Pheaturing Phile Alum Holly Elle

Hello, everybody, welcome back to the Phile for a Saturday. How are you? Let's start off with a story about a guy who is clearly a guilty suspect found guilty of the crime we all know he did. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, a charge that could result in the death penalty. His lawyers argued that his role in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 only took place because his older brother coerced him. It must have been a jury of moms because that excuse never worked when I was growing up. Justice = served.  According to a source close to Hillary Clinton, the former senator and Secretary of State is planning to make a mysterious major career announcement tomorrow. Pundits and journalists nationwide are currently wracking their brains in an effort to figure out what it could possible be. Oh, this just in... Hillary Clinton announces she's abandoning plans to run for president after being "really impressed with Rand Paul."  A 30 year old Russian man with a terminal muscle wasting disease will be the first person to undergo a controversial head transplant from Italian mad-scientist surgeon Sergio Canavero. “Am I afraid? Yes, of course I am,” Valery Spiridonov told The Daily Mail. “It is not just very scary, but also very interesting... you have to understand that I don't really have many choices."  After careful inspection of the 18th Century manuscript "Double Falsehood" with text-analyzing software, a team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have determined that it was in fact authored by iconic playwright William Shakespeare. Approximately 372 film adaptations were immediately put into pre-production, and an infinite number of theater companies added it to next season's schedule. The entire 13 episode first season of Marvel's new "Daredevil" series was released by Netflix yesterday to overwhelmingly positive reviews and major Internet buzz. So, in other words, don't expect to see your nerdier friends for a few days.  An Indigogo page created to support Michael T. Slager... the South Carolina police officer who was caught on tape shooting an unarmed, fleeing black man before planting a taser on his lifeless body has managed to raise nearly $400 from 20 people in its first day of activity, despite (or, perhaps, because of) the obviousness of Slager's guilt. A similar page from deleted from GoFundMe. About three or four more will likely have popped up on various crowdsourcing sites by the time you're finished reading this entry. No wait, don't shut down those fundraisers for Officer Slager, it'd be great to know the names of all the gunhappy dickjags who walk among us.  David Miscavige, the head of the Church of Scientology, has been accused of paying private investigators $10K a week to follow his elderly father around and make sure he didn't divulge damaging information about the church to the media. That's probably the nicest thing he's been accused of in years.  Well, summer is just around the corner and it's getting bloody hot... so if you want to cool down I recommend you get a penis slide. You don't know what that is? Let me show you.

Yep, that is real, people.  There's a brand new postage stamp honoring poet Maya Angelou featuring her face and a suitably poetic quote. However, of those two things, only one of them actually belongs to Angelou. Did you see it?

I love that quote. Haha.  The new Avengers movie is doing out in a few weeks and... spoiler... Batman is apparently in it if the new toy line is telling the truth.

I was at the store the other day and looking through the book section and there was one book I saw that I never knew existed written by Roald Dahl.

I didn't know about that Willy Wonka sequel.  As you know I live in Florida and there's lots of stuff that happens in Florida and nowhere else. That's why I have this pheature called...

Hey, you know what's cool? Big cats. You know what else is cool? Sharks. So by my math, the coolest thing that could happen is a big cat pulling a shark out of the motherfucking ocean. In Vero Beach, Florida this week, not only did that happen, but vacationer/luckiest man alive John Bailey managed to snap this photo.

Some have wondered if the image is a fake, because we're all jaded enough to assume that if something is awesome, it's probably not real. But according to Florida news station WESH, fish and wildlife officials "said that this is normal behavior for a predatory cat." If the Discovery Channel hasn't already bought the rights to Bailey's story and photo in order to make a TV movie for Shark Week, somebody at that network should be fired. Also, Discovery, I'd like to offer myself as a screenwriter for the film. It'll be the tale of a bobcat and shark that were once unlikely childhood friends, but lost touch... only to be unexpectedly reunited when one tries to eat the other. I call it Guess Who's Getting Caught for Dinner. It's a guaranteed hit! Guaranteed hit not guaranteed.

If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Alright, guess what time it is. He's a singer, patriot and renaissance man. It's...

So... that little cunt was found guilty in the Boston Marathon bombing. Good... Now we wait and see if he gets ass fucked in a Fed lock down for the rest of his pathetic life. Or he gets the hot needle and the long sleep. Better... or they could give him to me and a few of my old associates to play with for a few years. I like that idea best. I give up... Sitting in front of the Sudz N Stuff, waiting on my laundry  I noticed a fairly new Mercedes pulling into the lot... all crooked... ground effects all banged up... rims dented... side walls scraped. The driver was this little Paris Hilton clone (sweetie, that look faded out fifteen years ago). She bounces into a spot right in front of the liquor store and hits the mailbox up against the front wall of the establishment. Parked all fotched and engine sputtering, she gets out and rushes through the front door (tight body, nice ass). As I listened to the sounds of Kanye West emanate from her busted up luxury hooptie, I waited for her to exit... BUT... backed my truck up so as to block her entry side with my driver's side. She bounces out and walks to her car only to see me parked too close... she snips, "You wanna move? I got places to be!" I responded with, "Yeah, like a hotel with that bottle and your married boyfriend. Then a drunken drive of shame at 3 AM with tears in your eyes. Then a date with a guardrail on the Southern State parkway. Then a ride in an ambulance cuffed to the gurney. Then either a coma, jail or the morgue. Have fun... run along... drink up." HEY... she annoyed me... and I hate doing laundry.

Ha. he said the 'c' word. Good job, Laird. Alright, the 37th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

The author, Rich Bernatovech, will be a guest on the Phile next Monday.

Okay, today's pheatured guest is a Phile Alum whose latest single "Lose Control" is available on iTunes. Please welcome back to the Phile... Holly Elle.

Me: Holly! Welcome back to the Phile. How have you been?

Holly: I’ve been fantastic thanks, I’m so glad to be back!

Me: Since you were here last you had a few singles out and a video for the song "Seeing Red." You have been very busy, haven't you?

Holly: Yep, I’ve been a busy bee. When you’re an independent artist sometimes you’re not sure where to put your energy next, so mostly I focus on continuing to make and release good music as often as possible. In fact, I have a new single coming out soon called “Mirage.”

Me: I have to talk about that "Seeing Red" video, it's a spoof on Quentin Tarantino movies. Did you come up with the concept or did someone else?

Holly: It was a joint effort. I got together with a director here in Nashville named Greg Welsch just to see if we might work together in the future, I wasn’t even planning on making a video right then. He had heard the "Leopardess" EP, loved 
“Seeing Red,” and we met at a Panera to discuss. Before we knew it we were bursting with excitement and ideas that were flowing like wildfire, laughing and yelling out, people in the place must have thought we were nuts.

Me: Is that storyline based on something that happened to you, Holly?

Holly: I always say there are 3 types of songs: The true story, the completely made-up story, and then there’s the combination of the two. Most often my songs are a compilation of bits and pieces of things that happened to me, or to someone I know, and then you take artistic license to craft a song that will be universal. See how I divert? Very clever.

Me: Tell the readers what the premise of the video is. And was that your real life boyfriend?

Holly: The premise of the video is a woman who catches her man cheating and launches into a full on revenge fantasy of all the ways she’d like to punish him. The lead actor was selected for maximum hotness factor through a modeling agency here in Nashville. All of your personal questions will be shot down like missiles, pew, pew, pew!

Me: Okay, fair enough. You need to film your next video here in Florida so I can play the lead. Hahaha. Just kidding... or am I?

Holly: Hey, stranger things have happened, you never know. We might have to work on a concept.

Me: Are you a fan of Tarantino movies? Which one is your favorite?

Holly: I’m not like a die-hard fan, but yeah I like his movies. I like that they’re different, uniquely him, and they’re outside the box. Hmm... I’d need to watch them all again to figure out a favorite. But I did just find out he wrote True Romance, which I remember liking a lot.

Me: The video looked like it was a lot of fun to make. Was it?

Holly: It was insanely fun to make. I loved every second of it. It was the first time I got to film a video that was more like making a movie.

Me: I have to show a screen shot from it.

Me: Do you like acting in videos, Holly?

Holly: I didn’t really until I made this video. Like I said, we had scenes and a storyline, it was more like making a movie, and I really enjoyed that. I could see that as something I’d like to do of more in the future now.

Me: You're from Canada originally but live in Nashville. How do you like living there?

Holly: I absolutely love it. Nashville was made for me. I feel so at home here.

Me: What part of Nashville do you live in?

Holly: I live in an area called 12 South. I might be biased, but it’s the best area in the city.

Me: Your music I think I mentioned before is not the typical Nashville sound, meaning it's not country. Your music is very dance and pop. Is that your favorite genre?

Holly: I would say my favorite genre is pop, yes. But my definition of pop is: mainstream Top 40 music that everybody loves. That can encompass music from other “genres” as well. I like catchy music and music that moves you.

Me: What recent music do you listen to, Holly?

Holly: Lately, I’ve been listening to Pandora. Usually the Today’s Hip Hop and Pop Hits station. I don’t download unless it’s a must-have. My most recent downloads were D’Angelo, Sam Smith, Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar.

Me: I love that Taylor Swift song "Shake It Off." I can picture you performing that song for some reason. Anyway, do you play covers in your shows?

Holly: Everybody loves that song. Why? Because it’s a well-crafted pop song. Otherwise known as Max Martin caressing your ears. It depends on the show but yes, usually I like to throw in at least one or two covers. I’m not a well-known artist yet, so when people come to my shows, I understand that it would be nice for them to hear something they know, I would want that as an audience member too. Give the people what they want!

Me: Do you have a band you perform with on stage?

Holly: I have a go to guitar player who is always my first call. The best guitar player in Nashville, ladies and gentlemen: DJ Phillips! If I need a full band for a show I hire them, I can also do a show with tracks, or just acoustic guitar or anything in between.

Me: I have to mention your mantra... No labels, no rules, no limits. The Phile has the same mantra. Haha. I'm just kidding. When and how did you come up with that?

Holly: You better not have that mantra I don’t want to have to sic my lawyers on you. Who remembers these things really? I’ve been saying and eluding to such things for years. I just like to feel free, and it has a nice ring to it huh? But if I need to prove it in court I can come up with a story...

Me: So, you are pretty much saying you will do as you please, am I right?

Holly: This is correct. Next question.

Me: I have to congratulate you for being in the Hot 100 List in the magazine Music Connection. What was the list and what number were you?

Holly: It was a list of their hot 100 unsigned live artists and bands. It was in alphabetical order, luckily they didn’t number label me. Back to no labels, no rules, no limits... that’s really about not letting people put you in a box, being open-minded, and knowing that you can do anything, it’s about positivity man. Okay, I’m done preaching.

Me: That must of been a big deal for you, am I right?

Holly: I think it was the first time I got to see my name in print in a real life magazine. So yeah, when you’re a kid in your room with a hairbrush microphone, these are the things you dream of.

Me: I don't think I mentioned this to you before but you have a tattoo on your wrist. What does it say?

Holly: It says “Cantabile." In classical music if you are about to play a piece, there will be a direction written at the beginning in Italian, telling you how to play it. If you saw “cantabile” it would be telling you to do it like you’re singing. Which is how I want to live my life.

Me: That's original. Is that your only tattoo?

Me: No, I have a few others...

Me: Oh, shit, I haven't even mentioned your new single yet "Lose Control." Will you be making a video for that song, Holly?

Holly: At this point I don’t have plans to make a video for it, but anything could happen. Right now I’m focused on the release of the next single.

Me: Is that a standalone single or will it be on an upcoming EP or album?

Holly: It’s standalone. I decided recently to release singles for a while. So I’ve had "Lifeline", the current single “Lose Control”, and the upcoming single “Mirage."

Me: And are those your lips on the cover?

Holly: Those are my lips... LOL. Everyone asks that. Who else’s lips would they be? Maybe I need to start an urban legend about who they belong to. Let’s decide now, who do you want it to be? Start a rumor.

Me: They're mine. Haha. So, what's next for you? Are you in the studio working on any new stuff?

Holly: I’m always working on new stuff. I plan on getting in the studio again this summer. Exciting things to come.

Me: You have a great singing voice. I can see you singing torchlight kinda songs. Did you ever think about that?

Holly: Thank you so much. I’m always open to anything, yes I could totally see that.

Me: Okay, so, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopic as I think you know. Ready? This is dumb. What's the funniest thing you've seen in the lunchroom? Okay, change the lunchroom to a club. What's the funniest thing you've seen in a club?

Holly: I love the randomness. Yes, thank you because I can’t remember the lunchroom. I would have to say a fully nude little old man holding a pina colada. I am not making that up.

Me: Haha. Holly, thanks for being back on the Phile. It's always good to have you here. By the way, when I first interviewed you I told you your EP should be called "Holy Hell." Still waiting for that to happen. Haha. Mention your website, Holly.

Holly: I’ve still go that one in my back pocket. Don’t worry, there are many projects to come, when the moment is right, it’ll happen. HearHolly.com!!!!!

Me: Take care and please come back on the Phile again soon. 

Holly: Thanks, I always enjoy it, can’t wait to come back!

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Laird Jim and Holly Elle. The Phile will be back on Monday with young country singer Rick Eliott as I'll be at MegaCon tomorrow. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker

Pheaturing Phile Alum Chris Hamer

Hey there, welcome to another entry of the Phile. It's a homophobe miracle! After the owners of Indiana's Memories Pizza were forced to close the doors of their restaurant due to threats of violence in response to their theoretical refusal to make pizza for gay weddings, a GoFundMe page was created to support them. At the time of publishing, nearly $900K has been raised for them. Hateful assholes truly have hearts of gold.  Members of Congress, angered by the declined opportunity for a brand new war, are demanding an opportunity to go comb through the U.S.-Iran nuclear deal looking for things to complain about on Fox News. "We want the right to go through the details of the deal and to decide whether we believe congressionally mandated sanctions should be alleviated," Senator Bob Corker told the New York Times.  Now that Barack Obama has visited Hill Air Force base in Utah, the only state in the union that the President has not visited is South Dakota. I can only assume that this is due to the deep shame that he would feel as the four great presidents of Mount Rushmore looked down upon him.  Being surprised by unexpected events helps infants to better understand the world around them, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Observed objects that "violate expectations"... such as a rolling ball being stopped short by a barely visible screen make the child see the world in a different way and stimulate their brains. "Infants who saw the surprising event... the ball that passed through the wall... learned this new information very efficiently," researcher Aimee Stahl told the Los Angeles Times. Babies are really cute until you imagine them as an adult with a really weird baby disease.  AMC's "Mad Men" returned for the second half of its final season last night, which is both terrible and amazing news. Terrible because it marks the beginning of the end of one of the greatest dramas in television history and amazing because we get to see whiny TV critics clamoring over one another to write the saddest think piece. My favorite "Mad Men" is where Don nails the pitch and treats a woman poorly and is existentially empty.  Netflix has announced that it has ordered 13 episodes of "Fuller House," a multi-camera spinoff of "Full House," a '90s-era sitcom that somehow attained cultural significance despite its general lack of quality or originality. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who both portrayed the youngest household member Michelle Tanner, are not involved, as they are way too rich to get involved with this kind of bullshit. "Hey, we're going to be on TV again!" - The Beach Boys' initial reaction to the "Full House" spin-off.
The bitter cold experienced by many Americans during the past two winters is actually not related to climate change, and were simply the result of a series of freak cold snaps, according to scientific researchers in Zurich and California. So, the freezing temperatures are apparently just the Earth's way of trying to shake us off its back. Nice try, Gaia. We're not going anywhere until you're a smoldering husk.  According to HBO's new Going Clear documentary, Scientology leaders are allegedly keeping John Travolta from leaving the church by threatening him with supposedly damaging information he gave them in confidential auditing sessions. Apparently, the actor doesn't spend much time online, or he'd know that we're all pretty well-versed in his private life already.  This is something I wanted to mention in yesterday's entry but I forgot. For years, loyal citizens of McDonaldland have been clamoring for Mayor McCheese to come down from his ivory tower and let them eat Egg McMuffins at night. And now, it's finally happening. Democracy works! Next month, McDonald's will begin testing a plan to offer breakfast at all hours of the day. Currently, breakfast stops being available at the crack of 10:30 AM, well before the underemployed stoners who love McGriddles are awake. For now, the all-day breakfast will only apply at locations in the San Diego area. The company is using that market to test the feasibility of this plan. If it's successful there, they plan on rolling it out to the rest of the globe. It turns out, serving breakfast all day is surprisingly challenging for a chain like McDonald's. The issue is kitchen space. The longer breakfast is served, the more breakfast items the chain has to keep in stock, not to mention keeping them warm and reserving prep space. It's taken McDonald's engineers decades to figure it out, and let's hope they've done their homework. The world needs this. And speaking personally, having McMuffins for dinner is one of my three greatest dreams, along with chocolate toothpaste and banging Kelly Clarkson.  So, in yesterday's Phile Jim Korkis mentioned the fabled Star Wars Land that might be coming to the park where I work at... Disney's Hollywood Studios. Well, I'm not allowed to say anything, but take a look at this picture.

You did't see that here. Haha. Oh, man.  Speaking of Disney... the greatest company to work for ever, they are so fantastic with their synergy. I don't know if this is a scene from the new Avengers movie or the new Star Wars movie.

It looks fucking great whatever movie it's from.  Last weekend I was in Pennsylvania and I saw this poster in a gift shop that I thought was kinda odd.

Ummm... before you write and complain I didn't create that. Anyway, I mentioned this yesterday, in every painting I have ever seen of him, Benjamin Franklin looks like somebody just stole his parking space.  You know those boys at Lay's are always coming up with different flavors of chips, right? well, here's another new flavor I need to try out.

Yes, I definitely need to try those. And now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is this week's...

Top Phive Reasons Why McDonald's Is Offering All-Day Breakfast.
5. Customers who have arrive too late for breakfast will no longer have to kill time in the parking lot util 6:00 the next morning.
4. There was a groundswell of support from drunk customers who always slept through breakfast in the ball pit.
3. All those unsold eggs and hash browns were just sitting around until the next day, anyway.
2. It's just more typical election-year pandering by Mayor McCheese.
And the number one reason why McDonald's is offering all-day breakfast is...
1. Gary the prep cook was all, like, "It'd be epic if we made breffisk all say!"... then filed the appropriate paperwork.

If you spot the Mindphuck please let me know. Okay, so, back in November I think it was the Maelstrom ride in the Norway pavilion closed down to make way for a Frozen theme ride. well, in that ride there was a polar bear that soon found himself out of work. But, he always wanted to be a stand up comedian so a few times I had him here on the Phile to try out some of his new material. So, please welcome once again to the Phile...

Petter: Hei der, Jason, er det flott å være tilbake på den morsomste bloggen noensinne.

Me: That's great, Petter, but once again I, or probably most of my readers don't speak Norwegian. How have you been?

Petter: I have been okay.

Me: Cool, so, tell us a joke.

Petter: Okay. How does a polar bear stop a VCR?

Me: A VCR? No one has VCR's nowadays. I don't know what the answer is.

Petter: It just presses the paws button.

Me: Ha. Very funny.

Petter: How do you keep a polar bear from charging?

Me: Ummm... I dunno.

Petter: Insist that it pay cash!

Me: Charging... I get it. Well done, Petter. Any others?

Petter: What did the polar bear put on the sign when seals were very scarce?

Me: I din't know.

Petter: Tourists Welcome!

Me: That's bad, Petter. Thanks for coming, I hope you get another job soon. Take care.

Petter: Takk, Jason, som alltid.

The 37th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

Writer Rich Bernatovech will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

Today's guest is one of my favorite artists who can be seen this coming weekend at MegaCon in Orlando from April 10th to the 12th. Please welcome back to the Phile... Chris Hamer.

Me: Hello, Chris, welcome back to the Phile. How have you been? 

Chris: Thanks for having the back. I've been fantastic. 

Me: It's a bloody small world, isn't it? Your neighbor Susan is a mutual friend of mine. I used to work with her 10 years ago at Epcot. That's crazy, right? Does she ever talk about me? Haha. Not that she would have any stories or anything. 

Chris: It is a small world, sir, no nothing yet... I been so busy with things we haven't had time to get the dirty juicy details about you. 

Me: Speaking of mutual friends, you and I met through Phile Alum Michael Banks who will be back on the Phile soon. How long have you known Michael? 

Chris: I think going on four years now, yeah, sounds about right. 

Me: You guys worked together on some stuff, am I right? 

Chris: Yep, we've done a comic book were we worked on separate stories in one book called "Illustrated" and he's drawn my character Byron a few times and I've drawn if you have his little bubble characters a few times.

Me: He's moved from Orlando to Anaheim... can you believe that? 

Chris: Oh, I can totally see him out in California.

Me: You live in Atlanta, am I right? How do you like living there? 

Chris: Man, I would but all in all my life it's all I know... Atlanta is fantastic.

Me: One of my favorite bands comes out of Atlanta... Nine Times Blue and funny enough I'm wearing my Nine Times Blue t-shirt right now... I interviewed the lead singer Kirk Waldrop a few times here on the Phile. Have you ever seen them or heard of them? You should check them out if you haven't. 

Chris: I've not. I'll have to check them out, thanks for the recommendation. 

Me: You're big into music, right, Chris? Last tike you were here a few years ago you talked about your comic "Pink Noise" which had a great theme and idea. Wanna explain what that is? 

Chris: Yeah, music is is a tie for my first love with art. I adore it. It absolutely one of the most important things to me. "Pink Noise" is a illustrated song lyric... basically what I did is I took so my favorite bands asked them if I could illustrate one of their songs and use the common character to help do this.  It's on hold right now but there are plans for another issue. 

Me: Okay, let's talk about "The Walking Dead"... I have not scene the show but my girlfriend is a big fan. You recently had your artwork on that show, right? 

Chris: Me and my wife love that show. I believe it was episode 512 that my art appeared in that was such a highlighted moment in my art career. So they just got to Alexandria and Carl gets introduced to some other kids and when he walks into the room you see two of my drawings as posters on the wall. It was just unbelievable to see that and the response that I got from my friends family and fans. 

Me: I have a picture of that scene here...

Me: I take it you are a fan of the show. Who is your favorite character? 

Chris: Do you know is silly as it might sound I love Rick... he's probably my favorite character. 

Me: Okay, so, how did your artwork get to be on the show? 

Chris: So, the show is filmed here in Atlanta, and through a series of connections I have a friend who asked me if I would had any art they can be used in the show. The only catch was they didn't know if it would get used or when. So, after we had got all the details worked out I just had to sit on this secret until it actually happened. It was one of the hardest secrets I've had to keep. 

Me: You must've been thrilled when it was, am I right? 

Chris: I can't even begin to describe what it was like to see this happen and even more what it was like for my friends and family and fans of my work to reach out to me to let me know they knew it it happened. 

Me: We talked about your blue alien character last time you were here... what's his name again? 

Chris: I'm going to have to correct you on this he is not an alien, he actually takes a little bit of offense to that he is better known as a monster. But I do believe you're talking about Byron. But don't pay him any mind he's a bit finicky.

Me: Byron, that's right. And of course he's a monster. I still want a t-shirt with him on it. Have you ever marketed him on anything? 

Chris: Byron is like my Mickey Mouse... I put him on everything. Funny you should mention I will have t-shirts available at MegaCon with him on it. 

Me: If you have a XXL I will buy one. He is like the mascot for Urbnpop, isn't he? 

Chris: Yeah, he's totally my mascot, my brand, my alter ego. 

Me: Do you like to do your own characters best or other people's characters? 

Chris: I love creating my own characters but there's something about getting a chance to draw characters that people know that's fund exciting and of course if I'm going to do it I've got to put my spin on it. 

Me: I love the cover you did for "Guardians of the Galaxy" with Rocket and Groot. I have to show that here...

Me: Was that a fun piece to do? 

Chris: Everything about this characters is fun to do. 

Me: And I laughed at that Frankenstein "The Walking Dead" cover which I will also show.

Me: Your art work sometimes is very tongue in cheek. You must have a large sense of humor, Chris. 

Chris: Thank you, it's not fun to do anything that's not fun... That make sense? You don't have to create art that can only be serious or art does not always have to be some kind of release for something that is dark inside you. Get that inner thing out and while your there have fun with it. Humor is important to me... laughing at myself and laughing at my friends and be able to make other people laugh... I don't know, just having the ability to laugh just makes it even better. And that I can do this through my career is awesome. 

Me: I don't know if I asked you this before, Chris, but are you a DC or Marvel fan? 

Chris: I'm split down the middle I like some Marvel and I like some DC but lately I've been reading a lot more DC. 

Me: You have done a few Star Wars pieces... are you planning on doing anything tied in with the new movie? 

Chris: Nothing directly related to the movie but I will always draw Star Wars stuff.

Me: Are you excited about the new movie? 

Chris: I'm super pumped up. J.J. Abrams is going to kill it. 

Me: You get to travel to many conventions with your art job, which is cool. Is there a favorite convention you ever were at? 

Chris: I do, it's the most fantastic job of ever had. You know each one has its pros and cons but I always love coming down to Orlando for MegaCon. Of course I say that and then I start going but I always love going to New York for New York Comic Con or Chicago for one of their cons or even Dragoncon in Atlanta.. That's the trick, it's the deciding which is the best because they're all good in different ways. 

Me: Do you have any bad experiences at a convention? 

Chris: Nothing worth talking about. 

Me: I'll be going to MegaCon this year... I didn't go last year as I had a kidney stone. Where can I find you there this year, Chris?

Chris: Hope you're feeling better... that's rough stuff. At Artist Alley gray nine. 

Me: I have to ask you about your tattoos, Chris, you have quite a lot. How many do you have? Do you have any of your own art tattooed on yourself? 

Chris: Yeah, I guess you could say a pretty covered in tattoos I've got one drawing I did it's tattooed on me to celebrate my first out of town art show which happened to be in Orlando. 

Me: So, are you married? What does your wife think of your art? I bet you have to all over the house.  

Chris: I am married... she loves it. She's one of my biggest fans but to be honest no, we don't have any of my art hanging in the house. There's something about I'd rather enjoyed being surrounded by other people art than my own. I guess I'm just finicky that way. 

Me: A few years ago you were getting some old magazines and painting on the covers. Is that something you're still doing? 

Chris: Yeah, I sure did I. It is kind of flip-flop back and forth between that and just other projects I'm working on, but I love it so much that it will always be around it some point. I don't think I'll ever give up that approach to art. 

Me: So, what else are you working on, Chris? Any new big projects? 

Chris: I just finished a big mural in New York for a music company. I am working on all sorts of new merch for this years travels, I've got new comic book stuff coming out. I just finished 3 new sketch cards sets for Upperdeck and Marvel... I did artwork for a board game package design, for those who know me or follow me on social media you always know I've got my hand in a pot somewhere.

Me: Wow. Alright, so on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Ready? This is stupid. How did your parents meet and fall in love? What a dumb question. 

Chris: Haha. The story changes as I get older but the quick version is my dad was working at a convenience store and my mom came in and bought milk and dropped the milk and he of course had to clean it up and that's how they kind of got introduced. 

Me: Chris, thanks for being here. Go ahead and mention your website and I hope to see you soon. Continued success! 

Chris: Thanks for having me. I always enjoy talking to you. If you're interested in finding me you can always search on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook for Urbnpop. 

Me: Or go to urbnpop.com. Thanks, Chris. 

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Chris Hamer for a great interview. Okay, the Phile will be back next Saturday with Phile Alum Holly Elle. Sunday I'll be at MegaCon, but the Phile will be back again on Monday with young country singer Rick Elliot. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker

Pheaturing Phile Alum Jim Korkis

Hey there, my loves, good afternoon, welcome to the Phile. How have you been? I have a lot to do, so let's get into it.  There are few things that summon up the image of a big, greasy pepperoni pizza more so than a gay wedding. Unfortunately for the millions upon millions of gay people in Indiana who desperately need pizza at their nuptials, there's one less outlet for their demand today. Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana is taking advantage of the state's new anti-gay law to refuse service to the long lines of pizza-needing gay couples that darken their door on a daily basis. "If a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no," co-owner Crystal O'Connor told ABC 57 News. "We're not discriminating against anyone, that's just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything."  Indiana Governor Mike Pence might be trying to walk back his state's new gay discrimination law, but Arkansas legislators are rushing in to try to fill our headlines' bigotry vacuum. An anti-gay bill masquerading as religious freedom legislation... very similar to the one recently signed by Pence was passed last night by the state congress. Governor Asa Hutchinson, who was expected to sign it into law, is now vowing to send it back to the legislature until it is less overtly hateful. Ain't no party like an Arkansas party cause an Arkansas party don't stop unless it sees what happened in Indiana then at least it slows down.  The Florida legislature is repealing a 147 year old law that threatens unmarried couples who opt to live together in a "lewd and lascivious" manner with a two-month jail sentence. "The times have changed," state senator Eleanor Sobel declared. "Currently, over a half-million couples in Florida are breaking this law. The government should not intrude into the private lives of consenting adults." This act of congress officially brings Florida into the early to mid 20th Century. By the way, contrary to popular belief... and God's command mayonnaise and mustard aren't married. They've just been living in sin.   Julianne Moore's raw and intense style of acting might have been enough to nab her an Academy Award last month, but Turkey's tourism and culture ministry has slightly higher standards. After viewing the actress's performance in a promotional video for the country, ministry officials demaded reshoots due to her "poor acting." Moore refused, and the project has since been scrapped.  If you thought Amy Winehouse's meteoric rise to fame and tragic descent into substance abuse was depressing when you saw it playing out in tabloid newspapers, just wait until you see it all crammed into a single two-hour documentary about the preternaturally talented musician's life and untimely death. Speaking of Amy Winehouse,  when I was in Pennsylvania last weekend my son and I went into a Game Stop and I was surprised there's a new Amy Winehouse video game. Or maybe it's old, I dunno. Check it out.

So, I mentioned Indiana a few moments ago, well, new signs have been put up in that state recently. I think it explains it all...

Like I said, last weekend I was in Pennsylvania and when I was there I learnt something. In every painting I've seen of Benjamin Franklin it looks like somebody just stole his parking space.

Hahaha. See what I mean?  Tomorrow is Easter, kids. In Europe they have these chocolate eggs called Kinder eggs which are banned in the United States. The add for them is kinda harsh I think.

I don't know what to say. Easter reminds me of how boring my death will probably be.  One thing about Easter that makes me smile is photos of innocent children being scared shitless of Easter Bunnies.

"Do you like violence, Timmy? Yes, yes, let the evil consume you."  You know, some churches are a little too honest about Easter.

Oh, man, Moving on, let's see who went Tango Uniform recently.

Sarah Brady 
February 6th, 1942 — April 3rd, 2015
A gun control advocate, and wife of a guy that got shot protecting Reagan. This, kids, is why I have the Peverett Phile Phame Committee now.

Robert Schuller 
September 16th, 1926 — April 2nd, 2015
Cancer Callously Killed Crystal Cathedral Creator.

Cynthia Lennon
September 10th 1939 —April 1st 2015
Wrong wife.

If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Alright, guess what time it is? He's a singer, patriot and renaissance man. It's time for...

So... Easter is this weekend. A time when all of us "Good Catholics" celebrate Jesus turning into a zombie by painting then hiding hard boiled eggs and eating chocolate bunnies with freakishly large ears... just so we're all clear on this. A high school senior at a Miller Place, Long Island school and president of the student body was kicked out of the second night's performance of a variety show after ad libbing a scripted line and poking fun at the school's superintendent. Now, I have no problem with this kid's right to free speech... what I DO have a problem with is lawyers getting involved with him and his parents to sue the school for "Embarrassing and violating him in a grievous manor." Listen up, you little shit... You KNEW there was a strict policy against ad libbing... You CHOSE to run the risk of punishment... You DID it anyway. MAN up and take your medicine, Doogie. If we open the floodgates to this reservoir of bullshit, we'll have kids turning in history finals with the word "Duuuuuuuuuude" written across the page and then suing because they were failed... infringing on their rights to free speech. You, your parents... and your fucking lawyer need to drink a tall glass of... Shut the Fuck Up!

Easter
Easter is an annual religious holiday celebrating the one-hour resurrection of your lapsed Catholicism.

Alright, today's pheatured guest is a Phile Alum and author of "The Vault of Walt: Volume 3: Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told," the 36th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club which is now available on Amazon. Please welcome back to the Phile... Jim Korkis.

Me: Jim! Welcome to the Phile, How have you been?

Jim: Old, fat and broke but thanks for asking.

Me: I have to tell you honestly that you are the first author I have had come back numerous times, and not because you write so many bloody good books, or because you are a friend, but because your interviews are so popular here on the Phile. I guess you have a lot of Disney fans.

Jim: Thank you for those kind and generous words. I am very grateful that people are interested in what I have to say and write about Disney. It is terrific when I hear from these folks or meet them at the parks. It encourages me to try harder.

Me: Anyway, you are back with another book, but since you were here last whenever that is you also published two other books... "Animation Anecdotes" and "Who's the Leader" which we will talk about in a bit. First though, how do you get so many ideas for your books, Jim? You must write a few hours a day, am I right?

Jim: Yes, I schedule several hours a day, every day including weekends, to write. I treat it like a regular job and I push myself to write several thousand words a day. I write weekly and monthly columns for a variety of websites besides articles for magazines and I just started a brand new weekly column at yourfirstvisit.net where I talk about the back stories behind Walt Disney World attractions and resorts. Not everything I write turns out great so I have to toss it out or go back and do extensive editing. I have been involved in doing Disney history research for thirty-five years so I have a lot of resources. Also, I have interests in other areas like animation and entertainment history that also supply me with added perspective. Basically, I write about things that I would like to read.

Me: Before we talk about the books let's talk about some things that have been happening at Walt Disney World. By the way, does it bother you when people say Walt Disney World is the happiest place on Earth? I do! That's actually Disneyland , am I right?

Jim: Yes, Disneyland is “the happiest place on earth” and officially the tag marketing line for the Magic Kingdom is “the most magical place on earth” but you rarely hear anyone use that description. I know that former Disney Archivist Dave Smith was extraordinarily careful with correct Disney nomenclature and would bring people (including me) to task if we were too casual and wrote “The Grand Floridian” when the correct name is “Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.” For me, I still sometimes call it “Disney MGM Studios” or just “MGM” or “The Studios” rather than “Disney Hollywood Studio.” Most people seem to know what I am talking about but there will come a time when some people will just scratch their heads when I refer to it as “MGM.” People will call it whatever makes sense to them. Walt insisted that the parks issued “coupon books” and the word “coupon” is right underneath the letters A-E on the individual slips yet people still called them tickets in the ticket book and the term “E Ticket” is in many people’s vocabulary as a cultural phrase.

Me: Recently Walt Disney World closed down two attractions: The Maelstrom ride in Norway at Epcot and the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Were you surprised by both of these attractions closing?

Jim: Not really. The classic Disney attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean or Splash Mountain would never be built today because it would be too expensive with all those audio-animatronics and the upkeep. The “smaller” experiences like The Maelstrom and the Backlot Tour are being avoided by Disney guests who feel the need to ride Space Mountain ten times or more in a day to try to recover the value for the high cost of admission. Disney is a business and if it seems that attendance has dropped off significantly at an attraction like the sorely missed Mr. Toad in Fantasyland then the good business move is to close it down or replace it with something that will help increase income. However, as a Disney fan, I wish I could still ride Mr. Toad in Walt Disney World or Horizons at Epcot.

Me: Let's talk about that Frozen explosion. Man, Frozen has taken over everywhere, hasn't it? Did you think that film would be that popular?

Jim: Even Disney didn’t think Frozen would be that popular but it became the highest grossing Disney animated feature of all time. Disney thought it might be comparable to Tangled and even produced roughly the same amount of merchandise based on that assumption which is why fans couldn’t find all the goodies they wanted when the film hit big. You never know when audiences are going to emotionally connect with a film. Few people remember that the second highest grossing Disney animated feature film, The Lion King, was just meant to be a filler to give the production team on Pocahontas some more time to finish what was supposed to be the next big blockbuster. The “B” team was assigned to work on The Lion King. Obviously in Frozen, the story of the bond between two sisters and the emphasis on female empowerment where you don’t need a prince’s “true love kiss” for a happy ending touched a lot of young women over and above the fine craftsmanship in the actual film.

Me: Did you see that movie and what did you think?

Jim: I enjoyed it but it is not one of my top favorite Disney animated features. That spot goes to films like Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, and Pinocchio. For Pixar films, my top favorite has always been Monster Inc. Just like the Disney Company, I never expected Frozen to be so overwhelmingly popular, just another example of the well made animated features that Disney produces. I also never expected Big Hero 6 to be such a blockbuster. I liked the film, thought it was well made but it took me by surprise as well. Again, every Disney animated film is somebody’s favorite. I once dated a young lady I dearly loved whose favorite was The Aristocats. I think that film is one of the worst Disney animated features for several reasons like modern dogs from the American South in an earlier time period in Paris but because she loved it so much, I learned to re-look at it and get a better appreciation.

Me: Do you think in five years Frozen will still be everywhere?

Jim: That’s a great question especially with all the Frozen investment going into the parks. I remember the time when Disney Beanie Babies were so popular that there was physical violence connected to people getting the limited edition ones. Now, most collections have been donated to Goodwill. I am old enough to remember when Disney fans collected buttons from the parks rather than pins. No one seems to do that anymore. I suspect that because of the emotional connection with the film, people will still love Frozen five years from now and maybe even with the same mania that exists today. I just hope Disney capitalizes on it without diluting it with faux sequels or a television series with a watered-down premise.

Me: And that Backlot Tour was one of the Studios' original attractions. That was a big shock for everyone when they closed it down. Were you surprised?

Jim: When that attraction first opened, there was still the great thrill of seeing “behind-the-scenes” of moviemaking but once the park stopped producing television shows and films, there really was nothing to see and I think a lot of the extras on Blu-Rays have taken the place of providing the glimpse that people want of how things are done. The Backlot Tour was a leisurely experience and Disney does not want to provide that to guests today. A Walt Disney World operations manager told me that they try to limit benches in the park so that people will have to go places to eat and buy things rather than just sit and enjoy the scenery. The hull of the spaceship from the 1986 film The Navigator and on exhibit on the Backlot Tour was reformatted into the space ship used by the Coca-Cola Thirst Rangers in Tomorrowland. I will bet there are some readers who never even saw that Disney live action film or even care about some of the history in the parks. Times changes and not always for the better.

Me: There's a million rumors about that is going in its place. What do you think will go there, Jim? 

Jim: I think it is pretty clear that the area is probably earmarked for the Pixar Place expansion and maybe even the fabled Star Wars expansion (which will soon demolish the Echo Lake area). Disney is negotiating with Universal and if those negotiations are successful, it might even be devoted to the Marvel superheroes. Those characters would easily fit into the atmosphere of Disney Hollywood Studios. Just remember that Disney’s middle name is “Jello”. I have seen elaborate plans that took years to develop disappear in the snap of a finger. Remember the original plans for the New Fantasyland or Hyperion Wharf? There were detailed concept sketches. I have also seen things never planned spring up overnight. The recent Frozen overlay at the park was accomplished in just six weeks and was a huge success with the guests as well as taking money out of their pockets.

Me: Another thing we have to talk about is that new Star Wars movie. What did you think of the teaser trailer? I watched it over a hundred times.

Jim: I think the one thing that most people including myself felt about the trailer was the assurance that Disney is probably doing it “right." It had the right look and feel of the classic trilogy but with hints that there would be some new things in the same style. I am sure there are many surprises in the final film and then the question will be whether Disney can sustain that same feel for the next two films as well as all the independent “one-shot” films. I think it was very clever not to show Han, Luke and Leia because the point of this film is to be a “new beginning." I am a Star Wars fan of the original trilogy and the trailer made me excited to see the final film.

Me: Okay, let's talk about your book "The Vault of Walt: Volume 3 Even More Unofficial Disney Stories Never Told." How long did it take to write this book?

Jim: It took a little over a year to write and it was hard because I thought I had already picked the best stories for the first two volumes. The popularity of those books made me look and see if maybe I had a couple more good stories to tell and I did including defending with some solid facts that Walt Disney was not anti-Semitic, a chapter that many readers told me they were grateful to have so they could defend Walt from their ill-informed friends.

Me: You’re right. There are some very interesting stories in it, Jim. The first one is this whole Edison Square project. What was that supposed to be, where was it supposed to be and why didn't it happen? 

Jim: Even before Disneyland was open, Walt was looking to expand the park. He had so many ideas where he didn’t have the money or the time to build what he wanted like a Haunted House on a side street off of Main Street USA. Edison Square would have been a little cul-de-sac extension at the end of Main Street devoted to Thomas Edison, General Electric and that new technology keeps bringing a great big beautiful tomorrow. It would have included a walk-through exhibit of four different stages showing how one family’s life kept improving over the decades thanks to new discoveries. Walt later expanded that concept even further and it evolved into the famous Carousel of Progress but the foundation for that attraction was right there in 1956 even if the mechanics to make it work weren’t available yet.

Me: Then there's the sad story about Cliff Edwards, the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Did you know about his story before you wrote that chapter?

Jim: I knew that there was a sad ending but I never realized how sad until I started doing my research. I often write stories because I can’t find the information anywhere else so I figure I should write what I know and maybe the other pieces of the story might get revealed. Edwards was an extremely popular and highly paid performer in vaudeville before he hooked up with Disney. In fact, he was the performer who introduced the song “Singing in the Rain.” However, like many performers he spent more money than he made, figuring there would always be more money coming in, and he got addicted to alcohol and drugs that not only drained his finances but affected his health and ability to perform. While people today primarily remember him as Jiminy Cricket, he was much more and the chapter in my book just touches on the tip of the iceberg. I don’t think most fans know that he was the voice of Jim Crow, the leader of the crows in the film Dumbo, or why he was chosen for that role when the other crows were voiced by black musicians. The answer is in the book.

Me: That Jiminy is a really popular character when it comes to Disney characters. Why do you think that is, Jim?

Jim: When I was growing up, it was Jiminy Cricket, not Mickey Mouse who was my very favorite Disney character. He was so smart, self-effacing, hard-working, funny and most important an inspiration to all of us to listen to our conscience and try to be the best we could be. Even the Disney Company has used Jiminy as a mascot for several different departments over the years from the Disney University to currently Disney’s Environmentality projects. He was the mascot for many years for the Disney United Way campaign. He appeared as the spokesman for brands like Baker’s Instant Chocolate to Nash Rambler cars. He was for the longest time the only Disney character to star in two Disney animated features (Pinocchio and Fun and Fancy Free) until The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under. He had his own animated segments on the original "Mickey Mouse Club" television show that were later recycled into educational films that were rented by schools and churches. He had his own comic book series. He is a tremendously hard character to draw correctly but there is just something so appealing about him that he touches all of us.

Me: And you talk about Hidden Mickeys. Years ago when I was in custodial myself with a kid on the college program were working bussing tables at the Farmers Market restaurant inside the Land pavilion and we both came up with the idea of a Hidden Mickey book. This was waaayyy before the Internet. And now Hidden Mickey books are sold in the parks. How did this happen?

Jim: For those who don’t know, a Hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey (often just the three-circled image of his head) that appears unobtrusively in a ride or on piece of furniture or wherever. Imagineers started doing it for fun when Epcot was built and they were told that Mickey wouldn’t be in the park. (He actually was on a couple of things like name tags and manhole covers.) My friend Steve Barrett is the acknowledged expert on Hidden Mickeys and has written the most popular guides to the topic but even he didn’t know the full story of how they originally developed and how they were revealed to guests that I go into great detail in the chapter in my book. Even today, Disney Imagineering refuses to confirm or deny the existence of Hidden Mickeys and no one, not even Imagineering, has a complete list. One of the reasons is that things keep changing. New things are built. Old things are removed. Also Imagineers never kept a record. They just did it for fun. Some Imagineers hate the idea of Hidden Mickeys because they feel guests spend so much time looking for them that it takes them out of the immersive experience. Guests LOVE Hidden Mickeys. I think it makes them feel like they are an “insider” and know something special their friends and family don’t know. However, sometimes I think people “see” Hidden Mickeys where none were intended. I like the more creative ones like the viking in the Norway mural wearing mouse ears or Mickey’s foot sticking out beneath a poster in the Great Movie Ride. I think those are very clever but even I am blown away by the Hidden Mickey at the Little Mermaid ride that can be seen for only one hour a day on only ONE day of the year. There are also hidden Donald's and even a hidden Oswald the Rabbit.

Me: I have an idea for a book: "Blatant Mickeys." What do you think? Haha. Would your publisher go for that?

Jim: Maybe it should be called "Hidden Mickeys for Dummies." My publisher, Bob McLain, of Theme Park Press has dozens of terrific Disney related books available on Amazon including ones devoted to Walt’s Hollywood Garage to the haunted and tragic incidents at Disney theme parks to Walt’s vacation to Europe in 1935 that influenced so many Disney things to memoirs of the original Mouseketeers and students who were on the WDW college program. He also has a terrific sense of humor so you, or anyone reading this with a great idea for a Disney book, should go to themeparkpress.com/write-for-us.htm.  He is always willing to listen. If he buys your book idea, you owe me a lunch as commission.

Me: Deal. Speaking of your publisher, he hooked me up with an interview with Lonnie Burr, who was a Mousekeeter. Did you read that interview? Whatcha think?

Jim: You are always a great interviewer because you ask the “out of the ordinary” questions so you get so much more out of your interview subjects. Lonnie is a terrific subject. He is very outspoken, has had a colorful career, and since he is a writer himself really knows how to tell a story. I am so happy you are doing these interviews because it helps preserve a part of Disney history that no one else has done. Life is getting shorter and many of these people may not be around much longer.

Me: Okay, so, what other stories do you talk in "Vault of Walt 3"?

Jim: Walt’s mom’s special recipe for apple pie that Walt loved, the differences between fact and fiction in the movie Saving Mr. Banks, Walt’s smoking and his infamous cough, Walt’s adventures in France after World War I, the history of Ward Kimball’s Dixieland jazz band The Firehouse Five Plus Two and many, many others so there is something for everyone. I find that people buy a copy of the book for themselves and then another copy as a gift for a friend or family member because with so many different stories, everyone finds one that is their favorite. I have had five different fathers tell me their children have stolen their copies so they had to buy another one for themselves.

Me: Will there be a Volume 4?

Jim: Yes, there will be a Volume 4 this fall with even more great stories that no one else has ever written about but I never give specifics until the book is completely finished. A book is an organic thing and is constantly changing and you always want to make sure the “balance” of the stories is right. Again, it will be the same format: stories about Walt himself, stories about the theme parks, stories about the films both live action and animated and finally miscellaneous stories.

Me: Let's talk about your other books... "Animation Anecdotes" and "Who's the Leader of the Club." Those two books are very different. The first one is not about Disney, but about animation, right?

Jim: Yes, I spent a lot of time as an animation historian in the Los Angeles area. I knew many animators, both the old guard and the new ones who have since become legends. I was out there when films like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were being made as well as television series like "Duck Tales." I wrote continuing columns on animation including news and reviews for several magazines. For a decade, I wrote a monthly column for the prestigious newsstand Animation Magazine right from its first issue called “Animation Anecdotes” that featured funny stories, quotes and more. It was hugely popular in the animation industry. You can see Disney animation director John Musker reading my column in a scene in a bonus feature in the documentary "Waking Sleeping Beauty." I currently write a weekly column of animation anecdotes at cartoonresearch.com. So I took some of those, some from the classic Animation Magazine columns and plenty of new ones and put them together in the book with some rewriting and updating. There are over thirty-five pages just devoted to Disney including how Beatle John Lennon was inspired to write a hit song by a Disney animated film song, whether Luxo Jr. is male or female, how kids interviewed by TIME magazine in 1935 thought Mickey Mouse was a cat, and why the Disney Studio almost drowned the kid who did the voice of Pinocchio. In addition, there are funny stories about Mr. Magoo, Tom and Jerry, Woody Woodpecker, Yogi Bear, Ralph Bakshi, Jay Ward, and more. One of the most popular chapters is the one on animated films never made including Disney’s Hiawatha. Did you know animation legend Don Bluth was set to make an animated feature film based on Dracula with a script by Joss Whedon and concept art by Frank Frazetta? The story behind that film and others are in the book.

Me: Jim, what's your favorite cartoon series ever?

Jim: I loved the original "Jonny Quest" from Hanna-Barbera. I have re-watched it so many times and wish there had been a second season with those same creative talents. There are all sorts of oddball series that few people have heard of like "Eek! The Cat" that were short-lived but made me laugh. I loved the "Dr. Snuggles" series on television when it was voiced by Peter Ustinov. For contractually reasons, when it was finally released on video, they had someone else do the voice. "Batman: The Animated Series" with work by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm was outstanding. Of course, I get a big kick out of the regular more mainstream series as well like the Disney Afternoon block of cartoons. 

Me: The other book is about how Walt was as a boss, what he did that was right and what he did that was wrong. There have been many stories that Walt was hard on his employees, so what are some things he did right?

Jim: I worked with the business programs at Walt Disney World including developing and instructing many customized business programs for Disney corporate clients like Feld Entertainment, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Kodak. In addition, over the last four decades, I interviewed many people who worked closely with both Walt and Roy on business matters. There are plenty of books out there about how the Disney Company is run today. It is run much like any other big business. However, there were no articles or books on how Walt and Roy ran the company and how they evolved it from a “mom and pop” organization into a worldwide entertainment empire. Walt had no business training but instinctively he did a lot of things right that other companies are starting to do in their businesses today including knowing when to take a calculated risk, creating a non-threatening work environment, modeling the behavior you want your employees to do, looking at employees as individuals who may have certain skills or hobbies that could benefit the business, and offering opportunities to women and minorities that they got nowhere else. Walt was tough to work for but even decades after his death, people who worked for him were still completely devoted to him. He never expected more from his employees than what he expected from himself. He was the first one to the studio in the morning and the last one to leave at night and even came in on the weekends to do work. Over the years, he sold everything from his favorite Moon Roadster to his vacation home in Palm Springs to help keep the business going and paying salaries before he got a penny. The book is a great history of Walt and Roy from a business perspective for Disney fans and also a great workbook for people who have small businesses and want to learn how Walt did it.

Me: Last time you were here I asked you if you had a Magic Band and you said no. So, do you have one now?

Jim: I still do not have a Magic Band. I have friends, including one of my brothers, who absolutely love it but they all preface their remarks by “I was able to schedule this and schedule that and…” It seems to me that people become a slave to that schedule. Going to a Disney theme park or any amusement park requires planning and I do that. However, it just seems to me to be too much like work to HAVE to be somewhere at a certain time or else you miss your opportunity. I think what WDW has recently announced like expanding Soarin’ and Toy Story Mania makes more sense than saying you can only go on those things if months ahead of time you scheduled an appointment. Also the bands fool you into spending more than you intended because you don’t see real money (even real credit card). You are a celebrity and with just a touch of your wrist you get everything you wanted but may not have needed.

Me: Good point. On the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics... so here is yours. This is a lame one. Which famous athlete would you love to meet?

Jim: You never indicated “living” or “dead”. I am not a huge fan of today’s athletes although I respect their skills. Many of them seem preoccupied with fame or money rather than just the love of the sport. So, I don’t have a “hero” that I would love to meet. If it were a dead athlete I would pick someone because of their historical importance and that they would have great stories like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Gentleman Jim Corbett, or ones who went on to other careers like Johnny Weissmuller or Buster Crabbe. A current athlete? Most of them seem pretty uninteresting to me when I hear them interviewed. Maybe Shaquille O’Neal because he might have some great stories to share and seems like he would be fun.

Me: Jim, thanks for being back on the Phile. Please come back when your next book comes out. All the best.

Jim: And as always, thank YOU. I hope your readers will “vote with their wallets” and pick up my books for their collections, not just because I think they are books worth being in a Disney fan’s collection, but because then it encourages me to write more books and I have a lot of other stories to tell.

Me: Thank you, Jim. Once again his books are available on Amazon.com  and if you have an idea for a book go to themeparkpress.com/write-for-us.htm.

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Laird Jim and Jim Korkis. The Phile will be back on Monday with Phile Alum and artist Chris Hamer. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker