by Neal Gabler
“WE SAY: ‘MYSTERY’ INDUSTRY IS DISNEY.” Orlando Sentinel, Oct. 24, 1965.
News conference. NYT, Nov. 16, 1965; Press Release: Walt Disney Outlines Preliminary Concepts for his Disney World, Nov. 15, 1965, Florida—Press Releases Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Walt Disney World, A-Z, A1666, WDA; Variety, Nov. 24, 1965; C. E. Wright, “East Coast Disneyland to Rise Near Orlando,” NYT, Nov. 21, 1965, sec. 10.
“We want something educational…” NYT, Nov. 16, 1965.
“lousy” job. Peter Blake, “The Lessons of the Parks,” in Christopher Finch, The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms (1973; New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1993).
Walt didn’t set foot on the property. Foster, Founding.
Not a member of central committee. Minutes of Dec. 9, 1965, Florida Operating Comm. Meeting, Florida—Florida Operating Committee Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Walt Disney World, A-Z, A1666. Walt did sit on the eleven-member Operating Committee, but it was the four-man Central Committee that served as the park’s secretariat.
“Walt instinctively resists…” Bart, “Disney Eyes a 2nd.”
Riding in the train from the Chicago Railroad Fair… Kimball quoted in Michael Broggie, Walt Disney’s Railroad Story (Pasadena, Calif.: Pentrex, 1997).
City planning books. Marling, Theme Parks; Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
“Why should I run for mayor…?” Ray Bradbury, interview by author.
“Walt was intrigued…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“It was the real wienie.” Quoted in Marling, Theme Parks.
“living, breathing community.” Quoted in Blake, “Lessons of Parks.”
20,000 residents, 60,000 residents, 100,000 residents… ERA (Economics Research Associates), “An Economic Master Plan for Project Future,” Oct. 13, 1965, Florida—E.R.A. Reports Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Walt Disney World, A-Z, A1666, WDA; R. O. Stratton (manager of program development, GE), Transportation Aspects of “Community of Tomorrow” in GE-Disneyland Pavilion, Mar. 18, 1966, M Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, J-Reddy, A1654; Stratton to O.V. Melton (president, WED), Dec. 1, 1965, Florida—Inter-Office Memos Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Walt Disney World, A-Z, A1666, WDA.
“It will worry about…” Blake, “Lessons of Parks.”
EPCOT government. See Steven Mannheim, Walt Disney and the Quest for Community (Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate, 2002).
“Walt expected things…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“overwhelming.” Robert Moses, “EPCOT: Walt Disney’s Legacy,” Newsday, Apr. 29, 1967.
Corporate partners. R. O. Stratton to O. V. Melton, Dec. 1, 1965, Florida—Inter-Office Memos Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Walt Disney World, A-Z, A1666; Memo, Joe Potter to Tommie Wilck, Re: Pittsburgh Trip, Jan. 5, 1966, P Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965, J-Reddy, A1654; Memo, Jack Sayers to Walt, Re: RCA, Feb. 2, 1966, Jack Sayers Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, Retlaw-Z, A1655, WDA.
Becket’s design. Marvin Davis quoted in Marling, Theme Parks.
Plans scribbled on napkin. Hubler, Disney.
“sketching away with a big pencil…” Bob Gurr quoted in Greene and Greene, Inside the Dream.
“I vividly remember…” Quoted in ibid.
Resigning from MPA. Walt to MPA, Feb. 9, 1956; Borden Chase (executive committee, Motion Picture Alliance) to Walt, Feb. 29, 1956; Memo, Gunther Lessing to Dolores Voght, Feb. 6, 1956, Mo Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1956, M-R, A1564, WDA. Lessing, a board member himself, had apparently urged Walt to resign after the attack on the Writers Guild of America (on which he had not been consulted), “not only because the need for such an organization had ceased to exist, but it is, in my opinion now a vehicle for Ward Bond to throw his weight around,” naming a notoriously red-baiting actor. The MPA called Walt’s resignation a “bombshell” and asked him to reconsider. He didn’t.
Strong-arming contributions. Michael Barrier, “Ward Kimball,” in Walt’s People, ed. Didier Ghez (Xlibris, 2006).
Goldwater support. Memo, Bill Anderson to Walt/Roy, Re: Republican Campaign Contributions, Oct. 26, 1964, Bill Anderson Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1960-1964, A-Disney Aircraft, A1648; Walt to Holmes Tuttle, Sept. 11, 1964, T Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, Radziwill-Z, A1604; Walt to Barry Goldwater, Jul. 31, 1964; Goldwater to Walt, Aug. 9, 1964, G Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, Disney-Gifts, A1601, WDA.
“taking up the gun…” Walt to Di, Oct. 2, 1964, M Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, M-R (Misc.), A1603, WDA.
“Talk to enough people…” Herbert Gold, “Nobody’s Mad at Murphy,” NYT Magazine, Dec. 13, 1964.
Lillian and Democrats for George Murphy. Lillian to Wayne Griffin, Aug. 18, 1964, G Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, Disney-Gifts, A1601, WDA.
“I had my little fling…” Peter Bart, “The Golden Stuff of Disney Dreams,” NYT, Dec. 5, 1965, sec. 2.
“one person no country could find fault with.” Note to Walt, Mar. 3, 1965, Tournament of Roses Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, Speaking Requests-Z, A1620, WDA.
“revered and honored…” Bart, “Golden Stuff.”
Presidential Medal of Freedom. Charles Ridgway quoted in Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
Fellow honorees. NYT, Jul. 4, 1964.
“almost everything objectionable.” Frances Clark Sayers, “Walt Disney Accused,” interview by Charles M. Weisenberg, F.M. and Fine Arts, Aug. 1965.
“Disneyland is presented as imaginary…” Jean Baudrillard, Selected Writings, ed. Mark Poster (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1988).
“disappointment in expectations.” Godfrey Hodgson, America in Our Time: From World War II to Nixon, What Happened and Why (New York: Random House, 1976).
“How’s this for the cover…” Gene Lester quoted in Hubler, Disney.
Re-evaluation of Disney’s films. Douglas Brode, From Walt to Woodstock: How Disney Created the Counterculture (Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, 2004). This is one of the most original and interesting studies of Walt Disney’s work, and it is practically unique in presenting Disney as a closet liberal.
“mournful sigh.” Peet, Autobiography.
“[A]nd he drew a curtain…” Marc Davis, interview by Richard Hubler, May 21, 1968, RHC, Box 14, Folder 51.
“He may have consumed…” Quoted in Greene and Greene, Remembering Walt.
“[S]tarting at five o’clock…” Ward Kimball, interview by Richard Hubler, May 21, 1968, WDA.
“That was quite a long way…” Jack Kinney, Walt Disney and Other Animated Characters: An Unauthorized Account of the Early Years at Disney’s (New York: Harmony Books, 1988).
Drinking diet. Tommie Wilck, interview by Richard Hubler, Aug. 13, 1968, WDA.
Hollywood Stars. Louella Parsons, “Walt Disney, The Lovable Genius Who Never Grew Up,” Los Angeles Examiner Pictorial Living, Jan. 9, 1955.
Los Angeles baseball team. Walt to Bob Reynolds, Pres. (president, Los Angeles Angels), Feb. 2, 1965, R Folder, Walt Disney Corr., N-S, A1611, WDA.
“go to your head.” Walt to Nels Hokanson, Apr. 2, 1964, H Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, H-Mc, A1602, WDA.
Passion for lawn bowling. [Tommie Wilck] to Walt, Feb. 16, 1965, Smoke Tree Folder, Walt Disney Corr., N-S, A1611; Itinerary, Sept. 11, 1964, Walt Disney Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1964, Disney-Gifts, A1601, WDA.
Australian vacation. Walt to Max and Emily Schwab, May 4, 1966, S Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, N-Smoke Tree, A1619, WDA.
“badly.” Sharon Brown, interview by Richard Hubler, Jul. 9, 1968, RHC, Box 14, Folder 51.
150 hours. Hubler, Disney.
“I’m thrilled to have a male heir…” Walt to Bob Stevenson, Nov. 28, 1961, S Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1960-1964, N-Tatum, A1651, WDA.
“We’d play on the lawn…” Quoted in Greene and Greene, Inside the Dream.
“Feed the Birds.” Sherman and Sherman, Walt’s Time.
“The guy just has a sincere desire…” Memo, Charl
es Levy to Joe Reddy, Re: Dick Schickel, Sept. 9, 1966, R Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, N-Smoke Tree Ranch, A1619, WDA.
“As far as I’m concerned…” Walt to Hobart Lewis (executive editor, Reader’s Digest), Sept. 15, 1966, R Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, N-Smoke Tree Ranch, A1619, WDA.
“I don’t know how much time…” Reverend Glenn Puder, interview by author.
Credit for Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
Marceline Project. Memo, Harrison Price/Bill Cottrell to Walt, Re: Marceline Project, Oct. 25, 1965; Memo, Buzz Price/Mickey Clark/Bill Cottrell to Rush Johnson, Re: Marceline Project, Nov. 1, 1965, Marceline, City of, Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, J-M, A1618, WDA.
Mineral King. LAT, Nov. 6, 1965; NYT, Dec. 18, 1965.
Visiting Disneyland. Walt Disney, interview by Hooper Fowler, Look, Jan. 1964, WDA.
“It looks just like home.” NYT, July 26, 1966.
Regale his secretaries. Lucille Martin, presentation at the NFFC Convention, Jul. 21, 2000.
“[W]ith that kind of a start…” Memo, Roy to Walt, Aug. 20, 1965, Walt Disney Folder, Roy O. Disney, Inter-Office Corr., Disney, Roy O.—Trips to Disneyland (1954-61), A3002, WDA.
Loans and donations. Walt to Brigadier General C. B. Drake, Apr. 4, 1966, D Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, Christmas Thank Yous—Disney Birthday, A1615, WDA.
Listening to an opera. Walt to Blanche Seaver, Aug. 15, 1966, S Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, N-Smoke Tree Ranch, A1619, WDA.
Streamlining the system. Canemaker, Nine Old Men.
Bill Peet complained. Peet, Autobiography.
Xerography. Bill Tytla to Walt, Mar. 4, 1956, T Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1956, S-Z, A1565, WDA; Leslie Iwerks and John Kenworthy, The Hand Behind the Mouse (New York: Disney Editions, 2001).
“It was the first time…” Marc Davis, interview by Bob Thomas, Fall 1989, WDA.
“spoils the beauty…” Eric Larson, interview by Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz, Jul. 25, 1972, WDA.
“Then he had second thoughts.” Quoted in Charles Solomon, Enchanted Drawings: The History of Animation (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989).
“require drastic steps…” Memo, Ken Peterson to Walt, Re: Sword in the Stone, Jan. 4, 1961, Ken Peterson Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1960-1964, N-Tatum, A1651, WDA.
“He was interested in a picture…” Milt Kahl, interview by Bob Thomas, May 14, 1973, WDA.
“It would take about hour.” Memo, Woolie [Reitherman] to Walt, Re: Jungle Book, Apr. 20, 1966, R Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, J-Reddy, A1654, WDA.
Walt thought the audience wouldn’t identify… Michel Fessier, Jr., “Legacy of a Last Tycoon,” LAT, Nov. 12, 1967.
“When Walt heard Phil’s test…” Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation (New York: Hyperion, 1981).
“I’m making this trip…” Walt to Mrs. Eugene Hill-Smith, Apr. 29, 1966, H Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, H-I, A1617, WDA.
“enough work to keep…” Price quoted in Hubler, Disney.
Ailments. Tommie Wilck quoted in Hubler, Disney; Dr. Edward W. Boland to Walt, Jun. 22, 1959, Bi Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1959, A-Ca, A1573; Walt to Ruth, Dec. 6, 1960, B Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1960, A-B, A1580, WDA.
“I am in the process…” Walt to Hayley Mills, Oct. 1, 1963, Mills, John, and Family Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1965, K-M, A1610, WDA.
Polo injury. Walt to Floyd Odlum, Dec. 15, 1951, O Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1951-1952, N-P, A1547, WDA; Roy O. Disney, interview by Richard Hubler, Nov. 17, 1967, WDA.
Trip with Ellenshaw. Mosley, Disney’s World.
“it got so bad…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“He constantly complained…” Marc Davis interview by Hubler, May 21, 1968.
“gimpy” and “pooped.” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“lush.” Mosley, Disney’s World. See also Paul Smith and Hazel George, interview by David Tietyen, Aug. 29, 1978, WDA; Hazel George, interview by John Canemaker, Jan. 4, 1995, WDA.
“Here is the same man…” Ward Kimball, interview by Rick Shale, WDA.
“His proud head…” Shows, Backstage Adventures.
Diffusion filters. Robert De Roos, “The Magic Worlds of Walt Disney,” National Geographic, Aug. 1963.
“Whenever Father gets depressed…” Diane Disney Miller, as told to Pete Martin, The Story of Walt Disney (New York: Holt, 1956).
“get the hell back to work.” Ryman quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“fierce reaming out.” Harrison “Buzz” Price, Walt’s Revolution! By the Numbers (Orlando, Fla.: Ripley Entertainment, 2003).
“[l]ongevity seems to run…” Walt to Aunt Jessie, Apr. 20, 1951, Perkins, Jessie, Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1951-1952, N-P, A1547, WDA.
“normal for my age.” Walt to Hayley Mills, Feb. 3, 1966, M Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, J-M, A1618, WDA.
“Just about the most interesting…” Walt to Captain Martin D. Carmody (11th Naval District, San Diego), Jul. 28, 1965, C Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1965, C-Christmas, A1606, WDA.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted…” Walt to Thomas Meek (Harris, Upham & Co.), Jun. 14, 1966, M Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, J-M, A1618, WDA.
“We’re just going to cruise…” Walt to Kay Clark, Jun. 22, 1966, C Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, B-Christmas, A1614, WDA.
“at each other’s throats…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
Rehearsing EPCOT presentation. Marling, Theme Parks.
Arguing with Kahl. Ollie Johnston, interview by Richard Hubler, RHC, Box 17, Folder 57.
“I don’t know, fellows,…” Schickel, Disney Version.
Charging Tytle with lowering costs. Memo, Harry Tytle to Walt, Jul. 22, 1966, Harry Tytle Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, Retlaw-Z, A1655, WDA.
GE merger. Walt to Dave Burke (GE), Sept. 16, 1966; Agenda for Oct. 3 Conference, n.d., G Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, Disney Personal—Gifts, A1616, WDA.
“You could just see him sag.” Herbie Hughes (chief of rigging), interview, WDA.
“‘D’ date.” Memo, Roy to Walt, Oct. 24, 1966, Roy Disney Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, A-I, A1653, WDA.
“When I get out of the hospital…” Quoted in Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
“I’m not going over there to die.” Quoted in Katherine Greene and Richard Greene, The Man Behind the Magic: The Story of Walt Disney (New York: Viking, 1991).
“They took an x-ray…” Quoted in Greene and Greene, Inside the Dream.
Official press release. NYT, Nov. 9, 1966.
“I just can’t picture him…” Diane Disney Miller interview by author.
Sharon and school play. Miller, Story of Disney.
“burned more furniture…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“He would forget to put them out.” Quoted in Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
Switching to a pipe. Grant interview by Barrier, www.Michaelbarrier.com/Interviews/Grant/interview_joe_grant.htm.
Lessing lobbying Walt. Memo, Gunther Lessing to Walt, Feb. 5, 1957, L Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1956-1957, K-Secrets, A1643, WDA.
“I didn’t tell her how…” Fulton Burley quoted in Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
“When I timidly asked…” Quoted in Mosley, Disney’s World.
The day before the operation. Diane quoted in Greene and Greene, Inside the Dream; interview by author.
Doctor’s announcement. “Growing Up Disney,” People, Dec. 21, 1998.
Roy exploded. Greene and Greene, Man Behind the Magic.
“what the elements essential…” Spec McClure to Tommie Wilck, Dec. 7, 1966, McClure, Spec (David C.), Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, J-M, A1618, WDA.
Tytle’s visit. Tytle, One of “Walt’s Boys.”
“Welcome to the club.” Ron Miller quoted in Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
“Several papers carry…” Memo, Cy
ril Edgar to Ned Clark, Nov. 11, 1966, Walt Disney Folder, Roy O. Disney, Inter-Office Corr., Disney, Roy O.—Trips to Disneyland (1954-61), A3002, WDA.
“He’s going to be okay.” Ruth to Madeline [Wheeler], Nov. 26, 1966; Madeline Wheeler to Ruth, Dec. 1, 1966, B Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, B-Christmas, A1614, WDA.
Press release. LAT, Nov. 23, 1966.
Demanding Tommie Wilck… Tommie Wilck interview by Bob Thomas, WDA.
“You’d think I was going to die…” Tytle, One of “Walt’s Boys.”
“he was gaining strength.” Sharpsteen, interview by Don Peri, Feb. 6, 1974, WDA.
“[H]is voice took on enthusiasm…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“laughed like hell.” Marc Davis interview by Hubler, May 21, 1968, WDA.
“Goodbye, Marc.” Ibid., Greene and Greene, Man Behind the Magic.
“I had a scare, Hib.” Green and Green, Remembering Walt.
“We decided he was doomed.” Quoted in Mosley, Disney’s World.
“There’s something I want to tell you.” Thomas, American Original.
“He looked defeated…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“Just heard that Walt…” Edna and Roy to Walt and Lilly, Nov. 22, 1966, Roy Disney Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, A-I, A1653, WDA.
“As far as my problem…” Walt to Kay Clark, Nov. 23, 1966, C Folder, Walt Disney Corr., 1966, B-Christmas, A1614, WDA.
Lillian clung to hope. Mrs. Walt Disney interview by Hubler, April 16, 1968, RHC, Box 14, Folder 52.
“I don’t think he accepted it.” Kimball interview by Hubler.
Walt told Ron Miller… Hubler, Disney.
$3.75 million. Memo, Mickey Clark to Walt, Feb. 22, 1965, Mickey Clark Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, A-I, A1653, WDA.
$12 million profit. Memo, Roy to Walt, Oct. 24, 1966, Walt Disney Folder, Roy O. Disney, Inter-Office Corr., Disney, Roy O.—Trips to Disneyland (1954-61), A3002, WDA.
Will. Last Will and Testament of Walter E. Disney, Mar. 18, 1966, bk. 1809.
“The last thing he said to me was…” Quoted in Hubler, Disney.
“Hope this finds you…” Tel. Roy to Walt, Dec. 5, 1966, Roy Disney Folder, Walt Disney Corr., Inter-Office, 1965-1966, A-I, A1653, WDA.
