Disney's Dream Weavers


Book Description

A Web of Disney. In this unique comparative history, newspaper journalist Chuck Schmidt traces the slender, often invisible strands that connect four monumental achievements in our pop culture: Disneyland, Freedomland, the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, and Walt Disney World.




The Dream Weavers


Book Description

The main question that guided the thinking behind this book can be stated as follows: "What kind of leadership behavior must executives of technology-driven organizations display to spur performance excellence?" To address this question the authors conducted videotaped interviews of executives from 65 organizations– including General Electric, Qualcomm, The Vanguard Group, and Barclays Global Investors – to identify common behaviors and traits that lead to organizational success. In addition to the interviews, they surveyed the executives’ followers to evaluate the leadership and organizational culture to examine successful executive leadership from multiple reference points. The authors found that displaying outstanding executive leadership doesn't necessarily require a commanding presence, a genius-level IQ, expertise, or even a strong command and control system. At the heart of outstanding strategic leadership was an ability to envision a strategy for taking the raw inputs provided by their environments (e.g., people, technology, ideas, opportunities) and then to weave them into an integrated pattern or system of social, technical and intellectual resources that ultimately produce dramatically higher levels of organizational success factors. The book includes dozens of stories and narratives from the executive leaders to offer readers an in-depth look at what constitutes effective strategy-focused leadership in technology-driven organizations.




Disney's Land


Book Description

A propulsive and “entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal) history chronicling the conception and creation of the iconic Disneyland theme park, as told like never before by popular historian Richard Snow. One day in the early 1950s, Walt Disney stood looking over 240 acres of farmland in Anaheim, California, and imagined building a park where people “could live among Mickey Mouse and Snow White in a world still powered by steam and fire for a day or a week or (if the visitor is slightly mad) forever.” Despite his wealth and fame, exactly no one wanted Disney to build such a park. Not his brother Roy, who ran the company’s finances; not the bankers; and not his wife, Lillian. Amusement parks at that time, such as Coney Island, were a generally despised business, sagging and sordid remnants of bygone days. Disney was told that he would only be heading toward financial ruin. But Walt persevered, initially financing the park against his own life insurance policy and later with sponsorship from ABC and the sale of thousands and thousands of Davy Crockett coonskin caps. Disney assembled a talented team of engineers, architects, artists, animators, landscapers, and even a retired admiral to transform his ideas into a soaring yet soothing wonderland of a park. The catch was that they had only a year and a day in which to build it. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its gates…and the first day was a disaster. Disney was nearly suicidal with grief that he had failed on a grand scale. But the curious masses kept coming, and the rest is entertainment history. Eight hundred million visitors have flocked to the park since then. In Disney’s Land, “Snow brings a historian’s eye and a child’s delight, not to mention superb writing, to the telling of this fascinating narrative” (Ken Burns) that “will entertain Disneyphiles and readers of popular American history” (Publishers Weekly).




Walt Disney's Missouri


Book Description

The range of Walt Disney's accomplishments is remarkable. He is considered the most successful filmmaker in history. He won 32 Academy Awards, far more than those of any other filmmaker. He revolutionized the amusement park and resort industries, and his theme parks have been praised as among the most outstanding urban designs in the United States. As Ward Kimball, one of Walt Disney's most prominent animators, once said, "At the bottom line Walt was a down-to-earth farmer's son who just happened to be a genius." Walt Disney spent his formative years in Missouri. Some of the direct influences of these years on his career are documented in this book. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first feature-length animated film to be produced, was inspired by a black-and-white, live-action silent film version of "Snow White" that he viewed as a teen-ager in Kansas City. A theatrical production of "Peter Pan" that he saw as a child in Marceline, Mo., led to his own animated version of the story. Born in Chicago in December 1901, he moved with his family to a farm near Marceline, where he lived from ages 4 to 9. "To tell the truth," Walt Disney once wrote, "more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since--or are likely to in the future." The town of Marceline was the inspiration for many features of future Disney theme parks, and the pastoral setting he lived in there is also reflected in many of his films. Except for a couple of years spent in Chicago and France, Disney lived in Kansas City from 1911 to 1923. During his years in Kansas City he learned the discipline that would enable him to persevere and prevail through the many hardships he experienced as a struggling filmmaker. It was in Kansas City that he trained to become a commercial artist and an animator, and Kansas City was the location of his first film production studio, Laugh-O-gram Films. Walt Disney's Missouri not only tells the story of the young Disney growing up, but it also paints a picture of the Kansas City he knew. With the bankruptcy of Laugh-O-gram Films, Disney moved to California, drawing with him many of his Kansas City colleagues, who would eventually win fame in animation themselves. This richly illustrated book describes Disney's Missouri years and chronicles his many connections and returns to the state until his death in 1966. The book also details two little-know projects in Missouri that Disney seriously considered in his later years--theme parks in his "hometown," Marceline, and in St. Louis. As his daughter Diane Disney Miller says in the foreword to the book, Walt Disney was "truly a Missourian."







Make It Happen!


Book Description

What makes the difference between the average salesperson and the really great, outstanding, moneymaking, high-living salesperson? And more importantly, how do I become one? Sometimes we get the impression that these are just for gifted people. Maybe, but in this book, I pull the curtain back and share the secrets so you can become one of them. There are many people in sales in different industries around the world, but only a precious few of them have discovered and are applying the secrets that are must-haves to achieve success in sales. These few are praised and rewarded handsomely. They live well. They enjoy life and enjoy their careers. I have identified five secrets that, if implemented, would almost guarantee success in sales. In this book, I unpack these secrets, and we do a deep step-by-step dive into each one to help any person currently in sales or interested in getting into sales. The secrets are motivation, mental armor, sales strategies, sales skills, and product knowledge. We take each secret and develop it in a way that makes it easy to understand and apply. Further, I have incorporated many of my personal experiences in the book to give real-life examples of how I applied the points and ideas I share. Whether new or experienced, those who wish to become one of the precious few will understand and know how to apply the secrets to achieve their own success. If you are in sales or thinking about getting into a sales career, this book can set you on a path to fulfill your dreams of a great life. You can make the money you want. You can buy that beautiful house, drive that car or cars you always wanted, send your kids to great schools, and enjoy dream vacations. It is all possible, and the how is all in here. Here's to your success.




The Art of Toy Story 4


Book Description

With a story that's spanned more than 20 years, the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the gang have captured the hearts of millions. The Art of Toy Story 4 invites readers to explore the next installment of Pixar's beloved franchise through never-before-seen concept art, character studies, process animation, storyboards, colorscripts, and more. Featuring exclusive interviews with the production team on the making of the film and insights into their creative vision, The Art of Toy Story 4 reveals the vivid imagination that brought this story to life. Copyright ©2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Pixar. All rights reserved.




The Japanese


Book Description

A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 'Mightily impressive ... a marvellous read' Sunday Times From the acclaimed author of Japan Story, this is the history of Japan, distilled into the stories of twenty remarkable individuals. The vivid and entertaining portraits in Chris Harding's enormously enjoyable new book take the reader from the earliest written accounts of Japan right through to the life of the current empress, Masako. We encounter shamans and warlords, poets and revolutionaries, scientists, artists and adventurers - each offering insights of their own into this extraordinary place. For anyone new to Japan, this book is the ideal introduction. For anyone already deeply involved with it, this is a book filled with surprises and pleasures.




Winsor McCay


Book Description

This volume is the only existing biography of one of America's greatest and most influential cartoonists. Winsor McCay (1867-1934) is universally acknowledged as the first master of both the comic strip and the animated cartoon. Although invented by others, both genres were developed into enduring popular art of the highest imagination through McCay's innovative genius. Included are new materials found since the previous publication of the book such as new comic strips of Little Nemo in Slumberland, and new sketches of Gertie the Dinosaur. Key Features In the book the author reviews and fully analyzes mcCay's achievements in print and film while examining his work in relation to his life, family, and to American culture and values of the period. This painstakingly thorough biography begins with mcCay's childhood in Michigan to his seat as one of the greatest of the early animators. Originally published in 1987, it is now back in print in a new expanded and revised edition. Included are new amterials found since the previous publication of the book such as new comic strips of Little Nemo inSlumberland and new sketches of Gertie the Dinosaur.




A Midsummer-night's Dream


Book Description

National Sylvan Theatre, Washington Monument grounds, The Community Center and Playgrounds Department and the Office of National Capital Parks present the ninth summer festival program of the 1941 season, the Washington Players in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," produced by Bess Davis Schreiner, directed by Denis E. Connell, the music by Mendelssohn is played by the Washington Civic Orchestra conducted by Jean Manganaro, the setting and lights Harold Snyder, costumes Mary Davis.