Walt Disney: An American Original

by Bob Thomas

Overview

The story of Walt Disney’s life—told as no other book can!

Walt Disney is an American hero. From Mickey Mouse to Disneyland, he changed the face of American culture. His is a success story like no other: a man who developed animated film into an art form and made a massive contribution to the folklore of the world.

After years of research, respected Hollywood biographer Bob Thomas produced a definitive biography of the man behind the legend of Disney: the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who when bankrupt on his first movie venture and developed into the genius who produced unmatched works of animation, and ultimately was the creative spirit of an international entertainment empire that has enchanted generations. Complete with a collection of rare photographs, Walt Disney: An American Original is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney.

Searching for that perfect gift for the #1 Disney fan in your life? Explore more behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Editions:

• Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams (By Disney Legend Marty Sklar)
  
• One Little Spark! Mickey's Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering (By Disney Legend Marty Sklar)
  
• Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career (By Kevin Rafferty)
  
• Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World (By Jeff Kurtti)
  
• Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food (By Marcy Carriker Smothers)
  
• Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition (By Disney Legend Dave Smith)
  
• Disney Facts Revealed: Answers to Fans’ Curious Questions (By Disney Legend Dave Smith)
  
• Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered (By Disney Legend Dave Smith)
  
• My Pride: Mastering Life's Daily Performance from Broadway's Record-Breaking Lion King (By Alton Fitzgerald White)
  
• Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service, Revised and Updated Edition (By The Disney Institute)
  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786860272
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/01/1994
Series:	Disney Editions Deluxe Series
Edition description:	1st ed
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	1,699,636
Product dimensions:	6.11(w) x 9.17(h) x 1.24(d)

About the Author

In 1958, Walt Disney encouraged thirty-six-year-old Bob Thomas to write The Art of Animation, the first book that would give full credit to the animators and explore the animation process. Thomas interviewed Walt Disney many times during the years he was a Hollywood correspondent for the Associate Press and in preparation for his two books, The Art of Animation and Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies.

After Disney's death in 1966, Thomas wrote the official biography, Walt Disney: An American Original. He is also the author of numerous other books, including biographies on Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Harry Cohn, Irving Thalberg, David O. Selznick, Joan Crawford, William Holden, Walter Winchell, and other Hollywood legends. His biographies of Howard Hughes and Abbot and Costello became television movies.

His other Disney books include Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire; The Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast; and its revision, The Art of Animation, From Mickey Mouse to Hercules. He was issued a special commendation at the Disney Legends ceremony in 2001.