Posted: February 21, 2012

The question I'm most often asked while traveling to film festivals with Gregg's and my documentary ("the boys") is, "Did you ever meet Walt Disney?"

I'm happy to say yes -- a number of times.

Everyone at the Studio was a bigger-than-life character and it was truly enchanting to make the rounds with my dad. The most incredible character (and, at the same time, humble, accessible, and down-to-Earth) was Mr. Disney himself.

It's said Walt not only knew the names of all his employees, but also remembered the names of their wives, husbands, and kids -- once he met them. I can tell you from experience that this is absolutely true. He was gracious and open and passionate and loved sharing his enthusiasm ... even with people like me.

One of my fondest memories of being a "Disney kid" was Christmas time, when Walt would have a special celebration at the Studio for employees and their families. The Characters would all be there, cartoons were shown in the Studio Theater, and booths were set up in the Buena Vista parking lot where we'd get hotdogs and drinks and all kinds of gifts. It was maybe the very best part of the whole holiday season and I always really looked forward to it.

Dad and Dick [uncle Richard Sherman] worked on "Mary Poppins" almost from the time they'd begun working for Walt in 1960. A couple of years later, all the sound stages at the Studio were dedicated to "Mary Poppins." One stage had the "Jolly Holiday" merry-go-round up against a green screen. Another held Uncle Albert's house. I watched them shoot much of the tea-party-on-the-ceiling sequence.

Cherry Tree Lane stood on Stage 2, which was (and still is) simply massive. It was an enormous, incredible set that was built full scale (to the smallest detail) like an authentic London street from the turn of the century. Years later, I worked as a writer-producer on the Disney/ABC series "Boy Meets World." For the first two years of the show, my office was one floor down from where my dad and uncle had theirs for so many years and our sets were on Stage 2. I would often sit alone on the stage thinking of the history and my times on the Lot as a child. It was such an honor to share a corner of this legacy.



My personal favorite story about Walt Disney? One day my dad had taken me to see all the sound stages for "Poppins." It was pretty incredible, because Dad had been telling me about all the fanciful touches that were going into the film. Somehow, though, looking at the nuts and bolts of these stages was less magical than the way Dad had described them prior to our visit.

As usual, Dad then took me to have lunch in the Coral Room. I was holding my dad's hand when Walt walked in. He saw me, smiled, and said, "So, Jeffrey, I hear you took a look at our sets for 'Mary Poppins' today. What did you think?"

I responded, "They're okay, I guess." My Dad's hand went limp and I looked up at him, knowing I'd done something very wrong. Walt had this troubled look on his face and asked what I meant. I told him I didn't think people were going to believe it. Dad's hand got icy. Walt took my hand and said, "Come with me."

He left the gentlemen he was supposed to have lunch with and led me back to one of the stages where the rooftops of London had been constructed. You'll remember them from the terrific "Step in Time" sequence.



Walt turned on the work lights and asked me what it was about the enormous set that I didn't buy into. He said he'd had artists and craftsmen build every detail exactly as they existed in 1910 London. I explained that they looked cool and everything, but were only about three or four feet off the ground. Walt had a good laugh, knelt down next to me, and put his hands together like the viewfinder of a movie camera. He had me look through this, up at the rooftops. He explained that this was all people would see in a theater. "That's called movie magic," he confided. "Don't ever tell your friends."

Well, while I do feel bad about betraying Mr. Disney's trust, I think it's a window into the passion, warmth, and brilliance of the man. He ditched his lunch to change a kid's entire life and ignited my desire to create movie and television magic of my own.

When "the boys: the sherman brothers' story" premiered at the 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival, I was incredibly moved. The film was screened at George Lucas' theater at the Presidio. Diane Disney, Walt's daughter, arranged for the after-party to take place nearby at the Walt Disney Family Museum (which was still under construction at the time). Walt Disney, as I mentioned, first inspired me to imagine and create when I was six. George Lucas and "Star Wars" convinced me to transfer to film school in 1977. I couldn't have asked for two more personally meaningful, emotional places for our film -- and our dads -- to be honored.

There was always a special bond between Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers. He was like their second father. When I graduated from UCLA Film School in 1979, I always hoped I'd get the chance to work for the Studio myself.

I'm very proud to say that for about half of my professional career, I have worked for Walt Disney Studios. I've written, produced, and directed for the feature divisions, and written, produced, and composed songs for ABC/Disney, Disney Channel, and ABC Family.


Clockwise from top: Bob Sherman, Jeff Sherman, Jimmy Osmond, Richard Sherman of Disney Channel's "The Enchanted Musical Playhouse"

I know many others who are also second- and third-generation Disney employees, and we all have immense respect and affinity for the Company. Even as the people in charge have shifted over the years, the quality and tradition instilled by Walt and Roy Disney still remains.

To this day, it truly is an amazing and humbling feeling to drive onto the Burbank Lot. All the memories and wonder instantly come flooding back. I feel very privileged, indeed, to be, as they say, "part of the magic."


Father and Son -- Bob and Jeff Sherman, London 2009

Read Part 1
Read Part 2