Thoughts on Walt
Page 5 of 26
Terri Hardin on Walt Disney
December 7, 2001
| So many people have influenced my life, but Walt Disney has made me one of the Happiest people I know. |
Terri Hardin is one of the popular Disney artists today. Her Disney portfolio includes the gargoyle from the Haunted Mansion 30th Anniversary Event, the Jail Scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean 30th event and Chernabog and Malificent from the Disney Divas event. She's also worked in Walt Disney Imagineering where she's best known for working on the La Taniere du Dragon at Dinseyland Paris.
LaughingPlace.com: What is your first exposure to Walt Disney? Seeing him on TV? Only through working for the Company?
Terri Hardin: I am a California native. I have lived here all of my life. Infact, right in Burbank, home of the Disney Studios. So I guess you could say my very first exposure was driving past the studios over and over again.
However, I do not remember this so well. I did watch the Wonderful World of Disney like a hawk, but my real memory is when I was taken to Disneyland for my first time. I walked into a world I did not wish to leave. I was 3 yrs old. My parents decided to introduce me to Captain Hook. I took one look at him and let out a blood curdling scream. You see, I knew he was the arch enemy of Peter Pan, and I wanted nothing to do with him. As my parents tried to take me closer, I punched him and kicked him in the shins. My the poor Cast Member inside must have really hurt, but I saw only the Evil hook.
My parents gave up and took me on the Dumbo ride. Fantasyland is my favorite land. To this day it is my favorite place to dwell. I still love to fly on Dumbo, and I love going to Hell with Mr. Toad.
Walt is an icon to me. I read how he made sure all his artists had northern light. For all of you who may not be artists, northern light is the very best light for an artist to create in.
I later became an Imagineer, and this is when I truly began to know Walt Disney. I had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of the Disney artists who worked with Walt when he was alive. Like Marc Davis, Ken Anderson, and a real favorite of mine Herbie Ryman. Herbie and I used to share a sandwich at lunch together and he would tell me stories of the company, when Walt was alive. He told me that when Walt was alive all who worked at Imagineering were family, not employees and boss, but a real family. Herbie would say, that when Walt was alive, many other companies came and tried to entice away some of the artists. Artist were taunted with new cars, homes, huge saleries and more. But because of the love and devotion Walt had given each and every artist in his company, no artist would ever even consider defecting. Herbie said, all felt like they would be betraying a relative, someone they dearly loved. Because Walt was an artist himself. He thought the way artists thought. "If you build it, they will come."
As you know, now that is not the case, the money people are in charge, and in my opinion, this can and has been very dangerous for the Company.
LP: What do you admire the most about Walt Disney?
TH: Vision, Vision, Vision. The ability to see something no one else did and achieve it. One story, a collector once told me, is a favorite. One of Walt's big wigs were walking through the park one day when they came upon a place where guests were cutting across the grass to get to where they wanted to go. "Look at that!" "No Matter what we do, those people just will not stay off the grass!" The big wig said. He turned to Walt and said,"What should we do?" Walt turned to the big wig and said, "put a cement path there." This is what I mean, Vision.
LP: What is the greatest gift Walt left to the Company?
TH: His name and his films. I only pray, one day, they will have his insight too.
LP: In your opinion, what is the greatest gift Walt left to the world?
TH: What gift, didn't he leave?
I would say Mickey Mouse. I personally am not so fond of Mickey Mouse. I mean I do not collect him or anything, But, you cannot ignore the fact that Mickey is the ambassador to the world and beyond. Did you know - I saw his image just the other day in the Space Station. One of the astronauts had decided to bring him along. I believe if the Company would just let him have the reins for a bit, Mickey Mouse could achieve world peace.
LP: Any additional comments you'd like to add.
TH: Yes, so many people have influenced my life, but Walt Disney has made me one of the Happiest people I know. Why? Because he taught me that if you really believe that you can make a wonderful living doing what you love, truly believe it, you can. And thanks to him, I do. I am now a collectable artist for the company, and have been an Imagineer. I even have my one year pin from imagineer. And guess who is on it - Mickey Mouse.
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