By Jack Lebo, Correspondent
We just happen to reside just down the street from an elementary school named for one of my heroes, Walt Disney. Just recently, I discovered that Mr. Disney, himself came to Levittown, PA, to dedicate the opening of the school. Unfortunately, I was serving overseas with the U.S. Air Force at the time, thus, I was unable to witness this wonderful occasion.It was Saturday, September 24, 1955, and Walt Disney had come to town to dedicate the then brand-new elementary school that had been named in his honor. The school, in the lakeside section of Levittown, PA, had been built to replace the aging two-room Tullytown schoolhouse that had served the community for generations.In the spring of 1954, with the new school still in the planning stages, the Tullytown school board had asked students to select the person for whom they would name it. Generally, elementary schools are named after famous American historical figures, usually deceased. But these children had someone different in mind. To everyone’s surprise and delight, they chose Walt Disney.For a child, this was a simple choice. The name Walt Disney was known to even the youngest of them. The bulk of their entertainment was provided by Disney. The market was flooded with Disney books, Disney magazines and Disney toys. Movie theatres were filled with Disney productions. “The Mickey Mouse Club” and the Disney TV shows led the TV ratings, and the Disneyland theme Park had just opened. It was no contest. Disney was contacted, and was pleasantly surprised that a school would bear his name. AS famous as he had been for so many years, no other school had ever given him this honor. Not only did he promise to come to the dedication, but he would send artists to decorate the school’s interior. Since Gov. George Leader had proclaimed Sept. 24 “Walt Disney Day” throughout the Commonwealth, national state, and local dignitaries waited there to greet Disney. But it was the children who got most of the attention. They shunted the officials aside and surged forward almost onto the railroad tracks. They shouted and waved, and clutched at Disney as he climbed down from the train.The door to each room would be emblazoned with the name of a Disney character rather than a number. There would be the “Mickey” room, the “Donald” room, the “Pinocchio” room and the “Snow White” room. The principal’s office door would read “Captain Hook”; “the cafeteria, “The Castle of Dreams;” the girls’ lavatory, “Mermaid Lagoon;” and the boys’ lavatory, “Pirates Cove.” The nurse’s office was “Pegleg Point” and the telephone booth was “Tinker Bell.” The door to the boiler room, beyond which no student should ever pass, would read, “Never-never Land.” On Saturday, Sept. 24, shortly after 3 p.m., a Pennsylvania Railroad train approached the Levittown station. Leaning out of the window of the diesel locomotive, wearing a railroad engineer’s cap, and smiling and waving to the crowd that overflowed the platform, was Walt Disney. Beside him, was Colin Cho, a sixth grader and the school’s official greeter. After being driven in a motorcade to the old Tullytown schoolhouse, and then given a short tour of Levittown, Disney was brought to the new school. There, he laid the cornerstone to the accompaniment of songs from his many films played by the children’s school band. Once inside the building, Disney was joined by six children who alternately held his hand and led him on a grand tour of the school. He walked the halls with them and visited every classroom. Special Saturday classes were in session for the occasion, and the master story teller delighted students by telling stories and imitating some of his characters.In the Bambi room, he told them parts of the Bambi story. In the Donald Duck room, he imitated Donald. In the Mickey Mouse room, he was the voice of Mickey. In the Pluto room, he stood at a piano and plunked out, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” He posed for photos and joked with parents and teachers. Those who were there that day still remember that Disney seemed to enjoy himself as much as the children. Later, the children entertained him in their auditorium with their own special Disneyland show.Disney reportedly liked what he saw of Levittown. He commented on the way the community was laid out, “with plenty of room for gardening.” When asked if he would ever come back, he indicated that he had no immediate plans to return, but someday he probably would. Unfortunately, he never did. Seven years later he was gone, succumbing to cancer at age 66.In contrast to children in 1955, who saw Disney each week on his television show, few of today’s youngsters even recognize him. Echoing comments of other recent principals, current principal Fay Manicke commented, “It’s sad that many of the children who today attend the school look up at the large framed photograph of Disney in the school lobby and ask, “Who’s that?”
I took a quick look at each of the above schools history, if they had any. Each and every one that told about how their school was named were extremley proud of the fact that it was the students that came up with Walt's name.
So, I am going to classify this post as, "I Learned Something While Surfing the Net the Other Day."
o to Disney's Pleasure Island and specifically end up at the Adventurer's Club. We would have such a fun time trying to catch different shows each time we've gone. I was lucky enough to be down in WDW a couple weeks before it closed for good. We saw all the shows that night. In the picture to the right and this link to one of my Youtube videos of the Club shows Otis T.Wren. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlHhjgiSC8
trip to Animal Kingdom I had a Adventurer's Club Alumni sighting. It was none other than Professor Otis T. Wren from that last night who was moonlighting as the Tour Guide Leader at the Flights of Wonder in AK. This was one of those great chance encounters that are always around the corner. I was going to skip Flights of Wonder this time anyway. But, the CM with the Ow
l out front of the attraction got me and in I went. When it got to the point where the noisy, ornithopiac (afraid of birds), tour guide leader enters on stage waving his classic red flag. It was Otis. He was great. It was a really nice treat to see this actor continuing to work with Disney. He played his part way above and beyond and was really a good 'straight man' for the birds. Always fun to see old friends. I saw that there were sightings over at the Chef's de France rest. at Epcot of two other former members of the Adventure. Keep your eyes open for other Club alumni moving on.
trip to Animal Kingdom I had a Adventurer's Club Alumni sighting. It was none other than Professor Otis T. Wren from that last night who was moonlighting as the Tour Guide Leader at the Flights of Wonder in AK. This was one of those great chance encounters that are always around the corner. I was going to skip Flights of Wonder this time anyway. But, the CM with the Ow
l out front of the attraction got me and in I went. When it got to the point where the noisy, ornithopiac (afraid of birds), tour guide leader enters on stage waving his classic red flag. It was Otis. He was great. It was a really nice treat to see this actor continuing to work with Disney. He played his part way above and beyond and was really a good 'straight man' for the birds. Always fun to see old friends. I saw that there were sightings over at the Chef's de France rest. at Epcot of two other former members of the Adventure. Keep your eyes open for other Club alumni moving on.
