PHILOSOPHY OF WALTWith Herbert Dickens Ryman
While I did not h
ave many years with Herbie, the years I did have were wonderful and filled with many a fantastic conversation (and a lot of encouragement for what I was trying to do at the time, Preserve Disney History). It seems like only yesterday (well, a late 1980s yesterday anyway), that Herbie and Ken (they were best friends) came bopping (yes, like kids!) through the lobby of the Pan Pacific Hotel in Anaheim (now Paradise Pier) and said, “Come on Paul, you want to go to Disneyland?” It was an unbelievable day watching these two go through Disneyland and reminisce. They told familiar stories. They told stories I had never heard before (and have not since). And they told stories I will never be able to repeat. So help me, they were like a couple of kids. I took notes. Lots of notes!
After recently feeling remiss that I had not mentioned Herbie here at the Institute, I was going through my old notes from that hot August afternoon and I found something I wanted to share. I think it says a great deal about the man and the genius that was Walt Disney. I wrote back in November here at the Institute about how a picture could be worth a thousand words … certainly these words from Herbie are worth a thousand pictures…images of who and what Walt Disney was! Herbie told me (and Ken passionately agreed):
Disneyland would never have been built!”
Lovely, Paul. Thank you!
You are welcome. Herbie was a lovely man. What a treasure, I sure do miss him. Ken too.
Paul,
Thanks for sharing this. It is a true statement of the impact and shear enjoyment given by the creations of Walt and the individuals like Ken and Herbie who brought his ideas to fruition and that they continue to bring this wonder into the 21st century. I have always felt it worth noting that I see no other studio that gets this type and breadth of attention, especially to its history and those who are/were participants in that history like Disney.
We have discussed how much these two gentlemen meant in encouraging your endeavors to preserve Disney history. They shared with you and now you share with us. I look forward to reading more – thanks again.
My pleasure, really. With all the interviews I have done, I started to feel a real obligation to get the “word” out. I always said that when I interviewed an old-timer they were entrusting me with something very precious, their memories and stories. I started to call myself a “caretaker in memories” … and now, with this wonderful technology I have a place to share this material.
THanks for sharing!