February 2023 Editor Letter: A Company Town
Michele Walker, Orlando magazine editor (ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
America is known for its company towns—small communities built around a business that sprang to life starting around the Industrial Revolution. From Hershey, Pennsylvania, to Corning, New York, these business-built towns were the foundation of our country, yet they are not free from controversy.
If you grew up in Central Florida, chances are you worked at a theme park at some point in your career. My first job while I was in high school was working the cash register at the Silversmith Shop in Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. You can’t get any better than working at Walt Disney World for a first job. Imagine a teenage kid going to Disney every week and getting paid for it. I was in heaven.
Through the years, I worked several positions at Disney and SeaWorld, Boardwalk and Baseball (who remembers that park?) to Cypress Gardens. From characters, entertainment, advertising and even a stint as a magician’s assistant for Dr. H. P. Lovecraft at SeaWorld, I feel like I’ve worn every hat imaginable. I have been sawed into three pieces, levitated, had swords plunged into my sides and spent more time backstage with pigeons than I care to recall. It never felt like work.
While researching Orlando magazine’s Conservation Guide, I felt I was stepping back in time as I found myself in my old SeaWorld stomping grounds. There have been many changes at SeaWorld since the 1980s. What hasn’t changed is their dedication to the health and preservation of marine life and conservation.
Our February issue is chock full of fascinating stories, from Dan Tracy’s riveting look at “Building Back Safer After Hurricane Ian,” Michael McLeod’s coverage of the grand opening of the Fringe ArtSpace, to the debut of Brendan O’Connor’s monthly column. As the editor in chief of Orlando’s ever-popular Bungalower.com, Brendan provides a unique look at the local food scene. We’re excited to add his voice to Orlando magazine.
Are you ready for the Orlando Taco Bracket Challenge? We’ve picked 32 restaurants in the Orlando area that are known for their tacos. Each week we’ll have the eateries going head-to-head (think March Madness) until the competition is whittled down to 16, then eight, then four and, finally, the two left standing for the championship round. The winners will be published in the June 2023 issue of Orlando magazine and on orlandomagazine.com.
The official definition of a company town is “a community dependent on one firm for all or most of the necessary services or functions of town life (such as employment, housing, and stores).” Orlando was a thriving community, albeit small, long before Walt Disney broke ground on his Magic Kingdom. No one can deny the impact of Disney and the number of citizens dependent upon the theme park business in Central Florida.
Company towns have come and gone throughout history. The towns that have failed have done so because of abuse of power by the corporations, weak labor laws and disrespect for the worker. When companies progress with the times, treat their employees with respect, pay a living wage and help to address issues like housing, education and labor protection, we all benefit. Like Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “When it’s better for everyone, it’s better for everyone.”
