Bloodhound Pluto

Q: My husband and I have always wanted to know what kind of dog Pluto is. My husband says he is a poodle but I say some kind of retriever. We recently visited Walt Disney World in Florida and asked the person who works with the characters at Chef Mickey in the Contemporary Resort and he didn't know. We asked several cast members around the Magic Kingdom and they didn't know either. Can you help?
Michelle, Hialeah, Florida

A [Dave Smith]: Pluto was never meant to be any particular breed, or in other words, he is a lovable mutt. (In one of his first appearances, he was a bloodhound.)

[Marcio Disney]

Pluto (formerly known as Pluto the Pup) is an animated cartoon character made famous in a series of Disney short cartoons. He has most frequently appeared as Mickey Mouse's pet dog. He also had an independent starring role in 48 Disney shorts in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Pluto is unusual for a Disney character in that he is not anthropomorphized beyond showing an unusually broad range of facial expressions or use of his front paws at key points; he is actually represented as a normal dog (unlike Goofy who is an anthropomorphic dog).

 

N a m i n g

The pup first appeared in Walt Disney's short The Chain Gang, released in the USA on August 18, 1930. However, the dog had no name. In the next appearance on October 23, 1930, in The Picnic[the dog is named not Pluto, but Rover. It was in The Moose Hunt, released on May 8, 1931, that the dog is called Pluto the Pup, the studio's original name. A September 1931 model sheet for the character with that name is illustrated in Barrier's Hollywood Cartoons.

Several months had passed between the naming of what was believed to have been the ninth planet, Pluto, on March 24, 1930, and the attachment of that name to the dog character. Venetia Burney (later Venetia Phair), who as an eleven-year-old schoolgirl had suggested the name Pluto for the planet, remarked in 2006: “The name had nothing to do with the Disney cartoon. Mickey Mouse's dog was named after the planet, not the other way around.”

Although it has been claimed that the Disney studio named the dog after the planet (rather than after the mythical god of the underworld), this has not been verified. Disney animator Ben Sharpsteen has said: "We thought the name [Rover] was too common, so we had to look for something else. [...] We changed it to Pluto the Pup, [...] but I don't honestly remember why."

Welcome to Pooh Corner

Q: When I was younger, I remember watching a Winnie the Pooh show. It started with telling the story of the Hundred Acre Wood and an old book opening up. It wasn't a cartoon, the characters were in costume. What was the name of this show, and when did it go off the air?
Ana, Oceanside, California

A [Dave Smith]: You are probably thinking of Welcome to Pooh Corner, with performers in costumes and masks of the Pooh characters performing in storybook settings. The process was called "advanced puppetronics." The show debuted on Disney Channel on April 18, 1983.

[Marcio Disney]

Walt and Roy are Disney Legends?

Q: I've always wanted to know why Walt Disney and his brother Roy have not yet been inducted to be part of the "Disney Legends" awards. Is there a good specific reason as to why this may be?
Joe, Livonia, Michigan

A [Dave Smith]: Good question, and I'm not sure what the answer would be. I guess that Walt and Roy Disney essentially were the company during their lives, and it didn't seem necessary to give them the Disney Legend award (which bore their name). They have already been sufficiently honored.

The Secret of Boyne Castle

Q: There was a Disney movie in the late '70s that was about a spy from America who was visiting a friend in England and their adventures. I would love to find out the title and see it again. Can you help?

Troy, Apple Valley, California

A [Dave Smith]: You may be remembering The Secret of Boyne Castle, a three-part television show from 1969 starring Glenn Corbett and Kurt Russell. The plot concerns an American agent trying to meet a defecting scientist in Ireland, with the Russians trying to prevent that meeting. It was repeated in 1978 under the title The Spybusters. The film is not currently available.

[Marcio Disney]

This three part Disneyland movie from 1969 runs somewhere in the neighborhood of 140 minutes! That’s something like 20 minutes longer than Citizen Kane! For a movie starring Kurt Russell as an American exchange student running around Ireland trying to avoid getting caught by Commie secret agents!


The 140 minutes includes the opening and ending credits for each individual episode as well as a “last week on Secret of Boyne Castle” recap that played before parts 2 and 3, but even if you cut out those 15 minutes or so, you’re still left with a movie that’s easily a half hour too long.

Click Here to read a great article about this movie at monsterhunter.com

This is a scene from Walt Disney's 3-part, made-for-TV feature, "The Secret of Boyne Castle". Originally shown on Disney's "Wonderful World of Color", then re-edited into a feature film for European theatrical release under the title, "Guns In The Heather". Filmed in Ireland in all of its rugged beauty with gothic castles, quaint villages and lively pubs.

Tick-Tock, the Crocodile from Peter Pan

Q: In the movie Peter Pan, what's the name of the alligator that wants to eat Captain Hook's hand? I've heard him referred to as Tick-Tock, but I am not sure if that is his name.
Julie, Anaheim, California

A [Dave Smith]: The Crocodile is unnamed in the Peter Pan film, but in later comic book stories he was called Tick-Tock.

[Marcio Disney]

Tick-Tock Croc is a comic book character that first appeared with this name in Four Color #442

#442 - Walt Disney's Peter Pan is a comic book published by Dell & released on 12//1952

Peter Pan

Tick-Tock the Crocodile first appears at the beginning of the film. Captain Hook laments Peter Pan's role in causing the crocodile to follow him. Tick Tock, then appears in the sea next to the ship, sending Hook into a panic. However, Smee shoos off the crocodile. Later, when Captain Hook kidnaps the Indian princess, Tiger Lily, in an attempt to learn Peter Pan's hiding place, Hook is forced to hang from a cliff while fighting Peter Pan. The crocodile approaches, seeing a golden opportunity to eat the Captain. Peter recognizes Tick Tock and almost decides to kick Hook off the cliff but decides against it when Wendy yells at him not to. Hook eventually slips, but is apparently able to escape the crocodile. And of course, Tick-Tock has a part in the climatic battle against Captain Hook. As the Captain falls in the water, Tick Tock begins another pursuit of Hook. He ends up chasing Captain Hook away from Never Land.

Goliath II

The crocodile appeared in the Disney animated short Goliath II. The short was created in order to test the new xerox animation process in order to spend less money on making animated films.

Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers

Tick Tock made a guest appearance as a villain in the Rescue Rangers episode "Kiwi's Big Adventure".

Mickey Mousecapade

The Crocodile made an appearance as the second boss of the Nintendo game Mickey Mousecapade, but only in the American release. In the original Japanese version, the Dodo from Alice in Wonderland is the second boss.

Return to Neverland

It is unknown why he did not show up in the 2002 sequel, Return To Never Land but he was replaced by a giant octopus that made a blip-bloop sound in the waters. But he was mentioned in it by Captain Hook and Smee as well as his silhouette is seen in the clouds, with the clock in his stomach, in the opening of the movie, with a snippet of "Never Smile at a Crocodile".

Aladdin (TV series)

Tick-Tock appeared in cameo of the episode "Vocal Hero" with the other look-like crocodiles.

House of Mouse

Tick Tock Croc appears in the series House of Mouse. He was even one of the villains that appeared in Mickey's House of Villains.

Jungle Cubs

The Crocodile appeared in cameo of Jungle Cubs. He appeared at the end of the episode The Humans Must Be Crazy he also swallowed a clock, after Young Bagheera throw the watch in the water.

Stitch!

The crocodile appeared in the Stitch! anime.

Kingdom Hearts Series

The Crocodile is a character from the Neverland world, and one of Captain Hook's enemies in Kingdom Hearts. He acquired a taste for the pirate captain when Peter Pan chopped off the captain's hand and fed it to him. He now follows Hook around everywhere, hoping to get a second taste of the captain. The crocodile isn't truly a villain, since he primarily hunts Captain Hook, but he will also attack Sora and Ventus, making him a neutral character.

The crocodile also swallowed a ticking alarm clock, that now, unfortunately for the crocodile, warns Captain Hook if he is approaching. This has become something of a trademark for the crocodile, foreshadowing its arrival in a way that terrifies the captain, much to his humiliation.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

The Crocodile plays a small role in Terra's story when he shows up in the Skull Cave and scares Captain Hook away. He also appears during Ventus' story shortly before his fight with Captain Hook. During Ven's fight, the Crocodile swims around in the water attacking Ven if he gets too close and scaring Captain Hook back onto the rock if he goes in the water. After defeat Captain Hook, he tossed to the water by Ven, the Crocodile chasing Hook away. Then Crocodile later appears once again in Aqua's to frighten Hook away for a third time.

Kingdom Hearts

The Crocodile plays a small role at the end of the storyline in the Neverland world though he is mentioned before then. After Sora and Peter Pan defeat Captain Hook, the Captain falls into the water only to be chased away by the Crocodile. This is almost identical to his fate in the movie.

Disney Parks

Fantasmic!

The crocodile along with many other beloved Disney characters has played a role in Disney's Fantasmic at Disneyland Resort. In Disneyland he appears during the Peter and Hook sword duel chasing after the the ship. In Walt Disney World Fantasmic at Disney's Hollywood Studios the Peter and Hook duel is replaced with a Pocahontas scene. The tick tock crocodile is bigger then a grown man and is long as a bus.

Disney Park Parades

Tick Tock Croc appeared in the Disney parks on special occasions and on regular days sometimes. In the parade the croc walks around and looks at the crowd while the clock ticks in his belly. In the parade it is true what people say Tick Tock is larger than a grown man.

Peter Pan's Flight

Tick-Tock the Crocodile appeared in Peter Pan's Flight in the Disney Parks to eat Captain Hook.

Dream Along With Mickey

In the show Tick Tock's iconic alarm clock was used to make Captain Hook to Peter Pan during a duel. In the show while the clock is being tossed by characters the song Never Smile at a Crocodile is herd.

Disney On Ice

The Crocodile appeared in Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey in Disney on Ice with Peter Pan story.

Where's the Original Plans to Epcot

Q: Why is the Epcot of today so different from the original plans given by Walt in the Disneyland show? Also, what ever happened to those original plans that hung on the wall in the background?
Joe, Springfield, Missouri

A [Dave Smith]: Walt Disney's 1966 film giving his ideas for EPCOT were shown on local television stations in Florida, but not on his regular television show. Since Walt did not have time to refine his ideas before his untimely passing, plans had to be changed in ensuing years to make the project viable. The original plans for EPCOT are filed at Walt Disney Imagineering.

[Steven Miller, Project Manager, Disney Trading]

The Florida Project – September 9-11, 2011

---

I wish I could have attended the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 (some of you reading this probably did – lucky!). One of my all time favorite Disney films from that time period is called “The Magic of Walt Disney World.” It was released in 1972, but I recall seeing it on the Disney Channel in the 1980s. What a classic slice of Disney – the lush sounds of Buddy Baker; the images of polyester and people eating food; groovy music in Tomorrowland and just pure 1970s Disney fun. A different time and a different place. It is in that same vein that I’m pleased to announce “The Florida Project: a Disney Trading and Collecting Experience” coming to World ShowPlace at Epcot on September 9-11, 2011. The image above is a rough concept poster designed by Chris Chapman from Disney Design Group. He is the lead designer for this event and spoke about the origin of this event.

“With the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2011, we wanted to focus on the feeling of nostalgia that people have when thinking about those early years,” said Chris. “The story for this event involves an alternate Preview Center that we uncovered. It was never used because the official Preview Center opened on Buena Vista Drive. The experience will be as if you stepped back in time as we will pay tribute to as much as possible from that era.”

When we had our initial idea session, I brought several of my vintage Disney items to share (it’s one of the things I collect – Disney merchandise from 1970 to 1984). We looked at vintage postcards, at images in souvenir books and even at my Polynesian Village glass vase (behold those 1970s colors). We all agreed that we wanted the merchandise created for this event to have a similar vibe.

“We plan to create a retro look with the character designs” explained Alex Maher, senior character artist with Disney Design Group. “The character designs in the early 1970s were unique. We want to incorporate a similar look with the merchandise we are designing.”

As mentioned, this event will be a Disney Trading and Collecting Experience. This means you will find a variety of items from pins to Vinylmation to potentially some additional categories. And there will be trading (of course). I consider this event an evolution of our Disney Merchandise Events. We still have plenty of details to finalize, and feedback to consider from our previous events. I will share additional information in the coming months on the Disney Parks Blog, so stay tuned.

I leave you with one final question: Did you visit Walt Disney World in the 1970s? What was it like (as sadly my time machine is still not functioning)? I’d love to hear your stories.

Everyday, Disney fans send dozens of questions for Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith. Here are Dave's answers to your questions. Check back every day for a new post with a new question.

Dave Smith (born October 13, 1940) was the Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist which is located in the Frank G. Wells Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He joined the company June 22, 1970. Forty years later, on July 2010, he retired.


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ºoº Marcio Disney Family Sites Network ºoº

The Rainbow Road To Oz

Q: I recently saw an old Disneyland television program on DVD in which the Mouseketeers surprise Walt Disney with a presentation of a musical extravaganza called The Rainbow Road To Oz. On the show it is revealed that the Studio purchased all the rights to all of the other Frank Baum Oz stories and in the DVD Walt promises the kids that he's going to make a wide-screen Technicolor production of The Rainbow Road To Oz. Whatever happened to that promised-to-the-Mouseketeers project. There must be a great story there.
Michael, Burbank, California

A [Dave Smith]: I wish there was a happy ending to that story, as I loved the Oz books as a kid, not to mention the MGM film, but unfortunately The Rainbow Road to Oz was never made as Walt Disney never was able to get a script that satisfied him. We have only the two musical sequences that appeared in that 1957 television show. Our only Oz film was Return to Oz, many years later, and it was not a musical and had nothing to do with the earlier concept.

[Marcio Disney]

Click Here to read The Rainbow Road to Oz - The Oz Film Walt Disney almost Made at suite101.com

Everyday, Disney fans send dozens of questions for Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith. Here are Dave's answers to your questions. Check back every day for a new post with a new question.

Dave Smith (born October 13, 1940) was the Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist which is located in the Frank G. Wells Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He joined the company June 22, 1970. Forty years later, on July 2010, he retired.


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ºoº Marcio Disney Family Sites Network ºoº

Display for Disney's Return to Oz Characters

Q: I'm a huge fan of Disney's Return to Oz film. I saw the Tik Tok and Tin Man characters from the feature film in a 102 Dalmatians behind-the-scenes attraction at MGM studios in Walt Disney World. As both a fan of the movie and a memorabilia collector, are these characters still being preserved by your studios? Will these characters be making an appearance any time in the future?
Scott, Chicago, Illionois

A [Dave Smith]: Yes, we are very proud to have a very comprehensive representation of artifacts from Return to Oz, including Dorothy's costume, complete with her ruby slippers, and her lunch pails. We also have the Tin Woodsman, Jack Pumpkinhead and even the Gnome King's ruby slippers. Tik Tok was on display for many years at Disney's Hollywood Studios; Disney archivist Rob Klein is currently restoring him as there are plans to use him in an upcoming Archives exhibit.

Everyday, Disney fans send dozens of questions for Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith. Here are Dave's answers to your questions. Check back every day for a new post with a new question.

Dave Smith (born October 13, 1940) was the Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist which is located in the Frank G. Wells Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He joined the company June 22, 1970. Forty years later, on July 2010, he retired.

ºoº

ºoº Marcio Disney Family Sites Network ºoº

Disney's Dream Makers

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisney/

Disney Picture of the Day

http://marciodisneypictures.blogspot.com/

Vinylmation of the Day

http://vinylmationoftheday.blogspot.com/

Disney Fun Fact of the Day

http://tinyurl.com/MDFunFact

Today's Past in Disney History

http://tinyurl.com/PastDisney

Disney Tales [5 Weekly tales]

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisney/disney-tales

The Disney History

http://thehistoryofdisney.blogspot.com/

Marcio Disney Blog

http://marciodisney.blogspot.com/

Disney Pin of the Day

http://pinoftheday.blogspot.com/

Marcio Disney Digital Media

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisneydigitalmedia/

Alice in Wonderland - The Second Star to the Right

Q: I have heard rumors about lyrics to "The Second Star to the Right" that were not used. I also heard they had something to do with Alice in Wonderland. Could you tell me about them?
Gabrielle, Houston, Texas

A [Dave Smith]: Composer Sammy Fain, with lyricist Bob Hilliard, wrote some of the songs for Alice in Wonderland, including one called "Beyond the Laughing Sky." It was not used in Alice, but since Sammy Fain was also the primary composer on Peter Pan, and presumably everyone liked the melody he had written earlier, new lyrics were written by Sammy Cahn and it became "The Second Star to the Right."

[Marcio Disney]

Here's a new version for the song! Just Push Play - It's Free :-D

Lyrics

The Second Star To The Right
(Thanks to 50bop for the correct lyric!)
The second star to the right shines in the night for you
To tell you that the dreams you plan
Really can come true
The second star to the right
Shines with a light so rare
And if it's neverland you need
Its light will lead you there
Twinkle Twinkle little star so we'll know where you are
Gleaming in the skies above lead us to the land we dream of
And when our journey is through each time we say goodnight
we'll thank the little star that shines
the second from the right

Why does the whispering wind
Sound like a lullaby?
Is that the magic music
From beyond the laughing sky?
Why can't the swallows remain
Where is the place they fly?
Why can't I go along with them
Beyond the laughing sky?
If I climbed the highest tree
Where, oh, where would I be?
Would I find a place for me
In the land Of grand enchantmen?
Where do the clouds disappear
When they go rolling by?
I'm wondering about the world
Beyond the laughing sky

The Roll-A-Book Dumbo

Q: My daughter's favorite character has always been Dumbo. How did the movie of the same name come to be made, and on what was it based?
Duane, Golden, Colorado

A [Dave Smith]: Dumbo was based on a story by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl that was first published in a scroll-like item called a Roll-A-Book. None of these Dumbo Roll-A-Books have ever surfaced. After the intense work on the major productions of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Fantasia, Walt Disney and his artists were looking for a simple little story which they could turn into the next animated feature. Dumbo fit the bill.

[Marcio Disney]

"Dumbo the Flying Elephant is like Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is so iconic that when you see it, you know you’re looking at some place inside Disneyland park. It’s one of our classics, dating back 55 years ago. In fact, it debuted almost exactly a month after opening day on August 16, 1955. The 16 happy, grey elephants — inspired by Walt Disney’s 1941 animated film — are “piloted” by guests. These baby pachyderms can fly as high as 17 feet! Did you know that the Dumbo attraction is also at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (1971), Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Disneyland Paris (1992) and Hong Kong Disneyland  (2005)? Here’s another fun fact: When President Harry S Truman (a staunch Democrat) visited the park in 1957, he playfully refused to ride Dumbo because of the Republican symbolism associated with the elephant-themed attraction. Enjoy this historical footage of our famous flying elephants."

by Valarie Sukovaty, Disneyland Public Relations

ESSAYS

The Mysterious Dumbo Roll-A-Book

By Michael Barrier 

 

When I wrote in a January 14, 2010, post about the history of the black crows in Dumbo, I reached back as far as the 102-page treatment that Joe Grant and Dick Huemer submitted to Walt Disney in the early months of 1940, in installments. But Dumbo's history goes back further than that, as Huemer himself acknowledged in his interview with Joe Adamson, part of which I published in Funnyworld No. 17. Adamson asked, "Where's the story that Dumbo comes from?" and Huemer replied:

I never saw it, but they say it was on a little strip that was given away on a cereal box. Or maybe it was even printed on the outside, I don't know. But it had the basic elements of the story: the little elephant who had big ears, was made fun of, learned to fly, and was redeemed. All in just a few panels. Well, we took it from there, had a few story meetings, then Joe Grant and I wrote it up a chapter a time and submitted it to Walt. He used to come down and say, "That's coming along good,. We'll make it!"
Then we got sketch men and story men and went to work and put together what we call a Leica reel. A Leica reel was a way of presenting a storyboard with the individual pictures on a filmstrip that was run through a Leica projector. You'd flip over a picture and talk about it, then flip over the next. ...
This was how we often held a story meeting. Sometimes we had rough Leica reels in pencil, and later we would make a color reel.
Adamson: When you first got Dumbo, what form was it in?
Huemer: Somebody had started working on it and there were quite a few sketches that I remember, but no storyboards yet. Mostly talk, getting together with Walt, and taking notes, and studying them. Dumbo was put aside a while to concentrate on another picture, I suppose, then Joe Grant and I picked it up.

Please! Read the rest of this AMAZING article by visiting: http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Essays/DumboRollABook/DumboRollABook.html

Everyday, Disney fans send dozens of questions for Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith. Here are Dave's answers to your questions. Check back every day for a new post with a new question.

Dave Smith (born October 13, 1940) was the Walt Disney Archives founder and chief archivist which is located in the Frank G. Wells Building at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. He joined the company June 22, 1970. Forty years later, on July 2010, he retired.

ºoº

ºoº Marcio Disney Family Sites Network ºoº

Disney's Dream Makers

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisney/

Disney Picture of the Day

http://marciodisneypictures.blogspot.com/

Vinylmation of the Day

http://vinylmationoftheday.blogspot.com/

Disney Fun Fact of the Day

http://tinyurl.com/MDFunFact

Today's Past in Disney History

http://tinyurl.com/PastDisney

Disney Tales [5 Weekly tales]

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisney/disney-tales

The Disney History

http://thehistoryofdisney.blogspot.com/

Marcio Disney Blog

http://marciodisney.blogspot.com/

Disney Pin of the Day

http://pinoftheday.blogspot.com/

Marcio Disney Digital Media

http://sites.google.com/site/marciodisneydigitalmedia/

The Last Thing Walt Wrote

Q: Is it true that the last thing Walt Disney did before he died was write the words "Kurt Russell"?
Victor, Chicago, Illinois

A [Dave Smith]: Not exactly. On his desk was a notepad on which he had scrawled some notes about future films and television shows. One of the names that he wrote was "Kurt Russell." The notes are undated, but are certainly among the last things he wrote in his office. When Kurt was at the Studio filming Now You See Him, Now You Don't, I took him up to Walt's office to show him the notes.

Donald's Toothbrush Holder

Q: I have an early Donald Duck figurine. It is either a chalk holder or a pencil holder. It is approximately 2 3/4" wide and about 5" high. On the back it says c (which is in a circle) Walt E. Disny (note spelling) and on the bottom it says "Made in Japan." As I look at it, Donald is looking to the left, and his right hand is touching the brim of his hat (U.S. Navy) as if saluting. His bowtie is red, his hat and sleeves have a black ring around them. Do you have any information on this? Thank you!
Linda, Rochester, New York

A [Dave Smith]: That item is actually a toothbrush holder, made in Japan around 1935 and distributed in the U.S. by the George Borgfeldt Co. There were a number of similar toothbrush holders, also featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and the Three Little Pigs.

The 70s Electrical Water Pageant

Q: I remember seeing the Electrical Water Pageant at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World in the 1970s and I've heard that its development eventually led to the development of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Was the original music used for the show a version of "Baroque Hoedown," the song later (and still) used for the Main Street Electrical Parade?
Alan, Chicago, Illinois

A [Dave Smith]: "Baroque Hoedown" was indeed originally used by the Electrical Water Pageant in 1971, but in 1972 it was transferred to the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland. Over the almost four decades that the Pageant has been operating, the music it uses has changed many times.

[More Info by Marcio Disney]

This is a vacation video took on feb 23 - mar 1st, 1975.

The music played is a rare recording of the original Electrical Water Pageant (The Electrical Water Pageant is played at night during the light show on Seven Seas Lagoon Lake. It includes footage during the 4th year it was open (Opened 10/1/71), including the Main Street Parade, It's a Small World, and The Hall of Presidents.

The music as heard here was used only in the original 1972 parade at Disneyland and never played in the WDW version!

Donald Duck Orange Juice

Q: In December 1976 my family went to Walt Disney World and there was a place called the Donald Duck Juice Factory with the name on a water tower. In 2008 I returned there and noticed a water tower at Downtown Disney that looked just like the tower I remember. Is that where the juice factory used to be?
Robert, Baldwin, Wisconsin

A [Dave Smith]: Would you be thinking of Citrus World, Inc., headquartered in Lake Wales, Florida, not far from Walt Disney World? That is where Donald Duck orange juice is packaged. I do not remember a water tower, but I do remember a large billboard with Donald Duck on the roof of their building back in the 1970s.

[Marcio Disney]

Do you remember the commercial?

WORLD WAR II

"Sixty boxcars of fresh citrus fruit a day are being processed by Florida Citrus Canners Cooperative at Lake Wales. About 40 of those boxcars of fruit are converted into 8,000 gallons of orange concentrate destined exclusively for the United States armed forces and their allies. Total volume of concentrate was expected to reach 800,000 gallons. When reconstituted on the basis of 7 gallons of water to a gallon of concentrate, it will produce 6.4 million gallons of juice with vitamins added.

All will be shipped under the coop's Donald Duck brand. Concentrate production has been boosted by the need to reduce shipping space. Concentrate requires only about one-eighth of what fresh fruit requires. "]"Sixty boxcars of fresh citrus fruit a day are being processed by Florida Citrus Canners Cooperative at Lake Wales. About 40 of those boxcars of fruit are converted into 8,000 gallons of orange concentrate destined exclusively for the United States armed forces and their allies.

Total volume of concentrate was expected to reach 800,000 gallons. When reconstituted on the basis of 7 gallons of water to a gallon of concentrate, it will produce 6.4 million gallons of juice with vitamins added. All will be shipped under the coop's Donald Duck brand. Concentrate production has been boosted by the need to reduce shipping space. Concentrate requires only about one-eighth of what fresh fruit requires. "

"My Dad, Walt Disney" by Diane Disney Miller

Q: Walt Disney was the mystery guest on the November 11, 1956 episode of What's My Line? At the end of the show, he tell us that next week, The Saturday Evening Post will feature an article written by his daughter about Walt Disney. I would love to read this article and know more about it.

Marcio Disney, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A [Dave Smith]: Walt referred to the serialized version, "My Dad, Walt Disney," of Diane Disney Miller's biography of her father. It appeared in The Saturday Evening Post for 7 weeks, beginning on November 24, 1956. The book version was entitled The Story of Walt Disney.

[More from Marcio Disney]

Actually it started on November 17, 1956 and you can read the original First and Last [January 5, 1957] article in the PDF below:

My Dad, Walt Disney by Diane Disney Miller - Saturday Evening Post by Marcio Disney

And here you can see the "What's My Line" episode with Walt Disney as the Mystery Guest!

Donald's Big Imagination

Q: I had a wonderful Donald Duck comic in which he traveled through space and went to stars. He was largest on Betelgeuse (I think) and smallest on another star. Imagine my surprise when I found out that both of the stars he visited were REAL stars. Do you know what the comic issue was and is it anywhere I can read again?
Erica, Brooklyn, New York

A [Dave Smith]: That story is the lead story in Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, #199 (April, 1957). You might be able to find the comic in a used comic book store or on eBay (there are a number of copies available there as I am writing this).

[More Info by Marcio Disney]

This is the cover of the Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #199 and the story is a 10 pages story with 4 rows per page and it's called Donald's Big Imagination.

Character Appearances: Donald Duck, Gyro Gearloose, Gyro's Helper, Huey Dewey and Louie

After the cover below, you can read the complete story. Please, be patience while the PDF file automatic loads!

1957 Donald Big Imagination - Carl Barks by Marcio Disney