2009 Disney Legends announced

The D23 Web site today announced the 2009 Disney Legends, and some very big names will earn Legend status this year:

• Robin Williams, who has played in several Disney movies, most notably as the Genie in Alladin and Professor Brainard in Flubber, also was the Timekeeper in Tomorrowland, along with other roles in park attractions.


• Golden Girls stars Estelle Getty, Rue McClannahan, Beatrice Arthur and Betty White. (posthumous for Getty, and Arthur).


• Tony Anselmo, current voice of Donald Duck and a Disney animator.


• Bill Farmer, current voice of Goofy and Pluto.


• Don Iwerks, son of Ub Iwerks, who created revolutionary film systems for projects like Mary Poppins, Circlevision 360 and Star Tours.


• Leota Toombs Thomas, who was the model for Madame Leota in The Haunted Mansion. (posthumous)


• Harry Archinal, former president of Buena Vista International.

Each honoree receives a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity and magic they have brought to the Company. Disney Legends Award recipients also participate in a hand-print ceremony, and their bronzed prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at the Company's Burbank headquarters.

The first Disney Legend was actor Fred MacMurray, named in 1987. Since then Disney has named 237 Legends. For a complete list of all Disney Legends, visit the Disney Legends Web site at http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/index.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post indicated the Legend award was posthumous for Rue McClannahan. This was an error. My sincere apologies to Mrs. McClannahan for the error.

Remembering Wayne Allwine (1947-2009)

It is a sad time for Disney fans. The news came this week that Wayne Allwine, long-time voice of Mickey Mouse and Disney Legend, passed away May 18 due to complications with diabetes. Allwine apparently had been ill for some time and was in need of a kidney transplant.

Allwine is survived by Russi Taylor, who provides the voice of Minnie Mouse. The two were inducted as Disney Legends just last year. The couple have three children.

Allwine had been providing the voice for Disney's signature character, Mickey Mouse, since 1977 and was only the third person in Disney history to perform the voice of Mickey. The first voice of Mickey Mouse was, of course, Walt Disney himself.

I join many other Disney fans in extending my heartfelt sympathies to Wayne's family. While Mickey will continue, Allwine's passing marks another key change in history of Mickey Mouse. Allwine was a great Mickey and he will always be remembered for bringing joy and happiness to the world.

You can learn more about Allwine from the Disney Legends Web site.

Disney Legend Marty Sklar to retire

According to a blog post on Orlando Attractions Magazine, Marty Sklar, Ambassador for Walt Disney Imagineering has decided to retire from the Walt Disney Company, effective July 17, which happens to be Disneyland's 54th birthday.

In an e-mail Sklar sent to Imagineering employees, Sklar said, "I have decided to turn in my name tag on one of those prime dates: July 17. In 2009, that date will mark Disneyland’s 54th birthday, and my 53rd year as a Disney cast member. (I returned to UCLA after Disneyland’s first summer to finish my senior year, then returned to Disneyland’s public relations department in September 1956.)"

In the e-mail, Sklar went on to say, "Now it’s time to turn the page. So many of you have asked that I have finally actually begun writing that book about the people, the places and the passions I have experienced as an Imagineer. As I said three years ago when my 'ambassadorship' began, I know you will keep on dreaming big dreams, and creating the newest and best in the world. I’ll still be looking over your shoulders, cheerleading, and filling new blank pages. It’s the most important Imagineering tradition."

Sklar was named a Disney Legend in 2001.

This is as big as if Walt Disney, himself, were announcing his retirement. Sklar has done it all and seen it all. Even though he may officially be retiring, I'm sure we've not seen the last of Marty Sklar.

On behalf of the millions and millions of Disney Parks fans, I want to wish Marty the best of luck in his upcoming retirement and to express our most sincere thanks and appreciation for all he's done to create Disney magic.

Disney Legends to receive Main St. windows at Disneyland

According to the D23 Web site, on April 29, for the first time in history, two people will receive a window on Main Street, U.S.A. on the same day. The windows will honor Disney Legends and former Walt Disney Imagineers Rolly Crump and the late Don Edgren. Look for Rolly and Don's names over the porch of the old bra shop and above the Silhouette Studio.

Rolly Crump is best known for his work at Disneyland on the Haunted Mansion, the Enchanted Tiki Room, it's a small world, the Carousel of Progress, among other projects. Crump also contributed to the development of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. After a brief stint away from Disney, Crump returned to work on several pavilions in Epcot. He was inducted as a Disney legend in 2004.

Don Edgren was the original chief engineer in the field for the original construction of Disneyland. He also led the Imagineering engineering team for New Orleans Square and Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, while also participating in the initial master planning for Walt Disney World in Florida. He was inducted as a Disney legend in 2006.

(source: Disney Legends Web site)

New Disney Legends

Mickey and Minnie are Disney Legends -- and so are the people who provide their voices. Wayne Allwine and his wife Russi Taylor became Disney Legends at a ceremony Monday. Allwine and Taylor met while they were doing the voices for the two most popular mice in the world.

Even though Mickey and Minnie may never get married, the two voices did - and now they're Disney Legends. Also inducted were Frank Gifford, Barbara Walters and several others.

More from the official Disney news release.