An Orange County analysis college within the shadow of Disneyland might quickly change into residence to a scholarly suppose tank devoted to learning the life’s work of Walt Disney and the Anaheim theme park’s influence on the world.
Disney historian Jeff Kurtti and Chapman College professor Brian Alters are learning the feasibility of growing a Walt Disney Suppose Tank on the analysis college positioned 5 miles from Disneyland in Previous Towne Orange.
Disney historian Jeff Kurtti, left, and Chapman College professor Brian Alters. (Courtesy of Chapman College)
The suppose tank would examine the life, legacy and world influence of the Disneyland founder and his affect on artwork, music, tradition, enterprise, financial improvement, transportation, city planning, themed environments, placemaking, science, know-how and innovation.
“A think tank about Walt Disney is such an interesting and deep area of pursuit,” Kurtti mentioned throughout a cellphone interview. “Even today, almost 60 years after his passing, the things that he envisioned still have relevance. People keep coming back to them. Our intent is to examine that aspect of Walt Disney’s persona — biographically, creatively and professionally.”
Walt Disney tells a customer, Related Press’ Bob Thomas in Anaheim, the place the 2 Disneyland trains will cease to tackle passengers for the journey across the grounds. Railway Station within the background would be the first sight of Disneyland for guests. Two entrances to the grounds might be on both facet of the station. (File picture by the Related Press)
Alters has taught science and schooling at Chapman, Harvard and McGill universities. His hottest class at Chapman: The Pursuit of Happiness and Data: Charles Darwin & Walt Disney.
“As a visionary whose career transected numerous industries and continues to shape everyday life around the world, Walt Disney remains woefully understudied from an academic perspective,” Alters mentioned in a press release launched by Chapman.
Walt Disney, proven in December 1958, factors out options of the technologically superior monorail system that opened at Disneyland the next yr. Disney’s TV present and his theme park typically celebrated the wonders of scientific discovery. (File picture by Don Brinn, Related Press)
Virtually all the pieces Walt Disney labored on both expanded on an idea, elevated an concept or propelled it ahead with a brand new momentum that also resonates immediately, in accordance with Kurtti.
“Whether it’s in film, music, parks or place making, these are all things that Walt Disney still touches, even long after he’s been gone,” Kurtti mentioned.
Walt Disney stares at one of many figures destined to be a part of the Pirates of the Caribbean experience at Disneyland on this picture taken circa 1966. Disney died in December 1966, and by no means received to experience the completed attraction that opened March 18, 1967. (Photograph courtesy: Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Enterprises, Inc.)
All through his profession, Kurtti has labored for Walt Disney Imagineering, served because the Walt Disney Household Museum inventive director and written dozens of books on Disney historical past.
Kurtti visited Disneyland for the primary time as a child in 1971 and was immediately remodeled right into a “huge Disney nut.” In 1986, he received employed by the Disney firm and spent the subsequent few a long time engaged on tasks at Disneyland.
“There’s always, for me, this great sentiment because it’s Walt’s park,” Kurtti mentioned. “It’s the one he laid hands on.”
Kurtti can’t think about a greater place for a Walt Disney Suppose Tank than Chapman College.
“I would be sitting in the evening working on my laptop and I could hear the fireworks at 9:30 every night because it’s that close to Disneyland,” Kurtti mentioned. “It’s almost like Chapman was created to have something important to do with the study of Walt Disney.”
Alters and Kurtti are anticipated to finish the Walt Disney Suppose Tank feasibility report in a few yr.
Initially Printed: November 5, 2024 at 10:18 AM PST
