Originally Posted By DisneybyMark During her years at the One-of-a-Kind Shop and later at the Disneyland Art Gallery, Beverly became friends with the artists and “Imagineers” of Walt Disney Productions, including Walt Disney’s brother, Roy. In fact, Roy Disney told Beverly in confidence, that they were secretly buying orange groves in Florida to build what would eventually become Walt Disney World. Beverly became the expert in residence for all things Disneyana. Full story here: <a href="http://www.disneybymark.com/2013/02/17/disneyland-legend-beverly-butrum-passes-88/" target="_blank">http://www.disneybymark.com/20...sses-88/</a>
Originally Posted By DisneybyMark During her years at the One-of-a-Kind Shop and later at the Disneyland Art Gallery, Beverly became friends with the artists and “Imagineers” of Walt Disney Productions, including Walt Disney’s brother, Roy. In fact, Roy Disney told Beverly in confidence, that they were secretly buying orange groves in Florida to build what would eventually become Walt Disney World. Beverly became the expert in residence for all things Disneyana. Full story here: <a href="http://www.disneybymark.com/2013/02/17/disneyland-legend-beverly-butrum-passes-88/" target="_blank">http://www.disneybymark.com/20...sses-88/</a>
Originally Posted By TP2000 >>"In fact, Roy Disney told Beverly in confidence, that they were secretly buying orange groves in Florida to build what would eventually become Walt Disney World."<< That's a cute line, but it's not really true. Beverly started working at Disneyland in 1967 at the One-Of-A-Kind shop. Walt Disney announced the Florida Project publicly on November 15, 1965. The One-Of-A-Kind shop didn't open until July, 1966. Beverly started working there in 1967, as her first Disneyland assignment. So the Florida Project had been announced for 18 months before Beverly even began her Disneyland career. Not to mention why in heck Roy Disney would be spilling important Company secrets to a low seniority shop clerk at Disneyland. Secrets that could cost the Disney family and their shareholders huge sums of money if those secrets got out. Knowing what a sharp businessman and savvy financial chief Roy Disney was, I have a hard time believing he would ever mention such secrets beyond the board room. Even if time travel was possible and Beverly somehow warped back and forth through time in the mid 1960's to speak with Roy, it's a scenario I can't imagine Roy would let happen. I bet Beverly got that little fabricated story messed up, fogged after decades of memories and perhaps a sighting or two of Roy Disney in the park in the late 1960's before Roy passed away himself in '71. All that said.... I remember Beverly the instant I saw her photo on that blog. She was a very sweet woman, and reminded me of my own Grandmother (who also got fabricated stories mixed up or at least wildly exaggerated in her declining years). I'll give a little prayer that Beverly rests in well deserved peace. And perhaps she can have a heavenly chat with Roy, too.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost OMG, I hope she doesn't tell him what the place is like now and ruin his eternity! ;-)
Originally Posted By hopemax Oh, wow. It was always nice to talk to Beverly at the Gallery. When we would participate in NFFC Road Rally's we'd always go up there to do research in the books, and a time or two Beverly was able to point us in the right direction. I also remember mentioning to her that Eyvind Earle had passed away and she hadn't heard yet.
Originally Posted By oc_dean In my many trips into the gallery ... throughout the 90s .. She was always there. Very nice. Friendly .. talkative. I noticed others tended to be amongst her ...always chat up one thing or another. I can see why she's revered as a 'celebrity' of sorts. She will be missed.
Originally Posted By TP2000 It was explained on another website that Beverly was not actually a formal "Legend" honored by the company as such. No hourly front-line Cast Member has ever been honored as a "Legend" or given a window on Main Street, and likely never will. That honor is reserved for salaried management types and salaried creative leaders, not hourlies. Even if Beverly was able to warp the space-time continuum and get Roy Disney to spill highly sensitive corporate secrets to her as a new Disneyland store clerk. She wasn't really a "Legend" with a capital 'L'. She was, however, a lower case 'l' "legend" for her wonderful hospitality (and ability to tell a wild story or two) upstairs at the Disney Gallery in the late 20th century.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Beverly was the first cast member at Disneyland that I befriended (or who befriended me-- I'm not sure). By then she was a fixture up in the Disney Gallery above the Pirates of the Caribbean. She shared so many stories over the years about various people, both guests and Disneylanders, that she knew. This included Roy Disney, who she met several times at the old One-of-a-Kind Shop. Many of these stories were later retold, and eventually bore little resemblance to Beverly's original. No, she was not named a "Legend." (There are no "Disneyland Legends," just "Disney Legends.") But at a private retirement party, held at the Cafe Orleans, she was presented with a custom made "Main Street window," a token of affection and appreciation from her many friends.
Originally Posted By monorailblue Sweet Beverly was the Cast Member who, in 1993, gave me that final bit of encouragement I needed to apply for work at the Park. I was hired three times over the next decade and loved every minute of my Casual Temporary work in Main Street Restaurants and Attractions. She was a peach and a gem.
