So today on the podcast, we have one of our book review episodes, this time with a book that will be

published next month. But since the focus of this book is Mickey Mouse and Christmas in the

1930s, I wanted to talk about it today. Since it's Christmas week and since for our podcast, this seems like a perfect topic right now.

When the book shows up on Amazon in a few weeks, I'll remind everyone that it's there.

The book is beautifully illustrated with images from many decades ago,

how Mickey and other characters appeared in marionette shows, in window displays,

in parades, and elsewhere, long before there was even the slightest glimmer of an idea

that would develop into Disneyland. As always, I'll read you some sections from the book,

and then we'll talk with the author Didier Gairs, who's been on our show before.

He's the author of many books focused on the history of the Disney studio, including the

series they drew as they pleased from Chronicle Books.

And so today, as we're now well into the holiday season, Mickey Mouse in the 1930s, the Christmas season,

with Didier Gairs.

The book for today is divided into two halves. The first half explores how Mickey appeared in marionette shows and parades in the 1930s,

mostly during the holiday season.

And the second half is focused on Christmas celebrations, including store displays and entire play areas inside of department stores.

I'll begin today with three short sections from the first half of the book to give you some reference points before we start talking with Didier.

And then halfway through our episode today,

I'll read you another section from the second half of the book. Here's how the book begins.

Eleven days before Thanksgiving, on November 18th, 1928, Steamboat Willie premiered at the Colony Theater in New York. It was Mickey Mouse's

first public appearance. Mickey soon took the world by storm, nearly seven years later on the

other side of the world. An Indian newspaper, the Bombay Chronicle, reported, Saturday, September

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