Disney A-Z The Official Encyclopedia

Grumpy · Post by **Grumpy** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:08 pm

Hi
I don't know if this is already posted but I couldn't find it.
The new updated edition of Dave Smith's book Disney A-Z The Official Encyclopedia. Is now released. Is a really great book with almost 800 pages, a must have for true Disney fans.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... /ref=nosim

goofystitch · Post by **goofystitch** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:22 pm

I have the last edition. At the moment, I feel knowledgeable enough to know most of what has been added that I care about, so I don't think I'll upgrade until the next edition.

reyquila · Post by **reyquila** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:27 pm

I just ordered it via Amazon with the Dinosaur Blue Ray!!!

jebsdad · Post by **jebsdad** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 8:12 am

Even though I have the first and second editions, I bought this third edition and consider it a major improvement on the first two editions.

I hesitated buying this third edition because the last info I had from Dave Smith (author and Disney Archivist) was that the cartoon entries would have to be shortened in order to fit the new material into the same length book. So I was surprised to find the book about 130 pages longer and no changes to the cartoon entries.

No changes to the cartoon entries is important to me because most of them are my contributions to the book, which first appeared in the second edition. I contributed these changes because many of the cartoon descriptions in the first edition were incorrect or poorly described. My name (Jerry Edwards), along with other contributors, is listed in the credits section of both the second and third editions.

My understanding is that the Japanese publisher of this edition wanted a complete, unedited 3rd edition for translation to Japanese. So the Japanese publisher paid the costs of the longer book - keeping it from being edited.

So, if you are interested in Ultimate Disney, this book is very worthwhile. No matter how much you think you know about the companies and works of the Disney Corporation, this book will still have some nice surprise information for you. This is the best edition yet!!

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:00 am

I've only got the first edition of this title, and I've been aware of some inaccurate information about cartoons there for years.

I'm just a bit surprised, though, that this new edition is only the third. Was there ever a "slightly revised printing" in between somewhere that was not entirely a "new edition", or am I just imagining things here?

Post by **Luke** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:14 am

Lars Vermundsberget wrote:I'm just a bit surprised, though, that this new edition is only the third. Was there ever a "slightly revised printing" in between somewhere that was not entirely a "new edition", or am I just imagining things here?

Dave Smith has made an updated PDF file of updates/corrections available in between printings.

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:24 am

Luke wrote:
Lars Vermundsberget wrote:I'm just a bit surprised, though, that this new edition is only the third. Was there ever a "slightly revised printing" in between somewhere that was not entirely a "new edition", or am I just imagining things here?
Dave Smith has made an updated PDF file of updates/corrections available in between printings.

That sounds like good service.

I still wonder about the "revised printing" of the book, though. Not that I'd need it - I'm just interested in finding out about various editions/versions of important titles such as this one.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:44 am

Drool! How I'd love to own that!

Unfortunately I own only one Disney book. It's nice and looks snazzy, but disappoints in the "info" department, in that most of the pages are taken up by pictures and not information.

It's called "Disney - The Ultimate Visual Guide". Written by Russell Schroeder and published by DK (Dorling Kindersley). It was published in 2003, so some info's missing by now.

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:42 am

Oh, then you definitely need more books! I could recommend some.

Post by **Luke** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:42 am

The site has recommended some here and here. Of course, those are both plenty outdated and not the most complete.

LindaMYoung · Post by **LindaMYoung** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:19 am

Does it include a listing for WALT DISNEY: ONE MAN'S DREAM, which was not in the original edition? (Not sure if it was produced by Disney, but was about Disney and EPCOT and I felt it merited inclusion.)

Linda

MichaeLeah · Post by **MichaeLeah** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:02 pm

jebsdad wrote: No changes to the cartoon entries is important to me because most of them are my contributions to the book, which first appeared in the second edition. I contributed these changes because many of the cartoon descriptions in the first edition were incorrect or poorly described. My name (Jerry Edwards), along with other contributors, is listed in the credits section of both the second and third editions.

How did you come to be involved in writing for the encyclopedia? What are your connections with Disney?

jebsdad · Post by **jebsdad** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:07 am

MichaeLeah wrote:
jebsdad wrote: No changes to the cartoon entries is important to me because most of them are my contributions to the book, which first appeared in the second edition. I contributed these changes because many of the cartoon descriptions in the first edition were incorrect or poorly described. My name (Jerry Edwards), along with other contributors, is listed in the credits section of both the second and third editions.
How did you come to be involved in writing for the encyclopedia? What are your connections with Disney?

I have no official connections with the Disney Company. My involvement with Dave Smith's Disney A To Z Encyclopedia came about due to my decades of correspondence with Dave Smith and the Disney Archives.

I first started writing Dave Smith and the Archives in 1983, the year the Disney Channel first premiered. I would occasionally have a question or I wanted to address a possible mistake I noticed in the Disney Channel magazine or on one of the Disney Channel TV shows.

My writing officially started when I submitted articles on Disney and other interests to hobby magazines. Those paid articles were published. I sent a copy of my first article (one on animation goofs in Disney animated films and cartoons) to Dave Smith and asked if he would be willing to proofread it for me for accuracy. He caught a couple of dumb mistakes and asked me to send copies of any articles on Disney that were published so they could be included in the Disney Archives files.

Most of my writing (my articles, my cartoon descriptions for the Disney A To Z encyclopedia, and my proofreading contributions to Bill Cotter's book Wonderful World Of Disney Television) grew from hobby lists I made for my own interest.

I consider the story of how I began to help with proofreading on Bill Cotter's TV book to be funny. I had written an article "Experts On Misinformation" in which I detailed various misinformation I had gotten in various hobbies, including some misinformation from the Disney Archives and the Disney Channel Magazine. I received a note from Bill Cotter explaining the circumstances of one piece of misinformation which he felt that maybe his wife had provided the answer.

From Bill's note to me, I now had his address. I wrote him about his rumored TV book and whether he had found a publisher yet. I also offered to help if he was interested, since I had much Disney TV video on tape from the Disney Channel. Bill very graciously welcomed any help I could provide. I was able to provide some video, but mainly I was able to contribute my proofreading expertise on many entries.

Of all my Disney writing, I am proudest of my contributions to those two books, as well as my more major articles on goofs in Disney animation (Disney Animation - Not Quite Perfect), censored Disney toons on the Disney Channel and video (Disney - King Of Self-Censorship), and my article on animation in the Disney TV shows (which is included in my posts on this forum).

So no official Disney connection, but I have made friends with several Disney animators, storymen, and Imagineers over the years due to correpondence over the past 20 years or so. Dave Smith has been especially helpful, friendly, and supportive of my writing efforts these many years. His kindness has added greatly to my Disney hobby over the years.

Hope this answers your question and didn't bore you too much.

bcotter · Post by **bcotter** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:04 pm

I just saw your note, Jerry. It's been a very hectic year and I don't get back here as much as I would like to. I just wanted to publically thank you for all of the hard work on trying to keep me from making too many mistakes!

Bill Cotter

jebsdad · Post by **jebsdad** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:39 am

bcotter wrote:I just saw your note, Jerry. It's been a very hectic year and I don't get back here as much as I would like to. I just wanted to publically thank you for all of the hard work on trying to keep me from making too many mistakes!

Bill Cotter

Hi Bill! Nice to hear from you! We don't seem to keep in touch much anymore, but I rarely keep in touch with my Disney hobby friends nowadays - I guess partly because I'm not as fanatic about Disney as I once was.

I'm looking forward to the Treasures Wave 6 due out in a few days and your work in them. I look forward to Wave 7 when / if they come out. Even with the reduced release level (65,000!!!), I'm sure the contract that Leonard Maltin and associates have with Disney on this series runs 3 more years, which will at least cover the last two volumes of the Donald Duck toons.

I will always consider the time I worked with you on your book (mainly in a proofreading capacity) as one of the highs of my Disney hobby. Your book and the CD-ROM additional info you offer on your website (billcotter.com) is still the definitive info on Disney Television.

I would love an updated edition to your book, but I assume it would have to be HUGE to cover Disney's more recent TV involvement!!!

Take care...Jerry

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