Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Monday, February 25, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
Dave Smith, 1940 - 2019
Dave Smith, the pre-eminent Disney historian and archivist has passed away.
Mr. Smith joined The Walt Disney Company purely by accident. He was working on a college project and asked for permission to view the company archives. He received a call from a puzzled Disney executive who wondered why he’d want to look through a bunch of old papers. Dave would later discover that the puzzled executive was none other than Roy Disney. Dave was shocked at how seemingly priceless articles were being kept in random boxes and in basements around the studio.
After completing his project, he made a presentation to Roy about how the company could profit from a more organized and formal archive. Roy Disney hired him on the spot and Dave began collecting and categorizing the company’s treasures. The resources within the archives have proven to be a treasure for the company, providing assistance in making new pictures like Mary Poppins Returns, designing merchandise and restoring films.
Dave wrote many books about Disney and was just as excited about the company as its fans. His passion for all things Disney saved many priceless items from being thrown out and a wealth of treasures. I had the pleasure of meeting him at several Disney events and chatting with him online in the early days of the internet. He was always friendly and willing to share his vast knowledge with Disney’s biggest fans. It is doubtful that this website and many others like it would exist without his hard work and dedication. Thank you for preserving Disney history, Mr. Smith and enjoy your eternal rest.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Ron Miller: 1933 - 2019
We’ve featured Ron Miller in many articles here at the site! Here are just a few of them:
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Ron Miller, 1933 - 2019
Ron Miller, son-in-Law to Walt Disney and Walt Disney Productions CEO from 1978 - 1984 has passed away at age 85.
During Mr. Miller’s tenure, Walt Disney Productions diversified into more adult films by starting up Touchstone Pictures and opened up “New Fantasyland,” which finally brought Walt Disney’s original vision for DISNEYLAND’s Fantasyland to life. He was also responsible for creating a relationship with George Lucas, which eventually resulted in the construction of Star Tours. While Mr. Miller’s tenure was portrayed as being less than stellar, he had inherited most of the problems the company was saddled with at the time and had actually started many of the changes his replacement would later get credit for.
After his tenure at the company ended, Mr. Miller moved to Napa where he and his wife ran the Silverado Winery. They later founded The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Disney Miller, who passed away in 2013. Mr. Miller’s influence is still felt throughout the company; the blockbuster opening of Star Wars Land this summer has its roots in the relationship started by Mr. Miller in the early 1980’s.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Monday, February 4, 2019
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Friday, February 1, 2019
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