July 17, 2009 was another dazzling day in Southern California. The crowd that assembled near City Hall on the west side of town square represented a Who’s Who of Disney design, engineering and management. A large area had also been reserved for cast members, who were out in force.

Marty entered, riding in the open fire truck, to the strains of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, performed live by the Firehouse Five. Accompanying him were Disney’s Fab Five: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. After acknowledging the crowd’s warm welcome, Marty took his seat in the front row, as current Disneyland President Ed Grier stepped up to the lectern.

“We get to do something that’s been long awaited for,” Grier began. “We get to honor our good friend and true Disney Legend, Marty Sklar with his own window here on Main Street, USA.” There were sustained cheers and loud applause from the audience. Grier went on to explain the background of the Disneyland windows, how Walt Disney himself established the tradition to honor the Park’s creative talent. And, Grier pointed out, Marty Sklar was involved in the creation of all eleven Disney Parks around the world. Before he could continue with his introduction of the next speaker, there was an interruption. The door to the Guided Tour building suddenly flew open, and a Hostess with a typical troupe of tourists in tow stepped into view.

As they moved across the front of the ceremony, the Hostess perkily announced, “We will begin our tour today here on Main Street USA, one of the original lands in Disneyland Park.” Spying the guest of honor in the front row, she pointed him out, saying, “Now here we have Marty Sklar. He was hired one month before the park opened.” As the “tourists” dutifully snapped photos, the crowd laughed and the Hostess went on to explain Marty Sklar’s place in Disneyland history. She finished up by pointing out the second floor window where Sklar’s office was once located. “Which at that time, didn’t have a drape,” she helpfully added.

As the group moved on, Ed Grier got things back on track by introducing the Chief Executive Creative for Imagineering, Bruce Vaughan. “Marty, you’re an attraction at Disneyland,” Vaughan exclaimed. He went on to laud Sklar’s years of contributions to Disney’s theme park development. He then introduced the former President and “Honorary Mayor” of Disneyland, Jack Lindquist.

Lindquist began with a puzzler: “You know you’re up against quite a challenge when you’re asked to say a few words about a person with a title like Executive Vice President, Imagineering Ambassador. Wow!” Rather than attempt to sum up Sklar’s immense volume of work and legendary accomplishments, Lindquist chose to speak of Marty Sklar, dear friend, compatriot, and “partner-in-crime” for 55 years. After mentioning water gun fights and college rivalries, Lindquist promised to confine himself to only a couple of anecdotes. The first concerned a memorable car fire in the orange groves that surrounded the site that would become Disneyland. After the fire was put out by the Anaheim Fire Department, Lindquist noted that Sklar was nowhere to be found. Eventually he realized the excitement had been a bit too much the young man. “He had to go into the orange grove to relieve himself,” said Lindquist, as the crowd roared. “This is the same Marty Sklar we are honoring today,” he went on. “That same orange grove started to die, and in less than three months it was gone,” he concluded.

Lindquist next shared about a memorable night spent in a New York apartment building on the eve of the opening of the New York World’s Fair in 1964. While seeking ice for the party, Lindquist was surprised to discover that the couple living at the end of the hall was related to a Disney employee. In fact, they said, their nephew was Marty Sklar. Lindquist quickly decided not to put friend Marty on the spot, and did not reveal that their nephew had been living just down the hall for a couple of months. “Tell him Aunt Rose and Uncle Murray send their best,” the couple said, as Lindquist beat a hasty retreat.

Lindquist concluded his reminiscences with a memory of a lunch time stroll through the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland tunnel. To ensure they wouldn’t get lost in the dark, Sklar instructed Lindquist to keep his shoe against the side of the rail. As they emerged into the sunlight, they found their shoes were caked with grease.

As he finished up his comments, Lindquist praised Marty Sklar for his years of service not only to the Walt Disney Company, but to the arts as well. He also thanked Sklar for being a torch bearer within the Walt Disney Company. “Marty, thanks for the memories, but most of all thanks for your friendship,” he concluded.

After a warm and sustained round of applause, it was time to reveal the window. Ed Grier called on Mickey and the gang to perform the task. As the band supplied a drum roll, the window was unveiled in a burst of confetti. Located on the south end of the second floor of City Hall, it read:

Main Street College of Arts and Sciences
Established 1852
Martin A. Sklar, Dean
Inspiring the Dreamers and Doers of Tomorrow.

A banner across the top carried the Latin inscription Id Somniate, Id Facite (“If it can be dreamed, it can be done”).

Marty Sklar was then invited to the lectern to accept a replica window, and share a few comments. After thanking Ed Grier and Bruce Vaughan, Sklar couldn’t neglect telling at least one tale on Lindquist. It seems Lindquist had a bull dog with an affinity for Sklar’s left leg. “Why, I don’t know,” he chuckled. Sklar then went on to acknowledge his many family members, city officials, and friends in attendance that day. From the Disney Company he noted Legends Alice Davis, Bob Gurr, Orlando Ferrante and Buzz Price.

Sklar then shared a story of his own, about a 1956 parade in Anaheim, which ended with a top-hatted Jack Lindquist, accompanied by five public relations staffers (including Marty Sklar), dressed as Indians, providing the entertainment for the Gourmet Restaurant in the Disneyland Hotel. As the laughter died down, Sklar turned serious, noting how honored he was to have a window overlooking the spot where Walt Disney dedicated Disneyland. “This is where the heart is,” he said. As he concluded his remarks, the crowd rose in tribute.

With the last of the confetti filtering down from the trees, the Hostess returned with her group. “That concludes our tour for the day,” she said. She went on to quote Walt Disney: “You can design and create, and dream and build any wonderful place. But it requires people to make that reality come true.” As the crowd applauded, a member of the audience stood up and began singing the familiar words to “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” He was answered by the Hostess, then both were joined by others, singing in harmony. As the band began a lively accompaniment, a whole crowd of Disneyland cast members entered, singing the optimistic words of the Sherman Brothers anthem. The Disney characters took center stage, and as the song reached its climax, white doves filled the sky as the Hostess admonished the crowd to go out and have a great big beautiful today.