Being only a recent viewer of the Disney television programming, and a part-time one at that, I really don’t know or understand the history of the programming or the viewership (or what’s come before 2002), but I’ve often noticed a large amount of what I can only describe as a sort of animosity. Animosity between fans of the “old” and the “new” offerings. I am however somewhat familiar with Disney’s television animation products and, much more so, with the man who started it all - Walt Disney himself.

As I started to study both for this article it became apparent to me that the differences of opinion are based not only on generational preferences, but also on what I’d propose is a distinctively un-Disney attitude among some of the viewership. But first my somewhat halting analysis of the situation as it stands now, after which I will try to cull from many sources (and one in particular) a solution that every Disney fan, who watches the Disney Channel at least, can live with.

Disney’s Premiere Network: The Disney Channel

In April of 1983, the Walt Disney Company (WDC) made a perhaps bold move by starting it own channel in - what was then - the new medium of cable television. They called this channel (appropriately) The Disney Channel. It was assumed by those who came to watch the offerings from the WDC that they would be treated to both the old and new of Disney television programming. Since 2002 however this situation has changed, not only with the addition of another cable offering (Toon Disney), but with a complete change of the programming offered.

These changes have of course not pleased everyone, but more amazingly, seem to have pleased very few indeed. This article will attempt to outline the various fan-bases including the “classic Disney” base (primarily found on Save Disney) - and grouped together for convenience only - the “One Saturday Afternoon” base and the what I will call “The Disney Channel” base, covering people who are primarily viewers (like myself) of the Disney Channel since 2002, when many of these changes occurred. This latter group will be covered more extensively in Part Two of this article.

The Classic Disney Base

To understand why I’ve classified a certain group of Disney television fans into this category, and what it entails, I offer these opinions from their “watering hole” - The Save Disney website (1):

Remember when the Disney Channel was worth watching? When they showed quality Disney movies and it was a channel people were willing to pay premium prices for? Bring that back! I automatically turn (off) the station if I accidentally land on the Disney Channel now. I wouldn't watch any show on there if it was the only thing on TV.

The Disney Channel should no longer be a child-focused station. It should be Disney focused. Bring back Vault Disney. Show classic cartoons in the afternoon to expose new generations to the company’s legacy. Live action programs should be for the entire family. Let’s try to capture the spirit of Walt in our new programming.

The DISNEY CHANNEL used to show great classics with their modern programs. Where are the classics now? I loved being able to tune into old episodes of "The Wonderful World of Disney", Old Disney movies like "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", and old Disney cartoons. Don't get me wrong, I really like some of the programming on Disney today, like, "Even Stevens", but I miss the classic stuff a lot more.

Bring back "Vault Disney" to the Disney Channel, show old footage of Walt Disney on the Wonderful World of Disney and tell Walt and Roy's story so that more people can learn how the Walt Disney Company began. There are many people who love Disney, but don't know the story of the Disney brothers.

Bring back the Vault Disney materials, shows that we can share with our own kids, sharing good values.

As you may see, the Save Disney readership is nostalgic for the “classic” Disney television product (primarily from the 1950’s to late 1960’s). I for one am of the opinion that classic Disney means a rather different time period - being from the 1930’s to late 1940’s - and does not include television at all until much later. But this is not meant to be a subjective analysis of what “classic Disney means”, so I won’t attempt to make it one.

This earlier generation, primarily from the so-called “Baby Boomer” age group, seems to “recall Disney with more fondness, as a more ‘special’ occurrence in their young lives.” (2) Their concerns seem to run the gamut from family viewing preferences to a disregard for changing times and growth in the genre of animation. Oftentimes it’s heard also that the new face of the Disney Channel is reflecting a “blanding of the brand” (3) or is making the entire company more “mundane”. (2) While this is most certainly not the fault of the programming (the programming perhaps more reflecting other problems at the company), it is an interesting observation that perhaps speaks more to the Walt Disney Company’s development.

But the singularly overwhelming opinion of this group of viewers is this: bring back Vault Disney. For those, like me, who have no idea what Vault Disney was here’s some idea of what it featured. Vault Disney was the showcase for the television programming and specials offered by Disney in the 1950’s through the 1970’s - basically programs that were in existence before the advent of the Disney Channel itself. Such series as “Zorro”, “True Life Adventures”, and “The Wonderful World of Disney”.

Which begs the question – where did Vault Disney go and why? The answer to that question and a look at the other side will be continued next week in Part Two of Disney Television through Time… see you then!

- Michael Berger with Gregory Issac