Continuing the discussion from last night:
Di$ney is all about money and control. Ask Annette Joanne Funicello - her family sued Disney in 1959 saying that at the time they signed Annette's first contract for the MMC they were not represented by an agent and did not have the advantage of professional advice. They wanted a raise for Annette (the only original Mouse to remain under contract) and better future terms.
They lost. Annette was under contract for ALL activity to Disney Studios until early 1964, earning for ALL her years and work there a total of $250,000. Most of that came in her last year when Disney voluntarily gave her a raise to $1500 per week with a 40 week guarantee. By then she was represented by Jack Gilardi, the man she eventually married.
Just an opinion: The Disney Company of the 50's and 60's should NOT be compared to the Company we know today!
Walt Disney was never a filthy rich man and never had the wealth that Mr Eisner knows...
Walt's nephew is a multi millionaire that Walt never was!
Most of the Disney Classics we know today lost money on their first and even second releases!
It's the merchandising that save the Compnay's arse, most of the times, and then, through the years (After Walt!) the theme parks!
We all know that Annette enjoyed and has fond memories of her tenure at the Disney Studios!
That's all I had to say... in my clumsy ways, as usual!
(Walt learnt a lesson he remembered all his life when he lost the rights to Oswald!... )
