Originally Posted By goofy47 I'm sure Disney and the Imagineering Division will misshim.. I'm sure he will make a great recruiter and ambassador!!! LOS ANGELES, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Martin Sklar, the creative force behind most of Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) theme parks, will step down as head of the company's famed Imagineering division, Disney said on Friday. Sklar, 72, takes on a new role as a recruiter and ambassador for the division where he worked for 50 years and was regarded as a legend. The change at the top of Imagineering comes as Pixar Animation Studios Inc. (PIXR.O: Quote, Profile, Research) creative director, John Lasseter, steps into a more formal advisory role there when Disney's expected acquisition of Pixar is completed this summer. Lasseter, whose talents as an animator and storyteller have been compared with Walt Disney's, will not replace Sklar, but will advise the division on how best to integrate animated characters into Disney rides, shows and products, Disney spokeswoman Marilyn Waters said. Disney is conducting a nationwide search for a creative executive to head Imagineering, which designs rides and other attractions for the company's cruise line, hotels and theme parks around the world, Waters said. Sklar, 72, serves as vice chairman and principal creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering and is the division's last link to founder Walt Disney. He began work at Disney in 1956 and had planned to change his role at Disney after celebrating his 50th anniversary at the company in June, Waters said. In an internal memo, Sklar said that as Imagineering Ambassador for the Disney Parks and Resorts, he will help recruit new talent from universities and within Disney, develop traveling exhibitions and speak at conferences about the vaunted creative team. Sklar lauded the arrival of Lasseter whom he said would "contribute to the 'no fear' approach" fostered at Imagineering. The Imagineers began as a creative team of set designers, directors, animators and others who were handpicked by Walt Disney to plan the theme park that became Disneyland. Sklar, who started at Disneyland as a publicist and acted as the Disney founder's personal scribe until his death in 1966, became president of Imagineering in 1987.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I had the pleasure of seeing Marty Sklar roaming around TDSea the same week HKDL opened back in sept. Of course... I would not dare come up to him and say hello, but that was kind of a treat. He seemed as if he was enjoying himself in the company of some company escorts and family members... and he should. TDS is tops in his area of expertise.
Originally Posted By goofy47 It's to bad that Disney has lost so many of their best people to death, retirement, and offers from other companies, to head their ventures. Over the years my family and I have the oppurtunity to meet Roy Disney Jr and Michael Eisner and shake their hands... I have photos of them signing my daughters brand new Disney Dollar, we still have it framed.. We have met the bird man... and Ray, (don't remember is last name) Ray was in charge of the WDW 3pm parade and the grand marshalls for the parade.. Not being a cast member , but a Stockholder, I was fortunate to tour underground (Actually Ground Level) before Disney offered tours... Like you, I have issues with WDW and Disney... but unlike you. I don't allow myself the freedom to pass it along to Newbies... Call me old fashioned.. I've seen many changes in the past 25 yrs that my familiy and I have not been pleased with. Even the little things like no slice of pinnaple in the Dole Whip in Adventure land. But we try not think about it, and look at the positive and don't let it effect our trips or memories of WDW...
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney I don't share the same enthusiasm for Marty. I feel like he sold his soul to the devil the past decade and signed off on anything and everything Eisner/Pressler/Rasulo wanted all the while acting the part of a 'Walt' man. Also, make no mistake about it, Marty was pushed out. He would have stayed in that position until he died if given the opportunity. There'a VERY interesting thread on this down on the Disney Business Board, and I invite anyone interested to come on down and join in.
Originally Posted By RobinsonCrusoeEsq Responding to post #4: I heard that Marty actually up and walked out of more than one meeting about DCA, when he was heard to say something along the lines of, "Don't come running to me when this park is a flop."
