Notably Disney

Ever wonder about some of the secret stories and forgotten aspects of Walt Disney World? Well, author Foxx Nolte has catalogued many of these tales and fascinating finds in a new book: Hidden History of Walt Disney World, published by The History Press. On this episode of Notably Disney, Foxx, who garnered much acclaim for the book Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations inside Disney’s Haunted Mansion, discusses curating great discoveries in Disney history and what this new title uncovers.  Pick up a copy of Hidden History of Walt Disney World via The History Press or wherever you purchase books. Follow Foxx Nolte's work on the Passport to Dreams Old and New blog MiceChat. Check out Foxx on Twitter/X @Passport2Dreams! Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of the podcast debut on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year is Splash, the first release from Touchstone Pictures, the late film label from Disney as it aimed to create a space for more adult fare. Splash was an immediate hit for the studio, one that defined romantic comedies and fantasies for the 80s, and features an unforgettable score from the legendary Lee Holdridge. Lee is the winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards, and garnered 18 Emmy Award nominations total, plus two Grammy Award nominations. Lee’s work for television and film has spanned more than fifty years for productions including East of Eden, the Beauty and the Beast series from the 1980s, and Moonlighting. In fact, one of his most enduring pieces of music was for ABC’s long-running One Life to Live, the late soap opera, for which he won two Daytime Emmys. On this episode of Notably Disney, Lee discusses with host Brett Nachman his career and composing contributions. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe

This episode of Notably Disney welcomes on London-based author Emily Zemler. Emily is a writer and journalist who has crafted over stories and celebrity interviews for a variety of outlets, including The Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Allure, Rolling Stone, Time, and more. Emily has catalogued fascinating insights about the development and impact of various brands for The Walt Disney Company via books including Disney Princess: Behind the Tiara and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Beyond Halloween Town. Emily shares about these books' development, the enduring fan appeal of these properties, and much more with host Brett Nachman. Learn more about Emily's work and books via her website. Follow Emily on Twitter @emilyzemler and Instagram @emilyzemler. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of the podcast debut on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

Emmy Award-winner Ken Bruce has a storied career in animation across a variety of roles and projects, such as an animation timer for shows like Family Guy and a sequence director for The Fairly OddParents, to a storyboard artist for films like Shrek, Up, and Toy Story 3. He now brings his adoration of the classic Disneyland attraction The Enchanted Tiki Room to spectacular light via his incredible new book: Before the Birds Sang Words. It's a master-class book that disentangles the show's history, including all of the elements that led to its creation. Ken shares how he invested years of effort and love into this passion project, one of the richest examinations of any singular Disney theme park attraction to date via book form.  You can pick up a copy of Before the Birds Sang Words on Amazon.  Feel free to follow Brett on Twitter/X (@bnachmanreports), subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of the podcast debut on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

Although many of us are familiar with the Disney artists, including singers and songwriters who have delivered many of our favorite tunes from the Mouse House, there are unsung heroes who also have stories to share. Music producer Bambi Moé discusses her experiences with some top-notch Hollywood talent in a lovely book called Part of the Magic: A Collection of Disney-Inspired Brushes with Greatness. On this episode of Notably Disney, Bambi chats with host Brett Nachman as she relays amazing anecdotes of bringing a dose of pixie dust to Disney music across the 80s, 90, and beyond. Bambi discusses memories of working on the Disney Sing-Along Songs series, interacting with the late Gilbert Gottfried on the Aladdin sequels, and much more! Order a copy of Part of the Magic: A Collection of Disney-Inspired Brushes with Greatness via the University Press of Mississippi website or wherever you find books. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback

The 96th Academy Awards takes place on Sun, March 10, making now a perfect time to think about Disney’s role with the Oscars. Over the years many dozens of songs and scores have been nominated, and even a handful have won for their respective categories. Invariably, though, there have been some significant omissions, in terms of songs and scores that should have been nominated, along with songs that maybe should not have won or even been nominated in the first place. Of course, too, a few great songs missed the opportunity to win an Oscar, even if nominated. On this episode of Notably Disney, longtime guest and author Aaron Wallace returns to chat with host Brett Nachman about some takes of Disney songs and scores, and their connections (or lack thereof) to the Oscars. Get in contact with Aaron Wallace by following him on Twitter (@aaronwallace), Instagram (@aaronhwallace), and on his website www.aaronwallaceonline.com, where you can learn more about his books. Feel free to follow Brett on Twitter (@bnachmanr

Four years ago, orchestrator and composer Jeff Kryka joined Notably Disney to discuss his incredible score for The Imagineering Story, the 6-part documentary series on Disney+, as well as his early career in the music industry and often collaborating with famed composer Michael Giacchino. In the years since Jeff has orchestrated a number of films and series for The Walt Disney Company, from Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: No Way Home and Thor: Love and Thunder to Pixar’s Lightyear and Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2. Additionally his orchestrations have been heard in the Disney theme parks and via live-to-picture concerts. On this episode of Notably Disney, Jeff returns to share his reflections on a variety of newer Disney projects, such as the Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction at Shanghai Disneyland and Werewolf by Night.  Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback at notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tue

For 37 years The Walt Disney Company has bestowed one of its highest honors – the Disney Legends Award – to 304 contributors to the corporation over its 100-year history, ranging from animators and Imagineers to singers and executives. In Disney Legends: Makers of Magic, Volume 1, author Jamie Hecker highlights many of these notable names. On this episode of Notably Disney, Jamie joins host Brett Nachman to discuss his Disney journey, writing for Celebrations Magazine, and writing two Disney-focused books. Check out more about Jamie's written work via JamieHeckerWriter.com, where you can learn more about and Disney Legends: Makers of Magic, Volume 1 and order on Amazon. You can also gather more information about Walt Goes to Washington: Finding Disney in DC, his other book, also available on Amazon.  Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com 

In a special episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman and guest Matthew Hodge (professor and author) discuss some favorite Disney songs and scores, and then offer recommendations if you like those particular selections. It's a fun game of "if you like this, then you love these" other options. Learn more about Matt's work by visiting his website. And be sure to purchase a copy of Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney, his award-winning book about Disney and jazz, by visiting Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com New episodes of the podcast debut on the first and third Tuesday of every month.

A new year brings new opportunity to plan your Disney-related vacation. Travel journalist Seth Kubersky, the longtime author behind The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland series, joins host Brett Nachman to discuss the 2024 iteration of the book and how to best plan your next vacation to The Happiest Place on Earth. The pair discuss touring plans, Genie+, dining and lodging tips, and much more on this episode of Notably Disney. Pick up a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2024 (written by Seth Kubersky, with Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa and Guy Selga Jr.) via your local bookstore or TheUnofficialGuides.com. Follow Seth on Instagram (@skubersky), Twitter (@skubersky) & The Unofficial Guide on Instagram (@TheUnofficialGuides), Twitter (@theugseries), and Facebook (The Unofficial Guides). Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has enveloped both the silver screen and television screens for the past 15 years, and now comes the release of a new book that explores the emergence of this Hollywood titan. MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios recently debuted from authors Dave Gonzales, Gavin Edwards, and Joanna Robinson, serving as an in-depth, comprehensive exploration into the studio that has come to rule Tinsel Town and even have some fissures within. On this episode of Notably Disney, past guest and fellow Disney connoisseur Derek Lewis joins host Brett Nachman to discuss what readers can expect in the book.  To learn more about the book, check out its Amazon page. Follow Derek on Instagram: @dereknlewis Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com 

In November 1998 the fledgling Pixar Animation Studios debuted its second theatrical film after Toy Story, the massive hit that took Hollywood by storm. A Bug's Life may not have reached the same extraordinarily levels of critical and audience acclaim and box office prowess, but still represents a very beloved - if not underrated - feature in the Pixar pantheon of features. Today on Notably Disney Brett Nachman revisits the extremely funny and heartfelt film, including its great ensemble voice cast, public reception, stellar score by Randy Newman, and presence in the Disney theme parks! Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter/X @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month. 

Over the decades The Walt Disney Company has embarked on many projects that never came to fruition. One of those famous endeavors that has rarely been explored in as much depth is Disney’s intent to build a ski resort in the Mineral King Valley in the 1960s and 1970s. On this episode of Notably Disney host Brett Nachman speaks with journalists and writers Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer. Glasgow and Mayer are authors of the new book Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was, published by Rowman and Littlefield. To learn more about the book, visit DisneylandOnTheMountain.com. Purchase a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever you buy books. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month. 

Dr. Cody Havard is Professor of Sport Commerce and the Director of Research in the Kemmons Wilson School at The University of Memphis and engages in work around sports rivalries and fandom. He has extended his passion for how fans appreciate their topical interests – specifically within the realm of Disney – into many venues, including a class, the Being a Fan of Disney: The Podcast, and now the Being a Fan of Disney: The Book. On this episode of Notably Disney Cody returns and joins host Brett Nachman to discuss how he has translated the lessons from his curricular and podcast experiences into a new title.  Purchase a copy of Being a Fan of Disney: The Book on Amazon (available via paperback, hardcover, and Kindle versions), and learn more about Cody's work on SharedPerspectives.org. Listen to "Being a Fan of Disney" wherever you listen to podcasts, and be sure to follow Cody on Twitter/X (@chavardphd), Instagram (@codyhavard), and Being a Fan of Disney on Facebook! Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitte

Today’s guest has represented Disney beauty and talent from the Broadway stage in New York to the shimmering seas of Disney Cruise Line. On this episode, host Brett Nachman brings on singer, actress, and educator Jennifer Shrader Williams, who played Babette and Belle for Disney on Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and currently teaches at William Peace University. The two talk all about Jennifer’s career and favorite moments, including performing at the extinct Mickey's Starland in the Magic Kingdom and mishaps unfolding while on stage in Beauty and the Beast. Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback at notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

It’s book review time on this episode of Notably Disney as host Brett Nachman welcomes back some favorite fellow podcasters who have participated on many past episodes of the show. It’s Courtney Guth and Emily McDermott of the Book of the Mouse Club podcast that spotlights Disney books and books that have connections to Disney stories. On this episode, Brett, Courtney, and Emily discuss a recent autobiography published by Disney Editions: Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive. It’s from former Walt Disney Attractions chairman Dick Nunis, who worked for the company for 44 years and oversaw much of what we have come to adore at the Disney theme parks. For more fun with Emily, Courtney, and Brett, check out their collective review of Not Just a Walk in the Park: My Worldwide Disney Resorts Career by Jim Cora and Jeff Kurtti on the Book of the Mouse Club podcast! Be sure to check out the Book of the Mouse Club podcast on Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen to podcasts. Their email is bookofthemouse

Composer, singer-songwriter, and musician Gabriel Mann has contributed dozens of scores over the past few decades across many media, such as video games, TV series, and movies. Within the world of Disney, and its broadcasting networks and streaming services, he is perhaps known as the composer behind hits like ABC's long-running Modern Family, drama A Million Little Things, and Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. On this episode of Notably Disney, Gabriel discusses his career, those projects, and what's on the docket in the months ahead.  Learn more about Gabriel's work by visiting his website, as well as following him on Twitter (@gabrielmann), Instagram (@gabrielsmann) and Facebook (GabrielMannMusic). Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.  

Returning to Notably Disney is one of the most informed Disney scholars. Author Jim Fanning has contributed his talents to numerous Disney publications and titles over the years, and has multiple new releases this fall, including Drawing 100 Years of Disney Wonder: A retrospective collection of artwork and step-by-step drawing projects featuring a curated collection of iconic Disney characters the past 100 years. On this episode, Jim discusses with host Brett Nachman about his storied and unique career for Disney, including writing the descriptions of movies for VHS cases, and primarily on this new title debuting from Walter Foster Publishing. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of Drawing 100 Years of Disney Wonder - releasing on September 26 and with a foreword by Disney Legend Andreas Deja - you can check it out on the Walter Foster Publishing website. The book is now available for pre-order. Jim's Tigger-themed story that he wrote and discussed on the episode is found within Disney's One Saturday Mo

Dr. Peter C. Kunze, an assistant professor of communication at Tulane University, joins host Brett Nachman to discuss his new book: Staging a Comeback: Broadway, Hollywood, and the Disney Renaissance. The title explores a compelling era for The Walt Disney Company, one that ultimately found the fluttering corporation transform into a bustling conglomerate, in large part due to its leaning into musicals. Pete discusses the book's development, rich content, and much more. Find out how you can purchase a copy of the book by visiting Rutgers University Press. To receive a discount on the book (30% off + free shipping), use promo code RUSA30. The discount is for orders in the U.S. Email Pete at pkunze@tulane.edu and follow him on Twitter @petecanttweet.  Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

This summer brought the return of one of film’s classic adventure heroes to the big screen. Although Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s fate may have been in an subpar box office, its score, slated to be among the last of master composer John Williams, will leave you as excited as the ticker tape parade scene from the latest installment. On this episode of Notably Disney, fellow podcaster and returning guest Trent Vactor joins host Brett Nachman to review the film and its score, and discuss the future of the franchise. Follow Trent Vactor on Twitter (@Vactor) and Instagram (@Vactor). Subscribe to the Vactor-Verse content, featuring comic book shorts, video game playthroughs, discussions and, more on YouTube (@Vactor).  Feel free to reach out to Brett via Twitter @bnachmanreports, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to notablydisney@gmail.com  New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.