Walt Disney: Conversations

Conversations with Artists

by Kathy Merlock Johnson (Editor)

The imagination of Walt Disney (1901-1966) is still seen in theme parks throughout the world bearing his name, on numerous live-action films and television specials, on toys and assorted merchandise, and on an international corporation known both for the high quality of its creative output and its ubiquity. Walt Conversations collects interviews and profiles of the man who created Mickey Mouse, and produced such full-length animated classics as Snow White , Cinderella , Fantasia , Bambi , The Lady and the Tramp , Dumbo , Sleeping Beauty , Peter Pan , and Pinocchio , along with countless short cartoons. Bringing together over twenty pieces from the late 1920s to the late 1960s, this book traces Disney's career from the early classic Steamboat Willie to the construction of Disneyland, and the live-action ventures The Mickey Mouse Club and Mary Poppins . Walt Conversations shows how Disney saw his productions as shapers of popular culture and reveals how firmly he understood the issues of his time. Featuring an interview conducted by producer Cecil B. DeMille, Disney's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and rarely seen pieces from the Disney corporation's archives, Walt Conversations reveals a complex visionary whose impact on animation, live-action film, television, and theme parks has never been equaled.



The imagination of Walt Disney (1901-1966) is still seen in theme parks throughout the world bearing his name, on numerous live-action films and television specials, on toys and assorted merchandise, and on an international corporation known both for the high quality of its creative output and its ubiquity. Walt Conversations collects interviews and profiles of the man who created Mickey Mouse, and produced such full-length animated classics as Snow White , Cinderella , Fantasia , Bambi , The Lady and the Tramp , Dumbo , Sleeping Beauty , Peter Pan , and Pinocchio , along with countless short cartoons. Bringing together over twenty pieces from the late 1920s to the late 1960s, this book traces Disney's career from the early classic Steamboat Willie to the construction of Disneyland, and the live-action ventures The Mickey Mouse Club and Mary Poppins . Walt Conversations shows how Disney saw his productions as shapers of popular culture and reveals how firmly he understood the issues of his time. Featuring an interview conducted by producer Cecil B. DeMille, Disney's testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and rarely seen pieces from the Disney corporation's archives, Walt Conversations reveals a complex visionary whose impact on animation, live-action film, television, and theme parks has never been equaled.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2005

Reviews

[Madison Eldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have known a lot about Walt Disney, but this book had so many interesting facts that no one would know unless they talked to Walt Disney himself. Walt Disney Conversations is a time line of Walt Disney's career. It starts off with the struggles Disney faced as he was trying to make it big. As the book continues, the reader learns what kind of employer Walt was, and different pieces of information that allows the reader to connect with Disney as an average person. The book finished with an interview with Disney that talked about all the success Disney has created: television series, Disneyland, short films, animated movies, etc. Walt Disney impacted the American culture by creating such a huge entertainment industry. It is hard to find a house in the United States that doesn't have anything related to Disney inside. Disney's amazing imagination has inspired many young Americans to have fun and to be entertained. The theme of the text is determination. Multiple times in the book, Walt Disney had to conquer some obstacles along his way to success. For example, he had to create another cartoon, once Oswald was taken from his company. He also had to deal with his employees' strikes and unhappiness with the way Walt Disney handled the company. Walt Disney never let these setbacks take away from his success. He never gave up, and continued working hard on his vision of success. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to be inspired. Walt Disney was born in a big family with not much money at all, but he didn't let his past affect who he would become in the future. I would recommend this book because, not only does the reader get a true idea of who Walt Disney once was, but the book allows the reader to learn about the history and the start of Disney films and parks.

[Jennifer Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course when I saw Kathy Merlock Jackson's book, Walt Disney Conversations on the library shelves, I scooped it up. The book compiles several interviews conducted with Disney from early on in 1929 to right before his death in 1966. It was interesting to read society's opinons of Disney and his organization at the time and to see how his work was valued as it happened.

At times the book is repetative- seems like all of the journalists wanted to point out that Disney had $40 when he first came to Hollywood and that his wife, Lillian, (whom he met when she worked as a receptionist in his company), was the one who came up with the name "Mickey". And whenever it includes a Canadian article, the Canadian journalist is quick to point out that Disney's father was a Canadian. After awhile I felt like I could predict what the interview would read like:

1) Discussion of Disney's small town, modest roots
2) Contrast to Disney's enormous success and general revering Disney as a modern day genius
3) Discussion of Disney's organization and employee loyalty
4) Contract with Disney the man, who's kind of dower and grumpy
5) Discuss current Disney project

Rinse... lather... repeat. Don't get me wrong- I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it in a span of 3 days, but it did feel like the articles the author chose were a little repetitative at times and it would have been better for her to diversify the aspects of Dsiney better. I'd give this book a 6/10- great for the Disney enthusiasts, but I can see where the average reader would tire of reading the same thing. (Plus, it helped that I recalled the biography so that I could fill in some missing gaps.)

[Jaida Romsdahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good and interesting. It told of the plans for DisneyWorld and Disneyland. The thing I liked the most was that Mr. Walt Disney is a true sucess story. He arrived with one suitcase half full of clothes and the rest drawing supplies. The book also had all of his movies in it. He gave some advice and quotes and they are both in this book. He wasthe voice of Mickey Mouse that mouse it told the story of how mickey mouse came to be.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot about Disney and the company and have to say that this has been one of the most enlightening reads. This is first hand source material. Many articles are interviews. Some are framed by the interviewer as an article- but each shows the humanity of this multi-facited businessman, artist, and father. Wonderfully telling. Great selection that get any fan closer to the myth of a man than they will find in other books.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of interviews of Walt Disney. The transcript of his testimony in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee is what drew me to this, and the interview conducted by Cecil B. DeMille was an added bonus.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read if you want to understand the man behind the mouse...good insight.