And now, a moment of shameless self-promotion

When I’m not skewering and smacking around politicians and pop culture here at The Weitz Paper, one of my other interests is the creative history of Disney theme parks, Walt’s original Disneyland in Anaheim to be specific.  I don’t get to spend much time in this leisure pursuit, since I have almost no leisure time at all by now.  But I still dabble on occasions.

One of these occasions recently got published in a forthcoming book by enthusiastic collector and chronicler of the Golden Era of Disney creative talent, Didier Ghez.   Quite a while ago, Didier was kind enough to contact me through my largely archival website, Etixland, which was created and grew out of my lifelong delight of Disneyland.

As such a fan, I was lucky enough to meet up with one of the legendary Disney Imagineers, X Atencio, the show writer/songwriter/animator who helped create some of Disneyland’s greatest E-ticket attractions including The Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion among many others.  Travel around this planet and you’ll find people who will join you in a rousing chorus of Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me, even those who have never visited those buccaneers of Anaheim — that’s how Atencio’s work has permeated American pop culture and helped define theme park entertainment.

I’ve gotten a good deal of support and nice comments from those inside and outside the Mouse, and Didier was kind enough to join that list and write to me about my interview with X.  Didier asked if he could include my interview with Mr. Atencio in a future volume of his book series, Walt’s People.  I was flattered and agreed, and just this week I received the fruit of Didier’s love-labor and generosity: a signed copy of the newly published Walt’s People Volume 7.

Walt's People Volume 7

My 2002 interview with X Atencio is but one chapter in this nearly 400-page volume featuring great visits with many other Disney legends including Clarence Nash, Bill Tytla, Jim Macdondald, Harry Tytle, Milt Kahl to name only a few.

It’s a cracking-good read for any Disney fan and, as always, best because the ‘story’ is told by those who lived and worked with Walt every day, personal witnesses to a true innovator of the 20th Century.   For me, X Atencio remains an inspiration and a personal hero for his own innovations in helping create the template for these theme park marvels of imagination and magical illusion.  I’m indeed lucky he chose to share with me his experiences on forging the stamp of E-ticket attractions, and I’m very glad to share those stories with all fans of his work everywhere.

Currently Walt’s People Volume7 is available to order through Xlibris — and naturally makes a fantastic holiday gift for the Disney/theme park/ride afficionado/literate reader nearest you.  Through Xlibris the book is only available for order in the U.S. currently, but that will change quickly when it becomes available through Amazon soon, and I’ll amend this post with a link to it there.

And while this may be a shameless plug of self-promotion, rest assured I don’t make a dime from the book sales.  I just want to spread the word to like individuals who I know will enjoy reading it and learning more about some fascinating people who inhabited Walt’s circle once upon a time.

The political send-ups and satirical snarkiness now resumes as regularly scheduled!