Looking Back: Mickey's Christmas Carol

Click Image for a Larger View

Two weeks ago I did a 'Looking Back' entry on Scrooge and Marley from Disney's classic, animated short, Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Another favorite release by the Walt Disney Classics Collection from that short was Scrooge McDuck (as Ebenezer Scrooge) and Daisy Duck (as Isabelle). 

This year, I added a new twist to the scene adding the Jiminy Cricket ornament. It was a perfect fit both in size and moment from that short, as Ebenezer was visiting his past and Jiminy was the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Scrooge and Daisy, sculpted by Ruben Procopio were Limited to Production Year 2010 and released in December of that year. It was a two-piece set release. 

Jiminy Cricket, sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons, was released as an Open Edition release in July, 1997 and retired in July, 1999. Jiminy was released along with Mickey Mouse (as Bob Cratchit), Minnie Mouse (as Mrs. Cratchit) and Scrooge McDuck as Ebenzer Scrooge.

Click Each Image for a Larger View

'Tropical Holiday Decorating '

Hawaiian Holiday, a favorite Disney short was the subject of a Walt Disney Classics Collection scene release in February, 2009.

The Open Edition scene release, sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales featured Donald Duck (pictured at right), Goofy, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

This year, decided to give the scene a holiday feel, so seeked out holiday palm trees and came across these 4" resin ornaments, complete with tree lights (resin lights and string) and packages. 

I wish they would have been slightly taller but very content with the detail, well done paint job and the subtle holiday feel they gave the scene. 

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Looking Back: Scrooge & Marley

Click Image for a Larger View

It was rather bittersweet this year unpacking our seasonal Walt Disney Classics Collection pieces. The line officially ended December 2012 and over the past couple years, we've anticipated the next release in Mickey's Christmas Carol and sadly we won't see what next release would be planned or figure how to work into our existing pieces :(

"Tonight You Will Be Visited By Three Spirits" featuring Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer Scrooge and Goofy as Marley, sculpted by Ruben Procopio was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 750 released in 2009.

The sculpture was plussed with pewter, resin, brass and brass wire. In addition to being one of my favorite moments in the film, the standout for me is Goofy as Marley. 

We're not used to seeing Goofy in this light and can you really imagine Goofy putting the fear into someone as depicted in the sheer terror on Scrooge's face? I also like the detail of Scrooge's chair, showing want a tightwad he was, very apparent by the various rips and tears in the chair's upholstery. 

Click Each Image for a Larger View

Diane Disney Miller (1933 - 2013)

Diane Disney Miller

1933 - 2013

"It is with deep sadness that The Walt Disney Family Museum must share that Diane Disney Miller has passed away. Diane died of complications from a fall.

Diane was the eldest daughter of Walt and Lillian Disney, wife to Ron Miller, mother of seven children, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and an inspiration to us all.

Words cannot begin to express our sadness at Diane’s death. She was an extraordinary philanthropist and enthusiastic supporter of the arts. Diane carried on her father’s legacy with dignity, grace, and devotion.

While the family appreciates your thoughts and prayers, we kindly request that their privacy is respected at this time.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations may be made to the memorial fund that The Walt Disney Family Museum has created in honor of Diane Disney Miller. Donations will support the museum's ongoing education efforts, exhibitions, and programs. Donations and cards can also be sent to the family through The Walt Disney Family Museum, attn: Director's Office; 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94129. 

Services will be private and the museum has not yet planned a public commemoration of Diane, but a possible program or event may be scheduled in the future."

More information is available here.

Statement Regarding the Walt Disney Classics Collection

I received the following statement from Precious Moments regarding the future of the Walt Disney Classics Collection:

"We truly appreciate the fans and collectors who have been eagerly awaiting the Walt Disney Classics Collection product launch by Precious Moments Incorporated®.  After extensive consultation with Disney®, we have jointly decided not to move forward with the release of the collection.  The Walt Disney Classics Collection will be placed into the “vault” alongside other cherished Disney classics.  

We invite you to continue to celebrate Disney characters and stories with the beautifully crafted collectibles available in the Disney Showcase Collection by Precious Moments.  These exquisite pieces are available at Disney Theme Parks, DisneyStore.com, PreciousMoments.com, and specialty retailers.

Thank you for your continued support of Precious Moments Incorporated."

Mary Poppins 'Takes Flight' in D23 Winter Issue!

Click Image for a Larger View

MARY POPPINS TAKES FLIGHT IN THE WINTER ISSUE OF DISNEY TWENTY-THREE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH SAVING MR. BANKS STARS TOM HANKS AND

EMMA THOMPSON HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL ISSUE DEDICATED TO THE

WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS NANNY

Plus, D23.com online exclusives include video of the 1964 Mary Poppins premiere, 

galleries of the film’s matte paintings, and an interactive map of the Walt Disney Studios

featuring locations used in Saving Mr. Banks.

BURBANK, Calif. – November 4, 2013 – To celebrate the release of Saving Mr. Banks and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has dedicated the entire winter issue of its flagship magazine, Disney twenty-three, to our beloved nanny. The publication, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23, includes exclusive interviews with Saving Mr. Banks stars Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, and Bradley Whitford, as well as director John Lee Hancock. It takes readers behind the scenes of the making of this spectacular new film, which opens this Christmas and looks at the creation of Disney’s Mary Poppins and the sometimes combative but respectful relationship between the character’s creator, P.L. Travers (Thompson), and Walt Disney (Hanks).

Disney twenty-three’s Winter issue also offers a look inside the fascinating life of P.L. Travers, with a personal reminiscence by her friend, author Brian Sibley, whom she once told, “I don’t feel for a moment that I invented her. I feel visited by her.” And original film composer Richard M. Sherman, visual consultant Tony Walton, and choreographers Marc Beaux and Dee Dee Wood offer exclusive insight into the creation of the 1964 Disney classic, which will officially celebrate its 50th anniversary next August.

Also included in the Winter issue of Disney twenty-three:

• A first-person account of the creation of the stage musical Mary Poppins from Disney Theatrical Productions president Thomas Schumacher
• “Elements of Fun,” looking at 50 years of unique “Mary merchandise”
• An in-depth look at the film’s groundbreaking special effects
• A walk down the red carpet for the Mary Poppins premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

 All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com, where the fan club is kicking off its year-long celebration of Mary Poppins’ 50th anniversary with a unique video reconstruction of the Mary Poppins world premiere, containing five minutes of never-before-released material. Although the original telecast of the event appears to have been lost forever, this 22-minute segment includes audio from the premiere’s two separate interview locations, combined with all the surviving color film and black-and-white newsreel footage—re-creating the excitement and glamour of this stellar premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on August 27, 1964.

Other features planned for D23.com’s online celebration include:

• Extensive Mary Poppins galleries, including a look at the film’s breathtaking matte paintings.
• An interactive map of the Walt Disney Studios with photo locations from Saving Mr. Banks
• Rarely heard audio files from the making of Mary Poppins
• An in-depth Mary Poppins production timeline
• A look at the sodium screen/traveling matte process, which gave the film its unique visual look
• An exclusive interview with Mary Poppins visual consultant Tony Walton

Also in the Winter issue, D23 Gold Members will receive a reproduction of the ticket mailed to invitees for the Mary Poppins premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership. 

Lyrics to 'Trick or Treat'

"Trick or Treat" is also the title for the great bouncy song in this cartoon written by Paul Smith. It is sung by the great "Mellomen" which included the voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft. I promise you will be singing this all evening and into tomorrow, once you hear it ]:)

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat for Halloween

Better give a treat that's good to eat

If you want to keep life serene

Trick or Treat (Trick or Treat)

Trick or Treat (Trick or Treat)

Trick or Treat the whole night through

Little scalawags

With fiendish gags

Can make it tough on you

So when ghosts and goblins by the score

Ring the bell on your front door

Better not be stingy or

Your nightmares will come true

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat for Halloween

When the pumpkin shells

Cast evil spells

Your little white house turns green

Your little white house turns green

Your little white house turns green

Every post

Is a ghost

If you've got a witch's brew

And if you want your gate to circulate

Ho ho! We can do that too!

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat for Halloween

When ghosts and goblins by the score

Ring the bell on your front door

You'd better not be stingy or

Your nightmares will come true

So when ghosts and goblins by the score

Ring your bell or pound your door

Better not be stingy or

BOO!

Happy Halloween!

Click Image for a Larger View

Today is the day when pumpkin shells cast evil spells and witches, ghosts and goblins by the score, who will be knocking at your front door!

It reminds me of my favorite Halloween shorts and unpacking each year, one of my favorite WDCC releases .. Trick or Treat!

The Walt Disney Classics Collection put everyone into the "Halloween Spirit" in Fall 2001 with the release from the 1952 animated short, "Trick or Treat," one of the most beloved and well-remembered of the Duck cartoons. Trick or Treat marked Witch Hazel's debut and the first screen depiction of trick or treating.

Huey, Dewey and Louie visit Donald's house for Hallowe'en, but Donald turns the tricks on them. Sorry to see that Donald Duck is playing tricks on his nephews, Witch Hazel sets out to help them have the happiest Halloween ever. And if the boys "Unca" Donald doesn't want to give out any treats, he better be aware the tricks Witch Hazel has brewing in her cauldron!

Click Image for Larger View

It was this moment that the Walt Disney Classics Collection depicted in their scene release which consisted of Donald's Nephews (dressed respectively as a ghost, witch and devil), Witch Hazel and a very detailed Cauldron Base where Witch Hazel begins to brew her potion. The complete scene was sculpted by Chris Peterson.

Witch Hazel's Spell: "Double double, toil and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Eye of needle, tongue of shoe, hand of clock that points at two... This is the real thing you know, right out of Shakespeare."

The 'Trick or Treat' Scene (Witch Hazel, Donald's Nephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie) and Cauldron Base) was honored with retirement on Friday, October 29, 2004. The Opening Title was NOT retired.

 Click Each Image for a Larger View

As a special treat, below is the animated short for your viewing pleasure (courtesy of YouTube.com).

So grab your favorite witch's brew and some candy treats and Enjoy!

Trick or Treat is a Donald Duck Cartoon ©Disney

Looking Back: The Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane

It's hard to believe it's been a few months since my last posting. With vacation, home projects and work, it's been a busy (not to mention, fast) summer. Hard to believe it's over and we're already into the fall season, which is my favorite season of the year.

Given my obsession with the new series on Fox, Sleepy Hollow, I thought a great Looking Back would be revisiting the Headless Horseman set, a favorite of most Walt Disney Classics Collection collectors!

Click Image for Larger View

"When thundering hoofs echo through the darkness in the tiny valley of Sleepy Hollow, fearful farmers pull the covers over their heads.

The only man foolish enough to be on the roads on such a night is Ichabod Crane. But is that ghastly figure bearing down on the teacher a wrathful spirit -- or just a jealous prankster?"

Click Image for Larger View

This set is one I have displayed all year round.  One of the Walt Disney Classics Collection best releases.  In this set you have both an animated style horse and the sculpting of a life-like horse plus the look of utter fear in both Ichabod and his horse's face (and body expression) and true terror embodied by the Headless Horseman and his horse.

The Headless Horseman ("Haunting Horseman") and Ichabod and his Horse ("Terrified Teacher"), a NumberedLimited Edition (NLE) set of only 3,500, plussed with a stainless steel sword were sculpted by Kent Melton. 

Redemption forms were sent to active Walt Disney Collector Society members in July, 2000. Orders were taken on a first come-first serve basis. Sculptures began to ship in Fall, 2000.

My display is enhanced with resin tombstones replica of tombstones from the Haunted Mansion Attraction that was available last year (and again this year) thru Disney Shopping. The tombstones fit in perfectly with the set. I had really hoped they would have done more this year.

Click Each Image for a Larger View