March 9, 1984

[Luv2Roam]

Thought this was an appropriate post:

Roy E. Disney resigns from the central board of the Walt Disney Company, setting in motion a series of takeover bids and maneuvering that by August will actually leave him in control

From: http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/Mar09.html

 

[WDSearcher]

Except that this time, Roy has already said he doesn't want to be in control. He just doesn't want Michael to be either.

 

[dcentity2000]

Didn't know Roy CAUSED it all.

Roy enlisted Michael as the solution, btw.




Rich::

 

[airlarry!]

Roy enlisted Michael as the solution, btw.

Sure, if you believe Frank Wells never existed.

Or if you were the ghostwriter for 'Work in Progress.'

Thankfully, Frank Wells contributions to the assured investment in Disney standards, philosophy, and magic, are not so easily dismissed and forgotten by the 43%ers who stood up to Ei$nerstein and Igor.

Roy, you might not be as altruistic as you seem, but you sure ain't as greedy and black-hearted as the guy who wants to change his name to Disney.

 

[hopemax]

My impression from reading "Storming the Magic Kingdom" is that Eisner was Frank Wells' guy. He was the one who kept pushing for Eisner, and since Roy greatly respected Frank Wells, and since Frank and Eisner were going to be considered "equals," Roy pushed the Eisner/Wells ticket. Considering the reaction of other board members at the time, I got the impression that Eisner's role was primarily the public face that would give Disney respectibility in Hollywood, the "business" side was Frank's territory. I think they played it up that Eisner was the "creative" guy, but it was the wrong word. Eisner just could attract the creative Hollywood types the studio needed.

Roy's error was assuming that Frank would always be there.

 

[airlarry!]

Hope, excellent points. I don't remember ever posting an opinion about how good of job Frank Wells did during his tenure--mainly because I don't know enough about the man and I wasn't there in the company personally watching what he did, what he encouraged, or how he treated his employees.

We know the results, however, and we know how Disney got there. We know that it was Wells who was brought in, in fact, who was the 'choice' in the deal, and it is very misleading to characterize Ei$ner as being the savior brought in by Roy.

I guess what I'm saying is that Ei$ner was the not the White Knight he has been portrayed by Mr. DisneyCEntity2000. How is it that Wells has become the Forgotten Man? ?

 

[dcentity2000]

Originally posted by airlarry!
I guess what I'm saying is that Ei$ner was the not the White Knight he has been portrayed by Mr. DisneyCEntity2000. How is it that Wells has become the Forgotten Man? ?

You are right, Wells was a fantastic man and there are very strong arguments to suggest that Eisner only ever really worked when in catalyst with Wells.

Wells sadly passed away in a helicopter crash, not too far back

By the way, I know Eisner is not the perfect man of glory, strength and wisdom; I was trying to assert that he does have positive qualities and that they should not be ignored nor pass to memory without due thanks. I'm sorry if it seemed otherwise

And... dcentity stands for Direct Current Entity, a being of pure unadulterated energy Not really fitting for a lowly law student, but I guess I can dream

Rich::