knewton64
- May the luck of the Irish always be with you -
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2008
- Messages
- 2,906
And so the other day, I was busy perusing through my various sources of reading material about the history of the movie side of all things Disney (circa 1967-1977) when an interesting little blip about Walt's offices caught my attention.
So with a little faith and trust and a whole lotta pixie dust, I fired off 6 mails to various people inside the Disney Company of which 2 were really kind in replying and helped me to get up to speed on this subject. And in turn, their kindness also helped me so see even more the Human side of the Disney Corporation (and also what has triggered me into wanting to see this ABD vacation adventure).
and -
(photos shot while visiting "Walt: One Mans' Dream at WDW; Jan. 09)
ANYWHO -
So to those of you interested (and kind to read my trip report) - here goes nothing and please remember the below is a combination of various correspondences from 2 emails as well as what I have been able to pull off the internet and various reading materials):
One email reply starts off by saying,
"In December 1966, Walt Disney dies and vey soon thereafter, Roy O Disney, Donn Tatum (previously, vice president of administration), and Cardon E. Walker (formerly in Marketing) served as the Executive management team until 1971 with Roy being President. Work continued on as usual in now Walt's old offices as Walt’s former secretaries continued working in the office, clearing up the correspondence, etc., until they retired about a year later."
Another kind person goes on to say,
"When the Secretaries retired near the end of 1967, the Executive Staff
locked Walt's office to ensure the safety and preservation of some
items, such as a case full of Oscars and other awards. However, to say
the offices were "sealed" would be misleading, as Company Executive
Staff and Custodial Hosts had constant access to the offices, which were
cleaned once a week while a plan was developed to properly preserve
these items."
Moreover, I can see that after a few months of Walt's former secretaries processing mail, etc - I am thinking naturally that questions would begin to crop up of like the essense of how they could continue to be there when they really have no Boss right there (Roy had his office in another location).
So now with now Roy at the Helm,
I can see now that the Disney Family was heavily grieving over his passing as I feel that through the research of this question, I can see that this has been heavily under reported/acknowledged by the Disney Family.
Moreover, you even had Robert Sherman still going to one of Walt's old offices (the one with the piano) and still playing, "Feed the Birds" every Friday afternoon months after Walt's passing. So, again - obviously everyone was taken aback by his death.
Now with Roy primarily in charge,
he had to have had atleast knowledge of this (the closure of Walt's old offices) since he was the President of the Company at that time. Yes, I can see and understand if he had a reply to the status of what to do with Walt's old offices by literally saying, "Don't bug me, for I am getting Walt Disney World together," during this time frame. Yes, I can see he had to be a very busy person at this time.
ANYWHO -
But to go back to the email reply I received recently on this interesting topic:
"As luck would have it, Mr Dave Smith began to do an business archive proposal in the fall of 1969. One of the reasons why the company (and the family) wanted to start an archives was to take care of Walt's memorabilia."
By now, Card Walker is the Disney President as Roy has his hands full with the completion of Walt Disney World as it opens October 1971.
Another email reply goes on to say,
"So
Dave says he was working at the UCLA Library at that time, and was doing
research at the Disney Studio for a Disney bibliography in his spare
time. Through this relationship with the Company, he learned the
Executive Staff wanted to start preserving the history of the Company,
including the items in Walt's office. At the time, the Company had no
Cast Members with appropriate archival experience, so Dave volunteered
his services and took a two-month leave of absence form UCLA to develop
a proposal."
Then, the decision was made to give this task to Dave Smith as he reported to Card’s administrative asst., Jim Stewart, and then suggested to him that the offices should be inventoried and photographed.
" In January 1970, Dave submitted his proposal for The Walt Disney
Archives, and, in his words, "the [E]xecutives were delighted -- here,
at last, was a way to preserve Walt's material, and also his memory." In
June 1970, the project was approved with enthusiasm, and Dave was hired
to create the Archives."
So to all who were kind to reply back to my email, a huge thank you as I didn't know al of this and this was very helpful
in relation to this upcoming TR of mine.
HELLO EVEYONE -
My name is Kris and...
(photo of me while in Hawaii a few years ago)
...well, you can easily see that I like all things Disney as what has me curious about revisiting this ABD adventure is what all I have been learning recently about Walt and Friends in relation to what they have all done to bring to us what we have all come to love and enjoy.
That and what Disney D23 is doing (very similar) also?? - WOWZERS!!
Looking forward to this vacation as I have also booked a pre and post night on it as well so yes, fair to say I will be also enjoying a few additional add ons that I didn't do last time.
-(and don't worry, this TR will be also more than just DiSney history) -
More info to follow I promise.
ANYWHO -
CYA n a few more weeks as this TR will be underway.....after I get back from Disneyland and Catalina Island.
T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL
MY ADVENTURES by Disney "Spirit of America" Sept 2009 Trip Report (w/pics & video)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread....errerid=208040
MY "GETTING SPOOKED @ WDW" - MNSSHP TRIP REPORT; Oct 28th -Nov 4th 2010(w/pics & video) http://www.disboards.com/showthread....errerid=208040
So with a little faith and trust and a whole lotta pixie dust, I fired off 6 mails to various people inside the Disney Company of which 2 were really kind in replying and helped me to get up to speed on this subject. And in turn, their kindness also helped me so see even more the Human side of the Disney Corporation (and also what has triggered me into wanting to see this ABD vacation adventure).
and -
(photos shot while visiting "Walt: One Mans' Dream at WDW; Jan. 09)
ANYWHO -
So to those of you interested (and kind to read my trip report) - here goes nothing and please remember the below is a combination of various correspondences from 2 emails as well as what I have been able to pull off the internet and various reading materials):
One email reply starts off by saying,
"In December 1966, Walt Disney dies and vey soon thereafter, Roy O Disney, Donn Tatum (previously, vice president of administration), and Cardon E. Walker (formerly in Marketing) served as the Executive management team until 1971 with Roy being President. Work continued on as usual in now Walt's old offices as Walt’s former secretaries continued working in the office, clearing up the correspondence, etc., until they retired about a year later."
Another kind person goes on to say,
"When the Secretaries retired near the end of 1967, the Executive Staff
locked Walt's office to ensure the safety and preservation of some
items, such as a case full of Oscars and other awards. However, to say
the offices were "sealed" would be misleading, as Company Executive
Staff and Custodial Hosts had constant access to the offices, which were
cleaned once a week while a plan was developed to properly preserve
these items."
Moreover, I can see that after a few months of Walt's former secretaries processing mail, etc - I am thinking naturally that questions would begin to crop up of like the essense of how they could continue to be there when they really have no Boss right there (Roy had his office in another location).
So now with now Roy at the Helm,
I can see now that the Disney Family was heavily grieving over his passing as I feel that through the research of this question, I can see that this has been heavily under reported/acknowledged by the Disney Family.
Moreover, you even had Robert Sherman still going to one of Walt's old offices (the one with the piano) and still playing, "Feed the Birds" every Friday afternoon months after Walt's passing. So, again - obviously everyone was taken aback by his death.
Now with Roy primarily in charge,
he had to have had atleast knowledge of this (the closure of Walt's old offices) since he was the President of the Company at that time. Yes, I can see and understand if he had a reply to the status of what to do with Walt's old offices by literally saying, "Don't bug me, for I am getting Walt Disney World together," during this time frame. Yes, I can see he had to be a very busy person at this time.
ANYWHO -
But to go back to the email reply I received recently on this interesting topic:
"As luck would have it, Mr Dave Smith began to do an business archive proposal in the fall of 1969. One of the reasons why the company (and the family) wanted to start an archives was to take care of Walt's memorabilia."
By now, Card Walker is the Disney President as Roy has his hands full with the completion of Walt Disney World as it opens October 1971.
Another email reply goes on to say,
"So
Dave says he was working at the UCLA Library at that time, and was doing
research at the Disney Studio for a Disney bibliography in his spare
time. Through this relationship with the Company, he learned the
Executive Staff wanted to start preserving the history of the Company,
including the items in Walt's office. At the time, the Company had no
Cast Members with appropriate archival experience, so Dave volunteered
his services and took a two-month leave of absence form UCLA to develop
a proposal."
Then, the decision was made to give this task to Dave Smith as he reported to Card’s administrative asst., Jim Stewart, and then suggested to him that the offices should be inventoried and photographed.
" In January 1970, Dave submitted his proposal for The Walt Disney
Archives, and, in his words, "the [E]xecutives were delighted -- here,
at last, was a way to preserve Walt's material, and also his memory." In
June 1970, the project was approved with enthusiasm, and Dave was hired
to create the Archives."
So to all who were kind to reply back to my email, a huge thank you as I didn't know al of this and this was very helpful
in relation to this upcoming TR of mine.
HELLO EVEYONE -
My name is Kris and...
(photo of me while in Hawaii a few years ago)
...well, you can easily see that I like all things Disney as what has me curious about revisiting this ABD adventure is what all I have been learning recently about Walt and Friends in relation to what they have all done to bring to us what we have all come to love and enjoy.
That and what Disney D23 is doing (very similar) also?? - WOWZERS!!
Looking forward to this vacation as I have also booked a pre and post night on it as well so yes, fair to say I will be also enjoying a few additional add ons that I didn't do last time.
-(and don't worry, this TR will be also more than just DiSney history) -
More info to follow I promise.
ANYWHO -
CYA n a few more weeks as this TR will be underway.....after I get back from Disneyland and Catalina Island.
T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL
MY ADVENTURES by Disney "Spirit of America" Sept 2009 Trip Report (w/pics & video)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread....errerid=208040
MY "GETTING SPOOKED @ WDW" - MNSSHP TRIP REPORT; Oct 28th -Nov 4th 2010(w/pics & video) http://www.disboards.com/showthread....errerid=208040
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part of me is now coming out in wanting to know more about this upcoming 
.......I will admit it - Y-e-S I actually have 4 of his songs on my 3,800 song list on my Ipod but anywho, I wanted to know more on why he reacted in the way he did back in 1985 over being snubbed from participating in this little gem - shot on location on the grounds of the now Jim Henson Studios -
