Disney Archivist Dave Smith Announces Retirement

Dave Smith, who has served as the Disney archivist for the past four decades, formally announces his retirement today -- 40 years plus one day after he was first hired.

Smith will leave in October and be succeeded by archive manager Becky Cline.

Robert Tieman of the Archive is also retiring after 22 years, according to the Disney History blog.

The L.A. Times has interesting information: Disney President Robert Iger says a Disney museum in Glendale is a possibility.

I'm also curious about the Times mentioning that Smith has retrieved the Melvin, Max, and Buff animal heads from Country Bear Jamboree from Disneyland in order to preserve them in the Archive. Unless there are duplicates, does this mean the Country Bear critters are no longer hiding inside the Winnie-the-Pooh ride? If you turn backwards at one point during the ride -- which virtually no one does -- the heads are mounted over a doorway. A photo is here.

Jim Hill has more related news, including information on a new documentary, ARCHIVING THE ARCHIVES: FORTY YEARS OF PRESERVING THE MAGIC.

Update: MousePlanet reports that Melvin, Max, and Buff are still hidden in the Winnie-the-Pooh ride...those particular heads came from the Mile Long Bar rather than Country Bear Jamboree.