Walt Disney An American Original by Bob Thomas

[DodgerGirl]

I found a biography about Walt Disney that appeared to be published in the 80's and I would like to know more about it? The book's title is Walt Disney An American Original and it was written by a guy named Bob Thomas. The book talks about Walt Disney and how he created Disney movies and the theme parks. Was this book also part of a series of Disney books also authored by Bob Thomas?

 

[wabbott]

I've read it, and it was worth the read.

 

[wabbott]

Bob Thomas was an Associated Press (AP) reporter that covered the entertainment industry for many years. He authored many biographies about celebrities that he covered. I suspect he kept good notes from his interviews and coverage, which formed the basis for his prolific writing

Was it a "series?" Maybe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Thomas_(reporter)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/526061.Walt_Disney

His bio of Walt's brother Roy was also good, and I would recommend it highly:

Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empires
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1212364.Building_a_Company

In my opinion, there are three (3) major bios of Walt Disney that are must reads if you want to seriously study what made the guy tick. The Thomas book is one.

This one is the definitive bio. Gabler had access to the Disney archives, and iirc, the family wasn't too happy with Gabler's work:

Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118824.Walt_Disney

Here's the other one:

The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life by Steven Watts
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/346727.The_Magic_Kingdom

There's a relatively recent book about how Disneyland came about that isn't really a bio, but it reveals some of Walt's thinking about his dream park. To me, it was one the more enjoyable books about Disney, and I've read dozens of them.

Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World by Richard Snow
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45320545-disney-s-land