Disneyland Historical Photography and Stories

[Ape Pen Publishing]

Homecoming Destination Disneyland

To commemorate Disneyland's Golden Anniversary, Ape Pen Publishing will release Homecoming Destination Disneyland, a collection of vintage photographs by veteran news photographer Mell Kilpatrick, narrative tributes from a host of celebrities, and exclusive artwork by legendary Disney artist Sam McKim. Narrative tributes include brief recollections from people involved with Walt Disney and the Disneyland Park during its early years. Many former employees of Walt Disney Productions, including former cast members, celebrities and imagineers, contributed personal recollections of Walt and his dream.

Homecoming Destination Disneyland includes select reproductions of the original Disneyland press releases from the 1955 press kit, Walts 1955 BIO, which had been saved by the author’s grandfather, photographer Mell Kilpatrick. More than a dozen movie stars, television personalities, Disney cast members and other entertainment industry personnel lend tribute to the Disney dream in the new book.

A foreword by Keith Murdoch, City Manager of Anaheim during the 1950s, shares a fascinating look at the search for the perfect location for the Magic Kingdom. Keith guided Walt through the miles of Anaheim orange groves, in search of parcels which could accommodate Walt’s dream park. Ron Dominguez, second-generation Anaheim native shares the story of how his family came to sell their ancestral home and orange groves to a buyer with mysterious plans for the property. Dominguez recalls his teen years working at the park and eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President of Disneyland.
Also featured in Homecoming Destination Disneyland are narratives by veteran TV personality Art Linkletter, actors Fess Parker, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, and Wally Boag, artist Brian McKim, director Richard Fleischer, illusionist Teller (of Penn & Teller), Matt McKim, and Sam McKim, Walt Disney's secretary Lucille Martin, former Disneyland president Jack Lindquist, Disney creative director David Pacheco, animators Ollie Johnston (the last of Walt's nine old men) and Ron Dias, Floyd Norman, Willie Ito, voice talents Lisa Davis, Ilene Woods, imagineer Yale Gracey, and Mouseketeer Tommy Cole.



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