We are proud to announce our latest exhibition, Dave Stevenson and The Art of the Map, that is currently on display in our Theater Lobby. One of his maps details the migration of the Disney family from Europe to America...
Walt Disney said it best: "I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment." And while it's true that Walt was pushing the envelope long before YouTube, we think it's a good way to launch our FIRST ANNIVERSARY VIDEO CONTEST! So pick up your cameras and get the creative juices flowing because it's time for YOU to explore and experiment!
The Walt Disney Discovery Camp has ended but the memories will last forever! We had an amazing time this summer with our campers, some of which traveled from as far away as Wisconsin to join us.
During your next visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum, I invite you to the lower lobby to see the new case installed just a few days ago. The case is filled with treasures from Mary Blair who, according to some historians, was Walt Disney’s favorite artist! She provided concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, among other feature-length animated films and shorts.
Join us for an afternoon of Bay Area film, food and fun with KRON 4's Jan Wahl! San Francisco is the star of this REEL Local line up. From Vertigo to Dirty Harry, experience San Francisco through the eyes of Hollywood while you snack on unbeatable Bay Area bites, wine, and brews! Check out the film line-up and menu:
Our guest curator this week is Issey Honton. Issey is our Conservation and Preparation Technician. He works closely with Ben Peters in designing and installing the various exhibits in The Walt Disney Family Museum.
We asked Issey to pick his favorite artifact from the Collection and write about why he chose it. Here's his pick:
My favorite object of the collection has to be one of the Heinrich Kley drawings. Kley, born in 1863, is best known for his satirical take on the modern industrial life of his time, as well as his ability to humanize animals. Although not as well-known today as he perhaps should be, his work influenced many artists throughout the 20th Century, including Walt Disney.
Harrison "Buzz" Price, the research economist who recommended Anaheim to Walt Disney as the location for Disneyland, passed away Sunday, August 15, at the age of 89.
"Despite his failing health, he continued to demonstrate his trademark humor, cutting edge wit and enduring love for family and friends," his son David Price said on behalf of his mother, Anne Shaw Price, and the Price family. "His legacy of laughter, wit, love, passion and commitment leaves its mark on each of us--family, friends and colleagues in the leisure and recreation industry he loved."
The Walt Disney Family Museum has an impressive collection of artifacts that were all part of the life and career of Walt Disney. We are looking forward to sharing some of those objects with you in the months ahead.
This particular object is the name plaque from Walt's office. As Walt became more well known, people from all over the world began sending him gifts. This name plaque was sent to Walt in apprecation for the hours of entertainment he provided an unknown fan. Walt kept the majority of items that he received as gifts over the years.
As many fans of Walt Disney and Disneyland know, The "E" Ticket was a magazine devoted to "collecting theme park memories". While the magazine is no longer published, it lives on in the hearts of its many devoted fans. Now, thanks to Diane Disney Miller, her family and the staff of the Museum, you have the chance to own a piece of this amazing history.
But first, a bit of the back story:
We have some great events and activities lined up for you at The Walt Disney Family Museum this weekend!
In April of 2007, Michael Labrie, Lynne Phillips, and Hugh Chitwood embarked on a journey to a town outside of Chicago, IL called Ottawa. Their mission was to sort and pack one of the first donations to the Walt Disney Family Foundation. This collection would not only double the size of the already existing collection, but it would also help fill innumerable gaps in the permanent exhibition at The Walt Disney Family Museum...
This holiday season, The Walt Disney Family Museum led a group of local Presidio and Bay Area museums and organizations in collecting toys in support of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots collection drive. Following in the generous shoes of Walt Disney himself, the Museum, its partners, and the Marines, collected numerous toys and books to share with less for fortunate families...
Check out what's happening here at The Walt Disney Family Museum throughout the month of October!
As part of our "12 Days of Christmas" special, we asked Disney historian, Paula Sigman Lowery, to tell us about Holidayland!
When we look at the “Disneyland of Walt’s Imagination”—the wonderful model showcased at The Walt Disney Family Museum—we are enchanted by the miniature versions of the lands Walt and his artists created: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland… plus Main Street, U.S.A. and New Orleans Square. But there’s one land that we don’t see, a land that existed for only five years: Holidayland.
The building that houses our Museum, 104 Montgomery Street, was built in 1899. Earlier that year, on February 15, a daughter was born in Spalding, Idaho, to Willard and Jeanette Bounds. Lillian Marie, my mother, was their tenth and last child. She grew up in Lapwai, Idaho, where the headquarters of the Nez Perce Tribal Reservation was located...
Our consulting historians Paula Sigman-Lowery and Jeff Kurtti teamed up to provide this remembrance of another of Walt’s great collaborators.
A frequent analogy used in describing the creative collaboration of Walt Disney and his staff is that of a great conductor supervising and guiding every nuance of an artistically brilliant and technically outstanding symphony orchestra.
Spots…Spots…Spots!
How did the Disney Animators draw thousands of spots in Walt Disney’s 101 Dalmatians and how did they make sure they always remained in the correct…spot? Disney Legends Don Iwerks and Floyd Norman, and legendary Disney Animator Andreas Deja provided the answers to these questions, and shared many fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the production of the animated film to guests attending The Walt Disney Family Museum's The Art and Process of 101 Dalmatians event.
Andrea...
Last November, Disney released Epic Mickey, a Wii video game where Mickey Mouse tries to help bring his long lost brother Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back from the dark side. We were fortunate enough to be able to sit down with video game producer—and fellow Disney buff!—Warren Spector, to chat with him about the game and what it was like to bring these monumental characters to life in a game...
Join us this March for Mary Poppins-themed screenings, activities and fun! A full schedule of events can be found below. Tickets are available at www.waltdisney.org. Hope to see you here!
Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and other personal tidbits. This is the third in our series titled "What Do YOU Do?" and this month, we're highlighting John Stroh!