The Disney Family Foundation has embarked on a plan to build a museum to honor Walt Disney and his creative legacy on the grounds of the Presidio in San Francisco. The Museum complex will occupy a former military barracks and gymnasium on the grounds of what was the west coast's largest military base. Earlier this month I was invited to San Francisco by Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, to discuss my small role in this very exciting project. While there I spent time with Diane, her husband Ron and their son Walt.
Diane has asked me to join the Foundation team as a consultant on Walt Disney's involvement in World War II. Many exciting topics were discussed. I will be loaning items from my collection for display and I have been asked to be a guest lecturer on the topic. The Museum is scheduled to open in September 2009.
While there I was given an in-depth tour of the buildings under renovation that will eventually house the museum. The various people working on the project have spent a huge amount of time planning the different exhibits and I can report that no one will be disappointed. The Museum will cover all of Walt Disney's achievements and will explore every facet of his life from his birth to his death.
I also received a fantastic tour of the Foundation's current warehouse/museum facility and saw dozens upon dozens of extremely interesting items. The attached photo shows a case of Walt Disney's personal Academy Awards. The Oscar in the top left side is the one Walt Disney accepted at the 1943 ceremony for der Fuehrer's Face, which won the Academy Award for Best Cartoon Short Subject in 1942. Click on this link to see a series of previous posts that detail some interesting der Fuehrer's Face items.
Also seen in the photo in the bottom middle shelf (with the seven little Oscars on the stairs), is the special Oscar given to Walt Disney in recognition of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
For more information on the Foundation and its exciting plans, please visit The Walt Disney Family Museum website at this link.
5 comments:
Hi! I haven't visited for a while (there was a gap in updates), and tonight I decided to check it out. It's great to see lots of new posts! Believe me, as a fellow blogger, I know how hard it can be at times. I just did my 500th post, I can hardly believe it myself. Anyway, just wanted to say "hello" and tell you how much I am enjoying the new stuff.
Thanks for the comments...as you know, maintaining a blog is a huge investment in time. This time of year is a very busy time for me and my young family and "spare" time always seems to be in short supply.
I'm hoping to post some in-depth topics shortly - the so-called "Bonds For Babies" campaign, the Hearst insignia stamp books, and more insignia art from my collection.
I've also acquired quite a few neat Disney war-related Christmas items over the past year. I've been waiting for December 1st to roll around so I can start posting them.
In the new year I'd really like to start exploring Walt Disney's war related films, especially Victory Through Air Power, Education For Death and the tax films.
Thanks again for taking the time to write. I'll endeavor to post more often.
By the way, congrats on your 500th post. For those of you interested in early Disneyland history, please visit the Major's blog:
http://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com/
He posts great, early images of Disneyland (and other theme parks too).
Congratulations on being asked to participate in WDFMuseum project. What a great opportunity to lend your knowledge (and collection) to what will be a spectacular museum.
Karen and I visited the site back in May and we took photos: http://englepj.smugmug.com/gallery/4071794#237161760
What a great view the back of the museum will have overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.
Our NFFC Club here in WA looks forward to your visit and talk at the end of January.
Thanks Pat...I am very excited to be helping with the museum and feel very honored to have been asked. The museum will be a wonderful tribute to Walt Disney and his team of artists.
I also look forward to speaking with the Washington chapter of the NFFC about the Walt Disney Family Foundation's plans for the museum. Seeyou in January!
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