http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/business/media/10disney.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/business/media/10disney.html)

QuikQuote: "I didn't say I didn't want to be chairman; Zenia has been saying that," Mr. Eisner told Mr. Stewart in an interview on Sept. 29, 2004, referring to Zenia Mucha, Disney's corporate spokeswoman. "I don't want to be irrelevant. I'm not going to ask the board to be named chairman. I'm not going to beg for it. But the board might come to me. Then I'd have to consider it."
Mr. Eisner's comments were made six months after 45 percent of the votes cast in the company's annual election were withheld from him after a shareholder revolt.

:( :mad: Please no. That would mean we wouldn't be getting anywhere.

This new book coming out is said to have been done with The Walt Disney Company's cooperation. Now that same company seems to be dreading it's being published. As for me, I think the book might be very interesting reading.

Wishing everyone on this Board, including fellow Disney shareholders, all the best as the Annual Shareholder's Meeting takes place in Minneapolis Friday. You can listen via live webcast, monitor CNBC on cable/satellite, or look for news on any financial news website (Google News, Yahoo! News, MarketWatch.com, Motley Fools.com, etc.).

This new book coming out is said to have been done with The Walt Disney Company's cooperation. Now that same company seems to be dreading it's being published. As for me, I think the book might be very interesting reading.


FYI, the book was released yesterday, although I understand it is a bit hard to find. It originally wasn't scheduled to arrive in stores until March, but the publisher rushed it out due to the publicity it was getting.

-Jeff

FYI, the book was released yesterday, although I understand it is a bit hard to find.Mark Goldhaber is covering the shareholder meeting, and said that the book was released early in New York and LA, and is going to be released in Minneapolis.

AVP

Actually, I wouldn't be bothered too much by Eisner being Chairman of the Board as long as they first bring in a forward looking outsider at CEO.

Eisner knows a lot about the business and the company. I think he would have a lot to contribute and might actually do so in a good manner as long as the day-to-day reigns are in the hands of a non-lackey.

Yep. Jim Hill, Chuck Oberleitner and I will be at Borders at 4:00 tomorrow to pick up our reserved copies. (Of course, that assumes that the meeting is over by then.) :rolleyes:

Here is part of the Synopsis of the book "Disney War"...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=3U8iZLvAnD&isbn=0684809931&itm=1



Drawing on unprecedented access to both Eisner and Roy Disney, current and former Disney executives and board members, as well as thousands of pages of never-before-seen letters, memos, transcripts, and other documents, James B. Stewart gets to the bottom of mysteries that have enveloped Disney for years...

Stewart describes how Eisner lost his chairmanship and why he felt obliged to resign as CEO, effective 2006. No other book so thoroughly penetrates the secretive world of the corporate boardroom. DisneyWar is an enthralling tale of one of America's most powerful media and entertainment companies, the people who control it, and those trying to overthrow them.



And from the same link, a review from Janet Maslin of the New York Times



The book describes an Eisner-dominated atmosphere of nonstop conflict and bickering, punctuated by the occasional stinker ("Pearl Harbor"), gold mine ("The Lion King") or missed opportunity ("The Sopranos"). It tells a messy, fractious story complete with its own Seven Dwarfs: Sneaky, Screamy, Pushy, Greedy, Grabby, Nasty and Snarky. Snow White is nowhere to be seen.


The major online sites are saying the book is available to ship, and you should get it in a few days.....

And a link to the LA Times Book Review...

http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-et-disneybook11feb11,1,6850530.story?coll=la-headlines-lifestyle

Jim Hill, Chuck Oberleitner and I picked up our copies in Minneapolis right after the annual meeting. We reserved them the day before. I'm almost 1/4 of the way through, and I'll finish it after I finish writing up my thoughts on "Dream On Silly Dreamer." Very interesting book.

I am finished, stayed up late last night... wait until you get to the Epilogue....:eek:

I am a bit disappointed that the Theme Parks were hardly touched (The influnce Eisner had on Euro Disney is the main Theme Park item), but of course, that is where my interest lies.

But it covers the live-action, animation and television stuff very well, and the corporate insanity as well.

I highly recommned this book for any Disney fan. The narritive style makes this book easy to read and follow, while still getting the facts and quotes in.

It should now be available at most bookstores, or online.

Actually, I wouldn't be bothered too much by Eisner being Chairman of the Board as long as they first bring in a forward looking outsider at CEO.

Eisner knows a lot about the business and the company. I think he would have a lot to contribute and might actually do so in a good manner as long as the day-to-day reigns are in the hands of a non-lackey.

the trouble is - Eisner personality AND his desire to be intimately involved with the creative process won't allow him to stay out of the day to day. This is exactly why as CEO there was so much wrong with several of the lines of business. I thought it was so interesting if he did know about business and the company why did the consumer products groups flounder for so long then explode and burn out? And we all know how he "designed" DCA, several movies, marketing plans, etc. Even a regular CEO would be involved with a few key strategic projects - but his messy fingerprints are all over that place in the finest of detail.

That's still too close and I don't think he'll change. Did he not even mention this during his quote refuting what Zena Mucha said? (BTW - how long will she be around now that Eisner publicly dissed her?)