He was not on the list.
Disney Legend Al Konetzni, artist and character
merchandising “idea man,” passed away in Bradenton, Florida, on February 8. He
was 100 years old.
Born May 19, 1915, in New York City—where he attended the
Pratt Institute of Art—Konetzni joined Walt Disney Productions in 1953, working
out of the Madison Avenue offices where the character merchandising division
was located. Previously Konetzni had spent 16 years working for the Pal
Personna Blade Co., where he developed the company’s Pal man character, which
was featured on product packages.
“I’m still Disney. I said at my retirement party, ‘Working
for Disney is like a religion. It gets in your blood and it stays there.’ It
was a thrill.”
Konetzni’s creative skills and self-taught knowledge in
sales, marketing, and copyright law led to him being named a marketing account
executive for Disney, coordinating licensing with industry giants like General
Electric (for the Mickey Mouse night light), Lever Brothers (for the Mickey
Mouse toothbrush), and Bradley Time and Elgin (for Mickey Mouse watches and
clocks, among others). Among the most iconic products developed and licensed by
Konetzni are the now-collectible Pez Mickey and Donald candy dispensers and a
popular lunch box set featuring a host of Disney characters on board a school
bus. The classic lunchbox sold its nine millionth unit in 1976 and is now a
prized collector’s item among Disney fans.
“I used to commute to work on the Grand Central [train
system]. If I had a 9:00 meeting with clients, I’d be sketching on the train
all the way in, working on ideas [for merchandise concepts to sell to
clients],” Konetzni told Disney Newswire in 1999.
After retiring from the Company in 1981, Konetzni served as
a merchandise consultant for Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus for two
years. While there he helped develop merchandise for the joint Disney and
Ringling Bros. touring ice show, Disney on Ice. He also published a
best-selling cartoon book, Double Bogey, which looked lightheartedly at golfers
and their foibles.
Long after his retirement, Konetzni still fondly remembered
his time at Disney. “I love the company,” he said in Disney Newswire. “I’m
still Disney. I said at my retirement party, ‘Working for Disney is like a
religion. It gets in your blood and stays there.’ It was a thrill.” He was
inducted as a Disney Legend in 1999, and he celebrated his 100th birthday in
2015 with a “magical moment” at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
During the event, Konetzni shared special remembrances of his career, received
an Honorary Ambassador for the Day pin, and enjoyed a birthday cake shaped like
his famous lunch box.
Konetzni is survived by his children, Al Jr., Doug and
Karen; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
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