Many people know that the names on the second-story windows on Main
Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom have a special significance in Walt
Disney World history.
There is a metaphor that compares the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World
to a movie. In this metaphor, the red walkways approaching the Magic Kingdom
represent the red carpet to the entrance. The entry tunnels through the
railroad station represent the theater lobby, which contains posters of
coming attractions (literally). Continuing the metaphor, the windows over
the shops on Main Street, U.S.A., represent the opening credits as you
walk into the park. In the same fashion, they serve as the closing credits
before you walk out of the park, through the railroad station tunnel lobby,
and back down the red carpet.
In this three-part series, we look at these Main Street windows, along
with some information about the names on each window. Some of the information
come from the list maintained at City Hall, but that book is hopelessly
out of date. [Note to Walt Disney World management: somebody needs to
fix this!] Other information comes from my own research. I’ve noted my
sources at the bottom of the article.
Without any further ado (and in no particular order), let’s get started.
Elias Disney
Contractor
Est. 1895
Elias was Walt and Roy O. Disney’s father. 1895 was when he started his
own contracting business in Chicago, one of many failed businesses. This
window used to be over the Emporium, but was moved to east Center Street
recently.
Where it all started: Elias Disney, father of Walt and Roy
O. Disney. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
All of Walt and Roy’s children were honored, as well:
Lazy M Cattle Company of Wyoming
Ron & Diane Miller &
Partners
Christopher
Joanna
Tamara
Jennifer
Walter
Ronald Jr.
Patrick
Walt’s eldest daughter Diane and her family are honored in
this window. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Diane Disney Miller was Walt’s eldest daughter. Her husband Ron worked
his way up through the company, eventually becoming president of Walt
Disney Productions, and held the post immediately prior to the arrival
of Michael Eisner. The Lazy M is the name of their ranch in Wyoming. The
other names are the names of their children.
Roy E. Disney
Specializing in the Gentlemanly Sport of Racing at Sea Aboard the Ketch
Peregrina
Sailmaker – Sailing Lessons
Patty Disney, First Mate
Susan
Timothy
Roy Patrick
Abigail
Roy Edward Disney, Vice Chairman of the Walt Disney Company, is the son
of Roy Oliver Disney and the nephew of Walt Disney. Roy, obviously a sailing
enthusiast, is listed with his wife, Patty, and their four children.
William and Sharon Lund Gallery
Exhibiting Only Authentic Works of Art
Genuine Antiques
Selected by Victoria, Bradford & Michelle
The late Sharon Disney Lund was Walt’s younger daughter. She married
William Lund after the death of her first husband, Bob Brown, from cancer
just a year after Walt’s death. Their three children are also honored.
M.T. Lott Co.
Real Estate Investments
“A Friend in Deeds is a Friend Indeed”
Donn Tatum President
Subsidiaries
Tomahawk Properties
Latin American Development
Ayefour Corporation
Bay Lake Properties
Reedy Creek Ranch Lands
Compass East Corporation
This window honors the surreptitious process of acquiring the land in
Florida to build Walt Disney World. The late Donn Tatum was the former
President and Chairman of the Board of Walt Disney Productions, and the first
non-family member to head the Company.
The list of subsidiaries is made up of the names of the skeleton companies
used in the land acquisition process. Tatum passed away in 1993, and was
named a Disney Legend the same year.
Pseudonym
Real Estate Development Company
Roy Davis President
Bob Price Vice-President
Bob Foster Traveling Representative
Offices in: City of Lake Buena Vista
City of Bay Lake
Kansas City
Pseudonyms: the key to buying land without warning people
that you are coming. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
This window also honors the acquisition process of the land for Walt
Disney World. Roy Davis is the pseudonym used by Roy O. Disney when visiting
the properties and the real estate agents in Florida. Bob Price was the
name used by Robert “Bob” Price Foster in his dealings
with landowners and agents in Florida. Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake are
the municipalities in which Walt Disney World is located. Kansas City was originally
believed to be the home base of the land purchaser, since Foster always
stopped there on his way back to California to avoid suspicion (and visit
his mother in the process).
Family Mortgage Trust
Municipal Stocks and Bonds
Loans and Debentures
Interest Low – Terms Favorable – No Dodges
Nolan Browning, Counselor
Browning, an attorney and financial expert, introduced Roy O. Disney
to the concept of convertible debentures, bonds which could be converted
into stock when the stock rose to a certain price. These rose to a certain
price. These debentures were what allowed Roy to raise the cash to build
Walt Disney World without having to succumb to the pressure to merge with
another company to raise money, an idea with which he was soundly against.
General Joe’s Building Permits
Licensed in Florida
Gen. Joe Potter, Raconteur
The late Major General William E. “Joe” Potter, the first Disney employee
in Florida, was hired by Walt Disney to direct the construction of the
infrastructure of Walt Disney World. Potter had a great deal of earth-moving
experience with the Army Corps of Engineers and the New York World’s Fair.
“General Joe” had also served as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone. He
became the park’s senior vice president after it opened, before retiring
in 1974. He passed away in 1988, and was named a Disney Legend in 1996.
Home Sweet Home
Interior Decorators
Emile Kuri Proprietor
The décor at Walt Disney World is largely the handiwork of Emile
Kuri. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Kuri was the chief interior and exterior decorator for Walt Disney World
and Disneyland, as well as company executive offices, following his set
decoration experience at the Walt Disney Studios.
The Back Lot
Props & Scenic Backdrops
Frank Millington
Chuck Fowler
Hank Dains
Marshall Smelser
Millington, Fowler, Dains, and Smelser were members of the Walt Disney
Studio decoration department who moved on to the decoration of Walt Disney
World after 1971.
Walt Disney Studio decorators come to Walt Disney World. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Plaza School of Music
Sheet Music B. Baker
Band Uniforms B. Jackman
Music Rolls G. Bruns
Buddy Baker scored many movies and attractions, including writing “Grim
Grinning Ghosts” with X. Atencio. He was named a Disney Legend in 1998
and passed away in 2002. Bob Jackman had been the manager of Disney’s
music department since 1955, and co-wrote many tunes, including the “Swisskapolka”
heard in the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. Incidentally, he also provided
Goofy’s voice in a number of 1950s cartoons. George Bruns is responsible
for composing a great deal of memorable Disney music, including the “Ballad
of Davy Crockett,” “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” from Pirates of the Caribbean,
and a great deal of the area music around the parks. Bruns retired in
1975 and died in 1983.
Ron Logan, a 41-year Disney veteran, is honored for his contributions.
Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Main Street Music Co.
Ron Logan Conductor
“Leading the Band into a New Century”
Logan was a consultant for Disneyland Entertainment beginning in 1960.
In 1978, he was serving full-time as music director for the Walt Disney
World Resort. He later became Vice President of Creative Show Development,
and eventually Executive Vice President of Disney Entertainment before
his retirement in 2001.
Owen Pope
Harness Maker
“Saddles A Specialty”
Feed & Grain Supplies
Owen Pope ran the pony farm at Disneyland, assembling and training the
horses and ponies to handle the stress of working in a crowded park, then
moved on to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to establish the pony farm
there, as well.
If you are a President, this man has designed your clothes —
at the Hall of Presidents, at least. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Town Square Tailors
Tailors to the Presidents
Bob Phelps Prop.
Phelps designed the costumes for the Hall of Presidents, among other
attractions.
It’s a small window after all: the maker of the dolls. Photo
by Mark Goldhaber.
Dolls by Miss Joyce
Dollmaker for the World
Shops in New York, California, Florida, Japan & Paris
Owner and Founder Joyce Carlson
Carlson started with Disney in the “traffic” department in 1944, and
quickly became an ink-and-painter. She moved over to WED Enterprises in
1960, and eventually created the prototype dolls for the “it’s a small
world” attraction, among other attractions. The locations refer to the
locations where the attraction has been installed: the 1964-65 New York
World’s Fair, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland
Paris. She retired in 2000, and was named a Disney Legend in the same
year.
Peterson Travel Agency
Reservations by Cable Anywhere in the World
Passages Boarded By Sea & Rail
“Exclusive Representatives for the Titanic”
Jack Lindquist, Purser
Lindquist started as the advertising manager at Disneyland in 1955, was
named Vice President of Marketing for both Disneyland and Walt Disney
World in 1971, and became President of Disneyland in October 1990. He
retired in 1993, and was named a Disney Legend the following year.
Yucatan Engine Works
“Highest Grade Steam Power”
Boiler & Engine Specialists
Earl Vilmer, Consultant
A long-time, steam-train enthusiast, Vilmer oversaw the refitting of the
steam locomotives for the WDW Railroad in Tampa. The cars were found still
in service in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
The Double Check Co.
“A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned”
B. Franklin
Auditors and Bookkeepers
Larry Tryon
Mike Bagnall
Carl Bongirno
Jim McManus
Warren Robertson
These men were all responsible for watching the finances of the Resort.
Tryon is a former treasurer of Walt Disney Productions, Bagnall is former
CFO of the Walt Disney Company, and Bongirno is former president of Walt Disney
Imagineering. Interestingly enough, the list behind the counter at City
Hall lists the identity of B. Franklin (presumably for Benjamin Franklin, whose quote they used on the window) as “unknown.”
Fense Bros.
Attorneys at Law
D. Fense Ð O. Fense
Partners
Legal Associates
Neal McClure
Dick Morrow
Spence Olin
Jim Ross
Phil Smith
This group were all members of the Legal Department. McClure, one of
“Roy’s Boys,” represented WED Enterprises. Morrow served as General Counsel
for Walt Disney Productions and was on its board from 1971 to 1984.
Wanna buy some cool stuff? Here’s the guy to thank. Photo by
Mark Goldhaber.
Olsen’s Imported Novelties & Souvenirs
“World’s Largest Collection of Keychains”
Jack Olsen “The Merchant Prince”
After running the Disneyland merchandise operation for many years, Olsen
started the merchandise operation at Walt Disney World, and ran both until
his retirement in 1977.
Next time
We continue our look at the Windows of Main Street.
Bibliography
Disney A to Z by Dave Smith
Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment
Empire by Bob Thomas
Since the World Began by Jeff Kurtti
Window on Main Street by Van Arsdale France
The Hand Behind the Mouse: An Intimate Biography of Ub Iwerks
by Leslie Iwerks and John D. Kenworthy
Theme Park Adventure Magazine, “Walt Disney’s Pirates of
the Caribbean” issue. Rick West, editor
“Designer Times” column by Bob Gurr at LaughingPlace.com
Persistence of Vision, issue #9. Paul Anderson, editor
