Ape Pen Publishing Editions
As Chief Photographer for the Santa Ana Register during the 1950's, Kilpatrick was perfectly situated to record the development of Walt Disney's Disneyland theme park project. From its earliest inception, Kilpatrick was able to capture the fast moving construction of Southern California's most famous new tourist destination. Throughout the twelve-month period of construction (1954 - 1955) and throughout the first decade of Disneyland's operation, Kilpatrick captured every detail on film, both on assignment for the Register, and also as a freelance photographer.
Coming Soon...Expanded image galleries from each edition
 

Disneyland...the Beginning Homecoming: Destination Disneyland
Ape Pen Publishing’s fourth and most elaborate of the Disneyland photography series, this edition features many rarely seen and never-before-published photographs of famed Southern California photojournalist, Mell Kilpatrick. This beautifully designed hardcover edition features a foreword by Walt Disney's eldest daughter, Diane Disney Miller. Early Disneyland designer and Imagineer Sam McKim provided the introduction for the text, and several other key figures in Disney history have offered their own unique perspectives including: Alice Davis, Harriet Burns, Margaret Kerry, Bob Gurr, Blaine Gibson, Rolly Crump, and Art Linkletter. Hardcover To commemorate Disneyland's Golden Anniversary, Ape Pen Publishing has released HOMECOMING DESTINATION DISNEYLAND, a collection of vintage photographs by veteran news photographer Mell Kilpatrick, narrative tributes from a host of celebrities, and exclusive artwork by legendary Disney artist Sam McKim.

Narrative tributes include brief recollections from people involved with Walt Disney and the Disneyland Park during its early years. Many former employees of Walt Disney Productions, including former cast members, celebrities and imagineers, contributed personal recollections of Walt and his dream.

Homecoming Destination Disneyland includes select reproductions of the original Disneyland press releases from the 1955 press kit, which had been saved by the author’s grandfather, photographer Mell Kilpatrick. More than a dozen movie stars, television personalities, Disney cast members and other entertainment industry personnel lend tribute to the Disney dream in the new book. A foreword by Keith Murdoch, City Manager of Anaheim during the 1950s, shares a fascinating look at the search for the perfect location for the Magic Kingdom. Keith guided Walt through the miles of Anaheim orange groves, in search of parcels which could accommodate Walt’s dream park. Ron Dominguez, second-generation Anaheim native shares the story of how his family came to sell their ancestral home and orange groves to a buyer with mysterious plans for the property. Dominguez recalls his teen years working at the park and eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice President of Disneyland.

Also featured in Homecoming Destination Disneyland are narratives by veteran TV personality Art Linkletter, actors Fess Parker, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Don Knotts, and Wally Boag, artist Brian McKim, director Richard Fleischer, illusionist Teller (of Penn & Teller), Matt McKim, and Sam McKim, Walt Disney's secretary Lucille Martin, former Disneyland president Jack Lindquist, Disney creative director David Pacheco, animators Ollie Johnston (the last of Walt's nine old men) and Ron Dias, Floyd Norman, Willie Ito, voice talents Lisa Davis, Ilene Woods, and Mouseketeer Tommy Cole. Hardcover

$58.50

$55.00
Disneyland Under Construction Series
Mell Kilpatrick’s passion for photography first started as a hobby. For Disneyland fans, we are VERY grateful he took up the hobby. Mell’s wonderful photographs are the basis for the fabulous Disneyland Under Construction series which chronicles Disneyland’s construction and early years. Softcover
Volume #1
A Photographer’s Life With Disneyland Under Construction
Several great aerial shots and much more are all here in this fantastic book every Disneyland history fan should own.
$29.99
Volume #2
Disneyland Early Years Through the Eye of a Photographer
Early Disneyland from 1955 through 1960.
$29.99
Volume #3
Disneyland Years Seen Through the Photographer’s Lens
More fantastic early photographs of Disneyland. This volume also contains the most pictures of Walt Disney himself as well as other personalities including Richard Nixon and Donna Reed.
$29.99
These are some of Mell's wonderful photographs. It's as though you are there beside Mell witnessing the construction of Disneyland. Coming Soon...Expanded image galleries from each edition
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