Of course, the recent passing of David Mumford is also fresh in my mind

I'd first heard of David Mumford as a Walt Disney Imagineer who participated in Disneyana collecting. Little did I know how close a friend he was with his fellow Imagineer Bruce Gordon, with whom I was somewhat familiar (that's another story - one that was partially recounted in an early article on this very site). It was through David that I was able to obtain my own Tomorrowland 2055 jacket, a treasured item indeed.

From there, David was always friendly and talkative whenever and wherever I'd bump into him. Although I wasn't close to David or his wife, Carole, I felt a kind of connection with them through our mutual Disney interests and enthusiasm. I admired his Disney knowledge and the fact that he was a sort of Disney (especially Disneyland Park) historian and trivia expert. I have bought and thoroughly enjoyed the books that David has coauthored. Because of all of this and the fact that he died at a young age, I was gratified that there was a tribute to the man that was open to the public.

A communal event paying tribute to David Mumford and his career provided many people, myself included, with a sense of closure.

Although it David’s passing at such a young age is a tremendous loss to the Disney culture, he, fortunately for us, passed on his experience in the culture to some extent to people he knew (through his interaction with them) and to so many people he never even met (through the great books he co-authored and the articles he wrote). By being so willing to share the Disney culture via his writing, presentations, and relationships, David secured a place in the hearts of many who will carry his memory.

The culture of Disney inevitably loses people through alienation, retirement and passings (timely and untimely), and the cycle continues, changed forever, yet still there. We continue our experience, even while achingly missing some of those who have left us.

It’s like Camelot.

I recently enjoyed my DVD copy of “Excalibur�?, a non-Disney cinematic rendition of the legend of the sword, King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and Camelot. It had been many, many years since I’d sneaked a viewing of that film as a kid during a sleepover at a friend’s. I actually enjoyed the film much better this time around than I thought I would. My strongest memory from my childhood viewing of the film was a scene I can’t mention in this column. Of course, I had not remembered Patrick Stewart was in the film, as this was years before he would assume the role of Captain Picard, the Next Generation counterpart to Star Trek’s James Tsongas Kirk.

This time, what stuck with me was the coveted sword. When it was broken, it would emerge from the water newly restored. When the rightful wielder of the sword, King Arthur, was dying, the sword was cast back into the water to await a worthy successor to King Arthur and his Camelot.

Likewise, if you think Disney’s metaphorical Excalibur has been broken, stuck in a rock, or cast into the water, or if you think King Arthur has been fatally wounded, take hope. The magic of Disney culture will live on. Excalibur will find a new King Arthur. The torch may dim at times, but there are young knights and ladies to take it and carry it forward. Those who know the ways of Camelot are scattered throughout the land, and they will make sure it revives. It is kept alive in the books of David Mumford & Bruce Gordon, in the halls of Burbank and Glendale, in the hearts of cast members in stores all over Disney resorts, and yes, on the World Wide Web.

Disney does matter. Enjoy the escape.

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