Well today is a nice day here in Southern California. It's cool in the morning or what they like to call "June Gloom" and very pleasant in the afternoon. It gets very hot in the San Fernando valley in the summers, so having a pleasant week where the tempeture does not exceed 75 degrees is a true blessing. Today I have the day off and I plan to do some writing. Now that I've reached my 600th song, I can only wonder what my next goal will be. I am reading about Disneyland and Walt Disney World's new promotion after the 50th anniversary celebration ends on September 30th. They call it "The Year of A Million Dreams" According to the press reports, unbelievable dreams coming true will be given to people at random at both parks. Things like being the grand marshal in every parade in every Disney theme park around the world, a night spent in Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World or having a "Golden Fast Pass" for private riding of every attraction in the park. That sounds really wonderful. Something I sure the great Walt Disney would have embraced. Believe it or not, dear friends, we lost Walt Disney forty years ago this December 15th. And when he left us that fateful December day, he left behind at least fifty yearts of grand concepts and ideas. Walt has always been my personal hero. I got to meet him once when I was a kid but more of that another day! M favorite films of all times will be Walt's animated classics. I can still watch "Snow White" a hundred more times and still see new things in it. I must also tell you that I have a great fondness for the Disney villains. Captain Hook is my all time favorite, followed closely by "Ursula" (from "The Little Mermaid") and of course "Malificent" from "Sleeping Beauty". The voice of "Captain Hook" was supplied by the late great character actor Hans Conried. Hans played "Uncle Tanoose" on the Danny Thomas Show to perfection. The voice of "Ursula" was supplied by character actress Pat Carroll. Pat was also a regular of the cast on the Danny Thomas Show. Danny could tell a joke with such incredible embellishment that you actually laughed harder. You did that because you had really gotten to know the characters in all of his jokes. They actually became three dimensional. Speaking of great villains of course nothing beats Eleanor Audley's chilling portrayal of Mallificent in "Sleeping Beauty" and the Wicked Stepmother in "Cinderella". Eleanor is also the voice of Madame Leota in Disneyland's and Walt Disney's World's "Haunted Mansion" The rehearsals go on today and Thursday for the new recordings for the new songs Tim Doran and I are recording for "The Traveling Companion. On a historical note today: on this date in 1970 Sir Lawrence Ollivier became the first actor to become a honorary member of the House Of Lords in England. He was portraying Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" at the time. Last night was the Tony Awards. Great kudos and congrats to "The drowsy Chaperone" an original musical. Originality is great! "The Color Purple only received one award and "Le Stat" and "Tarzan" were completely shut out as was the mis fire of "The Woman in White". Looks like this was not a good year for Lyold Webber. Elton John should fare better on "Billy Elliot" then he did for "Le Stat". Certain subjects just should not be subjects of musicals. Does anyone remember the musical disaster of "Carrie" the musical composed by Michael Gore? It lasted three nights. Also "Chorus Line" reopens on Broadway on September 18th and "Mary Poppins" is set for November. I also read that Jerry Lewis (now 80 plus) is preparing a musical version of "The Nutty Professor" for 2007 for Broadway. He will direct from his own script. The amazing Jerry never ceases to amaze. His sheer tenacity has taken him to incredible heights. Well, that's about all for now. See you next time!