Disneyland, known as The Happiest Place on Earth, celebrates its 70^th anniversary on July 17, 2025. Over the last 40 years, I have had the distinct honor of interviewing Disney cast members – and some who would become cast members – who were on hand for Disneyland’s opening. This is one in a series on that important day in Disney history.

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Marty Sklar was hired by the Walt Disney Company exactly one month prior to Disneyland’s opening date, July 17, 1955.

Marty, as well as thousands of invited guests, local dignitaries and corporate sponsors – along with anyone who was in possession of a forged ticket – were on hand for the big event, which was broadcast nationally on the ABC television network.

Marty, who was entering his senior year at UCLA and was about to become the editor of the school’s newspaper, The Daily Bruin, had been hired by Disney in June of 1955 to produce an authentic-looking, turn-of-the-20^th-century newspaper to be sold to guests as they entered the park.

The idea for the paper was simple. When people walked down Main Street USA, Walt wanted them to experience exactly what it felt like when he was a young boy growing up in the Midwest … right down to a time when people’s only source of news was the hometown newspaper.

After he was hired, he had to present a concept for the newspaper “to THE Walt Disney,” Marty said.

“The meeting with Walt took place at Disneyland in the conference room in the administration building,” Marty said.

“The key thing to me was Walt had the time for this little thing I was doing. I soon realized why Walt had time for it. Main Street for him was a real place, a story point and an important detail.

“If you don’t think I wasn’t scared … fortunately, Walt liked what I came up with.”

The paper Marty created – The Disneyland News – blended seamlessly into Main Street’s theme and was a big hit among the park’s guests. The paper also earned the approval of Walt Disney himself, sending Sklar on his way to a legendary 54-year career.

Coincidentally, a young man named Tom Nabbe – a future Disney Legend – was hired to hawk The Disneyland News to incoming park guests for 10 cents. Years ahead of his time, Nabbe was the first of Disney’s “newsies.”

When July 17, 1955, dawned, Marty was very much behind the scenes, assisting the throngs of media members on hand for the big event.

“My assignment for the morning was actually in our PR offices in the original administration building – part of which had come from Ron Dominguez’s home on the site,” Marty told me.

“Our offices had been turned into a press facility, and of course, as the ‘kid’ – I had been working ‘professionally’ all of one month by then! – I was basically a go-fer for the media.”

Indeed, Disneyland’s opening day garnered both national and international coverage – via television, radio, newspapers and magazines.

The ceremonies commenced with Walt – surrounded by dignitaries – reading the now-famous opening day speech. “To all who come to this happy place, welcome,” he began.

The live television broadcast was hosted by Art Linkletter, Walt’s long-time friend. Also taking part in the telecast were actors Ronald Reagan (yes, the future president) and Bob Cummings.

As the day progressed, Walt was filmed while opening various lands in the park, reading short dedication speeches.

“I did not see any of the formal stuff with Walt, California Governor Goodwin Knight, or the three hosts of the national live TV show,” Marty said.

“I was assigned to help the local ABC staff – once an hour, they cut away from the live national TV show to the local station news. There was a local personality – Hank Weaver – who anchored that coverage. They were set up in a corner of our PR offices.”

In the afternoon, after the live TV broadcast had concluded, Marty was “turned loose to be in the park to help any media person who needed it.”

While walking through Frontierland, Marty was suddenly called to assist “Davy Crockett” star Fess Parker.

“That’s when I had my encounter with Fess Parker … and his horse!” Marty said.

It seems the crowds were so thick, that when Parker came riding into Frontierland on horseback, he had trouble controlling his horse, endangering anyone close by.

Parker spotted Marty and yelled, “Get me out of here, before this horse kills somebody!”

Fortunately, Marty was able to guide Parker and the horse to safety. It was just one of the countless glitches that arose during that hectic – and memorable – opening day.

Marty Sklar went on to enjoy a 54-year career with Disney, rising to the head of Walt Disney Imagineering. In addition, he was a guiding force behind the creation of EPCOT. He is the only person who was in attendance at the openings of all 12 Disney parks worldwide.

NEXT: Charlie Ridgway found his niche covering Disneyland’s opening for a local newspaper.

Additional insight into Marty Sklar can be found in my latest book, Marty, Mickey and Me, published by Theme Park Press. The book celebrates my friendship with the Disney Legend and offers an in-depth look into his fascinating life and career. You may order the book through Amazon.com.

Chuck Schmidt is an award-winning journalist and retired Disney cast member who has covered all things Disney since 1984 in both print and on-line. He has written a regular blog for AllEars.Net, called Still Goofy About Disney, since 2015. Marty, Mickey and Me is his eighth book for Theme Park Press.

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