John Hench: Celebrating All the Colors of His Rainbow
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Don Edgren was the final Imagineer to speak about his long time friend and colleague. “John was 95 years of age when he left us. He was still on the payroll!�? He added, “I think he must have been drinking from the fountain of youth since he was a kid.�? He spoke of a memorable airplane trip to the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. During the flight Hench managed to monopolize the stewardesses. One mentioned she had a side job that required her to work nights. Edgren said that John teasingly asked, “How do you spell ‘nights?’ With a ‘k?’�?�? In Ford’s dining room, Hench read the waitress’s palm, and, sure enough, soon every waitress was at their table.
Suddenly, Edgren’s reminiscences were interrupted by an insistently ringing phone. Looking a bit befuddled, he pulled a receiver from his pocket, and was surprised to find that it was none other than Walt Disney on the other end of the line. Edgren relayed the message: “The last few weeks you’ve been looking in on Marty’s office?...And you’re having a party up there?...John’s up there too… Put him on!...You got there safe and sound. You what? You and Lowry are settled into a penthouse with a lovely view… You say there are more old timers up there than there are down here?�? Edgren continued: “You didn’t leave us? You transferred from DG to DH. What’s that?... Disney Glendale to Disney Heaven.�? Edgren then informed the crowd that Hench was being called away on a project, but that he was putting Walt back on. He asked, “Did John say anything about his book?... Oh, he brought a copy… You’ve set up an office for him?... And you have a number of projects for him already!... He was on the payroll for 65 years. Is he the ‘new kid’ up there?... No?... He’s still on the payroll. I see.�? Edgren then wound up the call, saying, “I see Sklar’s getting the hook out. Bye bye Walt!�?
Marty Sklar took the stage for a final time to introduce a segment of the Walt Disney TV program. He mentioned that, although it had been fully scripted, the rapport between Walt and “Johnny�? (as he always called John Hench) was very real. In fact, he said, you can tell that Walt had just found out that Hench had already met Julie Rheim, Miss Disneyland Tencennial.
Walt Disney and Julie Rheim examine John hench’s designs for Disneyland’s Plaza
Inn.
In the clip Walt Disney and John Hench discussed the Plaza Inn renovation for Disneyland’s Tencennial. As the lights came up, Sklar said quietly, “Walt Disney knew his talent. He had John work on all the most important assignments.�? Of John Hench’s detailed work he said, “Walt said people respond to perfection.�? Of their close working relationship he added, “Walt and John were often the two sides of the same coin.�? He concluded, “Their work will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world.�?
Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller
A final speaker then took the stage. A warm round of applause greeted Diane Disney Miller, Walt Disney’s daughter. She spoke familiarly of her father and John Hench at Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. She related a memorable visit to Park City, which the Company was considering purchasing. Hench’s assessment: “Eh. Too many pine trees.�? She finished her reminiscences by saying, “He was always a big, huge part of that ‘Walt Disney’ thing.�? Then, with a note of pride in her voice she concluded, “This is the greatest entertainment company that this world has ever known.�?
As the applause died down, a final video medley played. “Baby Mine�? accompanied photos of a young John Hench. As the photos showed him in maturity, the song changed to “When You Wish Upon a Star.�? And then, it was time for all to say their goodbyes, greet old friends, and head back home.
Farewell, John Hench. Thank you for sharing all the colors of your rainbow.
John Hench, Creative Vice President, Walt Disney
Imagineering
Discuss It!
-- Posted March 18, 2004
-- Story by Doug Marsh
-- Images Copyright Disney or Doug Marsh