|
|
Winter 1966-67
Vol. 2, No. 1
December, January, February 1966-67
16 Pages
On the Cover
Actress Vera Miles, co-star of the Disney Christmas release Follow
Me, Boys!, gets into the holiday spirit.
Inside Highlights
"Fantasy on Parade" (Page 1)
After more than a year in development, Disney's Christmas
spectacle "Fantasy on Parade" makes its debut at Disneyland on December
17, 1966. It features over 25 show units based on Disney's movies
and well known characters. "Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Snow
White, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, mammoth dolls, wooden soldiers, and a
smoking, eight-foot rooster are among the many performers." Other
holiday events at the park include the Candlelight Procession on
December 18th and "the world's biggest New Year's Eve party."
"HIGH HOPES: Disneyland Pigeons
Set For 300-Mile Race" (Page 2)
The Magic Kingdom enters two racing pigeons for the World Pigeon
Olympics in Miami on November 19. "Disneyland has had its own
pigeon loft since 1962, when Neil (McDermott) became loft manager. 'Walt
became interested in racing pigeons during the 1960 Winter Olympics at
Squaw Valley,' he explains."
Fun Fact: Disneyland and Walt
Disney World still release white pigeons during special events.
The California State Racing Pigeon Organization presents an annual award
to its members, the Walt Disney Award.
"Marines Add Green to Santa's Red in
Toys for Tots Drive" (Page 3)
 Walt
Disney, Greer Garson and a host of Disneyland characters record
television spots in support of the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots
campaign. The program, which went nationwide in 1948, provides new
toys to needy children during the Christmas season.
Fun Fact: Walt Disney designed the
first poster to promote Toys for Tots nationally, as well as the
original Toys
for Tots logo which is used to this day.
"Teachers' Magazine Carries
Interesting Interview With Walt" (Page 5)
Note From Tim: I don't
normally copy articles in their entirety (it's that whole
copyright/litigation thing), but there are so many great quotes from
Walt here, I'm breaking the rule--but just this once.
Click
here for Walt's insight on the movie industry in 1966.
"POOR POOH: Success Brings Him Into
Hands of the Heffalumps" (Page 6)
Following on the success of 1966's Winnie the Pooh and the Honey
Tree, Disney plans to start production on Winnie the Pooh and the
Heffalumps in January 1967. The short film will introduce
Tigger and will place Pooh "up against a series of fur-raising
disturbances like a Spring storm that threatens to destroy his honey
supply, and a bad dream in which he is phantom-pursued by weasel-like
Woozels and elephant-shaped Heffalumps."
Fun Fact: Sound familiar?
Winnie the Pooh and the Heffalumps would be released as Winnie
the Pooh and the Blustery Day and win the 1968 Academy Award for
Best Cartoon Short Subject.
"Walt Wins Unprecedented 'Showmanship'
Award" (Page 10)
The newly formed National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)
presents Walt with the Showman of the World award in New York City.
The award states, "(Walt Disney's) sensitivity to the visual delights is
unequalled; even unchallenged. His total involvement of the family
is a credo. His uncompromising wholesomeness of subject matter and
presentation give a mighty industry dignity and respect and
recognition."
Other Articles
"Pretty German Girl Named Disneyland's Tour Guide of the Year" -
25 year old Rita Walther from Wertheim, Germany is named Tour Guide of
the Year at an annual banquet.
"AT WED: It's Chartreause for Chicken Feathers, Green Won't Do" -
Some of the unusual supply requisitions that pass through the purchasing
department at WED Enterprises, Inc. include "a half pound of chartreuse
chicken feathers (apple green won't do); two dozen pheasant eyes; a pair
of coyote jaws; 100 pounds of lichen (dried green scum); and a circular
swimming pool--with filter--for the Pirates of the Caribbean."
"At Disneyland It's Fun to be a Horse" - A look at the "15 draft
horses, 16 ponies, 98 mules and 60 burros" stabled at Disneyland.
Spotlighted is horsewoman Carol Spaeth, the first female Disney employee
to drive a surrey on Main Street, U.S.A. and lead the Mule Train
Adventure.
"Mickey Mouse Goes Christmas Shopping" - A short tale about how
Mickey's nephews, Mortie and Ferdie, get lost in the department store
where Mickey and Minnie are shopping.
"Studio is Due for a Thrill a Minute With Ed G. Robinson" - The
legendary actor, best known for playing the title role in 1931's
Little Caeser, prepares to star opposite Dick Van Dyke in the
gangster comedy A Thrill a Minute. The film will be
released in 1968, retitled Never a Dull Moment.
"SHRINE AT RED BLUFF: Walt, Al Dempster Help to Make Dream Come True"
- Walt donates the time and talents of one of his artists to design a
16-foot high marble statue of the Virgin Mary at St. Elizabeth Hospital
in Red Bluff, California.
"The Real and Unreal at Disneyland Sets Times Writer on Ear" -
Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith ruminates on a recent visit
to Disneyland. He writes, "Audio-Animatronic creatures, I
discovered, are quietly taking over at Disneyland. In time all the
alligators and hippos, the bears and buffalo and even the Indians will
be as lifelike as Mr. Lincoln. The dinosaurs already are. It
makes a man shudder."
Side Note
Walt Disney died at St. Joseph Hospital in
Burbank, California on December 15th, 1966. Since the Winter 1966 issue
of Disney News had long since gone to press and the Spring 1967 issue
would not be published until a distant three months later, no formal
mention of Disney's death ever appeared on the pages of Disney News.
|
)
