Special Report: The Life of Van Arsdale France
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Van France poses in
front of his window
Van Arsdale France joined the Walt Disney Company in 1955 making $200 a week. His job was to train the people that would make Walt's "Disneyland Dream" come true. He established Disney University and remained with the Disney Company until 1959 when he left to pursue other projects. He returned in 1962 and went on to help bring the Canoe Races, among other things, to Disneyland Cast Members to help keep morale up.
You may have heard Disneyland described as a show with the parking lot being the outer lobby, the Main Gate being the inner lobby and the tunnels through the berm acting as curtains with the park being the stage. Van France helped develop that concept at Disney University in 1963. When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, France coordinated the training there including creating a new language for resort cast members. For example, "Bell Hops" became "Lodging Hosts" and "Clerks" became "Reservation Hosts". France even contributed to the training for Tokyo Disneyland.
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In 1978, at the age of 65, France was forced into "retirement", however, he remained with the Disney Company working part-time for many years to come. France received one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a Disneyland Cast Member, a Window on Main Street. It's above the Tobacco Shop (France was well known as a smoker) and reads "Van Arsdale France. Founder and Professor Emeritus, Disney Universities". In 1994 France was named a Disney Legend, the highest honor Disney can bestow upon an employee.
In 1990, Van France wrote a book about his years at Disneyland entitled Window on Main Street. In it he discusses his years at Disneyland, his time with Walt, the changes through the years and the evolution of Disney University. Any fan of Disneyland history should try to obtain a copy of this book (it's currently out of print but Amazon.com can try to obtain it for you) and read it. Following is an excerpt from Window on Main Street. It's written at the end of the book:
Dateline Disneyland
December, 1990
I'm writing this from my office/trailer in Disneyland's Circle D Ranch. This is where our "cast" of horses is housed, trained and pampered. To get here, I usually walk from the Administration Building, down Main Street, across the moat and through Fantasyland, and then through a "For Cast Members Only" gate to Backstage. Frequently I'll pause to watch the swans in the moat, and as I pass through the Sleeping Beauty Castle entrance I take time to listen to "When You Wish Upon a Star", which has been playing since we opened.
My favorite time is early in the morning before the park opens, when the guests, God bless 'em, have not arrived to distract me. I can take the time to look around and enjoy the many creative architectural wonders which can be found in this wondrous place. Just a few days ago, I look the time to look up in Fantasyland at the clocks, weather vanes and other treasures I'd never taken the time to see.
And the trees! Walt was prophetic when he said that these would become more beautiful every year. My favorites are what I think of as my "pioneer" trees. These are trees we saved from death by freeway construction back in 1955. Like me, they weren't young when they were relocated here, and each one has a distinct personality, and they may be as old as I am. I feel like saluting them with "Hi! Old Timer".
The early morning is also a great time to chat with my friends who are working on final Park clean-up or preparing to open our shops for the rush of guests who will soon arrive. Often, while I've been struggling to wind up this story, I reflect on what a wonderful inheritance Walt left me, and a few hundred million others, to enjoy. He said Disneyland was "a work of love", and I believe that. I'm convinced that he often thought of his boyhood in Marceline, Missouri when he was designing and operating his dream. He certainly believed in our goal of creating happiness for others, and I have living proof of that.
At this time of year, there is a special beauty at Disneyland. All of our lights and decorations are up for Christmas, just as Walt wanted it. My seven-year-old grandson has been talking about a trip to Disneyland for eight months. I'll get a chance to see my happy place through his eyes, as well as my own.
Yes, the concept of creating happiness for others is still alive and well, and like the trees, it will survive for many more decades. I've been very fortunate to have been part of it.
Van France
Van Arsdale France was born in 1912. His family released the news of his death today but no cause of death was given. Though I never had the opportunity to meet Van I, like many others who have read his book, feel like they knew him. Van will be missed by Disney fans around the world.
Van in his office
at the Pony Farm
-- Posted October 14, 1999
-- Story by Doobie Moseley
-- Photograph 1 is (c) the Walt Disney Company. Photograph 2 by Doobie Moseley. Photograph
3 taken from "Window on Main Street"