The Walt Disney Company has had some rocky waters to navigate as of late. With Governor Ron DeSantis barreling down on the company, many now believe that the entertainment behemoth no longer caters to traditional family values and is too “woke.” Whether that’s true or not is in the eye of the beholder. However, what would you do if you found out that Walt Disney Studios has a little scandalous secret from the early days of its past?
You’ve heard the typical rumors. That is nothing new. On the other hand, this secret is rarely discussed or known by the people who invest time in the Disney fandom.
This juicy historical gossip is a tale about a spicy Penthouse Gentlemen’s Club established and run within the walls of the Animation Building at Walt Disney Studios. Accessible only by elevator, this exclusive institution was initially something male animators could only aspire to join over many years of employment. Amongst its many members was the legendary animator Rolly Crump.
The history of this Penthouse Club is a shocking story of exercise, sunbathing, nudity, and nuns!
We Don’t Talk About Penthouse, No, No, No!
Disney History Institute says the club entrance welcomed patrons with a mural featuring topless women. Members could mingle on the floor with access to amenities such as a bar, barber shop, masseuse, steam baths, and even beds. One of the more accepted activities amongst the men was card games. Walt Disney‘s personal trainer also held classes in the exercise room.
The rooftop patio proved to be the most active location of the venue. This is where the men could sunbathe while nude during their lunch hours. This activity was allowed for many years until the nuns came into the story.
Disney History Institute explains that a hospital built across the street from the Animation Building had a birds-eye view of the rooftop, and the nuns took notice of the nudity. Even after complaints were lodged, the men continued this practice. They compromised by wearing towels while in sight of the hospital until they eventually ceased sunbathing. According to Disney History Institute, this scandalous information came directly from the mouth of Rolly Crump.
The Club changed significantly over time, serving as a place to rest for officers filming on the property during the war. Before opening day, Walt Disney took members and their families to Disneyland Resort. However, many employees saw the club as out of their league due to the costs of maintaining membership. In time, it ceased to be entirely.
Social Media Buzz
The popular subreddit /todayilearned, a forum devoted to little-known but interesting facts, has seen fans discussing the Disney Studio’s Penthouse Club with the typical mix of surprise and memes. No one knew that such a thing existed in the company’s history.
TIL that back in the 1940s there was a male-only "Penthouse Club" at the Walt Disney Studios for their top animators, including a rooftop patio where they used to take nude sunbaths. They had to stop when it became known that nuns in the neighboring hospital were peeking at them
byu/DonExasclive intodayilearned
The past can be a crazy thing when viewed from modern eyes. Stories like these would never fly today, but it is interesting to look back on them. When something is around for 100 years, it’s bound to have a few scandalous skeletons in the closet.
