Bob Welbaum
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The One That Got Away
In our last episode, I told how I was taking a copy of Disney legend Bill Justice’s autobiography Justice for Disney to various conventions, tracking down his coworkers and other mentioned luminaries, and getting their autographs. And I was doing great! In only a couple of years of NFFC and Disneyana Conventions, I had filled the book with the signatures of Ward Kimball, Marc and Alice Davis, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Leonard Maltin, X Atencio, Harriet Burns, Joyce Carlson, Harry Tytle, and Wathel Rogers, among others.
It had gotten to the point where I began to worry about the book’s safety. All those memories! And what if I got caught with it in one of those Florida downpours? Or worse? My paranoid side began to take control, and I gradually convinced myself it would be best to keep it in a nice, safe spot and not carry it to any more conventions.
So I left it home when I traveled to California for the NFFC Convention in July, 1996. When I arrived, I was a bit surprised to learn that one of the club’s “Luncheon with a Legend�? honorees was to be none other than E. Cardon Walker, a past president and chairman of the board of Walt Disney Productions. And then I remembered there was a prominent photo in the book of Card Walker and his wife with Bill!
Oh, well, I quickly consoled myself, a busy man like Card Walker would never have time to stay and sign autographs. Besides, I would be in the back of the room with my trusty video camera, taping the proceedings as is my habit. And then I would need all the time immediately after the luncheon to move my equipment and get ready for the afternoon seminars. There was simply no way I would be able to grab the book and fight the crowds to even get close enough to Mr. Walker to ask for his signature. Never happen!
So the luncheon proceeded according to schedule. I stashed my equipment in the back of the room, joined friends at one of the tables for a hurried (for me) meal, then rushed back to turn my camera on just in time for the start of the program. (As far as I’m concerned, the food at these luncheons is simply a bonus; the real attractions are the guests.)
About half way or so through the program, I noticed a professional crew with a TV-news-type camera slip into the ballroom through the back door just to my right. They didn’t set up, they just took a waiting position only a few feet from me.
My first reaction was a serious case of camera envy. I slide over a bit and began a running conversation with one of them. It made for an interesting interlude. For example, I learned the battery on their pro model weighed more than my entire Sony. And as for zoom capability, well, I don’t even want to talk about it.
A few minutes later, the luncheon formally ended and I turned to unplug and start packing for the move to the seminar room.
I’d just turned back around with the power cord still in my hand when I spied Mr. Walker. Not only was he emerging from the crowd and coming to the back of the room, he was walking straight toward me!
Being the appreciative conventioneer, I gave him the standard greeting when he was within ten feet. Something like “Thank you for coming, sir, it’s good to see you.�?
He didn’t stop until he was standing right beside me. Gesturing at my tripod with a tiny Sony perched on top, he asked me directly, “What is this?�?
Although a bit taken aback, I quickly explained how I always video convention programs. His next question was even more surprising: “So what can I do for you?�?
And then it hit me: he had been told there was someone with a video camera in the back of the room who wanted to interview him. And since I was the first one he saw, he thought that must be me! And at that moment, I could’ve gotten him to do anything I wanted short of a handstand!
Of course, I quickly pointed him to the professional crew standing to my right. As they sprang into action, I mentally kicked myself a couple of dozen times for not bringing Bill’s book. It was the most perfect opportunity that I never imagined could ever happen.
Needless to say, I started bringing my copy of Bill’s book to conventions again. And I’ve added some more great signatures.
But Mr. Walker? I haven’t seen him since. Maybe if he was told there was this guy with a video camera...
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-- Bob Welbaum
Bob has been associated with Tomart Publications for the past thirteen years, and is currently Managing Editor of Tomart’s DISNEYANA Update magazine.
Bob's column is not posted on a regular schedule.
-- April 8, 2004