The magic behind the
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISNEY
some of the $17 million needed
creation of Disneyland to build Disneyland. A deal
with ABC TV, which required
Disney to produce a weekly TV
Itall started in the would showcase the growing show, brought in more money.
1940s with Walt cast of Disney characters and Opening day—Sunday,
Disney looking for reflect nostalgia for his roots in July 17, 1955—was, simply
a way to show kids rural Marceline, Missouri. put, a disaster, known in
where Mickey Mouse and Snow Unlike the carnivals of the day, Disney lore as “Black Sunday.”
White lived. Maybe he could it would be a clean, safe place A sweltering heat wave
build a display in a vacant for children and their parents. pushed temperatures above
lot next to his Hollywood stu- Disney hired a company to 38
˚ C (100˚ F). Because it had
dio. Maybe it could be some- search Southern California for a been laid the night before,
thing bigger. suitable piece of land to house Main Street’s asphalt was still
The dream became his vision: flying elephants steaming, trapping high-heeled
Disneyland, which wouldn’t and giant teacups, a fairy-tale shoes. Huge crowds choked
open until 1955, some 15 castle and rivers, waterfalls the park.
years later. Building the Magic and mountains, moon rockets, Despite the rocky start,
Kingdom required all of a scenic railway and more. The Disneyland quickly became a
Disney’s genius, dedication company found the perfect tremendous hit. Within seven
and money—and nothing less spot at a 160-acre orange grove weeks, the 1-millionth guest
than a little magic. in rural Anaheim. passed through the gates. In
The story goes that The first—and constant— 2004, Australian Bill Trow was
Disney’s dream of a display for challenge was finances. “I declared the 500-millionth guest.
his early characters slowly could never convince the finan- In explaining his vision for
evolved into a much larger ciers that Disneyland was fea- the park, Disney said,
vision—a theme park that sible, because dreams offer too “Disneyland would be a world
little collateral,” Disney said. of Americans, past and pres-
Scenes from the archives: Walt To get the project going, he ent, seen through the eyes of
Disney and early Disneyland borrowed against his life insur- my imagination—a place of
sketches; castle construction ance and sold a home. Later, warmth and nostalgia, of illu-
in 1955; then Vice President he and his brother, Roy O. sion and colour and delight.”
Richard Nixon and his family Disney, reportedly mortgaged It certainly is that today,
cut a ribbon in 1959. everything they owned to raise more than 50 years later.—TT
putting in a new one, Disneyland Funniest Home Videos, NYPD to love what you do. And I have
is a place we’re going to continue Blue and Twin Peaks was a real always loved what I’ve done. For The Costco
to invest in for growth. highlight. And then becoming more than 30 years, I’ve shown Connection
part of Disney when [ABC] sold up to work every morning happy Costco will be carrying a
CC: You’ve been in this indus- to Disney, and becoming its pres- to be here. variety of Disney products
try in a wide variety of positions. ident and CEO, were true mile- In mycase, primarilybecause during November and
What are your career milestones? stones. of the types of jobs I’ve had, I’ve December, including Pooh
BI: One of the early ones was always been driven by creativity. Ride-on, Princess and
becoming head of programming CC: In those positions, were Nothing excites me more than Carriage Gift set, Pooh and
for ABC’s Wide World of Sports there approaches or a common seeing a great product that’s the Cars Mushables, Pix Max
at a time before ESPN and others. theme that carried you through as result of someone’s creative Digital Camera, Mega Bloks
ABC Sports was the pre-eminent a leader? genius. I still get the chills when Pirates of the Caribbean Set,
television sports brand. That al- BI: When you work in a I think about a great TV show Princess shoes, children’s
lowed me to experience the thrill large company, as I have for or a great movie or riding dinnerware and more.
of victory and the agony of defeat. many years, patience is a vir- Space Mountain in Hong
Programming ABC in prime tue. You have to be really Kong, which is unbeliev-
time during the late ’80s and early patient in terms of manag- able in terms of creativ- And I love working with peo-
’90s and being responsible for ing your career. You have ity. So I’m driven more ple. I’ve tried to not allow all the
putting on programs like Home than anything else by changes that I’ve experienced and
Improvement, America’s that creative process. success change me in any way. C
