“Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives” Drops Today on Disney+

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 19, 2021

 

For those of you who enjoyed such original programming as The Imagineering Story and Prop Culture on Disney+ over the last few years, you may want to tune in to a new documentary called Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives.

 

Arriving today on Disney+, the new program will let viewers explore some of the rich history that surrounds the Disney company.  D23 Gold members were fortunate enough to have early access to the program in June 2020, and the documentary is now available to all Disney+ subscribers. (D23 is the official Disney Fan Club.)

 

According to D23, “The film looks at beloved Disney icons, including its theme parks and Studio lot, through an engaging, historical lens.”  Disney’s many warehouses and file cabinets were opened up to cull some of the very best treasures from 50 years of collecting the Disney company’s memorabilia for fans’ enjoyment.

 

Becky Cline, Walt Disney Archives director, is front and center for this film, and those of you who have seen Becky in past documentaries know that she is a wealth of information on all things Disney.  She was also the executive producer for the program.  The show is hosted by legendary producer Don Hahn, who himself has quite the Disney pedigree (The Lion King; Beauty and the Beast; and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, among many). 

 

The film is directed by John Gleim, and features interviews with Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger; Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige; Pixar’s Pete Docter; film historian Leonard Maltin; Disney animators and artists; actors including Mark Hamill; additional members of the Disney Archives team; and lots of others.  

 

The documentary offers viewers an in-depth look at some of the historical artifacts that brought many of the beloved Disney films and features to life.  Before you groan and mutter, “Documentary… must be boring!”,  you’ll want to tune in to see such iconic items as the piano on which the Sherman brothers composed music for Disney films. Can you picture Walt himself leaning on the corner of the piano while the Sherman boys presented “Feed the Birds” or other tunes from Mary Poppins for the first time?  Or maybe you’d like to take a peek at the carousel horses or original carpetbag from Mary Poppins.

 

Among the other treasures viewers will be treated to during the program are a series of the original Mickey Mouse dolls; an Alice Davis and Mary Blair hand-dressed doll for the it’s a small world ride at the World’s Fair; Beauty and the Beast props from the live-action movie; and even the contract that was signed on October 16, 1923, officially bringing the Walt Disney Company into existence.  Sports fans will get a glimpse of a World Series ring from 2002 when Disney owned the Anaheim Angels.  Bet you weren’t expecting to see that in the Archives!

 

Don Hahn also takes viewers on a tour of the various moving parts that make the Archives work (and is an entertaining tour guide along the way!). A stop in the digitization lab shows the hard work that goes into preserving the props and artifacts; another drop-in at the costume department lets viewers see some of the newest acquisitions arriving at the Archives. Last, but certainly not the least, is a visit to Walt Disney’s restored personal office.

 

The Disney World park in Florida isn’t the only place celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. Like Disney World itself, the Archives started by Dave Smith 50 years ago are always growing, always changing, as they acquire new objects and documents. They aren’t just a dusty old storage building, but a breathing entity that reaches out with their exhibits so that fans can enjoy the treasures as well.  The “Archives” isn’t simply a museum of artifacts, but a place for future animators and magic creators to learn from the rich legacy of the extensive body of the Disney company’s work.  This Disney+ special is a small way to peek behind the walls of the Archives. 

 

The short, 59-minute runtime of Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives flies by. Hopefully, there will be more to come for Disney geeks everywhere to enjoy.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

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For You and a Great Christmas Gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

Known for Luke Skywalker

Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating – Episode #112: Star Wars Mark Hamill on Making a Mark in Life – Mark Hamill understands that being remembered for playing a memorable character is a great achievement.

The “Daily Dose of Disney with Ray Keating” podcast serves up a Disney or Disney-related quote each day, with DisneyBizJournal’s Ray Keating offering brief, additional thoughts on how each dose ties in to life, career, business, entrepreneurship, creativity, storytelling, work, or just plain fun.

Star Wars Outdoors with Some Good Food

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

May 24, 2021

 

A warm Sunday evening with a nice breeze. Boxed seats for a Frontyard Festival event at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. Dinner and dessert at your table. Oh, yes, and Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope on three big outdoor screens.

Since COVID-19 hit, our family has attended several outdoor movies. We have watched movies from inside our car in a church parking lot. A big open field allowed for a tailgating scenario with a screen too-far-off in the distance. But Sunday night’s viewing of Star Wars was the best outdoor movie experience I’ve had since … well, perhaps ever, never mind just during the pandemic.

 

The three large screens offered crisp, clear visuals, with each screen elevated so that there were no issues with not being able to see.

And best of all, it was Star Wars. I’ve seen this wonderful movie so many times that I’ve lost count, but never in a venue like this. Every time I watch Star Wars, I fall in love with it all over again. It’s memorable for so many reasons, but now I’ve got seeing it in this unique setting to add to the many positives over the years. 

For some reason, however, watching in this unique setting provided a reminder, i.e., that some of the actors fail to truly get the credit they deserve for their performances. Mark Hamill gives a solid performance as the young Luke Skywalker, as opposed to the caricature that often gets discussed. For good measure, some people have come to call C-3PO annoying, but Anthony Daniels gave a delightfully amusing performance. And finally, Peter Cushing as Grand Marf Tarkin shows off his classic acting abilities each time on screen.

 

And while enjoying one of the all-time great sci-fi/fantasy films, the Phillips Center made it easy to order dinner and dessert on my phone, with it being conveniently delivered to our table.

How was the food?

 

We ordered Festival Tacos, specifically, the Baja Fish Street Tacos and the Barbacoa Beef Street Tacos. The fish tacos were quite good with a spiciness that went well with the fried fish, while the beef tacos were flavorful, though not spicy, and had a delightful mix of textures for the tongue.

 

Our Oak Flame Pizza order was for a Margherita pizza that featured a puffy crust and some tasty cheese. The sauce was a bit on the sweet side, which I usually like, but it was less than inspiring.

 

Our group chose three desserts courtesy of Eola General. The Berry Swirl Cheesecake was creamy and good berry flavor, but the piece was small. Meanwhile, the Carrot Cake not only was quite good, but it was a mighty piece. However, it was the Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie that stole the show. Two big very chocolaty cookies and some light peanut butter made for a chocolate cookie and peanut butter sandwich that was a wonder.

 

Star Wars on a beautiful night with some good food – I believe the Force was with us.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And pre-order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!