Q: I read in a magazine article recently that the idea for having roving photographers at Disney parks was suggested to Walt Disney by Art Linkletter. The article claims that Linkletter was touring Disneyland with Mr. Disney and, after seeing all the families walking in the park, Linkletter told Disney he ought to hire young adults to take pictures of the families and offer the photographs for sale. Disney liked the idea and began that program shortly thereafter. Is there any truth to this?
John, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
A: I do not know about roving photographers, which did not seem to have been around Disneyland in the early days, but according to the story we have heard, Walt Disney asked Art Linkletter if he would participate in the Disneyland opening-day telecast. Since Walt was short of money, Art supposedly agreed to help; in lieu of a fee, he requested exclusive rights to the camera and film concessions for 10 years. So, while Kodak had a Main Street, U.S.A. shop beginning on opening day, that shop only provided service (quick camera repairs, help loading film, etc.) and information; adjacent to it was Linkletter’s separate shop that sold film, cameras, and photo accessories.
Dave Smith