Walt Disney is an American hero--the creator of Mickey Mouse, and a man who changed the face of American culture. After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend--the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture but became the genius who produced unmatched works of animation. Complete with a rare collection of photographs, Bob Thomas' biography is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney.
The definitive portrait of one of the most important cultural figures in American history: Walt Disney. Walt Disney was a true visionary whose desire for escape, iron determination and obsessive perfectionism transformed animation from a novelty to an art form, first with Mickey Mouse and then with his feature films–most notably Snow White, Fantasia, and Bambi. In his superb biography, Neal Gabler shows us how, over the course of two decades, Disney revolutionized the entertainment industry. In a way that was unprecedented and later widely imitated, he built a synergistic empire that combined film, television, theme parks, music, book publishing, and merchandise. Walt Disney is a revelation of both the work and the man–of both the remarkable accomplishment and the hidden life. Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography USA Today Biography of the Year
Roy O Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire Roy and Walt Disney will go down in entertainment history as one of its all-time most successful teams. Everyone knows about Walt but what of Roy, the older brother whose stormy relationship with Walt helped build their business empire? This is a fully authorised look at the other Disney genius, featuring previously unpublished interviews, notes, letters, and photographs. It illuminates the Disney story as never before.
Friends, family, and celebrities remember the role Walt Disney played in their lives in this richlyl illustrated book, now available in paperback. Mention the name Walt Disney and one can't help but conjure up images of brilliant animation and magnificent theme parks. But a uniquely creative and charismatic man also sprints to mind -- a man who in his amazingly productive lifetime was many things to many people. Whether as a family member, friend, colleague, employer, or public figure, Walt was there for everyone. In Remembering Walt, Walt's contemporaries pay tribute to a visionary, a perfectionist, a storyteller, and a genius -- and the man they called boss, dad, husband, brother, artist, and friend.
This biography of the man behind the magic reconciles the private 'monster' with the artistic genius of popular culture by showing that the disturbing problems of his own life provided the rich, dark side of the animated movies.
This expansive, must-have coffee table book paints a robust portrait of the Walt Disney World Resort, across half a century, through diverse and vibrant voices and mostly unseen Disney theme park concept art and photographs. Walt Disney's vision for the Florida Project begins with Disneyland and the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. After an imaginative and expansive design, a unique land acquisition process, and an innovative construction period, the Walt Disney World Resort celebrated its Grand Opening in October 1971. It featured a theme park dubbed the Magic Kingdom and three recreational resorts: Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. As Walt Disney World consistently grew and further evolved through the five decades that followed, certain themes reverberated: an appreciation for nostalgia, a joy for fantasy, a hunger for discovery, and an unending hope for a better tomorrow. Inspirational and memorable theme parks, water parks, sports arenas, recreational water sports, world-class golf courses, vast shopping villages, and a transportation network unlike any other in the world resulted in fun, festive, and familiar characters, traditions, spectacles, merchandise, and so much more. The resort has come to represent the pulse of American leisure and has served as a backdrop for life's milestones both big and small, public and private. Walt Disney World: A Portrait of the First Half Century serves as a treasure trove for vacationers, students of hospitality, artists, and all Disney collectors. Searching for that perfect gift for the Disney theme park fan in your life? Explore more archival-quality books from Disney Editions: Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky Walt Disney's Ultimate Inventor: The Genius of Ub Iwerks One Day at Disney: Meet the People Who Make the Magic Across the Globe Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks Yesterday's Tomorrow: Disney's Magical Mid-Century Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic Poster Art of the Disney Parks
Presents the story of Walt Disney and his creation of Mickey Mouse and numerous other animated characters, his feature films, and theme parks, and contains over eight hundred illustrations.
The Walt Disney Company honors its 100th anniversary in 2023. As part of the festivities, this must-have biography tells the story of Walt Disney's life— told as no other book can! Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world. After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations. Complete with a collection of rare photographs, Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney. This Commemorative Edition includes new: introductions from Jeff Kurtti and Marcy Carriker Smothers a 32-page photo insert with rare behind-the-scenes photos endnotes to add further context and connect Walt's story to today Searching for more ways to connect with the Disney Parks and films? Explore these books from Disney Editions: Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World: Recipes & Stories from The Most Magical Place on Earth A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide Birnbaum's 2023 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai Poster Art of the Disney Parks Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks: Celebrations Around the World from Fall to Winter The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky
