The first of many tributes to Roy Disney

Not even the magical Disneyland could make it through the holiday season a step ahead of the grim, grinning Celebrity Reaper of 2009 who has taken far too many influential, beloved and important pop culture figures and given us too much fodder from which to choose for our Death of The Day column. This morning, Roy Disney has passed onto another magic kingdom, and already the tributes are pouring in through the Tabloid Baby transom: This one from leading Disneyana expert, Los Angeles historian and Hollywood Thoughts blogger LA Dodger Jon:

Many like to tell the story about how Roy Disney’s Uncle Walt once referred to him as his “idiot nephew.” This writer prefers to remember Roy Disney, Jr as a savior for the body of work that his uncle – and father – built over a half century.

In 1984 it looked all but certain that the Walt Disney Studios was headed towards a hostile takeover. The studio, its library and the beloved theme parks would have all been dismantled, split apart and/or spun off. It’s because of Roy that you’re not passing through the gates of the Anaheim M&M’s Magical Kingdom… or a Disney World that’s been snapped-up by a giant Beatrice-like mega corp…


Thanks to Roy Disney’s efforts, Frank Wells and Michael Eisner were hired and the Disney company averted disaster and thrived.

While it’s not wholly wrong to view the Disney outfit itself as a mega corporation these days, it’s hard to argue about the contribution they’ve made to art… and a whole lot of childhood memories.

I’m happy to take the hit for sounding schmaltzy, but I’m also a dad that’s pleased he has family fare to watch in the theatre with his son… or still gets excited packing the family in the car for a fun ride at the theme park.

Thanks, Roy.

Last tabloid legend standing? (Or rolling around in a wheelchair, at least?)

Les Paul's death takes us about one dead celebrity over the line

Acknowledging the passing of a figure who's had a great effect or influence on pop culture is just something we all do. At Tabloid Baby, just as at the New York Times, the ones we select for tribute, discussion or investigation help define who we are. But with Les Paul's passing today, we've sort of had enough. Les was the innovator, and a part if the New York City music scene over the years. He pioneered multitrack recording; he invented the solid body guitar; when he shattered his right arm in a car crash, rendering it immobile, he had it set at an angle so he could play continue to guitar; they named the Les Paul after him!

But it's thirty-third week of 2009 and Les Paul's is the thirty-eighth celebrity death we've highlighted since January 3rd.

Get a load of this list of the people whose passings we've mentioned in 2009-- so far:

Glenn Goldman of Book Soup
Ray Dennis Steckler, movie auteur
Jon Hager of the Hager Twins John Updike, author
James Brady, newspapermanLeroy Cooper, musician David Fathead Newman, saxmanHank Crawford, musician Dewey Martin of Buffalo Springfield
Tom Brumley of Rick Nelson's band
Lux Interior of The Cramps
Orlando Cachaito López, Buena Vista Social Club bassist
Wendy Richard, Carry On actress
Alan Landers, Winston Man
Altovise Davis, Sammy Davis Jr.'s widow
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Natasha Richardson
Dorothea Holt Redmond, production designer
Peter Rogers, Carry On producer
Danny Gans 
Dom DeLuise
Wayne Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse
David Carradine, actor, Sam Butera, musician 
Ed McMahon
Farrah Fawcett
Michael Jackson
Steve Brennan, reporter
Allen Klein
Walter Cronkite
Gidget, Taco Bell pup
Alexis Cohen, American idol Glitter Girl
Rev. Ike
Sidney Zion, journo
Billy Lee Riley, rockabilly legend
John Hughes
Willy DeVille
Les Paul

Maybe it's because people are living longer or that we've been creating too many celebrities, but we're getting tired of the deathwatch.