Hyperion Historical Alliance Press

11/17/2025

The Hyperion Historical Alliance Press is proud to announce the release of our 2024–25 Annual—our fifth volume exploring rare and remarkable chapters of Disney history!

Inside this new edition, you’ll discover:

• How Denver’s Celebrity Sports Center helped train the team that built Walt Disney World

• Disney Legend Mary Costa and her twelve-year marriage to director Frank Tashlin, a former Disney story artist and Warner Bros. director

• The “Donald Ducks” polo team and their adventures in Mexico after Walt stepped away from the sport

• A look at Walt Disney’s first professional movie camera

• Disney’s short-lived, post-WWII collaboration with a renowned French animation studio on an unmade package film

Thank you for your patience as we navigated the image permissions process—this issue was worth the wait. The 2024–25 Annual is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fFMzAcn

11/15/2025

Project Florida: A concept that only begins with a theme park.

11/14/2025

More “Fantasia” fun: in this rare photo, Walt Disney and Leopold Stokowski relieved their creative pressure with calisthenics at the Penthouse Club on the top floor of Disney’s Animation Building. Karl Johnson, a former Olympic wrestler, managed the Club’s gym and directed their exercises. Read more about Johnson’s life and Disney career in this Journal of Olympic History article (p. 66):https://isoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/JOH-2_2024.pdf

11/14/2025

“Fantasia” Friday, as we continue celebrating the 85th anniversary of Walt Disney’s masterpiece. In this photo, Maestro Leopold Stokowski is seen testing or adjusting a microphone as he prepares to lead the Philadelphia Orchestra in a recording session.

11/13/2025

You’ll see many more rare images like this one in JB Kaufman’s newly published book about the making of this classic film!

85 years ago tonight, moviegoers got their first look at an extraordinary cinematic landmark. Here's to Walt Disney's "Fantasia" on its anniversary!

11/13/2025

In 1940, visionary trailblazers Walt Disney, Deems Taylor, and Leopold Stokowski collaborated to bring “Fantasia” to life. The masterpiece was a bold experiment pairing animation with classical music for a cinematic concert experience. Here’s to dreaming big, blending art and sound, and celebrating moments in time that made film history!

11/12/2025

Wednesdays with Walt, as we celebrate the release of an outstanding new book about the making of “Fantasia” (1940) by HHA Press Director of Publications JB Kaufman. The film’s 85th anniversary this week is also a great time to salute the creative work of Leopold Stokowski, Deems Taylor, and Walt Disney!

11/12/2025

This book features amazing details, art, and Disney history. Order your copy today!

Today, 11 November, marks the official publication of this book about the making of Walt Disney's phenomenal cinematic milestone, "Fantasia." Here's the link to the book page on my website:
http://www.jbkaufman.com/worlds-conquer-art-and-making-walt-disney%E2%80%99s-fantasia

11/11/2025

On Veterans Day, we honor all who served their country, including the remaining members of the World War II generation. Many Disney employees served during that war, as the Walt Disney hosted the military in Burbank while making training and patriotic films in support of America’s armed forces.

11/10/2025

More musical memories of “A Toot and a Whistle and a Plunk and a Boom” with this rare 1953 RCA book and record set that preceded the founding of Disney’s own record label! Actor Bill Thompson recreated his voice role as Professor Owl, with Disney writer and producer Winston Hibler contributing the script.

11/10/2025

Monday melodies: rare sheet music for “A Toot and a Whistle and a Plunk and a Boom,” from the animated short film released in 1953. The cover promotes this as part of “Walt Disney’s Adventures in Music” series, to be covered in a planned future HHA Press Monograph edition!

11/09/2025

We’re saddened to note the untimely passing of Jeremy Marx, longtime technical advisor for the Hyperion Historical Alliance. Jeremy assisted with many preservation projects and was known for his digital recreations of classic Disneyland attractions. Our thoughts are with his friends and family this week. He will be greatly missed.

View Jeremy Marx's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.