For many, it’s hard to look at Eisner’s tenure at Disney without a bit of disdain considering the latter half of it was a disaster. Those first ten years were pretty spectacular though while the first five years really brought Disney into the limelight. Before the Eisner/Wells regime, Disney did set in place some pieces that would help contribute to that success some years before. This included the launch of Walt Disney Home Video, Epcot Center, Disney Channel, Tokyo Disneyland and Touchstone Pictures.
The beginning of duo’s tenure began in 1985 and saw the company give the company a small makeover with the iconic Walt Disney Pictures logo we grew up with from the mid-80’s to the mid-00’s. Touchstone Television was created and debuted the major TV sitcom “Golden Girls”. Walt Disney Television Group was launched with two of Disney’s first animated shows, “The Wuzzles” and “Adventures of the Gummi Bears”. Deals were set in stone to create Euro Disneyland and Disney-MGM Studios along with Lucasfilm creating new attractions for the theme parks. Disney VHS sales were hitting record numbers with news classic releases like Pinocchio which were off limits before Eisner/Wells.
The next year in 1986, the Duo’s first new film was “Down and Out in Beverly Hills”, the first R rated feature from the company under the Touchstone Label, their biggest hit in a long time. Touchstone would continue its streak of top revenue movies year after year with hits like Good Morning Vietnam, Turner and Hooch, Adventures in Babysitting, Stakeout, Can’t Buy Me Love, Ruthless People, Cocktail, The Color of Money, Three Men and a Baby and Dead Poets Society. Walt Disney Productions and WED Enterprises were renamed The Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney Imagineering. Disney teamed with Capcom to create video games with Disney characters. The Disney Sunday debuted after 1983’s cancelation the Wonderful World of Disney with Michael Eisner as the host of the show. Disney Channel subscriptions were hitting record numbers.
1987 saw the opening of the first Disney Store which would expand yearly. Disneyland saw the new major hit attraction Star Tours and the parks began to sell “Disney Dollars”. The Disney Legend award debuted and was given to those who had a significant part in the company’s past. Long time deals were made with Mattel and McDonald’s. The major TV animated series “Ducktales” debuts.
1988 was headlined by the major studio hit “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and the Disney studio was finally the top studio in movie revenue in the industry. More hit shows debuted with “Empty Nest”, “Regis and Kathy Lee” and “The New adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Walt Disney World began its first expansion in six years with two new hotels “Grand Floridian” and “Caribbean Beach Resort”. Mickey Mouse celebrates an epic “Sixty Years” anniversary campaign.
1989 began with a bang with major theme parks expansions at WDW with Disney-MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island while Disneyland opened the new 3 E-Ticket Splash Mountain. Two new hit shows debuted “Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers” and “The New Mickey Mouse Club”. The company also begin to collaborate with the Jim Henson Company and also created a new movie label “Hollywood Pictures”. The Disney Studio finally had two major hits under their own label, “The Little Mermaid” and “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”.
Even though Disney was ever changing during this time, I feel like a lot of Disney Magic was kept intact while the company celebrated with a heavy helping of Disney nostalgia along with some new Magic. What I feel that Eisner and Wells did really well during this time was put a magnifying glass on the Disney company and helped consumers understand what Disney really meant to them growing up.
For those who remember this time, what are you’re thoughts about Eisner/Wells hold on the company those first five years?
The beginning of duo’s tenure began in 1985 and saw the company give the company a small makeover with the iconic Walt Disney Pictures logo we grew up with from the mid-80’s to the mid-00’s. Touchstone Television was created and debuted the major TV sitcom “Golden Girls”. Walt Disney Television Group was launched with two of Disney’s first animated shows, “The Wuzzles” and “Adventures of the Gummi Bears”. Deals were set in stone to create Euro Disneyland and Disney-MGM Studios along with Lucasfilm creating new attractions for the theme parks. Disney VHS sales were hitting record numbers with news classic releases like Pinocchio which were off limits before Eisner/Wells.
The next year in 1986, the Duo’s first new film was “Down and Out in Beverly Hills”, the first R rated feature from the company under the Touchstone Label, their biggest hit in a long time. Touchstone would continue its streak of top revenue movies year after year with hits like Good Morning Vietnam, Turner and Hooch, Adventures in Babysitting, Stakeout, Can’t Buy Me Love, Ruthless People, Cocktail, The Color of Money, Three Men and a Baby and Dead Poets Society. Walt Disney Productions and WED Enterprises were renamed The Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney Imagineering. Disney teamed with Capcom to create video games with Disney characters. The Disney Sunday debuted after 1983’s cancelation the Wonderful World of Disney with Michael Eisner as the host of the show. Disney Channel subscriptions were hitting record numbers.
1987 saw the opening of the first Disney Store which would expand yearly. Disneyland saw the new major hit attraction Star Tours and the parks began to sell “Disney Dollars”. The Disney Legend award debuted and was given to those who had a significant part in the company’s past. Long time deals were made with Mattel and McDonald’s. The major TV animated series “Ducktales” debuts.
1988 was headlined by the major studio hit “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and the Disney studio was finally the top studio in movie revenue in the industry. More hit shows debuted with “Empty Nest”, “Regis and Kathy Lee” and “The New adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Walt Disney World began its first expansion in six years with two new hotels “Grand Floridian” and “Caribbean Beach Resort”. Mickey Mouse celebrates an epic “Sixty Years” anniversary campaign.
1989 began with a bang with major theme parks expansions at WDW with Disney-MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Pleasure Island while Disneyland opened the new 3 E-Ticket Splash Mountain. Two new hit shows debuted “Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers” and “The New Mickey Mouse Club”. The company also begin to collaborate with the Jim Henson Company and also created a new movie label “Hollywood Pictures”. The Disney Studio finally had two major hits under their own label, “The Little Mermaid” and “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”.
Even though Disney was ever changing during this time, I feel like a lot of Disney Magic was kept intact while the company celebrated with a heavy helping of Disney nostalgia along with some new Magic. What I feel that Eisner and Wells did really well during this time was put a magnifying glass on the Disney company and helped consumers understand what Disney really meant to them growing up.
For those who remember this time, what are you’re thoughts about Eisner/Wells hold on the company those first five years?
