Jump to content

Roy O. Disney: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m rem redundant link
Corrected facts and added information with sources.
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 34 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American businessman (1893–1971)}}
{{Short description|American media mogul (1893–1971)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Roy O. Disney
| name = Roy Disney
| image = Roy O. Disney with Company at Press Conference.jpg
| image = Roy O. Disney with Company at Press Conference.jpg
| caption = Disney in 1965
| caption = Disney in 1965
Line 11: Line 11:
| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|12|20|1893|6|24}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|12|20|1893|6|24}}
| death_place = [[Burbank, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Burbank, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| burial_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| occupation = Entertainment industry executive
| occupation = Entertainment executive
| years_active = 1923–1971
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Edna Francis|October 1925<!--Omission per template instructions-->}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Edna Francis|October 1925<!--Omission per template instructions-->}}
| parents = Flora Call Disney<br>[[Elias Disney]]
| parents = [[Elias Disney]]<br>Flora Call
| relations = See [[Disney family]]
| relations = See [[Disney family]]
| children = [[Roy E. Disney]]
| children = [[Roy E. Disney]]
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| branch = [[United States Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1917–1919
| battles = [[World War&nbsp;I]]
}}
}}
}}
⚫
'''Roy Oliver Disney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɪ|z|n|i}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disney_walt|title=Disney, Walt {{!}} Definition of Disney, Walt by Lexico|website=Lexico Dictionaries {{!}} English|language=en|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024181818/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disney_walt|archive-date=October 24, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> June 24, 1893 &ndash; December 20, 1971)<ref name=LATRoyODisney>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Jack|title=Roy O. Disney|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roy-o-disney/|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 21, 1971}}</ref> was an American businessman who co-founded [[The Walt Disney Company]] with [[Walt Disney]]. He was the older brother of Walt Disney and the father of [[Roy E. Disney]].

⚫
'''Roy Oliver Disney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɪ|z|n|i}} {{respell|DIZ|nee}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disney_walt|title=Disney, Walt {{!}} Definition of Disney, Walt by Lexico|website=Lexico Dictionaries {{!}} English|language=en|access-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024181818/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disney_walt|archive-date=October 24, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> June 24, 1893 &ndash; December 20, 1971)<ref name=LATRoyODisney>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Jack|title=Roy O. Disney|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roy-o-disney/|access-date=September 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 21, 1971}}</ref> was an American entertainment executive who co-founded [[The Walt Disney Company]] with his younger brother, [[Walt Disney]]. He also served as the company's first CEO and was the father of [[Roy E. Disney]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Disney was born to [[Irish Canadians|Irish-Canadian]] [[Elias Disney|Elias Charles Disney]] and English-German-American Flora Call Disney in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. The family moved to [[Marceline, Missouri]] and to [[Kansas City]] in 1911. On July 1, 1911, Elias purchased a newspaper delivery route for ''[[The Kansas City Star]]''. It extended from 27th Street to the 31st Street, and from Prospect Avenue to Indiana Avenue. Roy and his brother, Walt worked as newspaper delivery-boys.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roy-o-disney/|title=Roy O. Disney|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> The family delivered the morning newspaper, ''[[The Kansas City Times]],'' to approximately 700 customers, and ''The Kansas City Star'' to more than 600. The number of customers served increased with time.<ref name="Barrier">{{Cite book|title=The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney|last=Barrier|first=Michael|publisher=Univ. of California Press|year=2008|isbn=9780520256194|location=Berkeley, Calif.|pages=18–20|language=en|oclc=254461789}}</ref>
Disney was born to [[Irish Canadians|Irish-Canadian]] [[Elias Disney|Elias Charles Disney]] and English-German-American Flora Call Disney in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]] on June 24, 1893. The family moved to [[Marceline, Missouri]] and to [[Kansas City]] in 1911.
On July 1, 1911, Elias purchased a newspaper delivery route for ''[[The Kansas City Star]]''. It extended from 27th Street to the 31st Street and from Prospect Avenue to Indiana Avenue. Roy and his brother Walt worked as newspaper delivery boys.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roy-o-disney/|title=Roy O. Disney|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> The family delivered the morning newspaper, ''[[The Kansas City Times]],'' to approximately 700 customers and ''The Kansas City Star'' to more than 600. The number of customers served increased with time.<ref name="Barrier">{{Cite book|title=The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney|last=Barrier|first=Michael|publisher=Univ. of California Press|year=2008|isbn=9780520256194|location=Berkeley, Calif.|pages=18–20|language=en|oclc=254461789}}</ref>


Disney graduated from the Manual Training High School of Kansas City in 1912. He left the paper delivery route and worked on a farm in the summer. He was then employed as a [[Bank teller|bank clerk]] along with brother Raymond Arnold Disney at the [[First National Bank of Omaha#First National Bank Kansas|First National Bank]] of Kansas City.<ref name="Barrier" />
Disney graduated from the Manual Training High School of Kansas City in 1912. He left the paper delivery route and worked on a farm in the summer. He was then employed as a [[Bank teller|bank clerk]] along with brother Raymond Arnold Disney at the [[First National Bank of Omaha#First National Bank Kansas|First National Bank]] of Kansas City.<ref name="Barrier" />


Disney served in the [[United States Navy]] from 1917 to 1919.<ref name="Barrier" /> He military career was cut short by a contraction of [[tuberculosis]] during his service and Disney was honorably was discharged from military duty.
Disney served in the [[United States Navy]] from 1917 to 1919.<ref name="Barrier" /> Roy contracted [[tuberculosis]] and was therefore discharged from military duty. He forsook his banking career and hospital bed and in 1923,<ref name="waltdisney.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/gentle-visionary-roy-o-disney|title=Gentle Visionary: Roy O. Disney|date=October 1, 2016|website=The Walt Disney Family Museum|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> brother Walt joined Roy in Hollywood and the two planned the start of Disney Brothers Studio. The brothers ordered [[kit house]]s from Los Angeles-based Pacific Ready Cut Homes and, in 1928, built their homes adjacently on Lyric Avenue in the [[Los Feliz, Los Angeles|Los Feliz]] neighborhood.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pollard-Terry|first1=Gayle|title=12,000 easy pieces|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/16/realestate/re-kit16|access-date=November 7, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 16, 2006}}</ref>

While convalescing from a recurrence of tuberculosis at the [[Sawtelle Veterans Home]] in Los Angeles in October of 1923, his brother Walt came to visit late at night to ask for his help in establishing a cartoon studio. After Walt explained that he had secured a deal with New York distributor [[Margaret J. Winkler|Margaret Winkler]], Disney agreed and left the hospital the next morning—never again having a relapse of tuberculosis.<ref name=":1" />


===Walt Disney Productions===
===Walt Disney Productions===
While Walt led the creative side, Roy guided the business side and finances.<ref name=":0" /> Together Roy and Walt founded Disney Studios as brothers, but Walt later bought out most of Roy's share in 1929<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tewari|first=Lata|date=June 24, 2020|title=The Success of Roy O. Disney & Walt Disney Company|url=https://www.opennaukri.com/the-success-of-roy-o-disney-walt-disney-company/|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=Open Naukri|language=en-US}}</ref> so, unlike [[Max Fleischer|Max]] and [[Dave Fleischer]] of rival [[Fleischer Studios]], Roy was not a co-producer. However, Roy was an equal partner in all facets of the production company.
Together Roy and Walt founded the Disney Brothers Studio in October of 1923.<ref name=":1" /> Unlike [[Max Fleischer|Max]] and [[Dave Fleischer]] of rival [[Fleischer Studios]], Roy was not a co-producer. But Roy was an equal partner in all facets of the production company. While Walt led the creative side, Roy guided the business side and finances.<ref name=":0" />


Disney became the company's first [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] in 1929, although the official title was not given to him until 1966. He also shared the role of chairman of the board with Walt from 1945 and succeeded Walt in the position of President around this time as well. He held the position until 1968 when he handed it to [[Donn Tatum]]. In 1960, Walt dropped the chairman title so he could focus more on the creative aspects of the company. Following Walt's death on December 15th, 1966 from lung cancer, Roy postponed his retirement to oversee the construction of what was then known as Disney World.<ref name="waltdisney.org"/> For five years after Walt's death, Roy was able to open the resort with a cost of $400 million without having additional debt. <ref>{{Cite web|last=DiCologero|first=Brittany|date=25 October 2022|title=Today in Disney History, 1971: Roy Disney’s Disney World Dedication|url=https://www.wdw-magazine.com/today-in-disney-history-1971-roy-disneys-disney-world-dedication/|access-date=12 February 2023}}</ref> He later renamed it [[Walt Disney World]] as a tribute to his brother.
Roy became the company's first [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] in 1929, although the official title was not given to him until 1966. He also shared the role of chairman of the board with Walt from 1945 and succeeded Walt in the position of president around this time as well. He held the position until 1968 when he handed it to [[Donn Tatum]]. In 1960, Walt dropped the chairman title so he could focus more on the creative aspects of the company. Following Walt's death on December 15, 1966, from lung cancer, Roy postponed his retirement to oversee the construction of what was then known as Disney World.<ref name="waltdisney.org">{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2016 |title=Gentle Visionary: Roy O. Disney |url=https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/gentle-visionary-roy-o-disney |access-date=March 24, 2019 |website=The Walt Disney Family Museum}}</ref> Five years after Walt's death, Roy was able to open the resort at a cost of $400 million without having additional debt.<ref>{{Cite web|last=DiCologero|first=Brittany|date=October 25, 2022|title=Today in Disney History, 1971: Roy Disney's Disney World Dedication|url=https://www.wdw-magazine.com/today-in-disney-history-1971-roy-disneys-disney-world-dedication/|access-date=February 12, 2023}}</ref> He later named it [[Walt Disney World]] as a tribute to his brother.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Roy was married to Edna Francis from April 1925 until his death. Roy met Edna Francis in Kansas City, Missouri when she worked at The [[Kansas City Times]] along with close friend Meredith A. Boyington and she introduced Meredith to Raymond Arnold Disney, who was an older brother to Roy O. Disney. Raymond and Meredith were married, and were lifetime close friends to Edna and Roy and they had two sons: Charles Elias Disney and Daniel H. Disney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2009/08/01/disneys-magic-makers-edna-francis-disney/|title=Disney's Magic Makers: Edna Francis Disney|author=Daniel|date=August 1, 2009|website=Netcot.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401034450/http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2009/08/01/disneys-magic-makers-edna-francis-disney/|archive-date=April 1, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=October 31, 2012}}</ref> Roy and Edna's son [[Roy E. Disney|Roy Edward Disney]], was born on January 10, 1930.<ref name="Death">{{Cite web|last1=Chmielewski|first1=Dawn C.|last2=Bates|first2=James|date=December 17, 2009|title=Roy Edward Disney dies at 79; nephew of Walt helped revive animation|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roy-disney17-2009dec17-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812053636/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roy-disney17-2009dec17-story.html|archive-date=August 12, 2018}}</ref> [[Roy E. Disney|Roy Edward Disney]] later was vice chairman of [[The Walt Disney Company]]. Throughout his life, Roy Oliver Disney rejected the publicity and fame that came with being Walt's brother. Roy's nephew Charles Elias Disney chose to name his son Charles Roy Disney in Roy's honor.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rocket Fuel The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business.|last1=Wickman|first1=Gino|last2=Winters|first2=Mark C.|publisher=BenBella Books, Inc.|year=2015|isbn=9781941631164|location=New York|oclc=904407202}}</ref> Roy remained a member of the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]] for decades before he resigned his membership.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Bob |title=Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-7868-6200-9 |pages=332}}</ref>
Roy was married to Edna Francis from April 1925 until his death. Roy met Edna in Kansas City, Missouri when she worked at ''[[Kansas City Times|The Kansas City Times]]'' along with close friend Meredith A. Boyington, and she introduced Meredith to Raymond Arnold Disney, who was an older brother to Roy O. Disney. Raymond and Meredith were married and were lifetime close friends to Edna and Roy; they had two sons, Charles Elias Disney and Daniel H. Disney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2009/08/01/disneys-magic-makers-edna-francis-disney/|title=Disney's Magic Makers: Edna Francis Disney|author=Daniel|date=August 1, 2009|website=Netcot.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401034450/http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2009/08/01/disneys-magic-makers-edna-francis-disney/|archive-date=April 1, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=October 31, 2012}}</ref> Roy and Edna's son [[Roy E. Disney|Roy Edward Disney]] was born on January 10, 1930.<ref name="Death">{{Cite web|last1=Chmielewski|first1=Dawn C.|last2=Bates|first2=James|date=December 17, 2009|title=Roy Edward Disney dies at 79; nephew of Walt helped revive animation|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roy-disney17-2009dec17-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812053636/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roy-disney17-2009dec17-story.html|archive-date=August 12, 2018}}</ref> [[Roy E. Disney|Roy Edward Disney]] later was vice chairman of [[The Walt Disney Company]]. Throughout his life, Roy Oliver Disney rejected the publicity and fame that came with being Walt's brother. Roy's nephew Charles Elias Disney chose to name his son Charles Roy Disney in Roy's honor.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Rocket Fuel The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business.|last1=Wickman|first1=Gino|last2=Winters|first2=Mark C.|publisher=BenBella Books, Inc.|year=2015|isbn=9781941631164|location=New York|oclc=904407202}}</ref> Roy remained a member of the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]] for decades before he resigned his membership.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=Bob |title=Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-7868-6200-9 |pages=332|publisher=Disney Editions }}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
[[File:Roy O. Disney star, Hollywood Walk of Fame.jpg|thumb|Disney's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]]]
[[File:Roy O. Disney star, Hollywood Walk of Fame.jpg|thumb|Disney's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]]]
After the opening of Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971, Roy finally retired and died on December 20, 1971, five days after his [[Walt Disney|younger brother's]] fifth death anniversary, from a [[stroke]], at the age of 78. He is interred in [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]] next to his wife Edna Francis in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons|last1=Wilson|first1=Scott|last2=Mank|first2=Gregory W.|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2016|isbn=9780786479924|edition=3rd|volume=1|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|oclc=948561021}}</ref>
After the opening of Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971, Roy finally retired, but soon after he died from a [[stroke]] at the age of 78 on December 20, 1971, five days after the fifth anniversary of his [[Walt Disney|younger brother's]] death. He is interred in [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]] next to his wife Edna in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons|last1=Wilson|first1=Scott|last2=Mank|first2=Gregory W.|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2016|isbn=9780786479924|edition=3rd|volume=1|location=Jefferson, North Carolina|oclc=948561021}}</ref>

{{Clear}}


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
[[File:Roy O Disney on track.jpg|thumb|[[Walt Disney World Railroad]] No. 4 ''Roy O. Disney'']]
[[File:Roy O Disney on track.jpg|thumb|[[Walt Disney World Railroad]] No. 4 ''Roy O. Disney'']]
One of the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]] locomotives was named after Roy.<ref name="CarolwoodChronicleSummer2002">{{Cite magazine|last=Campbell|first=Michael|title=Roy E. Disney Rededicates Father's Engine|url=http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CarolwoodChronicle-Issue15-2002Summer.pdf|magazine=Carolwood Chronicle|publisher=Carolwood Pacific Historical Society|pages=1–2|date=Summer 2002|access-date=May 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527145731/http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CarolwoodChronicle-Issue15-2002Summer.pdf|archive-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> On June 6, 2002, his son Roy E. Disney rededicated this locomotive in his father's honor.<ref name="CarolwoodChronicleSummer2002"/> In 2016, the locomotive took part in its centennial celebration hosted by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Broggie|first=Michael|title=View from the Cupola|url=http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/chron65.pdf|magazine=Carolwood Chronicle|publisher=The Carolwood Society|page=7|date=Winter 2016|access-date=May 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520150904/http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/chron65.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref> One of the [[Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad]] locomotives is also named after Roy.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.checkerboardhill.com/2016/09/hong-kong-disneyland-railroad/ | title=All aboard the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad| date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>
One of the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]] locomotives was named after Roy.<ref name="CarolwoodChronicleSummer2002">{{Cite magazine|last=Campbell|first=Michael|title=Roy E. Disney Rededicates Father's Engine|url=http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CarolwoodChronicle-Issue15-2002Summer.pdf|magazine=Carolwood Chronicle|publisher=Carolwood Pacific Historical Society|pages=1–2|date=Summer 2002|access-date=May 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527145731/http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/CarolwoodChronicle-Issue15-2002Summer.pdf|archive-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> On June 6, 2002, his son Roy E. Disney rededicated this locomotive in his father's honor.<ref name="CarolwoodChronicleSummer2002"/> In September 2016, the locomotive took part in its centennial celebration hosted by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Centennial Celebration Set for Roy O. Disney Steam Locomotive: September 15 to 18, 2016|url=http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/chron63.pdf|magazine=Carolwood Chronicle|issue=63|publisher=The Carolwood Society|date=Spring 2016|pages=1–3|access-date=May 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204103850/http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/chron63.pdf|archive-date=December 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Broggie|first=Michael|title=View from the Cupola|url=http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/chron65.pdf|magazine=Carolwood Chronicle|issue=65|publisher=The Carolwood Society|page=7|date=Winter 2016|access-date=May 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520150904/http://carolwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/chron65.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref>
One of the three [[Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad]] locomotives is also named after Roy, where each locomotive is named after a past [[Walt Disney Company]] president.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.checkerboardhill.com/2016/09/hong-kong-disneyland-railroad/ | title=All aboard the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad| date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>


The Roy O. Disney Concert Hall, the primary performance space for the [[Herb Alpert]] School of Music at the [[California Institute of the Arts]] (of which Disney was a benefactor), is named after him.
The Roy O. Disney Concert Hall, the primary performance space for the [[Herb Alpert]] School of Music at the [[California Institute of the Arts]] (of which Disney was a benefactor), is named after him.


A statue of Roy seated on a park bench beside [[Minnie Mouse]] is located in the Town Square section of Main Street, U.S.A., at the [[Magic Kingdom]] theme park in [[Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-739028-walt-roy.html|title=Remembering Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother, 45 years after his death|last=Eades|first=Mark|date=December 22, 2016|website=Orange County Register|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> A duplicate is located outside the [[Team Disney]] building at Disney's corporate headquarters in [[Burbank, California]]. There is a third statue at the [[Tokyo Disneyland]] theme park. The Roy O. Disney Suite is located on the top floor of the [[Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel]].
''Sharing the Magic'', a statue of Disney seated on a park bench beside [[Minnie Mouse]], was dedicated in October of 1999 as a companion piece to the ''Partners'' statue of Walt and [[Mickey Mouse]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Partners |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/partners/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=D23 |language=en-US}}</ref> The statue is located in the Town Square of Main Street, U.S.A., at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-739028-walt-roy.html|title=Remembering Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother, 45 years after his death|last=Eades|first=Mark|date=December 22, 2016|website=Orange County Register|language=en-US|access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> A duplicate of ''Sharing the Magic'' is located outside the [[Team Disney]] building at Disney's corporate headquarters in [[Burbank, California]]—dedicated in 2003.<ref name=":2" /> A second copy is at the [[Main Street, USA|World Bazaar]] section of [[Tokyo Disneyland]].<ref name=":2" /> The Roy O. Disney Suite is located on the top floor of the [[Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel]].


In 2014, Roy O. Disney was portrayed in the feature film ''[[Walt Before Mickey]]'' by [[Jon Heder]].
In 2014, Roy O. Disney was portrayed in the feature film ''[[Walt Before Mickey]]'' by [[Jon Heder]].
Line 85: Line 100:
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American bankers]]
[[Category:American bankers]]
[[Category:American company founders]]
[[Category:American entertainment company founders]]
[[Category:American film studio executives]]
[[Category:American film studio executives]]
[[Category:American film production company founders]]
[[Category:American film production company founders]]

Latest revision as of 20:25, 11 November 2024

Roy Disney
Disney in 1965
Born
Roy Oliver Disney

(1893-06-24)June 24, 1893
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 1971(1971-12-20) (aged 78)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Burial placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationEntertainment executive
Years active1923–1971
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Edna Francis
​
(m. 1925)​
ChildrenRoy E. Disney
Parent(s)Elias Disney
Flora Call
RelativesSee Disney family
Military career
Service / branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1917–1919
Battles / warsWorld War I

Roy Oliver Disney (/ˈdɪzni/ DIZ-nee;[1] June 24, 1893 – December 20, 1971)[2] was an American entertainment executive who co-founded The Walt Disney Company with his younger brother, Walt Disney. He also served as the company's first CEO and was the father of Roy E. Disney.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Disney was born to Irish-Canadian Elias Charles Disney and English-German-American Flora Call Disney in Chicago, Illinois on June 24, 1893. The family moved to Marceline, Missouri and to Kansas City in 1911.

On July 1, 1911, Elias purchased a newspaper delivery route for The Kansas City Star. It extended from 27th Street to the 31st Street and from Prospect Avenue to Indiana Avenue. Roy and his brother Walt worked as newspaper delivery boys.[3] The family delivered the morning newspaper, The Kansas City Times, to approximately 700 customers and The Kansas City Star to more than 600. The number of customers served increased with time.[4]

Disney graduated from the Manual Training High School of Kansas City in 1912. He left the paper delivery route and worked on a farm in the summer. He was then employed as a bank clerk along with brother Raymond Arnold Disney at the First National Bank of Kansas City.[4]

Disney served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919.[4] He military career was cut short by a contraction of tuberculosis during his service and Disney was honorably was discharged from military duty.

While convalescing from a recurrence of tuberculosis at the Sawtelle Veterans Home in Los Angeles in October of 1923, his brother Walt came to visit late at night to ask for his help in establishing a cartoon studio. After Walt explained that he had secured a deal with New York distributor Margaret Winkler, Disney agreed and left the hospital the next morning—never again having a relapse of tuberculosis.[5]

Walt Disney Productions

[edit]

Together Roy and Walt founded the Disney Brothers Studio in October of 1923.[5] Unlike Max and Dave Fleischer of rival Fleischer Studios, Roy was not a co-producer. But Roy was an equal partner in all facets of the production company. While Walt led the creative side, Roy guided the business side and finances.[3]

Roy became the company's first CEO in 1929, although the official title was not given to him until 1966. He also shared the role of chairman of the board with Walt from 1945 and succeeded Walt in the position of president around this time as well. He held the position until 1968 when he handed it to Donn Tatum. In 1960, Walt dropped the chairman title so he could focus more on the creative aspects of the company. Following Walt's death on December 15, 1966, from lung cancer, Roy postponed his retirement to oversee the construction of what was then known as Disney World.[6] Five years after Walt's death, Roy was able to open the resort at a cost of $400 million without having additional debt.[7] He later named it Walt Disney World as a tribute to his brother.

Personal life

[edit]

Roy was married to Edna Francis from April 1925 until his death. Roy met Edna in Kansas City, Missouri when she worked at The Kansas City Times along with close friend Meredith A. Boyington, and she introduced Meredith to Raymond Arnold Disney, who was an older brother to Roy O. Disney. Raymond and Meredith were married and were lifetime close friends to Edna and Roy; they had two sons, Charles Elias Disney and Daniel H. Disney.[8] Roy and Edna's son Roy Edward Disney was born on January 10, 1930.[9] Roy Edward Disney later was vice chairman of The Walt Disney Company. Throughout his life, Roy Oliver Disney rejected the publicity and fame that came with being Walt's brother. Roy's nephew Charles Elias Disney chose to name his son Charles Roy Disney in Roy's honor.[10] Roy remained a member of the Freemasons for decades before he resigned his membership.[5]

Death

[edit]
Disney's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

After the opening of Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971, Roy finally retired, but soon after he died from a stroke at the age of 78 on December 20, 1971, five days after the fifth anniversary of his younger brother's death. He is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) next to his wife Edna in Los Angeles.[11]

Legacy

[edit]
Walt Disney World Railroad No. 4 Roy O. Disney

One of the Walt Disney World Railroad locomotives was named after Roy.[12] On June 6, 2002, his son Roy E. Disney rededicated this locomotive in his father's honor.[12] In September 2016, the locomotive took part in its centennial celebration hosted by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society.[13][14]

One of the three Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad locomotives is also named after Roy, where each locomotive is named after a past Walt Disney Company president.[15]

The Roy O. Disney Concert Hall, the primary performance space for the Herb Alpert School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts (of which Disney was a benefactor), is named after him.

Sharing the Magic, a statue of Disney seated on a park bench beside Minnie Mouse, was dedicated in October of 1999 as a companion piece to the Partners statue of Walt and Mickey Mouse.[16] The statue is located in the Town Square of Main Street, U.S.A., at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort.[17] A duplicate of Sharing the Magic is located outside the Team Disney building at Disney's corporate headquarters in Burbank, California—dedicated in 2003.[16] A second copy is at the World Bazaar section of Tokyo Disneyland.[16] The Roy O. Disney Suite is located on the top floor of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

In 2014, Roy O. Disney was portrayed in the feature film Walt Before Mickey by Jon Heder.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Disney, Walt | Definition of Disney, Walt by Lexico". Lexico Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ Jones, Jack (December 21, 1971). "Roy O. Disney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Roy O. Disney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Barrier, Michael (2008). The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney. Berkeley, Calif.: Univ. of California Press. pp. 18–20. ISBN 9780520256194. OCLC 254461789.
  5. ^ a b c Thomas, Bob (1998). Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire. Disney Editions. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-7868-6200-9.
  6. ^ "Gentle Visionary: Roy O. Disney". The Walt Disney Family Museum. October 1, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  7. ^ DiCologero, Brittany (October 25, 2022). "Today in Disney History, 1971: Roy Disney's Disney World Dedication". Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Daniel (August 1, 2009). "Disney's Magic Makers: Edna Francis Disney". Netcot.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  9. ^ Chmielewski, Dawn C.; Bates, James (December 17, 2009). "Roy Edward Disney dies at 79; nephew of Walt helped revive animation". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  10. ^ Wickman, Gino; Winters, Mark C. (2015). Rocket Fuel The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business. New York: BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 9781941631164. OCLC 904407202.
  11. ^ Wilson, Scott; Mank, Gregory W. (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons. Vol. 1 (3rd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 9780786479924. OCLC 948561021.
  12. ^ a b Campbell, Michael (Summer 2002). "Roy E. Disney Rededicates Father's Engine" (PDF). Carolwood Chronicle. Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  13. ^ "Centennial Celebration Set for Roy O. Disney Steam Locomotive: September 15 to 18, 2016" (PDF). Carolwood Chronicle. No. 63. The Carolwood Society. Spring 2016. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Broggie, Michael (Winter 2016). "View from the Cupola" (PDF). Carolwood Chronicle. No. 65. The Carolwood Society. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "All aboard the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad". September 6, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c "Partners". D23. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  17. ^ Eades, Mark (December 22, 2016). "Remembering Roy O. Disney, Walt Disney's brother, 45 years after his death". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 24, 2019.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roy O. Disney.
Business positions
Preceded by
First CEO
 CEO of The Walt Disney Company
position created–1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Disney President
1945–1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
position vacant
 Disney Chairman
1964–1971 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roy_O._Disney&oldid=1256836570"