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Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies
1966 - A Rutledge Book / Grosset & Dunlap - #6601 - Pioneer Books - Walt Magician of the Movies - Written by Bob Thomas - 176 Pages - First Edition - Hardcover - Illustrated by Leonard Vosburgh - Out of Print - New - Never Read - Book is 50 years old! - Edge wear from shelving
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
27 people want to read
About the author
Bob Thomas
131 books33 followersRobert Joseph "Bob" Thomas was an American Hollywood film industry biographer and reporter who worked for the Associated Press from 1944.
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
Born in San Diego, he grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a film publicist. He attended UCLA. He lived in Encino with his wife, Patricia. They have three daughters. Thomas, aged 92, died on March 14, 2014 at his home.
Thomas made his mark by engaging celebrities in activities that brought out their personalities, whether by measuring their waistline after childbirth (as he did with Betty Grable) or testing just how tall a leading lady needed to be by kissing her himself (as he did with June Haver). Acclaimed as the dean of Hollywood reporters, Bob Thomas wrote about the movie business for the Associated Press since the days when Hollywood was run by the men who founded it: Jack Warner, Darryl F. Zanuck, Harry Cohn and Louis B. Mayer.
During his long history of reporting for the AP, Thomas authored at least 30 books. Many in the film industry credit his 1969 biography of producer Irving G. Thalberg as sparking their interest in pursuing a career behind the scenes. Other Thomas biographies include Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, David O. Selznick, Walter Winchell, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Howard Hughes, Abbott & Costello, Walt Disney, and a children's book, Walt Disney: Magician of the Movies. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2025
Calificando libros que reencontre ordenando mi librero 🤓👆🏻 #16:
Ahh, qué lindo libro. Me peleé con mi hermana por el. Dibuje mucho por él y me enamoré de la animación.
Ahh, qué lindo libro. Me peleé con mi hermana por el. Dibuje mucho por él y me enamoré de la animación.
May 29, 2022
Libro técnico sobre el Estudio Walt Disney a cargo de Bob Thomas.
July 24, 2019
When I first rescued this book off the shelves of a library sale room, I admit to having my doubts. For some reason, I just didn't have any interest in learning more about Walt Disney. The book was filed in my home library under the biography section and left to languish for about a year. Then! My husband and I watched the fantastic movie Saving Mr. Banks on Amazon and I knew I wanted to know more about this man who was finally able to crack the rather difficult and unamiable P.L. Travers.
This bio by Bob Thomas is truly a wonderful introduction to the life of Walter Disney. It was a satisfyingly short and easy read, but not simplistic or dumbed down. Thomas brings us into Disney's world as a young boy on a farm, where he earns his father's admonition by defacing the bright white siding of their farmhouse with a large depitction of a black tar-drawn pig. His father never would approve of Walt's ambitions to become an artist, specifically a cartoonist. But while this book address the tension Walt faces at home, it does so in a way to not disrespect any member of the family, which I especially appreciate in a biography intended for a younger audience.
The book goes on to illustrate Walt's successes and failures, while capturing his dogged determination and stubborness, as well as his commitment to hard work. I think anyone who reads this book will be inspired not just by Disney's out of this world creativity, but also by his insatiable thirst for knowledge and his remarkable drive. It's not only Walt's personal character that is rather impressive, but also his life story. He was remarkably adventurous and quite a risk taker in business, which makes for a fascinating read.
Thomas has touched on a basic outline of Disney's life, bringing out the best qualities of this man who quite literally changed the world. I'm sure there are more comprehensive bios out there, and likely ones that divulge more personal detail and perhaps even focus on more negative qualities of his character, but this one is just the right balance for me, and a perfect introduction. Reading this book was not only a joy, but it was a bit of a revelation. I had no idea how widely this hard working, innovative man actually impacted our culture and society. It is astounding. Now I am eager to read more about Walter Disney, and am so glad this rejected book made it onto my personal shelves.
This bio by Bob Thomas is truly a wonderful introduction to the life of Walter Disney. It was a satisfyingly short and easy read, but not simplistic or dumbed down. Thomas brings us into Disney's world as a young boy on a farm, where he earns his father's admonition by defacing the bright white siding of their farmhouse with a large depitction of a black tar-drawn pig. His father never would approve of Walt's ambitions to become an artist, specifically a cartoonist. But while this book address the tension Walt faces at home, it does so in a way to not disrespect any member of the family, which I especially appreciate in a biography intended for a younger audience.
The book goes on to illustrate Walt's successes and failures, while capturing his dogged determination and stubborness, as well as his commitment to hard work. I think anyone who reads this book will be inspired not just by Disney's out of this world creativity, but also by his insatiable thirst for knowledge and his remarkable drive. It's not only Walt's personal character that is rather impressive, but also his life story. He was remarkably adventurous and quite a risk taker in business, which makes for a fascinating read.
Thomas has touched on a basic outline of Disney's life, bringing out the best qualities of this man who quite literally changed the world. I'm sure there are more comprehensive bios out there, and likely ones that divulge more personal detail and perhaps even focus on more negative qualities of his character, but this one is just the right balance for me, and a perfect introduction. Reading this book was not only a joy, but it was a bit of a revelation. I had no idea how widely this hard working, innovative man actually impacted our culture and society. It is astounding. Now I am eager to read more about Walter Disney, and am so glad this rejected book made it onto my personal shelves.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews