Magical Memories
Page 3 of 14
Dave Smith
Dave Smith joined the Walt Disney Company in 1970 when the Walt Disney Archives were established. As the archivist he is responsible for preserving the history of the company including documents, awards and memorabilia. Dave is also the author of several books on Disney trivia and Disney history including The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book 4, Disney A-Z: The Updated Disney Official Encyclopedia and Disney: The First 100 Years.
Early 1956 is when I think my first trip to Disneyland was. I was so disappointed because my grandmother came here before I did. I was really mad that she was able to do that. Then I started really working on my parents. Those early days were very exciting and I did run into Walt once which is one of my favorite memories of Disneyland. He was just walking through the park one day and I recognized him because, of course, he was well known to the public by then because of the introductions to television show. So I wanted his autograph and I didn't have anything to write with. He was walking into the castle and I ran in there and the nearest shop was the Magic Shop that was in there at that time. The only writing instrument they had was a two foot long pencil. So I bought one and ran out and asked him for his autograph and he wouldn't give it to me. He said when he started signing autographs it just caused too much of a traffic jam and he never got his work done. I wish I knew then that I would be preserving his history more than 40 years later.
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John McClintock
John McClintock has worked for Disney for more than 20 years. Currently he's a Regional Market Publicity Manager in Disneyland's Press and Publicity Department.
When I first came to work here in publicity the publicity office was right upstairs from the Abe Lincoln theater. The great thing about it was - particularly in the summer - you'd get to work and you'd know when Mickey would come out because you'd hear all the screams and squeals of the kids as soon as he came out. You really knew where you were working and got some feeling for why you were working here.
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Disneyland Resort President Cynthia Harriss signs an
autograph for Hope
Reader Hope (HopeMax) from Washington contributed this memory during a short interview conducted after the celebration.
In 1996 we were here for the final Main Street Electrical Parade performance. We brought my grandma, and she was 82 years old. She had been to Disneyland before, but according to my dad, during that prior trip, they went on the Main Street Vehicles then stuck her on the Matterhorn and she said that would be great. Of course, she got totally freaked out. But then we brought her back in 1996 and she hadn't been back since the 60s. She just loved everything. But the best moment was when we took her on Alice in Wonderland. That her thrill ride because of the two layers. She thought she was going to fall out.