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Episode 52: Sumner Nesbitt
65 Plays1 year ago
On this week's episode we welcome Sumner Nesbitt - the Operations Manager of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, MO. Sumner shares how his love of Disney led to his current position and a number of fascinating stories about Walt! You don't want to miss this conversation!
To see more about the Walt Disney Hometown Museum click HERE
DISCLAIMER: We are not an affiliate of the Walt Disney Company or do we speak for the brand or the company. Any and all Disney-owned audio, characters, and likenesses are their property and theirs alone.
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Transcript
Introduction to Sharing the Magic
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to Sharing the Magic, the podcast that takes you on a journey through the enchanting worlds of Disney. Each week, we're joined by a special guest, whether they're a magician creating moments of astonishment or a Disney expert sharing the secrets behind the magic of the happiest place on Earth. Together we'll uncover the stories, inspirations, and behind the scenes tales that bring these worlds to life. So, get ready to be spellbound and transported to a place where dreams come true.
Meet the Co-hosts
00:00:54
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Sharing the Magic. I am so happy with the guests that we have tonight. But before we introduce Tim, let's go ahead and say hello to all our wonderful co-hosts tonight. And we have Rachel joining us tonight. How you doing, Rachel? I'm doing good. I'm staying inside all day today. It's pretty darn hot in the panhandle area. So looking forward to our conversation tonight. All right, next up we have Lisa. Lisa, how you doing? I am great. I may or may not be looking at a six and a half hour drive to this museum that we're gonna talk about tonight. But yeah, it was just a short trip from Indianapolis. What's six and a half hours?
00:01:39
Speaker
ah Easy. Yeah. What's sad about it is I used to live in Nebraska and I could have really easily went there, but now I live in North Carolina with my other co-host Jeff. Jeff, how are you doing tonight? worst Well, I'm doing pretty good. Well, I'm happy to have our newest pal Sumner. I can't wait to talk to him and we'll have a great conversation. you Yes, we all are. And I'm so thankful that our guest is here tonight. I've been waiting for a long time to have him come on.
Sumner's Disney Connection
00:02:12
Speaker
So without any more goofiness for the time being, we'd like to introduce our guest, Sumner Nesbitt. How are you doing, Sumner? i'm Great. Thank you very much for letting me be a part of this.
00:02:26
Speaker
The pleasure's all ours. So, Sumner, let's jump right in. um I asked our guest um this question, so all the co-hosts know this. So, Sumner, why don't you tell us about how you fell in love with Disney? Oh, yeah, so I was kind of born into it, quite literally, because me and me and Walt actually shared the same birthday. And so I think that was just kind of a, you know, one of those things that was going to happen regardless. But yeah, I just I can't really really remember a time where Disney has not just been a significant interest of mine.
00:03:02
Speaker
I also want to apologize if you hear a train in the background.
Train Station Museum Experience
00:03:05
Speaker
I'm in the museum right now, and our museum's located in the old train station here in Marceline, and we still have 70 trains to pass through a day, so you might hear that a couple of times. But anyway, so yeah, I mean, I just can't really remember a time where Disney wasn't just this huge interest of mine. And, you know, I have these two older sisters and they both did ballet and gymnastics several times a day. And so I just remember, you know, I would sit in the car. I felt like I was, you know, in the car all the time as a kid, taking them from, you know, one activity to another. And I got the first edition of Disney A to Z. And I remember thinking that was the greatest thing I could ever do in the backseat of a car is just sit there and just kind of like study this Disney encyclopedia.
00:03:46
Speaker
which is kind of what I did. And so yeah, it's just always been a part of me, I guess, always been a huge interest. And when I when i went to to college, I went to UCF in Orlando, and you know, it's just right there down the road from Walt Disney World. So I spent a lot of time at Walt Disney World. And then, you know, I just happened to always feel like I needed to go visit this place called Marcely, Missouri, where Walt Disney spent his formidable years. And I came here to visit, just to visit, and I ended up moving here. So yeah, that's kind of the short version of it. But, um you know, and now ah I'm the Operations Manager at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marcely.
00:04:26
Speaker
That's a lot of big words. ah So let's, um i'm I'm already, Jeff, we're just starting it and I'm in overload already. Cause this is, this is going to be good. A leash, go, just go. So separate. Life is short. Let me, let me, let me ask you, I mean, ask the big questions. Who cares? when When you walked into Marceline the first time, yeah tell me tom to tell me what you were feeling when you were actually there where you know Walt had his his childhood. what um i mean what What did you see that you were just like, I have to be here?
00:05:03
Speaker
Yeah, so um you know when i was when I was down in Florida, I was a cast member at Walt Disney World for a while.
Main Street USA Tours
00:05:10
Speaker
And one of the jobs I did was I was a facilitator ah for Main Street USA. um So all these new cast members would be coming in and I would essentially give them a tour of Main Street USA. And we'd really dive deep into the history of Main Street and talk about the importance that it was to Disney history and also to Walt. And so I talked a lot about Marceline. So I just always knew Marceline was this place i I needed to go to. And as I shared before, me and Walt have the same birthday. So it's like I wanted to visit Marceline on our birthdays. That was just kind of ah one of those things that I felt like ah would be the appropriate time to do so. And I had a few
00:05:48
Speaker
planned and failed attempts to come up here to visit because I'll be honest with you Marceline is it is a small town in rural Missouri and so it is not um close by to a major airport I mean it's you know about two hours from Kansas City which is where you have to fly into to to visit Marceline so you know it it is not necessarily an easy place to get to all the time. But I had a few planned and failed attempts to to try to come up here to visit. And finally, I was like, OK, I've got this trip for December of 2021, and that's that's what's going to happen. And I'm the type of person that does a lot of research on things. And so I did a lot of research on Marceline, the history of Marceline and the people involved um currently in Marceline that have committed to carrying on that that Disney legacy and that Disney history here.
00:06:39
Speaker
And so I came across this woman named Kaye Mallons. I came across her name so many times. And and so I knew exactly who Kaye Mallons was. And I knew that her dad, Rush Johnson, um was also a good friend of Walt's. And um him and Walt were were're were're werere close friends um for the last 10 years of Walt's life. So from 1956 to 66. And so I knew who Rush was, I knew who Kay was. um Rush has passed away, so I knew that he wouldn't be here in Marceline, but I thought, yeah, maybe maybe if I go up to Marceline, I can meet Kay. I can, you know, get a chance to talk to her. So I came up here to visit and... I did not meet Kay. However, I did meet this other woman and her name is Inez. And so when I walked in the door to the museum, there was these two elderly women working behind the desk as volunteers for the day. And one of them said, are you interested in Disney history? And I was like, yeah, obviously. And so she said, well, if you're interested in this sort of thing, this is the person you need to talk to. And she pointed towards this woman, Inez.
00:07:37
Speaker
And Inez Johnson had this button on that says, you know, ask me about my Walt Disney story. So I was like, okay, so tell me about your Walt Disney story. And she said, well, Walt Disney came here to dedicate the Walt Disney swimming pool and park in 1956. She said when he came back for that time, He actually stayed at my house with me and my husband. I'm like, wait wait a second, wait a second. Walt Disney stayed at your house? And she said, yeah. And I said, who was your husband? And she said, Russ Johnson. And I said, OK, I know exactly who you are now. um So I knew ah about her daughter, Kate. I knew about her husband, Rush, but I didn't really know about her. I know. So so she's telling me all these stories about how when Walt Disney stayed at her house, um that really developed a very close friendship with her family and the Disney's.
00:08:23
Speaker
and And it's not just Walt this day, there is Walt and Lillian and Roy and Edna. And so I really you know developed a ah close bond between all of them at that time. And you know she was telling me these stories about how Walt stayed at their house many times, but then how they also went out to his house in California. ah They rode on his Carrowood Pacific Railroad. They stayed in the firehouse at Disneyland. They got personal tours of Disneyland by Walt and Roy and the studios by Walt and Roy. And I'm just like, this is an incredible experience because I've been to you know presentations and seminars and things like that before where you have these people on stage and they're talking about working with Walt. But this is the first time I've really had a ah personal one-on-one conversation with somebody who knew Walt Disney on a personal level. And I knew coming to Marceline would be this kind of life-changing moment for me. I knew it would kind of be this this pivotal pivotal moment for me. But I had no idea exactly how life-changing it really would be.
00:09:17
Speaker
And so, just meeting Inez was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had in my life and having and, you know, being able to talk to her and she would share stories with me and she would say, okay, well, go look at the museum. So, I'd look at the, group look at the museum and then she would pop her head around a corner and she would say, well, can I tell you another story? And I'd be like, yes, please tell me all the stories that you have. So, yeah, so she, you know, you that that conversation was was was very emotional for me and very important for me. And The day that my trip here to Marceline was was ending, um I thought, you know, I really would like to email the museum and just, you know, tell them about how great of an experience that I had. and And so I went to their website to get their email address off of it. And they had posted earlier that that that day that they were hiring. and I'm like, well,
00:10:02
Speaker
All right. I got to jump for it.
Marceline's Magic and Community
00:10:06
Speaker
I came here to visit, had no idea that I would move here two months later and work at the museum, but that is essentially how I got here. And that feeling that I had when I when i came here, I mean, you really do feel you know You completely understand why Walt Disney felt you know so so so touched by this place because there is this this kind of magical essence to Marceline and you know you can certainly feel that while you're here. And when I was here you know just to visit, I was just absorbed by the friendliness of the community here.
00:10:36
Speaker
you know And yeah everybody that I interacted with on that visit ah fully exemplified what you'd want people who live in Marceline to be like. you know They exemplified that that strong sense of community, that friendly atmosphere. I mean, it was almost kind of like you know how when you interact with Disney cast members, how they are always you know friendly, helpful. And I mean, that's through how you know the people in Marceline were. and and And for the most part, that's you know been the experiences that I've had every day since I've moved here. It sounds like you're very passionate about what you do and and you move there very, very quickly. you know Everything seemed to be bright in alignment for you to be there at the museum. What do you tell people that ask you, what what do you do on a daily basis? know How do you keep that Disney memory alive on a regular basis?
00:11:29
Speaker
Yeah, so technically speaking, my my title is Operations Manager. um That is a very broad term, I guess you could say, because no no two days are ever alike here. um Just in the past month, we've gotten to give presentations at the D23 event in Kansas City when the Disney 100 exhibition opened up there at Union Station. We got to you know take some artifacts and move them on display over there. We also had the ability to speak on the Disney Cruise Line, on the Disney Dream, throughout Mediterranean. And that was fantastic. And then I got to you know go out and and have some meetings with some different like-minded people, historians, writers, things like that. And so just being able to kind of be absorbed in this world.
00:12:18
Speaker
is is never quite the same thing two days in a row. And so, you know, and i also in that same that same timeframe that I'm getting to do all these great experiences, we've had issues where, you know, the ceiling was leaking or the the the toilet was clogged or something like that. So it is a very real life so circumstance as well. how did How did that feel? How in that moment, like, did she ever So I'm goofy, right? So I'm like, in that moment, I'd be like, orange, well, both aliens, like in the floor, too. And, you know, I embody being in in the like Disney is immersive, right? So when you you're in that world, for me, at least it's very immersive. It's hard to I mean, it's is is hard to not it's hard to remember yourself.
00:13:11
Speaker
In that sense, that that world that you are in, how did you embody, I don't know, like, you know, Disney or or like, is there is there a character? Is there something that stands out to you? If you're in those moments of, you know, you had a lot, it seems like you had a lot of a very functional space to to be. But character wise, like. did you Did you feel like it was just a job? Here's the here's the big question. Did you feel it was a job or or was there was there a space where you felt more inhabited by characters and and Disney? and
00:13:52
Speaker
that yeah that so oh Yeah, yeah, yeah no no, I know what you mean. So it's definitely not just a job. I mean, this is certainly a, in many ways, kind of a ah life, a lifestyle, which, you know, was already kind of a part of my life, being involved with Disney and and and you know, being at the parks and things like that. But this is this is truly more so, you know, where my interests are, as far as the historical side of things go. But, you know, something that, um you know, I mentioned Kaye Malins earlier, and who, who ah you know, I knew about Marceline. um Well, she's, you know, she's, yeah I get to work with her every day. And she's, ah you know, one of the one of the one of the greatest mentors I could ever have. And she always says that, you know, we represent the the warm and fuzzy side of Disney history.
00:14:41
Speaker
And so, you know, I just try to make sure that whatever we do ah publicly or here at the museum, that, you know, we approach things from a very sincere place, from a very genuine place. And we also embody that warm and fuzzy, you know, that happiness feeling, because that's how Walt felt when he was in Marceline. So I can't necessarily relate it to a specific character, but I can relate it to a specific Disney vibe and a Disney tone. And that would be that warm and fuzzy side of things. And so, you know, Yeah. That's just- That's where I'm going, like the vibe. that's That's where I'm going, like, yeah, that vibe, you just nailed it. Oh no, yeah ah yeah, that's just, um that's what we always try to maintain is that warm and fuzzy aspect of things. ah Because, you know, Walt felt a very certain way about Marceline. It was a very specific, specifically important place to him because this is where all of his childhood memories were. There was things that made Walt, Walt were the things that he experienced while he was here.
00:15:34
Speaker
And, you know, often, and oftentimes, you know, we all nowadays, you know, we grew up with Disney. And so a lot of our childhood nostalgic memories are, you know, watching Disney films, going to the parks, meeting the characters. things You know, but for Walt, his nostalgic memories were were Marceline. And so, you know, it's just a kind of going back in time a little bit and and and making sure that we maintain that that piece of history there. And everything that we do has that same that same quality and tone about it. So let me, let me ask you something right now. um So this, the hometown museum is under the Disney umbrella, right? So you guys are part of the Disney corporation, is that correct?
00:16:18
Speaker
No, we are not. We are a separate nonprofit. However, we do have a very close relationship with the Walt Disney Company. um So much like there's other Disney historical sites out there, too. There's the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. And then you have, you know, Walt's Barn out in in Griffith Park in Carrowood. ah the Carroll Wood Barn. And then there's the Walt Disney birthplace in Chicago. And so all of these all of these places were very similar. All of us are very similar in that you know all of us have um our nonprofit status. And so we are our own separate entities. However, ah we do like I said, we we do have a very close relationship with the company and we do work closely with the company. So would you to consider yourself a cast member with a lowercase C?
00:17:02
Speaker
um I don't know. um I don't know if if if if if I would, in that regard, I would definitely say that we're part of the Disney family. So yeah, I would definitely say we're part of the Disney family. The term cast member though, I don't know if if if I'm necessarily, if that's ah an appropriate term to use for us. Well, I think i think my my big question is that, do you get do you get a lot of that from people who visit? Like, um if they visit the one the family museum, do they always ask if you're associated with Disney and are they always asking you, you know, um Disney questions that you're like, okay, um we're we are focused here on the hometown museum. We're not... related you know we're distant but you know we have the same goal so um so what what is it what's a daily conversation i mean do people coming in knowing that you guys aren't part of the honor of the disney corporation but you are a separate entity so do you do you get a lot of back and forth on that because people are confused because that
00:18:13
Speaker
Uh, could I guess it's like the Carrowood barn and the whole, uh, the family museum and the birthplace and all that. I mean, you wouldn't know that they weren't Disney under the Disney umbrella. beat All you, all you hear is Walt Disney. You just assume that. Yeah, yeah, and that's ah that is a ah regular conversation that we do have with people oftentimes just kind of wanting to know what our relationship with the ah the the corporate side of things is. um And yeah, some people do do assume that we're um
00:18:48
Speaker
officially ah part of the company. And then other people assume that we're we're we're more so associated with the family or something or something along those lines. um So yeah, it it is it is a conversation that comes up pretty regularly. um you know But to be honest, that's I'd say only a handful of guests really really kind of ask that sort of thing on ah on a daily basis or a weekly basis really. But yeah, it is it is a question that comes up a lot. And, you know, and oftentimes either their
00:19:21
Speaker
shocked that we're not, I guess, officially part of the ah an official subsidiary, or they're they're shocked that, you know, we do have as close of a relationship as as we do. And so, yeah, it's just, ah we we are in kind of ah an interesting circumstance, and because we are a Disney partner in many ways, and we are a, have been considered a third party vendor at times. um But, you know, we have the same mission that the corporate side of things has, but we are, you know, We are a non-profit entity. All right, I have one more question and then I'm going to jump over to Lisa and then Rachel. Under your umbrella, so tell us what all goes on in your museum there.
Disney's Roots in Marceline
00:20:05
Speaker
So if someone was to come in, what should they expect?
00:20:09
Speaker
Yeah, so oftentimes, you know, obviously, we get a lot of we get a lot of Disney fans that come out here, um making the ah making the pilgrimage. um But then we also just get the casual tourists to casual guests and things like that, too. But oftentimes, when you do get those those Disney fans and they're coming out here, and you know, in their mindset, and this is how I felt when i the first time I came here too, and and that is, you know I didn't necessarily think, oh, I'm going to go visit the museum. I thought, I'm going to go visit Marceline, because Marceline is the is the the name that I associated with Walt's hometown. And so when I thought of Marceline, I thought of you know everything under one ah one one umbrella.
00:20:48
Speaker
And while we do have the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, and that is kind of the centerpiece of Disney history here in Marceline, Marceline as a city, as a town, is just is full of Disney history and yeah is is has several other locations that you know ah hold something very very ah hold a very specific story. So for example, there's also the the Disney family farm. So you can visit the the farm that Walt Disney grew up on. It's open from setup to sundown every every every day. The original 40 acres that the Disney family lived on has been preserved, and that is a place that you can go visit. And then there's also ah the Walt Disney Elementary School. So Walt Disney actually was a supporter of the educational opportunities here in Marceline. And so and there's the Walt Disney Elementary School, in which case
00:21:39
Speaker
you You can't always go into the school because it is a working school. But on those occasions where you can actually go to the school and visit, um you are able to see ah murals all over all over the walls that Walt had commissioned. He sent his artist Bob Moore, Disney legend Bob Moore, to design all of these murals throughout the school. And they're still there today, and those have been preserved as well. There's also a um ah really interesting story about the flagpole in front of the school as well. it's what It was another gift of Walt's that he saved from the 1960 Winter Olympics when he had a pageantry there. He saved two flagpoles. He put one at in front of the school in Marceline and the other one that he put on at the studios in Burbank.
00:22:19
Speaker
But then there's also the Walt Disney Municipal Park. So it's a public park. It is a public park here at Marceline. And it's got a very, very cool sign that's a photo op that Walt Disney came back for. And he came for the dedication of the Walt Disney Municipal Park. And so there's also the Walt Disney Post Office. That is the only federal building in the United States named after Walt Disney. 1968 Walt Disney stamp was actually issued from that post office. And a lot of different cities invited to be the location that that stamp was issued from. um Obviously, all these different places with ties to Disney history, such as Chicago, Burbank, Anaheim, Kansas City, ah they all they all thought to be the place where that stamp was going to be issued from. But it was actually Lillian Disney that said if it was going to be issued from anywhere, it needs to be from Marceline. So so that's the post office has a very specific Disney history about it as well.
00:23:10
Speaker
And actually, if you go there, there's a a special hand stamp cancellation that you can get there that you can only get at that one post office, you can't get it anywhere else. And then there's also we have EP Ripley Park. Now EP Ripley Park was a place that Walt Disney actually used to play in as a kid. And his dad Elias actually played his fiddle there in the gazebo with the ah with the ah Marceline with the Marceline local band. And E.P. Ripley Park is interesting because it's named after E.P. Ripley, who was a president on the Santa Fe Railroad. So Marceline, essentially as a town, was founded by the Santa Fe Railroad. And if you remember when Disneyland first opened, the Santa Fe Railroad sponsored the Disneyland Railroad attraction. And so it was originally called Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad. And so, um you know, the first time you see Walt Disney on that opening day telecast of Disneyland, he's riding it on a locomotive and the name of the locomotive is E.P. Ripley.
00:24:04
Speaker
But actually, and while he's like writing it on the locomotive, he's got this Mickey with him, actually, that I have behind me here. but um But EP Ripley Park was a place Walt Disney played in as a kid. And then we also have a a so a steam locomotive um that's inside the park now. And on one of Walt's return visits, he said, you know, we should paint Santa Fe and Disneyland a railroad on the side of that locomotive. And so they did. So so that's ah another thing that you can see while you're in Marceline. But also, Marceline is home to the original Main Street USA. So our street signs are very cool. They have mouse ears on them. And Mickey himself actually came and unveiled those signs for us ah when when when those were first um debuted when this was debuted. And, you know, Main Street USA at you know Disneyland Walt Disney World and and other Disney parks was based off Walt's idyllic memories of small-time life here in Marceline. And so, you know, while many things
00:24:57
Speaker
that Walt later took part in, whether it was a film, cartoons, or the park, or whatever. You know, many things were inspired by Marceline, ah but the most direct connection that we do have is is Main Street USA because that was, you know, a physical location that was based on his his idyllic memories of Marceline. And so, um you know, we do have the original Main Street USA here and Marceline as well. I've been sitting here thinking, oh, and and I'm not even kidding. ah For many years, I wanted to take a trip to Marceline to see, again, you know when we go in the parks, people want to walk where we walked. Well, again, you know you have the unique opportunity to do that.
00:25:39
Speaker
I saw that you also offer tours. I know you mentioned many of the the sites around the town that you could um you could see, but are there also tours? Obviously, they're I want to hear a little bit about the museum, but are there like daily tours? Is that something special to set up or how does that work? Yeah. So, um the the the tours that we offer, ah usually they're tied to one of two different things. um So, it is usually you have a a large group of people coming in. So, for example, we've had, you know, Disney groups that have come in, you know, at different times so and
00:26:21
Speaker
we've given them guided tours. And then also and and and it it all depends on the group too. So if the group that wants a tour of just the museum, we'll keep it just the museum. But if they want a tour of the museum plus ah the Disney farm and also Marceline, we will accommodate that. And so it is usually either tied to a large group of people. And when I say large group of people, ah we're usually talking about 10, 15 or more. And then we also, that's something that we have as part of a, when we have different events here in Marceline. So we've ah you know had the benefit of being able to do a lot of events in Marceline, most of which that we've done since I've been here have been tied to a D23.
00:27:03
Speaker
However, ah you know, even those that aren't tied to D23, something that we do like to offer because we want to make sure that when people come that they make get to experience all of Marceline. And so, some of the things that we do offer during events are those guided tours. In which case, you don't have to have a large group. ah You just have to be here for the event and you know, you can join up with other people who are here for the event as well and we'll and we'll get you a guided tour also. But, um you know, if you know, anybody who's who's listening out there, if, ah you know, there is a a any sort of special occasion or anything like that, that, you know, we can we can accommodate for whether that be a guided tour or anything like that, you know, let us know. And we can let you know what our what our options are. But for the most part, regular day guests, when they do visit the museum, when they do visit Marceline, obviously, we'd like to encourage them to see and read everything that they come across. But for the most part, it is a self guided experience.
00:27:55
Speaker
Wonderful. Okay. That's very helpful. um Is this, I saw that your website is incredibly helpful with all of the the days and times and and things that are open. um Is this a, like you said, it was more of a leisure, go through the museum at your leisure, um not necessarily guided within the museum. How long would it take a typical visitor to go through the museum? You know, do they have multiple days? Is it one day? Is it a few hours? What's what's the typical? Yeah, so I will say this. Something that we do we do experience often ah is um
00:28:41
Speaker
we get ah we get people who who certainly underestimate all there is to to see and do here in Marceline. And so a lot of times people don't necessarily, you know, plan to to be here in town for for more than more than a day or more than a few hours or something, in which case, ah most of the time, you know, they always say, you know, they wish they had more time or something like that. but you know, it is up to your own, your own interests at your own pace. So, you know, the first time I came here, I got here when the museum opened, and I was the last person to leave right, right when they closed. And so, you know, I really, I really, you know, took all the time reading every word I possibly could. There's story stations throughout the museum that have videos and things like that. I i watched every single one of them, you know, I really tried to immerse myself fully. And, and Marcelin, so Yeah, and so, you know, you can spend, you know, you know, three or four hours here if that is something that is truly an interest of yours. But I'd say on average, people usually spend about I'd say an hour and a half is usually about, you know, kind of the the average amount um that's just in the museum, you know, and so
00:29:50
Speaker
you know, there's, like I said, there's certainly other things to do, and Marceline as well, ah that that are tied back to Disney history. And, you know, so if you really want to immerse yourself in all of those things, you know, you could certainly spend all day here. And if you really want to experience Marceline, you know, you know, stay overnight and do that way you can, you know, make a weekend out of it or something. Oh, absolutely. And again, your website has some suggested lodging, um food, you can buy souvenirs, even if you don't travel to a museum, you have a nice selection for shopping as well. So I was perusing of the website a little bit earlier. Miss Rachel, did you have anything you wanted to ask today?
00:30:34
Speaker
I do actually. Fellow Missourian here. um I grew up in Metro St. Louis area oh yeah and went to school. I went to school in Kansas City and I wish I loved Disney as much as I do now because I would have driven up there. um Last time when we visited family there we went to Hannibal which was really cool but I totally would have taken my daughter up to Marshall if I would have known, but so maybe next time I go home. um I do. I actually have a lot of questions for you. My first one is, when you come to the museum, what is one thing that you would recommend everyone seeing in the museum? Like you have to go see this, you have to read this, um and anything, like if you bring your kids, what is one thing you tell them? This is the story you need to teach your kids.
00:31:26
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's a very good question. And it is really hard to kind of narrow it down to one specific thing, if ah if I'm being honest, just because there's so many things that I i love that we we have here. So what we try to do is we really do try to you know tell the history of not just Walt's life when he lived in Marceline, but Walt's life when he lived in Marceline, but also is rio talking about his return visits to Marceline and the way he was involved with the the community after after he became you know the Walt Disney that we know. And then also ah some of the things that Walt's time in Marceline has inspired, not just during his lifetime, but also beyond that as well.
00:32:06
Speaker
And so there are a very, you know, over 100 years worth of stories that we tell in the museum. So to narrow it down to one thing is very difficult. However, I think that if there's if there's one thing that is important for people to know about, and to know about Marceline and and to to see in our museum, that is this special place that we have.
Unrealized Disney Projects
00:32:27
Speaker
it's ah it's it's It's a section where we talk about um something called the Marceline Project. and The Marceline Project is a very, very interesting story. And it's one of those stories that, you know, not a lot of people know about. And that is, it was a project that Walt Disney and Kim Allen's, her father, Rush. um So I know his husband, Rush. They were kind of business partners on this project. And what it was, is Walt Disney and Rush were talking one night while Walt was staying at Rush's house.
00:32:57
Speaker
And Walt said, do you know who owns my old boyhood farm? And Rush said, yeah, I do. And Walt said, you know, you can you you can buy it cheaper than I can. He said, you know. yeah I'll pay for it, but you know you you buy it, I'll pay for it, and and and and and we can do something with that with that property. So what they had decided that they were going to do is they wanted to turn ah the the original 40 to 45 acres that the Disney family lived on, they wanted to turn that into a living history farm.
00:33:28
Speaker
And the the project was called The Marceline Project. And what Walt wanted to do was he said, you know, there's going to come a time where a child doesn't know what an acre of land is or a child isn't going to know what happens when you put a seed in the ground. And so in many ways, this is a way for Walt to preserve that sort of, you know, that time in history, you know, that same that same time period that Main Street USA depicts and the Disney parks that turn of the century time. um You know, Walt wanted wanted you to depict that same sort of setting with this farm life. And so it was going to be a living history farm where they taught about the importance of farm life to American culture and to also small town culture. But you know in many ways, ah you know it really does seem like it was a way for Walt to you know own own that piece of his his his life again. Because you know there's a letter that Walt wrote to the State Historical Society in 1946 here in Missouri. He said,
00:34:23
Speaker
but he had one unfulfilled dream. And that was to ah one day own his old, you know, family farm and Marceline again. And so I do think it was a kind of this lifelong ambition for Walt to um kind of return back to Marceline in some way. And so the Marceline project, unfortunately, was not something that ever, you know, was completed because what did pass away before before anything had had been primarily constructed on it. But by the time Walt passed away, they'd been working on this project for nearly 10 years. And they had bought not just the original 40 acres that the Disney family lived on, but they had gotten that plus the surrounding 350 acres as well. There was blueprints, there was conversations with the state of Missouri to install four extra lanes of the highway that led into Marceline. In fact, there's actually a very interesting quote, or I'm sorry, a very interesting conversation in Neil Gabler's biography of Walt Disney. and It's a conversation between Rush and Walt, and Rush is concerned about, you know, how are we going to get people to Marceline? And Walt Disney says, you know, well, all I have to do is
00:35:29
Speaker
ah you know I'll ah you know be taping my television show every week and I'll just say, hey, go visit my book at hometown of Marceline, Missouri. And Walt says, you know what are you going to do with all the people? you know because You know, they had big plans for what was going to happen. And, you know, what was really interesting is, you know, Walt unfortunately did pass away before the project was done. However, and Walt did do a a personalized sketch of what the Marceline project did, what he wanted it to look like. A hand-drawn sketch and it had his notes and things like that on it too. And that was on his desk that he passed away.
00:36:03
Speaker
and Marceline was with Walt all the way up until the very end and that sketch actually it was Roy that took it off Walt's desk and um gave it to Rush um and and said that it needed to be in Marceline and so we had that that sketch on display. as well as some further information about about the Marceline project. But for me, that's one of those stories that really shows who Walt Disney was as a person. And it shows you know how much ah Marceline meant to Walt. And it really shows that Marceline was with Walt all the way up until the very end. Walt was not born here in Marceline. He was born in Chicago.
00:36:37
Speaker
However, in Bob Thomas's biography of Walt, the second chapter, it opens up with a statement that you know Walt remembered nothing of his time in Chicago, but the memories of Marceline would stay with him throughout the rest of his life. And then Walt also says, he has we have a quote where he says, he clearly remembers the train ride coming in and to Marceline when they moved here. So I think it is safe to say that Walt's life really did begin really did begin while he was here in Marceline. So the Marceline project is just this you know kind of fully encaptures what Walt's life was in Marceline and how he felt towards the community and you know how he had always wanted to ah be a part of that community again. that's ah That's a great story. I love that. I'm really looking forward to visiting your museum. Okay, I have one more question for you. and This might be a little bit more challenging. If you are taking a road trip,
00:37:28
Speaker
from Marceline to Kansas City. What would you visit and in what order? Okay. Are you talking about just in Kansas City and just in Marceline or all the stops in between? Oh, anything Walt related and maybe a few little stops in between. I know there's highway 96 or 36. I think yes. I don't know if that goes to Kansas City. way It doesn't quite go all the way to Kansas City, but it does go to St. Joseph, and then from St. Joseph, you can get to Kansas City. So Highway 36, yeah, it's known as the the way of American genius, because a lot of people ah were advertised back to yeah things that were along that that that stretch of highway. So for example, you you mentioned going to Hannibal. So Mark Twain i would be one of those as well. And Hannibal's on the other end of the state, so really Highway 36 goes from Hannibal to St. Joseph.
00:38:19
Speaker
So if you're going from Kansas City to Marceline, you know, um I'm going to start in Kansas City because that's typically where people fly into when they visit Marceline.
Disney 100 Exhibition in Kansas City
00:38:30
Speaker
So in Kansas City itself right now, at least up until November, possibly longer, depending on how things go, there is the Disney 100 The Exhibition that's going on at Union Station, which is a fantastic display put on by the Walt Disney Archives. And if if you saw it in Philadelphia or if you saw it in Chicago, I can tell you that this version is better. Because, i to be honest, I did not see it in Chicago, but I did see it in Philadelphia. And I do i do truly think that the space at Union Station um really just elevates up the exhibit so much. um
00:39:04
Speaker
it really, ah they they really found a good um a good place for it, a good layout for it. And also, there is a little bit of ah of an extra touch to it. And that is Union Station, whenever they do any kind of exhibit, they're always great about really tying things back to either locally to Kansas City or to the state of Missouri. And so with this exhibit, obviously, there's no shortage of Disney history that goes into with with Missouri. So and there's actually this this whole ah room that you first enter into before you actually get into you know the ah the rest of the exhibit and that is you know we have a we have a few things on display there from from our museum but then there's also a hallmark that has their corporate headquarters in Kansas City and so they have a few things from their archives that are on display think of America
00:39:52
Speaker
also has a very big presence in Kansas City and they also have a ah very big Disney connection as well. And so some things from their archives are on display. There's also a toy and miniature museum in Kansas City and some of the things from their museum is on display. And so it really does a good job of tying Disney history back to Union Station and back to back to Missouri. um But Union Station itself is just ah a place full of Disney history. That's where Walt used to go to take a shower when he was a struggling animator with his first first studio that that was in Kansas City.
00:40:23
Speaker
And Union Station is also the place where Walt left to go to to California from. And so Union Station has a lot of Disney history in itself, all but also in Kansas City, like I mentioned before, Hallmark, they have a visitor center, um and there's a whole Disney section on display there. because Hallmark was has not just been a close Disney partner for many, many years, but also Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark and Walt Disney were very close friends. And so a lot of their personal letters are are on display. And then there's also that Toyota miniature museum that I mentioned that's in it's in Kansas City and they they have a a large Disney collection as well.
00:41:01
Speaker
But then there's also a lot of historical sites in Kansas City. yeah That was where Walt's first studio was, Laffagram Studios. It was in Kansas City. Now the building itself, there's there's nothing inside of it at the moment, but you can go visit the exterior of the building. where where Walt began his first his first venture and as a studio head. And then there's also you know a lot of other places that are in Kansas City that ah Walt so would have been involved with. However, most of them are not standing anymore. um You can go visit you know either the the the empty space that used to be something or something that has been built in its place. um But there is a lot of Disney history that is in Kansas City.
00:41:42
Speaker
Something else you can go do is walt's Walt's house that he lived in in Kansas City, the last house that Walt lived in there. It's on Belle Fountain Avenue. and It looks like it should be pronounced Belle Fontaine, but I actually learned the other day that Belle Fountain is the proper pronunciation for it. and So Belle Fountain is where Walt lived and his house is still there. now It is a private residence. Someone does live there, so you know please be respectful you know if you if you do go by. I know where that is. that's crazy i know where that is yeah yeah that's that walt is to live there um that's awesome but uh yeah so i mean after after all that in kansas city um if you uh if you head up and you're taking taking highway 36 you got to go up to st joseph now st joseph um there's a there's a little bit of a little bit of history there that can tie back to disney history because uh st joseph is where walter kronkite is from uh and so uh there is a walter kronkite memorial there
00:42:36
Speaker
Walter Cronkite. Obviously, he was he was a part of a few different Disney attractions. He was part of the original animated studio tour. We're doing the the short film Back to Neverland with with Robin Williams. But then he also was one of the narrators for Spaceship Earth. and so Walter Cronkite has a small museum there ah that you can visit. But then as you're also in St. Joseph too, that's where the Pony a pony Express started. And so there's a Pony Express Museum there as well. But that doesn't tie back to Disney history as much. um But as you're as you're making your way towards ah towards Marceline, um you will pass through a few small towns. One of those is going to be called Chillicothe. Chillicothe is the home of sliced bread. So you can visit the original sliced bread machine that's there.
00:43:22
Speaker
And then there's also Hamilton, Missouri, which is the home of J.C. Penney. And there's a J.C. Penney Museum there as well. But then there's also in Laclede, Missouri, ah you're going to come across General John Pershing's home.
Disneyland Sites in Marceline
00:43:35
Speaker
So General Pershing, he was a general during World War One. And when Walt was in in France as an ambulance driver with the American Red Cross, um he actually there was ah an occasion where he He ah had an interaction with General Pershing, as and he was his driver on an occasion. And so then as you're making your way closer to Marceline, you'll come into town, in which case when you first come into Marceline, you're going to pass by that that Disney farm. So you'll see the house that Walt grew up in.
00:44:06
Speaker
And then you can see those 40 acres that Walt experienced his his early life on. and then And then as you come into town, you'll hit Main Street, USA, and then you'll see our museum over to the left. And then if you go all the way through Main Street, USA, about a mile past the end of Main Street, that's when you can run into the Walt Disney Municipal Park. And so between the Municipal Park, Walt Disney Municipal Park and the Disney Family Farm, ah that kind of caps you know the the that kind of caps the city of Marceline, but it also kind of caps um you know the Disney history there as well.
00:44:40
Speaker
That is amazing. Where should we eat in Marceline once we get there? Yeah. so So I know this is this this isn't going to sound like a lot, but we do have four restaurants in town. And I want to remind you, our population is very small. So our population is 2,300 people. um So ah you know on average, we bring in a significantly a higher number of people into town than the amount of people who live here. In Marceline, we do have four restaurants in town. We have a a a a pizza restaurant, Marceline Pizza Company. Absolutely fantastic. The owners are from Chicago, been involved with the restaurant businesses their whole life. And they know how to make a good, they know how to make a very good authentic, not just a deep-diff pizza, but also just a regular pizza as well. um And then we have another place called J and&J on Main. That place is gonna, they have a lot of
00:45:29
Speaker
Disney inspired drinks there. So if that's something that you're interested in, that's something they're always experimenting with. But they do have things like like burgers and and and more of a generic menu like that. But then there's also, we have a Mexican restaurant here in town, Los Chimas. And much like how the owners of the pizza restaurant can make authentic Chicago pizza, the people who own Los Chimas can make authentic Mexican food as well as they are from Mexico. And then we have a place called Mobbix Corner Cafe. Now Mobbix Corner Cafe, that is kind of the the quintessential Marceline restaurant. And I say that because it's been it's been there for a long time, but also it is very much a local experience. So if you want to get a good vibe for what the local culture of Marceline is like, that's the place to go to. um That's the type of place where if you go in there, you see the same people sitting in the same places every day at the same time. That's that kind of small town experience that you can really experience at Mobbix. And um
00:46:28
Speaker
Mobbix also has a very ah very ah very cool thing about it. if you take If you go to the museum and you take your museum ticket into Mobbix, they will give you a free Dusty Miller. Now a Dusty Miller is a special ice cream treat that For the most part, you can only get a Marceline. And there's, of course, like everything, there's a backstory to a Dusty Miller. And so I'm going to save the story for when you come visit Marceline. So that way you can you can ask Mavics what the backstory behind a Dusty Miller is. But if you do visit the museum, you take your museum ticket into Mavics. Mavics will give you a free Dusty Miller.
00:47:02
Speaker
And, you know, I did say that a Dusty Miller ah is something that you can typically only find in Marceline. There have been a few special occasions where, you know, a Dusty Miller has been has been served elsewhere. ah For example, Kay once gave a presentation at the Family Museum, in which case they serve Dusty Millers afterwards. But then also, just this last year, there was the the Disney 100 Royal Ball that was at the ah Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
00:47:33
Speaker
So as part of that ceremony, they had um they had stations all throughout the studio um that represented different decades. And each decade was tied back to a specific food item. And so, for example, they had meatballs for Lady of the Tramp for the 1950s. They had tea cakes from Mary Poppins for the 1960s. And for the 1920s, they actually had Dusty Millers from Marceline there at the at the Disney Studios. So that was the first time I got to have a Dusty Miller outside of Mobbix. And so that was ah that was very cool. but But yeah, go to MobX and get that dusty motor. Wow, that's that's incredible. Okay, so I have a couple questions. My first one is...
00:48:16
Speaker
i don't I don't want people to think because it crossed my mind that it almost feels like the Truman Show, this little town, like you know like everybody does their own thing. Like you mentioned, everyone sits in their own spots, which is typical for a small town. but um My question is, is that is everybody in Marceline, are they Disney fans or is it just a normal town that has the the hometown museum in it? So is it, do do you see like a lot of participation from the the residents of Marceline or is it is it mostly just the people who work at the museum and those that that are like in the restaurants and things like that?
00:49:05
Speaker
Yeah, so, ah well, first of all, I have to address the Truman Show thing. So, you know, as someone who is not originally from here, um you know, I've never lived in a small town before. And so I'm still, in many ways, I'm still, you know, kind of getting used to it, even though I've been here for for three years now. um But, you know, that small town life is a very, is a very unique thing. And um I often joke with people that I do feel like I live in a TV show environment, because, you know, a small town life is very much like a TV show, and that yeah you have You have your cast of characters and they you know they show up in your life every day, whether you intend for them to or not.
00:49:42
Speaker
And so, yeah, it's just a it's a very interesting atmosphere. But, you know, I mean, the the did the Disney history here, it does run deep. And, you know, we do have a lot of great partners, you know, people who work at City Hall, people who work at the post office, all of our restaurant partners and things like that. You know, many of them really do embrace that Disney that Disney history. And, you know, some of them, you know, i don't, you know, they don't necessarily um revolve their lives around that sort of thing. But, you know, everybody in Marceline is pretty aware of the the Disney connection that's here. But yeah, it's not something that every participant and and in the and the community
00:50:26
Speaker
is involved with, but everybody is certainly aware of it. um You know, it is it is certainly a strong part of our identity here in Marceline. And honestly, you know, and I would like to say that, you know, there's a lot of small towns that have a lot of great qualities about themselves all throughout the United States and and and all throughout the world.
Marceline's Unique Disney Identity
00:50:45
Speaker
But there's only one small town that has Walt Disney, and that's us. And, you know, I think everybody and Marceline knows that and that they know they know that that's something that is unique about Marceline. It's something to be celebrated. And would you consider Marceline, would you consider a tourist town? And um the piggyback off of that, within the past year, um how many how many visitors do you usually get a year there?
00:51:12
Speaker
Yeah, so, you know, like I said before, our our population is 2300. So, typically speaking, we get, you know, usually around like 30,000 or so visitors a year, which is, ah you know, pretty good for our town our size. And that being said, you know I wouldn't necessarily say it's a tourist town um because you know there are a lot of people who live in Marcy and we do have other industries here as well. And so you know there are people who who you know work in a vast amount of different jobs and also um you know help keep the you know the economy going.
00:51:50
Speaker
um However, um there are ah some specific aspects to the Marceline economy that you know are able to succeed because of the tourists that that do come in. um So that's going to be more more retail shops and and um you know ah ah restaurants and things like that. So you know those types of establishments, you know you can often often find tourists there. But Marceline is a real town. It is a real city, um even though we do have tourists here. Yeah, that's that's amazing. ah Lisa, do you have another question? Oh, I just, i I grew up in a small town, a little town called Farmland, Indiana. So I imagine, you know, i there's nothing that I could explain more connected with when I think about Walt Disney and the fact of
00:52:46
Speaker
he always wanted to focus in on how it made you feel. And like Marceline seemed to be that place where he you know really felt at home and wanted everybody to experience that hometown feel. So I know for one, I'm i'm kind of overwhelmed a little bit because there's so many things that i but we're just going to have to make the trip. but We're just going to have to make the trip because you've got so many facts and so many things that my my mind is overwhelmed. Yeah, it it is funny that you you you brought the the the sense of feeling. um So in Neil Gabler's biography of Walt, he he talks about how
00:53:29
Speaker
there was a a sense of community that Walt Disney experienced while he was here in Marceline, and that was something that really stuck out to him, among other things, but that was, you know, one of those things that really stuck out to him. And just the the feeling that that sense of community gave to him, ah Neil Gabler says that and that was something that he would spend the rest of his life trying to recreate. And and I, you know, if you look at it, you know, when he did things like when he created a studio, or when he created Disneyland, I mean, he is creating recreating those kind of familiar type communities, you know, people that you know, he wants, to he wants, he wants them to have a good experience, he wants them to have a good time. And, you know, in many ways, he is, he is, you know, recreating that those feelings that he had in Marceline, only this time, he's he's creating them for other people. Absolutely.
00:54:21
Speaker
Yeah, it always always always makes me think whenever I think of Walmart, i mean in walmart sorry, Walt Disney. that's hello i i don't i don't know I don't know where that came from, but with Walt Disney, what it always makes me think is, Small town man, big city ideas. And it's just like how he he was able to put it put it it together and have it work out that, you know, he didn't have to rest on. Okay.
00:54:53
Speaker
Yeah, I'm in a big city. My heart is in a small town, and they're like and it's it's just incredible how you are able to show that passion and that but love, even even though he's he's no longer with us. we yeah You must feel it every day, Sumner. You must feel it every day when you come in there and you look around and say, yeah, this is one great dude that was but just incredible for everybody.
00:55:26
Speaker
Yeah, it is is it is interesting because, you know, there'll be there'll be these times where, you know, because this is, you know, like I said before, um sometimes you you have to do things where, you know, you have to help with a leaky roof or, you know, you have to, ah you know, there's ah there's there's a toilet that's clogged or something like that. ah very much real life scenarios, you know, but then there'll be other times where, you know, we'll we'll be looking through and some of our archival materials or something that will come across these, these personal letters from Walt. And it's just like, you know, this is a, this is a piece of paper that
00:56:03
Speaker
well signed his name on you know and that's right here in front of me and it's just that's that's something that you know whenever you're doing those real life tasks sometimes you can kind of forget you know the this setting you're in but then you know it doesn't take long to get reminded of what's actually going on and and what you're doing it for and so yeah it's it's it is constantly you know something that comes up and that but I get to work with ah you know Kay every day and you know Kay new waltz you know and she has all these stories and it's like every day she'll tell me something and it's just like how have you never told me this story before because it's such an interesting story but she just has so many of them that you know you know she just hasn't told me all of them yet you know but yeah it's it is something that even in those moments where you kind of forget what what it's all about um you're always quickly reminded and you know it's always something that
00:56:59
Speaker
Marceline is full of things that don't let you forget about the the magic of what is here but also, you know, the things that but things that ah Walt Disney accomplished and the things that, you know, all of us are here doing this because of him and, you know, the things that that that he created. And so, you know, I feel very fortunate to be able to, you know, not just be in this environment and and be a part of this this this Disney world, if you will, of of Disney history and and things like that, but just, ah you know, just kind of be in those same places that inspired Walt, you know, it's just something that is, a yeah, it's it's hard to describe, but it's something that does it does hit you in all the emotional places, you know?
Inspiration Behind Disney Creations
00:57:42
Speaker
Are there any things that you can think of that we can do to support the museum and your efforts and your mission? Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, you know, we'd love we'd love to have everybody visit Marceline. You know, that is certainly something that, you know, would be would be great. um But, you know, it' something that, you know, we often do ah kind of run into is and People who, you know, kind of may not know what Marceline is, or, you know, maybe they've heard the name Marceline but they don't know exactly all the history that is here. And, you know, I'll be honest with you, I feel like I haven't had the the chance to tell you most of the stories that have happened here, you know, there's so many more than just you know the things that you know we've talked about but
00:58:26
Speaker
ah Yeah, I mean, Marceline really is full of of of of Disney stories and and Walt would not be Walt without Marceline. And so, you know, the best way people can can support Marceline if they, you know, are unable to physically come and visit Marceline is to, you know, ah just acknowledge that Marceline is kind of where all these seeds were planted, that, you know, all the things that we celebrate today, you know, yeah in many ways, we we can tie them back to Marceline. For example, you know, Walt experienced a lot of first time experiences here in Marceline. One of those was, he saw his first live theatrical stage production here, and it was a traveling production of Peter Pan.
00:59:09
Speaker
And so, you know, that that' ah and was a story that stuck with Walt the rest of his life, obviously, you know, but it was something that, you know, it was a memorable moment for him. And then he actually ended up ended up recreating the the the role of Peter Pan at his at his school, Park School here in Marceline, when he performed it for the school. and You know, it was a story, you know, the story of a boy who, you know, when I grow up, that's a story that very much resonated with Walt. And that's kind of a theme in all of his work and his personal life as well. You know, the idea of, you know, Walt even said, you know, why do we have to grow up? And so, you know, you know, there's there's so many things that that that tie back to Marceline.
00:59:48
Speaker
and that you know um people don't often realize. Also something else is ah there's you know the fireworks at at Disney Parks. Richard Sherman and Floyd Norman, two Disney legends, wrote a storybook so several years ago called Kiss Goodnight. And the storybook actually tells the story about how the first time Walt saw fireworks, it was here in Marceline while he was on the Disney farm as part of the 4th of July celebration. and Walt said that was the perfect kiss good night and so that was something that you know later later when they were developing Disneyland you know Walt said you know he wanted to leave the guests with a kiss good night and so that is part of the reason why fireworks are there but that is what is recounted in the storybook but you know again
01:00:30
Speaker
It just goes to show that like you know there there there are things that Walt experienced here in Marceline that stayed with them throughout the rest of his life that he then later incorporated into his work. And so the things that we experienced today, whether that's if we're riding Peter Pan's flight or watching the fireworks at at any Disney park, you know these are things that you come back to Marceline. There was even a song, actually, it was written called All Roads Lead to Marceline. It was for a TV special in 1981 called Walt Disney One Band Stream. And ah you know the but the title of the song, All Roads Lead to Marceline, is very much kind of how I feel about it. Because you know you have all these different aspects of Disney and they all tie back to Marceline. In fact, you know yeah if you look at look at the original design of Disneyland,
01:01:16
Speaker
You have all these different lands. You've got Adventureland, which represents Walt's interest in animals and nature. You have Frontierland, which represents Walt's interest in American history and that exploration. And then you've got Fantasyland, Walt's interest in fairy tales and stories. And then you've got Tomorrowland, Walt's interest in innovation and technology. And you know to be honest, there's a story for each of those different aspects that tie back to Marceline. But you can really see that because you know you can't go visit any of those lands at Disneyland without first going through Main Street. you know Main Street is
01:01:54
Speaker
yeah every guest has to enter and every guest has to exit through Main Street, USA, and which is the representation of Marceline. And so, you know, all these different ideas of Walt, all these things that made him who he is, you know, all branched off from Marceline. And so, um you know, I do think that the layout of Disneyland is a good kind of physical representation of that. But yeah, so ah you know if you if you're unable to to visit Marceline, the best way that people can support Marceline is really to acknowledge and to recognize, I should say, and the yeah the importance that Marceline has had in shaping Walt as to who he was, and um you know which then you know led to him to to create a lot of memorableable memorable experiences that we're still experiencing today.
01:02:39
Speaker
ah Yeah, this is this is amazing. We need to have you on again some there. So ah before we close, why don't you go ahead and let our listeners know where they can find you more about your website and any other information you want them to know about.
Connecting with the Museum
01:02:55
Speaker
Yeah, so um we're ah at Walt Disney Museum. That's our our social media handles. And of course, there's WaltDisneyMuseum.org is our website. But if you're going to be out at the, end well, it was formerly called the G23 Expo, but it now it's ah been rebranded as G23, the ultimate Disney fan of it. We will be there. We'll have a booth there. I'll be there. Kay Mounds will be there. um We'll have a a bunch of other people from Marceline that'll be there with us as well.
01:03:26
Speaker
We'd love to see you. So if you're there, come say hey and and let us know how you ah how you're going to get some more sleep one day. Awesome. All right. ah Once again, I want to thank Sumner for coming on and chatting with us. And it seems like we all need to go to Marceline and just experience the the wonderfulness there. And we want to thank you all for listening to another episode of Sharing the Magic. You can find us on social media. Just look up Sharing the Magic podcast and you can find us also on
01:03:59
Speaker
um all listening platforms for podcasts, just search us up there. And until next time, keep sharing the magic.
01:04:16
Speaker
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