Marty Sklar To Leave WDI

[Snoopy]

It's a true Imagineering legend who announces today in a letter to "All Imagineers" that he will say "goodbye" to Walt Disney Imagineering on July 17 this year.

Disney Legend Marty Sklar began as a Disney cast-member 53 years ago at Disneyland’s public relations department and joined WED Enterprises in 1961 where his Imagineer career began. His career at WDI "grew from Staff Writer to Vice President of Concepts and Planning, and then to President and Vice-Chairman and Principal Creative Executive of Imagineering".

His role in the creative development of EPCOT is well known, but we must not forget his participation in countless attractions and theme park projects, most of them beloved by Disney guests.

More Here:

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/20...legendary.html

[Spokker]

A company man to the end.

[Iframedroger R]

Interesting...

[club33az]

I'm sure he'll be available on a consulting basis if needed.

53 years with one company. He's earned his retirement.

I wonder what it was that made him decide, though.

[Spokker]

I have to imagine what he was really doing in his last few years. He was already bumped down to "Imagineering ambassador." That sounds like a semi-retirement to me.

[club33az]

I'm not sure any of us would want our entire careers summed up in what one does in the last 2 or 3 years of it. Actually, I wouldn't want my whole career summed up in ANY 2 or 3 year time period, first, last or in the middle.
I know that's not going to stop some people, but I just thought it needed to be said.

[Spokker]

I'm not summing up his entire career based on the last two or three years of it. I'm simply talking about what he's been doing the last few years, and that was Disney keeping him on the payroll because of his experience, but taking him out of a leadership role.

[club33az]

Yes, you've demonstrated your respect for Marty very well in the past.

[Spokker]

Am I supposed to respect him? Is that the only opinion one can have of him and his role at WED and WDI?

I certainly acknowledge his role at WED and WDI, but I disagreed with him about some key decisions made by The Walt Disney Co. and his effort to defend those decisions. His background is in publicity and marketing and while that stuff is important, I don't think his role at Disney was as crucial as a Bob Gurr, a John Hench, or other Imagineering legends.

[club33az]

There's an old saying. If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say it.

All I'm saying.........

His background is in publicity and marketing and while that stuff is important, I don't think his role at Disney was as crucial as a Bob Gurr, a John Hench, or other Imagineering legends.

I guess you'll never know how important he was to WDI.