Mary Poppins at Grauman’s

This image from October 1964 shows Disney’s “Mary Poppins” playing at the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Released on August 27, 1964, the blockbuster hit continues to be a source of revenue for the Disney Corporation. A closeup of the posters on both sides of the theatre:



I could not match the style of the poster shown; the original one-sheet is slightly different from what Grauman’s has in their display case:



This publicity still can be seen in the case, lower right below the poster:



On the right side is a poster highlighting the cast of the film:



A few years back, I was able to see the original neon dragon from Grauman’s at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale:



Switching gears to a very hot topic in the Disney community: the recently unveiled Walt Disney animatronic figure. The DSNY Newscast is one of many fan outlets that have released a video from the highly anticipated media preview. Kudos to Jack from DSNY for doing a great review of the figure and the show. It was much less dramatic and peppered with more thoughtful feedback than the Disney fan community usually gets. I read USA Today’s review and wondered if they had been sniffing glue beforehand, it was so over-the-top enthusiastic. Disney Imagineers created a slightly-walking-talking Walt Disney robot. It is apparent that there was a lot of work put into this figure, but it still does not transcend the creepy factor. More Stepford Wives than Walt Disney, the all-too-youthful sounding voice does not match the cigarette-scarred voice of the real man at the time of his life that this animatronic is supposed to represent. Had they let the animatronic smoke, I would have REALLY been impressed! Videos of Walt also show his motions as being much quicker than what the robot is capable of doing. I won’t pan the efforts as hard as what most Disney fans seem to be doing out there; when you attempt to re-create an iconic real person such as Walt Disney, the expectations are going to be higher than for someone like Abe Lincoln, for which none of us have ever seen in person. You are basically fighting a losing battle. I also want to applaud the efforts of Imagineers for making an attempt to keep the Man behind the Mouse in front of the public, so that he is able to stay “alive” and relevant for future generations.



I was really anxious to go to the Park to see this show in person (which debuts to the public tomorrow, July 17), but after seeing the video, the chances of that happening any time soon have been dampened. Hopefully the figure can be upgraded and the likeness of the face can be improved with time and feedback. We shall see…

See more Grauman’s Chinese Theatre photos at my main website.

Marilyn, Kim, Mary, Dick, and Fred

Despite the war in the Ukraine, COVID, inflation, rising oil prices, supply shortages, and an unsettling amount of civil unrest, somehow, the Kardashians managed to break through the headlines. In case you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware that Kim Kardashian squeezed her curves into a dress that was custom-made for Marilyn Monroe in 1962 by Jean Louis to wear on the occasion that she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy.



As you can see by the photos, this gown was designed to fit Marilyn. Not the average housewife, not soprano Maria Callas (on the left), and not Kim Kardashian.



Monroe's gown wasn’t just skin tight; it was more like a second skin and hugged every curve of the actress.  Jean Louis’ creation was an engineering feat of epic proportions that accentuated every curve but also kept those curves in place. The illusion of being nude without actually being so.



Years ago, the Franklin Mint attempted to capture that evening with a 16" doll.



Not quite the same.



This post was not designed to weigh into the controversy about whether Kim should or shouldn’t have worn the historic gown, nor will it delve into what damage may or may not have occurred because she and her handlers had to tug the delicate fabric over her rear end. But before I get to the point of the post, I will share Joan Cusack’s wise words from the film “Working Girl” (1988):



Now we get to the meat of the matter…the controversy that has been kept secret for years. Any Disney fan worth their salt will remember the “Jolly Holiday” number with Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews from “Mary Poppins” (1964):



Here’s Dick Van Dyke wearing his striped suit and straw hat from the animated musical sequence:



Seven years later, the TV show “Green Acres” was airing its last season.



You remember the classic comedy about a New York city socialite (Eva Gabor)



…who gives up her penthouse apartment to live in a dilapidated house so that her husband (Eddie Albert) can become a farmer.



On January 12, 1971, the season six episode “Son of Drobney” was broadcast. The premise was that the town was waiting to greet Lisa’s Hungarian war hero who was flying into Pixley to visit her. The welcoming committee was surprised to discover that he was a duck. When watching this the other night, I saw Fred Ziffel (Hank Patterson) wearing what looked to be Dick Van Dyke's jacket from “Mary Poppins.” 



If you compare the placement of the stripes, it’s a perfect match.



Here’s how the jacket looked when it came up to auction:







The ribbon on the hat does not match though; in the shots of Van Dyke from the movie, the top stripe is red; on Ziffel’s hat it’s gold. Apparently “Green Acres” used Western Costume for some of their wardrobe.

I’ll leave you with this question; why aren’t Disney fans up in arms about Fred Ziffel wearing Bert’s jacket? This information needs to be brought to the headlines!

See more Pop Culture photos at my main website.

Mary Poppins Blowout

Even though the actual date isn't until August 2014, the 50th Anniversary Celebration of "Mary Poppins" has already begun, due largely in part to the upcoming release of "Saving Mr. Banks," a new Disney movie starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson that chronicles the difficulties of bringing the P.L. Travers book to the screen.

It is hard to believe when watching it today that such a movie could have had so much turmoil going on behind the scenes; just a testament to Walt's tenacity and ability to make things happen. I was able to get a sneak preview of the Blu-ray 50th Anniversary Edition (being released tomorrow), and it really was a magical experience.



The clarity and the detail are mindblowing. Not that everyone needs to see the pores on Dick Van Dyke's face, but from the very beginning of the film, they are right there on your television set for you to count. Once Julie Andrews floats onto Cherry Tree Lane though, the picture is definitely hers.



Andrews is absolute perfection as the straitlaced-acting Nanny who is able to "save Mr. Banks" from missing his children's childhoods. Andrews' face gives just enough of a smirk to let the audience know that she is anything but straitlaced, and is just as much of a softy as the rest of us.



The chemistry between Andrews and Van Dyke is sublime. Without overdoing the romance angle, Walt was able to let his stars display an affection for each other through the "Jolly Holiday" musical number.



On the new Blu-ray release, the only time that the clarity of the picture suffers at all would be during the animated sequences and any other footage that utilized the sodium vapor process. Since both of these types of effects required a re-shooting of the original footage in order to combine them, it is understandable that a small loss of detail would occur. Based on some of the extras on the Blu-ray though, it would appear that the Disney Corporation still has much (if not all) of the original live-action footage; this would lead me to believe that through the magic of digital, the film quality could be improved by re-combining the pieces together. Still, a lot of time and expense that isn't really required for a practically-perfect film!



The extras on the Blu-ray also include rehearsal footage and some of the special effects shots for the incredibly complicated (but wonderful to watch!) "Step In Time" musical number.



A number of props and artifacts from the film have hit the auction block, including this background matte for the "Jolly Holiday" sequence:



Bert's coat:



Mary's bottomless carpetbag:



If you're in Chicago between now and May 4, 2014, be sure to visit the Museum of Science and Industry, as it features a special Mary Poppins display within the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives Exhibit.



Some of the artifacts from the film that you can see include:
• Mary Poppins’ snow globe, traveling costume and carpet bag
• Sketches of various costumes worn in Mary Poppins
• Sheet music from the film and other Disney classics
• Film clips and interviews with the movie’s creators
• Two interactive Disney jukeboxes that allow you to select popular musical hits





Exactly one month ago today, Dick Van Dyke (Bert), Karen Dotrice (Jane Banks), and Richard Sherman (music & lyrics) attended the red carpet event at the TCL Chinese Theater (formerly Grauman's) to celebrate the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Screening of "Mary Poppins," which was part of the AFI (American Film Institute) Fest.



Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman:



Karen Dotrice:



Arlene Silver and her husband Dick Van Dyke pose with Richard Sherman and his wife Elizabeth Gluck:



Kathryn Beaumont, the voice and live-action reference for Disney's "Alice in Wonderland":



Mallory Lewis, and Lamb Chop. Mallory took over duties for her mother, the legendary Shari Lewis, after she passed away in 1998.



I've always felt that a Mary Poppins attraction at Disneyland would be fantastic. Imagine getting strapped onto a carousel horse that took you through the magical scenery of the film. Until that happens, I'll settle for running into Mary. A cherished photo from my 40th Birthday (which was more years ago than I care to acknowledge!):



This little specialty number could be seen at the park back in 2009:



See, Mary really does know how to kick up her feet and have a good time!



I hope you get a chance to see the film on Blu-ray; it is just as charming as I remembered it, and with the advancement of age, it has actually become a lot more touching, as some of the themes I didn't "get" as a kid are more meaningful now. You'll definitely want to "feed the birds" once you've watched it.

See more "Mary Poppins" photos on my Disney movie web page.

Come Rain or Come Shine: Happy Birthday, Dick Van Dyke!

Today is Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke's 87th birthday. Although he has had a diverse career in a wide variety of movies and television shows, to me, he will always be best known as the beloved Bert from Disney's "Mary Poppins."



When I found out he was a narrator for Candlelight this year, it was a no-brainer that I'd have to get my butt back up to Anaheim to catch one of his two performances.



Storm clouds loomed overhead though, and it looked as if my trip had been in vain, especially since the 5:30 show was rained out, a mere moments before it was set to start. I would not have wanted to be one of those unfortunate cast members who had to calm down the sea of angry guests who had waited for hours to see this special program.

I decided to take my chances and wait on the second show, and fortunately, my patience paid off!



To thunderous applause (and a few early birthday wishes), Dick Van Dyke stepped out onto the podium and told the story of the first Christmas.



Before getting started, Van Dyke checked to make sure that rain wasn't going to get in the way of this performance.



Full speed ahead!

Looking (and acting) at least twenty years younger, Van Dyke's interpretation of the story did not disappoint; it was obvious to see why he had been a favorite narrator of Candlelight for so many years.



In addition, I was able to also enjoy Drew Tablak's "Silent Night" one more time. For me, this song is the highlight of Candlelight, as it emotionally moves the audience to tears each time he pours his heart into it.







At one point in the program, when it appeared that rain might cause an early end, Van Dyke made light of the situation by referencing "Mary Poppins" with the black umbrella that a cast member had handed him.



So in honor of this talented man who has brought so much joy and laughter to millions of people, I wish him a very happy birthday!



See more Disneyland Candlelight photos on my Candlelight web page.