Flashback Friday! Who was Kay Kamen?

Happy Friday, Buzz Readers!

Today I’d like to take you back in time to the very beginning of The Walt Disney Company, almost 10 years after two brothers, Walt and Roy, moved to California to realize their dream of creating a successful animation studio.

It was 1932, and Walt Disney was in need of a knowledgeable, skilled employee to take the reins on the character merchandising division of Walt Disney Enterprises. Former retail hat merchant Herman “Kay” Kamen’s impressive track record for introducing new products preceded him, and soon enough he was personally selected by Walt to serve as the Company’s sole licensing representative.

Walt Disney and Kay Kamen hard at work on Disney merchandising!

A mere 3 years later in 1935, Mickey Mouse products were an unrivaled force, becoming the top sellers in 50 to 60 major department stores. Numbering in the thousands, this merchandise, ranging from books and toys to household products, was vital in bringing Walt’s fledgling Studio the funds to bring Disney Magic to life. With the help of Kay’s merchandising work, Walt was able to produce exquisite animation pieces like the full-length feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  

One of Kay’s most prominent accomplishments for Disney merchandising was a deal he arranged with the Ingersoll-Waterbury Clock Company. On its way to bankruptcy, the watch manufacturing company was saved when it connected with Kamen to place Mickey Mouse on watches and clocks. Introduced at the Chicago “Century of Progress” 1933 World’s Fair, Mickey Mouse watches became a monumental success. 

On one day, Macy’s in New York sold a record of 11,000 of the timepieces. What an amazing feat! Today, these watches and clocks are some of the most sought-after Disney Collectibles. Here atDisney Store we continue the tradition of Mickey Mouse watches with a number of timepieces that pay homage to Kay’s “timely” deal!

With Kay’s superb licensing skills, Mickey Mouse and other Disney Characters like Donald Duck, Pinocchio, and the Seven Dwarfs found themselves on not only toys and books, but on food products, too! Companies paid large sums to be associated with these Disney stars. In 1934, General Foods paid $1 million for the right to place cut-outs of Walt’s Mouse companion on the back of cereal boxes. Still today you can see Kay’s work, with Disney characters gracing the packaging of healthy food products in stores everywhere!

Kay Kamen changed the face of the entire licensing industry with the face of the world’s most beloved Mouse! His legacy in Disney merchandising is little known by people, but Kay’s work is integral to the magnificent success that The Walt Disney Company is today. An employee, peer, and close companion of Walt Disney, Kay is a member of the Disney family that we won’t soon forget!

What do you think of Kay’s story? Do any of you have an Ingersoll Mickey Mouse original watch? Any Disneyana collectors in our Buzz community? Tell me your stories in the comments section!

Have a fun weekend!

Liz

We need YOU to be a part of Disney Store 25th Anniversary Magic!

Here at Disney Store we’re gearing up to celebrate 25 years of Magic and Memories, and we need your help!

Have a photo with your favorite Disney Store Goofy plush toy? How about a video of your little one dancing around in a beautiful Cinderella gown? Then send it our way!

Visit DisneyStore.com today to submit a photo or video of your favorite Disney Store memory. They may appear in our 25^th Anniversary Commemorative Video, which will be seen by millions in stores, online, and on our Times Square Spectacular billboard right in the heart of New York City!

I know I’ll submitting photos of my favorite Disney Store memories (one may involve a 101 Dalmatians nightgown that I adored!).

Will you be sending us your memories, too? Tell me about them in the comments section!

Liz

Disney Trivia Time!

Hi there, Buzz Readers!

Time to test your Disney knowledge with some fun trivia questions! Let’s see how well you can do! Try answering the questions in the comment section before looking up the answers!

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1. Snow White is the original Disney Princess. Can you name the young woman who provided her speaking and singing voice in the movie? _ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
   
    
2. Most people can name all Seven Dwarfs in a jiffy! But can you name Ariel’s six sisters in The Little Mermaid? Hint: Their names all start with an “A”!
   
    
3. Mickey Mouse is the star of the original 1940 Fantasia, but some members of the studio staff suggested the use of another character instead. Which “silly” character was it?
   
    
4. Which animated Disney film premiered 51 years ago today? Hint: I’m seeing spots!
   
    
5. Can you name the animated Disney film that is ranked number 14 on the list of the highest-grossing films of all time? “No worries” if you don’t know!
   
    
6. Walt Disney was considering another name for his main Mouse before his wife, Lily, suggested Mickey. What name was it?
   
    
7. In our newly-designed Disney Stores, what magical object can you use to make your favorite Disney Princesses appear in the Castle mirrors? 

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Make your guesses in the comment section below, and check back soon for the answers! Good luck!

Liz 

Princess Jasmine thinks she knows the answers! Do you?

Flashback Friday! Celebrating our Namesake

Today we celebrate the 82^nd birthday of historic space pioneer Buzz Aldrin, one of the first two humans to ever set foot on the moon and the namesake for our Disney Store blog, The Buzz!

Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey on January 20^th, 1930 to his mother, Marion Moon (how ironic!) and his father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin. Thirty nine years later, Buzz and Neil Armstrong would make their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk to the largest worldwide television audience in history – an estimated 600 million people!

According to Buzz Aldrin’s official website, his real name is in fact Buzz Aldrin. In the early 80’s Buzz had his name legally changed from his given name, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. The name “Buzz” originated from his sister Fay Ann, who mispronounced the word “brother” as “buzzer.” What a perfectly catchy mispronunciation!

Thanks to Fay Ann, today we have another iconic “Buzz” space explorer – Disney·Pixar’s very own Buzz Lightyear! Our beloved Toy Story character was indeed named after the real life moonwalker. In fact, the two have met each other! Take a look at the two Buzzes in the pictures below:

 

Like Buzz Aldrin, Buzz Lightyear is no stranger to outerspace. In 2008, our Toy Story space ranger accompanied the crew of the STS-124 NASA space shuttle mission to make his dream of spaceflight come true during Disney Parks’ “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. Buzz Lightyear stayed with the Expedition 17 crew in the International Space Station for approximately 6 months.

Check out Buzz with the NASA space shuttle!

You can take Buzz Lightyear on space travels of your own with Disney Store's Buzz Lightyear Action Figure, available at DisneyStore.com and Disney Stores near you. Adventures to infinity and beyond are only a few clicks away!

Disney Store and The Buzz wish a very happy birthday to Buzz Aldrin!

Signing off,

Liz

 

Wish you could bring the Muppets into your home?

Now you can!

Starting today, you can reserve your very own copy of The Muppets Blu-ray 2-disc combo pack in our online pre-sale at DisneyStore.com. The combo pack includes 1 DVD Disc and 1 Blu-Ray Disc (SRP $24.99) of what Jack Hamilton of Fox TV says is, “Not just the year’s best family film, [but] one of the year’s best films – period.” And I would definitely have to agree! I absolutely loved the movie!

When you pre-order your combo pack online or in stores on February 7^th, you can also take home 4 exclusive full-color Muppets lithographs (pictured below), as well as $10 off your next Disney Store purchase up to $39.99 or $20 off a purchase of $40 or more. Hurry though— these magical offers are only available while supplies last! Head over to DisneyStore.com now!

Fun Fact For You! Many people have long wondered if it is possible to acquire an authentic Muppet puppet, such as the spunky and sassy Miss Piggy Lee. The answer? These adorable characters are not available for purchase, and are in fact guarded rather carefully by the Muppets crew. Typically the puppets are stored away, destroyed after a period of time, or rebuilt into another character. Jim Henson addressed this subject in a 1980s interview, remarking that most of the puppets find their final resting place together in storage. Only a select few Muppets have made their way into special viewings for the public, such as in Washington D.C.’s National Mall.

And just in case any of you were wondering, all Muppets characters are left-handed. Why do you think? Tell me in the comments section below!

Mahna Mahna,

Liz

What’s there to do in 2012?

Disney Store has many exciting happenings planned for 2012, and I can’t wait to share them with you all on The Buzz! New products, fun events, and a little celebration we’re working on… (any guesses as to what this might be??).

I know I have some awesome Disney days to look forward to in the New Year! I personally can’t wait to see the new Disney·Pixar movie Brave and all the fun new Princess Merida products from Disney Store.

What are your Disney moments that you just can’t wait for in 2012? Disney vacations? Disney movies? Any Disney products you’re keeping an eye out for?

What’s there to do in Two-Oh-One-Two?

Liz

Sneaky Figurines Revealed

Nice detective work, everyone! Buzz reader Hannah did an amazing job identifying the Vinylmation figurines in the pictures I took. She identified every character perfectly! Take a look below:

Picture #1:
1. Atomic Bot (Robots)
2. Ignition Bot (Robots)
3. Nala (Lion King)
4. Young Simba (Lion King)
5. Governor Ratcliffe (Villains 1)
6. Honest John (Villains 2)

Picture #2:
All from Villains 2 Series
1. Captain Hook
2. Big Bad Wolf
3. Honest John

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday :)

Liz

Flashback Friday! Once Upon a Dream…

Happy Friday Everyone!

Today I want to introduce a new weekly segment called FLASHBACK FRIDAY! I absolutely love learning fun facts and historical tidbits about all things Disney, so each Friday I’ll bring you some fascinating little stories for your enjoyment, entertainment, and education. 

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This month we celebrate the premiere of the sixteenth animated feature from The Walt Disney Company! On January 29^th, 1959, the romantic and magical tale of Sleeping Beauty premiered, bringing an iconic Disney Princess and villainous wicked witch to life. The film holds a special place in Disney history, as it was the last fairy tale produced by the wonderful Walt Disney himself.

CASTLE MISTAKE?
Did you know that Sleeping Beauty's Castle is the only attraction at Disneyland Park that opened before the animated film?? No mistake here! Aurora’s castle made its debut in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland to generate excitment for the animated film that would follow four years later in 1959. What a fun little tidbit to share with your friends and family next time you visit Disneyland!

BROWN OR BLUE EYES?
Ever notice a difference in the beautiful Aurora’s eyes during the film? If so, then you are quite the vigilant movie-watcher! Sleeping Beauty is in fact introduced with chocolate-brown eyes; however, when she is awoken by a kiss from Prince Phillip, her eyes open to reveal a vibrant, crystal blue. Looks like true love’s kiss packs quite the magical punch!

Notice that Aurora's eyes are brown here...

...and blue after she awakes!

PRODUCT MAKEOVER
Sleeping Beauty products have undergone quite a makeover since 1959. Check out some photos below of paper dolls from the 1960s compared to the Sleeping Beauty Dolls we carry in Disney Store today! 

 
These vintage Sleeping Beauty Paper Dolls are beautiful! Anyone else remember Little Golden books?

Designs sure have changed! The Aurora Figure Play Set, Singing Sleeping Beauty Doll, and Good Fairies Mini Plush are part of the new era of Disney Store.

So there you have it! Some fun tidbits to muse on as we gear up for the weekend. Did any of you already know these facts? Which ones? Do you have any other neat stories or tidbits related to Sleeping Beauty? Please share them in the comments section below!

Liz

Sweet princess,
if through this wicked witch's trick,
a spindle should your finger prick...
a ray of hope there still may be
in this, the gift I give to thee.
Not in death, but just in sleep,
the fateful prophecy you'll keep.
And from this slumber you shall wake,
when true love's kiss, the spell shall break.

Sneaky, Sneaky Figurines!

Over here at Disney Store it seems that springtime is already upon us with the crisp, sunny weather and clear blue skies we’ve been so graciously enjoying. On my way into work this morning I was greeted by beautiful flowers outside our offices, and I just had to stop and take some photos. After looking through my camera, it seems I also caught some sneaky Vinylmation figurines in my frames as well!

Can you spot all the Vinylmation figurines? Do you know which series they’re from? Tell me all the characters you see in the comment section below!

Someone left a top hat on the flower sill!

I spy, with my little eye, 3 sets of villainous eyes...

Alice: Oh, but that's nonsense. Flowers can't talk. 
The Rose: But of course we can talk, my dear. 
Orchid: If there's anyone around worth talking to. 
Daisy: Or about!

Liz

Furry Friends Vinylmation Announcement

Dear Disney Store Guests:

It is our commitment to offer high-quality merchandise and unfortunately the application of the Furry Friends Vinylmation artwork did not meet our standards.  As such, we are no longer selling the product.

We have not yet decided whether or not the collection will be re-released in the future, but we are offering a full refund to any Guest who is dissatisfied with his or her Furry Friends Vinylmation purchase. If you would like to return your Furry Friends Vinylmation figure(s), please return the merchandise to the nearest Disney Store or via DisneyStore.com and we will happily provide a refund for the full amount (or we will exchange your Furry Friends figurine for a Vinylmation figurine from any other series, if available).

Disney Store is still committed to supporting ASPCA’s work and will donate $1 for each Furry Friend Vinylmation produced, for a magical donation of $60,000. We apologize to our Guests for any inconvenience. 

Thank you,