An invitation to...
MICKEY MOUSE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, A Day Long Celebration of Walt Disney
at Shea's Buffalo,
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Happy Birthday, Mickey!
The Buffalo International Film Festival in collaboration with Shea's Buffalo
is pleased to present:
MICKEY MOUSE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, A Day Long Celebration of Walt Disney at Shea's Buffalo,
December 13, 2008
Presented in Collaboration by Buffalo International Film Festival and
Shea's through the courtesy of The Walt Disney Company
Buffalo, NY –The Buffalo International Film Festival and Shea's
Performing Arts Center are proud to present MICKEY MOUSE'S BIRTHDAY
PARTY, three separate and unique screenings celebrating Walt Disney
and The 80th Birthday of Mickey Mouse, the most timeless character of
world cinema, on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008 at Shea's Buffalo
Theater. This is a benefit for many local children's charities, Shea's
restoration efforts and BIFF.
On November 18, 1928, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with sound,
Steamboat Willie, premiered in New York City. The world was never the
same again. A tiny, singing, dancing mouse went on to become the most
enduring and beloved movie character of all time: a timeless, ageless
being. As Walt Disney himself said, "It all started with a mouse."
This extraordinary event is unique in the whole world and will never
be repeated. It is the only authorized Birthday Party for this
wonderful occasion. Shea's and BIFF are thrilled to bring it
exclusively to the residents of Western New York. Anyone within
walking, running, driving, or flying distance should get themselves
there!
TRIBUTES
Together, the screenings will tell the story of how Walt Disney and
his partner Ub Iwerks were facing bankruptcy when their successful
character Oswald the Rabbit was taken away from them. In a moment of
inspiration, followed by desperate labor, Mickey Mouse was born and
serendipitously found his voice at the same time.
Mickey's Birthday Party will also pay tribute to Ralph Kent (aka
Kwiatkowski), a Buffalo, NY boy who became "The Keeper of the Mouse,"
the studio's official artist for likenesses of Mickey.
The event will also include the history of Pat Powers, a Buffalo
native, who provided Powers Cinephone to the Disney Brothers and made
Mickey's "talking" debut possible.
The Program Book includes special messages to Buffalo, NY from Leonard
Maltin (the host of all the Walt Disney Treasures DVD Sets and
Entertainment Tonight's film critic), Brad Bird (Pixar's Director of
Ratatouille and The Incredibles), Don Hahn (Producer of Fantasia 2000
and Beauty and The Beast), John Canemaker (Academy-Award Winning
Author of many Disney books), and Maurice Sendak (author of Where the
Wild Things Are, and the best-known living, children's book author in
the world).
Mr. Sendak, it is worth noting, was born the same year as Mickey,
1928, and considers him his hero. He has also visited Buffalo, NY in
the past and thinks it is one of the most beautiful cities in the
country.
GUESTS
Mike Iwerks of Disney Imagineering and great-grandson of Ub Iwerks,
the man who drew the very first Mickey Mouse cartoons, will introduce
The Hand Behind the Mouse, a documentary made by his cousin Leslie
Iwerks as a tribute to Ub and Walt.
J.B. Kaufman, author of Walt in Wonderland, Walt Disney's Silly
Symphonys, Walt in South America and a forthcoming book on Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs, is a film historian on the staff of the Walt
Disney Family Foundation who is working on the new Disney Family
Museum which will open in 2009. Mr. Kaufman is also an expert on early
Mickey Mouse.
Edward Summer wrote screenplays for Mickey Mouse at The Walt Disney
Company. He is also President of The Buffalo International Film
Festival.
All three will introduce the screenings and, at the 2:30 show, explain
the significance of each of the wonderful short films in the program.
There will be "Talk-Back" sessions after each screening in The Smith
Theater adjacent to the Shea's.
THE FILMS
The dozen films to be shown -- which include Steamboat Willie (1928)
and Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940) -- are extremely rare 35mm prints
directly from the Disney Archive. There will be three separate movie
screenings of completely different film programs on the huge Shea's
screen using authentic carbon-arc projection just as the films would
have been shown 80 years ago. Those who have seen some of these films
on television will be astounded at how they look -- huge -- as they
were meant to be seen. The two silent films, Alice's Wild West Show
(1924) and Oswald the Rabbit in "All Wet" (1927), will be accompanied
live on the Shea's Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. A complete list is below.
SCHEDULE, Saturday, December 13, 2008
10:30 A.M. THE HAND BEHIND THE MOUSE
Introduced by Mike Iwerks of Disney Imagineering and also Ub Iwerk's
great-grandson,
this award-winning feature-length documentary tells the story of Ub
Iwerks, who designed Mickey Mouse in collaboration with Walt Disney
who was his hometown friend. The screening also includes: The Skeleton
Dance (1929) (the first Silly Symphony cartoon) and Jack Frost (1934),
(a rare, CineColor, Iwerks/Powers cartoon supplied by the Academy
Archive). All are 35mm prints.
2:30 p.m. MICKEY MOUSE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, Featuring 10 ORIGINAL Mickey
Mouse cartoons in 35mm prints direct from the "Disney Vault."
Introduced by J.B. Kaufman, Historian, Walt Disney Family Museum and
Edward Summer, Mickey Mouse Screenwriter.
ALICE'S WILD WEST SHOW (1924) with Live Wurlitzer Organ!
OSWALD THE RABBIT: ALL WET (1927) with Live Wurlitzer Organ!
PLANE CRAZY (1928) – The First Mickey Cartoon animated almost single-
handed by Ub Iwerks, but not released until after Steamboat Willie.
GALLOPIN' GAUCHO (1928), the 2nd Mickey cartoon (also released after
Steamboat Willie).
STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928) The first Sound Cartoon featuring Mickey and
his public debut.
MICKEY'S GALA PREMIER (1933)
THE BAND CONCERT (1935) – The First Technicolor Mickey
BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR (1938)
THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE (1940) from Fantasia
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY (1931)
6:30 P.M. WALT DISNEY'S FANTASIA (1940)
The original, uncut Roadshow Version unseen in any theater since 1990.
Introduced by J.B. Kaufman, Historian, Walt Disney Family Museum
and Edward Summer, Mickey Mouse Screenwriter.
Guests include J.B. Kaufman, Mike Iwerks and Edward Summer.
Sponsors include: Villa Maria College Animation Program, Drama
Lighting, The Mansion on Delaware, Semanchin and Wetter,
ScottAlexanderWood Design, Steven Kerr Design
Individual Event Prices are:
Mickey's Birthday Party: $20 adult; $15 student (with ID) $10 children 12 and under)
Walt Disney's Fantasia: $20 adult; $15 student (with ID) $10 children 12 and under)
The Hand Behind the Mouse is $5.00 for all seats.
Special combination tickets for admission to
both afternoon events are $35 adult, $25 student, $15 children.
VIP Tickets, which include special "Talk Back" sessions with the Disney
guests, All-Day (3 Movie) passes, and reserved seating, are $75.
Tickets are on sale now and are available by calling Ticketmaster at