Walt Disney Defines the Bedrock Aspiration of The Disney Company: “Emphasize the Principles of Right”

Walt Disney, the entertainment visionary, created Mickey Mouse, produced the first animated feature length film, helped establish television in its early days, and invented the theme park concept.  In the process, he built an enduring American brand centered around family and principled entertainment.

The 1950s saw a great expansion of the Disney enterprise. Disney began doing non-animated live-action features like "Treasure Island," "Old Yeller," and "Swiss Family Robinson." These proved enormously popular. In 1955, Disney, in the presence of future President Ronald Reagan, dedicated the theme park Disneyland, which was utterly unlike any previous amusement park in its breath-taking scope and variety. He defined his objectives, saying, "To all who come to this happy place… Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America … with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”  

Disney also began hosting a weekly series on ABC entitled, “Disneyland,” which became “Walt Disney Presents,” then the “Wonderful World of Disney,” and eventually "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color." These shows brilliantly showcased Disney's remarkable repertory, and many feel that he single-handedly led the revolution that replaced the world of black-and-white with color television.

Disney's show coincided with the blossoming of the Western and western-themed movies and shows, and in fact helped bring it to pass.  Disney helped launched the Davy Crockett craze with a mini-series named after that historical figure. In 1958, building on the Western craze and the success of "Davy Crockett," Disney debuted a show called “Texas John Slaughter,” after a real, wild west-type figure in a white cowboy hat.  The beginning theme song went, “Texas John Slaughter made 'em do what they oughta, and if they didn't, they died."

In 1959, before the end of the very first season, Disney received a letter of complaint that had been forwarded to him by his home-town ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, KABC, from a woman concerned that this show had become too violent, and was a violation of Disney's own goals of family-geared programming that promoted American values.  He responded in this letter, acquired from the descendants of the recipient and offered for sale here for the first time.  In it, he gives the strongest sentiment we have seen in writing on the motivations that helped Disney build an international brand that has lasted more than half a century, and what he hoped the company would stand for.

Typed letter signed, February 16, 1959, to Mrs. George O. Hayman, with the original envelope. "KABC has forwarded to me your letter in which you explain yours and your family's unhappy reaction to our recent JOHN SLAUGHTER television films. Your interest in writing is very much appreciated and is definitely helpful to us in establishing our format for future productions.

"Again, my thanks for taking time out to write us your feeling about this film, and I want to assure you that we shall strive to make our future entertainment such that you and your family will again enjoy it."

Authentic letters of Walt Disney have become increasingly uncommon, and this is among the best we have seen offered for sale.