Little Golden Secrets Revealed

        Go to the children's section of any used bookstore, and one will find a plethora of Disney Little Golden Books waiting to be taken home. These "little" gems can be cheaply obtained, but their value (if in good condition) is priceless. Like many creative processes, the behind the scenes work of these golden treasures is relatively unknown to its intended audience. Disney artist, Ron Dias, has shared his experiences with me on illustrating many of the Disney Little Golden classics of the 1980s and 1990s. In a package that he sent me not too long ago, he included some documents that revealed one aspect of this creative process. Much like the character development that goes into making an animated film, I was rather surprised to see the amount of work that goes into transferring the many Disney characters into storybook form. Part of the illustration process on Ron's part consisted of color-keying each character. He has emphasized to me on many occasions that the character depictions from his storybooks, and how they appeared in their respective films, should be seamless and true to their original form. Below are character-model sheets color-keyed for his Sleeping Beauty and Dumbo Little Golden Books. 

Dumbo Coloring Contest

        I can honestly say that the last couple weeks have been extremely productive; with the exception of updating this website. A large portion of my time has been spent researching Dick Kelsey, and I must say it has been a most enjoyable experience. I'm certainly new to the interviewing process and establishing connections with individuals who have information on his life, but I'm learning as I go. I'm beginning to draft my writing as I type up this post, and I feel the facts provided will make for an interesting narrative. Considering the information that has been found, I think many will be interested to find out what I have.

        As I was perusing through various newspaper articles from the early 1940s, I came across a February 23, 1942 article from a paper in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. It offered kids of the time a chance to win tickets to see Dumbo for free at the local theater. The catch? They had to neatly color a picture of Dumbo (seen above) and mail it out to be judged for a coloring contest. The article read:

Meet Dumbo. Dumbo is the famous elephant with ears so big he flies like a bird. Dumbo is a creation of Walt Disney who made Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse famous.

Dumbo's new feature picture, all in technicolor, opens this Wednesday at the Manos Theater in Uniontown. And to celebrate this event we are having a coloring contest.

Simply color the cartoon above. Put as many different colors on it as you wish. Use any kinds of colors you want.

Ten free passes to see the new picture Dumbo for the ten best coloring jobs sent in. Color yours now and mail or bring it to "Color Contest," care of The Junior Reporters Club, Standard office, Uniontown, Pa.

Tomorrow and Wednesday we will have a different cartoon from this picture. Ten more passes will be given for the best color jobs on each of these cartoons. Enter every day if you wish. Or enter just one cartoon. It's easy!

Don't miss this chance to see the grand new feature length cartoon. Color this cartoon and rush it in now! Winners of this cartoon's coloring will be announced Thursday.

For those who are now scrambling for their Crayola box, I'm sorry. The contest is over.

New Disney Treasures to Dust

        My quest to find more vintage Disney collectibles has turned up some treasures I'd like to share. A few weeks ago I came upon a very interesting Disneyland hat that I've never seen before. The brim of the hat is unmistakably Donald Duck's bill, which resounds with a SQUEAK! with the squeeze of his nose. Research revealed that this hat was probably made available in 1964 at Disneyland to celebrate Donald's 30th birthday. The hat I have (as you can see to the left) however does not contain a "Happy Birthday Donald Duck" ribbon on the top. I paid a little too much for this item, but its vintage Disneyland feel was the worth the price.

        While we're on the subject of Donald Duck, I came across more items pertaining to the hot headed mallard just last week. For only $2.00, I purchased a pack of "Donald Duck Transfers" from the 1940s that were never even used. As you can see in the pictures to the right and below, the book itself is a diecut of Donald, and inside one will find a total of 36 colored transfers. The directions on the inside cover read:

Cut out one picture at a time, place it in a saucer of water printed side uppermost. Make sure that the printed side does not get wet. After a short while take the picture out and place it face downwards on a sheet of paper. Press it down firmly, if possible with a soft cloth. Lift the paper gently at one corner and pull it off carefully.

        What better way though to enjoy these colorful transfers than by drinking from your very own Donald Duck straw? For a mere $5.00, I purchased an unopened box of "Donald Duck Sunshine Straws" at a local flea market. "The sanitary convenient way to to serve milk...iced drinks...bottled beverages" as declared on the back of the box. Considering that their age goes back to the 1950s, I'm sure their "sanitary" and "convenient" quality has diminished quite a bit. Regardless, what a great looking addition!

  

        One can't talk about Donald Duck without considering the rest of the gang. At the very same spot where I hunted down the transfers and straws, I came across a rather unique, little wooden briefcase colorfully decorated with various Disney characters. It was the 1940s/1950s Mickey image on the case's cover that caught my eye. Inside one will find twenty wooden blocks that can be turned over various times together to form up to four Vintage Mickey Mouse Picture Cubesdifferent pictures. This item's uniqueness is doubled by the fact that it appears to have been produced in West Germany by Hermann Eichhorn - a German toy company established in 1949 whose speciality lied in making wooden trains and puzzles. Various areas of the box are written in German and contain Disney characters that one typically does not find on Disney products today, such as: Little Wolf, Piper and Fifer Pig, Figaro, Morty and Louie. A truly special item found in excellent condition and at the right price - $5.00.

        A similar item at the same flea market, entitled Walt Disney Character Scramble - Interchangeable Pictures, fell under my radar as well and immediately entered my possession. The character pieces inside were incomplete, but the outside game box is worthy of being framed. Various characters like Horace Horsecollar,Clarabelle Cow and Panchito were once a part of this package, but sadly only fragments of them remain. The idea of the game was to interchange various pants, shirts, and hats to create up to "1,000 different combinations" of wardrobe for each character. Mickey and Pinocchio (as seen below) are the only two characters that seemed to have survived over the decades. This item was made by the Plane Facts CO. sometime during the 1940s.

                                 

       

        In closing, I'd like to share a lesson that I've learned with other budding Disney treasure hunters out there - do not leave any stone unturned. At this very same flea market I uncovered a 1930s Mickey Mouse cereal bowl in a box filled with dollar priced items. What a find and still in good condition. These bowls are usually priced anywhere from $10 - $20. It's image below should remind anyone - that with a little patience and the right information, a treasure is waiting to be rescued and loved.

Disney Treasures: Bambi Knock-off Meets Fifer Pig

        Spring is on its way here in southeastern Pennsylvania, and my urge to search flea markets and auctions for vintage Disney treasures is starting anew. Last week was the first time in quite a while where I went out to search for some classic finds, and two pieces of a unique nature happen to cross my path.

        The first item to catch my eye was a Bambi planter, and after an initial glance it appeared to be one
of several Bambi planters made by Leeds in the mid 1940s. Bambi pieces of this caliber can be worth anywhere from $20-$110 depending on the condition and availability, so I admit I was a bit excited at first. Bambi collectibles can be very deceiving however, simply because so many knock-off ceramic and pottery pieces were made after the release of the film. Due to this, after I observe the condition of a specific item, I check all of its surface areas for any markings that contain the Disney name. I was initially relieved to see that this particular item was labeled "Walt Disney's Bambi" in large, cursive text under its base. Despite this discovery, I've been collecting long enough now to know that just because it says Walt Disney on it doesn't necessarily mean it was licensed by the company. This item however felt right to me at the time, and I comfortably paid $35 to take it home.

        When I bring a new item home, I refer to my books and price guides on Disneyana collectibles to get an idea of its worth and production year. Purchasing vintage Disney items can always be a gamble when it comes to value, but for the most part I usually come out on top. As I did research for this Bambi item I was surprised to see that this particular piece was considered to be a knock-off. Even though it was labeled "Walt Disney's Bambi" at the base, my thoughts have led me to believe that if it was authentic, it should have had the "Walt Disney Productions" label somewhere on the mold. Though it may not have been the news I wanted to hear, the piece was produced in the 1940s (right around the time of the movie's release) and is worth anywhere from $35-$50. In the end (and after a good cleaning) it's truly an unusual and beautiful piece, and its historical background makes it all the more interesting to me.

        1930s Bisque Fifer PigOften times collectors will not purchase damaged or flawed Disney items, and I can't say I blame them, however I must admit that I do depending on their age and historical significance. The second item I purchased for instance was a bisque figure of Fifer Pig from the classic Silly Symphony cartoon - which happened to contain a significant flaw. The body of the figure appeared to be in great condition considering its estimated age of 75 years, but a crack around the perimeter of its neck soon revealed that he had been "decapitated" and glued back together at one time. This figure was originally part of a figure set released by the George Borgfeldt Corp. in the mid-1930s; an early distributor of Disney merchandise before the great Kay Kamen signed on. The complete set in its original box is worth approximately $150-$450 according to the Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles. I gladly paid $15 for this little piece, and was happy to rescue him from being potentially lost forever - a fate that has happened far too often.

Disney Treasures: From Figaro to Corn Flakes

        For some time now, I've been wanting to create a series of posts that are dedicated to Disney collectibles that cross my path and/or enter my possession. This article serves as the introduction to this series, and will be followed up by many more as the weeks go on.

        Coincidentally, last week I received an email from a reader named Jane, who was inquiring about the history and value of a Figaro figurine she has had since she was very young. So, what makes Jane's inquiry a coincidence you ask? After I discovered for her the exact model, year, and approximate value of her figurine, almost a week later today, several vintage Figaro collectibles fell under my radar - a very rare occurrence based on my experience.

        It's no secret to those who know me why Figaro is a personal favorite. Pinocchio is not only my top Disney film, but my wife and I also own a black and white cat who share many of the mischievous kitten's traits. This combination has made the hunt for vintage Figaro pieces all the more endearing... but back to my story. While I was out on a "treasure hunt" today at a local flea market, I came across a matching pair of Figaro salt and pepper shakers, each blue in color. These two pieces were made by the National Porcelain Company in Pinocchio's release year of 1940. The dealer had no clue it was Figaro, but one look at the molds undeniably revealed the kitten's figure. A situation like this isn't exactly uncommon. Many times a vendor will have vintage or rare Disney collectibles on sale, and never even realize that they are Disney. After a very nice discussion with the vendor, I acquired the pair for $5.00, and then moved on.

        Low and behold, not even five feet away, was another Figaro discovery; one of a more interesting nature. This Figaro caught my eye because of the similarity is has to the Figaro figurines made by Brayton Laguna Pottery in the late 1930's and early 1940's. The height and width is not only similar, but so is the way it was hand-painted and molded. The interesting part - a small planter-like attachment was cast as a part of the mold. It may not be a revelation to some, but for me I have never seen this piece before. At the base, I initially checked if it was stamped "Geppetto Pottery" (which would have meant it was made by Brayton Laguna Pottery), but this was not the case. Instead it read: MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN. There are no Disney markings on the piece from what I can see, but if it's not a Figaro piece, I'll eat my hat. I comfortably paid $15.00 for this collectible, and feel pretty sure about my judgement. If anyone knows anything about this Figaro however, I'd love to hear from you!

        The final piece of the day was actually the reason why I paid this flea market a visit in the first place. It has not only been sitting in a display case for many months now, but it has also be gnawing on my mind since my last visit. It was no surprise to me that this item was still there - considering this particular vendor's very high prices. There before me was a Donald Duck plastic ring from a 1949 Kellogg's Corn Flakes premium offer. According to my Hake's Disney Price Guide, this ring originally came with a Kellogg's Corn Flakes magnet and a four paged instruction sheet. This piece was known as a "Living Toy" Ring, and is considered to be very collectible today. I paid $23.00 for the ring, but if it had included the original magnet as well, I'm sure the vendor would have asked for much more.

Until next time... Happy Hunting!

A Touch of Halloween

        As the leaves begin to change here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, my love for this time of the year starts anew. Our home is once again decorated with the warm colors of fall, and seasoned with a bit of Halloween mischief. During the day, my wife's season decor appears vibrant in color and almost warm to the touch. A walk into our home could easily lead one to assume that a pumpkin pie must surely be baking from somewhere in the kitchen. At night, the little faces of wood carved ghosts and the smiles of friendly pumpkins are accented by the orange glow of a nearby light, and I can't help but smile myself as I take it all in.

        I, too, have my fair share of Halloween displays - most of course brought to life by the many characters that make up my growing Disney collection. Halloween has always brought fond memories for me, thanks largely to the many spooky stories and films introduced to me as a child by my parents. I'll never forget the night when my mother and I watched Disney's "Halloween Hall O' Fame" hosted by the fanatical, Jonathan Winters. As I recall, Winters was cast as a Disney Studio security guard, working the graveyard shift within a building on the studio lot. He comes across many interesting treasures, one mainly being a talking pumpkin that introduces the classic 1949 Disney short film, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. My introduction to this cartoon not only entranced me as a child, but it has become an annual staple of the Randle household this time of the year. In fact, I never pass up the chance to share this classic cartoon with each of my third grade classes - hoping that they, too, will keep the story alive someday.

        My exploration of Disney history has taken on many forms, one of them coincidentally being the collection of information and memorabilia linked to the Sleepy Hollow segment of Disney's 1949 classic, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Sadly, very little has been written about this Disney cartoon, but once in a while, a book will share some of its wonderful preliminary work painted by the prolific, Mary Blair. Her contributions to Sleepy Hollow are present throughout the entire film. Blair's inspirational paintings not only capture the sleepiness of the town, but the terror that awaits the arrival of a melancholy school master deep within the woods. In fact, Sleepy Hollow is one of the few Disney films to utilize Blair's unique style in its background paintings. Criticisms aside, I feel Blair's background style definitely compliments the animated characters of Sleepy Hollow, and adds a sort of uniqueness and richness that couldn't be achieved in the hands of others. I applaud her artistic interpretation of this classic tale - it's one of the main reasons why I view the cartoon annually.

        Just when I thought that the Disney version was the only great rendition of Irving's haunted tale, I made another discovery. At this time of the season three years ago, my wife and I were spending the day in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania - admiring its quiet, village-like atmosphere and perusing the many shops that line its back streets. It was in one of those hidden, little shops where I made my discovery - her name, was Christine Altmann.

        There before me was a beautifully painted picture by Altmann, depicting Ichabod Crane's flight from the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. It captured not only the true terror and intensity of the moment, but the eerie beauty of the forest that surrounded it. From the glowing full moon upon a midnight sky, to the orange leaves that bear witness to Ichabod's escape - everything about this painting lured me in, a piece at a time. It's artistic style in fact reminded of Mary Blair's preliminary work at first glance, yet the approach of each artist is very different. Nevertheless, I knew this piece had to be mine, and since then it has become my most prized piece for this time of the year. This would not be the last time that Altmann's work would cross my path.

        Nearly two weeks ago, my wife and I took a day off to once again enjoy the annual fall craft show held at the Knoebel's park area in north-central Pennsylvania. Among all of the craft vendors and booths that were there, my eye happened  to catch one in particular - one that sent back the wave of a very fond memory. The work was undeniably hers, and at the sight of seeing her name signed in the lower-left corner, I knew I had to take another piece home. To my great surprise, I soon discovered that the local artist was there, sharing her work with all who attended. It was a pleasure speaking with Christine about Sleepy Hollow and our mutual fondness for this time of the year (and black cats). Her love for painting and Halloween is genuine, and brings so much more meaning to her work. Not only did I buy another piece of hers, but she graciously allowed me to take a picture with her to add to memories that her work has brought me. It has been a delight experiencing this connection come full circle.

        On the tag of my newly acquired piece, "Burning Leaves", Altmann elaborates on her love for painting:

I am for the most part self-taught. After many years working in the retail industry, I decided I needed to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an artist. In 2006, my first client was my oldest daughter who asked me to paint coordinating wooden dresser knobs to match my little granddaughter's bedding. I have not stopped painting since. It is a joy to wake up each morning and know I will spend the day doing what I love. It was a natural choice for me to paint Halloween and autumnal themed art. Even as a child the fall season was my favorite time of the year and next to Christmas Halloween was my favorite day. I draw inspiration from the beauty of autumn, favorite stories, imagination and of course a love of Halloween.

        With Christine's imagination and skill with a brush, it makes me wonder how her art could inspire the field of animation? To look at her work is to watch a story unfold right before your eyes. Christine is living proof that a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

        Happy Halloween, indeed!

English Made Disney

        Knee-deep in projects brought on by World War II, Walt Disney's forced departure from his Golden Age of Animation endlessly provokes enthusiasts to ponder - "what if?" I won't deny my own inquisitive notions and sighs of disappointment when thinking of this question, however my strong interest in the Studio's work during the War motivates me to carry on. In an attempt to discover some of Disney's extremely obscure projects during this time period, I came across several intriguing articles published between 1942 and 1945.

 

        To begin, the following excerpt is the introduction to an article entitled Education: Short Cut to Literacy - published in the June 15, 1942 edition of TIME:

 

First speaker: "What is Basic English? What is it for? I haven't got it clear."

 

Second speaker: "It's only the part of the English language which does the most work."

 

First speaker: "But what about us? We have thousands of other words. Isn't it very hard for us to keep to it?"

 

Second speaker: "We are talking Basic right now. All this we've been saying is in Basic English."

 

First speaker: "Well, blow me down!"

 

Ivor Armstrong Richards looking over
storyboards for one of his "Basic
English" education shorts produced
by Disney (circa 1942).

        Curious yet? Believe it or not, the first speaker was Walt Disney himself. The Second was a man I never
knew existed until stumbling across this article. His name was Ivor Armstrong Richards, and as described by TIME, he was "British co-developer and chief propagator of Basic English." Based on Richards' theory of study, Basic English of the time broke the language down into 850 words. My mission here is not to explain the origins of Basic English, but to instead share how this philosophy nurtured by Richards crossed paths with Walt Disney.

         It's no secret that during the war, Disney was producing many training films for the military. The Walt Disney Treasures DVD edition entitled Walt Disney: On the Front Lines, presents information about these lost treasures, however I do not recall viewing or even reading about a series of training films made by the Studio designed to teach the English language. Walt met with I.A. Richards in mid-1942 to start the ball rolling on preliminary plans for training films of this caliber. In fact, Richards' journey to Hollywood was made possible under a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation - a supporter of Basic English at the time.

        Who exactly were these training films originally targeted for? According to an article from The Evening Independent (out of St. Petersburg, Florida) published on May 15, 1942: "If the war department likes the idea, draftees found to be too illiterate to understand military instructions may be taught English with the shorts." The shorts that this article refers to were to initially amount to three films - each lasting between 10 - 15 minutes. The first experimental film of the series was apparently entitled 46 Words, Seven Verbs - instructing army-age illiterates of the time the beginnings of Basic English.

 

        From an educator's standpoint, I not only find the meeting of these two men very interesting, but I would love to see any of the training films that they may have produced. Under the assumption that the animation would have been very limited, try to imagine a storyboard that had to be created in order to get Richards' lessons across. The Independent article makes reference to cartoon drawings designed for these shorts by underrated Disney Artist, Dick Kelsey, and describes one specifically in the following:

 

Then there are such sequences as this: A sketch of money and the word "money;" a woman and a man holding money; and the words "this is my money;" the man holding the currency toward a woman and the words: "I will give my money to you," and the finale "I gave my money to you."

 

In progressive scenes, all in black and grey and white, new words or verb tenses are emphasized to introduce them.

 

        In conclusion, it's very possible that these shorts were produced - obviously not for the viewing pleasure of the American public. In a TIME article dated December 31, 1945, it makes reference to the fact that Richards and Disney indeed made "Basic [English] educational shorts for the Army." It's interesting to note that Richards' impact with Basic English made a significant mark on Latin America, and I can't help but wonder if Disney's involvement with the Good Neighbor Program with South America (heavily connected with Nelson Rockefeller) was what brought these two together. Either way, it's always a treat to learn something new about Walt Disney's versatile career.