Mrs. Disney

Warren Beatty once observed," That if you getgiving Lillian more peace at home.
married in Hollywood, you should always do it beforeLillian didn't worry about Walt cheating on her with
noon. That way if it doesn't work out, you don't killanother woman but would sometimes get jealous of
your evening." But in 1925 Walt Disney, still getting hishis work. Often he would come home late, choosing
feet wet in Tinseltown was not interested ininstead to spend the night at the studio prowling
pampered starlets. His eye was on a employee of hisaround his animator's desks, even going through their
named Lillian Bounds, originally from Lewiston, Idahotrash cans to pull out their best ideas. One time he
who worked for him as ink paint girl making fifteenarrived late for a date and drunk. Angrily she locked
dollars a week. She reminded him of the hardhim out of the house. He made amends the next day
working girls he knew growing up in Missouri. For herby presenting her with a female puppy in a hat box.
part she found him charming, the way he grew aThat event later became the basis for the Disney
mustache to look older in business meetings, andclassic Lady And The Tramp (1955).
how he refused to call on her until he could afford aThe Disney's were world travelers. Lillian was thrilled
new suit. Since he was more gentile around womento get the call from Walt to pack up for their next
than men, she was spared from the temperamentalsurprise vacation and marvel how he would turn their
swearing that he did around his animators. Walt laterexperiences into Disneyland attractions. They fell in
joked," I didn't have enough money to pay her, so Ilove with skiing in Switzerland and it lead to the
married her instead."Matterhorn Bobsled Ride. They enjoyed buying
Early in their marriage Lillian loved going to moviesantiques in the French Quarter, inspiring the creation
with him and would listen attentively as he criticizedof New Orleans Square. They learned about hidden
his competitor's cartoons and shared his own excitingtreasure on a island near Cuba sparking the
ideas. But as time went by she became moreconstruction of The Pirates Of The Caribbean, which
challenging. Perhaps she understood he needed aWalt did not live to see completed.
sounding board, he was surrounded by yes men whoLillian fell short of her own dream. She did not share
were frightened of him. I don't like the nameWalt's love of classical music, preferring to listen to
Mortimer, she told him in 1927. Why don't you callLawrence Welk. But she felt his pain when Fantasia
your mouse Mickey? She agreed with his business(1940) failed at the box office. In 1987, 21 years
partner and brother Roy in 1934 that making the firstafter he passed on, she donated fifty million dollars
feature length cartoon, Snow White And The Sevento build the Walt Disney Concert Hall which would be
Dwarfs would ruin them. When it turned out to be athe new home for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
smash hit, Walt took great pleasure in hearing LillianWhat better legacy than to bring Beethoven and
admit she was wrong. But then he scared her again.Mozart to the masses just like Walt wanted. But she
"Why would you want to build an amusement park?"became discouraged when her idea for a simple brick
She asked him. "Amusement parks are dirty. Theybuilding became much more elaborate in the hands of
don't make any money." His reply didn't make herarchitect Frank Gehry. Soon the fifty million was gone
feel better. "That's the whole point. I want a cleanand she wanted it back fearing she had wasted her
one that will." But she was at Disneyland the nightmoney on an incomplete boondoggle. Her daughter
before it opened with a broom, sweeping up theDiane convinced her that Gehry's design was
dust off the Mark Twain Steamer.wonderful but she died six years before the hall
Walt was a good provider for Lillian and their twoopened.
daughters even if he had to be in debt to do it. ItOne great thing about Walt building Disneyland was
pained her when he had to sell his Mercedes duringthat he and Lillian got to play tour guide to world
the depression to meet the studio payroll, or whenleaders. But Mrs. Disney was very disappointed when
old friends would call on him for a loan and he was sothe head of Russia Nikita S. Khrushchev and his wife
tapped out he had turn them down. They were bothfailed to come to the park in 1960. The Anaheim
content to spend evenings at home avoiding thepolice said they could not provide enough security.
publicity glare of Hollywood parties. When times wereThe Soviet Prime Minister grumpily settled for a star
better she put up with Walt called his "one sin"studded luncheon at Twentieth Century Fox instead.
owning six polo ponies, which he paid for dearly byDuring the meal Frank Sinatra was informed of Mrs.
taking a nasty spill. He became a life long scotchKhrushchev's disappointment at missing out on The
drinker to dull the reoccurring pain in his neck. HisMagic Kingdom. Old Blue Eyes slammed his fist on the
next hobby annoyed her more, a miniature railroad intable. "Screw the cops. I'll take the old broad down
the backyard that ran through her flowerbed. Shethere and watch her myself." He grabbed her by the
gave in only because the it seemed to give him ahand and was near the door when he was stopped
release from studio pressures. Sometimes sheby the KGB. Back at Disneyland Walt made Lillian
thought maybe he was using the rides to hide outsmile by telling her he was just as disappointed as
and avoid facing overwhelming problems. Later,she was. He was dying to show the Communist ruler
Disneyland would provide him with a bigger trainhis new submarine fleet.