Showing posts with label Paula Sigman Lowery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paula Sigman Lowery. Show all posts

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Travelling With Legends and Remembering Annette: My Conversations with Tim O'Day and Paula Sigman Lowery in 'The Mouse Castle Lounge'


It's never a bad thing when you can get Tim O'Day or Paula Sigman Lowery as guests on your podcast. It's my pleasure to welcome both of them in this episode of The Mouse Castle Lounge.

Tim O'Day (r.) with (l. to r.) Jeffrey Sherman, Richard Sherman
and Gregory Sherman
Tim has spent decades working and consulting with Disney as a publicist and marketing specialist, but his beginnings with the company were far more humble. His first introduction to Disney employment was at the age of 13 when he danced as a Roman column in a Disneyland parade. His work since has been a bit more noteworthy, with stints at Disney Consumer Products, Imagineering, the Walt Disney Internet Group and the Disneyland Resort. In fact, Tim was Director of Publicity during Disneyland's highly successful 50th anniversary celebration.

Tim has called many Disney Legends his friends, and in our conversation he talks fondly about composers Alan Menken and Richard Sherman, who will perform on stage together at the D23 Expo in August. He also recalls travelling the U.S. with animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston as they went in search of Americana and the ultimate chocolate chip cookie. It's a fun and entertaining conversation you don't want to miss.

Annette Funicello
Last week, the Walt Disney Studios paid a lasting tribute to Annette Funicello by renaming their Soundstage 1 the Annette Funicello Stage. It was on this stage that the original episodes of The Mickey Mouse Club were shot in the 1950s. An invitation-only ceremony was held at the studio on June 24th to honor the original--and arguably the most beloved--Mouseketeer, who passed away in April after a lengthy battle with Multiple Sclerosis. In attendance were, among others, Bob Iger, Richard Sherman, Frankie Avalon, Leonard Maltin and many of Annette's fellow Mouseketeers. My good friend, writer and historian Paula Sigman Lowery, was there as well and in The Mouse Castle Lounge she shares with me her observations of this touching event. Paula and I also take some time to reflect on what made Annette truly special not only to her family and friends, but to her legion of fans around the world.

It's good fun and fond remembrances in this week's edition of The Mouse Castle Lounge.  Enjoy!

The Mouse Castle Lounge can also be heard on iTunes and Stitcher.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The Walt Disney Family Museum, Paula Sigman Lowery and BEER in This Week's 'Mouse Castle Lounge'

I'm phoning it in on The Mouse Castle Lounge. Well, two of my guests are anyway. This week, I'm happy to welcome back Gabriella Calicchio, CEO of the Walt Disney Family Museum. Last November, I was at her place for the opening of the Museum's Snow White exhibit. This time, Gabriella calls up the Lounge and brings me up to speed on what new exhibitions are in store at WDFM in 2013. The diverse nature of these exhibitions is proof positive of why the Walt Disney Family Museum is beginning to thrive not just as a tribute to the legacy of Walt Disney, but also as a showcase for gifted artists, past and present, who were influenced by his life's work.

Camille Rose Garcia: Down the Rabbit Hole
May 9 to November 3, 2013


Camille Rose Garcia challenges fairy tale archetypes with her vivid gothic reinterpretations of classic characters ranging from Snow White to Alice in Wonderland.

Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons
Opening May 23, 2013


Maurice Sendak is best known for his seminal children's book Where the Wild Things Are, but had a long and prolific career as a writer and illustrator. He often acknowledged Disney as an artistic influence, particularly Mickey Mouse and Fantasia.

Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong
Opening August 17, 2013 


Tyrus Wong's association with Disney was brief but profound. He created the dreamy and evocative watercolor forest backgrounds for Bambi before moving to Warner Bros. where he spent over 30 years as a motion picture illustrator. Still active in the arts at age 102, Wong is a master kite builder who flies his colorful and fanciful creations regularly from the Santa Monica Pier.

Also in the Lounge, I have part two of my conversation with Disney historian Paula Sigman Lowery. We continue our discussion of the evolution of the Walt Disney Family Museum from its virtual origins to its real-life presence in San Francisco's Presidio. Paula tells a great story of how builders and designers told Museum consultant Bruce Gordon that his idea for a curving ramp in WDFM's Gallery 9 simply wasn't possible. Gordon gleefully proved them wrong.
 
You can't build a ramp in here! Oh, wait....Never mind.
Finally, I'll talk on the phone with Tina, who was attending baseball Spring Training in Arizona with the Angels when suddenly a beer festival broke out.


Play beer!
It's all part of the fun and excitement that is The Mouse Castle Lounge. Enjoy!


The Mouse Castle Lounge can also be heard on iTunes and Stitcher.

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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Paula Sigman Lowery and Happy Hour at the Anabella: This Week's Mouse Castle Lounge

Paula Sigman Lowery
It's coffee and cocktails with good friends in this week's episode of The Mouse Castle Lounge. And, what the heck, we'll throw in some Disney history and an Anaheim happy hour recommendation for you too.

First, we start off with a wonderful conversation with Disney historian Paula Sigman Lowery, who I've known via social media for about a year and a half, and finally sat down to chat with in person over lattes at Penelope's Cafe Books & Gallery, a quaint little coffee shop not far from Glendale in La Canada Flintridge. Our meeting was sparked by an article I came across that Paula had written for Disney Magazine over ten years ago about a virtual Walt Disney Family Museum. Before it existed in real life in San Francisco's Presidio, the Walt Disney Family Museum was an online extension of Disney.com that had its origin in a CD-ROM version of Walt - The Man Behind the Myth. In our discussion, Paula and I talk about the evolution of the Museum from its virtual beginnings to its present day bricks and mortar reality. Paula spent 20 years working for the Walt Disney Company, 15 of them at the Walt Disney Archives, and offers all kinds of fascinating insight into Walt, his family and the development of the Museum. She also happily shares her full-blown geekery over the Mickey Mouse Club and Spin and Marty. Hey, she may be a respected Disney historian, but she's also a fan--and true fans are always welcome in The Mouse Castle Lounge.

The Tangerine Grill and Patio at the Anabella Hotel
Next, I'll join my friend Tina at one of our favorite Anaheim hangouts, the Nectarine Bar at the Anabella Hotel. You might recall a month ago Tina and I waxed profound about the offerings at the Mendocino Wine Bar inside Disney California Adventure. This time we chime in on the happy hour specials available seven days a week at this charming hotel within easy walking distance of the Disneyland Resort. For years, the Anabella has been my first choice for location and price when I visit Anaheim. The Nectarine Bar and the adjacent Tangerine Grill and Patio are two more reasons I like to stay there. It's all about the Tangerine martinis, baby!

And, before you ask, the Anabella did not pay me for this endorsement. I really do stay there and it really is my usual first choice. So there.

Podcasters at work at the Nectarine Bar. Back off! We're professionals.
Thanks for dropping by. Please enjoy this week's installment of The Mouse Castle Lounge:



The Mouse Castle Lounge can also be heard on iTunes and Stitcher.

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