Conversations with Tommy Kirk (Walt Disney's Old Yeller Bonus Content)

Tommy Kirk shares memories of working on the Disney Studio lot; from his debut as Joe Hardy on The Hardy Boys: Mystery of Applegate Treasure to feature films like Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog and Swiss Family Robinson. His experiences working with some of Hollywood's finest is sure to please every Disney film fan!

[@laurabittner8828]

What an intelligent, well spoken and humble person

[@mortonvizner5263]

Wonderful. What fine insights he had about his career and about himself.

[@lyndakorner2383]

Thankfully, Tommy Kirk was named a Disney Legend and inducted into the pantheon among the other people who made especially significant contributions to the Disney organization. It's a shame that he was not able to continue his career because of the taboos against homosexuality at the time. Tommy was under contract at The Walt Disney Studios when he turned 18, and, at the time, he was in a relationship with another teenager who was 16 or 17. The mother of the other teenager didn't approve, so she went to the company and threatened to make the relationship public. Walt Disney let Tommy Kirk fulfill his contract and make two more films for the studio, but that contract was not renewed. Instead, Kirk made beach movies with Annette Funicello for a very small studio that was not directly affiliated with Disney. Disney did release the soundtracks to those musical films on the company's Buena Vista Records label, however.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Yea for Tommy!

[@jasonthewatchmansson8873]

He was a great actor. I wish that Disney would release, or that someone could find, the footage of him reporting for the Mickey Mouse Club from the 1956 Democratic and Republican conventions. That's a piece of Americana.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

I would love to see those reports with Tommy!

[@amandasteele6443]

I had a secret crush on him when I was younger ❤️

[@finchrest]

Always liked him and this was excellent. Long and happy healthy life to you, Mrs. Kirk! Just re-watched SFR tonight. Loved that book and loved that movie when I was a young girl.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

Rip Tommy !

[@brentstantonfun]

It’s funny How much Tommy was a part of my youth. And today, my career over the last three decades has been working in film and Tv behind the scenes. Hollywood was as far away as the moon growing up. I was captivated by how it all worked as a kid. Nearly ready to retire, I’m so glad I got to work in this medium when I did. Before it changed and lost its real charm.

[@Jebbie1976]

Those were the days; when Disney made fantastic films. Like most things though, they've become "woke" & film quality has suffered because of it (imo). Old Yeller & Pollyanna are my all time favorite live-action Disney films. My favorite cartoon film from Disney is The Jungle Book.

[@keepingwaltindisney]

Pollyanna and Jungle Book are mine! Great picks! I don’t really concern myself over “wokism”…I used to, but I’ve found it makes me too negative and distracts from my enjoyment of classic Disney! Those films are just so special, fantastic as you say!!!

[@Jebbie1976]

​@@keepingwaltindisney They really are good, family friendly masterpieces. I've been collecting Disney films, both VHS & DVD, since my kids were born (now 24 & 23) & even though you can stream lots of them these days I wouldn't take anything for them & I still love watching them. I appreciate all the great stuff you put on your channel. Greetings from Alabama. ♥

[@lyndakorner2383]

What are you talking about? "Pollyanna" is "woke." The whole movie is about a poor orphan going going to live with her rich and miserable aunt who controls the town and even owns the church. The core of the film is an argument against fire-and-brimstone religious fundamentalists.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Beloved Tommy! A great heart and so-equally was as an actor. Oh, how be brightened up so many lives and does still. As @raymondyorysh7401 proclaimed only a day ago "Tommy Kirk's in a better place now."