Considering Walt Disney died across the street from the studio at St. Joseph’s Hospital I strongly doubt his last words were concerning Kurt Russell or any studio business. He probably expressed his love for his wife, his family and his friends, of which he had in plenty.
Disney had big balls. When Disneyland opened I was there when he opened the gate and gave his famous speech. Everyone there, including his employees, thought DL would fail. At 3, I knew different and argued about it with my dad, a newspaper guy there to cover the opening.
Great video. I am sure Walt is pissed over his company now. So many of his ways have been totally forgotten. Amazing how such a great way of doing things has been bastardized by greed. Great work.
@@mikek4610 Not greed or liberalism... Jesus. He just isnt in control. How long is someone supposed to honor a dead man's wishes? His family has no involvement in the company and while much of what Walt wanted is still upheld, a lot has changed.
oh its not just greed E.J. Freestone its also called political correctness and it ruins alot of great things walt would be turning in his cryogenic freezing module
Haha. Of course he's not frozen under Pirates of the Caribbean ANYMORE. He was cryogenically frozen under Pirates, but was then moved to the Norway pavilion in Epcot, and is now frozen under the Frozen ride 😂😂😂😂😂
Here's a fact: Actress Maryl Streep claimed that Walt Disney was a sexist. -_- That however is not true. His female characters aren't all damsels in distress nor 40's - 50 ' s housewives. And he even allowed his female workers to take major parts & full credit behind the scenes and on-screen. One of his best artists was Mary Blair, who was responsible for many animation segments & theme park rides.
A lot of people have made ugly claims about Walt Disney that weren't true and in fact there is evidence to prove the opposite. Some have called him anti-Semitic, but he was friends and worked closely with Robert and Richard Sherman, who were Jewish. Others, like the very ignorant Meryl Streep, have claimed he was sexist and use a form letter from the animation company about jobs for women to back up the claims. Not only do they not take into account the time period in which this took place, but Walt's feelings about women are well documented in a speech in 1941 in which he states, ""If a woman can do the work as well, she is worth as much as a man," and "The girl artists have the right to expect the same chances for advancement as men, and I honestly believe they may eventually contribute something to this business that men never would or could." Do those sound like the words of a sexist man? Particularly one in 1941???
@@tbjorn7374 something about men not having the eye for detail that women did or something like that. However I had heard it worded, it was meant to be that women were more qualified as men couldn't be trusted to do it correctly due to some inherent male-based flaw.
Nope. The rabbit led nowhere. Loosing Oswald was when Disney fell to his lowest point. He had to work his way up again with Mickey. That's why it all started with Mickey.
Well, first of all, you're thinking of socialism, not communism. They aren't the same thing. Second, it's hard to say what Walt would believe now, since he's been dead for several decades. It's impossible to speculate on how he may or may not have changed as a person.
No, the Soviets were the premiere proponents of communism. McCarthyism was all about rooting out suspected Soviet spies and sympathizers. Walt Disney spoke out and made claims of people he suspected as sympathizers. Was he right or wrong? The answer doesn't change the fact that he spoke out against communism.
Most people who were antiunion might’ve been so because they could no longer profit as much as they could from their workers, so they may have been more against communism as anyone, believing this act of “socialism” would be a gateway. But ratting on your peers seems more of a need to point fingers before they’re pointed at you sort of thing. The film industry was already targeted heavily by the house committee on unamerican activities believing they were producing communist propaganda, and if anyone knew how to make propaganda films, it was Disney. So it may have been either to save himself and his company by being cooperative during investigation, or may have been a way to squash union startups while also appearing a hero to our country. Frankly, I don’t understand why we aren’t seeing this kind of cooperation with our current politicians. We have a pretty good reason to believe that those in power are/were colluding with Russia, but rather than pointing fingers, people are trying to hide it. Which makes me wonder if they’re in on it too.
I'm not saying that he wasn't anti-communism in his life. He was very much so. I'm just saying that it's impossible to speculate how he may have changed had he lived another five or six decades.
Great facts such as these listed have allowed all of us to appreciate Walt as a human. He wasn't perfect, but that is just one reason why we admire him so much. He has inspired us to dream, hope, and persevere which is why we will always remember him as an incredible individual. P.S.- Long live Jean Laffite
Walt's and Roy's dealings with communism goes back much further than the time of McCarthy. Their beliefs were well founded in experience, sadly most of these stories will never be told. It's too bad, they would make some of the most chilling and thrilling movies ever made. The scary part is nobody would have to make anything up.
The Soviet Union was a frightening place but Walt had no reason to believe that disgruntled Disney Studios writers/animators were agents of the Kremlin.
@@professorspf You have to keep in mind, they don't need to be. But the communists did have people in Hollywood, spreading their influence. All of this and the agents are known. But it's not an easy story to tell. That's a product of the communist influence, to deflect any potential scrutiny. While mocking those who were only asking questions. Like I said 2 years ago, it's one of the most thrilling and chilling movies that will never be made.
@@diggingattycho7908 They weren't just asking questions. They were demanding information about the private views of American citizens. They were ruining the careers and lives of people with divergent political views. And with all of their power to compel people to speak, they never uncovered a Soviet plot to influence the film industry. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ugjwNgnH0Kg.html
First off let me say, I am a descendant of Doc Sherwood. WhenI applied for a job a Disney World I mentioned this. I told the casting director if not for Doc Sherwood, none of this would be possible. It didn’t do me any good. Secondly as too Walt’s last words. Kurt Russell was Walt’s last WRITTEN words. As to his last spoken words, they were spoken to Roy, and he never said what they were. It was probably something about EPCOT because Walt was showing Roy how the ceiling tile in the hospital room was in the shape of the Florida Project. On the subject of communism, keep in mind before the studio strike, Walt leaned toward the left politically, after the strike which he believed came from communists, that was when he became a staunch conservative, and hated communism, you can not blame him.
I'm glad you made this point about Walt's political leanings. Though, I'm not even sure you could describe Walt in modern political terms. Walt disliked communism largely because of what others told him, and those beliefs were only really cemented by what he felt to be a betrayal by the people he thought of as his studio family. I don't think you can blame the animators or Walt for what happened, or politics fir that matter. It's just sad that things couldn't be resolved without hurt feelings.
GamingRanger he also met Ray Kroc, the "founder" (saying founder loosely) of McDonald's, at that time. They were both in the army or red cross if I remember correctly. Kroc had apparently approached Disney about putting a McDonalds in the park but some disagreement kept that from happening.
"... people were asking Walt Disney what they were going to do with the future of the studio, and Walt Disney said to offer a very young actor a contract with the Disney Studio. When asked what actor, there was only one answer... JEAN LAFFITE!"
I didn't know about the lawn bowling, but now I'm curious if he ever made it down to the Laguna Beach green, which is absolutely gorgeous. I also remember hearing something about Walt talking with his brother, Roy, about Epcot and pointing at the ceiling from his hospital bed as to what needed to go where. I'm not sure how close this was to his death, but it was where and when he died. (Walt's death was the first death I had to deal with and feel grief. I knew that Disneyland and the world would never be the same. I was 14.)
I'm pretty sure Kurt Russell was not one of his last words but his name was written down on one of Walts last notes. It was a list with several other things on it but Kurt was the only name. Also Walt was a little more sporty than just playing lawn bowling, which I didn't know. But he also liked to play Polo, quite possibly at that same country club. Great videos btw! Ill be at Disneyland on the 3rd!
The name "Kurt Russell" was found on a slip of paper on his desk after he died, not his last words. His last known words were to Roy about his dreams for the future of E.P.C.O.T. He would look to the ceiling and describe the whole city like he could see it in his mind.
I've just recently started binge watching your videos, starting from the first one, so I don't know if you've mention this tidbit in a later video yet. Going back to Partner Statue, on Walt's left hand ring finger is a claddgh ring that represents the ones he and his wife bought when they were in Irelend. Also the reasons why there were little "easter eggs" like the ring and the pin was to try an show how accurate they could portray Walt. He never wanted a statue of himself made, because he worried about how they would make him. But after his death, Imagineers were able to convince his wife to let them try to make one of him to put in the park. She only agreed if they could portray him accurately.
Also, the main part of fear of McCarthyism in the 50's was that communism was also associated with brutal dictators like Stalin and Mao. So, when someone was accused of communism it was as if someone was saying that they were against freedom and the rights of human life. Is that true not exactly however someone like Walt Disney would want to fight communism if your only examples involved reeducation camps, gulags, and forced starvations.
I heard that "Kurt Russell" wasn't the last thing he said but was instead written one, like, a post it note left in his desk. The note was only found after his death.
I have a fun fact about him. One Sunday morning at church after Walt and Lily adopted Sharon, their second daughter, Walt looked down to look at her and asked "who's kid is that?" And Lillian came back with "That's Sharon...your daughter!"
I knew everything except for the bowling green! Woohoo!! Also, I could've sworn the story went that they found Kurt Russell's name written (in Walt's handwriting) next to his hospital bed or something...
"Kurt Russel" were not Walt's last words. Russel's name was found on a piece of paper on Walt's desk after Walt died. Probably just a note about an up and coming young actor that Walt saw talent in. From everything I've read, Walt's last words were to his brother, talking about his vison for EPCOT.
I remember this thing was talking about how one time Walt was asked for an autograph with a picture of Mickey Mouse. He handed it Ub Iwerks and asked him to draw it. Ub, already fed up with not reviving proper recognition for his drawings handed the paper back to Walt and said “draw your own damn mouse”.
GamingRanger I was disappointed when I heard that, and it’s sad that Ub wasn’t able to be successful when he tried to break out on his own so he had to come crawling back to Walt in order to make a living. He should have gotten a lot more credit than living under Disney’s shadows.
Yeah I saw that off of drunk history and it is kind of upsetting but at the same time walt and ub worked together and ub was the one who knew how to draw the mouse, so what else was walt gonna do....draw a crappy mouse??? Plus later on when ub made its own company and shows it wasn't good shows it was just gruesome and not the best thing for television and soon after they got shut down. In my opinion I love Disney and would like to think good of Walt Disney so I'm here right now learning information on him.
1. There are only 4 facts. The last one is not a fact, it is a question to the audience... 2. The story of Ruperst can be heard in Walt's own words in "The Walt Disney Story", sold on VHS many years ago in the Disney Parks. It should be known by ANY Disney fan...
Walt’s last words weren’t Kurt russel but it was the last thing he ever wrote down. On his death bed he was asked exactly what you said but he had a list of things he wanted to continue with and projects and people and stuff like that and the last one on the list was Kurt Russel.
A curiosity: you show a picture of Walt at a beach, laying down with a camera on hand. That picture was taken at Copacabana Beach, in Rio, Brazil, during a visit Walt made to South America representing United States.
I absolutely loved this video!! MORE WALT PLEASE. I could have sworn you were going to talk about his younger sister I always thought it was interesting it wasn’t just him and Roy and he used to draw for her which was so sweet (and don’t quote me on this but I think she was also disabled)
False: Many of Walt's employees WERE Communists, particularly, some of his animators. Walt fully understood the threat of Communism to this country, and personally stated... "Communists will always be a threat long into the future". Here in 2019, was he wrong? Lastly, Kurt Russell has acknowledged as being a "Disney Republican".
I don't know that I would consider Walt's testifying for HUAC a "black mark" on his reputation. When the studios were being unionized, the charge was led by a guy named Billy Bioff (spelling?), who bribed the studio heads. Walt and Samuel Goldwyn both refused. Bioff told Walt "I'll smear you and I'll make a dustbowl of your place." It's believed one of the reasons people think Walt was anti-Semitic was because of Bioff. I honestly think this is what led to Walt's fear that communism had infiltrated his studio. And he wanted to protect the space that was his. No one came out of the McCarthy era clean. There was no good way out. I don't blame those who testified. No one should. Also, Walt's last words weren't Kurt Russell. A paper found by Dave Smith in Walt's office has Kurt's name on it. Like a note to himself. That being said, Communism is bad, kids.
I'd like to see more videos in this format about Disney Legends and Imagineers. Also, you were great on with Matt and Alex on the podcast. Hope you pop in again sometime!
An easy way to get on MY blacklist is to support the frozen Walt BS. Thanks for helping to spread the anti-that truths. (and yes, I'm kidding about the list thing. I just get really annoyed by it) Anywayyyyyy thanks for the video Dallon. I always like to hear about Walt. :)
Mateo Pelissier The Frozen Walt lie is at least better than the antisemitism one. The Sherman brothers were Jewish, and I’m sure there were plenty others too. And as far as being misogynistic, at least he was willing to hire women. He hired all sorts of minorities during a time when most businesses owners probably wouldn’t.
About sports, Walt Disney loved also playing polo when he was younger. About the communists, he was right to denounce them, they destroy everything they touch, including his beloved company nowadays ☹
Wow! I know 3/5 of these. I only knew about #1 because I wrote a paper on "Zootopia" and read a really good book for research about animation and animal characters called "the Animated Bestiary." It had a whole chapter about Walt Disney's connection to animals including good ol' Rupert. And if you don't know about #4, I'm sorry, but you don't know your movie/animation history. The worst part is he did it as revenge against the animators who wanted to unionize in the 40s. Way to go, Walter. That's a fact I tell to all the people who call him a Nazi. He was an asshole if you liked workers rights. #5 is just a wierd tidbit I know from a few vids. (Also, it really all started with Pete, since he's the oldest still-in-use Disney character.)
@@theangryholmesian4556 except the red scare was never about free speech it was about Russian spies which by the way the KGB later on admitted that they had infact sent and or paid many people to spy on the US in various industries including the entertainment industry Joseph Stalin himself admitted that the only way to defeat America was from within ... Read up on your history a little bit perspective combined with for sight is a incredible thing to have an a necessity while trying to have intelligent conversation about history
@@ddcs0s And that's why all the people who were blacklisted for daring to hold progressive views (pro civil rights activists were called commies lest we forget) were all totally Russian spies right? Fucking moron.
Out of the 5 I knew well none, thanks for the new information. Side note we are all human and all have flaws. It's what we do to make us better that's important, and Walt did so much to better himself.
Walt was right about the communists; the KGB acknowledged it when the USSR came apart. And now his company is full of communist sympathizers. And the story Walt told about drawing his neighbor's horse mentioned one drawing for one nickel, not multiples. His first commissioned work, to be sure, but hardly animation.
