It’s not often an average Disney fan like me gets to meet a Disney Legend. Let alone have a chance to talk with one and hear their stories of what it was like to work for Walt Disney and his legacy. Today´s column is about a book that seems to be a pretty close approximation of what that experience must be like. These are not professional reviews, so no stars or ears or other ratings systems. Just more of a casual look at the titles in my collection. So, come along and check out what I´ve taken Off the Shelf for us to enjoy today!

Today´s Book: Spinning Disney´s World

Author: Charles Ridgway

Publication: The Intrepid Traveler. ©2007

Amazon.com link: Spinning Disney´s World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent

I´m ashamed to admit, Charles Ridgway´s name wasn´t high on my recognition list prior to MouseFest last December. The man is a winner of the Disney Legends award, and rightfully so. He has a window on Main Street, U.S.A. Charles Ridgway´s career at Disney spanned 40 years. So who was he? Charles Ridgway was a Disney Press Agent. Whenever there was something new going on in the Disney Theme Park empire, Charles Ridgway was there to make sure the press, and consequently the world, knew about it.

From the very early years of Disneyland, through the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, Charles Ridgwayentertained the reporters, planned the press events, and made sure the word got out about what was happening in the parks.In the process, he got to know many celebrities, famous journalists, and even Walt Disney himself. It may sound like a glamorous job, but Mr. Ridgway balances the tales of rubbing famous elbows with stories of sloshing through muddy construction sites, long flights, cramped offices, and nothing-short-of-miraculous saves from corporate embarrassment.

Disney wooed the press like no other company had before, offering reporters small group tours of theme parks while they were little more than holes in the ground, and throwing lavish celebrations for the press and their families when the parks were completed. Rather than sending out standard press reports saying "this is what we´ve done," it was Mr. Ridgway´s job to show what the excitement was all about (or in many cases, what the excitement was going to be all about, since it wasn´t built yet), in such a way that the press took that excitement back with them and they wrote their own stories that would excite their readers. It was a novel approach that basically allowed the parks to sell themselves to the public, without a lot of need for expensive advertising.

Over the years, Mr. Ridgway participated in organizing the opening of every theme park after the original Disneyland, as well as numerous anniversary celebrations, celebrity visits, and special events. His job included escorting special guests and press tours, and getting just the right photos taken (something that sometimes required a lot of creative thinking and heavy machinery), including those with Walt Disney. His stories about his time working directly with Walt are a treat, and the respect he has for Walt comes through in every line.

Mr. Ridgway´s book is a lot like I imagine a "Dinner with a Disney Legend" would be like. Although the book is broken into chapters, his collections of fairly short stories aren´t in a direct sequence, and they tend to wander a bit. Most of the time it adds to the charm of the book; occasionally he repeats himself. Very little dirt gets spilled here, no airing of dirty laundry, and only occasionally does he deviate at all from what you would expect from someone who spent 40 years showing the positive side of the story. Even the stories of missteps and events that just didn´t go as planned have a positive side. The theme of the book is essentially summed up as what Mr. Ridgway frequently overheard at his events: "Nobody does it like Disney." It makes for a fun and interesting read. One best enjoyed with finger foods and a nice glass of wine.

Have you read this book? Or do you have a suggestion for something I might want to add to my bookshelf? Discuss it in our Disney Books sub forums !

Pat is on the DisneyWorldTrivia.com staff, and you can read about her here.