The Fabulous Disney Babe
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This week Fab talks to Michael Broggie - son of Imagineering pioneer Roger Broggie - about his newest book Walt Disney's Happy Place. This book, a children's book, is Michael's second book. The first, Walt Disney's Railroad Story, looks at Walt's love of railroading. Walt Disney's Happy Place, in Michael's own words:
This wonderful picture book traces Walt Disney's life starting with a charming trip back in time to his childhood in Marceline Missouri, and Walt's first attempt at entertainment. The story takes us through other events in Walt's life and career using the stories of several barns that were significant to Walt.
Beautifully illustrated by retired Disney artist, Carson Van Osten, this is truly a book for all ages. Larger, simple text for little kids and more detailed information for bigger "kids", this book is certain to be enjoyed by the entire family.
Michelle (Fab), Alice and author Michael Broggie
Fab: Was the initial idea to do a book specifically geared for children? How did it become Walt Disney's Happy Place as we read it now?
Michael Broggie: I wanted to do a book for children
of "all ages" since Walt was the quintessential example of a child that never
grew up. I found the barns in Walt's life seemed to mark major milestones not unlike
the monolith in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001--A Space Odyssey. Since the barns were
Walt's "Happy Places" it made sense to build the book's theme around them.
Fab: How did you come up with the idea of the genealogy project tied in with the
book?
M.B.: Walt liked to teach or inform through
entertainment. The story of Walt's life gives rise to the opportunity to ask the reader to
reflect on his or her own life and how it is woven into the fabric of their total family.
Fab: What do you think is the most important lesson for children reading the book?
M.B.: Two lessons: Everyone has a story worth saving
for future generations. Walt Disney was a real human and not a corporate figment.
Fab: So many of your childhood experiences that we've heard about were with Walt,
your father Roger Broggie, and the Disney railroads they - and you - loved so much. You
were key in saving Walt's barn (though you are too modest to say so in the book) for
future generations. Do you feel you are recording your own childhood in this book as well,
in a manner?
M.B.: My childhood experiences with Walt are permanent memories that are well documented in Walt Disney's Railroad Story. My purpose in writing that book was to record for posterity the tremendous contributions of many unknown individuals who helped Walt and Roy build the company. As with the new book and its barns, the first book used railroads as the metaphorical storyline. It's really a biography and a chronicle of anecdotes with a train theme running through it.
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