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In the course of writing essays for StartedByAMouse.com, I have occasionally been asked to recommend sources for additional information on the topics I have covered. So many of you have expressed a deep appreciation for Disney knowledge, that I would like to pass on some of those titles so that you can begin - or enhance - your information library.
 For over 50 years, Bob Thomas has been an entertainment correspondent for the Associated Press. He had interviewed Walt on numerous occasions and in 1976 wrote Walt Disney: An American Original. First published by Simon & Schuster, the book was reissued by Disney's Hyperion label in 1994 with an updated introduction. Over the years a number of books on Walt's life and career have been written, some of which have portrayed him in a less-than-desirable (and accurate) fashion. Thomas's book has often been considered as the definitive biography on Walt. Utilizing interviews from family, friends and associates Walt Disney: An American Original portrays the true genius of Walt while showing he had human faults like all of us. It's a fascinating read and at over 360 text pages, you'll want to take your time to get through the assortment of details.
 While Walt was being creative and innovative, his brother Roy often made the business decisions to make those creations and innovations possible. In Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire (Hyperion, 1998), Thomas chronicles the accomplishments and struggles Roy encountered in both his personal and professional relationships with his youngest brother. There was a special bond between Roy and Walt, something that really had not been covered extensively until recent years. At times this book and the Walt biography seem to parallel each other, but that's because Walt's and Roy's lives largely followed the same path.
Both Thomas biographies on Walt and Roy are essential reading if one wants the most complete picture on these two men. Be forewarned however that in each book a handful of quotes contain language that may be unsuitable for younger readers.
 Next to Bob Thomas, Katherine and Richard Greene have probably done the most extensive work on Walt and Roy. The Man Behind the Magic: The Story of Walt Disney (Viking Penguin, 1991) is aimed primarily at a younger audience, but still written to be enjoyed by adult readers. The Greenes have remained involved in the subject of Disney history. In 1995 they and Diane Disney Miller established The Walt Disney Family Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization designed "to promote and produce serious discussion, writing, and scholarship about the life, work, and philosophy of Walt Disney." Its multimedia website called The Walt Disney Family Museum (which contains a section especially for children) can be accessed at waltdisney.com or via Disney Online at disney.com. The Greenes, Bob Thomas, Diane & Ron Miller, Roy Edward Disney and many others were all involved in the production of the documentary, "Walt: The Man Behind the Myth," which premiered on The Wonderful World of Disney September 16, 2001. The subsequent DVD/VHS release contains additional material not seen in the network broadcast. As a companion to the documentary, the Greenes have written Inside the Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney, which also came out in 2001 on the Disney Press label. Additionally, through their Pantheon Productions company, an interactive CD-ROM hosted by Diane and her sons Chris and Walter called Walt Disney: An Intimate History of the Man and His Magic was released in 1998.
Another author couple, Howard and Amy Boothe Green, have collected anecdotes about Walt from dozens of men and women who knew and worked with him for Remembering Walt: Favorite Memories of Walt Disney (Disney Press, 1999). Those interviewed include Hayley Mills, Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Shirley Temple Black, Annette Funicello and many more.
 Much has been written on the theme parks. For some detailed and well-illustrated books on Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I have relied on Disneyland: The Inside Story by Randy Bright (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987); and Since the World Began: Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years by Jeff Kurtti (Roundtable Press/Hyperion, 1996). The Disneyland book has long been out of print, but can likely be found in any public library.
 My first contribution to Startedbyamouse.com was an essay on "The Wonderful World of Disney". An invaluable resource was Bill Cotter's 600-plus pages book, The Wonderful World of Disney Television: A Complete History. Published by Hyperion, it covers not just the anthology series but also the numerous specials, individual series, The Disney Channel and more up to 1997. Cotter has since provided supplemental material on the book through his website, billcotter.com. The book can be purchased through the site, as well as a new CD-ROM appendix covering topics such as series schedules, awards, merchandising, even information on proposed Disney shows that were never produced.
 For a more recent look at the Disney company, Michael Eisner has provided his own perspective with Work in Progress (co-authored with Tony Schwartz and released by Random House in 1998). Not just about his tenure at Disney, Eisner also writes about working at ABC in the 1960s and 1970s and as a top executive at Paramount Pictures prior to his association with the company that began in 1984. It is not light reading, but still intriguing.
 Of course the one person who may be the most authoritative on everything-Disney is Dave Smith. In 1970, Roy Oliver Disney hired the former UCLA bibliographer to establish an archival library for the studios in Burbank, CA. Smith continues to run The Disney Archives. In 1996, he and his staff prepared a reference book of 6,500 entries called Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia. There has since been a second edition as well as supplemental material. All the major facets of the characters, animated and live-action films, songs, theme parks and more are covered. This book is a definite must for any Disney fan.
These are just a few of the many great resources available for extensive Disney information. Check them out and enjoy!
- Story by Bill Griffiths; Images ©Disney
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