I just
recently finished reading the book The
Man Behind the Magic-- The Story of Walt Disney by Katherine and Richard
Greene. Although it was first published
in 1991, I was able to borrow it from my town library. This
book took the reader from the early years of Walt in Marceline, Missouri
through the current status of the company as of 1990. The chapters are short and easily
manageable.
The
information covered in this book details the first drawings of Oswald (who has
had new life breathed into him through the Epic Mickey game) and the birth of
Mickey Mouse and the Fab Five. There is
also a lot of information about the development of the studio, the animated
shorts and feature length films, the live action division of the company and
the disagreements between Walt and his brother Roy, who guided the company’s
financial growth throughout its development.
Some of the details
that I had found most interesting was that Walt and Ray Kroc (founder of McDonald’s)
were in the same unit during World War I and the level of trust that Walt
Disney initially had in the people who he work with either within his company
or who helped with the distribution of the products he made.
I was very
aware that Walt Disney was a visionary and perfectionist. He was much more interested in the quality of
his work than in the cost that it took to get it there. I loved the fact that Walt was so invested in
the cleanliness of the parks and the treatment of the guests. I do believe that this is something that can
still be felt walking through the parks today.
I definitely recommend
this book to anyone interested in learning more about Walt Disney the person or
Walt Disney the company. It amazes me
what Walt Disney was able to do in 65 brief years. The dreams that he was working on at the time
of his death have been allowed to come to life in the form of Walt Disney World
and Epcot. Although one will never know
exactly what he had in mind, we have been given a chance to share in his
passion for education and entertainment with a dose of patriotism.
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