Did people know how significant Walt was when he was alive?

[DJ Disney Kid]

I guess this is for people on the board who were alive during Walts time.

Was he looked at as some crazy guy with these nutty theme park ideas?

Or was he viewed as a man of real significance in our culture?

I mean, now we look and say that he gave us so much, the happiest place on earth, but Im curious if people knew what kind of legend in history he would become?

 

[Robo]

He was loved by countless millions when he was at the peak of his career.

He was on TV every week as the host of the Disneyland show (and, later, Wonderful World of Color,) so he was widely recognized for his contributions to family entertainment by the vast majority of the general public.

At the time of his death, he was eulogized by the greatest news reporters, heads of state, and common people... around the world.

Walt Disney was then, and is now, LOVED by generations!

 

[buckylarue]

Here is the obituary that Eric Sevareid gave him on the CBS Evening News:

It would take more time than anybody has around the daily news shops to think of the right thing to say about Walt Disney.

He was an original; not just an American original, but an original, period. He was a happy accident; one of the happiest this century has experienced; and judging by the way it's been behaving in spite of all Disney tried to tell it about laughter, love, children, puppies and sunrises, the century hardly deserved him.

He probably did more to heal or at least to soothe troubled human spirits than all the psychiatrists in the world. There can't be many adults in the allegedly civilized parts of the globe who did not inhabit Disney's mind and imagination for at least a few hours and feel better for the visitation.

It may be true, as somebody said, that while there is no highbrow in a lowbrow, there is some lowbrow in every highbrow.

But what Walt Disney seemed to know was that while there is very little grown-up in a child, there is a lot of child in every grown-up. To a child this weary world is brand new, gift wrapped; Disney tried to keep it that way for adults...

By the conventional wisdom, mighty mice, flying elephants, Snow White and Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Dopey -- all these were fantasy, escapism from reality. It's a question of whether they are any less real, any more fantastic than intercontinental missiles, poisoned air, defoliated forests, and scraps from the moon. This is the age of fantasy, however you look at it, but Disney's fantasy wasn't lethal.

People are saying we'll never see his like again.

 

[goofyernmost]

Any person that is between the ages of 50 and 1000 knows about Walt Disney. Uncle Walt as we called him. Only two people have ever been given that mass distinction and they were Walt Disney and Walter Cronkite.

If you grew up in the 50's, he gave us Davy Crockett, and The Mickey Mouse Club. The Disneyland TV/Wonderful World of Color Program and, of course, Disneyland. And who could ever forget that every Halloween he broadcast the Legend of Sunny Hallow, with Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. It would scare the feathers off all of us confirmed chickens. And for those of us, edging into puberty, he gave us Annette. (sigh)

Everyone knew the greatness of Walter Elias Disney. The state of Florida practically gave away the entire state to have him build an enterprise in that area. He had a Midas touch and almost everything he touched became the things that memories are made of. Those that follow these boards know the influence and impact he has, even today, 40+ years after his death.

The best part of it is, he is always remembered as a good guy, without a flaw. This, of course, isn't true, but, we tend to forgive those little things when someone has done so much good for so many people.

So to answer your question...yes he certainly was appreciated during his lifetime by a lot of folks.

 

[Diznotyzed]

For many of us who were just kids at the time, we were well aware of the man whose company was bringing us so much fun and entertainment, and felt true sadness at the time of his passing.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Disney Kid,
In fact he was thought of as both the things you mention. When he first came up with the idea for Disneyland most thought he was crazy.
After it opened and as the Empire grew most realized he was a gifted genius.

By the time he died he was considered one of the greatest men of his time.

 

[Maverick Mike]

This is a little off-topic, but...

What is the actual name of the picture that shows the world in the shape of a "Mickey Head" that is crying that was posted on the day of Walt's death? I think that is just such a powerful picture.

Thank you!
MM

 

[mlayton14]

I have a copy of that picture that I will post (it took forever to find it). I was very disappointed that the last time I saw "One mans dream" at MGM they deleted the whole segment surrounding his death (and the picture) .. it wasnt that long ... but it was very powerful.

Walt Disney was one of the greatest men of the 20th century .. no doubt in my mind.

 

[mlayton14]

Here it is .. didnt remember that the image's footprint was so small ... you have to blow it up. I believe the only place I could find this was the Library of Congress .. linked to another newspaper site.

 

[chessie]

If you can get hold of a book called Building a Company by Bob Thomas, It's a pretty good read. It tells of both brothers from their beginnings as young boys till well after Walt's death. Together they were a great team. Walt had the great ideas and Roy figured out how to pay for them. Originally WDW was to be named just Disney World. After Walt's death, Roy added Walt's name so that no one would forget it was his ideas.

 

[mlayton14]

Sounds good .. .and might I recommend "one Mans Dream". This book, although not always complimentary of Walt, is the most extensive and thorough biography of his life that I have seen ... great read.

 

[SnwflkCts]

What a unique thread to start ... and very interesting.
Others have said it so well ... and the tributes are nice.

I have a terrible memory but I actually remember watching Walt Disney showing the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland on TV. I can see it in my mind now and it was one of the reasons I was so glad to make it to WDW.

I do think he was appreciated during his lifetime!

 

[WEDWDW]

I guess this is for people on the board who were alive during Walts time.

Was he looked at as some crazy guy with these nutty theme park ideas?

Or was he viewed as a man of real significance in our culture?

I mean, now we look and say that he gave us so much, the happiest place on earth, but Im curious if people knew what kind of legend in history he would become?

No,yes and one-hundred per cent yes!

 

[Peepster]

I remember his voice. For some reason, he had a midwestern voice that was so full of enthusiasm and trust that, even as a child, it always made me listen to what he was saying (unlike my poor parents, of course). And I was always facinated with his plans and new ideas...it never seemed like he was "pitching" something. It seemed liked he was sharing dreams. And I can't help but think that if we had known then what we know now about the danger of cigarettes, we just might have had his genius around for a few more years.

I'm old enough that I forget most of you were not alive to experience Walt Disney firsthand. I pray that you and your children will never allow him to be forgotten or memoralized as something he was not. We owe him that.

 

[Maverick Mike]

While that was one of the pictures that I have seen that was published after the death of Walt Disney, there is another that I'm looking for that I cannot seem to find. Again, it is Mickey's head that is in the shape of a globe with a tear coming from his eye. It is one of the most powerful sketches I've seen. It makes me sad each time I view it..

MM

 

[ChrisFL]

And I was always facinated with his plans and new ideas...it never seemed like he was "pitching" something. It seemed liked he was sharing dreams.

Looking at his old films, I agree completely

...the century hardly deserved him.

so true, even now

 

[Micca]

I was a kid when Walt passed away, but even then I was a fan. I'm sorry that some of the millions of people who love Disney films and parks don't give him more respect. He was a remarkable guy, and Eric Sevareid had it right when he said we wouldn''t see his like again. I feel lucky to have been alive in a time when he was still here.

 

[Doc CW]

People are saying we'll never see his like again.

We never will.

 

[cman]

I was born on the day Walt Disney died. My mom has always said that she was torn with emotion that day. Obviously happy she had given birth to a healthy baby boy but she felt as though someone in her family died - she was that upset.

 

[Mr. Pig]

I remember watching the "Wonderful World of Color" when I was a kid. Since Walt had been producing original entertainment since the 1920's he surely was an American - indeed worldwide - icon by then. I wonder if there even could be another like him today. Even though he made himself the face of the company Walt Disney was famous for what he and his company produced. Nowadays image is everything and the tabloids are quick to try to report or create any controversy with celebrities.