Sun, 10 July 2016
Hello my friends and welcome to one of the most exciting shows in the history of the Disney Avenue Podcast. Today’s guest is no stranger to the Disney community and has always been a man on the move. For nearly 40 years, he has helped move countless Disney theme park guests aboard vehicles and ride conveyances of his own design. As he’s often stated, “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it.” And he certainly has. He has developed more than 100 designs for attractions ranging from Autopia and Matterhorn Bobsleds to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Monorails. He is the one and only Bob Gurr. Bob has an amazing new documentary coming out soon titled, Bob Gurr: Turning Dreams into Reality which we’ll be discussing among other highlights from his storied career working with Walt. You can learn more about the film and how to buy yourself a copy by clicking HERE. And, as if having Bob on the Disney Avenue Podcast wasn’t enough, legendary former Imagineer Tim Delaney, who was our very first guest here on the show, is joining us today as a very special cohost. Teaming up with a big named former Imagineer like Tim Delaney to interview the great Bob Gurr has not only created a spectacular show for our listeners to experience, but has been a dream come true. And so friends, it is with great pleasure and excitement to welcome Bob Gurr to the Disney Avenue Podcast. If you enjoy listening to the show and hearing from Disney Legends like Bob Gurr, please please please head on over to iTunes and leave us a quick rating and review to help us spread the word to other Disney fans around the world. Thank you for tuning in and spending some of your precious time with us. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_21_-_Bob_Gurr_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:11am PDT |
Wed, 27 April 2016
Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. On today's show, host Keith Mahne is joined by MiceChat CEO Dusty Sage for an amazing interview with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway. Before Charlie was hired as a cast member under Walt, he promoted Disneyland as a news reporter. During 1954-55, while the Park was still under construction, he authored some of the very first articles about Disneyland to appear in any of the major metropolitan newspapers. He also covered Disneyland’s grand opening celebration on July 17, 1955. Eight years later, he joined the Park’s publicity staff in 1963. Charlie helped launch the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, Epcot Center in 1982, Disneyland Paris in 1992, as well as other special projects for celebrations such as Donald Duck’s 50th birthday and so much more. Charlie shared some truly amazing stories with us on the show so be sure not to miss this one. After more than 40 years with the Walt Disney Company, Charlie retired in 1994. He would go on to consult on special projects, including the launch of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Disney Cruise Line. Charlie published his fantastic memoir, “Spinning Disney’s World,” in 2007 that is a MUST READ for any Disney fan so be sure to grab your copy HERE. Charlie became a Disney Legend in 1999 and it is such an honor to have him join us on the show today. With that said friends, it is with great excitement to welcome Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway to the Disney Avenue Podcast…Enjoy. You can help support and follow the Walt Disney Birthplace Project by clicking HERE. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_20_-_Charlie_Ridgway_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:28am PDT |
Sat, 27 February 2016
Welcome to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue
Podcast. For our very first show of 2016, we are joined by
R.J. and Suzanne Ogren who are two former Walt Disney World cast
members and they are about to blow you away with some amazing
stories from their incredible careers working at the vacation
kingdom. R.J. painted Animatronic figures and "plussed"
attractions. Suzanne drove monorails, marched in parades, and
entertained as Sleepy the dwarf, among other things. Together, the
Ogrens brought their unique skills to Walt Disney World's Magic
Kingdom during its formative years. R.J. and Suzanne are about to
share their wonderful memories with us so make sure not to miss
this fantastic show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_19_-_Suzanne_RJ_Ogren_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm PDT |
Fri, 11 December 2015
It's the most wonderful time of
year here on the Disney Avenue Podcast and boy,
what an amazing show we have in store for you. As many of you know,
Christmas and Disney go hand in hand. I’ve yet to experience a
Christmas display or Spectacle anywhere on earth that can top
Disney. The beautiful lights and decorations along Main Street, the
beauty of Cinderella Castle decked out in millions of lights, and,
of course, that little light show over in Disney’s Hollywood
Studios, the truly breathtaking Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing
Lights.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_18_-_Osborne_Lights.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am PDT |
Wed, 16 September 2015
The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with another
amazing guest from the Disney universe. Dave Bossert, who is
currently the Producer, Creative Director and Head of Classic
Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios, joins host Keith Michael
Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com for a spectacular
interview. Dave Bossert studied at the Character Animation program
at CalArts. He has contributed his talents as a visual effects
animator to such films as The Little Mermaid, Beauty
and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King,
Pocahontas, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tim Burton’s
The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hercules, and
many others. He is the author of one of my favorite books titled
"Remembering Roy E. Disney: Memories and Photos of a
Storied Life", which was published by Disney Press in 2013. He
has also authored "An Animator's Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the
Disney Characters" and his newest book "Dali and Disney: Destino" which are all
available now on Amazon. Friends, it is with great excitement to
welcome Dave Bossert to the Disney Avenue
Podcast…Enjoy.
Direct download: No_Commercial_Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_17_-_Dave_Bossert_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:28pm PDT |
Tue, 4 August 2015
This time around on the
Disney Avenue Podcast, we interview the former
Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World
Resort, the incredible Lee Cockerell. As the Senior Operating
Executive for ten years, Lee has led a team of 40,000
Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort
hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping &
entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in
addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one
vacation destination in the world. Lee offers us some wonderful
insight on what it takes to run a resort complex like the
incredible Walt Disney World. This is a show you won't want to
miss...
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_16_-_Lee_Cockerell_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:55pm PDT |
Mon, 13 July 2015
Welcome friends to another episode of the Disney Avenue
Podcast. As you all know, the Disney community is unlike
any other. It's filled with amazing people who love to help each
other out and enjoy reveling in the magic together. Although we are
all different, we all share and have experienced that feeling you
get when you walk into a Disney Park. We all know that feeling of
safety and escape it provides us. Someone who really appreciates
that comfort is a wonderful man named Guy Spagnoli. Guy is a
Vietnam veteran, and just like all of our service men and women, is
a hero in my opinion. Guy is currently the subject of a documentary
in production called Keep Moving Forward about his
struggles with PTSD and how he uses Disney to self-medicate. I
think it's an important story to be told and one we can all relate
to which is why I’ve invited Guy and the producers of this
heartfelt documentary, Brent and Emily on the show so that you can
hear from them personally and understand why this project is so
important. It is with great honor and respect to welcome Guy
Spangnoli and the producers of the documentary Keep Moving
Forward, Brent Bandemer and Emily Strong to the Disney
Avenue Podcast….Enjoy!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_15_-_Keep_Moving_Forward.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:25pm PDT |
Tue, 23 June 2015
Welcome back friends to another special episode of the
Disney Avenue Podcast. With all the excitement
going on right now for the 60th anniversary of Disneyland, I
though…what could we do on this show to really make it special
for you in commemorating the 60th? And then it hit me…let's
invite the one and only Marty Sklar to come back on the show
and tell us all about the opening of Disneyland because, well,
simply put, Marty was there with Walt on that
special day!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_14_-_Marty_Sklar_Interview_02.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:24am PDT |
Thu, 23 April 2015
Welcome to the April 2015 episode of the
Disney Avenue Podcast! This month we have
legendary animator Floyd Norman joining us. Though he prefers to be
called a “cartoonist,” few other artists working in animation today
can boast a career as varied as that of Floyd Norman. From the
1950s to today, Floyd’s diverse career, insightful viewpoint, and
unflinching honesty have truly made him a Disney
Legend. The Disney Avenue
Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and
our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their
contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_13_-_Floyd_Norman_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:26pm PDT |
Sun, 22 March 2015
Welcome back friends to the March 2015 edition of the
Disney Avenue Podcast! Host Keith Michael
Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com interview the
queen of creativity herself, the amazingly talented Terri
Harden. If you've always wanted to know how to become an
Imagineer or wanted to hear what being an Imagineer is all about
then you are in luck as Terri is about to lay it all out for
you! Terri is the definition of creativity and is just an amazing
person!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_12_-_Terri_Hardin_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:01am PDT |
Tue, 17 February 2015
The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with this
month's show featuring another fantastic interview with Disney
Legend, Walt Disney Archives founder and former chief archivist
David Smith! Dusty Sage, of MiceChat.com, teams up with host Keith Michael Mahne
for another amazing show. It was a wonderful conversation and a
whole lot of fun. The Disney Avenue
Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and
our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their
contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_11_-_Dave_Smith_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:27pm PDT |
Sat, 17 January 2015
Born in Southern California in 1952, Ron was born to be a performer. He was a puppeteer, ventriloquist, magician and actor, who was fascinated by Walt Disney’s Disneyland and so was born his dream of one day performing at the park. Ron got his first theme park job in 1970, and over the ensuing 40 years he’s done it all – writing, directing, consulting, managing and performing for multiple production companies and in eight theme parks and five themed restaurants across America.
The Disney Avenue
Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and
our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their
contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_10_-_Ron_Schneider_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm PDT |
Mon, 15 December 2014
The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with a wonderful Christmas Special that is sure to get you in the Holiday spirit. Disney historian and author Jim Korkis joins host Keith Michael Mahne for a wonderful interview on Walt Disney featuring some amazing and rarely heard Christmas stories from his life. Jim is the ultimate "go-to guy" on Walt Disney and we couldn't think of a better person to have on this Christmas Special. Jim tells us about Walt's love of the Holiday Season, what Christmas was like for Walt as a child, about a special gift to Lillian that inspired a classic animated movie, and so much more. So get cozy by the fire, grab a warm cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this Disney Avenue Podcast Christmas Special...Merry Christmas everyone!!! After you listen to the show, please make sure to check out Jim's wonderful books at themeparkpress.com and Amazon. They make the perfect Christmas gift for any Disney enthusiast! DisneyAvenue.com
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_9_-_Christmas_Special.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30pm PDT |
Tue, 25 November 2014
The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with a fantastic interview with Walt Disney Imagineering's original “designing woman” Alice Davis. Married to Disney Legend Marc Davis, she enjoyed a fashionable Disney career of her own, designing and dressing animated figures for such beloved Disneyland attractions as it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean. One day, she received a call from her former art instructor and future husband, Marc. He needed a costume designed and created for Helene Stanley to wear for some live-action reference footage being filmed to inspire his animation of the lead character Briar Rose in Sleeping Beauty. That job led Alice to design costumes for Disney’s live-action motion picture Toby Tyler. In 1963, Walt Disney recruited Alice to contribute her skill to the attraction it’s a small world for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Collaborating with art designer and Disney Legend Mary Blair, Alice researched, designed, and supervised the creation of more than 150 highly detailed costumes for the Audio-Animatronics children of the world. During this time, Alice also formulated costuming procedures, set up a manufacturing base, and developed quality control refurbishing techniques, which established the standards for three-dimensional characters in rides and shows created by WDI. In 1965, she translated the pirates’ attire from Marc’s original drawings of the shiver-me-timbers cast and crew into clothing designs and patterns for all of the costumes featured in Pirates of the Caribbean. Two years later, when the attraction opened at Disneyland, guests were dazzled by the animated figures and their colorful, textured pirate-wear. Later, Alice contributed to General Electric’s Carousel of Progress and the Flight to the Moon attractions. Married in June 1956, Alice and Marc enjoyed a Disney fairy-tale-romance-come-true for 44 years until Marc’s death in 2000. Alice has continued to consult for the Company, and remains a frequent face at Disneyland events. She was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland—next to her husband’s window—on May 10, 2012. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_8_-_Alice_Davis_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:25pm PDT |
Fri, 7 November 2014
On this episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast, host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com team up for another amazing interview with the one and only Rolly Crump! Words may not fully describe this man, but one thing is for certain, he was a true “original,” even among Imagineers as Rolly drew forth genius in others.
Born Roland Fargo Crump on February 27, 1930, in Alhambra, California, Rolly took a pay cut as a “dipper” in a ceramic factory to join The Walt Disney Studios in 1952. To help pay bills, he built sewer manholes on weekends. He served as an in-between artist and, later, assistant animator, contributing to Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and others.
In 1959, he joined show design at WED Enterprises, now known as Walt Disney Imagineering. There, he became one of Walt’s key designers for some of Disneyland’s groundbreaking new attractions and shops, including the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar.
Rolly served as a key designer on the Disney attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, including it’s a small world, for which he designed the Tower of the Four Winds marquee. When the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966, Rolly designed the larger-than-life animated clock at its entrance, which sends puppet children on parade with each quarter-hour gong.
After contributing to the initial design of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, and developing story and set designs for NBC’s Disney on Parade in 1970, Rolly left the Company to consult on projects including Busch Gardens in Florida and California, the ABC Wildlife Preserve in Maryland, and Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus World in Florida, among others.
He returned in 1976 to contribute to EPCOT Center, serving as project designer for The Land and the Wonders of Life pavilions. He also participated in master planning for an expansion of Disneyland until 1981, when he again departed to lead design on a proposed Cousteau Ocean Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and to launch his own firm, the Mariposa Design Group, developing an array of themed projects around the world, including an international celebration for the country of Oman.
In 1992, Rolly returned to Imagineering as executive designer, redesigning and refurbishing The Land and Innoventions at Epcot Center. Rolly “retired” from The Walt Disney Company in 1996, but continued to work on a number of creative projects. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2004 and released his autobiography, It’s Kind of a Cute Story, in 2012.
Get ready for a truly amazing show... you just might hear a "cute story" or two...
The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_2_-_Rolly_Crump_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:00am PDT |
Sat, 18 October 2014
On this special Halloween edition of the Disney Avenue Podcast, host Keith Michael Mahne interviews famous psychic medium to the stars Michael J. Kouri. Michael has some very interesting stories to share with us and you'll particularly enjoy the ones about his claimed interactions with Walt Disney. It's the perfect Halloween episode and it's going to be like nothing you've ever heard before. Michael was a pleasure to speak with and aside from being a medium, he is a huge Disneyland fan and frequent visitor of the parks. He has a very intriguing new book about to come out on Halloween day called, The Ghost of Walt Disney and Me, and you can purchase that directly from his website icghosts.com. So keep an open mind, dim the lights down low and enjoy this Halloween edition of the Disney Avenue Podcast... The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contribution to the sound quality of this show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_6_-_Halloween_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:13am PDT |
Sat, 4 October 2014
On this episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast, Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com joins host Keith Michael Mahne for a fantastic interview with the lovely Kile Ozier! For over 25 years, Kile has been masterfully creating and producing amazing experiences that really seem to connect with the audience on intimate and profound levels. Some of his work include Universal Islands of Adventure, Epcot, the TEA Next Gen initiative and so much more. You may have heard him recently on the Season Pass Podcast where he did a truly touching and eye opening interview and you can find that show link below. I've really come to admire and respect Kile and we hope you enjoy his life stories and his infectious personality as much as we have. Enjoy! The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Kile Ozier Season Pass Podcast Show
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_5_-_Kile_Ozier_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT |
Sat, 13 September 2014
On this episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast, host Keith Michael Mahne has a wonderful conversation with famous author, Disney historian and the "go to" guy on Walt and all things Disney for that matter, Mr. Jim Korkis. Jim has one of the best personalities around and is full of fantastic stories and insights on Walt and the company. Be sure not to pass this one up! After you listen to the show please make sure to check out Jim's wonderful books at themeparkpress.com and Amazon. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contribution to the sound quality of this show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_4_-_Jim_Korkis_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT |
Fri, 15 August 2014
The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with a guest I think you may have heard of...Marty Sklar! Dusty Sage, founder and CEO of MiceChat.com, joins host Keith Michael Mahne for another fantastic interview with a man that needs no introduction. Marty talks about joining the company, working and writing for Walt Disney, his old pals John Hench and Herb Ryman, finding out Walt had passed away, whether he will attend the opening of Shanghai Disney and so much more. This is a show you definitely won't want to miss. As former vice chairman and principal creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, Marty Sklar stood as a dedicated torchbearer of Walt Disney’s philosophy since first joining the company a month before Disneyland opened in 1955. He helped express and preserve Walt’s spirit of optimism, happiness, and hope for the future through attractions and special exhibitions in Disney theme parks around the world. For more than 50 years, Walt’s inspiration has burned in Marty. He once said, “Working with Walt Disney was the greatest ‘training by fire’ anyone could ever experience. Our training was by Walt, who was always there pitching in with new ideas and improving everyone else’s input. The fire was that we were constantly breaking new ground to create deadline projects never attempted before in this business. That, I’m proud to say, has never stopped in my years at Disney.” During his early years at Disney, Marty not only learned Walt’s philosophy firsthand, but metabolized and translated it into materials he wrote for the master showman which were used in publications, television appearances, and special films. Among them was a 20-minute movie devoted to communicating Walt’s vision of EPCOT, his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, originally intended to help resolve the urban challenges found in American cities. Marty first became an Imagineering officer in 1974 when appointed vice president, concepts and planning, a role in which he guided creative development of Epcot Center at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. In 1979, he was named vice president of creative development, followed by executive vice president in 1982. He served as president and vice chairman from 1987 to 1996. As vice chairman, Marty provided leadership for the Imagineering creative staff, delivering breakthrough entertainment concepts for Disney parks and resorts including Disneyland Paris, the Tokyo Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland. In 2001, Marty was recognized as a Disney Legend. He retired from Disney on July 17, 2009, after 53 years with the company. He currently serves as president of Ryman Arts, whose Ryman Program for Young Artists honors the late Herb Ryman. More information on the Ryman Arts can be found at here. The Disney Avenue Podcast is brought to you by Keith Michael Mahne, owner and editor of the Disney fan site DisneyAvenue.com. If you enjoy what you hear today, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review the show on iTunes by clicking here. This episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast is brought to you by the O-Zell Soda Company. All proceeds go to restoring and preserving Walt Disney's Birthplace home in Chicago, IL! The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contribution to the sound quality of this show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_3_-_Marty_Sklar..mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT |
Tue, 29 July 2014
Host Keith Michael Mahne has a wonderful conversation with Disney Legend Jack Lindquist. Recorded in 2014, Jack talks about his childhood, joining the WDC, meeting Walt Disney, working with Card Walker and Michael Eisner, becoming Disneyland's very first president and so much more. For more interviews and articles make sure to head on over to DisneyAvenue.com. The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_2_-_Jack_Lindquist_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT |
Sat, 12 July 2014
This is the Disney Avenue Podcast's very first show. Dusty Sage, owner and CEO of MiceChat.com, joins host Keith Michael Mahne as a special guest cohost for an amazing interview with former Imagineer Tim Delaney. Enjoy! The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank Geren Piltz for his contribution to the sound quality of this show.
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_1_-_Tim_Delaney_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT |