Women Who Made Early Disneyland - (Studies in Disney and Culture) by Cindy Mediavilla & Kelsey Knox (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The Women Who Made Early Disneyland tells the story of the many women who designed, built, and operated early Disneyland from their various positions and departments and highlights how their work contributed to Disneyland's early success.

Review Quotes

"Cindy and Kelsey have written a book full of stories about incredible women that every Disney fan should know. Some names are familiar, but most probably are not. Reading the stories about some of the women I was lucky enough to have met or even known, brought smiles, laughter, and even some tears. While I know they all did what they did because they loved it, not to become famous, they all deserve to have the spotlight on them and their contributions. Hopefully, learning about these women will inspire some future artists, costume designers, landscape architects, and many other creatives to pursue what they are passionate about."

"The research in this volume of accounts of the women who made Disneyland possible is impressive and thoroughly documented. These stories are not simply uncovered (some have been circulating in Disney fandom for years) but they have been used to paint a broader picture of the times and the fascinating and complex women working for Disney in the early days of Disneyland. That women played so many different and crucial roles in bringing Disneyland to life is a story to be celebrated and this book does wonders with this goal. From the 71-year-old original Tinker Bell and the real-life Leota in the Haunted Mansion to the artists who collaborated to create 'it's a small world, ' the stories are both serious and delightful. The book is a welcome addition to the history of all things Walt and Disneyland."

"The Women Who Made Early Disneyland is an incredibly in-depth look at the creative and talented women who made Disneyland magic."

Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox take a deep dive into early Disneyland history, shining a spotlight on the women who brought the 'Happiest Place on Earth' to life. An invaluable addition to any Disney historian's library!

These are just some of the stories that Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox share in The Women Who Made Early Disneyland. Their research is impeccable, as they piece together biographies of accomplished women who left little trace but nevertheless an indelible mark on the Disney organization, and the book makes an outstanding contribution to the growing field of Disney studies. The chapters, each about ten pages, are concise and readable. The book contains a chronology of important Disneyland dates and a substantive bibliography but, unfortunately, no images to enable the reader to connect each woman's name with a face. In their conclusion, Mediavilla and Knox call for more study of those forgotten women who contributed to Disney's success. After reading their book, no one would disagree.

About the Author

Cindy Mediavilla is retired lecturer from the department of information studies, University of California, Los Angeles.

Kelsey Knox is university archivist at the University of California Santa Cruz.