The day Walt Disney died

[crazy4wdw]

From the New York Daily News:

The day Walt Disney, an American icon who gave us Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, died.

Disney, from struggling artist to Hollywood legend, died of lung cancer in Burbank, Calif.

Here is how the Daily News reported his Dec. 15, 1966 death:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archives-walt-disney-died-lung-cancer-article-1.2042273

 

[OKW Lover]

Very moving. As it happens we were actually in the Disney Studios (Burbank) on December 16th this year. The hospital at which Walt died was directly across the street.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

If you ever get a chance, the Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio in the Bay Area is amazing. It takes you in order from the beginnings all the way to the sad end of his life. They have seats where you can just sit and reflect at the end. We sat with tears streaming down our faces as we thought about the gift he was and the sadness of his passing.

 

[Laz]

I am heading to DLR this summer. I will make sure that the light is on in the fire house window.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I always found Eric Sevareids eulogy to be right on point:


Eric Sevareid's eulogy of Walt Disney captured how many people felt about Walt's life and influence.

“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 at least for 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.”


Eric Sevareid
CBS Evening News
December, 1966

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We almost got written reprimands from management.
2) Several (actually quite a few) of us wore black tape on our name badges.
3) Until it was explained to managers, they wanted it removed under threat of discipline.
4) They NEVER EVEN GUESSED WHY THE BLACK MEMORIAL TAPE !
5) So much for managerial formal education and WDW training.

 

[Teamubr]

3) Until it was explained to managers, they wanted it removed under threat of discipline.

Sad state of management when they threaten disciplinary action before finding out the motivation.

Good for you and your fellow CMs.

j