The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with a guest
I think you may have heard of...Marty Sklar! Dusty Sage,
founder and CEO of MiceChat.com, joins host Keith Michael
Mahne for another fantastic interview with a man that needs no
introduction. Marty talks about joining the company, working and
writing for Walt Disney, his old pals John Hench and Herb Ryman,
finding out Walt had passed away, whether he will attend the
opening of Shanghai Disney and so much more. This is a
show you definitely won't want to miss.
As former vice chairman and principal creative executive of Walt
Disney Imagineering, Marty Sklar stood as a dedicated torchbearer
of Walt Disney’s philosophy since first joining the company a month
before Disneyland opened in 1955. He helped express and preserve
Walt’s spirit of optimism, happiness, and hope for the future
through attractions and special exhibitions in Disney theme parks
around the world.
For more than 50 years, Walt’s inspiration has burned in Marty.
He once said, “Working with Walt Disney was the greatest ‘training
by fire’ anyone could ever experience. Our training was by Walt,
who was always there pitching in with new ideas and improving
everyone else’s input. The fire was that we were constantly
breaking new ground to create deadline projects never attempted
before in this business. That, I’m proud to say, has never stopped
in my years at Disney.”
During his early years at Disney, Marty not only learned Walt’s
philosophy firsthand, but metabolized and translated it into
materials he wrote for the master showman which were used in
publications, television appearances, and special films. Among them
was a 20-minute movie devoted to communicating Walt’s vision of
EPCOT, his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, originally
intended to help resolve the urban challenges found in American
cities.
Marty first became an Imagineering officer in 1974 when
appointed vice president, concepts and planning, a role in which he
guided creative development of Epcot Center at the Walt Disney
World Resort in Florida. In 1979, he was named vice president of
creative development, followed by executive vice president in 1982.
He served as president and vice chairman from 1987 to 1996.
As vice chairman, Marty provided leadership for the Imagineering
creative staff, delivering breakthrough entertainment concepts for
Disney parks and resorts including Disneyland Paris, the Tokyo
Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
In 2001, Marty was recognized as a Disney Legend. He
retired from Disney on July 17, 2009, after 53 years with the
company. He currently serves as president of Ryman
Arts, whose Ryman Program for Young Artists honors the late Herb
Ryman. More information on the Ryman Arts can be found at
here.
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This episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast
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proceeds go to restoring and preserving
"http://www.o-zell.com/the-walt-disney-birthplace">Walt Disney's
Birthplace home in Chicago, IL!
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The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank
Geren Piltz for his contribution to the sound quality of
this show.
