Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an EntertainmentEmpire [Paperback]

Bob Thomas (Author)

Book Description

One night, at a Los Angeles dinner gala, Walt Disney gave a rare public statement about his older brother, Roy: " We started the business here in 1923, and if it hadn`t been for my big brother, I swear I`d`ve been in jail several times for checks bouncing. I never knew what was in the bank. He kept me on the straight and narrow. " Although Walt wasn`t quite that ignorant of the numbers, it`s true that Roy handled most of the finances for the Disney empire. It was Roy who kept the studio running in the early years, Roy who put together the financing deals for Disneyland, Roy who oversaw the completion of Walt Disney World in Florida after his brother`s death in 1966.Building a Company provides plenty of anecdotal details about the Disney entertainment empire`s rise to power. Don`t look for juicy scandal, though: Bob Thomas`s fully authorized (and, ultimately, Disney-financed) biography steers clear of any controversies, such as Disney`s attempts to get out of a contract with ABC in the late `50s, before they can cause a blight on the success story. Useful primarily to those interested in the details of business and entertainment history.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One night, at a Los Angeles dinner gala, Walt Disney gave a rare public statement about his older brother, Roy: "We started the business here in 1923, and if it hadn't been for my big brother, I swear I'd've been in jail several times for checks bouncing. I never knew what was in the bank. He kept me on the straight and narrow."

Although Walt wasn't quite that ignorant of the numbers, it's true that Roy handled most of the finances for the Disney empire. It was Roy who kept the studio running in the early years, Roy who put together the financing deals for Disneyland, Roy who oversaw the completion of Walt Disney World in Florida after his brother's death in 1966.

Building a Company provides plenty of anecdotal details about the Disney entertainment empire's rise to power. Don't look for juicy scandal, though: Bob Thomas's fully authorized (and, ultimately, Disney-financed) biography steers clear of any controversies, such as Disney's attempts to get out of a contract with ABC in the late '50s, before they can cause a blight on the success story. Useful primarily to those interested in the details of business and entertainment history. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Roy Disney was born in 1893, a full eight years before his brother Walt. Despite the age gap, the brothers were from the beginning almost inseparable. Roy joined the Navy during WWI, but following his discharge discovered he had tuberculosis. His search for a suitable climate for recovery brought him to California, where he was soon joined by Walt, who had already set up his first cartoon film company, Laugh-O-Gram. With Walt supplying the vision, Roy was brought onboard to handle the finances. Together they established the Walt Disney Company; by himself, Walt came up with a signature character named Mortimer Mouse, who made his debut as Mickey in the film Plane Crazy. Once he reappeared in his first talkie, Steamboat Willie, an American cartoon icon was born. Thomas (Walt Disney: An American Original) depicts the business acumen of Roy in such matters as licensing, the forming of the original Mickey Mouse Clubs and the retention of TV rights of Disney products as early as the 1930s. Thomas covers as well Roy's part in the company's going public; its financial restructuring after WWII; the production of feature films like Fantasia; and the creation of Disneyland, leading to the Florida land-buy necessary for DisneyWorld, which opened just before Roy's death in 1971. This is a highly entertaining book that will interest a business readership in addition to fans of Disney. 16 pages of b&w photos, not seen by PW. (July) FYI: Hyperion, a Disney company, appears to have taken its name from the first location of the Walt Disney Studios, 2719 Hyperion Avenue in downtown L.A.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Disney Editions (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786884169
• ISBN-13: 978-0786884162
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one who believed in the dreamer., May 3, 2002

By 

TWiz (Landisville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an EntertainmentEmpire (Paperback)

What an interesting read! I had never heard of 'Roy O Disney', and perhaps that's the way he wanted it. Great insight into the man behind the man at one of the most well-known and well-loved companies in the world.

This book will help you understand the difference between visionary leadership and organizational leadership. One without the other is all but irrelevant! Plus some interesting theories on money and risk-taking. Current self-absorbed (and overpaid) CEO's should read this book and take notes. Any comments Mr. Eisner?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, insightful look into the Disney saga., July 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empires (Hardcover)

While this book is published by Disney, it isn't all perfume and flowers about either Walt, or his older brother, Roy. Roy was a tenacious and shrewd businessman committed to seeing his younger brother's brilliance to fruition. Walt is a creative genius with limited interpersonal skills but a great vision and gift as a storyteller. This work is an insightful look at how midwest work ethic and strong family values tied to Irish determination gave these two brilliant men the courage and guile to succeed in the cutthroat entertainment industry for five decades, including a depression, a world war, and an endless parade of naysayers.

Author Bob Thomas is a former AP journalist who interviewed the Disneys in his earlier years, and must have some personal sentiment regarding Roy and Walt to have thoroughly researched and written this book at 76. His polished style is that of a storyteller and he entertains with hundreds of anecdotes from key members of the Disney family an! ! d co-workers of all ages.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, April 17, 2002

By 

Nikola Raguz (Dubrovnik Croatia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an EntertainmentEmpire (Paperback)

Finally someone who wrote about equally important, 2nd pilar of The Walt Disney Company. Its cofounder is greatly described in this book. It has many comparisons with his more famous brother Walt, but Roy's business affairs genious was equally important for the company, as Walt's creative genious. This book is a must read!!