2005 Disney Legends Ceremony,

2005 Disney Legends Ceremony
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by Doug Marsh
September 27, 2005
Coverage of the 2005 Disney Legends Ceremony held at Disneyland.

2005 Disney Legends Awards Honor Individuals Whose Imagination, Talents and Dreams Have Created Disney Magic in Disneyland

Videos
Four videos from the ceremony are available. All are in WMV format for both low and high bandwidth connections.

Laughter and tears filled Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House as the Walt Disney Company presented the 2005 Disney Legends Awards. Nineteen individuals who contributed to the creation and development of the Disney theme parks were honored.

Accompanied by family, friends and well wishers, the group gathered in the lobby of the Opera House, greeting old friends and coworkers alike. Once seated inside, the lights dimmed as Dick Cook welcomed the crowd on behalf of Michael Eisner and Bob Iger. He explained that the Walt Disney Company executives had planned to attend, but were called away to attend a memorial service for Peter Jennings in New York.

“Magic doesn’t just happen.�? With these words, Cook surveyed the assembled audience. He thanked the honorees for keeping Walt’s dream alive. And then he invited all to take a look back over the years, with a film specially created for Disneyland’s 50th birthday.

As the film (currently showing as a part of the Disneyland: The First Fifty Years exhibit) played out, Steve Martin and Donald Duck led the viewers through a humorous look at Disneyland’s early years. Although many familiar faces were seen, it was a vintage clip of Wally Boag that elicited a round of applause.

After the screening, Dick Cook introduced Marty Sklar of Walt Disney Imagineering. Sklar alternated hosting duties for the day. He spoke first of the opening of Disney’s newest theme park, Hong Kong Disneyland. The Hong Kong Park was built as a close copy of Walt’s original Park in Anaheim. “I had to pinch myself,�? he said, as he walked down Main Street USA. Sklar then noted that it was good to see so many “old, I mean great�? friends in the audience. He pointed out that the 19 honorees had given 541 years of service to Disney. “Isn’t that amazing?�? he noted, as the crowd applauded.

After speaking of the selection process, Sklar stated, “Now let’s meet the 2005 Legends.�?


Art Linkletter

“I went out to the Disneyland site with Walt one time,�? Art Linkletter recalls. “I didn’t want to spoil his enthusiasm. But after we had driven for about an hour south of Los Angeles, into the country and the orange groves, I thought ‘Geez! Who’s gonna come down here?’�?

Luckily, Art’s initial doubts proved unfounded, and on July 17, 1955, he announced to an eager television audience, “Well, this job in the next hour and a half’s gonna be a delight.�?

“And then the show opened, and history was made,�? Art recalls today.

Walt Disney scored something of a coup in getting Art Linkletter as the primary host for his gala live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland. Art was a familiar and welcome visitor in American households, so much so that his best-known programs established records for longevity: “People Are Funny�? aired on NBC (on radio and television) for 19 years, and was in the Top 10 for more than a decade. “Art Linkletter’s House Party�? ran on CBS Radio and then on television for 25 years, and was one of the top daytime shows from the day of its first broadcast in 1945.

Art is the only person in TV history to have five shows run concurrently on network TV. In addition, Art starred in and co-produced many spectaculars and specials, and acted in half a dozen dramatic shows and several motion pictures.

The one problem on opening day was that the Park had stretched Walt so thin financially he could only afford to pay Art union scale for the job. A savvy businessman, in lieu of his fee, Art asked for (and received) the exclusive rights to the camera and film concessions at Disneyland for the next ten years.

Today, Art has been a star in show business for more than sixty years, and is one of the most respected and beloved media personalities in America. In addition to extraordinary success in entertainment and business, Art is a dedicated humanitarian, recognized for his work for numerous national foundations and his extensive involvement and experience in the health fields.

He has received numerous honors, including the National Humanity Medal from President George W. Bush, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

But Art humbly gives Walt a lot of credit in informing the fulfillment of his life and career. “He really gave me my idea of what success is, in life, for myself, watching him. And that is, doing what you love to do, with people you enjoy being with. That’s more important than anything else, ‘cause life’s not a rehearsal.�?

In his acceptance speech, Linkletter said, “When I first heard about this award, I looked it up in the dictionary. What is a legend? It said a legend is the story of a saint.�? There were chuckles as he continued. “When I explained I was getting that award to my wife, she had doubts that I filled the qualifications.�? As laughter rose, he concluded, “Because when we were married, 70 years ago, walking up to the church she said to me, ‘If the Lord will make you successful, I will keep you humble.�?

After much good natured laughter, Linkletter spoke of his life, and how his humble background made it a Cinderella story. “And Walt Disney was my Prince Charming,�? he said. “Because when I met him, he, I knew, had a special deal with God. No matter what he did it was greatly successful, and it was wonderful to be a part of it.�?

After relating his continued involvement with the Walt Disney Company, Linkletter concluded his statements, saying, “Thank you very much for this honor,�? adding, “This is a family honor.�? As the audience applauded again, he finished by saying, “I want to be a member for many, many years to come. I’m celebrating my hundredth year here.�?

Dick Cook next introduced former Disneyland President Jack Lindquist, who would present the Legend Award to Milt Albright.