For a collectible figurine series of early Disneyland Cast Members. More info here: miehana.blogspot.com/2010/07/future-friend.html

Don't call me swissy-pants. Let me tell you, it was no job for the faint-hearted. The turnstile position at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse required nerves of tempered steel to endure the sideways glances from Disneyland visitors who'd never before seen a guy wearing a blouse and knee socks (not to mention those green knickers borrowed from Geppetto.) Next, you had to be ever-watchful for any unexpected arboreal emergencies, such as the time the water system went berserk, or the summer evening in 1986 when a pale-complexioned woman climbed up to the highest point and "shipwrecked her supper" over the handrail. For the next two hours, the gate was closed while custodial hosed pathways, stairs, plants, rocks and everything else that had been affected. And most important of all, a successful and effective Treehouse Host needed to be able to summon up whatever it took to survive... The Swisskapolka! Composer Buddy Baker's original handwritten swisskamusic! Please don't misunderstand, I love the music. I really LOVE it!! It's a perky little polka played on a pipe organ to put pep in your step as you merrily explore the world's most fabulous treetop domicile. But imagine if you will...back in my day the Treehouse was a full eight-hour shift all to itself. For most of those eight hours you stood (no sitting or leaning allowed) and greeted every person who came through the turnstile, only earning parole a few times a day when somebody from the Tiki Room would walk over and "bump" you to a break. But for most of the long summer day, it was just you and that big rotating waterwheel splashing at your back...and, of course, the never-ending music, flowing down from above. Until the day the Swiss Family shipped out and Tarzan the apeman swung in. In 2000, the actual prop organ that had "played" since 1962 was sold on eBay (Oh, the indignity!) This photo, taken by Disney Auctions, with damaged keyboard and missing stops, was the final public appearance of the Treehouse organ. But the polka music lives on, not only from the gramophone swisska-tribute at Tarzan's Treehouse, but on CD, on youTube, and of course, in my head where it continues to play on and on and on.

Here's a virtual tour of the historic 1996 Anaheim Museum exhibit, a survey of Polynesian Pop-style in Orange County California....and you'll discover the origins of Miehana, God of the Orange Grove! Curators for this show were Disney artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily.

Tailored and trim as a tulip, in gloves and mad hat... like the blossoms at Disneyland's Flower Market, you'll never wilt! Our pal, Tim Haack recently discovered a treasure trove of twelve original color negatives showcasing females in fabulous clothes against the fairy-tale backdrop of Disneyland. Who took these wonderful photos? And who are the three ladies, each one giving her all to look stylish in awkward poses and over-the top outfits? We wish we knew. But we do know the photos were taken for the April 9, 1961 issue of Midwest Magazine, a supplemental newspaper insert in the Chicago Sun-Times. Anyone out there have a copy? Take time to click on them and enjoy at full size. Each one is pure gold. Dinner, cinema, dancing - wonder fabric stays wide-awake all evening. Still looks terrific when he says goodnight! Why is a raven like a writing desk? Who cares when you look like this! In your pretty play suit of spring flowers, you're certain to get picked! There's just no telling what might happen when you choose high-waisted banana capris and a clown blouse. Five o'clock, add a turban, meet your date and go! Big game falls readily to a safari swim suit with matching jacket. Off the port bow... a cool cotton caftan, side slashed! Passengers on board Disneyland's new Columbia sailing ship will never get scurvy... especially if handsomely suited in gay tangerine. Even the river pirate Mike Fink "hisself" would adore a pair of these shipshape slacks in cream cotton faille. Greet them like a modern southern belle, whether along the shores of the Mississippi, or outside Disneyland's Oak Tree Tavern. Get the "movie star" attention you've always dreamed of in a pair of crimson velveteen shorts and stitched-on mouse tail. (Thanks for sharing your collection with us, Tim! This stuff is priceless!)

Tickets are now on sale for The Hukilau, the June 10-14 gathering of Polynesian Pop enthusiasts in Fort Lauderdale that boasts an impressive lineup of six symposiums by noted authors, artists and filmmakers. The 14th annual event will also include more live music, artists and vendors than ever before, plus a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience. February … Continue reading "The Hukilau announces six historic symposiums, ticket sales for June event in Fort Lauderdale"

I just wrote an article for the Walt Disney Family Museum blog on the use of Character Model Statues and the artists who created them, at t...

This is a detail from a much larger painting I recently finished for a private collector on commission. It's blown up here quite a bit from the actual size, and you can see some extreme brush strokes, but I kinda like it.

Our finished replica of the "Barker Bird" Parrot from Walt Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (1971). Mixed Media (Fiberglass, wood, feathers, metal, nylon fur cloth, velvet, cotton fabric, rope, and an artificial eye.) Dimensions: Entire piece: 31" H x 17" W x 12" D. Parrot figure is 19" H More info: miehana.blogspot.com/2011/07/parrot-of-caribbean.html

© Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily

"I should've quit when I was just a head." Loosing one's head was a concern for pretty much everybody in the 1985 film Return to Oz. The Gump, however, had to get by with only a head. Nevertheless, the stuffed hunting trophy, brought to life by a sprinkling of magic powder, was one of the most charming and delightful characters in the movie. Click on all of the pictures to make them huge! Magic powders can only accomplish so much, of course. In actuality a team of puppeteers were required to coordinate the Gump's moves through a system of long cables. I believe the Gump in these photos to be a second version which was radio controlled for shots where the cables needed to be out of sight. Packaged in the crate alongside the Gump was a Futaba (model airplane) radio transmitter with toggle switches for controlling his movements. Rechargeable batteries went into both the transmitter and inside the Gump's head. The Gump's horns were hollow cast resin and beautifully detailed, just like everything else about him. Those big baby blues give him a sweet, soft look. I like how the Gump has a slightly worn, musty appearance just like an old taxidermied animal. Open up and say "AAHHZZ." A pliable foam rubber skin was fitted over the Gump's mechanized fiberglass underskull. His mouth and lips were very expressive when speaking. Incidentally, the Gump's deep voice was provided by Lyle Conway who was in charge of the animatronic design for the film. Some of these photos are a little intense! Beautiful work, though. All this leaves one to ponder what a whole living Gump might look like. It's easy to imagine a four-legged beast, but no one can say. Would he have toes like a camel? Hooves like an elk? Even Baum in his original stories (and John Neil's illustrations) offer no answer. Only one rare example of Oz merchandise—a hand puppet— has ever been produced that attempted to solve the age-old mystery of the Gump's body: Yeah, I'm not convinced either. Part One: Jack PumpkinheadPart Two: Tin WoodmanPart Four: Tik-Tok

Just announced...Disney will release our ceramic Polynesian Resort Luau Bowl on June 28th. Fill it up with macadamia nuts, Dole Whip, Mai Tais, or whatever you like. Dimensions: 5.4 inches x 12 inches. It's an open edition and priced at $34.95. I'll share more info when Disney's merchandise events team fills us in on their plans.

Spit and polished: the Royal Army of Oz. In L. Frank Baum's 1907 book Ozma of Oz , Dorothy discovers a clockwork man in a chamber cut ...

Tiki Room Drummer Replica Disneyland 50th Commemorative Replica Coordinated and Designed by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily Resin & Metal Released in 2006. Limited Edition of 1000. SOLD OUT—of course. Full-size casting of Rolly Crump's original 1963 figure sculpture for the Tiki Room at Disneyland. Poseable arms and illuminated drum top to give the tiki an eerie "underglow".

Just announced...Disney will release our ceramic Polynesian Resort Luau Bowl on June 28th. Fill it up with macadamia nuts, Dole Whip, Mai Tais, or whatever you like. Dimensions: 5.4 inches x 12 inches. It's an open edition and priced at $34.95. I'll share more info when Disney's merchandise events team fills us in on their plans.

This was a promotional campaign I created for a holiday entertainment company using paper. I love Christmas and everything about the holidays so I was really excited about this project. Wanna see how it was done? miehana.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-village-poster.html

Okay now. Everyone take a deep breath. This is really big news. The tree of our dreams has been found! The wonderful treehouse built by the shipwrecked Robinsons in the 1960 movie fired up my childhood imagination like nothing else. (Ironically, as I got older, the treehouse continued to have special significance for me!) I'd drop everything in a heartbeat if I could build a bamboo home in the branches of an enormous tree, with a waterwheel turning in a little creek, and the excitement of the jungle all about. So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Mr. Lennox Straker Jr., a resident of Tobago (where the film was shot) and, miraculously, a reader of my blog! After I posted about the Swiss Family Robinson's tree a few months ago, Mr. Straker decided to take it upon himself to seek out and photograph the giant living Samaan tree used in the movie fifty years ago. And he did it! "Kevin, I stumbled upon your post of March this year "Some Really Big Roots" which mentioned the original Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse from the movie of 1960. I live on the island of Tobago in the Caribbean and did research on the tree and actually found it still very much alive in Goldsborough! "The tree has fallen into obscurity; only a few of the older people knew of its significance. As a matter of fact, not many people know of the film Swiss Family Robinson much less that it was filmed here in Tobago. Acting on info I found online about it being in Goldsborough I went up there and saw two possible suspects. They were both close to the road at the end of what was once a playing field. I identified this tree only after realising the stream that ran in front of it (also visible in the movie) and then an old gentleman came around and I asked him where is the tree located and he said "you are looking at it." "The tree is on private lands and there are old appliances at its trunk and some of the branches have been cut, there is no physical evidence of anything in the trees but I did not go up close to see if possibly there were carvings or subtle evidence of the movie. "I do intend to go again though because, like you, this fascinates me. I think a plaque or something should be placed on this tree." 1959 movie treehouse concept by Art Director John Howell John Mills and Dorothy McGuire reenact a scene from"Vertigo". But that's not all! Mr. Straker also identifies the swimming hole where the Robinsons have their first "public holiday" in their new island home... The two-tiered Craig Hall Waterfall is just off of the side of a road, and, apparently, easy to find. The first tier falls into a large pool, which then spills over the rock face into the river below. Sounds like heaven! A big heartfelt THANKS to Lennox Straker, for his excellent detective work, and for sharing his discoveries with us. I'll be getting my passport in order and heading to Tobago ASAP!

Disneyland 50th Anniversary Commemorative Designed by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily Resin, Metal, and Fabric. Released in 2005. "There be squalls ahead!" Everybody loves the living "Jolly Roger" skull that advises passengers of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean to "sit closer together and keep your ruddy hands inboard." Our decorative version created for Disneyland's 50th didn't move or talk, but looked pretty close to the original skull from the 1960s - complete with polka-dotted kerchief. Our friend Doug Miller directed the photo shoot for the catalog and really made it look like the one in the attraction, brick wall and everything! Perhaps it was the great photo that made this piece sell out fast.

Sun illustration by Rolly Crump, 1966 Rolly Crump is one of my favorite artists in the whole world—not only for his groundbreaking Disney work—but for his quirky and beautiful independent art as well. Actually, I'm inspired by everything I've ever seen him do. Rolly with his Tower of the Four Winds model for the 1964 New York World's Fair In Disney circles he is known for his designs on the Enchanted Tiki Room, It's a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, the Adventureland Bazaar, and to a lesser degree for his legendary unbuilt Museum of the Weird—macabre and witty concepts that were decades ahead of their time and Tim Burton. Lighting Fixture for The Museum of the Weird, 1966 I love his drawing style of the 1960s: bold, ragged ink line, textured and angular, with colors kept to a minimum. Much of it borders on the psychedelic. Even more, his art has a sly sense of humor that I'm simply crazy about. Pride Creations "Push Down" Toys, concepted by Rolly, 1960s According to Rolly, even while at Disney he always had cool projects going on the side. In 1960, a chance meeting with West Coast rock poster pioneer, Howard Morseburg, led to a new venture in printmaking. Rolly's satirical designs poked fun at Beatnik culture, the coffee houses and jazz clubs of Greenwich Village, Seattle, San Francisco, and the East Bay. Poster for Pete's Poop Deck Jazz Club Seattle, Washington, 1960 His easy-to-read graphics satirized big issues of the era, from drug use to the human rights record of revolutionary Cuba and the Soviet Union. Though they apparently weren't made in extremely large quantities, the hand-pulled prints were popular with artistic young musicians and hipsters, and were influential on poster design that later dominated the Sixties. "Green Gasser Kauphy House" Poster 1960 In 1959 Rolly became a show designer at WED (now Walt Disney Imagineering) after Walt saw some of the propellers and mobiles he had created. Rolly's Rongo Tiki God concept, 1962 Jody and I first met Rolly when we were curating "Tiki: Native Drums in the Orange Grove" at the Anaheim Museum in 1996. Rolly gave a 2-hour presentation describing the inspiration for his Tiki designs and his other work. It was an unforgettable evening. Jody Daily, Rolly Crump, & Kevin Kidney Anaheim Museum Tiki Show, September 14, 1996 In our own projects for Disney, Jody and I have welcomed the opportunity to more fully geek out over Rolly's designs by translating several into merchandise, including his 1967 Tomorrowland Ticket Booth, Small World Clock facade, and, of course, his Tiki characters. Rongo Tiki Drink Bowl at Disneyland, 2009 Thanks, Rolly, for sharing your creativity and utter coolness with us.

Mickey's Soundsational Parade, Disneyland (Anaheim, California) Paper model for Professor Owl from "Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom". Used to build the final puppet on the opening float. Blogged here: miehana.blogspot.com/2011/05/its-here-soundsational.html

Just announced...Disney will release our ceramic Polynesian Resort Luau Bowl on June 28th. Fill it up with macadamia nuts, Dole Whip, Mai Tais, or whatever you like. Dimensions: 5.4 inches x 12 inches. It's an open edition and priced at $34.95. I'll share more info when Disney's merchandise events team fills us in on their plans.

I don't know about you, but I'm kinda glad 2012 is over. Crazy year. Thankfully, it ended with some interesting small-scale projects, including making this cover image for the Disneyland Line, a magazine for Disney Cast Members.

"The room they were in was an unfinished attic, and as they turned to run out the door, another ghostly manifestation appeared and blocked their way. He was a cloaked figure with an evil, grinning face. A hat box hung from his hand…" In 2009, Jody and I fabricated a reincarnation of the original Disneyland 1969 Hatbox Ghost for the first D23 Expo in Anaheim. The figure turned out pretty swell (if we do say so ourselves) and a short time later we were emailed by a well-known film director who at the time was writing a screenplay for an upcoming movie that, we believe, will make even the grimmest ghost grin. In the blink of an eerie eye we were commissioned to build a second Hatbox Ghost, but this one slightly different from our first—more detailed and much more spooky. We were inspired by the famous publicity shot of Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey with the early mock-up of the ghost for the Disneyland attraction: Gracey's early version had more facial "decay", frazzled hair, and irises in his eyes, unlike the final ghost that appeared briefly in the attraction. We started with the head and went from there. Working late at night in our studio became increasingly unsettling as this new visitor took shape. We sculpted his stick body over a steel armature and stitched together his daft disguise entirely by hand. Lastly, a custom brass name plate for his base… …and the finishing touch. ------------------ What's next for old Hattie? We've heard rumors that his restless bones may soon re-etherialize in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, just as the moon climbs high for the Park's 60th Anniversary. Although Jody and I had nothing to do with his long-awaited comeback, we are very anxious to see what may soon materialize in that dark attic corner. Aren't you?

We're goin' to a hukilau! Or to be more specific, this week we're once again attending The Hukilau, the incredible tiki event that takes place every year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the epic three-day party which culminates with dinner, drinks and a fiery stage show at America's most spectacular Polynesian restaurant, the Mai Kai. This year Jody and I are participating in the Hukilau group art show, and here's a sneak peek at what we've pulled together: "The Founder of the Feast" Artist: Jody Daily Jody's salute to Hukilau mastermind, Miss Tiki Kiliki! Acrylic paint on natural bamboo plank Custom matted and framed: 9" x 8.25" Hukilau Tiki Mug Master Sculpture Artist: Kevin Kidney The one-of-a-kind, hand-sculpted master from which the original (and now super-rare) Hukilau mugs were cast in 2007. Wood and sculpting compound: 8" tall x 6" wide Trader Vic's Los Angeles Mural Concept Artist: Jody Daily Jody's original 2009 proposal for a mural that would have covered a wall in the restaurant's main dining room. Acrylic paint on wood: 5.25" x 5.50" Garden of the Gods: Rongo Artist: Jody Daily Mixed media, custom framed: 14" x 6.75" Garden of the Gods: Pele Artist: Jody Daily Acrylic on wood, custom framed: 13" x 5.75" "The Tropical Temptations of Tiki" Artist: Kevin Kidney Original paper sculpture created for the cover photo of Sven A. Kirsten's upcoming audio CD. Paper and wood in custom shadow box: approximately 26" x 20" x 3" deep. "Hukilau" Artist: Kevin Kidney Sculpted paper vignette made from original elements of the 2007 Hukilau poster (and Kevin's own blog header!) Paper on woven grass matting, in a custom shadow box: 15.75 x 12.75 "Sippin' Safari Endpapers Map" Artist: Kevin Kidney Artwork created for Beachbum Berry's drink guide published in 2007. Digital print, hand-numbered #11, and custom framed: 21" x 15" In addition to the above, there will be limited art prints, a commemorative set of Tiki mugs, and special glassware, which can be viewed and pre-purchased here. (Prices for the original art will be announced at the show.) The 2011 Hukilau is sure to be unforgettable, with great live music, seminars and symposiums, vendors, cocktails in the famous Molokai Bar, and a performance by Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid. We wouldn't dream of missing this!

Our finished replica of the "Barker Bird" Parrot from Walt Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (1971). Mixed Media (Fiberglass, wood, feathers, metal, nylon fur cloth, velvet, cotton fabric, rope, and an artificial eye.) Dimensions: Entire piece: 31" H x 17" W x 12" D. Parrot figure is 19" H More info: miehana.blogspot.com/2011/07/parrot-of-caribbean.html

Disneyland 50th Commemorative Resin & Metal. Wooden box base. Sculpted by Vladimir Petrov and Kevin Kidney Released in 2005. Limited Edition of 1000.

"The Old Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be..." It's hard to think that Disneyland's America Sings has been gone now for 24 ye...

In conjunction with Palm Springs Modernism Week, M Modern Gallery presents a group art exhibition. Last year’s “The Contemporary Idol” had a tiki theme, while this year’s “R…

Back view of the finished replica of the "Barker Bird" Parrot from Walt Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (1971). The Kevin & Jody Show is on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KevinandJody

"The room they were in was an unfinished attic, and as they turned to run out the door, another ghostly manifestation appeared and blocked their way. He was a cloaked figure with an evil, grinning face. A hat box hung from his hand…" In 2009, Jody and I fabricated a reincarnation of the original Disneyland 1969 Hatbox Ghost for the first D23 Expo in Anaheim. The figure turned out pretty swell (if we do say so ourselves) and a short time later we were emailed by a well-known film director who at the time was writing a screenplay for an upcoming movie that, we believe, will make even the grimmest ghost grin. In the blink of an eerie eye we were commissioned to build a second Hatbox Ghost, but this one slightly different from our first—more detailed and much more spooky. We were inspired by the famous publicity shot of Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey with the early mock-up of the ghost for the Disneyland attraction: Gracey's early version had more facial "decay", frazzled hair, and irises in his eyes, unlike the final ghost that appeared briefly in the attraction. We started with the head and went from there. Working late at night in our studio became increasingly unsettling as this new visitor took shape. We sculpted his stick body over a steel armature and stitched together his daft disguise entirely by hand. Lastly, a custom brass name plate for his base… …and the finishing touch. ------------------ What's next for old Hattie? We've heard rumors that his restless bones may soon re-etherialize in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, just as the moon climbs high for the Park's 60th Anniversary. Although Jody and I had nothing to do with his long-awaited comeback, we are very anxious to see what may soon materialize in that dark attic corner. Aren't you?

Edition Size: 500 Release Date: To Be Announced This red-kilted little lady with the cheery smile is ready to take you on a tour through the fun-filled lands of Walt Disney's original theme park, circa 1965. The Tour Guides of Disneyland symbolize the Park's world-famous spirit of friendship and happiness, and ours is no exception. Introducing the first in a new series of collectible figurines celebrating the Cast Members of early Disneyland. Designed and sculpted by us! More info soon...

Illustration for Los Angeles Magazine by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily, March 2011 Rolly Crump is one of our favorite designers in the whole wide world. Whether we're talking about his theme park contributions for Disney, or his satyrical counter-culture posters, Rolly rules. A few years ago Los Angeles Magazine asked us to create an illustration to accompany an article about the legendary artist, and of course we were thrilled. Our first rough concept was heavily inspired by our love for Rolly's "Museum of the Weird": Our first concept. Too weird? Rolly's bizarre bats and dragons proved to be a little too dark for the tastes of the magazine's art director, who asked us to try something lighter and more cheerful. We decided to take elements from some of Rolly's more familiar Disneyland designs and build an imaginary theme park out of them. We lovingly referred to this concept as "Crump City": "Crump City" preliminary sketch The art director liked it, and decided we should do sort of a mock "attraction poster" with the elements. The design became more and more simple as our "poster" took shape. We created our art digitally in Adobe Illustrator and played around with possible color schemes. Experimenting with different colors and values. We did a lot of fussing with colors until we landed on the final bright purple version at the top of this post. Everyone seemed to like it, and we even received a swell compliment from Rolly himself. Score!

"The Old Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be..." It's hard to think that Disneyland's America Sings has been gone now for 24 years, after a 14-year run (and even harder to think how Innoventions, the attraction that replaced it, has managed to survive just as long.) Marc Davis' fanciful characters were pure genius and inspired Jody and I as artists more than just about anything else at Disneyland in the 70s. "Ain't gonna study war no more, no more..." Here's a terrific LA Times article on the opening of America Sings in the summer of 1974. "The Duo Behind America Sings" By Michael Seiler, Times Staff Writer Helpful to a fault and proud of their new $6 million addition to the empire that Walt Disney built, a couple of senior Disneyland creative-types were doing a little mugging in front of the photographers at a press preview the other day. Al Bertino and Marc Davis, co-designers of America Sings in Tomorrowland's revolving Carousel Theater, were dancing around the mechanical singing animals that appear and disappear from the floor and backdrops. Lights were flashing and a worried mother rabbit was singing "Where is my wandering boy tonight?" to her brood while father rabbit's silhouette was visible in a neighboring speakeasy. The song ended, the lights went out, Mom and her children slipped beneath the stage on an elevator-like contraption. It was suddenly very dark and Bertino, a 60-ish man of ample girth and not terribly light on his feet, was not looking where he was going. Suddenly, he was gone. When next seen amid a scene of confusion, Bertino was lying on his back 8 feet below the stage on top of the rabbits. And several Disneyland public relations people were turning interesting shades of gray. "Pop goes the weasel. Heeheehee!" Bertino was carried away on a stretcher, but the damage was more to his pride than anything else. The doctors who checked him at a nearby hospital found a sprained ankle and a bruise or two. The rabbits survived and America Sings opened to the public, as scheduled, last Saturday, replacing the old General Electric Carousel of Progress display that has been moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. That's probably just as well, because the GE carousel was a sexist hymn to all-electric progress in the 20th century. Through the years, dumb old Mom would fall off ladders replacing light bulbs and strident Sis would be talking on the phone all day while working off the blubber with an electric exercise belt. Dad, of course, would be long suffering. "It's the good life." So now the Disney people have instead a delightful 24-minute "tune-filled adventure tracing nearly 200 years of our nation's musical heritage" as the publicity folks put it. The 114 animals sing 40 different songs as the audience revolves around the stage. The kids will love it, of course, and the adults fascinated by the mechanisms of what Disneyland calls "Audio Animatronics." This is just another way of saying singing mechanical animals. They're about as lifelike as the Disney people's 20 years of working on this kind of thing can get them. "And in the evening, hear the train blow..." Davis, a veteran of 39 years with Disney as an animationist and later, a designer of Disneyland attractions, teamed with Bertino, who has been with Disney 30 years. Bertino wrote the story line, then both men selected the music. Finally, Davis designed the animal characters and supervised the set design. It took about two years, said Davis, and the idea, a spin-off of the Bicentennial celebration, was their own. "We listened to a lot of recordings to pick the music, since neither of us can read music, and hired a piano player who couldn't sing. Al wasn't much help on that. He's an Italian - the only one who can't sing a tune," Davis said with a smile. "Lord, I wish I was a single girl again." Bertino said they looked for popular songs, ones most people know and remember. "We stayed away from war songs and things like that," he added. "We were looking for entertainment and a laugh, if we could get it." After selecting the music, which ranges from "Camptown Races" to"Hound Dog," Bertino and Davis supervised design and construction of the animal characters. The animals were sculpted, then plastic casts were made. The moving parts were made of a flexible vinyl. The plastic shells of the animals are steel supported and hydraulically operated. "...where the bright diamond sand flows leisurely down to the stream..." A computer moves the animals in coordination with the music. Davis was hesitant to give details of the operation. "It hurts the illusion," he said. "I want people to believe what's happening on stage." Disney executives approved the project at several stages of development, but there was no real market testing. "I think we have a feeling if something is going to work," said Davis. After 39 years, he said, you just know when an idea will be popular or not. Davis hasn't missed often - he worked on the creation of several popular Disney characters, including Peter Pan, Cinderella and Tinker Bell, as well as many of the attractions at Disneyland and Disney World. He left film animation in 1960 to work on developing Disneyland projects because that, somehow, is more exciting. Walt Disney thought so, too, according to Davis. "Walt used to drop by my office and he'd say, 'You know, Marc, I like to come here. This is like the old days at the old studio.' He most enjoyed the new things, whatever was being done that hadn't been done before." "Oh my Sal, she am a spunky gal..." Davis and Bertino figure Disney would have liked America Sings, but the big question is whether the public will. "The most fun of all is watching the reaction of the audience," said Bertino, who will be hobbling around on crutches this week. "If they all laugh in the right places, it will be worth it." "I'll do the cookin' Honey. I'll pay the rent." -------

Okay now. Everyone take a deep breath. This is really big news. The tree of our dreams has been found! The wonderful treehouse built by the shipwrecked Robinsons in the 1960 movie fired up my childhood imagination like nothing else. (Ironically, as I got older, the treehouse continued to have special significance for me!) I'd drop everything in a heartbeat if I could build a bamboo home in the branches of an enormous tree, with a waterwheel turning in a little creek, and the excitement of the jungle all about. So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Mr. Lennox Straker Jr., a resident of Tobago (where the film was shot) and, miraculously, a reader of my blog! After I posted about the Swiss Family Robinson's tree a few months ago, Mr. Straker decided to take it upon himself to seek out and photograph the giant living Samaan tree used in the movie fifty years ago. And he did it! "Kevin, I stumbled upon your post of March this year "Some Really Big Roots" which mentioned the original Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse from the movie of 1960. I live on the island of Tobago in the Caribbean and did research on the tree and actually found it still very much alive in Goldsborough! "The tree has fallen into obscurity; only a few of the older people knew of its significance. As a matter of fact, not many people know of the film Swiss Family Robinson much less that it was filmed here in Tobago. Acting on info I found online about it being in Goldsborough I went up there and saw two possible suspects. They were both close to the road at the end of what was once a playing field. I identified this tree only after realising the stream that ran in front of it (also visible in the movie) and then an old gentleman came around and I asked him where is the tree located and he said "you are looking at it." "The tree is on private lands and there are old appliances at its trunk and some of the branches have been cut, there is no physical evidence of anything in the trees but I did not go up close to see if possibly there were carvings or subtle evidence of the movie. "I do intend to go again though because, like you, this fascinates me. I think a plaque or something should be placed on this tree." 1959 movie treehouse concept by Art Director John Howell John Mills and Dorothy McGuire reenact a scene from"Vertigo". But that's not all! Mr. Straker also identifies the swimming hole where the Robinsons have their first "public holiday" in their new island home... The two-tiered Craig Hall Waterfall is just off of the side of a road, and, apparently, easy to find. The first tier falls into a large pool, which then spills over the rock face into the river below. Sounds like heaven! A big heartfelt THANKS to Lennox Straker, for his excellent detective work, and for sharing his discoveries with us. I'll be getting my passport in order and heading to Tobago ASAP!

Illustration for Los Angeles Magazine by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily, March 2011 Rolly Crump is one of our favorite designers in the whole wide world. Whether we're talking about his theme park contributions for Disney, or his satyrical counter-culture posters, Rolly rules. A few years ago Los Angeles Magazine asked us to create an illustration to accompany an article about the legendary artist, and of course we were thrilled. Our first rough concept was heavily inspired by our love for Rolly's "Museum of the Weird": Our first concept. Too weird? Rolly's bizarre bats and dragons proved to be a little too dark for the tastes of the magazine's art director, who asked us to try something lighter and more cheerful. We decided to take elements from some of Rolly's more familiar Disneyland designs and build an imaginary theme park out of them. We lovingly referred to this concept as "Crump City": "Crump City" preliminary sketch The art director liked it, and decided we should do sort of a mock "attraction poster" with the elements. The design became more and more simple as our "poster" took shape. We created our art digitally in Adobe Illustrator and played around with possible color schemes. Experimenting with different colors and values. We did a lot of fussing with colors until we landed on the final bright purple version at the top of this post. Everyone seemed to like it, and we even received a swell compliment from Rolly himself. Score!

MAIN STREET PEWTER MINIATURES Disneyland 50th Anniversary Commemorative Series designed by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily Released in 2005. Limited Edition of 1500. © Disney Walt Disney planned Main Street U.S.A as the area of Disneyland which would first greet Park guests, noting that at Town Square "the cares and worries of today are left behind and we find ourselves in a little town of the year 1900." This set of six miniature pewter figurines highlights several nostalgic elements of this welcoming area of the Magic Kingdom. Next to a Main Street gas lamp post bedecked in opening day bunting, an official Disneyland Tour Guide (actually a tiny Julie Reihm!) greets us and points out features such as: the double-decker Omnibus, the Bandstand (which hosted concerts in both the Plaza and Magnolia Park), an authentic railroad handcar (a gift to Walt from Kalamazoo, Michigan) on the spur track adjacent to the Disneyland Railroad Station...and of course, our official host: Mickey Mouse, as he appeared at Disneyland in the 1960s! Sculpted by Kevin Kidney, Vladimir Petrov, and William Babington

I'm a push-over for Christmas cards - specifically wonderful old cards. They're the best ones. We never purchase new cards each year, but instead send out used vintage cards, even if they're already written in. Simply sign your name under the previous sender just like you're endorsing a check. "Season's Greetings from Clyde and Flossie Humperdinck ... but mostly from Kevin!" After years of mailing beautiful old cards out, never to be seen again (by us), we've begun scanning them first. Our Virtual Vintage Christmas Card File is looking mighty fine right now. I've just shared twenty of our favorites on the Miehana Flickr gallery. Check them out here. Merry Christmas from Great-Grandma Schmickle - and me!

Let's take a stern view... A new collectible by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily

Legendary Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump with a few of his kinetic mobiles and sculptures, c.1963. Incredibly cool. Want to make your own mobile? Here's a fantastic "how to published in Popular Science Monthly, December 1954. This abstract pattern was designed by John Lynch of New York City's Museum of Modern Art: 1. Cut abstract shapes from cardboard or light-gauge sheet metal. 2. For the arms, bend the ends of soft 16-gauge wire into loops and attach the cut-out shapes. It's all about balance.

"The Old Gray Mare, she ain't what she used to be..." It's hard to think that Disneyland's America Sings has been gone now for 24 years, after a 14-year run (and even harder to think how Innoventions, the attraction that replaced it, has managed to survive just as long.) Marc Davis' fanciful characters were pure genius and inspired Jody and I as artists more than just about anything else at Disneyland in the 70s. "Ain't gonna study war no more, no more..." Here's a terrific LA Times article on the opening of America Sings in the summer of 1974. "The Duo Behind America Sings" By Michael Seiler, Times Staff Writer Helpful to a fault and proud of their new $6 million addition to the empire that Walt Disney built, a couple of senior Disneyland creative-types were doing a little mugging in front of the photographers at a press preview the other day. Al Bertino and Marc Davis, co-designers of America Sings in Tomorrowland's revolving Carousel Theater, were dancing around the mechanical singing animals that appear and disappear from the floor and backdrops. Lights were flashing and a worried mother rabbit was singing "Where is my wandering boy tonight?" to her brood while father rabbit's silhouette was visible in a neighboring speakeasy. The song ended, the lights went out, Mom and her children slipped beneath the stage on an elevator-like contraption. It was suddenly very dark and Bertino, a 60-ish man of ample girth and not terribly light on his feet, was not looking where he was going. Suddenly, he was gone. When next seen amid a scene of confusion, Bertino was lying on his back 8 feet below the stage on top of the rabbits. And several Disneyland public relations people were turning interesting shades of gray. "Pop goes the weasel. Heeheehee!" Bertino was carried away on a stretcher, but the damage was more to his pride than anything else. The doctors who checked him at a nearby hospital found a sprained ankle and a bruise or two. The rabbits survived and America Sings opened to the public, as scheduled, last Saturday, replacing the old General Electric Carousel of Progress display that has been moved to Walt Disney World in Florida. That's probably just as well, because the GE carousel was a sexist hymn to all-electric progress in the 20th century. Through the years, dumb old Mom would fall off ladders replacing light bulbs and strident Sis would be talking on the phone all day while working off the blubber with an electric exercise belt. Dad, of course, would be long suffering. "It's the good life." So now the Disney people have instead a delightful 24-minute "tune-filled adventure tracing nearly 200 years of our nation's musical heritage" as the publicity folks put it. The 114 animals sing 40 different songs as the audience revolves around the stage. The kids will love it, of course, and the adults fascinated by the mechanisms of what Disneyland calls "Audio Animatronics." This is just another way of saying singing mechanical animals. They're about as lifelike as the Disney people's 20 years of working on this kind of thing can get them. "And in the evening, hear the train blow..." Davis, a veteran of 39 years with Disney as an animationist and later, a designer of Disneyland attractions, teamed with Bertino, who has been with Disney 30 years. Bertino wrote the story line, then both men selected the music. Finally, Davis designed the animal characters and supervised the set design. It took about two years, said Davis, and the idea, a spin-off of the Bicentennial celebration, was their own. "We listened to a lot of recordings to pick the music, since neither of us can read music, and hired a piano player who couldn't sing. Al wasn't much help on that. He's an Italian - the only one who can't sing a tune," Davis said with a smile. "Lord, I wish I was a single girl again." Bertino said they looked for popular songs, ones most people know and remember. "We stayed away from war songs and things like that," he added. "We were looking for entertainment and a laugh, if we could get it." After selecting the music, which ranges from "Camptown Races" to"Hound Dog," Bertino and Davis supervised design and construction of the animal characters. The animals were sculpted, then plastic casts were made. The moving parts were made of a flexible vinyl. The plastic shells of the animals are steel supported and hydraulically operated. "...where the bright diamond sand flows leisurely down to the stream..." A computer moves the animals in coordination with the music. Davis was hesitant to give details of the operation. "It hurts the illusion," he said. "I want people to believe what's happening on stage." Disney executives approved the project at several stages of development, but there was no real market testing. "I think we have a feeling if something is going to work," said Davis. After 39 years, he said, you just know when an idea will be popular or not. Davis hasn't missed often - he worked on the creation of several popular Disney characters, including Peter Pan, Cinderella and Tinker Bell, as well as many of the attractions at Disneyland and Disney World. He left film animation in 1960 to work on developing Disneyland projects because that, somehow, is more exciting. Walt Disney thought so, too, according to Davis. "Walt used to drop by my office and he'd say, 'You know, Marc, I like to come here. This is like the old days at the old studio.' He most enjoyed the new things, whatever was being done that hadn't been done before." "Oh my Sal, she am a spunky gal..." Davis and Bertino figure Disney would have liked America Sings, but the big question is whether the public will. "The most fun of all is watching the reaction of the audience," said Bertino, who will be hobbling around on crutches this week. "If they all laugh in the right places, it will be worth it." "I'll do the cookin' Honey. I'll pay the rent." -------

As a shameless plug for our newest replica to be released this week, it only makes sense to spotlight one of Disneyland's greatest creations ever- the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant. A product of pure imagination, the 79' long vessel was appropriately berthed in Fantasyland when the park opened in 1955...and boy, do I miss it! A twist on authentic sailing ships of the 15th to 18th centuries, her highest mast rose 60' from the deck. Like any other architectural structure in Disneyland, the boat was carefully planned and drafted before being built. This "side elevation" was drawn by a young man named Fred Stoos, who also notably drafted the blueprints for the submarine Nautilus in the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The drawing is dated May 7, 1955, only about two months before the Park's opening day. Notice that Fred cleverly added a tiny pirate to show scale! Here's a delightful sketch detailing some ornamentation - a cheery school of tuna! The plan for an impressive sculpture to adorn the stern, approved by art director Bill Martin. Dated May 16, 1955, the famous Chicken of the Sea's "blonde mermaid" sits queenlike in her shell throne borne on the back of a giant sea turtle. The turtle's head rests atop a plaque bearing the company's logo. If you scroll back up to the top you can see the painters neglected to paint the turtle's head to match the rest of him. Because of this, most people never even noticed the turtle. Over at the Disney Studios' staff shop, sculptor Chris Mueller puts the final touches on the figurehead for the ships' bow. According to records, the figurehead and stern ornaments were first modeled in plastilene as 1/2 inch scale miniatures. (Do those models survive anywhere today???) Meanwhile, down in Anaheim, construction of the full-size boat begins. Believe it or not, the hull was built behind Main Street's Town Square, in an open area behind what is now Disneyland's Opera House, and later trucked over to Fantasyland. The entire ship was made of Douglas fir and trimmed in bright Honduras mahogany. I just couldn't tell this story without detouring your attention over to Daveland for an account of the construction of the ship's gigantic lantern by the Ferro family. If you haven't already read about it, do it now, and then get yourself right back here. Welcome back! Let's zoom ahead now to September 1955. Disneyland has been open for two months already, and guests have been staring at the ship every single day wondering if they'll ever get to climb aboard. Up til now only the team of carpenters and painters have had the pleasure of playing pirates upon the poop deck...but at last, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship is ready for visitors. In the photo above, a painter poses with pride for the camera. Hopefully, this shot made it into his portfolio. (Looks like that little kid standing next to him is hungry. Quick, let's order lunch!) The first lucky people to gobble up tuna sandwiches, tuna burgers, tuna salad, and tuna pot pie on the galleon's deck were those proud painters who invited their equally proud families. Two vending machines dispensed paper cups of coffee and orange punch for ten cents. Stepping downstairs to the lunch line, we encounter a three-paneled mural displaying some Chicken of the Sea products that you might pick up at the grocery store back home. What's in the treasure chests? Could it be just more canned tuna? That's plenty for today. Come back soon for more thrilling tales of the Fantasyland Pirate Ship!

Spit and polished: the Royal Army of Oz. In L. Frank Baum's 1907 book Ozma of Oz , Dorothy discovers a clockwork man in a chamber cut ...