May, 2005

Did the webmaster of Aint-It-Cool-News actually provide J.J. Abrams with the inspiration for Jorge Garcia's character on "Lost"? Jim Hill attempts to put you in the Knowles ... er ... "know."...

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Jim Hill caught up on his light reading. He found Jack Janzen's fanzine to still be a delight, while some articles in LaughingPlace's spin-off magazine were sort of a snooze....

Jim Hill shares even more info from his Disney-that-never-was files by giving JHM readers a detailed look at this proposed Discovery Bay attraction. ...

Tired of watching the Muppet franchise drift ever closer to the rocks, Jim Hill talks with Ken Plume, journalist and longtime Muppet fan. Plume then offers up an intriguing plan as to what Disney can do to quickly get these characters back on track....

Though Disney's PR staff is trying to put a positive spin on how this TV movie did last Friday night, many Mouse House insiders are expressing disappointment with how poorly "Oz" performed in the ratings. ...

Jim Hill points to a patent application that the Walt Disney Company recently filed, which suggests that the Mouse be looking into ways to make their "Autopia / Speedway" attractions safer and more enjoyable to theme park guests....

Jim Hill takes a moment to honor animation industry vets Marie Johnston, Henry Corden, Howie Morris and Thurl Ravenscroft....

Jim Hill talks about how last Friday's TV movie totally missed the mark. Instead of being the comeback vehicle that Kermit & Co. so desperately needed, the "Muppets' Wizard of Oz" was actually a huge setback for this once-popular collection of characters....

Jim Hill fills you in on a new Disney Editions book that's due to hit store shelves in September. One that actually use Disney World & its theme parks as the primary setting for an action adventure tale....

In response to a JHM reader's question, Jim Hill unearths a 1970s era memo from WED which gives a detailed description of what this proposed Disneyland addition would have been like....

Jim Hill answers even more of your Disney-related questions. This time around, he talks about George Lucas' original idea for "Alien Encounter," the "Young Indiana Jones and the Adventure Spectacular" stunt show, offers up some interesting behind-the-scenes info on "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" and well as revealing what Andreas Deja was going to do with Yzma....

In honor of the six and final installment of the "Star Wars" series rolling in theaters today, Jim Hill digs out an old Disneyland press release and shares the story of how "Star Tours" actually came to be....

WDW visitors may soon be able to book a day's worth of FastPasses before they head out for the theme parks. The only catch is ... In order to do this, you'll have to stay on property in a Disney-owned hotel. Jim Hill explains the particulars....

The early word on this new TV movie isn't all that hot. But Jim Hill wonders: Would "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" have been that much better if Disney's attorneys hadn't insisted on its script being rewritten just days before the start of filming? Plus a story of how the "Oz" scene in Disney-MGM's "Great Movie Ride" also got loused up by lawyers....

Never mind about how the Walt Disney Company may possibly phase in a new version of its virtual queue over the next few years. A sharp-eyed JHM reader reveals how a test of this new "Pay for Play" system is already up for bid over on eBay....

How can one early morning event at Disneyland service two very different agendas? Jim Hill reveals how the Mouse recently honored a Disney Legend as well as pleased a major power player at Pixar....

Ever wonder who Disneyland's first paying customer was? Jim Hill introduces you to Dave MacPherson, the 22-year-old college student who got on line at 2 a.m. just so he could be the first person to buy a ticket to the Anaheim theme park....

At the risk of offending even more JHM readers, Jim Hill now answers your questions about the "Ward Kimball" steam engine & Disneyland's "Alice in Wonderland" dark ride, talks about which attractions were actually open at that theme park on July 17, 1955, reveals WDI's capacity concerns about "Expedition Everest" as well as looking back at the "Country Bear Jamboree" 's beginnings. ...

Jim Hill has a real problem with Warner Brothers' decision to retool "Loonatics" before this KidsWB show actually got on the air....

Jim Hill explains why the fast food giant is now looking for some flexibility, should it chose to renew its multi-year cross-promotional arrangement with the Mouse. ...

Looks like not everyone in the animation industry is feeling sorry for the subjects of Dan Lund and Tony West's "Dream on Silly Dreamer"...

Roy Disney & Stanley Gold file a lawsuit as part of their last ditch effort to return to power at the Walt Disney Company. Jim Hill explains how that this legal manuever might wind up costing Walt's nephew big time....

Disneyana fans dearly love to bash this soon-to-be-opening theme park. Insisting that it's too small & under-funded. But Jim Hill takes a hard look at what Disneyland originally had to offer back on July 17, 1955, then wonders: Are we all being somewhat hypocritical when it comes to HKDL? ...

Jim Hill looks back on the life of a true Disney pioneer, who passed away this past Friday afternoon with a charcoal pencil in his hand. ...

Mickey's headed for the Himalayas! Jim Hill reveals that -- as part of the promotion for next year's opening of DAK's "Expedition Everest" attraction -- the Walt Disney Company is planning on sending a team of scientists & explorers to Mount Everest so that they can then search for ... Well ... you-know-what....