Lecture series will delve into Disney

Chapman University will offer never-before-heard accounts of the life and work of Disneyland’s founder

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Walt Disney, right, in early 1966 checks out an audio-animatronic figure for Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride designed by Marc Davis, one of the company’s creative employees who came to be known as Imagineers. The attraction was the theme park’s last to be personally supervised by Walt Disney, who died in December 1966. Such historical tidbits will be part of Chapman University’s Walt Disney Speaker Series, starting Feb. 21. courtesy of The Disneyland Resort

Songwriter Richard Sherman and his brother, Robert, who is not shown, will be the subjects of the lecture series March 14. The brothers wrote more than 200 songs for shows like “Mary Poppins.” Alberto E. Rodriguez — Getty Images

Former imagineer Joe Rohde, shown at Disney’s Aulani Hotel in Hawaii, will examine how films “Bambi” and “True-Life Adventures” raised awareness about nature conservation. Courtesy of Disney

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Disney historian Jeff Kurtti, left, and Chapman University professor Brian Alters are working on a think tank focused on Walt Disney. Courtesy of Chapman University

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By Brady MacDonald

bmacdonald@scng.com

A new speaker series featuring Disney Imagineers will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney’s influence and legacy as Chapman University lays the groundwork for the first academic think tank dedicated to the life and work of the Disneyland founder.

The Walt Disney Speaker Series kicks off Feb. 21 at the Orange County university and continues on various dates through May 16.

The series, curated by Disney historian and Chapman Presidential Fellow Jeff Kurtti, will bring together retired Imagineers and documentarians who will share never-before-heard accounts of Walt’s innovative spirit and creative process.

In his career, Kurtti has worked for Walt Disney Imagineering, served as the Walt Disney Family Museum creative director and written dozens of books on Disney history.

Let’s take a closer look at the four lectures in the series.

‘Walt Disney: The First Imagineer,’ Feb. 21

Former Imagineer Tom Morris will recount the birth in 1952 of WED Enterprises — the precursor to Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive creative laboratory where theme park designers create Disney’s fantasy worlds and attractions. Morris will discuss how Walt Disney assembled creative teams that merged imaginative vision with engineering expertise.

‘Walt Disney and Music: The Sherman Brothers,’ March 14

Jeffrey Sherman will screen his documentary, “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story,”on the composing duo who wrote more than 200 songs for more than 50 Disney films and television shows.

The son of songwriter Robert Sherman — one half of the brother tandem — will reflect on how they wrote music for “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book” as well as the Enchanted Tiki Room and It’s a Small World attractions at Disneyland.

‘Walt Disney and the Worlds of Nature,’ April 4

Former Imagineer and Disney Legend Joe Rohde will examine how Disney’s “Bambi” and “True-Life Adventures” raised awareness about nature conservation. Rohde is best known for his work on Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Florida park’s Pandora — World of Avatar themed land, the Aulani resort hotel in Hawaii and the Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! attraction at Disney California Adventure.

‘Walt Disney and the Nine Old Men,’ May 16

Theodore Thomas will screen his documentary featurette, “Growing Up With Nine Old Men,” on his father, Frank Thomas, who, along with the other “old men,” was one of Walt’s key animators in the 1950s.

Theodore Thomas will share stories about the Nine Old Men and Disney’s golden era of animation.

Frank Thomas worked on nearly 20 Disney animated films including “Pinocchio,” “Peter Pan,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella.”

He also played piano with other Disney animators in the Firehouse Five Plus Two jazz band that performed at Disneyland.

All four Friday night programs start at 7 p.m. in the Argyros Forum at Chapman University. Admission is free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The speaker series is part of Chapman’s broader goal of establishing the first Walt Disney academic think tank to study the life, legacy and influence of the Disneyland founder.

Kurtti is working with Chapman professor Brian Alters on the scholarly think tank that would study the life, legacy and global impact of Walt Disney and his influence on art, music, culture, business, economic development, transportation, urban planning, themed environments, placemaking, science, technology and innovation.

Alters and Kurtti are expected to complete the Walt Disney Think Tank feasibility report in about a year.