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For years, two of the most authoritative Disney Historians on the web were Jim Korkis and Wade Sampson. Then, in 2010, a huge secret was revealed—the two were actually one!

Each month, we’ll introduce you to one of our Members, so you can see the varied and frequently fascinating people, who have come together to learn and experience more about the life, work, philosophies, and ideals of Walt Disney. This month, we'd like you to meet Sheri Dirden.

One of the many treasures to be found in the galleries of The Walt Disney Family Museum is the breathtaking model of Disneyland. The model is officially named the "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination," and represents the park with attractions that existed or were in development during Walt's lifetime...

On July 16 and 17, The Walt Disney Family Museum was filled with the vibrant, ragtime stylings of Rod Miller, Disneyland's first and only full-time pianist. For nearly four decades, Rod charmed guests of Disneyland with his innovative talent and delightful personality.

On July 15, 2010, The Walt Disney Family Museum published its very first blog post here on STORYBOARD. Exactly one year later, we celebrate STORYBOARD's first birthday by asking it, "STORYBOARD, What Do YOU Do??"

As part of this month’s observation of Walt Disney’s space age visions, guest blogger Jeff Pepper provides an overview of Walt’s pioneering series of Space Exploration programs. “Man in Space” will have a rare public screening in the state-of-the-art digital theatre at The Walt Disney Family Museum on Saturday, July 23 at 3:00PM. Internationally-respected Disney Historian Jim Korkis (The Vault of Walt) will be hosting the presentation and providing insight into this groundbreaking television programming. Tickets are available at the Reception and Member Service Desk at our museum, or online at www.waltdisney.org.

My parents were married on July 13, 1925. It seems that all—or nearly all—of mother's large family were present at the wedding in Lewiston, Idaho...

They shared a stage at Disneyland five days a week for nearly three decades, and passed away within a day of each other. Betty Taylor, who played Slue Foot Sue in the long-running "Golden Horseshoe Revue," passed away on Saturday, June 4—just a day after the death of Wally Boag, who played her character's sweetheart, Pecos Bill. 

Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and personal tidbits. This month in our series titled "What Do YOU Do?", we're highlighting Corinne Leles, who was—until recently—known as Corinne McCoy (congrats)!!

Miniatures and models held a special fascination for Walt Disney, and he used three-dimensional sculpture to help visualize his concepts and ideas as part of the creative process, from the Studio’s animated films, through the design of Disneyland, and beyond. Even today in the digital realm of three-dimensional animation and in theme park design, the tradition of using sculpted (or digital) models continues... 

Disney historian and author J.B . Kaufman will introduce six of Walt Disney’s first cartoons—including two recently discovered and restored by New York’s Museum of Modern Art—at July’s Silent Film Festival at San Francisco’s legendary Castro Theatre, July 16, 2011, courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum and MOMA.

Even though the characters and culture he created have become global (and in many ways a sovereign entity all their own), Walt Disney was a uniquely American creation. We have often heard about Walt’s love of country, and his sense of pride in the United States of America—and throughout his career he displayed his deeply-felt patriotism over and over again.

The 1962 film Moon Pilot has a unique place not only in Disney history, but also in the history of Radio City Music Hall. But just what made ticket sales soar for this film is a little known and fascinating story. 

It was a fulfilling day for those who spent the morning of Saturday, June 25 outside The Walt Disney Family Museum, learning to draw animals from live models, and returning in the afternoon for WDFM historian JB Kaufman’s lecture, The Anatomy of an Animal: Animating a Deer. When asked if they enjoyed the live study session, the assembled crowd voiced a resounding "Yeah!"

Each month, The Walt Disney Family Museum staff takes a closer look at an artifact or exhibit within our galleries. Throughout June, the Museum has celebrated Walt Disney’s brilliant and timeless 1942 animated feature, Bambi. In this posting, Museum Interpreter Mary Beth Culler offers an appreciation of the Bambi art of Tyrus Wong.

“A funny thing happened to me on my way to the moon…girl (with seven moons all made for love) meets boy (with chimp)…and WOW!”

That was the marketing phrase that appeared on many movie advertisements for the Disney live-action “Technicolor® blast of fun and entertainment” known as Moon Pilot, first released to theaters nearly fifty years ago.

On June 11, 2011, The Walt Disney Family Museum had the great privilege of hosting not only Charles Solomon, noted author and animation historian; Paul Felix, art director at Walt Disney Animation Studios; and Ralph Eggleston, animator, storyboard artist, and production designer at Pixar Animation Studios, but also the incredibly humble and astounding inspirational artist, Tyrus Wong.

As we celebrate Walt's timeless and beautiful feature film Bambi, author and historian J.B. Kaufman will be visiting our museum to discuss the visual styles and work that went into animating the film, which includes a discussion about the anatomy of an animal and how artists would study live animal models at the studio to get their movements and mannerisms just right.