WDW Radio # 755 - Disney Legend Dave Smith Interview - From the WDW Radio Archives

As part of our celebration of the Disney 100 year anniversary, it’s only appropriate that this week I go way back into the Archives for an interview with Disney Legend Dave Smith, the founder of the Walt Disney Archives. 13 years ago, I was at work and literally had to lock myself in a closet at my office to interview Dave, who I had known for some time. His name is, and always will be, synonymous with Disney history. From founding the Walt Disney Archives in 1970, to authoring numerous books, Dave Smith’s 40 year career with the company afforded him the opportunity to help preserve the magic that began with Walt himself. Dave and I discuss his career, including not just his role in the creation and legacy of the Archives, but its challenges, personal highlights, changes and his future, as he prepares to retire from this “temporary” job that lasted four decades. It’s a fascinating conversation not just about the Archives, but the person who made it a reality, and was the guardian of Disney’s most treasured memories. Dave sadly passed away in 2019 leaving behind a treasure trove of Disney lore for generations to come.

- If you could visit the Walt Disney Archives, what is the one item from Disney history you would like to see?