Stephen Slesinger sues Disney over Pooh royalties
Winnie-the-Pooh is at the centre of a legal storm over his adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.
The firm founded by the man responsible for making the bear with very little brain big in the States is dragging Disney through the courts in a bid to get allegedly unpaid royalties.
Lawyers for Stephen Slesinger Inc filed papers at Los Angeles District Court last week calling for redress, claiming "past improper business practices" on behalf of the Mickey Mouse company.
Disney has denied the claims, with a spokeswoman adding that the issue had already been dealt with in past court judgments.
Slesinger purchased the US and Canadian distribution rights for Pooh from AA Milne in 1931.
After a makeover which included the addition of a red shirt, the bear became a global phenomenon.
In 1961, some eight years after Slesinger’s death, the rights were licensed to Disney, which proceeded to produce a series of successful films, TV shows and spin-off books and toys.
Eric George, lawyer for Slesinger, said the family are owed 1.5% to 2.5% in royalties.
A spokesman for the firm said Disney has been concealing the amount of money it has earned from Pooh mechanising.
Disney has retorted that the latest legal move is "baffling", citing a September 25 decision by Judge Florence-Marie Cooper that rejected the Slesinger company’s claims.
(Source: The Press Association)
A.A. Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. It was in 1923 that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. E.H. Shepard, born in 1879, became known as the ‘Man who drew Pooh’. Shepard’s illustrations of Winnie-the-Pooh and the friends of the Hundred Acre Wood have become classics in their own right and are recognised all over the world.
Posted: November 15th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood review
A.A. Milne’s stories about Pooh and his forest friends have been loved by generations of children and their parents ever since the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926.
Now, eighty years on, David Benedictus takes up the pen where Milne left of. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood is the much-anticipated official sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.
One Sunday morning I popped into Waterstone’s to pick up a gift card for my little sister’s birthday (I chose the one with The Gruffalo on in case you were wondering) and in the car on the way there I thought it would also be nice to pick up a new book to read to my three-year old daughter at bedtime. The several complementary reviews that I had already read on David Benedictus’s Winnie-the-Pooh sequel played a large part in me taking it down from a shelf as soon as I had walked through the door.
I must at this point say that my daughter loves Winnie-the-Pooh. Not the original creation of Milne and Shepard but Walt Disney’s affectionate, charming and respectful animation. I thought it would be interesting to see if she grew to love the books as much as the she already does the film.
We read a chapter each evening and, over the course of ten nights became completely immersed in the world of Christopher Robin, Pooh, Owl, Eeyore and, making her debut, Lottie the Otter (after I’d finished the last page I closed the book and asked Edie to name all the characters on the front and back cover. She got them all, even Lottie which I did not think she would).
David Benedictus had brought his own style to the sequel but has, like Disney, shown great respect to the legacy that Milne established. He has instilled an old-fashioned feel to Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, keeping the setting of England in the 1920’s and, after careful consideration I realised that there really was no other way that it could have been done – both the reader and the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood do not like change.
My favourite moment – although on this point I have to admit to more than a negligible amount of bias – is the game of cricket between the two-legs and the four-legs; it really is wonderful fun and it may not be too long before snout before wicket (Pooh), arguing with umpire (Kanga) and feet of the ground (Roo) become lawful dismissals in the beautiful game.
I think that David Benedictus has done a sterling job in taking on such a difficult task and has created a book that will be as much a companion of today’s generation as its predecessor was for those who are now parents and grandparents. Mark Burgess’s decorations, in the style of E.H. Shepard, are the ideal accompaniment to this charming and delightfully entertaining book. Highly recommended.
David Benedictus brought Winnie-the-Pooh to life in his dramatisations starring Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Jane Horrocks. He published his first novel at 22, and saw his second adapted for film by Francis Ford Coppola.
David assisted Sir Trevor Nunn at the RSC, was Antiques Correspondent for the Evening Standard, a commissioning editor for Channel 4 and produced a A Book at Bedtime for BBC Radio 4.
Mark Burgess has been an illustrator of children’s books for over twenty years. Mark studied Fine Art at the Slade School in London. He then worked for a short time at London Zoo and in a library in Cambridge before becoming a full-time artist and writer. Mark was also the colourist for E.H. Shepard’s drawings in When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.
When Mark’s not working he loves reading, gardening, walking in the woods near his house, and finding special warm places for his cat to sleep.
“He’ll get it wrong,”says Eeyore, “ see if he doesn’t. What does he know about donkeys?”
Of course Eeyore is right, because I don’t know; I can only guess. But guessing can be fun too. And if occasionally I think I have guessed right, I shall reward myself with a chocolate biscuit, one of those with chocolate on one side only so you don’t get sticky fingers and leave marks on the paper, and if sometimes I am afraid that I have guessed wrong, I shall have to go without.”
David Benedictus: Exposition
Posted: November 10th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, Fantasy Book Review
First chapter and cover of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood revealed
Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, today revealed the much-anticipated cover and first chapter including art of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, the first authorized sequel to A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner in more than 80 years. This is the first glimpse readers will have of the new book, which was announced in January 2009. No review copies have been released, and the manuscript has been under lock and key at Penguin since it was delivered earlier this year. The remainder of the book is embargoed until October 5th when it lands in stores nationwide.
Written by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood continues the adventures of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and friends. Egmont Publishing will publish the book simultaneously in the UK. Penguin Audio will publish an audio version of the book read by Grammy Award-winner Jim Dale. The book has an announced first printing of 300,000.
Across the country, fans young and old are rediscovering the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh. Bookstores nationwide have created "Pooh-tiques", dedicated spaces for Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. Many of these stores are hosting Pooh tea parties leading up to October 5. Tea parties include honey flavoured food, count-the-honey-candies-in-the-jar contests, story times with favourite Pooh books, bring-your-favourite-bear-from-home story times, and activities such as "pin the tale on Eeyore."
Dutton’s Publishing History With Winnie-the-Pooh Dutton officially introduced Christopher Robin and his "silly old bear" to the US in 1926 with the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard. However Pooh had a significant walk-on role in 1924 with the publication of When We Were Very Young by A.A Milne with illustrations by E.H. Shepard. Milne and Shepard went on to collaborate on two more titles: Now We Are Six in 1927 and The House At Pooh Corner, which introduced Tigger, in 1928. Together, these four books form the basis of the original Pooh books. Newly-designed editions of all four books were published September 3rd.
Author David Benedictus’ manuscript was inspired by his familiarity with Winnie-the-Pooh’s adventures after having worked on Audio CD adaptations of previous Winnie-the-Pooh stories. David has collaborated with illustrator Mark Burgess to create what is sure to become another treasured Winnie-the-Pooh book. Grammy Award winner Jim Dale will read the audio version of the book, which will be released simultaneously by Penguin Audio.
Posted: October 4th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne
Winnie-the-Pooh floats back on screens in 2011
Winnie-the-Pooh, the honey-loving, cuddly bear beloved by generations of children, is to hit the big screen again in 2011 with another animated version of his adventures, US media said Tuesday.
Disney is hoping the new film chronicling the tales of Pooh and his friends, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Owl will prove as big a hit as the last screen animation in 2005, The Hollywood Reporter said.
British author A. A. Milne’s much-cherished fictional bear has enchanted children since his original books “Winnie-the-Pooh” (1926) and “The House at Pooh Corner” (1928) were first published.
Milne named Winnie-the-Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son — Christopher Robin Milne.
Posted: June 4th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne
Winnie-the-Pooh to hit the main stage theatre
Main Stage Theatre Set To Present WINNIE-THE-POOH 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 7/11, 7/13-16, And 7/19
From the stories of AA Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh comes this sweet musical touring production of Winnie-the-Pooh. Pooh, The Bear of Very Little Brain, and all his friends – Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robin are all on hand for grand adventures. From the arrival of Roo and Kanga’s bathtub, to the search for Eeyore’s missing tail, the Heffalump hunt, and especially Eeyore’s birthday these friends see each other through thick and thin!
This adaptation has been dramatized by le Clanché du Rand, with music by Allan J. Friedman
Winnie-the-Pooh will be performed Saturdays, June 6, 13 & 20 and July 11 & 18 at 1:00pm and 4:00pm, and Monday – Thursday, July 13 – 16 at 9:45am and 11:30am.
School groups should call 713-524-9196 ext 101 for available field trip times for July 13 – 16. The show is directed by Daria James and will be performed at Main Street Theatre (Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006).
The show is recommended for pre-Kindergarten and up.All tickets cost $8. Group discounts available. No children under 3 allowed in the theatre (including sleeping babies). Special Discounts for School Groups, Day Cares and Camps: Call 713-524-9196 x101 for more information.
For more information, visit www.mainstreettheater.com.
AA Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. He began his writing career with humorous pieces for Punch magazine. It was in this publication, in 1923, that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. Milne also wrote plays and by the time When We Were Very Young, his first book of poems for children, was published in 1924; he had already made his name as a dramatist and novelist.
Posted: May 10th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: AA Milne
Peter Dennis: 1933 – 2009
Peter Dennis, the British actor who toured for decades in his one-man show of readings from Winnie the Pooh and other AA Milne classics, died on April the 18th of cancer at his Shadow Hills home in the east San Fernando Valley. He was 75.
His show, Bother! – taken from a favourite exclamation of Pooh’s – was performed in more than 100 venues in the United States and Europe, including the Hollywood Bowl and Westminster Palace in London.
In addition to Winnie-the-Pooh, Dennis drew from The House at Pooh Corner and the poetry volumes When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.
Just as Milne had, the actor bristled at the notion that the books were aimed at children.
To mark Pooh’s 50th birthday, Dennis gave an impromptu late-night reading in 1976 at the ADC Theatre, Cambridge, and was stunned to find himself performing before a packed house.
Peter John Dennis was born Oct. 25, 1933, in Dorking, England, to Michael Henry Dennis and the former Violet Frances Lockwood.
At 29 he saw his first play, John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger (with Derek Jacobi) at Birmingham Rep, and knew he wanted to act. He immediately resigned from GKN to take small acting parts in a theatre in Birmingham. Three years later he graduated from Rada and began appearing regularly in British stage, film and television productions.
In 1991 Dennis moved from Britain to Los Angeles and took guest roles in dozens of television shows, including Murder, She Wrote, Knot’s Landing and the final episode of ER. He also worked on the films Sideways and Shrek.
In 1996, to celebrate Pooh’s 70th birthday and to mark the death of Christopher Robin Milne, Dennis read the complete Winnie the Pooh canon, completing the task in slightly under 13 hours.
When presenting the unscripted Bother! Dennis was never sure how he would fill his 90 minutes of Milne but invariably began, "Wherever I am, there is always Pooh."
With his first wife, from whom he was divorced, Dennis had a son, Shane, who died in his late 30s in 1994, the unintended victim of a drive-by shooting in St. Louis. In addition to Diane, his wife of 30 years, Dennis is survived by a brother, Michael, of England, and a sister, Dorothy Barker of New Zealand.
Posted: May 4th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: AA Milne
Audio-book review: Winnie the Pooh read by Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett reads AA Milne’s much loved stories about a small bear and his friends
What is the connection between a Bear of Very Little Brain and a honey pot? Usually it’s the very sticky paw of Winnie-the-Pooh, as he takes a break between adventures for ‘a little something’.
In these five stories, taken from the book Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place, Eeyore loses a tail, Piglet meets a Heffalump, Eeyore has a birthday and gets two presents, and an expotition is mounted to the North Pole!
As usual they are accompanied by Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl – to say nothing of Pooh’s very clever young human friend, Christopher Robin.
Alan Bennett remains faithful to AA Milne’s creations and gives the lovable characters the voices the author meant them to have. The five stories are told in a charming and unhurried way that will enchant children and adults alike.
The recording was previously released on cassette in 1984, 1993 and 1998. Running Time: 1 hour 5 minutes.
Alan Bennett has been a household name in British theatre ever since he starred and co-authored the satirical review Beyond the Fringe with Dudley Moore, Peter Cooke and Jonathan Miller in 1960 at the Edinburgh Festival.
Posted: April 19th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: AA Milne, Audio-books
The 26th Annual Pooh Sticks Championship – Sunday March 29 2009
Thousands of Winnie the Pooh fans will descend on a tiny Oxfordshire village next weekend to try their hand at an unusual English tradition.
The 26th annual Pooh Sticks Championships, on the River Thames at Day’s Lock, Little Wittenham, will be held on Sunday, March 29, and competitors are gearing up to take their sticks to the water from 11am.
Inspired by AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh novels, the event attracts crowds of up to 2,000 from all over the world.
Alyson Monk, of Rotary Club of Oxford Spires, said: “We get a lot of people coming from abroad, two German teams have entered already.
“I think it’s a very English event which you don’t get anywhere else and it’s Winnie the Pooh’s favourite game. It’s a great day out and it’s a lovely spot on the river for a picnic.”
Pooh sticks involves dropping a stick from a bridge into the river below, then racing to the other side to see which one comes out first.
Money raised will go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Rotary charities and Little Wittenham St Peter’s Church Roof Project. Entry costs £2 per person, £6 for a family and £10 for a team.
Source: Oxford Mail
Ever since Pooh tripped, lost grip of his fir cone on the bridge at the edge of the Forest and accidentally invented a game, poohsticks has been beloved by both young and old.
AA Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. He began his writing career with humorous pieces for Punch magazine. It was in this publication, in 1923, that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. Milne also wrote plays and by the time When We Were Very Young, his first book of poems for children, was published in 1924; he had already made his name as a dramatist and novelist.
Posted: March 22nd, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: AA Milne
Join The Cambridge News Book Club today!
To celebrate World Book Day, the Cambridge News has teamed up with Heffers to launch The Cambridge News Book Club – a fantastic new service designed to save you money on the best new fiction and non-fiction titles.
From AA Milne to EM Forster, Lord Byron to Lord Archer, Midnight’s Children to Tom’s Midnight Garden, few cities can boast a literary heritage to rival Cambridge.
Douglas Adams was born and raised in Cambridge; Nick Hornby spent time as an English teacher at Parkside College; JG Ballard was a pupil at The Leys School; Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden was heavily influenced by memories of her childhood in Great Shelford; Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath spent the happiest days of their stormy marriage at their home in Eltisley Avenue, Cambridge; former cookbook editor Susanna Clarke – who caused a stir in publishing circles with her 2004 debut Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – still lives in the city, as does Ali Smith, whose novel The Accidental won the 2005 Whitbread Prize.
With the legacy of so many great writers, past and present, to inspire us, and with World Book Day celebrations taking place across the globe, what better time and place to launch the new Cambridge News Book Club?
Everyday in the News, we’ll be reviewing the latest titles hitting bookshelves, including two personally selected by Heffers bookstore in Cambridge. And the really exciting news? You can save 25% on the cost of the two selected titles, building to a total of eight discounted titles across each month.
Fore more information visit http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/
Posted: March 9th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, Susanna Clarke
The real Winnie-the-Pooh can be found at the New York Public Library
Do your toddlers and little ones ever wonder if Winnie-the-Pooh is real? Well, his adventures may be make-believe, but he is real. About 70 years ago, an English boy named Christopher Robin Milne received a small stuffed bear for his birthday. He named him Edward Bear, but later called him Winnie-the-Pooh. The indulged child later got other stuffed animals whose names will be familiar — Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger.
From that menagerie, the boy’s father, AA Milne, and an artist named Ernest H. Shepard, were inspired to write a bedtime story, adding two imaginary friends, Owl and Rabbit. Children seemed to love the gentle stories of friendship and wisdom and many fictional adventures for the toys would follow, from Piglet’s encounter with a Heffalump to Eeyore’s loss of his tail. Millions around the world have enjoyed the stories and movie versions produced by Walt Disney.
But it might be exciting for little ones to visit the original toys owned by Christopher Robin Milne. They’re on view in a special display case at New York Public Library’s History and Social Science division at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.
According to the library, Pooh and his friends are as happy as when they lived in the 100-Acre Wood.
Source: Examiner.com
AA Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. He began his writing career with humorous pieces for Punch magazine. It was in this publication, in 1923, that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. Milne also wrote plays and by the time When We Were Very Young, his first book of poems for children, was published in 1924; he had already made his name as a dramatist and novelist.
Posted: January 24th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne
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