William Worley as Walt Disney

Walt Disney stands out as very possibly the most influential individual shaping American society in the middle third of the 20th century.  Innovating in such aspects of film making as animation design, sound and color film making, wildlife photography and amusement park design, Disney excelled in the mediums of film, phonographic, recording and television. He was born in Chicago, IL in 1901. His golden period occurred between 1905 and 1910 in Marceline, MO where he experienced a childhood filled with farm animals and elaborate escapades.  Enduring his share of ups and downs in life and work, Disney still managed to maintain a positive and creative attitude that led to his ultimate success as one of the most well-known cartoon film producers of all time.

From Snow White to his final vision of EPCOT, Walt Disney never failed to entertain views and create interest as he made an unsurpassed contribution to the entertainment industry.  Disney died in 1965 in Los Angeles, CS, just missing the release of his final animated production in 1967, The Jungle Book.

William Worley

William S. Worley is an Adjunct Professor of History at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and an experienced Chatauquan.  His historical interests include Missouri and Kansas City history along with that of various characters he performs.  Currently, he regularly takes on the persona of Kansas City political boss, Tom Pendergast; President Harry S Truman; basketball inventor, James Naismith; Jewish compatriot of John Brown in Bleeding Kansas, August Bondi; and, of course, Walt Disney.

Worley is a "public historian," in that he attempts to get historical topics out into communities where people can enjoy them, react to them, and even take issue with them.  He believes that history is not something to be put on shelf, but to be lived and discussed.

Married with three grown sons and two grandchildren, Worley presents programs in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.  He has been a scholar-performer in Chautauqua's in each of those states as well as Colorado, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific.

He presented a program as part of Chautauqua's That's Entertainment at the Webb City Public Library on Thursday, June 26, 2008.  His presentation was about Disney's version of traditional fairy tales and how they translate to the big screen.