The Walt Disney Family Museum Blog

“It’s like a small movie poster?”

That is in fact exactly what a Theater Lobby Card is, a small movie poster.

Decorating theater lobby walls in the bygone era of cinema, Lobby Cards provided audiences with a taste of what was to come at their local movie house. Featured in the August installment of Look Closer, Lobby Cards promoting The Swiss Family Robinson illustrate the action, laughs, and drama of Walt Disney’s largest live action film. The complete collection of eight cards features the stars of the film, both human and animal, as well as the occasional pirate in perilous circumstances.

The Walt Disney Discovery Camp has ended but the memories will last forever! We had an amazing time this summer with our campers, some of which traveled from as far away as Wisconsin to join us.

During your next visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum, I invite you to the lower lobby to see the new case installed just a few days ago. The case is filled with treasures from Mary Blair who, according to some historians, was Walt Disney’s favorite artist! She provided concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, among other feature-length animated films and shorts.

Join us for an afternoon of Bay Area film, food and fun with KRON 4's Jan Wahl! San Francisco is the star of this REEL Local line up. From Vertigo to Dirty Harry, experience San Francisco through the eyes of Hollywood while you snack on unbeatable Bay Area bites, wine, and brews! Check out the film line-up and menu:

Our guest curator this week is Issey Honton. Issey is our Conservation and Preparation Technician. He works closely with Ben Peters in designing and installing the various exhibits in The Walt Disney Family Museum.

We asked Issey to pick his favorite artifact from the Collection and write about why he chose it. Here's his pick:

My favorite object of the collection has to be one of the Heinrich Kley drawings. Kley, born in 1863, is best known for his satirical take on the modern industrial life of his time, as well as his ability to humanize animals. Although not as well-known today as he perhaps should be, his work influenced many artists throughout the 20th Century, including Walt Disney.

Harrison "Buzz" Price, the research economist who recommended Anaheim to Walt Disney as the location for Disneyland, passed away Sunday, August 15, at the age of 89.

"Despite his failing health, he continued to demonstrate his trademark humor, cutting edge wit and enduring love for family and friends," his son David Price said on behalf of his mother, Anne Shaw Price, and the Price family. "His legacy of laughter, wit, love, passion and commitment leaves its mark on each of us--family, friends and colleagues in the leisure and recreation industry he loved."

The Walt Disney Family Museum has an impressive collection of artifacts that were all part of the life and career of Walt Disney. We are looking forward to sharing some of those objects with you in the months ahead.

This particular object is the name plaque from Walt's office. As Walt became more well known, people from all over the world began sending him gifts. This name plaque was sent to Walt in apprecation for the hours of entertainment he provided an unknown fan. Walt kept the majority of items that he received as gifts over the years.

It’s hard to believe that there is just only a month left to see our Peter Pan exhibit, but this year--like so many others--seems to be flying by at a fast clip.

Due to Aloha Weekend at the Presidio, parking will not be free to our Museums guests on August 7 and August 8. We appreciate your patience during this time.

Many Disney enthusiasts will need no introduction to John Canemaker, one of the world’s foremost animation historians, and an Academy Award®-winning animator in his own right. Intimately acquainted with the craft of making animated films, John has used his unique insights to write books exploring the lives and work of past masters in the field. His books have included Before the Animation Begins, which focuses on the top Disney concept artists; Paper Dreams, about the creative talents in the story department; and Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation, profiling some of the studio’s greatest animators.