The Spirit Takes the Fifth ...

[PeterAlt]

Katzenberg would hire Eddie Murphy for the Han Solo role in Star Wars 7.

It says on Wikipedia that he oversaw Paramount's reboot of the original Star Trek movies. So, he is perfect for managing what Disney wants to do with it's newly acquired franchises. The Wikipedia entry on him makes it seem it would be a great choice, but if you see the Wikipedia entry on DreamWorks, the opposite impression is made.

 

[Ignohippo]

No one has a comment to make about this idea?

Katzenberg is one of the most hated men in Hollywood. He's had success, but he has a terrible reputation of being intolerable.

Just think of what Toy Story would have been like (and was until Lasseter got control of the project to make it the way HE wanted) if Katzenberg had kept his way. We wouldn't have Pixar as we know it today.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Katzenberg is one of the most hated men in Hollywood. He's had success, but he has a terrible reputation of being intolerable.

Just think of what Toy Story would have been like (and was until Lasseter got control of the project to make it the way HE wanted) if Katzenberg had kept his way. We wouldn't have Pixar as we know it today.

People forget how some of DreamWorks Animation's worst film reek of Katzenberg; Think Shark Tale, Over the Hedge, Bee Movie, Shrek sequels. Films built on sometimes faulty ideas mutilated by Katzenberg like execs who beat the films into their own image. Worth noting some of DreamWorks best films came from Aardman (Chicken Run and W&G:Curse of the Wererabbit) and ex-Disney folks (HTTYD).

Speaking of movies: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/b...-wrecks.html?ref=business&_r=0&pagewanted=all

Mr. Creutz added: “The major media companies are so big that nothing but a blockbuster really makes sense. Say you make a low-budget comedy and it brings in $150 million. So what? That doesn’t move the needle. You make a blockbuster, you market and promote it, and it plays around the world. You can do the sequel and the consumer products and a theme park attraction. The movie itself is almost beside the point. All Disney is going to be doing is Marvel, Star Wars and animation.”

With its multibillion-dollar acquisitions of Marvel and Lucasfilm, Disney has bet so heavily on the strategy that it has almost no option other than making blockbusters. So far it has suffered two of the biggest flops — “John Carter” and “The Lone Ranger” — but neither was based on top-tier superheroes. Disney’s “The Avengers” and “Iron Man 3,” both based on Marvel characters, are two of the highest-grossing films of all time.

 

[PeterAlt]

Katzenberg is one of the most hated men in Hollywood. He's had success, but he has a terrible reputation of being intolerable.

Just think of what Toy Story would have been like (and was until Lasseter got control of the project to make it the way HE wanted) if Katzenberg had kept his way. We wouldn't have Pixar as we know it today.

I see... But isn't he responsible for the success of the late 80's and 90's 2D animated blockbusters, such as Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and Aladdin? More recently, 3D blockbusters at DreamWorks, such as Shrek?

 

[TP2000]

I know, at DL, Walt organized the monorail, the Main Street trolley, the DL Railroad, and the Tiki Birds into a separate company, which he controlled, outside the control of the Disney organization. That company would eventually be bought by Walt Disney Productions and merge.

At Disneyland, those rides and shows were controlled by the Retlaw Company. Spell Retlaw backwards and you'll understand who owned it.

But that was only at Disneyland. Since Walt had been dead for five years by the time WDW opened in 1971, there was no Retlaw to own or operate anything special at WDW. And the Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom was just a regular E Ticket, not the extra cost 85 cent ticket it was at Disneyland when it was owned and operated by Retlaw.

 

[PeterAlt]

At Disneyland, those rides and shows were controlled by the Retlaw Company. Spell Retlaw backwards and you'll understand who owned it.

But that was only at Disneyland. Since Walt had been dead for five years by the time WDW opened in 1971, there was no Retlaw to own or operate anything special at WDW. And the Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom was just a regular E Ticket, not the extra cost 85 cent ticket it was at Disneyland when it was owned and operated by Retlaw.

When was Retlaw absorbed into WDP?

 

[TP2000]

When was Retlaw absorbed into WDP?

I remember reading that Retlaw sold the Disneyland Monorail, Disneyland Railroad, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and various Disneyland enterprises back to the Walt Disney Productions in the early 1980's, just prior to Eisner coming on board. And according to a quick check on Wikipedia, Retlaw did in fact do that in 1982, although Wikipedia has been known to be off on dates a bit.

Retlaw continued to exist to the turn of the 21st century, owning several California TV stations, farmland and a charter jet service. It devolved back into the Walt Disney Family Foundation a few years ago, just prior to the Walt Disney Family Museum opening in San Francisco's Presidio.

And anyone who claims to be a Walt Disney fan simply MUST visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. It's just stunning, and highly informative. There's info on Retlaw and its role at Disneyland and beyond at the museum, by the way. There is practically no information about Walt Disney World there, however. Only stuff that Walt actually created and worked on.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

When was Retlaw absorbed into WDP?

It never was; WDP just bought some of Retlaw's assets.

 

[Ignohippo]

No one has a comment to make about this idea?

Katzenberg is one of the most hated men in Hollywood. He's had success, but he has a terrible reputation of being intolerable.

Just think of what Toy Story would have been like (and was until Lasseter got control of the project to make it the way HE wanted) if Katzenberg had kept his way. We wouldn't have Pixar as we know it today.

 

[Ignohippo]

People forget how some of DreamWorks Animation's worst film reek of Katzenberg; Think Shark Tale, Over the Hedge, Bee Movie, Shrek sequels. Films built on sometimes faulty ideas mutilated by Katzenberg like execs who beat the films into their own image. Worth noting some of DreamWorks best films came from Aardman (Chicken Run and W&G:Curse of the Wererabbit) and ex-Disney folks (HTTYD).

Speaking of movies: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/b...-wrecks.html?ref=business&_r=0&pagewanted=all

You forget my favorite Aardman/Dreamworks collaboration "Flushed Away". Probably much too "edgy" for Aardman's liking but IMO one of the most underrated animated movies ever.

Hilarious from beginning to end, filled with great chararcters and amazing animation. It was failed by a poor choice of titles and horrible marketing.

 

[Ignohippo]

I see... But isn't he responsible for the success of the late 80's and 90's 2D animated blockbusters, such as Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and Aladdin? More recently, 3D blockbusters at DreamWorks, such as Shrek?

I believe he was gone by the time Aladin came out. He's had a ton of success, but he's had his share of failures too. Dreamworks was in serious trouble before he got out of his own way and started letting others take control. Their first few releases were horrible (especially the 2d ones). The Shrek franchise absolutely saved the animation division of that company.

 

[GoofGoof]

No one has a comment to make about this idea?

Better chance of Greedo being resurrected for episode 7.

 

[PeterAlt]

Better chance of Greedo being resurrected for episode 7.

Star Wars analogies always work.

 

[PeterAlt]

I remember reading that Retlaw sold the Disneyland Monorail, Disneyland Railroad, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and various Disneyland enterprises back to the Walt Disney Productions in the early 1980's, just prior to Eisner coming on board. And according to a quick check on Wikipedia, Retlaw did in fact do that in 1982, although Wikipedia has been known to be off on dates a bit.

Retlaw continued to exist to the turn of the 21st century, owning several California TV stations, farmland and a charter jet service. It devolved back into the Walt Disney Family Foundation a few years ago, just prior to the Walt Disney Family Museum opening in San Francisco's Presidio.

And anyone who claims to be a Walt Disney fan simply MUST visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. It's just stunning, and highly informative. There's info on Retlaw and its role at Disneyland and beyond at the museum, by the way. There is practically no information about Walt Disney World there, however. Only stuff that Walt actually created and worked on.

Interesting. There was another company, too, that owned the Disneyland Hotel and the Lone Ranger. I think it was called the Rather Corporation. I think Disney bought them out during Eisner...

 

[lazyboy97o]

Interesting. There was another company, too, that owned the Disneyland Hotel and the Lone Ranger. I think it was called the Rather Corporation. I think Disney bought them out during Eisner...

Wrather Corporation. Jack Wrather was a friend of Walt Disney's.

 

[Funmeister]

Please stop reading Wikipedia. lol There is a reason Katzenburger is on an island by himself with Dreamworks Animation.

 

[FigmentJedi]

People forget how some of DreamWorks Animation's worst film reek of Katzenberg; Think Shark Tale, Over the Hedge, Bee Movie, Shrek sequels. Films built on sometimes faulty ideas mutilated by Katzenberg like execs who beat the films into their own image. Worth noting some of DreamWorks best films came from Aardman (Chicken Run and W&G:Curse of the Wererabbit) and ex-Disney folks (HTTYD).

Speaking of movies: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/b...-wrecks.html?ref=business&_r=0&pagewanted=all

Also Guillermo del Toro's producer work has been helping. Other then the dance party credits, Puss in Boots feels nothing like the Shrek sequels.

 

[janoimagine]

I see... But isn't he responsible for the success of the late 80's and 90's 2D animated blockbusters, such as Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, and Aladdin? More recently, 3D blockbusters at DreamWorks, such as Shrek?

I would say no. All those (Disney) films were in production or pre-production when he came on board. Remember ... Katzenburg padlocked the doors to Disney Animation, kicking out the animators and took over their offices when he first came to the studio, the man is nothing more than a petty theif (Ant's anyone?) ... he stole, begged and borrowed his way to success ... he has made a great career as a bottom feeder, and any success he has achieved at a studio exec came from riding the coat tails of others, or by stepping on anyone in his way.

 

[Clever Name]

At Disneyland, those rides and shows were controlled by the Retlaw Company. Spell Retlaw backwards and you'll understand who owned it.

But that was only at Disneyland. Since Walt had been dead for five years by the time WDW opened in 1971, there was no Retlaw to own or operate anything special at WDW. And the Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom was just a regular E Ticket, not the extra cost 85 cent ticket it was at Disneyland when it was owned and operated by Retlaw.

Retlaw wasn't created until 1965. In 1953 Walt Disney and WED Enterprises were sued by a shareholder of Walt Disney Productions. Walt was diverting money from Walt Disney Productions to his family (Lillian, Diane and Sharon). That lawsuit was settled in favor of the shareholder in 1955.

Walt continued to operate WED in much the same manner as before and Roy became worried that another (and bigger) lawsuit would result. He urged Walt to sell WED back to Walt Disney Productions because of the obvious ethical improprieties. It has been reported that during this time the disagreement between Walt and Roy was so intense that they refused to speak with each other.

Under mounting pressure (and another probable lawsuit) Walt relented and sold part of WED Enterprises to Walt Disney Productions. The attorneys that worked on the sale of WED were surprised at the amount of money that Walt had siphoned off from Walt Disney Productions. Roy Disney intervened in the negotiations to protect his little brother and remind the legal teams (on both sides) that if Walt's reputation was tarnished in this deal, everyone would be out of a job as a result. What remained in Walt's hands was renamed Retlaw Enterprises in 1965.

And yes, there was a Retlaw after Walt's death. Both WED Enterprises and Retlaw Enterprises were created by Walt for the express purpose of funneling money to his family. Retlaw made a lot of money from WDW. Here's an article from the L.A. Times back in 1990 that has some history of Retlaw. The Disney family does not talk about Retlaw because its original purpose was to engage in unethical and most likely illegal activities.

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-02/business/fi-1834_1_walt-Disney

Here's a quote from that article: "Even Retlaw's sale of the Disney name rights to Walt Disney Co. nearly 30 years later was marked by family friction. Only one of Walt Disney Co.'s directors voted against the deal--Walt's nephew Roy E. Disney, who complained that the company paid too much to get the rights back, according to Disney's 1982 proxy statement."

For a more detailed look I'd suggest you read the book by Bob Thomas: Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire

 

[PeterAlt]

I would say no. All those (Disney) films were in production or pre-production when he came on board. Remember ... Katzenburg padlocked the doors to Disney Animation, kicking out the animators and took over their offices when he first came to the studio, the man is nothing more than a petty theif (Ant's anyone?) ... he stole, begged and borrowed his way to success ... he has made a great career as a bottom feeder, and any success he has achieved at a studio exec came from riding the coat tails of others, or by stepping on anyone in his way.

Roy Disney launched a coup in 1984 against the management at that time, which was lead by Walt's son-in-law Ron Miller. As part of that coup, he assembled his dream team that he wanted to install in top positions. He called his team the Brain Trust. They were Frank Wells as CEO, Eisner as President, Katzenberg as studio head, and himself as animation head. Eisner said he wouldn't join the team unless he was CEO. Wells told Disney to give Eisner the CEO position and he didn't mind being president. Those titles were released when all of them worked together as a team. So, Eisner, Wells, and Disney, as well as Katzenberg, were all responsible for the success of those films.

When they started, the Black Cauldron was in post-production. The team knew they had a problem on their hands. Katzenberg's solution: cut 3 minutes out. He got a lot of flack for that.