142 Comments
User's avatar
Zyxomma's avatar

Ta, Erik. There were so many, many things wrong with Walt Disney.

Expand full comment
Edgar Allen Shmoe's avatar

I often wonder where we’d be as a country today if we weren’t so pants-shittingly afraid of communism

Expand full comment
Permanently Confused@68's avatar

Russia made communism look so bad. But, to be fair, has it ever really worked anywhere? Socialistic policies in a democratic society, yes, but pure communism? I don't think so.

Expand full comment
Edgar Allen Shmoe's avatar

No, it hasn't...Every country that has tried it has either failed or moved toward some form of free market capitalism. Because of the USSR, we now equate communism and socialism with authoritarianism, which seems to hold us back as a nation.

Expand full comment
Emil Muz's avatar

The idea of people thinking that they are too good to organize with peers they think are inferior to them is the story of U.S. automakers writ large. They created division between line/production workers and white collar employees who were all too happy to spread the propaganda that the unions were overpaid, lazy etc.

As an example of be careful what you wish for, the white collar retirees were up in arms when GM/Delphi reorganized in 2009 because they were gonna get screwed over on benefits in a way that the UAW/IUE weren't.

This was a big deal in Dayton because of the large DELCO/Delphi connection, but in my thinking they got what they didn't pay for--no collective bargaining, no contract, no recourse.

Yes, terrible for those people but they thought they were too good for the union workers who at least had some legal leg to stand on.

Expand full comment
Enter Ranting's avatar

I've worked for Disney, and I can tell you it's a terrible company. We wouldn't need unions if the heads of companies weren't shameless, greedy pricks.

Expand full comment
Joe Z's avatar

The news from recent years has emphasized a major division at Disney. The artists are so sincere and dedicated, but the executives are greedy cowards. And that's putting it politely.

Expand full comment
Oy!'s avatar

Disney's grandniece has some issues with Walt .. . .

.

Walt Disney’s Grandniece Agrees With Meryl Streep: He Was ‘Racist’

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/walt-disneys-grandniece-agrees-meryl-670039/

Expand full comment
DDB9000's avatar

Walt would be proud to know thet the current Disney regime is run by reich-wingers who are gradually sucking up companies like Marvel and ABC and Disneyfying them.

Expand full comment
Enter Ranting's avatar

Bob Iger: "It's unreasonable that the people who create the product that has made me a multi, multi, multi millionaire should earn a decent living wage."

Expand full comment
DDB9000's avatar

I remember when DeathSantis was tangling with Disney there were low wage workers demonstrating outside Disney's boundary line.

Expand full comment
Malcolm Campbell's avatar

A member of the initial strike group was Dennis the Menace creator Hank Ketcham. Though, to foreshadow his future bastardry, he would turn on the strikers and start scabbing.

Expand full comment
Darrell Leland's avatar

This story is notorious in this history of animation, and artists in the business remember it to this day. Disney also famously promised his chief people all kinds of benefits if they just all knuckled under and made Snow White successful, which they did in 1937. He rewarded the enormous effort by reneging on all his promises, which helped sow all the bitterness of a few years later.

Expand full comment
VaselineHabits's avatar

He also had one hell of a party to reward the artists after the success of Snow White... that never happened again. Walt had withdrawn something like 3 months salary and was rumored to give that out at the party as a bonus

That didn't happen, no one knows really way, so when Walt retired to sleep off his drink - the artists took it upon themselves to REALLY shut it down with their debauchery. Disney was banned from ever going back to that hotel where the party took place

Expand full comment
Elviouslyqueer's avatar

If memory serves, there was also an urban legend* about Walt's head being cryogenically frozen so he could reanimate at some future date.

*which is to say, probably 110% true.

Expand full comment
Being released's avatar

Timothy Leary did that. I saw a document about him once where they showed doctor's cutting off his head after he died.

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

I know Ted Williams did it, and I heard that Walt Disney did it. Didn't know about Timothy Leary!

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

Which Ted Williams do you mean?

Expand full comment
Michael Bowen's avatar

The one referenced in the link I posted. Is there another famous Ted Williams?

Expand full comment
Eileen's avatar

I'm an Old, so the only Ted Williams I know of played for the Boston Red Sox back in the day, fought in WWII and Korea, returned to the Boston Red Sox, and is REALLY worth googling....

Expand full comment
John Thorstensen's avatar

I wish I knew "Futurama" better -- was there an episode that featured his re-animated head?

Expand full comment
fair_n_hite_451's avatar

Walt's head was never mentioned on the show. Rampant speculation as to why in the "too online by half" community.

Expand full comment
Mysterysurf's avatar

The infamous "Disney Deep Freeze," yes.

Expand full comment
Trux Mint In Box's avatar

OT - Potential NYT headlines upcoming

How Trump being found guilty hurts America- David Brooks

Why Trumps guilt won’t move the needle with voters - random NYT asshole

Trump is guilty but it’s Biden who will deal with the consequences- special guest essay by AJ Sulzberger

Expand full comment
Oy!'s avatar

Don't forget Bret Stephens – he's always ready with 1000 words on how the right are victimized in America . . . (when he's not endlessly justifying the genocide in Gaza)

Expand full comment
Trux Mint In Box's avatar

New York courts just gave Trump the upper hand - Bret Stephens

Expand full comment
Tom65's avatar

It's up to you, New York, New York!

Expand full comment
VasyaCognito's avatar

OT:

Aaron Rupar:

Trump fans haven't been rooting so hard for something to be hung since Mike Pence.

Expand full comment
ciaobella's avatar

"Trump is leaving the courtroom. He cannot leave the courthouse while the jury is deliberating, as Justice Merchan informed him with a quirk of his mouth, as if to say, 'nothing to be done about this.'"

Also perhaps as if to say, "Fuck you, go eat your Mac Donalds and do some shit posting. I'll remember how you attacked my daughter when it comes to sentencing."

Expand full comment
memzilla's avatar

This may have influenced his re-releases, including 'Snow White and the Seven Union Agitators,' 'Leninderella,' and '101 Proletarians.'

Expand full comment
Being released's avatar

The case is with the jury. Now we play the waiting game.

Oh, the waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

Expand full comment
tek's avatar

Eric's got a pile of Bluey episodes on his tablet, he's ready.

Expand full comment
Oy!'s avatar

Ha ha ha . . . watching Trump's deranged hallway rant. He is hurting bad! 😃 |🇺🇸

Expand full comment
Being released's avatar

"The judge is very conflicted (pause) and corrupt. (pause) Because of the confliction, he's corrupt." Or something to that effect.

Expand full comment
IMPOed's avatar

Or "Whack a MAGAt"!!

Expand full comment