Tom Nabbe

The last time Tom Nabbe paid to get into a Disney Park, it was July 18, 1955—the first day Walt Disney opened his new park to the public. Nabbe was a rusty-haired 12-year-old, enjoying his day at Disneyland. The very next day he landed a job as a “newsie,�? hawking The Disneyland News to Main Street Guests.

In 1956, Walt Disney recognized the “Tom Sawyer�? in a young Nabbe, and he became the "Luckiest Boy in the World." That’s what the cover of the April 7, 1957 issue of Parade magazine said, beneath a full-color photo of Nabbe dressed as Mark Twain’s paragon of American boyhood.

"I used to approach Walt every time I saw him around the park," Nabbe said of his yearlong pursuit of Disney and the starring role on Tom Sawyer Island.

Disney's first response to Nabbe was "Why should I put you on the island when I can put a mannequin there? Especially considering the dummy won't be running off for hot dogs every half-hour."

Disney, quoted in the Parade article, had a somewhat more gracious recollection: " He was friendly and bright—and he sure looked the part."

One job requirement was that Nabbe had to keep a C average in school. So every quarter, Nabbe brought his report card directly to Walt for inspection. It was perhaps the hardest part of playing the character.

After outgrowing the role of Tom Sawyer, Nabbe went on to manage other attractions. In 1969, he met his wife, Janice, who was working at a concession stand in the park.

In 1971, Nabbe was transferred to the newly opened Walt Disney World in Orlando, where he started as manager of the monorail. He also helped in the opening of Disneyland Paris.

Forty-eight years later, in June 2003, 60-year-old Nabbe retired from his job as manager of distribution services at Walt Disney World. He was the last working member of Club 55, a group of original Disneyland Cast Members named for Disneyland's inaugural year and for their chief qualification of membership—a paycheck from Walt Disney dated 1955.

As the genial Nabbe took the stage, he leaned into the microphone and quipped, “As you can see, I have trouble with my weight. I’m either fat or fatter!�? He spoke fondly of his nearly 50 years with Disney, affirming that “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.�? He thanked his mother, who brought him to the opening day of Disneyland to get autographs of the stars. He concluded by saying, “Every day was different, that’s why the job never gets old.�?

Martha Blanding, the head of Disneyland’s Merchandise Special Events introduced Charles Boyer, for whom she had created many memorable events.

Charles Boyer

In 1960, Charles Boyer accepted a “temporary�? job at Disneyland—and stayed for 39 years. Charles has the unique distinction of having been Disneyland’s first full-time illustrator, and in the 45 years since his hiring has become Disneyland’s master illustrator—an artist who has captured in his work the unique and fanciful spirit of Disney characters and theme park environments.

Charles’s art training began with art classes in high school, where he nurtured a love for the beautiful desert landscape. As a teenager, he won first place at the Imperial Valley County Fair and developed a passion for the work of Vincent Van Gogh.

Soon after, he enrolled in courses at Chouinard Art Institute. He received a “working scholarship,�? performing double duty as the janitor while attending classes as an art student. Classes in design and cartooning convinced Charles to consider a commercial art career as an alternative to fine arts.

Charles thought of furthering his art studies abroad, however, his wife did not want to leave the United States. Instead, he found a job at Disneyland as a pastel artist creating Guest portraits. “I thought it would be fun,�? he recalls, “and a good fill-in between jobs.�? It proved to be only the beginning of his long career with Disney. Six months later, he joined the marketing and advertising art department as an illustrator. “We did everything—design, production, illustration,�? Charles says.

During his 39 years with Disneyland, Charles has produced nearly fifty collectible lithographs, as well as a diverse range of artwork for magazine covers, brochures, and flyers—even Company-commissioned oil portraits for retiring employees. He has worked in all media

including pastels, oils, watercolors, gouache, acrylics, pencil, and ink. Prolific in his work, Charles’s works are sought after by collectors around the world.

On his retirement in 1999, the artist reflected, “I’ve worked with such great people. My wife used to ask if I was actually getting any work done because I was having so much fun.�?

In his brief acceptance comments, Charles Boyer thanked Disney for promoting his art. He mentioned that in the early days, he would send his drawings of Mickey Mouse up to the studio to Bob Moore, who would sometimes return them with the terse comment, “This is not a good mouse.�? Boyer concluded by saying how much he appreciated his selection as a Disney Legend.

Marty Sklar introduced Randy Bright, a fellow Imagineer and author.