The Walt Disney Family Museum recently asked veteran filmmaker Don Hahn to create a film that would celebrate the holidays through the lens of Walt Disney. Under the direction of Diane Disney Miller, her husband Ron, and executive director Richard Benefield, the genesis of this idea became Christmas with Walt Disney, an enchanting fifty-one minute film filled with the joy and merriment of the holidays as well as some unique looks into the Disney family’s holiday traditions.

Mr. Hahn, whose credits include The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, was tapped to produce this film that will now become an annual event for The Walt Disney Family Museum to stage and entertain their guests each year during the holidays.

Christmas with Walt Disney is full of surprises including scenes from the television specials and vintage commercials from early Disney sponsors such as Kodak and Coca Cola. The studio Dixieland band, Firehouse Five plus Two makes a spirited appearance, as do clips from dozens of Disney’s films including Swiss Family Robinson, Lady and the Tramp, Fantasia and a clip from The Happiest Millionaire featuring Fred McMurray and Greer Garson singing “It Won’t be Long ‘til Christmas”— a very rare clip since this song was cut out of the picture.

“During our first screening of some selected clips to Ron and Diane, we showed clips of Walt skiing and ice skating with Lillian (Walt Disney’s wife), intercut with clips of Mickey and Goofy on ice,” said executive producer Craig Murray. “The quick cuts from Walt to Goofy did the trick and showed how much this man’s life became his art.”

Sounds like the beginning of a great tradition for Disney fans.

What: Christmas with Walt Disney
Where: The Walt Disney Family Museum Theater, 104 Montgomery Street, The Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94129
When: November 27, 2009 – January 4, 2010 (except Tuesdays, December 25 and January 1)
Show Times: 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm and 6:30pm
Tickets: $4-$10; check Website for details

It’s not often that fans of a particular artist get a chance to give back to that artist. But today us Disney fans get that chance. If you ever got a chuckle from a classic Chip & Dale cartoon or were wowed by a Disneyland audio-animatronic then you’ve experienced the magic of celebrated Disney Legend and Animator Bill Justice.

Justice is getting ready to celebrate his 96th Birthday, but he’s been in a rehabilitation home for the last few years and not receiving many visitors.

Here’s a note sent to me from a source I trust on how you can make a difference.

We need your help flooding Disney Legend Bill Justice with cards and letters. He has been residing in a convalescent home the past few years.

For those of you unfamiliar with his name, Bill Justice is best known for his work as an animator of Chip & Dale, and directed several cartoons including “What’s the Truth About Mother Goose?” He also programmed the Country Bear Jamboree, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. He was very active at fan events such as Disneyana Conventions and NFFC events in the 80’s and 90’s.

We’ve been asked to share an address where cards and letters can be sent. Please help us show him that we still remember him and appreciate what he has given us as fans. Perhaps send him a picture that you took with him or just a simple card. You can send the cards and notes to:

Bill Justice
Arbor View Wellness & Rehabilitation Center
1338 20th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Thanks for helping out. Let’s show Bill how much we appreciate the joy and fun he has brought into the world.

Few animated characters have been as influential or as long lived as Mickey Mouse. If you’re going to be in the Bay Area on November 18, you’re encouraged to make an appointment to visit The Walt Disney Family Museum and celebrate Mickey Mouse’s birthday.

Although he had appeared in the animated short Plane Crazy six months earlier, November 18, 1928 is widely recognized as Mickey Mouse’s birthday as it was the day that Steamboat Willie—the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with synchronized sound—was released.

Explore the galleries and discover the Earliest Known Drawings of Mickey Mouse and so much more, including vintage Mickey merchandise, the creation of Mickey’s friends, an interactive station that demonstrates how sound is synchronized to animation, and a special section dedicated to the Mickey Mouse Club. Come celebrate and learn about the birth, history and life of the leader of the club that’s made for you and me: M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

The Museum is open from 10AM to 6PM, Wednesday through Monday. For more information, visit www.waltdisney.org or call 415-345-6800.

Had a hard time crafting a headline for this one, after all when the story lede is “Walt Disney’s Grandniece loses millions in Real Estate“, it’s difficult to stay away from the sensational. The truth is Abigail Disney is just as affected by the lousy economy as the rest of us. The Disney name does not confer some magical power to make money when the rest are losing their shirts. In fact, Walt lost everything, faced bankruptcy, and found success in risk multiple times in his life.

Frankly, I would rather have seen an article on Abigail Disney’s philanthropist efforts. Her Daphne Foundation has been making a difference in New York City’s social justice and poverty arena for almost twenty years now. She produced the award winning documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell which chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Find a screening near you.

Those interested in learning more or supporting Abigail’s causes can follow her on twitter.

Hanging out in London? Then make plans for attending a November 24th Christie’s London film memorabilia auction where 25 rare Disney animation items including Mary Blair and Bill Peet artwork, a 1927 typed synopsis for “Alice the beach nut”, and the famous 191 page “Future Fantasias” folder compiled for Walt before Fantasia’s premiere by studio researcher Bob Carr are available.

Not in London? You can register to bid live online.

An article in the Boston Globe states that Mickey Mouse has gotten a little stale, boring even.

The mischievous sorcerer’s apprentice of “Fantasia’’ has become an empty vessel, devoid of any of the sharp edges that might define his character.

I have to say I don’t agree at all. Going back to Runaway Brain, attempts to reinvigorate Mickey have inevitably ended back at the original Mickey Mouse – an adventurer, a ladies man, and a funny guy. As always, a reflection of his creator. Epic Mickey is going to be more of the same.

What Mickey does need is to be relevant. He’s at his best when he’s doing some sort of commentary on society, usually with a humorous angle. His role as an entrepreneur in the House of Mouse series was a step in the right direction. While not really commentary, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has also done a good job reacquainting a whole new generation of kids with the character.

The direction I would take Mickey in is to put him in situations we’re all dealing with. In today’s economy Mickey should be championing the little people. Give him an electric car, send him to the mall, the unemployment line, make him a doctor, send him back to school. Some of Mickey’s best moments in his early career involved spoofing celebrity. That would fit in today too.

Where would you like to see Mickey Mouse go from here?

The Walt Disney Family Museum has launched to much acclaim drawing fans from all over to see the story of Walt’s life laid out as only his family could tell it. But the museum is not resting just on its exhibits. A full series of events is planned.

The December calendar has just been released. Head to the official website to buy tickets for anything you like.

CONCERTS

December 12th – String Circle Quartet
4:00pm, Special Exhibition Hall, 122 Riley Avenue

Concerts in our Special Exhibition Hall continue to shine light on composers of Fantasia with Schubert’s String Quartet in G. Henry Purcell’s delightful Suite from The Faery Queen—a bit of musical fantasy—is also performed. Joseph Edelberg, Anthony Martin, and Kati Kyme, violins, and Thalia Moore, cello.

December 19th and 20th – Artists’ Vocal Ensemble Concert: A Candlelight Christmas
4:00pm, Special Exhibition Hall, 122 Riley Avenue

Nothing is more magical than a choir performing classic Christmas songs and carols. Our candlelight program will include European Renaissance motets and carols, contemporary American carols and anthems, and an audience sing-along led by Jonathan Dimmock.

FILM

Film of the Month: Christmas with Walt Disney
Christmas with Walt Disney runs until January 4
12:30pm, 3:30pm, 6:30pm, Theater
(except Tuesdays, December 25, January 1, and December 5th at 12:30pm and 3:30pm)

This special holiday screening includes The Nutcracker Suite from Fantasia (1940), Pluto’s Christmas Tree (1952), scenes from the television Christmas specials, and rarely seen home movies of Walt and his family. See how Walt celebrated Christmas at the Studio, at Disneyland, and at home.

LECTURE

December 5th – Memories of Walt: A Conversation with Legends
2:00pm, Theater

Join us on Walt’s birthday as we hear from Disney Legends Blaine Gibson, Rolly Crump, and Richard Sherman as they share special memories of Walt. Blaine is the sculptor behind the Hall of Presidents, Rolly is one of the Imagineers behind “It’s a Small World” and “Haunted Mansion” and Richard wrote such Disney music classics as “It’s a Small World” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee”. It will be an extraordinary afternoon filled with stories, laughter, and reflection.

December 25th – Christmas Day
Museum is closed

And now a public service announcement for lovers of crab, like me! Stone crab season is here and Fulton’s Crab House is taking advantage of these succulent claws. To kick off the stone crab run in Key West, Fulton’s will be offering stone crab menu specials from October 21st through November 30th.

These juicy crab specials can be served as an appetizer or entrée and include traditional Chilled Stone Crab Claws, served with cilantro lime and key lime mustard sauce and Cracked Stone Crab Claws, oven roasted with white wine garlic butter.

Other specials include Key West Conch Fritters with Lemon Garlic Aioli ($9.95), Bohemian Style Conch Chowder ($6.95), Key West Whole Yellowtail Snapper ($29.95), ½ pound Peel and eat Key West Spiced Shrimp ($16.95) and Chocolate Key Lime Pie On A Stick ($5.95).

The stone crab specials will be served daily for dinner from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. from October 21st – November 30th.

About Stone Crab Season

Stone crab season opens October 15th each year and runs through May 15th. The majority of Florida stone crab claws are commercially harvested off the southern tip of Florida’s peninsula from Sarasota to Fort Lauderdale. Stone crabs are harvested for their mouth-watering claws and only the claws of the stone crab are removed. The stone crab is then returned to the water where it will regenerate new claws within 18 months.

Stone crab claws are cooked immediately after harvest, and sold either fresh cooked or frozen. Fresh cooked can be eaten within three to four days if packed in ice or stored in the coldest part of a refrigerator.

About Fulton’s Crab House

The freshest catch from around the world turns up in the inspired dishes of the nautically themed Fulton’s Crab House located at Downtown Disney® Pleasure Island at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Snow crab, blue crab and Alaska King Crab are specialties on the three dining decks of the grand Empress Lilly Riverboat, named for Walt Disney’s wife, Lilly. Each deck offers an expansive view of the Downtown Disney waterfront, and guests can book special-event dining on the riverboat’s third floor.