From School Library Journal
Grade 10 Up-This rags to riches story of the creative genius known the world over as the father of Mickey Mouse is packed with enough Hollywood tales and Disney lore to satisfy even the most demanding fans. Beginning with Walt's childhood, Fascinating Walt Disney tells the little known stories behind his most famous artistic creations. Many listeners will be surprised to learn that Fantasia, Pinocchio, and Bambi all failed in their initial releases, and that Walt experienced a number of financial and personal obstacles to his ultimate success. Fully orchestrated background music and extensive sound effects more than compensate for the merely average quality of the narrator's voice, which is artificial, overly dramatic, and unable to successfully sustain different characters. Although the production takes a somewhat disingenuous tone and offers a naively wide-eyed perspective of Disney's life, there is some mention of his less pleasant side-notably the "benevolent dictator" role he played with his artistic staff. For all his complexities, Disney represents a truly American icon, and this biographical offering will find a receptive audience.
Cindy Lombardo, Orrville Public Library, OHCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Exceptionally Entertaining! --The Saint Louis Post Dispatch
The Disney tale is complicated and full of twist and turns -- just the sort of thing Walt Disney might love to turn into a movie. --The Knoxville News Herald
Schochet emphasizes Disney's perserverance and determination in both bringing animated films to the screen and realizing the seemingly impossible project of Disneyland. --Booklist
This is a real-life fairy tale that is humorous and inspiring for kids and adults. --The Indiana Munster Times
Fascinating Walt Disney from Hollywood Stories is a fascinating audiobook experience that takes readers along for a ride through the life of the legendary Walt Disney. Anyone who loves Walt Disney movies will enjoy this audiobook which is available on CD or cassette. Through the over an hour and a half experience, listeners learn how Disney raised much needed funding for his full-length animated movie, Snow White and much more. Ever wonder how Mickey Mouse came to be? How did Walt Disney come up with the idea for Disneyland? These and other questions are answered along the way in Fascinating Walt Disney.
The audiobook tells how Disney never gave up hope, even with the initial failure of classics such as Fantasia, Pinocchio and Bambi. Hear how his dream for an amusement park with clean walkways and friendly people evolves from a visit to an amusement park he attends.
This production features fully orchestrated background sound effects that bring each story to life. Along with the sound effects and music is the voice of Stephen Schochet who does a great job telling the story of Walt Disney. Schochet spent 10 years researching the life of Walt Disney and has told his stories while giving tours of Hollywood. He has even been called Hollywood's Ultimate Tour Guide by CBS radio. --The Borger News Herald
Ages 10 and Above. Author/narrator Stephen Schochet recounts the career of Walt Disney in this audio biography punctuated with sound effects and background music. The saga of Disneys many trials is not chronological, a device which adds interest for older children and adults. Schochet emphasizes Disney's perseverance and determination in both bringing animated films to the screen and realizing the seemingly impossible project of Disneyland. Especially good for public libraries biography collections. --Booklist
"May well set the standards for cassettes/CDs about Hollywood and/or its personalities in the future. This is one of the most interesting stories in this or any other form we have run across. We recommend it highly."
SOURCE4: The Knoxville News Sentinel --Hollywood Inside Syndicate
"The Disney tale is complicated and full of twists and turns -- just the sort of thing Walt Disney might love to turn into a movie." --.
