In the fall of 1968, when we were still living in Manhattan, an article about collecting Mickey Mouse, appeared in Life Magazine. Yours truly and a few of my collector friends were mentioned in the article, along with a photo of my then modest collection. A few days after the article appeared I got a phone call from Maurice. And thus, began a lifelong friendship that has meant the world to me.
I will never forget that call, or my surprise, when the somewhat shy and tentative caller turned out to be Maurice Sendak. We both immediately felt at ease, and before the call was over, we had become the best of friends. It was clear we had a lot in common. Beyond a mutual appreciation of Maurice’s work, we shared a parallel passion for Mickey Mouse. This fervent love of Mickey imagery became the glue that bound our destinies together, for the next thirty-five years.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is Copyright 1963 by Maurice Sendak, photographs and text are Copyright Mel Birnkrant. Interview is Copyright by Plillip Weiss.
