Visiting Walt Disney's Grave

Date: June 01, 2014 Duration: 5m 50s

Today in Randomland we have a change of pace as we pay our respects to the man, the myth, and the legend that was Walt Disney. In November of 1966, Walt wasn't feeling like himself, and checked into St. Joseph's Hospital across the street from the studio, only to end up having a lung removed, and only a few weeks later, passing away. CURRENT Channel (2021 and beyond! ) : http://www.youtube.com/justinscarred MERCH!: http://store.randomland.com All my life I've been a huge fan of Walt Disney, and while he wasn't a saint by any stretch of the imagination, when the facts are laid out, he wasn't a villain either. There were many Walt Disneys, depending on who you ask, and whether one chooses to see the myths, the legends, or the man, he certainly remains the embodiment of a rags-to-riches American Dream story, and inarguably brought a smile to the faces of millions if not billions of people for generations past and generations to come. So come along as we visit and pay our respects to the humble, final resting place of one of America's greatest visionaries, Walter Elias Disney. For those wishing to learn more about the man behind the legends, I highly recommend Neal Gabler's book here: http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Triumph-American-Imagination/dp/0679757473 -We don't usually take this somber of a tone. If you're looking for a more upbeat Randomland consider this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne1ZgHgfLkY

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0:08 [Music]

0:08 [Music] California. Today, enter the world of

0:11 California. Today, enter the world of

0:11 California. Today, enter the world of random

0:18 land. Now, you might be wondering why

0:18 land. Now, you might be wondering why I'm speaking so quietly. It's because

0:20 I'm speaking so quietly. It's because

0:20 I'm speaking so quietly. It's because we're here in Glendale, California at

0:22 we're here in Glendale, California at

0:22 we're here in Glendale, California at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It's a huge

0:25 Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It's a huge

0:25 Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It's a huge cemetery, and it's actually pretty

0:27 cemetery, and it's actually pretty

0:27 cemetery, and it's actually pretty fantastic. There's a free museum here.

0:30 fantastic. There's a free museum here.

0:30 fantastic. There's a free museum here. There are all kinds of sculptures and

0:31 There are all kinds of sculptures and

0:32 There are all kinds of sculptures and amazing stained glass windows, pieces of

0:34 amazing stained glass windows, pieces of

0:34 amazing stained glass windows, pieces of art. Here's a fantastic reproduction of

0:36 art. Here's a fantastic reproduction of

0:36 art. Here's a fantastic reproduction of Michelangelo's David, for example.

0:38 Michelangelo's David, for example.

0:38 Michelangelo's David, for example. Forest Lawn has a pretty fascinating

0:40 Forest Lawn has a pretty fascinating

0:40 Forest Lawn has a pretty fascinating history all of its own, and there are

0:41 history all of its own, and there are

0:41 history all of its own, and there are several locations now, but the Glendale

0:43 several locations now, but the Glendale

0:43 several locations now, but the Glendale one is perched high up on a hill

0:46 one is perched high up on a hill

0:46 one is perched high up on a hill overlooking downtown Los Angeles. You

0:48 overlooking downtown Los Angeles. You

0:48 overlooking downtown Los Angeles. You can see the Griffith Observatory down

0:50 can see the Griffith Observatory down

0:50 can see the Griffith Observatory down into Glendale and up into the valley and

0:51 into Glendale and up into the valley and

0:51 into Glendale and up into the valley and Burbank. Now, we could spend a lot of

0:53 Burbank. Now, we could spend a lot of

0:53 Burbank. Now, we could spend a lot of time here exploring Forest Lawn,

0:55 time here exploring Forest Lawn,

0:55 time here exploring Forest Lawn, checking out all its treasures, and

0:57 checking out all its treasures, and

0:57 checking out all its treasures, and maybe we'll come back one day. Today, I

0:58 maybe we'll come back one day. Today, I

0:58 maybe we'll come back one day. Today, I primarily want to talk about Walter

1:00 primarily want to talk about Walter

1:00 primarily want to talk about Walter Elias Disney. In November 1966, Walt

1:03 Elias Disney. In November 1966, Walt

1:03 Elias Disney. In November 1966, Walt Disney was feeling a lot of neck and

1:05 Disney was feeling a lot of neck and

1:05 Disney was feeling a lot of neck and back pains. He hadn't really been in

1:06 back pains. He hadn't really been in

1:06 back pains. He hadn't really been in good health. So, he went across the

1:08 good health. So, he went across the

1:08 good health. So, he went across the street from his studio in Burbank to St.

1:10 street from his studio in Burbank to St.

1:10 street from his studio in Burbank to St. Joseph's Hospital to get an X-ray and

1:12 Joseph's Hospital to get an X-ray and

1:12 Joseph's Hospital to get an X-ray and see what was wrong. Now, unfortunately,

1:14 see what was wrong. Now, unfortunately,

1:14 see what was wrong. Now, unfortunately, Walt Disney had been a very heavy smoker

1:16 Walt Disney had been a very heavy smoker

1:16 Walt Disney had been a very heavy smoker almost his entire life. When they got

1:18 almost his entire life. When they got

1:18 almost his entire life. When they got the X-rays back, they actually found

1:20 the X-rays back, they actually found

1:20 the X-rays back, they actually found tumors inside of one of his lungs. 5

1:22 tumors inside of one of his lungs. 5

1:22 tumors inside of one of his lungs. 5 days later, on November 7th, 1966, Walt

1:25 days later, on November 7th, 1966, Walt

1:25 days later, on November 7th, 1966, Walt Disney went in for surgery. Now, the

1:27 Disney went in for surgery. Now, the

1:27 Disney went in for surgery. Now, the people who worked with him knew that he

1:29 people who worked with him knew that he

1:29 people who worked with him knew that he was having trouble with his back and his

1:30 was having trouble with his back and his

1:30 was having trouble with his back and his neck. They thought that's what he was

1:31 neck. They thought that's what he was

1:31 neck. They thought that's what he was going in for surgery for. Unfortunately,

1:34 going in for surgery for. Unfortunately,

1:34 going in for surgery for. Unfortunately, the truth was that Walt Disney had to

1:36 the truth was that Walt Disney had to

1:36 the truth was that Walt Disney had to have his entire lung removed. At first,

1:39 have his entire lung removed. At first,

1:39 have his entire lung removed. At first, everything seemed to be going well, and

1:41 everything seemed to be going well, and

1:41 everything seemed to be going well, and Walt was released to recuperate at home

1:42 Walt was released to recuperate at home

1:42 Walt was released to recuperate at home and be with his family for the

1:44 and be with his family for the

1:44 and be with his family for the Thanksgiving holiday. But sadly, just

1:45 Thanksgiving holiday. But sadly, just

1:45 Thanksgiving holiday. But sadly, just after Thanksgiving, Walt's condition

1:47 after Thanksgiving, Walt's condition

1:47 after Thanksgiving, Walt's condition took a turn for the worse, and he was

1:49 took a turn for the worse, and he was

1:49 took a turn for the worse, and he was admitted back into the hospital. He was

1:51 admitted back into the hospital. He was

1:51 admitted back into the hospital. He was going in and out of consciousness. And

1:53 going in and out of consciousness. And

1:53 going in and out of consciousness. And just a few weeks later, tragically, on

1:55 just a few weeks later, tragically, on

1:55 just a few weeks later, tragically, on December 15th, 1966, with a view of the

1:58 December 15th, 1966, with a view of the

1:58 December 15th, 1966, with a view of the studio lights from the window in the

2:00 studio lights from the window in the

2:00 studio lights from the window in the hospital, Walt Disney passed away. Walt

2:03 hospital, Walt Disney passed away. Walt

2:03 hospital, Walt Disney passed away. Walt Disney hadn't left any instructions for

2:05 Disney hadn't left any instructions for

2:05 Disney hadn't left any instructions for his burial in his will, but he had made

2:07 his burial in his will, but he had made

2:07 his burial in his will, but he had made it known on more than one occasion that

2:09 it known on more than one occasion that

2:09 it known on more than one occasion that he didn't want a big funeral. He didn't

2:10 he didn't want a big funeral. He didn't

2:10 he didn't want a big funeral. He didn't want people to remember him that way.

2:12 want people to remember him that way.

2:12 want people to remember him that way. So, the family brought him to Forest

2:13 So, the family brought him to Forest

2:13 So, the family brought him to Forest Lawn and had a quiet, private ceremony

2:16 Lawn and had a quiet, private ceremony

2:16 Lawn and had a quiet, private ceremony here at the Little Church of the

2:18 here at the Little Church of the

2:18 here at the Little Church of the Flowers. This is the place where Walt

2:20 Flowers. This is the place where Walt

2:20 Flowers. This is the place where Walt Disney's family and a few close personal

2:22 Disney's family and a few close personal

2:22 Disney's family and a few close personal friends came to pay their respects and

2:25 friends came to pay their respects and

2:25 friends came to pay their respects and to say their final farewells to Walt

2:27 to say their final farewells to Walt

2:27 to say their final farewells to Walt Disney. Anyone familiar with the life of

2:29 Disney. Anyone familiar with the life of

2:29 Disney. Anyone familiar with the life of Walt Disney knows that his story is

2:31 Walt Disney knows that his story is

2:31 Walt Disney knows that his story is really a reflection of the American

2:32 really a reflection of the American

2:32 really a reflection of the American dream. So, it's fitting that after

2:34 dream. So, it's fitting that after

2:34 dream. So, it's fitting that after cremation, they brought Walt Disney's

2:36 cremation, they brought Walt Disney's

2:36 cremation, they brought Walt Disney's ashes to lay to rest in a private garden

2:38 ashes to lay to rest in a private garden

2:38 ashes to lay to rest in a private garden in this area called the Court of

2:40 in this area called the Court of

2:40 in this area called the Court of Freedom. There's a large mausoleum here

2:42 Freedom. There's a large mausoleum here

2:42 Freedom. There's a large mausoleum here with stained glass windows depicting

2:44 with stained glass windows depicting

2:44 with stained glass windows depicting some of the founding fathers and great

2:45 some of the founding fathers and great

2:45 some of the founding fathers and great figures in American history. And

2:47 figures in American history. And

2:47 figures in American history. And outdoors, they even have a huge statue

2:49 outdoors, they even have a huge statue

2:49 outdoors, they even have a huge statue of George Washington just above an

2:52 of George Washington just above an

2:52 of George Washington just above an actual piece of the chain they stretched

2:55 actual piece of the chain they stretched

2:55 actual piece of the chain they stretched across the Hudson River in 1776 to stop

2:57 across the Hudson River in 1776 to stop

2:57 across the Hudson River in 1776 to stop the British. Now, normally we get pretty

2:59 the British. Now, normally we get pretty

2:59 the British. Now, normally we get pretty goofy and wacky and have all kinds of

3:01 goofy and wacky and have all kinds of

3:01 goofy and wacky and have all kinds of zany adventures in these videos, but

3:03 zany adventures in these videos, but

3:03 zany adventures in these videos, but today there are all kinds of funeral

3:04 today there are all kinds of funeral

3:04 today there are all kinds of funeral services going on, a lot of people

3:06 services going on, a lot of people

3:06 services going on, a lot of people visiting their family members. So, we're

3:07 visiting their family members. So, we're

3:07 visiting their family members. So, we're just going to very quietly go down the

3:09 just going to very quietly go down the

3:09 just going to very quietly go down the hill and see the last resting place of

3:12 hill and see the last resting place of

3:12 hill and see the last resting place of Walt

3:23 Disney. Definitely want to take off our

3:23 Disney. Definitely want to take off our hats for

3:45 I've been sitting on this bench here for

3:45 I've been sitting on this bench here for a while, this sort of memorial bench

3:48 a while, this sort of memorial bench

3:48 a while, this sort of memorial bench near a a plaque for Walt Disney. And

3:50 near a a plaque for Walt Disney. And

3:50 near a a plaque for Walt Disney. And I've been noticing that even though it's

3:52 I've been noticing that even though it's

3:52 I've been noticing that even though it's a random weekday, it's sort of gray and

3:54 a random weekday, it's sort of gray and

3:54 a random weekday, it's sort of gray and cloudy outside, there's been quite a few

3:56 cloudy outside, there's been quite a few

3:56 cloudy outside, there's been quite a few people who have sort of stopped by as

3:58 people who have sort of stopped by as

3:58 people who have sort of stopped by as I've been sitting here to pay their

3:59 I've been sitting here to pay their

3:59 I've been sitting here to pay their respects to Walt Disney. When Walt

4:01 respects to Walt Disney. When Walt

4:01 respects to Walt Disney. When Walt passed away, millions of people around

4:03 passed away, millions of people around

4:03 passed away, millions of people around the world wept. They were very upset. He

4:06 the world wept. They were very upset. He

4:06 the world wept. They were very upset. He had almost sort of become Uncle Walt to

4:08 had almost sort of become Uncle Walt to

4:08 had almost sort of become Uncle Walt to the whole world. Of course, he wasn't a

4:10 the whole world. Of course, he wasn't a

4:10 the whole world. Of course, he wasn't a saint or perfect by any means, but he

4:12 saint or perfect by any means, but he

4:12 saint or perfect by any means, but he did inspire millions of people and

4:14 did inspire millions of people and

4:14 did inspire millions of people and brought happiness to millions of

4:16 brought happiness to millions of

4:16 brought happiness to millions of children all over the world. I think it

4:18 children all over the world. I think it

4:18 children all over the world. I think it when it comes to historical figures or

4:20 when it comes to historical figures or

4:20 when it comes to historical figures or very famous figures in history outside

4:22 very famous figures in history outside

4:22 very famous figures in history outside their time, it's very easy to slip into

4:24 their time, it's very easy to slip into

4:24 their time, it's very easy to slip into a sort of pessimism and focus on the bad

4:27 a sort of pessimism and focus on the bad

4:27 a sort of pessimism and focus on the bad things they did and the negativity. I

4:29 things they did and the negativity. I

4:29 things they did and the negativity. I think Wall understood that. I mean, Walt

4:30 think Wall understood that. I mean, Walt

4:30 think Wall understood that. I mean, Walt Disney lived at a time where America was

4:32 Disney lived at a time where America was

4:32 Disney lived at a time where America was re-examining its past with a very

4:34 re-examining its past with a very

4:34 re-examining its past with a very critical eye. But even though we

4:36 critical eye. But even though we

4:36 critical eye. But even though we definitely don't want to repeat the

4:38 definitely don't want to repeat the

4:38 definitely don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past, I think Walt

4:39 mistakes of the past, I think Walt

4:39 mistakes of the past, I think Walt Disney represented a certain sort of

4:41 Disney represented a certain sort of

4:41 Disney represented a certain sort of optimism. We can look at historical

4:43 optimism. We can look at historical

4:43 optimism. We can look at historical figures and be inspired. Maybe they

4:45 figures and be inspired. Maybe they

4:45 figures and be inspired. Maybe they weren't perfect and maybe we, the next

4:48 weren't perfect and maybe we, the next

4:48 weren't perfect and maybe we, the next generation, the people that have gone on

4:49 generation, the people that have gone on

4:49 generation, the people that have gone on beyond them, can go on and build

4:51 beyond them, can go on and build

4:52 beyond them, can go on and build something on what they built, build on

4:53 something on what they built, build on

4:53 something on what they built, build on the positivity. Despite Walt Disney's

4:56 the positivity. Despite Walt Disney's

4:56 the positivity. Despite Walt Disney's personal humility, he definitely is the

5:00 personal humility, he definitely is the

5:00 personal humility, he definitely is the embodiment of the old saying, if you put

5:03 embodiment of the old saying, if you put

5:04 embodiment of the old saying, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish

5:06 your mind to it, you can accomplish

5:06 your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. So, I think I'll leave here

5:09 anything. So, I think I'll leave here

5:09 anything. So, I think I'll leave here now and go to Disneyland. Thank you very

5:12 now and go to Disneyland. Thank you very

5:12 now and go to Disneyland. Thank you very much for watching, joining me as we pay

5:14 much for watching, joining me as we pay

5:14 much for watching, joining me as we pay our respects to the man, the myth, the

5:17 our respects to the man, the myth, the

5:17 our respects to the man, the myth, the legend, Walter Elias

5:19 legend, Walter Elias

5:19 legend, Walter Elias Disney. All right, that's all for now.

5:21 Disney. All right, that's all for now.

5:21 Disney. All right, that's all for now. We'll see you next time. Bye-bye.