As the holidays approach, I can’t help but think of another Christmastime when things were less than cheery. It was December 1966, and we had lost the Old Maestro only a few weeks earlier. Honestly, I can’t think of a drearier holiday season than that one so many years ago.
But, today we’re not here to mourn Walt’s passing back in 1966. Rather, to remember a very live and lively Walt Disney on the set of his television show, “Disneyland” and “The Wonderful World of Color.” What was it like to see Walt Disney do his introductions for his television show? I confess I didn’t do any research for this article on Disney’s behavior before the cameras. I really didn’t have to, because — I was there.
Like so many Americans back in 1955, I was introduced to Walt Disney on my television set in the living room. He appeared in glorious black& white on the ABC television network, and Wednesday evenings suddenly became very special. As you can imagine, this Disney geek was entranced as Uncle Walt opened his magic factory to all of us. We got to go inside the animator’s offices, the screening rooms, and even into Disney’s private office where he would let us in on some of the secret projects currently in development. Though still in school, I was dreaming of a career at the Disney studio, and I couldn’t wait to get there.
You can imagine how surprised I was when arriving at the Disney studio some years later only to find my trip inside the fabled animation building to be a fabrication. The story rooms, workshops and even Walt’s office itself were all studio sets on a sound stage. Still, it was magical being at the Walt Disney studio back in the nineteen fifties, and I wondered what it would be like to see the Old Maestro do his Disneyland spiel in person. Of course, this would mean a trip over to Stage Two, and Walt’s “closed set,” but that wasn’t about to stop me.
If you’ve ever entered a sound stage during a film shoot, you’re immediately surprised at how dark it is. Then, your eye is drawn to one little area ablaze with light, and crowd of crew members scurrying about moving lights, pulling cables, and moving equipment. In the center of all this activity stood one lone individual behind a desk. It was Walt Disney himself.
Walt Disney appears relaxed as he films one of his Disneyland openings.
On occasion things could get pretty tense on the set.
Copyright Walt Disney Productions
The old guys told me Walt never wanted to do the introductions to the Disneyland show, but ABC had insisted on it. ABC wanted to capitalize on the Old Maestro’s fame, and naturally they wanted him on camera. Disney needed the ABC deal in order to complete his theme park then under construction in Anaheim. Reluctantly, Walt agreed to do three or four openings a season, but that quickly changed, and Disney began appearing more frequently. Going before the cameras was not a first for Walt Disney. Some years earlier he had appeared in a television special, and to the surprise of many, was pretty good at being a television host.
Disney seems to be enjoying himself as he introduces viewers to his new TV series, “Zorro”
Copyright Walt Disney Productions
I’ll admit I’m a little tired of reading that Walt Disney was a moody and angry person back in the fifties and sixties. Some of the criticisms range from Walt being a tyrant to an incredibly moody and morose individual ever ready to lash out at subordinates. That indeed may be the Walt you read about, but it was not the Disney I observed. True, Walt Disney considered filming these introductions an obligation. As you can imagine, he had other things on his mind, and was anxious to get back to business. There were scripts to read, storyboards to approve, and a myriad of things to check over at WED Enterprises.
Still, Walt maintained his cool as he went through this task. While it’s true he would often flub a take, and fumble and stumble over script lines, he took it all in stride. For the most part he blamed himself, and his humor was more often than not, self-deprecating. On occasion, he would get flustered, and grumble over having to do take after take. This, of course made the director even more nervous, and I didn’t envy the poor individual who had to ask the boss to do it, “one more time.” And, I’ve got to give special credit to Ron Miller, who often sat in the director’s chair. Can you imagine what it must have been like to direct the head of the studio, which also happens to be your father-in-law? Mr. Miller deserves my praise for having done one of the toughest jobs in the world.
Though these filming sessions often went longer than Walt expected, I never once saw him lash out at any individual or blame a crewmember. One day in particular Walt just couldn’t get a line right. As the director called for take after take, the Old Maestro was known to utter a few choice words in frustration. However, Walt’s colorful language was nothing I hadn’t already heard from my grandfather who like Disney, grew up on a farm.
Finally, do you remember the wonderful presentation Disney gave on his concept of EPCOT? The Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow that would impact the future of this nation and maybe even other countries around the world? Did any of you realize that this filmed presentation was shot only weeks prior to his passing? Yet, as you watch the motion picture, Walt remarkably shows no sign of his illness. He delivers his presentation with the same youthful enthusiasm and optimism that characterized much his life.
As the holidays roll around, I can’t help but think how lucky I was to have seen the Old Maestro in person. To not only watch Disney on the small screen like many of you, but also to have been on the set when Disney was filming those segments. The Disney you saw on camera was pretty much the same Disney you saw in person. There was little difference.
A dour and moody Walt? I don’t think so
Copyright Walt Disney Productions
With the filming done, Walt, still in make-up, would rush off the set. He had a busy day ahead, and there was still much to do. Walt Disney would work very hard that day, but he would love every minute of it. Though time was quickly running out for the Old Maestro, he appeared pretty darn content with his life. Comforting thoughts for this Disney old timer on a cold December day.
Did you enjoy today’s story about being on the set while Walt shot those intros. Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many stories that Floyd Norman has to tell. Many of which you’ll find in the three books Floyd currently has the market. Each of which take an affectionate look back at Norman’s career in animation.
These include Floyd’s original collection of cartoons and stories — “Faster! Cheaper! The Flip Side of the Art of Animation” (which is available for sale over at John Cawley’s cataroo.com) as well as two follow-ups to that book, “Son of Faster, Cheaper” & “How the Grinch Stole Disney.” Which you can purchase by heading over to Afrokids.com.
So if you want to please any animation fan that are on your holiday shopping list, you might want to consider getting them copies of Floyd Norman’s great books.