Walt: The myth behind the man

[WeLoveLilo05]

Did anyone catch that last night? I think its a few years old b/c Roy E Disney was in it. But I sat down last night and watched it with fiance and after about 30 minutes (it was 2 hours long) fiance said "he seemed like a real jerk". I really didn't form an opinion b/c I'm such a Disney fan (LoL) how could I? My thought process: how could the creator of the mouse and my favorite place on earth a jerk? I mean I really don't know everything there is to know about him just the basics, but whats everyone else's thoughts?
Hopefully this won't get heated b/c this is not my intention at all, just curious. Fiance said yeah he was a genius...but he's no John Lasseter (he's a big pixar fan)

 

[Rumpus]

I only saw the last hour. I really liked it. Walt a jerk? He was authoritarian. He knew what he wanted and didn't let reality get in his way. He had an incredible memory, a vision, inspired his creators to be their best. He wasn't a good artist, couldn't even duplicate his own famous signature, but creative vision doesn't lie in one's ability to produce but in inspiring others to produce your vision. I think that is sad that very little of the Disney family is left to inspire the company.

 

[hereyago]

I saw it last night as well. Was you fiance saying he was a jerk because of the strike of the employees?

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I saw it last night as well. Was you fiance saying he was a jerk because of the strike of the employees?

yes, and I couldn't really hear what was going on b/c he was talking so much lol. And then he said he really didn't think of Disney, he copied from that Tovoli amusement park that they mentioned in the documentary. I think he was just saying all this to push my buttons b/c then at the end he turns to me and says "Do you ever feel like our year revolves around our Disney trip?" LOL
My answer: "Yes we make out ADRs in 2 weeks!!!"

 

[hereyago]

He did somewhat copy from the Tivoli just because the fact that it was so clean and it's ambience, compared to what was in the States were dingy,nasty,seedy,etc. he wanted a family friendly place and didnt' see that in other places in the U.S.

He had taken his girls to a park that had a carousel in it and he thought what a great place to make that the whole family could enjoy.

The strike thing I missed some parts on. So I myself may have to google it. I was trying to do laundry at the same time.

 

[Rumpus]

Walt did not like unions. He felt that they were being fueled by the communist movement within the United States. His testimony before HUAC is available on line.

 

[hereyago]

Walt did not like unions. He felt that they were being fueled by the communist movement within the United States. His testimony before HUAC is available on line.

Ok, that is who he was in front of speaking about communists, etc. I think Ronald Reagan and someone else famous also spoke in front of HUAC as well. thanks.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

So he just basically did not want a union?

 

[Rumpus]

So he just basically did not want a union?

He certainly didn't want a communist funded union. I believe that he had contracts with some unions. He didn't hesitate to name who the communists were that infiltrated his studio.

 

[GeorgeG]

Back in the day, there was a lot of paranoia over communism infiltrating many segments of our society. Some was real and some was imagined. In any case, the fear was very real. It's not a whole lot different today regarding modern issues, but people aren't as quick to believe everything their told.

 

[NC State]

Just watched it this morning. I just loved it. So sad to see most of the people that was interviewed has passed away. Walt was a great man and I'm so happy that he was the man he was.

 

[Hannathy]

I haven't seen it but what many people especially on here forget that first and foremost Walt was a shrewd Businessman not a philanthropist .

Disney was a business and he ran it as such with the main goal being a profit.
He saw a niche in having a family oriented, clean park and he ran with it. plain and simple.

 

[sunnyday123]

I would love to see this, hopefully I'll catch it one day.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I haven't seen it but what many people especially on here forget that first and foremost Walt was a shrewd Businessman not a philanthropist .

Disney was a business and he ran it as such with the main goal being a profit.
He saw a niche in having a family oriented, clean park and he ran with it. plain and simple.

 

[Danemom]

I didn't see the show you are talking about, but after reading several biographies about Walt. I definitely thought he was not the "magical" man I thought of as a kid. He was good at the ideas, but I really think that without Roy there would not be a Disney brand. He was the man behind the man, without a doubt.