Disney Imagineering Legend Steps Down

[Loomis]

Disney Legend Steps Down

Marty Sklar leaves his post as Imagineering's principal creative executive but will remain the group's 'ambassador.'

In a move that signals the end of an era at Walt Disney Co., Marty Sklar is giving up his mantle as the principal creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, the company's storied theme park design and development arm.

In a memo to colleagues made public Thursday, the 72-year-old former speechwriter for Walt Disney said he was leaving his job to serve as an "ambassador" for the group he has led for the last three decades.

Sklar is one of the last remaining employees who once worked closely with the Burbank company's co-founder.

Reflecting on those deep ties, Sklar said in an interview that he had long planned to step down after reaching two milestones — the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and his own half-century at the company.

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This news comes after the announcement of John Lasseter as WDI's "Principal Creative Adviser"

[Escapay]

Wow, 50 years! A wonderful way to retire, though. Celebrating both your own 50th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of the park...

It's been awhile since I watched it, but I think one of the Treasures sets has an interview with him (I think it's Tomorrowland).

Escapay

[Loomis]

No slowing down for Disney Imagineer Sklar

If he'd done nothing else in his career, Marty Sklar would rank as a Walt Disney Co. legend because of his exhaustive track record of impressing the heck out of the boss during the years when Walt Disney was achieving his ultimate dream, the launch of Disneyland.

Sklar, 72, served the Disney company for 50 years as the creative leader of the renowned Walt Disney Imagineering research and development unit. And if there was a thread that connected the organization with its own lustrous past during the 40 years since Walt Disney's death, it was Sklar, who joined the Disney studio a month before the grand opening of Disneyland in July 1955. Over the decades since, Sklar played an instrumental role in master-planning, design and construction of eight Disney theme parks and resorts around the world.

Last week, Sklar officially segued from his role as vice chairman and principal creative executive at the Imagineering unit to a new role as ambassador to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

"Our guests' devotion to our stories, characters, parks and resorts is incredibly strong and heartfelt, and there is no individual better suited than Marty to connect with those emotions and represent the innovative spirit of Imagineering," Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo wrote last week in a memo announcing Sklar's move.

Originally, Disney's Imagineers were a creative band of animators, production designers and directors handpicked by Walt Disney to devise the theme park in Anaheim that became Disneyland.

His personal Disney ride began when Sklar was still a student at UCLA. As an editor at the Daily Bruin, he was recruited by Disney senior management to create the Disneyland News, which sold for 10 cents on Main Street during the park's first year.

Sklar gradually became Walt Disney's special scrivener. He wrote executive materials for the Disney chief and created a short film that detailed Disney's early concepts for the Epcot project at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Sklar also authored the first bible for the themed entertainment industry, "Mickey's Ten Commandments," which includes tips from "know your audience" to "avoid overload -- create turn-ons."

"Working with Walt Disney was the greatest 'training by fire' anyone could ever experience," Sklar has said. "Our training was by Walt, who was always there pitching in with new ideas and improving everyone else's input. The fire was that we were constantly breaking new ground to create deadline projects never attempted before in this business. That, I'm proud to say, has never stopped in my years at Disney."

In his new role, Sklar has plans to develop and implement the Imagineering Ambassador program. His conception for the program harkens back to the major themes of his mentor, boss and friend, Walt Disney.

"The risk-taking that Walt began and instilled in all of us, the spirit of innovation that drives our collective talents to accomplish breakthrough experiences for our guests, the great story-telling that we know John Lasseter will contribute to, the 'no fear' approach to the next blank sheet of paper," Sklar wrote to his Imagineering colleagues last week. "I know you all will keep on dreaming big dreams, and doing the newest and best in all the world. I'll still be looking over your shoulders, and cheerleading as your Imagineering Ambassador!"