Browse By Tags

Given that the Disney theme parks are now home to a plethora of peaks (i.e. The Matterhorn , Space Mountain , Big Thunder Mountain , Splash Mountain , Mt. Mayday , Summit Plummit , Grizzly Peak , Mt. Prometheus and Forbidden Mountain ), it may seem somewhat bizarre to hear that there was actually a time...

Are you familiar with the old adage that "Good things come to those who wait"? Well, Disneyana fans have been waiting a long time for " Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park ." And a lot of folks are now wondering why it's taking so long for this Disney Editions...

If you've been reading JHM for a while now, you already know that I'm a very big fan of Didier Ghez 's "Walt's People" books . So -- that said -- is it really all that big a surprise that I enjoyed reading " Volume 5 " of this ongoing series. Mind you, at 443 pages in length, this paperback is the heftiest...

What can you say about the "Imagineering Field Guide" series? It started out strong with the " Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World " guide back in 2005 and then got better last year with the " Epcot at Walt Disney World " guide. And now? " The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt...

" Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End " is many things. The highly anticipated conclusion to Disney's "Pirates" trilogy. One of the highest grossing films of the year (Earning over 3/4rs of a billion dollars worldwide in the past three weeks). Not to mention being a merchandising bonanza for the...

It's one thing for Disney Studio executives to decide to base a motion picture on the " Pirates of the Caribbean " theme park ride. It's quite another to take that bare-bones idea and then turn it something truly special. A series of films that people the world over could then enthusiastically embrace...

Karen M. writes in to ask a special favor: Dear Jim -- I just want to send you a quick e-mail to thank you for writing about Charlie Ridgway 's new book, " Spinning Disney's World ." On your recommendation , I picked up a copy and found that Mr. Ridgway's biography was just as you said it would be: Loaded...

Have you ever wanted to go backstage at a Disney theme park? Slip past that "Cast Members Only" sign and see how the magic is really made at the Magic Kingdom? Well, if so, then you should probably pick up a copy of Charlie Ridgway 's " Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent...

The PR flaks that belong to the Orlando Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America have undoubtedly heard some great yarns over the years. But later today -- 18 stories up in the oh-so-exclusive Citrus Club -- they're going to hear from the master. That's right, Charlie Ridgway -- the guy who...

Attention, all you armchair Imagineers out there! Do you want some practical information on how to design a Disney theme park? Then I suggest that you make plans now to be in Austin, TX next Wednesday. To be specific, you want to make your way to the Airport Hilton . Where the American Creativity Association...

First up, Kelly T. writes in to ask: Whatever became of Roger Colton ? I used to really enjoy his "Ruminations" column. But it's been months now since you last published anything from Roger. Is everything okay? Kelly T. Everything's fine. It's just that -- after almost four years of writing for JHM ...

Okay. How many of you remember that story that I told as part of last Friday's "Why For" column ? Where I detailed how -- back in the early 1990s -- Universal Studios swooped in & snagged the theme park rights to Jay Ward 's Rocky & Bullwinkle characters right out from under Mickey's nose? The...

It's Christmas-crunch time, kiddies. You know what I mean. That horrible moment that arrives every holiday season. When you're feeling all smug & self-satisfied because you think that you've completed your Xmas shopping. Only to suddenly sit bolt upright in your chair and say: "Oh, cr*p! I forgot...

It was 50 years ago tonight that the 1939 version of " The Wizard of Oz " was first shown on television. Copyright 2005 Warner Home Video The first-ever telecast of this Victor Fleming film was a rating smash. Over 44 million people tuned in to catch this broadcast (Which was hosted by the...

Let's cut to the chase, shall we? The Walt Disney biography that all of us dweebs have been waiting for (Some of us, for decades now) ... is finally here . While there may have been other fine books written about the founder of the Walt Disney Company (Bob Thomas' " Walt Disney: An American Original...

So what's the verdict on Bob Iger 's first year as the new head of the Walt Disney Company ? Judging by various press reports that I've read over the past two weeks, most people seem to think that Bob's done a pretty good job so far. Oh, sure. There are those (myself included) who think that the Walt...

I got this e-mail from Jessica L. yesterday: Jim, I'm confused. I picked up a copy of the Platinum Edition of " The Little Mermaid " at the store today. Copyright 2006 Disney Enterprises But when I put this disc in my DVD player, I not only saw an ad for "The Little Mermaid III" ... Copyright 2008 Disney...

Has it really been just eight months since " High School Musical " was first presented on the Disney Channel ? Copyright 2006 Disney Enterprises Back in January of this year, Disney Channel execs obviously had very high hopes for this Kenny Ortega film. Otherwise, why would they have spent all of that...

First George K. writes in to say: Jim I really enjoyed today's story about the Muppet Mobile Laboratory that's going into DCA next year. But in that listing of all the "Living Character Initiative" projects that have gone into the parks already, you left out the first (and my personal favorite) : Push...

First up, Roger A. writes in to ask: Jim, We just went to see Disney Live !, the new touring magic show this weekend, and were very impressed that Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Daisy all had mouths that moved in sync and their eyes blinked. Copyright 2006 Disney/Feld Entertainment Do you know if...