Or... Roy loved his brother and knew Walt was creative but reckless and Roy wanted to protect him and his sister in law and family from bankruptcy, a common end to many creatives.
Your videos are comparable to, if not better than, TV quality, and match the niche that so many of us crave. Great writing, voice work, and overall production. I never miss a video. Thanks for the entertainment!
You are a truly gifted storyteller! No one better to share Walt’s stories with us. Thank for the late Christmas Gift! And I agree “not a bad haul at all for a back yard train”. Happy New Year Brickey! I wish you continued success in 2025!
When I worked for the Disney company (not a Disney Adult) I learned a lot of things about the business. Loved the video. Walt was truly a creative genius but not a financial wizard. The company (like his first one) would have gone bankrupt if it wasn’t for Roy. Roy did not support Disneyland at first. It caused a serious fraction. The problem was that Disneyland was using Disney Studios IP. There are many interpretations out there but Roy summed it up perfectly. You ask 40 people who knew Walt and you would get 40 different Walt’s.
Actually Walt was quite financially astute. RETLAW ended being quite lucrative and by selling WED back to the company after developing Disneyland for 10 years, and the World’s Fair projects, it brought Walt a lot of personal wealth.
Fabulous Brickey!! So much of what we thought we knew about Walt is propaganda. The nuance of Walt’s personal motivations, realpolitik and rivalry is fascinating and eye opening. Great work!
Great and informative dive into the behind-the-scenes workings and complexity of what it took and the evolution of what we know today as Disneyland. I am impressed with your videos; they provide such fascinating information and are well crafted and narrated. Keep up the great work and hope our paths cross in the park one day so I can thank you in person.
Walt used his OWN MONEY to finance a lot of things in Disneyland, not corporate funds. He personally owned the railroad around Disneyland, and the Tiki Room. That’s one of the reasons why there were tickets, in order to reimburse vendors that funded the rides.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I feel like a lot of people are afraid to explore Walt Disney's complexities, but it's important to understand the full picture.
I really enjoyed this video. Very informative and delivered in an entertaining way. So well done. Another masterpiece. The narrators voice is just perfect in tone, sound and delivery. Just fantastic!!!
Brickey, another great look at the magic, warts and all, which just shows a love for Dinny's creations without trying to throw shade, blame or malice. We all know that this places a (mostly) happy ending, with the end result of the products, imagination and experiences that the world had been given from that Mouse it all started with. I look forward to more installments that show the WORK behind what it took to get the magic where it currently is. Now if you can just get em to make some magic with lower prices...heh. Thanks, man.
Roy was a competent successor to Walt; but he was not “gifted”, like Walt. Envy between brothers is among the oldest stories in the Bible, for goodness sake. The simplest explanation of Roy’s opposition was that he wanted more $ for himself. Not evil, just ambitious.
At no point in this video did I say Walt or Roy were evil. They were brothers, partners, and friends, working together to build a groundbreaking business that reshaped entertainment. This video highlights a few innocent and completely understandable differences they had along the way, ultimately leading to a beautiful, newfound understanding by the end.
Roy was very key to the success of the company. I’m surprised they didn’t build a statue of Roy for DisneyWorld since his involvement in that park was crucial and may have been what killed him. It seems as if he felt slighted about Walt not giving him the credit he felt due. Walt infamously called the company after himself rather than “Walt Disney Bros.”. That pissed Roy off at the time
@@HeyBrickey I didn’t accuse anyone. I was trying to point-out that “ambition” doesn’t = “evil”; you gotta look-out for those you love, like Walt for his family…and Roy for his. That was all. BTW: loved this video!
@@HalfEatenMedia Roy was a different, but capable, executive than Walt was. Neither man was perfect, and each experienced success and failure. After Walt’s death; Roy had some very big shoes to fill. His focus was more on TV, which was an ever-expanding medium by 1966. Animation, During Roy (Sr.) tenure was not the “Golden/Silver Age” it had been until about then. But let’s be honest, as well as respectful, to both of these two great entertainment leaders: Walt has many more “hits” and memorable classic animation and blended animation/live-action films, than Roy Sr…by a wide margin. Saying that Disneyland was Walt’s dream made reality doesn’t make Roy Sr a “hack”, nor deny his very real contributions to that enormous project. Back in 1990’s Chicago, we kept hearing Scottie Pippin complain that he wasn’t getting the recognition he “deserved”, because of a teammate named Michael Jordan was even better. The Bulls took it all in 1991,1992, and 1993. Then Jordan retired. Pippin had a chance to lead the Bulls (as their best player) to repeat their success in Both 1994 and 1995. Both years, they got close; but both times they fell a bit short. Nothing for the Bulls to be ashamed of. But things were clearly better, with Jordan. Same with the Disney Brothers. No shame coming-in second, only to Walt.
@@HeyBrickey I didn’t say you called anyone “evil”. I was just trying to point-out that trying to guard your (and your family’s) interests, and ambitions, is understandable. Edit: my first comment disappeared and so I wrote this version.
I love Walt, but I also know there's a certain amount of ick that comes with being genuinely successful, and to really admire someone is to appreciate their full story not just the highlights.
@@HeyBrickey No one is all one thing. Walt was fabulously creative, and flawed. Nothing creatively great is created by saints alone. They too need sinners! Love your deep dives and your unique POV. 2024 was a huge year for you and your channel. May 2025 bring you even more of what you want from your channel. This subscriber is here for it all!
Interesting....different era and was so wise to protect himself...he and the peers selected created it all......makes me sick today how Abigail Disney mocks indirectly the work of the family.
I have always said Walt was probably A.D.D. by today’s standards, as I have about Steve Jobs (and there are many still at Apple who would say the same thing). Both were creative geniuses who knew who to get the best out of their employees (something’s with intimidation). Both were known to not except failure, both had tempers, both had incredible vision, both knew their own limitations, both were not great at day-to-day conversations except with a few highly trusted co-workers. The list goes on….. I think in general highly gifted and visionary leaders probably had some sort of A.D.D. and somewhat awkward social skills with those they see as underlings. Elon Musk is another good example of that.
Brickey, you have so many amazing deep dives! This is another one! I love the music! Love the narrative you have woven! Like many creatives, Walt was a complexed human being. He had his faults. He was indeed selfish. But like you said, it was healthy. Based on what I read from Ub Iwerks’s biography written by his son and the “directing at Disney” hook written by Don Peri, Walt definitely had tension with Roy/Ub. He was not easy to get along with. But that’s not to say he didn’t have great qualities about him. He did. Like any human being, Walt had good and bad attributes. I always teach this with my students at the college I am at. You have to research a subject in order to get the full picture. Have to learn about what makes someone human. I appreciate you coming out with this video, Brickey! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!😊😊🎄🎄🎅🎅❄️❄️☃️☃️
I admire Walt Disney in the same way I admire Steve Jobs, both are heroes of mine but I realize I could have never worked for either but enjoy the end product immensely.
@ I would honestly feel proud of working for Walt Disney. Not because I think he will say good job. But because of the end result and what we could do as a team. Creative people will sometimes clash and I think that is ok. There are so many people who have good things to say about Walt but they know he could be harsh at times.
Try to remember how poor he was as a child, having paper routes in the snow, always having to work for whatever money he could get together, it changes you when you have nothing, and success makes you hungry for more success. He wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and strained his family for his ambition, his family never really appreciated the park, they wanted to spend time with their father, and he wanted to spend time with his creations. Life forces us to make choices, he could have just focused on the studio, and his family, but he chose to go further and we have Disneyland as a result. Is what he did ethical? Probably not, but if you've been in business for any length of time, it's damn near impossible to be ethical and stay in business; business is survival of the fittest.
When I worked at Disneyland in the late 1970’s RETLAW still owned and operated the railroad and the monorail. So any CM that worked on those attractions, a huge privilege at the time, got their paychecks from the Disney family.
WOW! Thank you, sir! I’m a Walt Disney officionado, and l learned a lot from this extremely well researched video! This content would make a great book! Walt hired some good lawyers!
Writing as one who's dad used to own a corporation, everything you describe here is not "selfishness," but what every business owner learns if they hire competent accountants. It is VERY COMMON for the founder/owner of a company to lease back to the business the property/intellectual rights/patents/trade marks. This is "reward" for taking on all the risk (please note "whom" took out the loans you describe here: it was Walt, not Roy.) Without Walt and his vision, the company had nothing (note admittance in your video the studio was not doing well and was going into TV production.) But I get the inference you don't think his "selfishness" is right or fair. OK, well vote accordingly. I will note that at the time Disneyland's build, the top tax rate was 91%. Somehow, taxing the wealthy in the 1950's didn't stifle "innovation," and Walt didn't need H-1B visas to hire smart people. But I digress. I will end with writing as a fan of Walt Disney, and father to children who work his park in Anaheim and as an Imagineer in Glendale, I tire of the "sh*t on Walt" videos. He was a man of HIS TIME. If we continue to judge people of the past to today's standards, then my long passed dad is an a-hole too (but he took on real Nazi's and was attacked at convoy twice; I have not.) I had such a good time watching your video about the Viewliner and decided to subscribe, but if this is your normal content...
This video is not meant to criticize Walt in any way-I deeply admire him. As they say, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. This video highlights how true success often requires putting your vision first, even when it’s not the most popular choice. To truly admire someone, you have to dig deeper and celebrate their entire story, not just the fairytale version. If this more realistic perspective on Walt’s success isn’t for you, feel free to unfollow. But know this-I’ll always share the detailed, authentic Disney story, not just the more generic, popular version.
@ so, was what Walt did financially “selfishness,” or taking the sound advice of his accountants? To explain my politics (as if that matters,) I’m lean Democratic socialist, so I’m all for equally spreading the money pie. After all, it wasn’t Walt who drew Mickey, it was Ub Iwerks. It wasn’t Walt who designed the Autopia cars, People Mover, Monorail or Fire Engine, that was Bob Gurr. These people deserved just as much financial credit as Walt, but that’s not how our system of capitalism works. Anyhow, I just found the term “selfish” triggering (and maybe that was the point?) I guess I should just end with what my kids say to me in jest, “OK, Boomer.” 🤷♂️
@ I think we agree way more than we disagree, and we just have different perspectives on selfishness. I don’t see it as a bad thing-a certain level of selfishness or self-protection is healthy. If Walt hadn’t doubled down on his vision, Disneyland wouldn’t exist. That said, keep in mind I only get 60 characters to sell people on a 19-minute story, so I have to choose words that pack the most punch as quickly as possible. Thanks for writing back and having a thoughtful, friendly discussion. It’s refreshing to sort things out instead of jumping into the fight zone like so many do today. I appreciate you!
Which goes …the famous glamour photographer George Hurrell is married to one of Walt nieces (by one of his other brother) Phyllis, who works at the studio … making commercials with Disney animators on the down-low like for peanut butter. She has quite a big boozy personality. And it is he who presently owned the rights to Zorro, hoping to diversify in Hollywood. In fact, Hurrell Productions was located on the Disney lot for years. As they argue and divorce, eventually in a dispute with Walt…George says something to the effect of ‘FU, I’m thru, “YOU CAN HAVE ZORRO”!’ Thus, Walt Disney now had an independent property of his own that the studio hadn’t paid for…to use for say, a TV arrangement outside of his own company. Bingo.
It sounds to me like Walt knew that getting the Disney Productions board of trustees on board with the idea of Disneyland was impossible; so he created a different company to put distance between them and allow him to do what he wanted, without having to get it passed the bean counters. This also kept liability down with the main company, and in the end allowed Walt's family to make millions. It doesn't sound money driven to me.
None of this seems selfish. Disney put it ALL on the line and bet on himself many times, risking ruin. He created a lot of dream jobs for creative people and conjured entertainment magic for many generations. It’s not fair to judge the man beyond these simple facts. I believe Roy loved his brother and protected him. He believed in Walt’s vision even after Walt died and saw DisneyWorld completed.
Honestly, the arrangement Walt had was not that unusual by founders of huge businesses. Often they want to branch out on a new project that doesn’t fit into the publicly owned corporation. I believe Henry Ford did this as well. And don’t feel too bad for the “Roy” side. Roy E. Disney began the Shamrock company that not only owned (and still does) broadcast radio stations (My sister worked for one of them years ago) but was a leader in soy bean production! And let’s not forget that Steve Jobs, not Apple, owed Pixar before selling it to Disney. (He bought it from Lucas while he was not at Apple, but kept it separate later on.)
Only catching heat by those who prefer to believe the fairytale version of Walt Disney and overlook the reality that true success often requires a bit of selfishness-which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
I’ve liked your videos but the title alone in this video sounds too much like click bait. Would love to read some interviews from people who worked with them to get a better perspective on this subject
I read plenty of those interviews while researching this story. Walt Disney was undoubtedly a great man, but he was still just that-a man, as flawed as any of us. This video tells a realistic story about how Walt had to prioritize his vision to make great things happen. It’s not clickbait if it’s covered inside the video.
@@HeyBrickey just no hard feelings here, but I wasn't saying it to be mean or to mock you, just wanted to get that out there just in case if it was took that way, I was saying it to laugh at it, just not negatively
What’s with all this repetitive ‘selfish’ garbage? Walt was also a savvy businessman and there is nothing wrong with that. Walt took many huge, potentially career ending bets/chances with his own money to build up that company over many years. He mortgaged his family home more than once to keep things going in the early years. The business side did not always treat him well either (look up the story of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit). He often assumed the initial personal risk by funding and then licensing aspects of the film company and the parks. I have no problem with him eventually doing some things to secure his families fortunes going forward. He was the Visionary and creative leader, Roy was the very important but supporting role of financial manager.
No one said being selfish was bad. This video examines how Walt learned to prioritize himself to make big things happen. I think your comment misses the point of the material and seems more like projection on your part. I’m fully aware of the “off-the-shelf Oswald” story, but this is a more nuanced chapter in Walt’s history. Sorry if you were expecting another fairytale about him-that’s not the kind of story I’m here to tell.
I’d rather slightly over-explain than leave confusing gaps in the story. For example, I was just called out for not mentioning that Retlaw is Walter spelled backward-even though I clearly explained that at the start of the video. You really can’t make everyone happy; trying to is a fool’s errand.
PLEASE DON’T BLINDLY BELIEVE EVERYTHING ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEVER KNEW - video is well researched, there is reason to ever make up lies when the real story is fascinating
Or... Roy loved his brother and knew Walt was creative but reckless and Roy wanted to protect him and his sister in law and family from bankruptcy, a common end to many creatives.
Your videos are comparable to, if not better than, TV quality, and match the niche that so many of us crave. Great writing, voice work, and overall production. I never miss a video. Thanks for the entertainment!
Wow! That’s a huge compliment, thanks for watching! ❤️
Good job! Very nice video. It's well-scripted and well-spoken. Loved this.
You are a truly gifted storyteller!
No one better to share Walt’s stories with us. Thank for the late Christmas Gift! And I agree “not a bad haul at all for a back yard train”.
Happy New Year Brickey!
I wish you continued success in 2025!
Thanks, friend. I'm very proud of that last line so stoked to see you quote it. Big plans for 25 - let's go!!!
Wow, truly amazing content.
Outstanding work. Well done. I enjoyed it.
When I worked for the Disney company (not a Disney Adult) I learned a lot of things about the business. Loved the video. Walt was truly a creative genius but not a financial wizard. The company (like his first one) would have gone bankrupt if it wasn’t for Roy. Roy did not support Disneyland at first. It caused a serious fraction. The problem was that Disneyland was using Disney Studios IP. There are many interpretations out there but Roy summed it up perfectly. You ask 40 people who knew Walt and you would get 40 different Walt’s.
Actually Walt was quite financially astute. RETLAW ended being quite lucrative and by selling WED back to the company after developing Disneyland for 10 years, and the World’s Fair projects, it brought Walt a lot of personal wealth.
Great video. What a life Walt had. Keep up the good work.
Great presentation. I am glad you caught the personal details on why the little park we love all happened in the first place.
Thanks, the truth is always fascinating.
Verrrrrrrrrry interesting BTS !!! Well done, Brickey.
Fabulous Brickey!! So much of what we thought we knew about Walt is propaganda. The nuance of Walt’s personal motivations, realpolitik and rivalry is fascinating and eye opening. Great work!
His story has been simplified down into folklore, and I always enjoy the realistic pursuit to epic success. Thanks for watching!
Judging from the outcome of their life's work, Walt and Roy were the A-Team..........
Take away: Get rid of iger.
Loving your videos anyway, but this one was fantastic. Well done!
Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoy it. ❤️ appreciate your support.
Wow lots of great information!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Brickey! Once again, you’ve touched on a nerve that needed some light shedded on it. Thank you!!
Great and informative dive into the behind-the-scenes workings and complexity of what it took and the evolution of what we know today as Disneyland. I am impressed with your videos; they provide such fascinating information and are well crafted and narrated. Keep up the great work and hope our paths cross in the park one day so I can thank you in person.
I admire this matter-of-fact telling of Walt's goals and aspirations! Great job!
I appreciate that!
Walt used his OWN MONEY to finance a lot of things in Disneyland, not corporate funds. He personally owned the railroad around Disneyland, and the Tiki Room. That’s one of the reasons why there were tickets, in order to reimburse vendors that funded the rides.
Such a layered and complex story! Expertly told with so much insight into the motivation and personalities. Thanks Mark
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I feel like a lot of people are afraid to explore Walt Disney's complexities, but it's important to understand the full picture.
I really enjoyed this video. Very informative and delivered in an entertaining way. So well done. Another masterpiece. The narrators voice is just perfect in tone, sound and delivery. Just fantastic!!!
Thanks!!!
Brickey, another great look at the magic, warts and all, which just shows a love for Dinny's creations without trying to throw shade, blame or malice. We all know that this places a (mostly) happy ending, with the end result of the products, imagination and experiences that the world had been given from that Mouse it all started with.
I look forward to more installments that show the WORK behind what it took to get the magic where it currently is.
Now if you can just get em to make some magic with lower prices...heh.
Thanks, man.
Thanks.
Wow, excellent narration and great story. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Thank you so much!
Roy was a competent successor to Walt; but he was not “gifted”, like Walt. Envy between brothers is among the oldest stories in the Bible, for goodness sake. The simplest explanation of Roy’s opposition was that he wanted more $ for himself. Not evil, just ambitious.
At no point in this video did I say Walt or Roy were evil. They were brothers, partners, and friends, working together to build a groundbreaking business that reshaped entertainment. This video highlights a few innocent and completely understandable differences they had along the way, ultimately leading to a beautiful, newfound understanding by the end.
Roy was very key to the success of the company. I’m surprised they didn’t build a statue of Roy for DisneyWorld since his involvement in that park was crucial and may have been what killed him.
It seems as if he felt slighted about Walt not giving him the credit he felt due. Walt infamously called the company after himself rather than “Walt Disney Bros.”. That pissed Roy off at the time
@@HeyBrickey I didn’t accuse anyone. I was trying to point-out that “ambition” doesn’t = “evil”; you gotta look-out for those you love, like Walt for his family…and Roy for his. That was all. BTW: loved this video!
@@HalfEatenMedia Roy was a different, but capable, executive than Walt was. Neither man was perfect, and each experienced success and failure. After Walt’s death; Roy had some very big shoes to fill. His focus was more on TV, which was an ever-expanding medium by 1966. Animation, During Roy (Sr.) tenure was not the “Golden/Silver Age” it had been until about then. But let’s be honest, as well as respectful, to both of these two great entertainment leaders: Walt has many more “hits” and memorable classic animation and blended animation/live-action films, than Roy Sr…by a wide margin. Saying that Disneyland was Walt’s dream made reality doesn’t make Roy Sr a “hack”, nor deny his very real contributions to that enormous project. Back in 1990’s Chicago, we kept hearing Scottie Pippin complain that he wasn’t getting the recognition he “deserved”, because of a teammate named Michael Jordan was even better. The Bulls took it all in 1991,1992, and 1993. Then Jordan retired. Pippin had a chance to lead the Bulls (as their best player) to repeat their success in Both 1994 and 1995. Both years, they got close; but both times they fell a bit short. Nothing for the Bulls to be ashamed of. But things were clearly better, with Jordan. Same with the Disney Brothers. No shame coming-in second, only to Walt.
@@HeyBrickey I didn’t say you called anyone “evil”. I was just trying to point-out that trying to guard your (and your family’s) interests, and ambitions, is understandable.
Edit: my first comment disappeared and so I wrote this version.
Another brilliant production of yours.
I love the crazy complicated story of how, and from whom, Walt came to own those rights to Zorro.
Another great lesson in Disney history Prof. B. Thanks as always for sharing the road less travelled.
I love Walt, but I also know there's a certain amount of ick that comes with being genuinely successful, and to really admire someone is to appreciate their full story not just the highlights.
@@HeyBrickey No one is all one thing. Walt was fabulously creative, and flawed. Nothing creatively great is created by saints alone. They too need sinners! Love your deep dives and your unique POV. 2024 was a huge year for you and your channel. May 2025 bring you even more of what you want from your channel. This subscriber is here for it all!
Beautifully done 😢 💯%❤ 👍 Thank you 😊 Happy New Year 🥂
Happy New Year, thanks for watching!
What a great informative video.
Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it.
@ I did; you’ve always got such great information.
Great Stuff once again Mark! Thanks!🎉❤
Thank you for such a beautiful a thoughtful video!
Thanks, that means a lot to me!
Very well done! Keep it up.
Thanks, will do!
Excellant episode Brickey !!
Learned so much about this story from this video.
Great work Brother !! Thanks for sharing ✌🏻
Interesting....different era and was so wise to protect himself...he and the peers selected created it all......makes me sick today how Abigail Disney mocks indirectly the work of the family.
I really appreciate your videos
Thanks!!!
Walt was clearly gifted and creative. But maybe he was also ADD? Jumping from project to project so rapidly really isn't healthy...
I have always said Walt was probably A.D.D. by today’s standards, as I have about Steve Jobs (and there are many still at Apple who would say the same thing). Both were creative geniuses who knew who to get the best out of their employees (something’s with intimidation). Both were known to not except failure, both had tempers, both had incredible vision, both knew their own limitations, both were not great at day-to-day conversations except with a few highly trusted co-workers. The list goes on…..
I think in general highly gifted and visionary leaders probably had some sort of A.D.D. and somewhat awkward social skills with those they see as underlings. Elon Musk is another good example of that.
This was great backstory telling!!! Walt was the main character in the Disney story ❤
Very well done
Thanks!
Brickey digging in the crates. Great storytelling!
So Walt would double dip to look out for own his family, but not his brother’s? Sucka move.
Disneyland is expensive as hell now ❤🎉
This video didn't even deal at all with Disney World! His secret dealings with buying up land in Florida.
I thought the Studio Board rejected Walt's ideas for Disneyland, so this was the only way it could get done.
Nice video. You should be proud of your content.
Thanks Keith. I’m very proud of my channel, this is a project of passion and I’m obsessed with making the best content possible. Glad you enjoy it ❤️
Brickey, you have so many amazing deep dives! This is another one! I love the music! Love the narrative you have woven!
Like many creatives, Walt was a complexed human being. He had his faults. He was indeed selfish. But like you said, it was healthy.
Based on what I read from Ub Iwerks’s biography written by his son and the “directing at Disney” hook written by Don Peri, Walt definitely had tension with Roy/Ub. He was not easy to get along with. But that’s not to say he didn’t have great qualities about him. He did. Like any human being, Walt had good and bad attributes. I always teach this with my students at the college I am at. You have to research a subject in order to get the full picture. Have to learn about what makes someone human. I appreciate you coming out with this video, Brickey! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas!😊😊🎄🎄🎅🎅❄️❄️☃️☃️
I admire Walt Disney in the same way I admire Steve Jobs, both are heroes of mine but I realize I could have never worked for either but enjoy the end product immensely.
@ I would honestly feel proud of working for Walt Disney. Not because I think he will say good job. But because of the end result and what we could do as a team. Creative people will sometimes clash and I think that is ok. There are so many people who have good things to say about Walt but they know he could be harsh at times.
I loved this so much
Thanks!!!
Try to remember how poor he was as a child, having paper routes in the snow, always having to work for whatever money he could get together, it changes you when you have nothing, and success makes you hungry for more success.
He wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and strained his family for his ambition, his family never really appreciated the park, they wanted to spend time with their father, and he wanted to spend time with his creations. Life forces us to make choices, he could have just focused on the studio, and his family, but he chose to go further and we have Disneyland as a result.
Is what he did ethical? Probably not, but if you've been in business for any length of time, it's damn near impossible to be ethical and stay in business; business is survival of the fittest.
When I worked at Disneyland in the late 1970’s RETLAW still owned and operated the railroad and the monorail. So any CM that worked on those attractions, a huge privilege at the time, got their paychecks from the Disney family.
WOW! Thank you, sir! I’m a Walt Disney officionado, and l learned a lot from this extremely well researched video! This content would make a great book!
Walt hired some good lawyers!
EXCELLENT...THANK YOU SIR...
Thank You
I didn't even know Walt Disney had a brother!!!❤😊
quite interesting, will check out later, thank you./. CD.....and liked and subbed......
Very well done!
Thank You!
Writing as one who's dad used to own a corporation, everything you describe here is not "selfishness," but what every business owner learns if they hire competent accountants. It is VERY COMMON for the founder/owner of a company to lease back to the business the property/intellectual rights/patents/trade marks. This is "reward" for taking on all the risk (please note "whom" took out the loans you describe here: it was Walt, not Roy.) Without Walt and his vision, the company had nothing (note admittance in your video the studio was not doing well and was going into TV production.)
But I get the inference you don't think his "selfishness" is right or fair. OK, well vote accordingly. I will note that at the time Disneyland's build, the top tax rate was 91%. Somehow, taxing the wealthy in the 1950's didn't stifle "innovation," and Walt didn't need H-1B visas to hire smart people. But I digress.
I will end with writing as a fan of Walt Disney, and father to children who work his park in Anaheim and as an Imagineer in Glendale, I tire of the "sh*t on Walt" videos. He was a man of HIS TIME. If we continue to judge people of the past to today's standards, then my long passed dad is an a-hole too (but he took on real Nazi's and was attacked at convoy twice; I have not.) I had such a good time watching your video about the Viewliner and decided to subscribe, but if this is your normal content...
This video is not meant to criticize Walt in any way-I deeply admire him. As they say, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. This video highlights how true success often requires putting your vision first, even when it’s not the most popular choice. To truly admire someone, you have to dig deeper and celebrate their entire story, not just the fairytale version. If this more realistic perspective on Walt’s success isn’t for you, feel free to unfollow. But know this-I’ll always share the detailed, authentic Disney story, not just the more generic, popular version.
@ so, was what Walt did financially “selfishness,” or taking the sound advice of his accountants?
To explain my politics (as if that matters,) I’m lean Democratic socialist, so I’m all for equally spreading the money pie. After all, it wasn’t Walt who drew Mickey, it was Ub Iwerks. It wasn’t Walt who designed the Autopia cars, People Mover, Monorail or Fire Engine, that was Bob Gurr. These people deserved just as much financial credit as Walt, but that’s not how our system of capitalism works.
Anyhow, I just found the term “selfish” triggering (and maybe that was the point?)
I guess I should just end with what my kids say to me in jest, “OK, Boomer.” 🤷♂️
@ I think we agree way more than we disagree, and we just have different perspectives on selfishness. I don’t see it as a bad thing-a certain level of selfishness or self-protection is healthy. If Walt hadn’t doubled down on his vision, Disneyland wouldn’t exist. That said, keep in mind I only get 60 characters to sell people on a 19-minute story, so I have to choose words that pack the most punch as quickly as possible. Thanks for writing back and having a thoughtful, friendly discussion. It’s refreshing to sort things out instead of jumping into the fight zone like so many do today. I appreciate you!
@@HeyBrickey Yes, I prefer discussion over thoughtlessness and vituperation. Thanks for being the same. Take care!
@ you too bud ❤️
Where does the Bank of America loan fit into the breakdown?
Which goes …the famous glamour photographer George Hurrell is married to one of Walt nieces (by one of his other brother) Phyllis, who works at the studio … making commercials with Disney animators on the down-low like for peanut butter. She has quite a big boozy personality. And it is he who presently owned the rights to Zorro, hoping to diversify in Hollywood. In fact, Hurrell Productions was located on the Disney lot for years. As they argue and divorce, eventually in a dispute with Walt…George says something to the effect of ‘FU, I’m thru, “YOU CAN HAVE ZORRO”!’ Thus, Walt Disney now had an independent property of his own that the studio hadn’t paid for…to use for say, a TV arrangement outside of his own company. Bingo.
It sounds to me like Walt knew that getting the Disney Productions board of trustees on board with the idea of Disneyland was impossible; so he created a different company to put distance between them and allow him to do what he wanted, without having to get it passed the bean counters. This also kept liability down with the main company, and in the end allowed Walt's family to make millions. It doesn't sound money driven to me.
None of this seems selfish. Disney put it ALL on the line and bet on himself many times, risking ruin. He created a lot of dream jobs for creative people and conjured entertainment magic for many generations. It’s not fair to judge the man beyond these simple facts. I believe Roy loved his brother and protected him. He believed in Walt’s vision even after Walt died and saw DisneyWorld completed.
At 3:20, looks like that is Kirk Douglas is driving the train.
You would be correct!
Thanks!
Thank you so much, Rich, for the Super Thanks! I really appreciate your support for the content. Wishing you a fantastic New Year!
Rational self interest isn't a bad thing
Exactly! That’s the whole point of the video. Without Walt putting his vision first, most-if not all-of this would have never happened.
Well done.
Honestly, the arrangement Walt had was not that unusual by founders of huge businesses. Often they want to branch out on a new project that doesn’t fit into the publicly owned corporation. I believe Henry Ford did this as well.
And don’t feel too bad for the “Roy” side. Roy E. Disney began the Shamrock company that not only owned (and still does) broadcast radio stations (My sister worked for one of them years ago) but was a leader in soy bean production!
And let’s not forget that Steve Jobs, not Apple, owed Pixar before selling it to Disney. (He bought it from Lucas while he was not at Apple, but kept it separate later on.)
Thanks
Catching some heat today Brickey!
Only catching heat by those who prefer to believe the fairytale version of Walt Disney and overlook the reality that true success often requires a bit of selfishness-which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Well Shit.... Bricky just crushed it with this end of the year Banger. Awesome Job on this one 👏
Thanks!!!
Brilliant.
Appreciate it
So, how much did Roy Disney end up getting?
OMG was Ellen Ripley named after this train?
But I still wish I could be an imagineer!
Let’s go!
U should read about him and francisco gabilondo soler (cri cri).
other videos on Disney also interesting as well and shall review. Thanks again and cool channel and name, avatar. Thank you. CD./.
I’ve liked your videos but the title alone in this video sounds too much like click bait. Would love to read some interviews from people who worked with them to get a better perspective on this subject
I read plenty of those interviews while researching this story. Walt Disney was undoubtedly a great man, but he was still just that-a man, as flawed as any of us. This video tells a realistic story about how Walt had to prioritize his vision to make great things happen. It’s not clickbait if it’s covered inside the video.
Trust me, it’s not click bait. It’s the true story about Walt Disney. Brickey did an excellent job!
Mark, I expect better from you! lol 😂
Walter was his first name and when reversed makes Retlaw. 10:49
Not sure if I get the joke? I explained where Retlaw came from in the beginning of the video?
“Para-mont”
“Not-Perfect”
@@HeyBrickey just no hard feelings here, but I wasn't saying it to be mean or to mock you, just wanted to get that out there just in case if it was took that way, I was saying it to laugh at it, just not negatively
What’s with all this repetitive ‘selfish’ garbage? Walt was also a savvy businessman and there is nothing wrong with that. Walt took many huge, potentially career ending bets/chances with his own money to build up that company over many years. He mortgaged his family home more than once to keep things going in the early years. The business side did not always treat him well either (look up the story of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit).
He often assumed the initial personal risk by funding and then licensing aspects of the film company and the parks. I have no problem with him eventually doing some things to secure his families fortunes going forward. He was the Visionary and creative leader, Roy was the very important but supporting role of financial manager.
No one said being selfish was bad. This video examines how Walt learned to prioritize himself to make big things happen. I think your comment misses the point of the material and seems more like projection on your part. I’m fully aware of the “off-the-shelf Oswald” story, but this is a more nuanced chapter in Walt’s history. Sorry if you were expecting another fairytale about him-that’s not the kind of story I’m here to tell.
That was a very repetitive video. It feels like you either felt the audience was stupid or that you did it piecemail.
I’d rather slightly over-explain than leave confusing gaps in the story. For example, I was just called out for not mentioning that Retlaw is Walter spelled backward-even though I clearly explained that at the start of the video. You really can’t make everyone happy; trying to is a fool’s errand.
Gee, he wanted to get his business off the ground??? What a jerk.
Worstt post EVER!!!!!
So he's like EVERY other business ever???????
Unfortunately, it seems your perspective missed the key point of the video, which is an intelligent look at Walt’s sharp business instincts.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE UP LIES ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEVER KNEW
PLEASE DON’T BLINDLY BELIEVE EVERYTHING ABOUT PEOPLE YOU NEVER KNEW - video is well researched, there is reason to ever make up lies when the real story is fascinating
This is literally true friend lol, it’s historical and factual.