In the Fall of 1966,
my parents received their very first issue of Disney
News, the
"Official Magazine of Magic Kingdom Club Families." On
the cover were Dean Jones and Yvette Mimieux, stars of Disney's
then soon to be released movie Monkey's
Go Home. Inside were articles about shopping at
Disneyland, the dedication of It's
a Small World and how
the Disney Studio transported a life size Audio Animatronics
T-rex across L.A. freeways to be installed at Disneyland's Primeval
World. To me
this was a piece of Disney magic sent four times a year--magic
that I learned to treasure from growing up with Disney movies,
Disney TV shows and countless summer vacations at Disneyland.
When our first issue hit the mailbox, I didn't understand all
the words (I was only 4), but I loved the pictures--Walt,
Disneyland, all the far off places Disney reached. It was
16 pages of delight.
Over 40 years later,
I still have that issue--along with every other issue of Disney
News (later Disney
Magazine) that was ever published. It's my pleasure to
share this collection with you.
This website is very
much a work in progress. On its pages you'll find the
cover of every Disney
News/Disney Magazine released
from Winter 1965-66 until Summer 2005 when, to the chagrin of
many loyal Disney fans,Disney Magazine suddenly
ceased publication. As time goes by, I'll add summaries of
each issue until all 159 are accounted for. I'll also be
adding a tribute page (or two) to the late, great Magic Kingdom
Club, Disney's former discount program for employers, recreation
departments and the military. What will remain when I'm
finished is a unique history of the Disney organization during
some of its most exciting and tumultuous times--from the last
year of Walt Disney's life, to the opening of Walt Disney World,
the resurgence of Disney animation in the late 1980's and early
1990's, the opening of parks in Tokyo and Paris, the broadening
of Disney's media empire and, finally, to the celebration of
Disneyland's 50th anniversary in 2005. Of course, this
will all be from the Disney perspective. Don't expect to
read anything about the rise and fall of Michael Eisner or the
dismantling of the Disney animation division. For that
matter, you won't read anything about the death of Walt Disney--Disney
News never
mentioned it (more on that later).
The wheels may grind
slowly as I update each issue--I plan on maintaining a life
during this project--so please bear with me. I promise
it'll be worth the wait for both of us. Thanks.
This site won't
succeed, of course, without your comments, suggestions and fond
remembrances. Please drop
me a line, visit my blog or
follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you.
Take care,
Tim C.