Former library school lecturer and public librarian Cindy Mediavilla is currently an author and independent scholar who retired from both the California State Library and the UCLA Department of Information Studies in 2015. Cindy also maintains an extensive collection of Arthurian fiction. Her MLS degree and PhD are both from UCLA's Department of Information Studies.
Kelsey Knox is the University Archivist at her alma mater, UC Santa Cruz. She is a lifelong Disney fan and started collecting books on Disneyland history in college. Kelsey has a Bachelor's Degree in American Studies from UC Santa Cruz (where she wrote her senior seminar paper on American Ideals in Disneyland and subsequent Disney parks), and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from UCLA.
After writing several books on library topics for the American Library Association, Cindy become fascinated with early Disney history and so, with Kelsey, co-wrote The Women Who Made Early Disneyland: Artists, Entertainers, and Guest Relations. They recently talked about it with Daryl Maxwell for the LAPL Blog.
What was your inspiration for The Women Who Made Early Disneyland?
Cindy: As I wrote in the book's preface, I attended the annual Disneyana fan convention in 2015 when I learned about Ruth Shellhorn, the landscape architect Walt Disney hired to landscape Disneyland five months before the park opened. I was even more intrigued to learn that her diaries were available at UCLA, so I contacted my friend and fellow Disney enthusiast Kelsey Knox about us possibly writing an article about Ruth's diaries. We eventually started to research Ruth, and in doing so, learned about other early Disneyland women, whom we then started to research. For instance, Ruth met Renié Conley—one of the few women involved in the creation of Disneyland—on her first day on the job. When we looked into Renié, we discovered she designed Disneyland's original costumes. Many of the women in our book have overlapping stories.
Disneyland has had a large fan base for over half a century. While there have been a number of books and articles written about Disneyland, there is also a staggering amount of "legends" and misinformation as well. How did you approach researching The Women Who Made Early Disneyland and separating "the wheat from the chaff," as it were?
Cindy: On his amazing blog "Disneyland Nomenclature," Jason Schultz describes a phenomenon Disney Imagineers call "logical erroneous conclusions," where fans—and sometimes even Disney cast members—will make up supposed historical facts about Disney when they don't know the real story. After these supposed "facts" are repeated enough times, they often become part of Disney's "canon." As an example, Jason cites Bruce Gordon, coauthor of the highly-regarded book The Nickel Tour, who told him that if he could convince his coauthor David Mumford that something regarding Disneyland might have happened, they put it in their book. These erroneous "facts" have since become part of Disney history.
In researching and writing my doctoral dissertation about California state librarian Carma Leigh (1951-1972), I learned that historical facts should always be corroborated through at least one or two reputable sources. Knowing that Disney history is sometimes "embroidered" to protect Walt's or the company's image, I was a real stickler about us using as many different types of sources as possible. These included using oral histories, news reports, and first-person podcasts featuring our women or the people who knew them. I also sent out what I call "message-in-a-bottle" emails—that is, the equivalent of making "cold calls" to people I didn't know but who knew the women we were researching. I also interviewed, either by phone or in person, several "key informants" who knew the women. One interviewee worked with several of our women and so was an excellent resource. Conflicting or unconfirmed information is usually discussed in our endnotes. Or we might say that someone "reportedly said," if we couldn't confirm a supposed fact.
In your Preface, you describe how you began working on The Women Who Made Early Disneyland in early March of 2020 and that, as you started, the COVID-19 pandemic began. What challenges did you face in doing your research during the pandemic? How long did it take you to do your research and then write The Women Who Made Early Disneyland?
Cindy: Even though we started thinking about this project back in 2015, we really didn't get started until 2020. And then, of course, the pandemic hit, shutting down all libraries and archives. So, we relied heavily on the Internet for our initial research. We also created our libraries, buying Disney-related books when possible. Many of our women had careers before working at Disneyland, so we also looked for and accessed articles related to their early accomplishments. Dorothea Holt Redmond, for instance, was a production artist on Gone with the Wind, so I bought a book on the making of GWTW, which I was very pleased to see included many of her drawings. Two of our women—Miriam Nelson and Tiny Kline—even wrote autobiographies, which we acquired. Once libraries reopened, we made extensive use of Anaheim Public Library's Anaheim Heritage Center's collection of Disneylandia. I was also extremely grateful for the Los Angeles Public Library's curbside service, which allowed me to put many books on hold!
We each researched and wrote individual chapters of the book that we tackled one at a time. So, the research and writing process happened all at the same time. We started doing the research in early 2020 and submitted the completed manuscript in September 2023.
What are some of the more interesting or surprising things that you discovered during your research?
Cindy: What surprised me the most was how much these women did not embody the 1950s stay-at-home housewife-and-mom stereotype. Yes, many of them—but not all!—were married and had children, but that did not stop them from working or pursuing a career. Indeed, one of our women, Cicely Rigdon, defied her husband (who wanted her to stay home with their daughters) by not only getting a job at Disneyland but also learned to drive, while he was away at work, so that she could take herself to the park.
I was also happy to help debunk the myth that Walt didn't like female employees. According to several oral history interviews with women who worked at the studio, Walt frequently attended special events in the ink-and-paint department and personally distributed Christmas gifts to the women. All of the women in our book greatly admired Walt.
Kelsey: I was surprised at how many women played such pivotal roles in the parks! The more we researched, the more it popped up!
Did the book evolve and change as you wrote and revised it? Are there any people, events, or stories that were lost in the process that you wish had made it to the published version?
Cindy: Most of our women have passed on. There was, however, one living woman whom I discovered late in the research process and actually wrote a chapter about her. But then I met her. She wanted nothing to do with the project, so we did not include her in the book. Too bad, too, because it was a very flattering chapter!
When did you first visit Disneyland? When was the last time you visited Disneyland?
Cindy: I'm a year-and-a-half older than Disneyland, so I have literally been going there almost the entire time the park has existed. There are black-and-white photos of my sister and me riding Dumbo in June 1958. I believe that was the first time we visited Disneyland. As for the most recent visit, I was there just last week. My husband, who retired from Disney 10 years ago, can usually get us into the park for free, so we tend to go once or twice a month. It never gets old!
Kelsey: My first visit to Disneyland was when I was 4 years old with my parents and grandfather. My parents had taken me to Universal Studios the day before, where I was traumatized by the Universal Tram tour. At Disneyland I refused to go on any ride that went "inside" which relegated us to basically the teacups and Dumbo. All. Day. My most recent Disneyland trip was last fall, for both Halloween and Dapper Day (but I also visited Tokyo Disneyland for the first time last month!)
Do you have a favorite Disneyland attraction or experience (or, if not a favorite, a favorite two or three)?
Cindy: I still love the Peter Pan ride, especially the first part when we're flying over London. I also love the Monorail because we get to see the entire park from above. Have you ever ridden in the Monorail's front cabin? The absolute best.
Kelsey: The Haunted Mansion has been my favorite ride for decades, but my love of Mary Blair and her art puts It's a Small World us as a close second (an unpopular opinion, I know).
Do you have a favorite attraction that is no longer in Disneyland? If you could magically bring back an attraction or location that is no longer there, what would it be?
Cindy: Since Disneyland and I are almost the same age, there are many early and defunct attractions I still mourn. My favorite was Monsanto's "House of the Future," with all its wonderful space-age gadgets that are now part of our everyday lives. My other favorite was "Rocket to the Moon," which ignited in me a lifelong fascination with real and fictional space travel. Guests sat inside a circular spaceship (i.e., theater) that looked down at a launch pad and up at the sky. After the rocket launched and ascended toward the sky, Disneyland and then the Earth got smaller and smaller, while the moon got bigger and closer. To my young eyes, it looked like we were actually traveling into space. I am still obsessed with both these attractions, and I collect miniature versions of "House of the Future" and Disney's "Moonliner" rocket today.
Kelsey: I absolutely loved the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse as a child. I was heartbroken when it was changed to Tarzan's Treehouse. One thing that I've enjoyed about going to other Disney Parks across the world is visiting their versions of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. I was also thrilled when the Disneyland version was refurbished and re-themed to the Adventureland Treehouse last year. It's much closer to the original version again.
Walt Disney passed away in 1966, eleven years after Disneyland opened. If you could ask him a question, what would it be?
Cindy: I'd ask him how he really felt about the women who worked for him: Mary Blair, Harriet Burns, Alice Davis, Cicely Rigdon, Julie Reihm, the ink-and-paint "Disney girls," etc.
Kelsey: It's hard to argue with Cindy's answer, but I'd also love to ask him what he thinks of the types of park technologies that exist now. Or rather, I'd love to see him witness some of them (like trackless ride systems) for the first time.
If you could tell him something, what would you tell him?
Cindy: I'd tell him he's just as beloved today as he was when he was alive.
Kelsey: I'd say that he's truly been an inspiration to me with his imagination and ability to dream big.
Do you have a favorite Disney film (animated, live action, or combination)?
Cindy: I was five years old when Sleeping Beauty was released. I loved it then and still do. Concept artists Mary Blair and Eyvind Earle. What's not to love?
Kelsey: I have two. The Jungle Book is my favorite classic Disney movie. It's my dad and my movie, and a comfort watch for me. The Emperor's New Groove is (in my opinion) the most underrated and one of the funniest Disney movies of all time. I never get tired of watching (or quoting) it. My husband and I named our cat Yzma!
Do you have a least favorite? (I realize that you may not want to address this one, and if that is the case, please don't. But I also realize it may be fun to answer!
Cindy: Not a fan of the current very one-dimensional, thick-lined animated Mickey and friends. Also, not much enthused about the live-action reboots of the classic animated films, though I did like Cinderella and the two Maleficent movies.
Kelsey: I second Cindy's opinion of the new live-action films. Just not my favorite!
What do you think it is about Disney and Disneyland that has appealed to so many people, for so long, that it has such a strong fanbase?
Cindy: I ask myself this question all the time! For me, there's a very strong nostalgic element, especially now that my family are almost all gone. Disneyland was affordable when my sister and I were young, so the family went at least once a year. We also watched all the Disney movies together when they came out. I'm guessing it's the same for lots of fans: Disneyland is a place where memories are made. Also, it's a place where you can be yourself without fear of being laughed at or criticized. I love seeing little kids dressed as their favorite characters or big burly men wearing Mickey Mouse ears. Disneyland is the great equalizer.
Kelsey: I truly think the nostalgia is what appeals to so many people, having fallen in love with Disney or Disneyland early in life, but it's also just plain fun! It's a wonderful escape from reality, something that so many of us can use right now.
What's currently on your nightstand?
Cindy: Cher: A Memoir by Cher. She writes like she talks, which I enjoy.
Kelsey: A Life in Football, by Ian Wright. In addition to my love of Disney, I'm a huge soccer (football) fan and follow Arsenal, a London-based Premier League side.
Can you name your top five favorite or most influential authors?
Cindy: My all-time favorite book is Lonesome Dove, so Larry McMurtry is my fave author. My writing style was greatly influenced by my mentor Virginia (Ginny) Walter, who asked me to coauthor an article with her when I was still finding my voice. Since then, we've written two books together along with colleague Melissa Gross. Ginny and I both write in a very accessible and conversational style even when writing for a scholarly audience.
Kelsey: John Green has definitely been one of the most influential authors to me. I was at the perfect age to not only love his writing, but avidly follow him and his brother's vlog through late high school and all of college. His work with so many social causes (and one lower division English football team) has been inspiring and so enjoyable to follow.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Cindy: My family weren't big readers, so I didn't really read much until college when I became an English major. That's also when I became a fantasy nerd and discovered Lord of the Rings.
Kelsey: As with many people my age, Harry Potter was my bread and butter. I was the perfect age to follow along with each release. My favorite is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Was there a book you felt you needed to hide from your parents?
Cindy: Never.
Kelsey: I was 13 when the musical Wicked came out. My mom had been reading the book and explicitly told me that I wasn't old enough to read it… You can imagine how that went over. I'm pretty sure I finished it before she did (without her knowledge, of course).
Is there a book you've faked reading?
Cindy: Nope.
Kelsey: Nope!
Can you name a book you've bought for the cover?
Cindy: As a retired librarian, I know better than to judge a book by its cover!
Kelsey: Lessons in Chemistry, and I'm so glad that I did because I absolutely loved it.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Cindy: Warday by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1984). It's a post-apocalyptic novel that's a bit dated now, but still provides a clear-eyed view of what the U.S. could become following nuclear war. Whenever I think the unspeakable could happen, I think of the survivors of Warday.
Kelsey: I don't think I have any that have truly changed my life.
Can you name a book for which you are an evangelist (and you think everyone should read)?
Cindy: All aspiring Disney historians should read two books: David Koenig's The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland (Bonaventure Press, 2019), about the park's first year of operation and the men and women who worked there, and Mindy Johnson's Ink and Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation (Disney Editions, 2017). Both books greatly influenced how we approached our book.
Kelsey: As more of my friends have had children, I've found myself an evangelist of certain children's books. I particularly love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and A is for Activist. Also, any of Jan Brett's beautiful works.
Is there a book you would most want to read again for the first time?
Cindy: Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wonderful escapist fare.
Kelsey: Rocket Boys, by Homer Hickam. I read it in high school and was instantly obsessed. I'd love to relive that feeling of absolutely falling in love with a book.
What is the last piece of art (music, movies, TV, more traditional art forms) that you've experienced or that has impacted you?
Cindy: 44, the musical about the Obama administration. Great performances and funny. It made me yearn all over again for the halcyon days of 2008-2016.
Kelsey: I don't think I have an answer for this! I guess I've been a little lacking in art recently.
What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?
Cindy: Lots of perfect days when you're retired! My favorite days are when the sun is out and I do something fun with my husband.
Kelsey: Last summer, my husband and I traveled with two of our closest friends through several cities in Europe. Some of those moments were the most perfect in a long time, so I'd say a nice weather day where we just wander around, exploring a new city with friends.
What are you working on now?
Cindy: My other great passion is Arthurian fiction, which I've read and collected (currently 1200+ volumes) since the mid-1970s. I'm currently researching "Disney and the Arthurian legend" in hopes of writing a scholarly book on the topic. Surprisingly, no one has ever tackled this topic despite Disney's release of seven Arthurian films and one season of the TV show Once Upon a Time. Not to mention, of course, the Arthurian elements at the parks. Fingers crossed this will be my next book!
Kelsey: I'm mostly just enjoying my day job, but there is a particular woman in our book that I'm in the early stages of maybe, possibly writing a full biography of.
