Nothing better than healthy caffeine to start the day of big adventures!

Over the years, it has been my pleasure to visit various studios and sets for assorted productions, both animated and live action. This particular Monday, June 22, promised to be different for a number of reasons.

These places all share one thing in common. They are not museums. Nor are they temples to worship the artists who have labored here throughout the years of their existence. They are the factories that produce the entertainment products that we enjoy. Be those products for theaters, television, streaming services, home video, or more. The men and women who craft them ply their trades here.

In other words, these are workplaces. And as a result, these locations tend not to be open to the public. Some of the larger studios do offer tours, but they tend to avoid interfering with studio business. Universal based its theme parks on the studio tour business.

The Walt Disney Studios was not among the studios that did offer tours, despite the numerous requests to do so. However, a 1941 short film, “The Reluctant Dragon,” was made to feed those interests with a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at what went on behind the gates. And in 2020, Don Hahn offered a tour of a more modern Walt Disney Studios in an “Adventure Thru The Walt Disney Archives”.

This day would not be my first visit to the Disney lot. I had visited before with friends working on various projects. Even with various additions to the facilities in those years, a great deal of the original structures remain in use today. The move from the Hyperion location to the Burbank one benefited from the revenue from “Snow White”, building a very modern campus for film production.

Even though only a little more than a year old, it became more than just an animated film production facility as the US Army moved in immediately after Pearl Harbor. Through government contracts, Disney produced a wide variety of films, including training and educational films of all kinds throughout the war. Notable mixtures of animation and live action included “Saludos Amigos” and “The Three Caballeros”. Full live action production began in Burbank, with 1948’s “So Dear To My Heart” following a series of profitable film productions from England. Today the soundstages are busy with film and television productions for companies renting the space as required.

On this day, our host was Howard Green. Meeting us outside the Animation building, he invited us to relax for a bit at the Starbucks in the ABC building before catching us in the lobby of the Animation building. Yes, that’s my Venti Iced Mocha waiting to be enjoyed, pictured above.

A while later, Leo and I made our way to start our time with Howard. A walk through the Animation building on multiple floors included everything from Oscars and more, along with art on display from various productions. We also saw workspaces, including conference rooms and presentation spaces, along with a few photo opportunities from recent productions.

What’s up, Bubba?

Along the way, we passed the space inside the Sorcerer’s Hat, which Leo last visited when it was the office of Roy E. Disney during his time as the head of Animation. Today it is a staircase to the main lobby of the building. Indeed, times do change!

Roger, Leo, and Howard at the famous signpost from the 1941 “The Reluctant Dragon”.

Over the years, the Studio has seen changes both in production and in filmmaking in general. While some things such as the back lot or the mill shop have given way to other uses, entertainment remains the product here. As such, it is a very busy place with people coming and going in all directions, just as it appeared on screen in 1941. Maybe even more so!

A very important part of the Studio today is the Walt Disney Archives. With such a rich history throughout the Company on and off screen, having such a center of information in one place provides an invaluable resource to draw upon for the company and historians both. Readers of this space may recall that I am researching the 1959 Disney production of “Pollyanna” at St. Helena in Northern California’s Napa Valley. More specifically, I am researching information related to the train that appears in the opening and closing moments of the film. For me, this research is ongoing, and I had hoped to find some additional information that is not available at other archival sources. Regrettably, the Archives only has two boxes of documents from the production, and they do not contain any railroad-related material. While this was unfortunate, it was not unexpected, as the Southern Pacific Motion Picture Bureau often communicated by telephone. So… my search remains ongoing.

Kevin Kern, of the Archives, with Leo and Roger.

One of the crown jewels of not only the Archives, but of the Walt Disney Company, is the offices of Walt Disney, located in Suite 3H of the Animation Building. The formal office was where Walt would receive guests visiting the studio, while the informal office was where he attended to the day-to-day business of the studio as well as other parts of the company. When Ron Miller took over the roles of president, chief executive, and chief operating officer, he used the offices during his tenure until 1984. His daughter Joanna has mentioned visiting him there.

Roger and Leo, with the former occupant of Suite 3H.

When Dave Smith started the Walt Disney Archives in June of 1970, one of his first tasks was documenting and cataloging the contents of both offices. A visit today shows just how monumental an effort this was. Everything from knick-nacks to books to scripts and other documents is displayed as it was during Walt’s time here. It is as much a look inside the man as it is the spaces he occupied.

Walt’s desk in the formal office.

The piano in the formal office where the Sherman Brothers introduced Walt to many memorable tunes for films, television and theme parks.

A couple of items of note in the formal office! The Tiki from New Zealand and the cigar humidor.

The working office is where Walt was likely to be found if he wasn’t out and about the studio or down at Disneyland. It was not uncommon for him to be surrounded by folks at work on projects of all kinds. With a hidden kitchen in the working office, lunches were often working ones!

Walt’s desk in the informal or working office, complete with his grip for taking documents home, including scripts and other materials.

Keen eyes may also note another humidor among the items on the shelf behind Walt. Although he was known to enjoy an occasional cigar, this humidor was used to hold his eyeglasses, rather than cigars. Brother Roy was more the cigar fan, and it is likely that those occasional cigars came from him.

One of two large sofas and the hidden kitchen in the working office.

This wall above the other sofa shows the projects ongoing at the time of Walt’s passing in 1966, including expansion at Disneyland and the Florida project.

After visiting these offices, it is not hard to imagine Walt involved with so much, not only at the Studio, but everywhere the company was looking forward to. So many things, such as Mineral King, the scope and complexity ahead in Florida, challenges in both film and television, and the revolution in home entertainment ahead, all would have greatly benefited from his involvement and guidance.

Leo and Roger in the formal office hearing tales of the Sherman Brothers at the piano.

A very special thanks to everyone at the Archives for sharing this very special experience with us. Especially our guide Haydee for her answers to some more involved questions!

And a great word of thanks to Howard Green for making this all possible as well.

Of course, any Disney experience seems to exit through the gift shop. Well, almost…but we did shop at the studio store for a variety of goods and memorabilia to finish this part of the day. But we were far from done!

From the steps of the Hyperion bungalow, eagle-eyed passersby can spot the two flagpoles in front of the Commissary. The ultimate souvenirs from another Disney connection: the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley (now Palisades at Tahoe) near Truckee, California.

Meeting us outside the Hyperion Bungalow was animator and voice of Donald Duck, Tony Anselmo. The Bungalow was moved here from the Hyperion Studio in 1940 and has served in multiple roles, today a conference room. Tony took us on a whirlwind tour of a number of spots of note around the lot, including former animators’ offices in the Animation building and the Ink and Paint building, recording studios, soundstages, and more. It was an amazing way to wrap up an indeed memorable day. In our own way, we felt like we were walking in Robert Benchley’s footsteps some 85 years later. In fact, “The Reluctant Dragon” was celebrating the 85th anniversary of the release of the film on June 20, 1941!

So…

I can hear you asking already. How can I take such a tour?

Well, I can’t say your experience will duplicate ours, but D23 is offering The Official Walt Disney Studios Walking Tour next month. From August 3 through 31, 2026. Tickets have been on sale since May, so they may be limited in availability. Check this link for details.

Still to come? You bet! Five more days of adventures and misadventures! Stay tuned…

A 1937 Packard Business Coupe, said to have traveled across the Golden Gate Bridge, on opening day, May 27, 1937

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk into a photograph and go back in time to that day? Well… I was lucky enough to almost do exactly that in the summer of 2017.

So, sit back and enjoy this tale of the adventure!

As a role in my professional career, I managed the operations of the Customer Service Center for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District, located in San Rafael, California. The District is far more than the famous Bridge. At that time, it included operations of long distance bus service across the Bridge between San Francisco in the South, Santa Rosa in the North, and El Cerritos in the East; along with ferry service between San Francisco’s Ferry Building and Sausalito, Tiburon, and Larkspur Landing. In addition, we also provided customer service for the Marin County local bus service (known as Marin Transit) and the then new SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit) trains.

Marin County and Sonoma counties were at one time very well served by a combination of commuter rail, long distance rail and ferry service to San Francisco and other points. The coming of the automobile, the Depression, and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge all contributed to the decline of those services. Marin County residents declined the purchase of the electrified passenger service out of Sausalito and the accompanying ferry connection to San Francisco at the ballot box, instead favoring the new bus service by Pacific Greyhound across the bridge.

When the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic on May 27, 1937, it held great promise for everyone on the north side of the San Francisco Bay, opening the gateway to the Redwood Empire. The ability to travel as you saw fit directly via the Bridge into and out of San Francisco was seen as a clear sign of the lessened effects of the Depression.

There were a number of cars that had crossed the bridge prior to opening day, but that first day of traffic saw all types of vehicles crossing. Among the vehicles known to have crossed that day is a 1937 Packard Six Business Coupe, now owned by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Restored and maintained by the staff of the bus division mechanical department, it is used on occasion to represent the early history of the Bridge.

While 2017 saw 80th birthday of the Bridge, it was a somewhat smaller anniversary than the 75th in 2012. None the less, why not celebrate by showing the Packard at one of the premier automotive events in the country? Namely, the Hillsborough Concours D’Elegance,

So it was that the morning of Sunday, July 16, 2017 found me bright and early in San Rafael to collect my charge for the day. Having previously demonstrated that I was proficient in the operation of a clutch and manual transmission during a test drive around the bus yard, I was off to US Highway 101 heading southbound for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Traffic was light at that hour. It was a moment right out of history as I headed down the Waldo Grade towards the Bridge. It almost felt like the Packard knew where it was going, having made the crossing many times before. (A viewing of the film noir classic “Dark Passage” from 1947 with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall offers a very similar scene to the one I experienced crossing the Bridge.)

A brief stop adjacent to the Bridge Toll Plaza for a quick inspection and photo opportunity.

Leaving the Toll Plaza at the Bridge was by way of State Highway 1, or if you prefer, Park Presidio Boulevard, southbound through the tunnel under the Presidio and into the Avenues. A brief excursion into Golden Gate Park, along Crossover Dr, before continuing onto 19th Avenue through the Sunset district of the City. It may be 2017, but the neighborhoods retain much of the charm of the late 30’s if you are willing to see it. So traveling through them in this Packard in the morning definitely had a flair to it!

Approaching Daly City and Westlake, things take a definite turn toward the modern era as 19th Avenue gives way to Interstate 280. The Packard is out of its element on the shimmering lanes of concrete and asphalt encouraging excess speeds en route to downtown San Jose. The trip today is a moderate one, heading for the hills above the Crystal Springs Reservoir and the community of Hillsborough.

Since 1956, automotive enthusiasts have gathered here every summer in appreciation of the art of design and construction of some of the finest examples. Each year, a particular marque of vehicles is featured and celebrated here. For 2017, Jaguar was selected to be so honored.

The Crystal Springs Golf Course is the perfect spot for the event with vehicles displayed along the fairways. The weather, while warm, was not uncomfortable with coastal breezes making their way through the area.

The 1937 Packard Six Business Coupe takes its place for display.

Parked for display among automobiles of similar vintages, the morning passed, with the Packard admired by many. After lunch, it was requested to be moved to a prominent display location prior to the Concours parade.

As the event drew to a close, it was time to motor north, back across the Bridge to San Rafael. A brief detour through the Sea Cliff neighborhood of San Francisco with a stop along the El Camino Del Mar, below the Palace of the Legion of Honor offered a classic view of both the vintage Packard and Bridge together. A fine way to wrap up a trip in a Time Machine!

It’s a sad fact.

And an all together avoidable one.

Every day, people are killed by trespassing on railroad tracks.

As I write this today, several hours ago, a man in Ohio almost became one of those people.

All in an effort to capture an image. An image of the world’s largest steam locomotive, currently touring the nation as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations.

The very loud and distinctive steam whistle has been a signature of this adventure as it travels from coast to coast. It also serves as a warning to everyone trackside of the approaching train.

In this instance, the photographer chose to disregard that warning.

Luckily, the engineer, who is also the head of the Union Pacific Steam Program, had been expecting large crowds of non-railroad people along the route that the train is traveling. He was able to place the train brakes into an emergency application and bring the train safely to a full and complete stop.

What could have been a very graphic death in front of the large assembled crowd was prevented,

Yet, this story does not end with that.

Once the train had come to a full stop, he motioned to the photographer to come to the cab of the locomotive so he could speak further with him. He chose to severely admonish the photographer for his irresponsible behavior.

In a video of the incident, a response from the photographer was not audible.

The train continued on after the incident.

Regrettably, this type of incident has occurred on multiple occasions previously, with fatal and graphic results.

Each one completely avoidable.

I have many friends and acquaintances who have chosen professional careers where they were placed in situations – all completely avoidable – which resulted in a loss of human life. Regrettably, those who chose a railroad career are far too often placed in a situation upon which they have little or no control to prevent injury or loss of life. And they can carry the memories of such incidents for years afterwards. Some may do so for the rest of their lives.

All because someone chose to be in the wrong place – on the railroad tracks. Be it on foot, in a vehicle or otherwise, you do not belong on the tracks. Especially as a train is approaching.

Cross safely if you must, but as you would respecting a road crossing or intersection. The train always has the right of way. It cannot turn to avoid a collision nor can it stop immediately.

You can.

The railroads have a saying. One written, sadly, in blood.

Safety First.

It applies to everyone all the time.

For more information, please visit the Operation Lifesaver web pages. This is a national organization promoting safety around railroads, especially at crossings.

Note: This first appeared here on May 27, 2011.

Way back when, the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad operated two trains around the Magic Kingdom. The first was the six-car passenger train, also known as Retlaw One. It’s canary yellow and brunswick green colors were reminiscent of the passenger cars of the famed Virginia & Truckee Railway. 

The second train was the freight train. A mixture of open gondolas and cattle cars, with the classic cupola caboose bringing up the rear. It was painted the traditional color of boxcar brown. It’s spartan accommodations for riders didn’t last long before modifications were made. Most notable was the removal of a number of slats from one side of the cattle cars to offer a better view of the Park.

To begin, both trains required different tickets. The one above is the stub for the freight train, boarded by passengers at the Frontierland station. A passing track here allowed the passenger train to bypass the station. The same was true at the Main Street Station where another passing track allowed the freight train to bypass that station. That operation as well lasted only a short while as did separate tickets for the two trains. Eventually all trains made all stops becoming the transportation system that carries passengers around the park by the thousands every day.

While the passenger train went on to retirement, the freight train carries on, making the same trip it did on Opening Day, Monday, July 18th, 1955. And you can still enjoy a ride in the caboose, too. Just ask the conductor, if folks are not already seated aboard. As for cattle… well, you may find a Mouse or two aboard, maybe a duck, too. I don’t think you’ll mind the company.

With the recent flap over the copycat theme park in China, Disney certainly has its corporate hands full when it comes to trademarks.

Note: This column first appeared here on May 21st, 2007.

Along those lines, I thought that you might find this Cast Member brochure on the subject of interest:

Now, let’s be careful out there.