Cal OSHA has been pressured into pulling their report on the SeaWorld trainer Killer Whale attack that controversially claimed a trainer death was an inevitability. Cal OSHA seems to now be saying, "On further reflection we don’t know enough about Killer Whales to judge whether they’re safe or not, so we’ll just pretend nothing is… Read More »Cal OSHA Pulls SeaWorld Killer Whale Report
This whole trademark thing is way out of hand. Disney is often thought as one of the worst offenders. Now they’ve been hoisted on their own pitard and forced to stop using the phrase "A Place Where Dreams Come True" in the UK promotions. What makes this story funny is that the original owner of… Read More »Disney loses Trademark battle
The ever-aspiring muckraker Steve Lopez, in his Points West column in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times, pokes his finger in Disney’s chest. He writes about the seeming contradiction between the low wages of Disneyland cast members and Disney fighting "affordable" housing in the Anaheim Resort area.
But at the end of the workday, many of the people who work at the "Happiest Place on Earth" sleep on air mattresses, in by-the-week motel rooms and in apartments shared with other families.
"I’ve been at this motel since 1997," said Derrick, a Disney security guard who pays $209 a week rent. He spoke to me Thursday night while standing in the doorway of the room he shares with two elderly aunts at Arena Inn and Suites in Anaheim, about a mile from his job.
When I was working full-time as a Disneyland cast member, which wasn’t all that long ago, I was able to afford a bachelor apartment by myself within 15 minutes of the Resort.
First, Disney challenged the right of a council member to cast a vote on the housing because she intends to open a wine bar in the area and might have a conflict of interest.
More after the jump – be forewarned that I get politically opinionated.
Alex Dobuzinskis of the Los Angeles Daily News filed an update on Six Flags California, and by extension, Six Flags. He notes the family-friendly turn, which involves some prominent familiar brands. Brand names are playing a big part in the new strategy. Cold Stone Creamery will dish out the ice cream, Kodak will do the… Read More »Update on Six Flags Magic Mountain
According to Bloomberg News, Philip Anschutz has agreed to sell 20.6 million shares of Qwest, a company he founded, completing plans to unload nearly all of his ownership. Qwest is the fourth-largest U.S. telephone company. The sale will generate an initial payment of $150.5 million, according to a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange… Read More »What’s Anschutz Up To?
No, I’m not claiming John Lasseter is as prolific, nor as groundbreaking in vision, as Walt Disney. But Lasseter’s vision has had as big an impact on the state of animation, especially feature animation, as anyone since 1986 when Lasseter joined Pixar. Also, Lasseter is the first person to head Walt Disney Feature Animation who… Read More »The man who would be Walt
It’s a bit early, but Nikki Finke examines what looks to be a good weekend for the Walt Disney Studios. The comic heavy Wild Hogs is expected to do an estimated $32 million for first place in the box office. Even Bridge to Terabitha, Disney’s other major film in current release, is expected to stay… Read More »A good weekend to go Hog Wild
Alana Semuels reports in the Los Angeles Times that Britain’s EMI Group has rejected a $4.1-billion takeover proposal from Warner Music Group. Analysts said any sale was unlikely to go through until issues clouding a planned merger between Sony Music and Bertelsmann’s BMG were resolved. On Thursday, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation of… Read More »Time For Disney’s to Expand Its Record Business?