Friday, February 24, 2017

"Mars and Beyond" Disney classroom guide (1958)





Mars and Beyond is the last of the classroom guides I found.

Mars and Beyond appeared on Disneyland December 4, 1957.  It was also a comic book and a 1959 classroom text.



 "Suggested for upper and secondary level science; also business, industry and the general public..."













Friday, February 17, 2017

"Man and The Moon" Disney classroom guide (1958)




On Feb 22 I have hit 1 million pageviews!
(Total Pageviews 1,001,264)

The second of the Disney classroom guides to their "Science-factual" films.

Man and the Moon was first shown on Disneyland on December 28 1955. It also became a comic book and was a 1959 classroom text.  For the influence of this and other Disney films I strongly recommend this article (which even mentions this pamphlet):

"The Disney-Von Braun Collaboration and Its Influence on Space Exploration"
by Mike Wright, Marshall Space Flight Center Historian
https://history.msfc.nasa.gov/vonbraun/disney_article.html#16














Friday, February 10, 2017

"Man in Space" Disney classroom guide (1958)



Man in Space was broadcast on Disneyland March 9, 1955 (USA). It went on to have a 1956 comic book, a classroom text in 1959, and a theatrical release in 1956 alongside Davy Crockett and the River Pirates.

It was also released overseas. (see this rare 1958 Japanese advertisement)


So this is about the 2nd life of the film as a classroom documentary. As the Space Race began in earnest it was re-released and marketed to educators as a way to teach children about their future. to go along with this film was this rare classroom guide.  It probably was intended to accompany their 1959 classroom books. 


I have found guides for all 3 of the Disney space films and will share them through the rest of Feb.  I know that you may already be familiar with the film but I really enjoy how they intended to engage students in learning about what they are seeing and preparing for their future.














 These visionary questions are very interesting:

"After man reaches other planets, is it conceivable that people of Earth will be drawn closer together?"

"How likely is it that present barriers between nations will tend to break down as contacts with other planets develop?"






Friday, February 3, 2017

Disney Man in Flight (1957)



To start off we need to fly before we can "rocket" so here is a Disney comic based on their "Man in Flight" documentary.

It was an episode on the Disneyland television show. It aired on March 6, 1957.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Man_in_Flight

It was released also as a comic book: 1957, Dell no.836.  (Yes I know this is a pretty beat-up copy)

It was also converted into a school text, (which I blogged about here: http://dreamsofspace.blogspot.com/2016/09/man-in-flight-1959.html )

 Most of it (obviously) is about the story of airplanes and flight.  But as part of the series it showed how aerospace exploration was leading to jets and rockets in the near future.  This front page makes it explicit:


 Since the style of the film mixed animation with real life, the style of illustrations also cahge panel to panel and page to page.


 "But eyes are still on tomorrow..."





And a lovely final panel.  More Disney in space next week!