still a lucky guy and having my schedule coincide with a D23 Expo once was probably as lucky as I was going to get.

But lightening struck again when D23 put out notice for sign-ups to attend Old Navy’s Mickey Through the Decades Collection at the Walt Disney Studios event. And best of all, it was scheduled for a day where the Between Family would not be going into Disneyland on a already scheduled vacation!

The day started with us renting a car and gulp driving through the LA area traffic. We left early to give ourselves plenty of time. This meant we had time to explore. We drove around Griffith Park, where Disneyland as an idea was germinated. And after we found the studio I searched the GPS for close by attractions and found the Hollywood Sign. With the sign adventure in our rear view mirror the Between Family was in full tourist mode when we checked in at the studio.

The event itself was somewhat of a free for all, with you choosing between several activities. There was one area where press photographed the three celebrities sporting Old Navy’s new Mickey Mouse tees. The three celebrities Jennifer Love Hewitt, Constance Marie and Brooke Burke mingled with the press, but really did not spend time with the other invitees. Though I did see some of their kids enjoying the offered activities. They took photos, answered press questions, but really did not interact with the fans. In fact I never saw anyone ask any of them for their autographs.

Old Navy's Mickey Collection

It was everyone else, like us, who got to have fun. The invited guests were given a voucher for a free t-shirt. Since Jeffrey and other staff pointed out there were plenty of t-shirts we skipped over the crowd of people at the Old Navy tent. Honestly, this may have been a mistake since there were a limited number of shirts in each style and the Between Family had to chose from the picked over remains. We instead went first to have our photo taken with Mickey, in a 50’s costume. He would be relieved by Minnie throughout the event with her 50’s themed dress also.

After our picture with the main mouse we jumped into the line to get a Disney artist to draw a custom Mickey sketch for us. You could get Mickey or Minnie. As I stood with the Between Kid, the artist asked him what picture was desired. The response was baby Mickey, which the child ahead of us had gotten. The artist instead described a Star Wars Mickey Mouse. The Between Kid said no, baby Mickey please. So the artist laughed and said let’s do baby Mickey for you but Luke Skywalker Mickey for dad! He saw the gleam in my eye! So of course I loved it and was thrilled to get my own custom Mickey/Star Wars mash-up. (Note, I did ask later a character artist in the park if they could make me an Agent Coulson Mickey. He stated currently Marvel is not included in what they can produce).

Mickey Skywalker

After the Between Kid got a Mickey temporary tattoo and grabbed some coloring sheets, we ate. And we ate in the Commissary! The food itself was burgers and hotdogs from a caterer. But it was super fun to be able to say that we were eating inside the Disney Commissary. And sitting inside away from the heat, we saw the Saving Mr. Banks trailer for the first time.

After eating, we went into a conference room to watch some of the new Mickey Mouse shorts. We were given popcorn, candy and bottled water. They were bragging that one of the shorts had not been seen yet. But I could not tell you which one since we had not seen around three of them.

Oh, and now the real fun began. When we left the Commissary building we noticed some guests walking around. So we tested our limits. We walked down to Pluto’s Corner and snapped some pictures. And since we made it that far, we took some pictures of the Animation Building. The Between Wife shook her head as I pointed out to the kids that this was the building that Walt Disney worked in. And then we walked a little further to get good pictures of the Team Disney Building. And since we were there we wandered around Legends Plaza, with me in full geek mode as I put my hand in the impressions left by Marc Davis, Roy E. Disney and others. So we may never be able to go on the official Disney tour. But it our unofficial self guided tour made the trip to Burbank.

The Team Disney Building

Reaching Out to a Legend

After we left the Studio and went to the beach. So it was an awesome day overall.

Yes I live Between Disney. But you never know what you may find Disney Adjacent until you open yourself up!