Forever Magical
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From July 16 - July 23rd NFFC held its annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Anaheim, California. For several days during the convention seminars were held where personalities from Disney and elsewhere discussed Disney history, the future of Disney and everything in-between. In this month's Forever Magical, Rebekah brings you the seminars of the 2000 NFFC Convention through words, pictures and video. The column debuts today the next week or so with the remaining seminars. Unfortunately, due to previous commitments, Rebekah was unable to attend all the activities during the NFFC Convention, but here are her highlights.
Seminar Day One: July 19th - The Authors
One of the seminar halls
Tamara Hodge, Devin Frick and Jiminy pottery
The Art of Disney Pottery authors Tamara Hodge and Devin Frick kicked-off the seminars with an in-depth look at the history of Disney pottery in California. They showed photographs of the pottery pieces and described their history including some pottery from the animated short Ferdinand the Bull. Pottery companies would receive molds made from the maquettes, so many of these pottery pieces are almost exact copies of the maquettes the animators worked from. Tamara and Devin discussed the various pottery companies that have made Disney characters. They explained why some of these pieces have survived better than others and how to identify some of the creators.
Disneyland: The Nickel Tour, Second Edition
author Bruce Gordon.
Next, Disneyland: The Nickel Tour co-author Bruce Gordon spoke. He began his comments by declaring, “It has a blue cover, buy it again!” In reality in has been five years since the first edition so he co-author David Mumford were able to add 24 additional pages. They realized that changes needed to be made because of the changes at the Park. The book is almost 400 pages and contains everything you would ever want to know about Disneyland through postcard pictures.
The next book this dynamic duo is working on highlights the career of Herb Ryman and is entitled A Brush with Disney. In explaining who Herb Ryman was Bruce said he painted the first pictures of each of the Parks through Disneyland Paris. He was also a fine artist who worked with various media and traveled around the world numerous times his first time being in 1936. He painted right up to his death in 1989. The Herb Ryman Foundation, which does a scholarship program for young artists and teaches them how to become a professional artist, celebrates its 10th anniversary in late October and they hope to have the book out for that celebration. The story is told through the words and the works of Herb Ryman thanks to notes he made and interviews he gave.
Disneyland 45 Years of Magic author Tim O'Day
Next Tim O'Day spoke on the new souvenir book at Disneyland. He said that while it pales in comparison with The Nickel Tour it is meant to be a souvenir and provide a broad-brush stroke of Disneyland images. As a Fullerton native Tim grew up with Disneyland. His sister worked at the Park in the early 60s and got to meet Walt. He remembers seeing Mary Poppins at the drive-in and then visiting the old Tomorrowland. He visited Disneyland six to eight times a year thanks to shopping passes his dad would get through the Orange County Register. Tim’s genuine love for the Park and its history was reflected throughout his talk.
Disney: The First Hundred Years author Dave Smith
Dave Smith gave highlights from the Walt Disney Company’s history. He listed special events from each year to highlight the book he co-authored with Steven Clark. Dave is the Walt Disney Company Archivist and also creates the Ultimate Disney Trivia Books which just released its fourth volume.